Chapter 79: Officer Su Was Ignored

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“Brother Lei didn’t tell me anything, he just kept repeating the same words: ‘I killed those people. I’m turning myself in.’”

Yan Zheng’s voice was calm—so calm, it was as if he were simply remarking on the weather.

Chen Yu let out a laugh.

He leaned against the wall, hands buried in his pockets, an amused expression on his face as he asked, “Oh? And then?”

As if he’d believe what Yan Zheng just said. That would be a miracle.

This man, from the crown of his head to his heels, exuded cunning from every pore.

Trust the dying confession of Jiang City’s top crime lord? That was pure fantasy.

Yan Zheng’s square, severe face betrayed nothing, only a faint snort through his nose and a meaningful glance at Chen Yu.

“Last night… I wasn’t the only one at the station.”

He paused, as if weighing his words, or perhaps just to build suspense.

“Someone else dropped by.”

In that instant, the air in the holding cell thickened, almost turning solid.

“Hm?” Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Su Qingzhu at his side.

Both caught the shock in each other’s eyes.

“Who was it?” Su Qingzhu blurted out almost reflexively.

Her instincts as a detective screamed that this mysterious visitor was surely the key to unlocking the mystery behind Brother Lei’s death.

But Yan Zheng’s gaze stayed fixed on Chen Yu’s half-smiling face as he replied, “You know this person, Chen Yu.”

“But I doubt that clever mind of yours could guess who.”

Chen Yu’s mouth twitched.

He’d had enough.

The way this old fox talked made him want to punch something. If he weren’t almost certain the man would win in a fight, he’d have already stormed over and taught that square face a lesson in “honesty.”

“I suppose… it’s someone connected to Zhang Fu, right?” Chen Yu tamped down his irritation, frowned, and tossed out the most logical guess.

After all, Zhang Fu was currently the most active—and most dangerous—player on the board.

But Yan Zheng only smiled and shook his head slowly.

“I can’t fathom what that man’s after, either. But I’ve already got him locked in the interrogation room. In a bit, I’ll need you to dig out the answers.”

“Uh…”

Chen Yu was momentarily stunned.

So the answer had been neatly gift-wrapped and set before him all along?

Then what was all this pointless chatter for?

“Who on earth is it?” Su Qingzhu felt her brain cells were being fried by these two men.

She’d only just arrived at the station and hadn’t realized her mentor had already detained someone before her arrival.

She couldn’t help glancing toward the duty log, certain there wouldn’t be any record—another of her mentor’s rule-bending stunts.

Yan Zheng finally ended the suspense. In a voice that wasn’t loud but crashed through the tiny cell like thunder, he uttered two words:

“Pipe.”

...

Silence.

A silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

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“Sixth place on the Detective Star rankings—Chen Yu’s rival,” Yan Zheng added, as if sealing the silence with a heavy, icy lock.

“What?” “Him?” Chen Yu and Su Qingzhu exclaimed in unison, their faces a swirl of astonishment.

Su Qingzhu’s shock stemmed from “Pipe,” a contestant with almost zero presence on the reality show.

But for Chen Yu, the name instantly linked together countless seemingly unrelated clues.

“When Brother Lei turned himself in last night, I was stunned,” Yan Zheng’s expression turned grave as he began to reconstruct the events.

“But before I could question him properly, Pipe appeared.”

“He said he was there to interrogate the suspect on behalf of the show, and presented an authorization letter jointly signed by the producers and the city authorities—all in order. So I let him in.”

Chen Yu’s gaze sharpened.

“Were you present while he questioned Brother Lei?”

“Of course,” Yan Zheng replied firmly.

“Any sort of physical contact?” Chen Yu pressed.

“None,” Yan Zheng shook his head again, absolutely certain.

Chen Yu fell silent.

He lowered his eyes, fingers rubbing his chin, mind racing.

No physical contact… then how did it happen?

“You think Brother Lei’s death is connected to him?” Su Qingzhu asked softly, watching Chen Yu’s furrowed brow, a sense of foreboding rising in her chest.

“I don’t know.”

Chen Yu looked up, his gaze sweeping between Yan Zheng and Su Qingzhu.

“But don’t you find it odd?”

He began his analysis—his tone quiet, but every word clear.

“First, why did Brother Lei turn himself in? A crime boss, out of nowhere, comes to surrender and confesses to both an old case from over a decade ago and a new one.”

“You could explain that by Zhang Fu’s threats—maybe to protect his family or his own interests. He had no choice but to die.”

“But then there’s the second—and most coincidental—point.”

“He arrives at the detective squad, and right on his heels, Pipe shows up.”

“That timing is almost too perfect. What are the odds?”

