Silent Testimony - Chapter 27

“People can lie, but material evidence will not.”

“It’s likely Sun Luying.” Zhou Lin revealed the truth without reservation. “Fifteen minutes ago, I received the police summons call, and the moment I walked out the door, she called me.”

Qiu Wan was alerted. “What was the content of the call?” She knew Rongke’s influence in Puchen was deeply entrenched, but she had never anticipated that they would act so swiftly, as if they were privy to every move the police made.

“She demanded that I voluntarily confess to murdering Yang Guang and tell you that Sun Hao was merely naive and manipulated by me.” Zhou Lin scoffed. “She thought money was omnipotent and offered 1 million to my parents to ensure they lived a worry-free life.”

“But I have already put life and death out of my mind. How could I care about money?” Zhou Lin was always planning ahead and explained, “I used my phone to record the conversation, but she probably has anti-eavesdropping software, so the audio quality is poor. You can try to restore it.”

Qiu Wan relayed the details to Bureau Chief Liu, who indicated he would personally interrogate Sun Luying and instructed Qiu Wan to complete the evidence chain for Zhou Lin’s crimes.

[Understood. She has already confessed the facts of Yang Guang’s murder.] Although Qiu Wan sympathized with Zhou Lin’s circumstances, as an officer of the law, her duty and mission required her to complete the procedure and control every aspect.

Through subsequent interrogation, Qiu Wan learned that Yang Guang had driven Sun Hao’s Porsche to Wanfeng City late on the night of July 19th and did not leave the villa for the next four days.

“Why were you so certain Yang Guang would agree to go to Wanfeng City?”

“Yang Guang is greedy and vain. Sun Hao proactively showed goodwill, saying he was going to Lang City and that the villa would be empty.”

Qiu Wan scrutinized, “Sun Hao was also at the villa. How did they handle meals for those four days?”

“Sun Hao bought high-end instant food. Yang Guang thought it was gourmet take-out and didn’t suspect a thing.” Zhou Lin gave a pained smile. “I used to think he was wonderful in every way. Now that I see clearly, I even curse myself for being so blind back then. A person so foolish could be deceived even by Sun Hao.”

Qiu Wan was informed of the progress in the room next door. She exhaled softly, relieved. “Zhou Lin, let me share some good news with you. Sun Luying has confessed to shielding Sun Hao, threatening and bribing Chen Kang, and is suspected of crimes including obstructing justice, destroying evidence, and forging evidence.” On August 2nd, the police went to Huicui Villa to take water samples for testing. Sun Luying noticed the discrepancy, contacted Sun Hao, and, hearing his evasiveness, realized the seriousness of the situation, so she sent someone to Wanfeng City to clean up the scene. On August 4th, she learned that Chen Kang confirmed Sun Hao was in Puchen on the 23rd. She took advantage of him being home, called to coerce him to change his testimony, and bought his silence with 300,000 in cash.

“An overly kind mother spoils her son. Sun Hao is only good at academics; in all other aspects, he is worthless.”

Qiu Wan summarized the three large paragraphs of messages Xiao Liao sent her. “Sun Hao’s father died early, and Sun Luying was busy with work when he was young, so she felt she owed her son. Our Bureau Chief discussed the situation with Sun Luying from the perspective that every individual has their own independent responsibility, pointing out that she has no obligation to rescue Sun Hao. Whoever committed the act must bear the consequences.”

“So, having participated in the murder of Yang Guang, I am willing to accept the punishment of the law.” Zhou Lin extended both hands, awaiting Qiu Wan’s handcuffs.

“I forgot to tell you that the police will immediately verify every word you say. We retrieved your lung examination results from the Women and Children’s Hospital. There is only one CT report, which indicates a solid nodule in the middle segment of the left lung, but no biopsy. Where did the ‘advanced low-grade differentiation’ come from?” Qiu Wan stood up, took the handcuffs from her waist, and walked next to her.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lin’s lips slightly parted, and a flash of disbelief crossed her eyes. “The doctor said the nodule had blood vessels running through it and that the possibility of malignancy was high. Later, I searched through the browser and learned about advanced low-grade differentiation.”

