Yan Yi came to the Hongwu District Police Station again. Even the female police officer responsible for reception recognized him now, and he greeted everyone naturally along the way, looking even more like he worked here than Gong Yingxian did.
When he entered the interrogation room, Qiu Wen and another police officer had already arrived. The man handcuffed to the chair in front of the table was obviously Cai Wan’s older brother, Cai Cheng.
The man had shifty eyes and didn’t dare look the police directly in the eye. His timid demeanor made him look suspicious at first glance.
Gong Yingxian nodded. “Captain Qiu.”
Yan Yi also greeted her.
Qiu Yan said, “Captain Ren, you’ve put a lot of effort into this case. Thanks to your persistence, we were able to arrest and bring this man to justice.”
Yan Yi smiled. “I didn’t really do much afterward. Dr. Gong was the one quietly putting in all the work.”
“He said you were the one who encouraged him not to give up.” Qiu Yan winked at Gong Yingxian. “Right?”
Gong Yingxian coughed lightly and neither confirmed nor denied it.
Qiu Yan turned her face toward Cai Cheng. Her beautiful eyes instantly became cold and sharp.
“He already confessed to quite a lot when he was arrested in his hometown. He now admits that the illegally obtained money was given to him by his father and younger sister and that they told him to take it.”
Cai Cheng immediately shouted, “But I didn’t know the money was dirty! I thought they earned it themselves.”
“You never suspected where the money came from?” Gong Yingxian asked. “Did you have no idea what your family’s income used to be?”
“I didn’t ask.” Cai Cheng lowered his head again.
Qiu Yan looked at him. “Do you want to go to prison?”
“I don’t want to go to prison.” Cai Cheng said fearfully. “I didn’t steal anything or rob anyone. My father gave me the money. How did I commit a crime?”
“You spent stolen money. That’s a crime.” Qiu Yan sneered, deliberately frightening him. “And the money you spent was obtained through poisoning and murder. We suspect you also participated in those criminal activities.”
“No, I didn’t!” Cai Cheng said in panic. “I don’t know anything.”
“Your sister went to prison and you didn’t know? Your father was preparing to flee and you didn’t know?” Gong Yingxian said coldly. “You know everything. You’re just pretending to be stupid.”
“I didn’t. I really didn’t……”
“Right now, the only way you can reduce your sentence is by earning merit.”
Cai Cheng stared blankly at them.
“Once this money is found, we’ll have conclusive evidence. None of your family of three will get away. Now it depends on who contributes more information to the police. Whoever contributes more can get a few years shaved off their sentence.” Qiu Yan tucked her long, dark hair behind her ear. The feminine gesture somehow carried the murderous aura of a sword about to be drawn. “You say your sister and father gave you the money and that you knew nothing. But your sister also says she knew nothing and was acting under someone else’s orders. Was that person you?”
“That’s nonsense! She did it! I didn’t break the law!”
Gong Yingxian looked satisfied. “Are you willing to identify Cai Wan?”
Cai Cheng’s eyes darted around as he continued to hesitate.
Qiu Yan stood up. “Then we’ll go interrogate Cai Wan first.”
“Wait!” Cai Cheng hurriedly said. “I…I…”
Qiu Yan nodded at the other police officer. “You stay and take his statement.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The three of them left the interrogation room. Yan Yi patted his chest and immediately felt an immense sense of relief.
“Great. Now she can’t deny it anymore.”
Gong Yingxian also looked pleased. “These past few months of work weren’t wasted.”
“Exactly. You managed to track down all the real culprits in this case. Congratulations.” Qiu Yan extended her hand toward Yan Yi. “Captain Ren, I want to thank you again for helping our police department. I heard that you’ve already started investigating the Wanyuan residential complex case with Yingxian. With you here, we’ll be twice as effective.”
Yan Yi smiled. “Captain Qiu, you’re too kind. Our chief and deputy detachment leader both strongly support me in assisting you with the investigation. No matter what, we’re working toward the same goal.”
Qiu Yan glanced at Gong Yingxian and sighed with emotion. “Yingxian is like a younger brother to me. His personality isn’t very sociable. Seeing how well you two get along, I’m genuinely relieved. And I also have to thank you for being so tolerant of him, Captain Ren.”
Yan Yi smugly raised his chin at Gong Yingxian. “Hear that? Captain Qiu has such sharp eyes. She saw how tolerant I am of you.”
Gong Yingxian snorted. “You believe even polite remarks? Are you thirty or three?”
Yan Yi shrugged. “I’ll believe anything that praises me.”
The three chatted and laughed for a few more moments when suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the office. From the sound of it, it seemed to be coming from the lobby.
They walked out of the office, and Qiu Yan asked, “What’s going on?”
Everyone looked confused.
