Chapter 27

When Song Wen came out of the interrogation room and entered the observation room, the soundproof room next door had almost exploded.

Fu Linjiang on the side pressed his temples with a headache. “Guo Hua is still unconscious. What’s going on? We still don’t know her side of the story”

Lao Jia said, “I think what she said should be true. Once she said that, all the doubts made sense. This case is probably a revenge carried out by the suppressed female students against those who bullied them. This also explains why Lin Wanwan was poisoned the least and survived because she was not the target of retaliation.”

Fu Linjiang looked up and asked Song Wen, “If Lin Wanwan’s statement is considered, how would the judgment be?”

Song Wen didn’t answer him. Zhu Xiao, who had been silent, interjected, “If she only knew about the poison and didn’t participate, she won’t be heavily sentenced, maybe not even imprisoned. I remember a similar case before.”

Lao Jia nodded, speaking in a deep voice, “Seven Fairies.” The older detectives knew about it; it was also a collective poisoning incident on a campus, with seven victims, shocking the whole country. Unlike this case, the true story of that incident was unknown to ordinary people, and in the end, those who survived were not heavily sentenced and have now been released.

Song Wen looked at Lu Siyu, who hadn’t spoken, and asked, “Do you believe her?”

Lu Siyu shook his head, “I don’t know. My intuition tells me there’s still a problem. Guo Hua bought a phone after that beating, someone who decided to die. Why buy such an expensive phone? Also, a phone is a very private thing; even the best friends are unlikely to know the password easily. Why, in pain, didn’t she call someone else but used a friend’s phone to seek help?”

This question was obviously illogical. After hearing his words, everyone fell into contemplation.

Now, these people were clearly divided into two camps. Some believed that Guo Hua was the poisoner, and Lin Wanwan only had the suspicion of being informed. Others still thought that Lin Wanwan had a greater suspicion of poisoning.

After thinking for a moment, Song Wen said, “I also agree that Lin Wanwan is suspicious, but if it’s her, I still can’t explain her motive for murder. Moreover, both the chocolate and the poison were bought by Guo Hua. Did she buy things for Lin Wanwan to act? That’s too illogical.”

Zhu Xiao nodded, “The suspicion against Lin Wanwan mainly comes from her previous lie, but in interpersonal relationships and all the evidence, Guo Hua’s motive and suspicion are more significant.”

Fu Linjiang sighed, “But now…Guo Hua is still unconscious. I still feel that there are doubts about Lin Wanwan.”

Song Wen made a decision, “Lu Siyu, bring her some water, record the time. Lao Jia, cross-examine her. And then, Zhu Xiao, organize the testimonies of the surrounding witnesses. Everyone’s job today is to go through the case files, find any doubts. Regardless of the final result, we strive to find the truth.” When he said this, Song Wen remembered something and added, “Lu Siyu, pour me a cup of that water as well.”

Lu Siyu was getting disposable cups and, upon hearing this, took another one. Both cups were filled with hot water first and then cold water, reaching the same level. He handed a cup to Song Wen and asked, “Can I go over and take a look?”

Song Wen nodded, and Lu Siyu took the other cup of water into the interrogation room, placing it on Lin Wanwan’s desk. Lin Wanwan looked up at him, seeming to recognize that they had met in the hospital. She nodded friendly at him, then obediently picked up the cup and sipped the water in small sips.

Afterward, Lao Jia walked in, his face serious. He spread out various notebooks in front of him, and Lu Siyu did not leave but sat on the side.

Among this team of detectives, Lao Jia was the oldest. Although he usually had a somewhat sloppy appearance, smoking and drinking, making him look like an old ruffian, he was still fundamentally honest and kind-hearted. Lin Wanwan looked at him, blinked, and asked, “Uncle, are you the leader here?”

“Uh…” Lao Jia hesitated for a moment.

Lin Wanwan seemed to realize her abruptness, lowered her head, and whispered, “I thought after the previous captain asked questions, it would be someone with a higher rank. You look a bit like my distant uncle, so I called you uncle.”