“I sent the report to a doctor friend. She said solid nodules also have a probability of being inflammatory and suggested observing it for three months before another CT scan. You haven’t had any clinical symptoms for half a year—didn’t you suspect anything?” Qiu Wan found it unbelievable, but she also understood Zhou Lin’s state of mind at the time. How could she have the presence of mind to verify?

“I…”

While Zhou Lin was stunned, Qiu Wan handcuffed her wrists and said in a deep voice, “Thank you for your cooperation.” She turned to instruct the clerk to handle the paperwork, then pushed the door open. Two colleagues quickly entered to take the woman away.

Qiu Wan walked aimlessly to the open space in front of the main building, her hands in her pockets, looking up at the sky. Dawn had broken. The pale blue morning light illuminated her tired face. The case was finally solved, so why did she feel a thousand conflicting emotions?

“Xiao Qiu.” Bureau Chief Liu came out just then. Seeing her solitary figure from afar, she walked closer.

Qiu Wan took her hands out of her pockets and replied, “Bureau Chief Liu.”

“No need to be so formal.” Bureau Chief Liu said warmly. “Come, let’s go get a bowl of noodles.”

“Okay.” Qiu Wan tucked her hands back into her pockets.

Across from the Public Security Bureau was a late-night noodle shop. The owner was a relative of Elder Sister Wang from the Major Case Team. Knowing they often worked overtime, she specifically hired three aunts who could work the night shift, rotating shifts.

“One bowl of beef noodles.”

“One bowl of pork rib noodles.”

The aunts recognized them and smiled in greeting. “Alright, Bureau Chief Liu and Team Leader Qiu, please wait a moment.”

Bureau Chief Liu brought two bowls of soy milk. Qiu Wan took two pairs of chopsticks. The two sat down at an outdoor table. The elder woman had already noticed Qiu Wan’s preoccupation and asked casually, “What are you thinking about?”

“I feel regret for Zhou Lin. She is quite intelligent but fell for the wrong person.” Qiu Wan slightly twisted her lips and added, “Bureau Chief Liu, please excuse me. As an officer of the law, I shouldn’t bring personal emotions into my work.”

“You shouldn’t say that. We police are human, too. The blood we shed has warmth, as long as you don’t let emotion override the law.” Bureau Chief Liu’s smile was gentle. “I’ve been handling cases for 20 years. Last October, I still cried for a mother who killed for her daughter, but that didn’t stop me from bringing her to justice. You’re the same, aren’t you?”

Qiu Wan pondered for a moment and nodded. “Yes.”

Bureau Chief Liu talked about her insights from handling cases over the years, occasionally making a joke. Qiu Wan’s tightly pressed lips slowly relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on her cheeks.

The next day, in the Technical Group office, after the morning meeting ended, He Ying continued the previous discussion.

“I heard Yang Guang’s mother specifically traveled here from her hometown to plead for Zhou Lin.”

Before Zhou Lin surrendered yesterday, she called Yang Guang’s mother to confess. She stated frankly that she was sorry to Yang’s mother but had no regrets and therefore did not ask for forgiveness.

Even the police hadn’t expected Yang’s mother to show up today.

Zhao Xiaoting sighed. “Who would have thought? Zhou Lin treated the dead scumbag’s mother like her own, caring for her for years.”

Li Hewei replied to Qiu Wan’s WeChat message and looked up to join the conversation. “The victim’s mother pleading for leniency will be considered by the judge. Team Leader Qiu also introduced a lawyer friend to Zhou Lin’s family. The lawyer said that since Zhou Lin has the mitigating factor of surrendering, she likely won’t receive the death penalty. Fifteen years is the most probable outcome, and with good behavior in prison, she can still have her sentence reduced.”

Hearing this, the gloom on Tao Ling’s face lifted slightly. “Let’s hope so.”

With the major case solved, Li Hewei allowed them to change their clothes and prepare to leave work early, even though it was a weekday.

