Silent Testimony - Chapter 39

The police quickly locked onto another suspect, Zhang Dazhou, Zhang Dalun’s younger brother (10 years his junior), who was the top student in Wanyang Town’s college entrance examination in 2012.

In the office, Xiao Zhou browsed his profile and couldn’t help but be amazed: “A college entrance score of 637 points!”

Police officer Xiao Zhang from the station was confused: “Shouldn’t he be studying in Echeng? It’s the 28th today; the National Day holiday hasn’t started yet.”

Qiu Wan stood behind them: “Check his travel itinerary.”

Xiao Zhang frowned: “Zhang Dazhou is 21, one of our town’s top students. Could there be a mistake?”

“No mistake.” Li Hewei pressed the crease between her eyebrows. “Didn’t Captain Qiu say Zhang Dalun’s father had passed away? Unless he has other direct brothers.”

Xiao Zhang, a native of Wanyang, knew the two brothers well and briefly introduced them: “Zhang Dalun and Zhang Dazhou’s father died early. The older brother got involved in gangs, and their mother worked at a garment factory to support the younger brother’s studies.”

Qiu Wan’s face was impassive: “The whole family depends on one person to change their fate?”

Xiao Liao, who was waiting for a reply from the traffic management department, chimed in: “In that case, the possibility of Zhang Dalun taking the fall increases.”

Qiu Wan nodded: “Mhm, let’s find the evidence first.”

Xiao Zhou, next to her, scrolled the mouse and indicated to Qiu Wan: “Boss, another suspicious point.”

“Go on.”

“You asked me to check Qian Gang’s bank statements, right? He is fine—five bank cards with a balance of 2.38 million yuan. But his wife, father, mother, and son each have five or six bank cards, with deposits of two to three million each. The total is a substantial amount.” Xiao Zhou pointed to the table: “They bought two detached houses in Puchen and Shujiang, valued at 1.7 million yuan; two apartments in Wanyang Town, valued at 520,000 yuan; and two cars valued at 450,000 yuan.”

Xiao Zhang’s eyes, fixed on the computer, suddenly widened in astonishment: “A rich man! We all knew Qian Gang wasn’t short on money, but we thought his net worth was at most three or four million.”

Xiao Zhou handed Qiu Wan a few photos: “The watch he wears could sell for over a hundred thousand even second-hand.”

Xiao Zhang speculated: “Money earned from coal mining years ago?”

“No.” Qiu Wan leaned in slightly, pointing to the inconspicuous note at the end of the table: “He bought the properties in September last year and May this year.”

On the other side, Xiao Liao received the reply from the traffic management department and quickly informed them: “Boss, Zhang Dazhou took the high-speed rail back to Shujiang on September 23rd.”

“Just as expected.” Qiu Wan immediately gave instructions: “Xiao Liao, find someone to bring Zhang Dazhou in. Xiao Zhou, prepare to interrogate Zhang Dalun.”

Li Hewei, who felt like she was being ignored, asked, “What should I do?”

“You wait for Xiao Tao to finish her follow-up work and go back to rest.”

Her colleagues were all busy, and Li Hewei didn’t want to be idle: “I slept for two hours last night, dozed for two hours on the high-speed rail, rested for half an hour while you drove, and had a nap at the guesthouse. That’s five or six hours in total, which is completely enough.”

“Leave the interrogation to us. You have other important things to help with tomorrow.”

“What things?”

“Just a feeling.” Qiu Wan had already instructed Old Fang to pull up the surveillance footage of Qian Gang’s residential area and the vicinity, determined to find the person who called for the charter service late that night.

The police station and the guesthouse were 7 kilometers apart, a 10-minute drive. Qiu Wan sent someone to take them back, and Tao Ling remained silent the entire way.

Is she planning to retreat and continue acting like a scared quail? Li Hewei sat on the edge of the bed playing a match-3 game, occasionally watching Tao Ling out of the corner of her eye, confirming the shift in her mood.

Yet, the more she acted this way, the happier Li Hewei became. She intentionally mischievous.

