Chapter 40: Evidence? Here Comes the Evidence!

Forl's furious shout crashed over the studio like a bucket of icy water, quenching the fever that had just begun to boil.

"Imagination! Speculation! Chen Yu, everything you've said is nothing but your own fantasies!"

"Where is the evidence? You claim Luo Xiangdong was murdered, you claim the killer is a man—where is your proof? Without evidence, you are slandering! You are defaming the dead! You are making fools of the nation’s viewers!"

His barrage of questions landed with the force of a hammer and cut straight to the heart of the matter.

In the director’s booth, Director Wang, who had just sprung out of his chair, sank back into it. He exhaled long and slow, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and shuddered with relief.

Yes, evidence!

Forl, that idiot, finally said something sensible.

Without evidence, no matter how dazzling Chen Yu’s words, he’d be nothing more than a madman spinning stories for attention. The show might risk a lawsuit for defaming the deceased, but that was far easier to control than confirming an earth-shattering crime of passion. The situation could still be salvaged!

Forl’s challenge also cooled the audience, who had just been stunned into silence. Yes, the tale was explosive, and the logic seemed airtight, but... where was the evidence?

Anyone can spin a yarn with nothing but words.

For a moment, the tone of the live chat shifted.

"Uh... Forl kind of has a point. Zombie Bro’s reasoning is way too wild—he needs some proof, right?"

"Just a story, no real evidence—this is basically fiction, isn’t it?"

"So after all that, he’s just playing us?"

Doubt began to spread, infecting the trust that had only just been built.

At the contestants’ table, the pipe-smoking man and the bubble girl exchanged a complicated glance. They hoped Chen Yu could produce proof and turn the case upside down, yet deep down, it seemed impossible.

How could there be evidence for a secret buried for eleven years?

Once again, all eyes turned to Chen Yu.

The cameras, the host, the contestants, the families, and millions of viewers behind their screens—all awaited his answer.

Faced with Forl’s furious accusation and the mounting pressure, Chen Yu’s expression barely changed; he didn’t even lift his eyelids.

He merely looked at Forl calmly, waiting until Forl’s voice was hoarse, before replying slowly.

"Who said I have no evidence?"

He swept his gaze across the studio, finally locking eyes with the camera.

"The evidence is on its way."

At that, Director Wang nearly dropped his teacup.

Damn! Is it real? Don’t scare me like that!

Meanwhile, viewers who’d just begun to doubt were instantly electrified.

Especially the "Zombie Squad"—after a brief lull, they erupted with unprecedented fervor.

"Did you hear that, haters? Zombie Bro says he has evidence!"

"Haha, I knew it! He never fights unprepared!"

"Zombie Squad, unite! Zombie Bro is awesome! We’re waiting for your evidence!"

"We’ll wait as long as it takes! Nobody’s logging off tonight!"

Countless similar messages flooded the screen like a tsunami, drowning out the skeptical voices.

They expressed their unshakeable faith in Chen Yu with the simplest and most passionate words, keeping the live broadcast ablaze.

This surge of unity left Director Wang in the control room utterly dumbfounded.

In all his years of producing shows, he’d never seen a rookie guest command such terrifying fan power.

This wasn’t a contestant—it was a top-tier celebrity!

On site, the atmosphere froze into an eerie stalemate.

Chen Yu stood poised, as if everything was under his control.

Forl’s face alternated between pale and flushed; he wanted to keep shouting, but Chen Yu’s "on its way" rendered his words hollow.

Host Lin Bing tried several times to smooth things over, but each time the words stuck in her throat—nothing she could say would be right.

Time passed, minute by minute.

The studio was frighteningly quiet; only the tense breaths of the crowd could be heard.

Sweat began to bead on Forl’s forehead. He felt like a clown, roasted over the flames.

He even started to wonder if Chen Yu really had something up his sleeve.

Just as the tension reached its peak and Director Wang was about to cue Lin Bing for a commercial break—

Bang!

The heavy studio doors were suddenly flung open from the outside!

The thunderous sound shattered the silence; everyone jumped, heads whipping toward the entrance.

A striking, commanding figure stood in the doorway.