Lao Jia’s expression softened a bit, looking at the innocent girl in front of him. He cleared his throat, “I’m just an ordinary detective. Don’t be afraid. We’re just asking you some questions. You just need to answer truthfully.”

Lin Wanwan nodded.

Lu Siyu, on the side, watched the two people with interest. The feeling of questioning a suspect outside the interrogation room and questioning inside was completely different. Strangely, observing through the glass in the observation room and seeing it up close were also entirely different experiences.

“Lin Wanwan, who do you think poisoned your dormitory mates this time?”

“It should be… Guo Hua.”

“How did you know she had poison?”

“She told me. She had poisoned stray cats before.” This time, Lin Wanwan added some explanation, “Several nearby dorms were disturbed by cats, making it difficult to sleep. After exhausting various methods and getting rid of the cats, everyone said they could finally get a good night’s sleep.”

“Did you poison the cats together?”

“No, you remembered it wrong.” Lin Wanwan spoke softly, but her tone was very firm.

“Hmm?” Lao Jia furrowed his brow with some doubt, flipping through the previous testimonies. Lu Siyu, beside him, lifted his head and looked at Lin Wanwan.

“It was Guo Hua’s idea to poison the cats. I didn’t participate, nor did I personally do anything. I just knew about it,” Lin Wanwan explained.

Lao Jia changed the question, “Why did you lie when you were in the hospital before?”

“I was too scared at that time…”

Almost the same statement repeated again.

The interrogation entered a dead end, like a chess game stuck in a deadlock where no moves could be made. These questions seemed to repeat a thousand times, and Lin Wanwan would not provide different answers.

When the questions reached this point, Lin Wanwan’s gaze towards Lao Jia suddenly changed. Holding the paper cup, she looked extremely aggrieved and said, “Uncle, do you… do you also suspect that I’m a bad person? Do you think I killed my classmates?”

Lao Jia replied, “We are just conducting a routine inquiry.”

Lin Wanwan lowered her head and cried with a grievous expression, “I had a good relationship with all of them and didn’t bully Guo Hua. I was wrong; I shouldn’t have kept her secret. Now, my head still hurts. Originally, I was the victim. In the dorm that day, I was very scared. I almost died with them…”

Lin Wanwan’s shoulders trembled, seemingly releasing the recent pressure and fear through her tears. Lao Jia was momentarily at a loss for words. He had interrogated numerous criminals—some were tough, some shouted innocence—but none made him feel as helpless as the girl in front of him. Indeed, she was originally a victim. If she was not the perpetrator, receiving this kind of treatment, being held accountable like this, would be unfair.

Lao Jia looked at Lu Siyu beside him. Lu Siyu, however, stared expressionlessly, as if he had a heart of stone. Seeing Lao Jia stop questioning, Lu Siyu redirected the conversation to the main point, saying, “We are only asking for more information from you. You are just one of the suspects, not necessarily the killer.”

Lin Wanwan finally stopped crying and looked at Lao Jia again, saying, “Uncle, can you give me some tissues?”

Lao Jia, a bit flustered, was about to go out to get tissues, but Lu Siyu took out a pack of tissues from his pocket and placed it in front of Lin Wanwan. Lin Wanwan wiped away her tears, sniffled, and seemed to have calmed her emotions. She glanced at Lu Siyu and then at Lao Jia, saying, “Uncle, I understand. You are good police officers. Interrogating me is just your job.”

Another round of unproductive questioning followed. Song Wen frowned as he looked at the people in the observation room. Then he said to Fu Linjiang, “Go call them out, and you and Zhu Xiao go in.”

Fu Linjiang went in, but Lin Wanwan stuck to the same narrative. There was no change in details. The timeline, the process of the crime—everything was scrutinized, but no new breakthroughs were found.

Lunchtime quickly passed, and everyone went to the cafeteria to eat. Today, Lu Siyu didn’t insist on being courteous and directly divided the lunch into two portions, preparing for the possibility of not returning on time in the evening.

