Chapter 20.2
Case Solved

Meanwhile, Tan Yi and his team arrived at Anhai No. 2 Middle School—the second school they investigated, located just over a kilometer from Qingjiang.

The principal wasn’t there, so Director Liu Zhixue received them.

Fu Da explained their purpose.

Liu Zhixue became nervous upon hearing about a death, “Are you sure? Although our school’s graduation rate isn’t as high as No. 1 Middle School, we’re still among the top in Anhai. Most students are diligent because their future is at stake…”

Tan Yi interrupted his rambling, “Crime has nothing to do with graduation rates. Please cooperate.”

“Oh, oh…” Liu Zhixue’s face turned pale, and sweat dripped from his forehead. “The students are in class. I’ll take you to the homeroom teachers after the bell rings.”

Not wanting to waste time, Tan Yi bypassed him and strode towards the office.

“Hey, hey, Captain Tan, why are you so insensitive?” Liu Zhixue chased after him.

Tan Yi said, “If you keep blocking us, I’ll suspect you’re harboring criminals.”

Liu Zhixue wiped his sweat, “No, no, we educators understand the law.”

The group entered the office. Several teachers preparing lessons looked at the plainclothes officers in surprise.

Fu Da asked, “Teachers, have any students suddenly taken leave in the past three to five days?”

One teacher replied, “We’re not homeroom teachers, so we haven’t noticed.”

Liu Zhixue quickly added, “See? Let’s wait until class ends to avoid causing panic.”

Just then, a female teacher walked in, shaking water off her hands, “The class president of Class 8 took leave a few days ago, saying his mother was ill. Did something happen?”

Tan Yi asked, “Do you know who requested the leave?”

The female teacher replied, “How do you know someone else requested it?”

Fu Da said, “Please answer our captain’s question directly.”

The female teacher glanced at Liu Zhixue, “The Director’s child requested the leave.”

Liu Zhixue’s face changed, “You’re lying!”

The female teacher trembled, “I-I must have remembered wrong?”

Tan Yi said, “Teacher, this is a homicide case. If you don’t tell the truth, you’ll be suspected of harboring criminals.”

The female teacher’s face turned pale, “It was indeed his son who requested the leave. I was there at the time. The class president is a good student, so the homeroom teacher asked detailed questions.”

“Please lead the way,” Tan Yi gestured and turned to leave the office.

The female teacher glanced at Liu Zhixue and reluctantly followed.

The senior class was on the top floor. The group walked down the corridor to the last classroom.

Tan Yi signaled Liu Feng and Du Zhun to guard the back door.

Fu Da knocked and opened the door.

The male math teacher, annoyed, asked, “We’re in the middle of class. What’s the matter?”

Fu Da asked, “Is Liu Yibin here?”

A figure suddenly bolted out the back door, only to be caught by Liu Feng and Du Zhun.

Tan Yi entered, stood at the podium, and scanned the room. He pointed to several students, “You, you, you, and you, come with us. Anyone else involved, confess now for leniency.”

The classroom fell silent.

After a while, the male teacher nervously asked, “What’s going on?”

Tan Yi took out a photo, “It’s a bit scary. Don’t be alarmed.”

“Okay.” The male teacher looked and gasped, stepping back several times, “Who is this?”

Tan Yi asked, “Is this Class 8’s president, Gu Lixiang?”

“What?” The male teacher, still shaken, said, “Impossible, but…” He took a closer look, “The clothes look like his. His family isn’t well-off, so he often wears this. How could this happen? Boohoo…”

He choked up, tears streaming down, “Such a good kid, how could he die?”

“Condolences,” Tan Yi said, stepping off the podium and glaring at Liu Zhixue, “Come with us.”

Liu Zhixue protested, “Captain Tan, I know nothing, really nothing.”

Tan Yi looked down at him, “I don’t know anything for now, but I do know you tried to cover for your son. Please come with us for investigation.”

The suspects were taken back to the police station, where Tan Yi questioned them separately.

Tan Yi and Fu Da interrogated Liu Yibin together.

Liu Yibin, wearing thick glasses, was thinner than his father. His right wrist, where the handcuffs were, was injured and wrapped in gauze. He sat quietly on the bench, not responding to any of Tan Yi’s questions.

Tan Yi lit a cigarette and patiently watched Liu Yibin.

The smell of tobacco affected Liu Yibin, and he quickly glanced at Tan Yi.

Fu Da said, “If you don’t speak, others will. Once they confess, you’ll lose your chance for leniency, understand?”

“Hah,” Liu Yibin sneered contemptuously.