She wore a crisp navy-blue uniform that accentuated her stunning physique; her face glowed with the flush of urgent exertion, her beauty both fierce and breathtaking.

It was none other than Su Qingzhu, the deputy captain of the city’s investigation unit!

Normally cool and composed, the policewoman now looked somewhat disheveled.

Her chest heaved as she fought for breath, clutching a thick leather file folder to her chest.

She glanced first at Yan Zheng, who had squinted quietly throughout, then locked eyes with Chen Yu at the front of the stage. Ignoring all protocol, she took a deep breath and shouted with all her might:

"Chen Yu!"

"I... I brought everything you asked for!"

Her voice, broken by gasps, was like a shot of adrenaline to everyone supporting Chen Yu.

It was here!

The evidence had really arrived!

"Damn! The policewoman!"

"It’s really her! It’s Officer Su!"

"Hell yes, this is epic! Zombie Bro actually got Officer Su to come!"

The live chat exploded!

If Chen Yu’s words were just a promise before, Su Qingzhu’s appearance was the proof itself.

She was a real police officer—what she brought couldn’t be fake!

Host Lin Bing covered her mouth, her eyes shining with excitement.

This man always creates miracles!

At the contestants’ table, the pipe man and bubble girl exchanged looks, each seeing deep shock in the other’s eyes.

After so many episodes, they’d never seen a contestant mobilize official forces to support their reasoning!

Forl, once so arrogant, suddenly went deathly pale, his face drained of all color.

He stared dumbly at the policewoman with the file, his mind blank.

Impossible...

How could he really summon the investigation unit?

In the midst of shock, joy, and disbelief, Chen Yu finally moved.

He nodded slightly to Su Qingzhu, beckoning her over.

Su Qingzhu, still panting, hurried to the stage and handed the heavy file to Chen Yu, muttering under her breath, "You really know how to put people to work—I nearly ran myself to death!"

"Thanks. I’ll treat you to dinner later," Chen Yu tried to pat her shoulder, but she deftly avoided him, shooting him a contemptuous look.

Chen Yu took it in stride, calmly tearing open the seal.

Rustle—

He poured the contents onto the long table before him.

There were stacks of yellowed old photographs and brittle student files.

Time had settled upon them, giving off the musty scent of the past.

This was Luo Xiangdong’s youth, sealed away.

Chen Yu steadied his breath, and under the gaze of millions, reached out to search.

He sought the name repeatedly shouted in Luo Xiangdong's despair—the man who made him bloom from dust and then cast him into hell.

Feng!

The entire studio was silent.

Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on Chen Yu’s hands and the images rotating on the large screen behind him.

The photos were of verdant college days, faces young and unfamiliar.

Chen Yu searched carefully, his gaze sweeping every graduation photo from the Psychology and Biology departments, every class, not missing a corner or a name.

Time seemed to stretch indefinitely.

One minute...

Two minutes...

Five minutes...

At first, Chen Yu’s expression was calm, confident.

But gradually, his brows began to furrow.

His searching slowed, almost unconsciously.

The stack of photos dwindled, the furrow in his brow deepened.

How could it... not be here?

In the control room, Director Wang’s heart began to race; he stared at the monitor, palms sweating.

On site, Liu Hong clenched her sleeve, the hope in her eyes dimming as Chen Yu’s expression grew ever more grave.

Even the live chat, once feverish with anticipation, became uneasy.

"What’s going on? Why hasn’t he found it yet?"

"Could it be... not there?"

"Don’t panic! Trust Zombie Bro! Maybe it’s in the last photo!"

Finally, Chen Yu opened the last group photo.

He paused for three seconds.

Then, as if frantic, he gathered all the photos and, at a speed almost too fast to see, flipped through them again!

Again... and again!

Rustle, rustle... the sound of paper turning was piercing in the silent studio.

In the end, he stopped.

He looked up in disbelief, those mischievous, rakish eyes now filled with bewilderment.

Sweat had broken out on his forehead.

His face was pale.

Though he said nothing, his shattered expression said it all—

Nothing!

He had searched every file and photo Su Qingzhu had brought, yet the murderer he insisted was at the heart of the case—the man whose name sounded like "Feng"—

Simply did not exist!

Boom—!

The entire studio erupted.