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Chapter 10: Interrogation
~Trap and kill prey step by step~
Zhao Xiangwan slowly stood up and took the seat that Xu Songling had just vacated. The chair squeaked loudly as she dragged it, a sound that cut through the silence of the closed interrogation room.
This was the first time Zhao Xiangwan came face-to-face with a suspect who had blood on his hands, and she felt a bit nervous. Her throat tightened, making it hard to swallow.
Seeing such a young girl, Wang Qiankun chuckled and felt a bit relieved: “Is this young comrade new? About twenty years old? Where are you from?”
Zhao Xiangwan ignored his mockery, cleared her throat, and put on a stern expression.
“When did you open your first Yanyang Cabaret?”
“About six years ago. It’s been so long I can’t remember.”
“Six years ago… that was 1985?”
“Yes, that’s right. Back then, the Hong Kong and Taiwan style was popular. Once the karaoke bar opened, customers came in droves. Easy money.”
“What month did it open?”
“September! Business people say September is the golden month and October is the silver month.”
_
When it came to business, Wang Qiankun’s mouth opened easily. As long as he wasn’t talking about the murder, his experience in the underworld helped him talk confidently.
“The first Yanyang was on Luoyu Road, right? The original store was a hotel. How much did you spend on it?”
At the mention of money, Wang Qiankun became alert, and his eyes began to wander. “Comrade police, it’s been so long, how can you remember the exact amount? We spent a lot. It was a few of us pooling money together.”
Zhao Xiangwan’s speech sped up, and her eyes became sharp.
“How much? Five hundred thousand, six hundred thousand, seven hundred thousand? Looks like seven hundred thousand!”
“Where did you get this money? Stolen? Robbed? Robbed?”
“Oh, robbery. How many people? One, two, three? Yeah, a gang of three.”
Zhao Xiangwan’s demeanor shifted. The immaturity faded from her face, replaced by sharp focus. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled beneath the police cap. She continued asking questions while making quick notes with her right hand.
“Police… Police comrade, what do you mean by this?”
Facing Zhao Xiangwan’s sharp eyes, Wang Qiankun’s heart began to race. An overwhelming sense of fear gripped him, leaving him frozen in place, unable to move.
“March? April? Hmm, it looks like the crime was committed in April! Which day? The 8th, the 9th, the 13th?”
Zhao Xiangwan pressed forward, her gaze never leaving Wang Qiankun. She studied his every reaction.
Wang Qiankun had never faced such an interrogation before—Zhao Xiangwan bombarded him with questions, not caring about the answers. She simply watched his eyes and expressions closely. Yet, each question got closer to the truth.
This tactic made Wang Qiankun realize that he was being led into a trap, step by step.
Wang Qiankun stopped answering. His lips were sealed, and his eyes wandered. He stopped meeting Zhao Xiangwan’s gaze.
“On April 13, 1985, there was an old case that has remained unsolved until today… the Huang Jiarong robbery!” Zhao Xiangwan suddenly raised her voice. The words struck like a thunderclap above Wang Qiankun’s head, leaving him stunned.
For too long, he had been at ease, but now the past that he buried deep within him was exposed. Wang Qiankun leaned back in his chair, and a loud “bang” followed as he startled everyone in the room.
Zhu Feipeng and Xu Songling exchanged looks of excitement. A breakthrough!
The Huang Jiarong robbery was notorious. It involved the murder of Huang Jiarong’s entire family, with money and jewelry stolen. Despite efforts to solve it, there were no clues, making it one of the most difficult cases to crack. The case had remained unsolved for years—until now.
Wang Qiankun had committed the crime secretly. He, along with two accomplices, had stolen nearly two million yuan. After the robbery, they split the loot and parted ways without further contact. Wang Qiankun used 700,000 yuan of the stolen money to buy a karaoke bar, forgetting that his first fortune had blood on it.
Zhu Feipeng rubbed his hands excitedly. “I will check the files right away. There are two fingerprints and three footprints at the scene of Huang Jiarong’s robbery. This guy can’t escape!”
Without waiting for Xu Songling to speak, Zhu Feipeng strode toward the interrogation room.
When the physical evidence department’s results came in, the news spread across the Public Security Bureau that Zhao Xiangwan had solved a major case.
“What? Wang Qiankun was one of the masterminds of an old case from six years ago? How did they find out?”
“Are you still investigating the headless female corpse case? Why mention the Huang Jiarong robbery case?”
“Captain Xu has a keen eye for talent. Junior Sister Zhao Xiangwan solved an old case with just a few questions. She’s amazing!”
After witnessing Zhao Xiangwan’s ability to focus on questioning and her strong rhythm, Zhu Feipeng no longer doubted her and admired her greatly. Thanks to her promotion, everyone at the Public Security Bureau knew of Zhao Xiangwan’s ability to judge the truth or falsehood through subtle changes in people’s facial expressions and using logical questioning and reasoning to uncover the truth.