Fu Da continued, “Do you think they’re loyal to you? Don’t forget, you killed Gu Lixiang, not them. Why would they stick with you just because your father is the director? After this, your father might not even keep his job. Plus, you’re over eighteen while they’re minors. Why would they go down with you?”

Liu Yibin’s expression changed. He opened his mouth but then closed it again.

Tan Yi stood up, “Fine, we’ll wait for the others’ confessions.”

Fu Da agreed, “Alright.”

As they reached the door, Liu Yibin suddenly spoke, “Why do you think I killed Gu Lixiang?”

Tan Yi replied, “Gu Lixiang bit off a piece of your flesh. He was always better than you, and you were furious. Of course, you wanted to get rid of him. Liu Yibin, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”

At that moment, Li Ji knocked and entered, “Captain, Wang Ke…”

“I’ll talk!” Liu Yibin suddenly shouted.

Liu Yibin confessed that his father, Liu Zhixue, was very strict with him, resorting to physical punishment if he didn’t come first in exams. Despite his efforts, he was always outperformed by Gu Lixiang, a country boy. Over time, he grew to hate both his father and Gu Lixiang.

Unable to confront his father, he targeted Gu Lixiang. Using his father’s position as director, he isolated Gu Lixiang, urinated in his cup, soaked his bed, and prevented him from studying in the dormitory. Despite this, he still couldn’t surpass Gu Lixiang. After losing by over ten points in the final exams last month, he was severely beaten by his father.

So, on the first day of the new term, he intensified his torment of Gu Lixiang. On the day of the incident, after evening self-study, he lured Gu Lixiang to an old building behind the school, claiming he wanted to talk. There, he and his accomplices beat him.

Liu Yibin had researched where to hit without drawing the school’s attention, so Gu Lixiang’s face was uninjured. But even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Gu Lixiang bit off a large chunk of flesh from Liu Yibin’s wrist.

Liu Yibin went berserk, had his accomplices hold Gu Lixiang down, and smashed his head with a large piece of concrete.

…

Xie Qing had just returned to the dormitory when Li Ke ran in, “Qing Qing, the case is solved.”

Xie Qing wasn’t surprised and handed Li Ke a banana, “Was it really his classmate?”

Li Ke peeled the banana, “Captain Tan is amazing, didn’t waste any time. The killer was indeed his classmate, so cruel, like a bunch of beasts! No, calling them beasts is an insult to beasts.”

Despite expecting it, Xie Qing still felt a pang of sadness, “What grade? Is the main culprit an adult?”

Li Ke took a bite as if biting an enemy, “He’s an adult, thankfully! The victim was an outstanding student…”

She went on to describe Gu Lixiang’s situation.

Even in a novel, Xie Qing felt sorrow for the tragic loss of such a promising student. After a long silence, she said, “Fortunately, the punishment is severe enough. He won’t escape death.”

“Ring, ring…” The phone rang.

Xie Qing took it out of her bag and answered, “Brother, are you okay?”

Xie Chen replied, “I’m fine, just ran fast. How about you?”

Xie Qing said, “Don’t worry, I’m a forensic doctor.”

“That’s good.” Xie Chen hesitated, “Qing Qing, maybe you should quit. It’s too scary.”

Xie Qing said, “Brother, the victim was an excellent student, killed out of jealousy by the second-best in his class.”

Xie Chen asked, “You’ve caught the killer?”

Xie Qing replied, “Yes, we have.”

“Father, they’ve caught the killer,” Xie Chen said on the other end, then added, “Alright, I understand. See you on Tuesday.”

After hanging up, Li Ke grabbed the phone, “When did you get this?”

Xie Qing said, “My brother got it for me.”

Li Ke pouted, “I want one too, but my brother’s salary is too low.”

Xie Qing laughed, “You can use mine if you need it.”

Li Ke brightened up, “I want to use it now.”

Just as she was about to dial, the phone rang again.

Xie Qing answered, “Hello.”

Tan Yi’s voice came through, “Are you free tonight? Bring Li Ke, let’s have dinner together.”

Though phrased as a question, it was clear he expected them to come.

“I’m free. I’ll ask Li Ke,” Xie Qing said, then asked Li Ke, “Captain Tan is inviting everyone who worked on the case to dinner. Are you coming?”

“Yes, yes, I’m coming,” Li Ke eagerly replied.

Xie Qing confirmed, “We’ll come together. Where?”

Tan Yi suggested, “How about the barbecue place from last time?”

Xie Qing agreed and hung up.

Li Ke said, “Qing Qing, I think Captain Tan is so handsome. I’ll find a chance to ask if he has a girlfriend during dinner.”

Xie Qing: “…” This girl changes her mind quickly. She already forgot about Xie Chen.