Unlike the third layer of the Underground Prison, the prison at the first layer has stricter supervision, even during nap time, there are guards stationed every fifty meters. However, the spacing between the infrared surveillance devices here is looser compared to those on the third level, relying more on manpower monitoring.
The design and construction of the prison holding Li Zhen are very similar to the room that previously held the female military person under Jia’s detention, except that her door is not made of glass, and the walls are ordinary walls.
When Xia You and Lu Xun walked in, Li Zhen was still sitting dumbly on the chair, just like before in the interrogation room.
"Tang Li, someone wants to see you," the accompanying soldier reminded.
Li Zhen still sat indifferently on the chair. Lu Xun gestured for the guards to leave. For the past few days, the female prisoner always had the same expression, the same actions. If it weren’t for her still eating and resting normally, the interrogators would have thought she’s gone mad.
Xia You sat next to Li Zhen for a while, trying to see if she would react.
"It’s useless, even if you sit for an hour, there won’t be much response." Lu Xun’s subordinates include skilled interrogators, but neither psychological counseling nor threats and bribes worked.
The Underground Prison of the military region seemed to have a mysterious effect. Previously, the overly excited female prisoners, and now the overly quiet Tang Li, made it difficult for interrogators to proceed.
"In cases where the inmates cannot be interrogated, how do you handle them? Keep them detained in the Underground Prison indefinitely, Lieutenant Colonel Lu?" Xia You’s question carried a sharp edge.
"I am not included in today’s interrogation; you just need to make her talk," Lu Xun chose to endure in response to Xia You’s provocative tone.
Suddenly, Xia You stood up, placing her hand on Li Zhen’s knee. Due to human instinct, Li Zhen’s knee shook slightly, but after the shaking, she became unresponsive again.
Xia You took out her cellphone.
"Electronic devices are not allowed in the prison," Lu Xun felt it necessary to stop Xia You’s action. The electromagnetic walls all around typically render ordinary electronic devices non-functional.
However, Xia You’s phone, although not sleek in appearance but exceptionally powerful, still functioned under its owner’s operation.
"We are angels fallen to the mortal world,
Flapping powerless white feathers,
God has blessed you and me,
And also planted the fetters of fate,
You fulfilled my dream,
Yet I am powerless to protect you,
Can only watch you turn into Black Feather sinking into the sea,
Weary in body and mind waiting,
My body, my heart,
Minute by minute and moment by moment,
Yearning for a moment of deathly relief."
"Angel of Yimo Yisheng," Xia You rarely took interest in a song, but after listening to this debut track by Death Track, she had unintentionally downloaded it to her phone.
"I really like this song," Xia You started singing in the prison, oblivious to others. After one rendition, as if worried that Li Zhen couldn’t hear her clearly, she leaned in close to Li Zhen’s ear and continued singing.
Lu Xun patiently watched Xia You’s actions; when Xia You lifted Li Zhen’s hair and leaned into her ear, Xia You’s movement was gentle, caring as if tending to a patient.
This made Lu Xun fantasize, feeling a tickle in his ears, which was a stark contrast to the impression Xia You previously left on him.
"Do you still remember me? Li Zhen," Xia You stopped singing, looking straight at Li Zhen. From the blankness in Li Zhen’s eyes, Xia You seemed to see something else, she seemed to see another Li Zhen, one imprisoned in her subconscious.
The song on the phone stopped, Li Zhen sighed, "Xia You, you little devil, so you were undercover."
Lu Xun and Xia You glanced at each other, both saw surprise in their eyes.
Xia You did not expect Li Zhen could actually come to her senses.
The first thing Li Zhen asked for after coming to was a cigarette. Heeding a signal from Xia You, Lu Xun stepped out of the prison and fetched a pack of cigarettes, although he himself didn’t smoke.
"This wasn’t my doing." Li Zhen smoked a cigarette, blew a smoke ring, and slowly recounted her experiences over the past few days.
According to Li Zhen’s description, she felt as if she had been locked in fog, like a lost wanderer. Someone kept talking in her ear, but she couldn’t remember what was being said.
"Do you remember anything spoken by the interrogators or the Hypnotist?"
"No, I am a person who is even afraid to kill fish, let alone people. Weapons? I can’t even bear to think about it." Li Zhen was no saint; carrying the blame for others, especially in such a big case, was out of the question.
"But in your home, firearms were found, and your phone call prior," Lu Xun pointed out the evidence.
"This officer," Li Zhen obviously hadn’t realized she wasn’t in a police station; Xia You nudged her, and she looked at Lu Xun’s uniform, hastily modifying her words. It appeared Lu Xun was more intimidating than a police officer, "Sir, you’ve seen cop movies, right? This is called framing. And I don’t even remember making any phone calls."
Xia You couldn’t help laughing out loud at this while Lu Xun’s bushy eyebrows bristled, but he didn’t lash out then and there. Instead, he immediately notified everyone involved in the interrogation, and Lin Yi himself, that there had been a major breakthrough in the case. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)