A woman’s voice screamed, “He killed my husband! He’s a murderer! He killed my husband and he killed the neighbors too!”
Following the sound, they saw a seemingly hysterical middle-aged woman. She held her son with one hand and grabbed a man’s clothes with the other, dragging him into the police station without letting up.
Everyone in the lobby turned to look.
A police officer stepped forward. “Ma’am, do you want to report a crime? Please come with me—”
“Him! I want the police to arrest him! He killed my husband!” The woman’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the man. “He’s the one who set the fire at Wanyuan Residential Complex! He’s a murderer!”
Yan Yi exchanged a surprised glance with Gong Yingxian.
The man looked indifferent and disdainful.
“Ma’am, please calm down first. Come over here and register your report.”
Gong Yingxian walked over. “Ma’am, please sit down. If you continue getting this agitated, we won’t be able to help you. Sir, please sit down as well.”
“I’m not sitting.” The man said coldly. “I didn’t do anything. This crazy woman insisted on dragging me to the police station, saying that if I didn’t come, it meant I had a guilty conscience. I’m here now. I’ll leave after I’ve said what I have to say.”
“You killed my husband!” The woman screamed hysterically. “Officer, he fought with my husband before. He’s always been giving our family trouble. It must have been him who started the fire!”
“That’s because your family is shameless!” the man cursed.
“Fuck your mother, you animal!”
The two looked as though they were about to start fighting.
“Both of you, calm down.” Qiu Yan slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “Do you want to explain everything clearly, or do you want to fight in the police station and get detained?”
Yan Yi sized up the three people.
The woman was aggressive, the man was disdainful, while the boy, who looked about ten years old, seemed particularly dazed, as though none of this had anything to do with him. He simply played with his phone.
The woman swallowed her anger and sat down.
Gong Yingxian said, “Name.”
“My name is Wang Mei.”
“Peng Fei.”
“Ms. Wang, please explain what you’re reporting.”
“I’m from Unit 2209 at Wanyuan Residential Complex. My husband was burned to death when someone set our home on fire, and many of our neighbors were burned to death too.” Wang Mei became emotional, crying as she spoke. “This bastard has always had it in for us. He’s always been looking for trouble with us. A few months ago, he even got into a fight with my husband. It must have been him who started the fire!”
Peng Fei snorted coldly. “I didn’t set the fire. I wasn’t even home when it happened.”
“Mr. Peng, which unit do you live in?”
“I’m their neighbor, 2213.” Peng Fei said, “If I started the fire, why would I burn my own home? Luckily no one was home, but I still suffered quite a bit of damage.”
“Is it true that you had a physical altercation with the occupants of 2209?”
“Yes. He was asking to get hit.”
“You’re talking bullshit……”
“Ms. Wang, please calm down.” Yan Yi intervened.
“Why?” Gong Yingxian asked. “Why did you have a physical altercation? And why does Ms. Wang believe that you started the fire?”
Peng Fei sneered. “Do you know how bizarre and irritating that family is? They’re famous throughout the entire complex. Everyone knows about the outrageous things they’ve done. They refuse to buy a parking space and constantly take other people’s spots. They’ve stolen neighbors’ food deliveries and packages and been caught on surveillance cameras. And there’s more. Because they’re too lazy to go downstairs and throw out their trash, they often throw garbage into the elevator, making the whole elevator stink.”
Wang Mei glared viciously at Peng Fei.
“Later, the property management tried to fine them. They refused to pay, but they did tone it down a little. They started piling the garbage outside their door instead. They’d leave ten or more bags sitting there without throwing them away. The entire hallway would stink of garbage, attracting rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, you name it. Whenever anyone criticized them, they’d throw a fit and act shameless and unreasonable.” Peng Fei gritted his teeth. “How unlucky do we neighbors have to be to end up with a family like this? I’ve been educated. I’ve been civilized and reasonable enough, but I really couldn’t stand having neighbors like this anymore. However, I didn’t set the fire. I don’t care if she falsely accuses me. If I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it. Investigate all you want.”
The members of the public who had come to the station for other matters were dumbfounded. They probably hadn’t imagined that such an outrageous family could actually exist in real life.
The police officers and firefighters, however, remained completely calm. They had seen far too many bizarre things and had long since become accustomed to them.
Wang Mei shouted, “What the hell does any of that have to do with it? Is it illegal for me to borrow someone’s parking space? Is it illegal if I accidentally take the wrong delivery? Is it illegal to put garbage outside my own door? I’m telling you, setting a fire and killing someone is illegal! Our entire family depended on my husband to earn money. You killed my husband! How are we, a widow and an orphan, supposed to survive? I want you to pay for my husband’s life!”
Peng Fei looked at her with disgust. “Crazy. She’s sick.”
Wang Mei was about to leap up and grab him, but the police pulled her back.