Xu Songling acted quickly and brought Zhao Xiangwan to interrogate Wu Shengli.
Zhao Xiangwan didn’t find Wu Shengli suspicious in the murder, but the chaotic private life of this handsome young man made her uncomfortable. Not only did he have sex with the two deceased, but he also frequented bars in Xing City, socialized with foreigners, and engaged in shady activities.
Before releasing Wu Shengli, Zhao Xiangwan gave him a cold, piercing glance.
For some reason, this cold stare hurt Wu Shengli. His face froze, and he subconsciously covered his vital parts. A while ago, he had felt unwell, with unbearable itching and pustules on his body, which emitted an unpleasant odor.
Wu Shengli had never imagined that indulging in sensual pleasures would lead to syphilis. Zhao Xiangwan’s cold eyes seemed to pierce deeply into his heart.
He had once been as naive and conservative as Zhao Xiangwan. What had led him here? Wu Shengli looked confused and staggered out of the Public Security Bureau. He squinted against the pale autumn sunlight and sighed deeply.
Zhao Xiangwan didn’t care whether Wu Shengli confessed or not. She turned to Xu Songling and said, “Wu Shengli just mentioned that Wang Qiankun’s eldest daughter, Wang Ting, was secretly pursuing him. I suggest you bring her in for questioning.”
Xu Songling was stunned. Wang Ting, a senior at Hunan No. 7 Middle School, a high school student slightly younger than Zhao Xiangwan, was she a suspect?
“Whether she’s a suspect or not, it’s still a clue.”
After interrogating two suspects, Zhao Xiangwan felt more confident in her actions and questioning. She had grown more poised, with a subtle hint of confidence.
Wang Ting was very cooperative.
When she received the call from the Public Security Bureau, she came in immediately. She answered all questions honestly and behaved well. Unlike her father, Wang Ting was petite, with bangs and timid eyes, always appearing distant when looking at others.
When Wang Ting heard the police ask about her pursuit of Wu Shengli, her cheeks flushed slightly. “Yes, yes! David is tall, handsome, and can sing. He’s every girl’s dream lover. I like him and write him letters every day, expressing my feelings on paper and passing them to him.”
Xu Songling seemed disappointed. “But he has a girlfriend!”
Wang Ting gave him a strange look. “He’s so amazing, of course, he must have a girlfriend. I don’t mind. I just want to tell him that I love him and am willing to give everything for him.”
He Mingyu rolled her eyes and said, “Girls nowadays are all hooked on novels by a certain Yao.”
Xu Songling, Zhu Feipeng, and Zhao Xiangwan, who were present, had never read Mou Yao’s novels. All three pairs of eyes turned to He Mingyu.
He Mingyu explained, “I’m a romance novelist. When love is deep, you can’t leave each other. You’ll be together for life, in life and death! I hide because I’m afraid of you, and I’m afraid of you because I love you…” After quoting a few lines from the novel, she shuddered, feeling embarrassed by her own words.
Wang Ting thought He Mingyu was a kindred spirit. “Officer He also reads her novels, that’s great! Then you understand why I’m so infatuated with Brother David, right? I just want to love him well. I love his face, his songs, and his uninhibited soul!”
Wang Ting’s thoughts became more intense: [Brother David is so good. Those who try to control him with love are fools. Only I am the most suitable for him. Those two women deserved to die! Let’s see what you can do to compete with me.]
Zhao Xiangwan glanced at Wang Ting. The cute, well-behaved girl only had love in her eyes. The lives of Gu Xiaoling and Wei Lili seemed insignificant to her.
Xu Songling continued questioning Wang Ting about her schedule between November 6th and 10th. Wang Ting casually recalled her life consisted mostly of eating, sleeping, shopping, and writing letters, with little exception for school.
Wang Ting’s thoughts again revealed more: [Why are they asking me this? Can I kill someone? I spit! I think my hands are dirty even though those two bitches deserve to die. It’s the best when they die. Men will realize how good we are.]
Hearing this, Zhao Xiangwan stared at her seriously.
Wang Ting didn’t like the look in Zhao Xiangwan’s eyes. She glared at her and said, “Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t kill them.”
Zhao Xiangwan’s voice was cold. “But if they die, you can occupy Wu Shengli, and you have a motive.”
Wang Ting jumped up, pointing at Zhao Xiangwan’s face. “I won’t let you insult him like that! You don’t understand him at all. When he sings, his heart is full of affection and melancholy. He has the purest soul in the world. It’s those women who pester him and ruin his reputation!”
Zhao Xiangwan responded coldly, “Wu Shengli has had sex with over a dozen women and several foreign men at a bar. You say he has a pure soul?”
***
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Vyl[Translator]
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