“And soon after Pipe leaves, Brother Lei is dead.”

“Right under your nose, he suffocated—no chance even to call an ambulance.”

Chen Yu exhaled heavily, then asked, “Has the autopsy report come in?”

“It has. Forensics says there’s no sign of poisoning or injury, and all physiological indicators point to acute myocardial infarction,” Su Qingzhu answered, having just received the report.

“A man who’s been strong and healthy for years—hardly even catches a cold—just ‘naturally’ suffocates?” Chen Yu’s laugh was cold and mocking.

“As far as I know, fifteen years ago Brother Lei didn’t kill anyone. He wasn’t the real Ripper!”

“But Zhang Fu wouldn’t see it that way. To him, Brother Lei was the culprit—because he confessed in the end.”

“Now his daughter’s been murdered the same way, so naturally he blames Brother Lei for everything.”

“So Zhang Fu forced him to surrender, either by threat or by offering something he couldn’t refuse.”

“But here’s the fatal contradiction.”

Chen Yu’s eyes suddenly shone.

“If Pipe was sent by Zhang Fu, isn’t that redundant?”

“Zhang Fu has run Jiang City for years—he has a thousand ways to make Brother Lei disappear without a trace.”

“But he didn’t. He chose to force him to surrender, wanting to kill with the law’s hand—keep his own clean.”

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“But if he didn’t want his hands dirty, why send Pipe to the station to kill in a way that’s so likely to be exposed? It makes no sense—the risk outweighs any reward.”

Chen Yu’s analysis sliced through the case, layer by layer, exposing the raw contradictions beneath.

“Hey, Detective—aren’t you missing something?” Su Qingzhu’s cool voice suddenly cut in, snapping Chen Yu from his thoughts.

He turned with interest, his eyes boldly roaming over her striking face and the curves accentuated by her uniform.

Under his unabashed gaze, the beautiful officer shifted uneasily, her cheeks flushing.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Su Qingzhu asked, her voice uncertain.

“I’m all ears for your insights, Officer Su.” Chen Yu grinned, pure mischief.

She shot him a glare, forcing herself to overlook his invasive gaze, and said sternly, “What I mean is, how can you be so sure Pipe did it?”

“Yes, showing up in the dead of night to question Brother Lei is suspicious. But my mentor was there the whole time!”

“How could he possibly kill someone under the nose of a seasoned detective? With a glance? With his presence?”

Her skepticism was sharp, perfectly in line with a detective’s logic. Without evidence, it was all conjecture.

But Chen Yu rolled his eyes dramatically and, as if he hadn’t heard her, turned back to Yan Zheng.

“What do you think, sir—is Pipe the ‘knife’ Zhang Fu is using for the killing?”

Hearing this, Yan Zheng’s deep, unreadable eyes narrowed.

“Quite possible. Zhang Fu is vengeful to the core—he wouldn’t let Brother Lei peacefully serve his sentence and live out his days in prison.”

“So, Pipe’s motive could be on Zhang Fu’s orders. Or…”

Chen Yu picked up the thread, stroking his chin. “Or he and Brother Lei had some personal vendetta?”

“Hey! Are you two even listening to me?” Su Qingzhu couldn’t hold back any longer. Hands on her slender waist, her curves taut and her chest rising and falling with anger, she felt she might explode.

The two men had so thoroughly ignored her, she might as well have been invisible, a mere prop between them.

“Looks like what Zhang Fu sent wasn’t a ‘result’ after all,” Yan Zheng suddenly exclaimed, as if struck by a revelation, still paying her no mind.

“He might have sent us a ‘clue’ instead!”

“You mean Pipe knows something too? Zhang Fu pushed him forward so we’d pry open his mouth?” Chen Yu’s eyes lit up with understanding.

“Hey!” Su Qingzhu’s patience snapped, and her police boots stomped sharply on the floor.

“Don’t be upset, Officer Su,” Chen Yu finally turned back, his smile all reassurance. “Once we interrogate Pipe, everything will be clear.”

To Su Qingzhu, his smile was infuriating beyond belief.

Yan Zheng nodded, rising from his metal bench. The gravitas of a seasoned detective returned to him.

“Qingzhu, take Chen Yu to see Pipe. He’ll lead the interrogation.”

“Sir… do I have to?” Su Qingzhu was clearly reluctant.

To play second fiddle to this cocky guy? She felt utterly excluded from the inner circle.

“Let’s go, Officer Su.” Chen Yu waved with a grin and strode toward the door.

As he brushed past her, he paused, turned his head, and with a voice only the two of them could hear, murmured with a smirk, “Let me have a good look at my old friend.”