Gong Yingxian was getting a headache from their arguing. He kept tapping the table.
“Mr. Peng, go home for now. Our officers will contact you later to cooperate with the investigation. Ms. Wang, we’ll first register your report according to procedure. Then we can proceed.”
While the police officer handled the report, Yan Yi and Gong Yingxian stood to the side and spoke quietly.
“Although Peng Fei doesn’t look like the arsonist, and he’s insisting that he has an alibi, the victim’s wife makes it sound very likely that this was an arson attack carried out for revenge.”
Yan Yi nodded. “If what Peng Fei said is true, then this family must have offended quite a few people. That’ll make the investigation difficult.”
“I’ll investigate Peng Fei’s alibi. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the residential complex with my colleagues and verify what they said.” Gong Yingxian rubbed his chin. “The fire just happened to burn the garbage. That makes the neighbors on the same floor the most suspicious.”
“I’ve taken a few days off. I can go with you tomorrow. The two of us can also search the fire scene for more clues.”
“Okay.” Gong Yingxian rubbed his temples. “I have a bit of a headache. I want to go home first.”
“You barely ate anything all day. No wonder you’re feeling unwell. Go back and get some rest.” Yan Yi said, “Drop me off at Wanyuan Residential Complex on the way. My car is still parked there.”
“Let’s go.”
As usual, Yan Yi drove while Gong Yingxian sat in the passenger seat. They discussed the case the entire way.
Suddenly, Yan Yi’s phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was Qi Xiao calling.
He had completely forgotten about their planned meeting. For some reason, he didn’t really want to answer the call in the car, because in such an enclosed space, Gong Yingxian could easily hear everything.
He quietly pressed mute.
Unexpectedly, less than a minute later, the phone rang again.
Gong Yingxian glanced at him. “You’re not answering?”
Yan Yi had no choice but to press the answer button.
“Hello?”
“Hey, bro.” Qi Xiao’s voice came from the other end. “Are you at Wanyuan Residential Complex?”
“Huh? How do you know?”
“What a coincidence. I had an audition nearby today. I passed by here after I came out, and I saw your car parked by the roadside. Are you inside the complex?”
“Ah, no. I’m in a friend’s car taking care of something.”
“Are you coming back now? I’ll wait here for you. I’m free afterward anyway. We can go grab a drink.”
“Uh……” Yan Yi really couldn’t think of a reason to refuse, so he could only say, “Sure. I’ll be there soon.”
Gong Yingxian drove back to Wanyuan Residential Complex. From a distance, he saw a man standing beside Yan Yi’s Highlander. The man was dressed extremely fashionably and was strikingly handsome.
Gong Yingxian frowned slightly.
Yan Yi parked, opened the door, got out, and waved at Qi Xiao.
Qi Xiao walked over with a smile. “What are the odds? In a city as big as Tianqi City, we can still run into each other. Did you buy a new car?”
He looked into the car and happened to see Gong Yingxian sitting in the passenger seat. He immediately froze.
Even among people in the entertainment industry, someone as good-looking as Gong Yingxian was extremely rare. On top of that, his aura was highly distinctive.
Gong Yingxian got out of the car and silently stared at Yan Yi.
“Oh, this is my friend, Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao, this is Dr. Gong. We’re working together now.”
Qi Xiao exaggeratedly exclaimed, “Wow! You’re that handsome and you’re a doctor too? What kind of doctor?”
“Chemistry.” Gong Yingxian said flatly.
“Wow, that’s impressive.” Qi Xiao said. “Yan Yi and I are going for drinks. Come with us.”
“I don’t drink.” Gong Yingxian turned around, got back into the car, slammed the door shut, and drove away without hesitation.
Qi Xiao looked at Yan Yi in confusion.
“Uh, did I offend him?”
Yan Yi smiled bitterly. “No. He’s just a little strange. Don’t take it personally.”
Qi Xiao clicked his tongue twice. “He’s really handsome. It’d be such a waste if he didn’t become a celebrity. Bro, you wouldn’t happen to be with him……”
“Nothing like that. We’re just colleagues.” Yan Yi deliberately answered vaguely.
“Oh. That’s kind of a shame.” Qi Xiao shrugged. “Honestly, I’m a little jealous, but if you say there’s nothing going on, then there’s nothing going on.”
Yan Yi snorted. “Let’s go. Where do you want to drink?”
“The usual place.”
“How was your audition today?”
“Pretty good. It’s a movie, a big production, and the director is incredible. They actually managed to get Song Juhan to sing the theme song.”
“Oh, that’s great. I hope you get the part.”
“I auditioned for a thief. There’s about eight minutes of screen time, and it’s a really good role.”
The two chatted as they drove toward Sanlitun.
Along the way, Yan Yi kept thinking about Gong Yingxian’s reaction just now.
Was he angry?