Lin Wanwan was kept in the interrogation room, becoming increasingly indifferent. During lunch, she ate the food they brought from the cafeteria. In the afternoon, she applied for a two-hour break. During this time, except for going to the restroom a few times, she didn’t leave the interrogation room.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, Commissioner Gu summoned Song Wen to his office. When Song Wen entered, he saw Commissioner Gu sitting at his desk, hands crossed in front of him, asking, “I heard your interrogation today reached a deadlock?”

Song Wen didn’t want to admit it, but indeed, there had been no progress that day. He replied to Commissioner Gu, “One suspect gave a different statement than before, and the other has been unconscious.”

Commissioner Gu said, “So far, two people in one dormitory have died, and another is unconscious. With a lack of evidence, you can’t determine whether Lin Wanwan’s statement is the truth or not.” Commissioner Gu looked at Song Wen and continued, “However, the case is now basically clear. Organize the case, and we’ll hand it over later.”

“Commissioner Gu…” Song Wen was somewhat surprised by Commissioner Gu’s suggestion.

He looked up at his superior. Commissioner Gu, at this moment, appeared calm, not at all like he was joking or testing him. Normally, Commissioner Gu urged them to solve cases. Under his insistence, many major cases were cracked. However, now Commissioner Gu was telling them to withdraw.

Commissioner Gu sighed and said, “We are police officers, not judges. Everything will be submitted, and when the court judges, someone will determine their fate. After all, with the current evidence, we have no way of knowing what really happened.”

Song Wen lowered his head and remained silent.

It seemed like Commissioner Gu could see through Song Wen. “Do you feel a bit disappointed?” Without waiting for Song Wen to answer, Commissioner Gu sighed again and said, “This is not compromise; this is reality.”

As a veteran detective who had climbed up the ranks, Commissioner Gu had seen and experienced a lot. He had more salt in his meals than these young people had eaten rice. He knew that if this matter continued to be entangled, there might not necessarily be a resolution.

By swiftly transferring the case now, they could rid themselves of this hot potato and receive praise for solving the case promptly. As long as the report was ambiguous, even if it was later discovered that Lin Wanwan still had some responsibility, they could use insufficient evidence as an excuse. The longer this case remained on the police’s hands, the greater the pressure and public attention.

Song Wen still remained silent. Commissioner Gu added, “Sometimes, when it’s time to let go, you have to learn to let go. We do what we can, and other tasks are handed over to others. At this point, we can report to our superiors.”

Seemingly determined, Song Wen raised his head. There was a flame burning in his eyes as he said, “Commissioner Gu, I’m investigating this case not just to report to our superiors. I’m doing it to uncover the truth, and besides, the three-day deadline you mentioned earlier hasn’t arrived yet.”

Commissioner Gu, in a stern tone, said to Song Wen, “Just now, Lin Xiuran called from the hospital. Guo Hua’s condition is very critical, and she might not survive for a few more days. Even if you put in all your effort, the result won’t differ much.”

If Guo Hua dies, what happened that night may never be known to anyone except Lin Wanwan.

Song Wen shook his head. “It’s too far from over. If this case is closed like this, in case Guo Hua is innocent, it’s unfair to the deceased girls and unfair to Guo Hua. But rest assured, I just want to thoroughly investigate the truth, not specifically targeting Lin Wanwan. I won’t just grab onto her and not let go, but I feel there are still some doubts about this girl.”

Commissioner Gu looked at this dedicated officer, remained silent for a moment, and finally compromised. “Alright, let’s wait until the day after tomorrow. If there’s no result by then, you obediently step out of this peculiar case and focus on your work.”

Song Wen acknowledged with a nod. “In life, there’s always something worth persisting for, right? Some battles, even if you know you might lose, still need to be fought. Retreat without a fight is not my style.” Giving up might just be a matter of words, but for these girls, it could mean a lifetime.

TN:
So, is this surname Lin taking advantage of the death and imminent death of all the other girls to get away with this?!!! Or is she actually an innocent bystander(bushi).