Jinghai City Public Security Bureau.
Even though Li Xiang is an auxiliary police officer, this is his first time here. Whenever he passed by before, he imagined countless times how great it would be if he worked here.
"Miss Lin, please follow me. Your friend should stay here."
The one receiving her was Zhao Yin, who had taken her statement last time. After persuading Li Xiang to stay back, Zhao Yin led her into the interrogation room.
It’s impossible for Li Xiang to accompany her into the criminal interrogation, and he understood this somewhat, so he didn’t insist.
Upon entering the interrogation room and seeing the setup, Lin Feifei was visibly nervous.
"Sit here. Don’t be nervous. Just say what you have in mind. Today we’re going to do a lie detector test on you. Relax, that’s when it works best."
Zhao Yin explained to her, but it was Lin Feifei’s first time facing such a formal police interrogation. She was only a 24-year-old girl; it was impossible for her to relax with just a few words.
The previous two interrogations were also at the hotel. This time, on New Year’s Day, she was called to the public security bureau. She wondered if the police had found new evidence and were there to arrest her.
Thinking this way, Lin Feifei felt both wronged and nervous.
She wished Li Xiang was by her side because only Li Xiang believed her.
"Hello, Miss Lin. I am Yu Chengzhang, the team leader of the special investigation team. First of all, Happy New Year. It’s really our apology for bringing you here on New Year’s Day, but we also ask for your understanding. The police are determined to solve the case. Solving a murder is our principle and bottom line."
Although Yu Chengzhang seemed to be wishing her a happy new year and apologizing, the interrogation actually began with him applying constant pressure on Lin Feifei.
"Of course, if you are innocent, you would also hope the police can quickly catch the real murderer and restore a truth to the deceased, as well as your innocence."
Lin Feifei nodded. Since Chief Yu said so, what else could she say? Of course, she wanted the police to clear her name.
"This here is a lie detector. Later, we will ask you a few questions, and you just need to answer honestly. There’s no need to be nervous."
Once both parties were ready, the machine started, and the interrogation began:
"What is your usual relationship with Yue Zheng?"
"It’s average. We are artists in the same company, and he’s a senior. We see each other often, but it’s just a nodding acquaintance."
"Just a nodding acquaintance? It’s said he turned down a commercial gig to support you this time."
"The concert preparations were all arranged by the company, including the guest singers."
"What do you think of Yue Zheng?"
...
Yu Chengzhang’s questions came one after another, leaving Lin Feifei no time to think.
Meanwhile, the technician beside him was operating the machine.
As the questions increased, the questions Yu Chengzhang asked became increasingly sharp.
Although the results of the lie detector could not be accepted as judicial evidence by the courts, its results could help Yu Chengzhang with some analysis and judgment.
"The drug test results are out; the drug in Yue Zheng’s body is the same as the one found in your room. Do you have anything to say about this?"
"I don’t know. I told you, there were many people in my room that day. I don’t know who took it."
"Currently, there is no evidence proving anyone took your medicine. All evidence points to you. Here, I have to convey the policy: confessing can lead to a lighter punishment, not just confessing but also helping the police, cooperating in the investigation, etc. If all the evidence has to be found by the police themselves, then there’s no chance left. You’re still young and should consider your future."
With the pressure applied before, combined with the psychological tactics now, Yu Chengzhang was confident he could break her psychological defenses, facing a young girl in her twenties.
As expected, Lin Feifei was on the verge of collapse due to Yu Chengzhang’s overwhelming pressure.
She now understood why the police summoned her today; they were treating her as a suspect. The so-called lie detector was probably not that reliable.
"I didn’t kill anyone. How can you say I did it? The police are useless, only bullying a girl like me. The real criminals, you can’t catch even one of them. I only trust Li Xiang to catch the bad guys."
The more Lin Feifei spoke, the more wronged she felt, her eyes reddened, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
Recently, Li Xiang had become very popular online, and it was no surprise to Yu Chengzhang that Lin Feifei would use him as an example.
But the law speaks of evidence, not tears that can wash away suspicion.
The case had been dragging on this long, with the leadership asking about its progress daily, and the special investigation team was under immense pressure.
"I hope you can cooperate. There are some issues, logically, that don’t make sense. From what we understand, your relationship with Yue Zheng is not just an ordinary colleague relationship. Since you entered the music industry, Yue Zheng’s shadow has appeared more or less on your journey. Are you telling me this is a simple colleague relationship?"
Seeing Lin Feifei remain silent, Yu Chengzhang suddenly raised his voice: "Speak, what exactly is your relationship?"
Lin Feifei was clearly startled, and immediately began to cry again: "I didn’t kill anyone. Why doesn’t anyone believe me, why!"
"Don’t cry. What exactly is your relationship with Yue Zheng? Only by cooperating with the police can you clear your name sooner."
Zhao Yin also persuaded her nearby, with her and Yu Chengzhang playing good cop, bad cop. One tough, one soft.
How could Lin Feifei withstand their onslaught? She instantly broke down and cried.
She couldn’t say what her relationship with Yue Zheng was. Saying it would only deepen the police’s suspicion. She could only cry helplessly.
Under Zhao Yin’s repeated comfort, Lin Feifei finally calmed down and said to Yu Chengzhang:
"I’ll cooperate, but I have one condition."
Yu Chengzhang felt a thrill in his heart. Usually, at this point in an interrogation, the suspect begins to confess. As for their request, if it’s not excessive, fulfilling it isn’t a big deal.
"Go ahead, if it’s doable, I’ll help you achieve it."
"I don’t trust you!"
Yu Chengzhang: "..."
Zhao Yin rarely saw Chief Yu deflated, feeling a bit amused, but the occasion was inappropriate to laugh, so she held back. Yet, her small movements made Yu Chengzhang notice something unusual, giving her a sidelong glance.
"Who do you trust then? I can call him over, and I’ll step back."
"Among the police officers, I only trust one person."
"Who?"
"Li Xiang!"
"Who?"
Yu Chengzhang thought he misheard. Was he inferior to an auxiliary police officer?
Although this was the truth, he had never single-handedly captured an A-level wanted criminal.
In this regard, he was indeed not as good as Li Xiang.
But except for that, he was better than Li Xiang in every other respect.
"Li Xiang. I’ll cooperate only if he’s here. If he’s not, you might as well pin the crime on me. At least the prison provides food and lodging."