“Tao Ling, I brought a portable kettle. Could you help boil some water?”

“Tao Ling, do you know how to play the match-3 game? I’ve failed level 400 six times. Could you try?”

Even while showering, she deliberately left her towel outside. She put on a face mask and turned the bathroom door lock: “Tao Ling, the towel.”

There was no response for a long while.

“Tao Ling?” Li Hewei knew she was pretending to sleep. After a long time, an arm draped with a white bath towel suddenly appeared before her.

She reached out and took the towel, a mischievous smile hidden beneath the ripple in her eyes. “Why are you being shy? Everything I have, you have.” Li Hewei deliberately asked, intending to tease Tao Ling, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I, I still have things to do.” Tao Ling retreated her arm with lightning speed and scurried away.

Quite cute.

Eager to see her embarrassed expression, Li Hewei dried herself, put on pajamas, and pushed the door open without bothering to dry her hair. Tao Ling was completely hidden under the thin blanket, her head tucked inside.

“Are you asleep?” Li Hewei walked over in two or three steps, gently rubbing her head through the blanket, her voice soft. “Sleeping like that isn’t good for your health.”

Lying on her side, Tao Ling clutched the sheet and stammered, “I, I’m used to it.”

The reaction was too much. Li Hewei let out a nearly imperceptible sigh: “You need to change that habit.” She completely reigned in her cheerful mood and went back to the bathroom to dry her hair. When she came out, Tao Ling had returned to a normal sleeping posture, but she was facing the white wall, unwilling to turn around.

Li Hewei let her be. She turned off the main lights, leaving two reading lamps on, and got into bed. She leaned against the headboard, deliberating on her next step.

She opened the first Yes or No movie, her early enlightenment, deliberately playing it out loud but keeping the volume low. She fast-forwarded straight to the core, showing the segment where they confessed their feelings and discussed love after falling for each other.

“If you like someone, it’s like a thousand butterflies dancing in your heart.” Reviewing the details of her two months of interaction with Tao Ling, her lips curved into an irrepressible smile.

The story ended perfectly. Li Hewei placed the tablet on the bedside table and turned to switch off the reading lamp, only to meet Tao Ling’s dazed gaze. She was momentarily stunned, then quickly explained, “A popular science film that Yingqiu sent.”

“Mhm.” Tao Ling pursed her thin lips and looked away, the temperature of her cheeks unusually high.

Li Hewei offered an evaluation: “Quite good.”

Tao Ling subconsciously asked, “What?”

Li Hewei spoke clearly, word for word: “I said, two girls being together is quite good.”

“Mhm.” Tao Ling’s pale neck was bowed, making her expression invisible. Only the blush spreading across her ears could be seen.

Li Hewei’s eyes instantly filled with a smile, and she called her name: “Tao Ling.”

Tao Ling made a sound from her nose: “Mhm?”

Li Hewei complained while also teasing her: “From now on, when you talk to me, could you add just two more words? Count how many ‘Mhm’s you said in those four sentences just now?”

Tao Ling bit her lip, unable to utter a single word. Li Hewei quickly amended, “Let’s sleep. Goodnight.” She extinguished the lamp and turned her back, silently cursing herself for being reckless.

“Goodnight.”

The soft, slightly husky voice behind her felt like a fluffy feather gently brushing the surface of her heart. Li Hewei was pleased, savoring the moment for a long time until a private message from Cheng Yingqiu interrupted her immersion.

Li Hewei typed a message: [It’s past 10 PM. What are you doing outside?]

[Working!]

Li Hewei was worried: [Alone? Where are your colleagues? Are they with you?]

[They’re here, but I’ll go in by myself later.]

[Where are you going? Is it safe?]

[Why are you nagging just like Sister Qiu?] Cheng Yingqiu clicked send, looked up, and scanned her surroundings. Not far away, a guy with his hands in his pockets, wearing a hoodie, was looking left and right, cautiously approaching her. He asked bluntly, “You’re the reporter my sister found?”