With two minutes left before the clock struck, she scrolled through her phone out of boredom when the screen suddenly flashed with an unread message notification.

Li Hewei clicked on it and found the private message was from Tao Ling, a smile instantly blossoming on her lips.

[Sister Wei, let’s not eat dinner at the cafeteria.]

[Mhm?]

[How about we go grocery shopping?]

[Isn’t working already hard enough? You still want to go home and cook?] Li Hewei was not happy with the idea, regardless of who was cooking.

[I’m not tired.]

[No. It’s the second day of your period, right? And you still have that injury on your arm.]

[The arm injury has been dressed, and it doesn’t hurt.]

[No.] Li Hewei looked up, unexpectedly meeting Tao Ling’s gentle gaze. She read the lips of the other woman: Sister Wei? Calling her Sister Wei won’t work, she mumbled, yet deleted the word “No,” compromising: [I’ll help.]

In the end, two people turned into three. Li Hewei was in charge of pushing the cart. Tao Ling and Cheng Yingqiu walked through the everyday items section and turned into the seasoning area.

“Sister Wei, I saw that the house only has pots and pans, no seasonings.”

The corner of Li Hewei’s mouth curved up. “I said you’re in charge tonight.”

“Okay.”

Tao Ling’s eyes curved into crescent moons. She carefully placed essential seasonings like salt, chicken essence, MSG, oyster sauce, and soy sauce into the cart, then took two bags of dried ingredients for soup. Just as she turned around, Cheng Yingqiu stopped her. “It’s so hot out; aren’t you afraid of getting a nosebleed from drinking soup?”

“Just occasionally. Sister Wei should like it.”

Cheng Yingqiu was skeptical. “She likes soup? How do I not know that?”

Li Hewei’s smile widened. “I do like it.”

Cheng Yingqiu pouted. “Hmph, you two are in collusion.”

They turned right to the fresh food section. Tao Ling selected half a rack of ribs suitable for soup, asking the attendant to weigh it. Cheng Yingqiu was curious. “Stewed spare rib soup? With lotus root or corn?”

“Bitter melon, pork rib, and soybean soup.”

Cheng Yingqiu was stunned. “Bitter melon and soybeans? You must be joking. Do those two even go together?”

The ribs weighed 1.6 jin (approx. 800g), costing 35.8 yuan. Tao Ling reached out to take the ribs, patiently explaining to her, “Yingqiu, bitter melon, pork rib, and soybean soup is great for summer. It clears heat and reduces internal fire. You have to trust me.”

Cheng Yingqiu sought agreement. “Sister, do you believe her? I’ve never had that in my life.”

“Bitter melon, pork rib, and soybean soup is delicious.” It was one of the signature soups of Guangzhou Province. Li Hewei had been craving it for half a month and had planned to have a feast at a restaurant over the weekend. Tao Ling was fulfilling her craving ahead of time.

Cheng Yingqiu was astonished. “Are you possessed? Or bewitched?”

Tao Ling responded for Li Hewei. “Sister Wei’s taste has become lighter recently, and she can’t eat spicy food. So, I thought I’d cook a couple of dishes when I have free time, and she can take them to work for lunch the next day.”

Cheng Yingqiu mused. “Really? Then I’ve been an incompetent younger sister for not noticing.”

Tao Ling weighed half a jin of beef, one jin of deboned chicken, and finally went to the vegetable section, holding up a bitter melon to introduce. “Yingqiu, this is ‘Lei Gong Zao’ (Thunder God Chisel) bitter melon. It becomes sweet and refreshing when stewed in soup.”

“I’ve never seen that. We usually buy the long, thin bitter melons.”

“I already soaked the soybeans, scallops, and dried oysters when I got home at noon.” “Yingqiu, grab two plastic bags.” “It’s no trouble. I’ll do it.”

No wonder she disappeared for 40 minutes during lunch break. Li Hewei gazed at her busy yet orderly actions. The frequency of her heart’s beating—disorder was only an instant away.