Silent Testimony - Chapter 95

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Tao Ling was originally scheduled to be off. However, Qiu Wan knew how eager Tao Ling was to solve the case. Before leaving, Qiu Wan stopped by the forensics department’s technical group. “Xiao Tao, are you busy?”

Tao Ling looked up and replied, “Just writing a report.”

“Come with me to Shujiang University.”

“What do we need to do?” Tao Ling shut down her computer and began gathering the documents on her desk.

“Investigate Du Guozhou’s social circles.”

“Isn’t the school on break?” Tao Ling stood up and walked out side-by-side with her.

“There are still security guards, teachers on duty, and other faculty members living in the staff residential area.”

Qiu Wan was sleep-deprived, so a driver from the Criminal Investigation Brigade took the wheel. She and Tao Ling sat in the back. Just as she was about to close her eyes to rest, a WeChat message arrived from Cheng Yingqiu: 【I’m sorry.】

【What did you do wrong?】 Qiu Wan’s fingers danced across the screen.

【I was reckless.】

Half an hour ago, Qiu Wan had tried to pull away from Cheng Yingqiu’s embrace, only to be pressed against the stairwell corner for a kiss—one that was impatient, frantic, and completely disorganized.

Responding to the kiss, Qiu Wan had whispered during a gap for air, “Don’t rush.”

Cheng Yingqiu’s eyes were misty. “I have to rush. You’re leaving to work soon; I only have five minutes.”

“Eight minutes.”

Cheng Yingqiu’s kisses had gradually drifted toward her neck.

Qiu Wan gently stroked the girl’s head, her voice strained. “Don’t leave a mark.”

Now, looking down at the high-necked cashmere sweater she wore under her down jacket, a helpless smile played on her lips. She typed: 【Don’t let it happen again.】

【Okay!】

Beside her, Tao Ling was also messaging Cheng Yingqiu.

【My sister is driving. She’s prioritizing style over warmth today—just a trench coat and a shirt. I’m freezing on her behalf.】

【I have the scarf.】 Tao Ling felt the warmth spread through her heart as she touched the scarf around her neck, which Li Hewei had personally wrapped and knotted for her.

【Ah, I see.】

【She’s wearing thermal underwear and heat packs under that shirt. She shouldn’t be cold.】

【Oh? You felt them?】

【…】 Tao Ling had only helped apply the heat packs, but hearing the teasing now, her face instantly flushed red.

【Here, a photo. Don’t mention it.】

It was a photo of Li Hewei looking back and smiling while waiting at a red light. Tao Ling saved it immediately and set it as her chat background for Li Hewei’s profile.

After a fifty-minute drive, Tao Ling was woken up from her nap by Qiu Wan.

“Xiao Tao, we’re here.”

Qiu Wan had called ahead, so the police car drove directly into the campus and stopped near the Fifth Teaching Building of the School of Forensic Medicine.

“Mm.” Tao Ling unbuckled her seatbelt and followed her out.

Graduate students primarily studied in the Fifth Teaching Building. Qiu Wan walked quickly and knocked on the duty room door.

“Hello.”

“And you are?” The teacher on duty opened the door, realization dawning. “Oh, Old Huang said some police officers would be coming by.”

Qiu Wan explained, “Correct. We are from the Puchen Public Security Bureau. We’re investigating a case and would like to learn more about Professor Du’s daily life and work habits—his conduct, how he treated people, things like that.”

“I was only recently transferred here, so I didn’t spend much time with Old Du.” The duty teacher looked at the girl behind Qiu Wan and brightened. “Hey, Tao Ling?”

Tao Ling nodded and greeted politely, “Hello, Teacher Zhang.”

Teacher Zhang had been Tao Ling’s Forensic Toxicology instructor and had started teaching graduate students last September.

Teacher Zhang beamed. “You’re in Puchen? Good, you can handle things on your own now.” Then, her expression shifted. She lowered her voice and said seriously, “Actually, I’ve heard rumors that Old Du had a bad reputation. He liked to harass students.”

Alert, Qiu Wan turned on her recording pen. “Please, tell us more.”

“I don’t know the specifics. You should go ask Old Zhou.”

Qiu Wan opened her notebook. “Who is Old Zhou?”

“Professor Zhou Min. She teaches Physical Evidence Examination.” Teacher Zhang gave them Professor Zhou’s phone number. After thanking her repeatedly, Qiu Wan and Tao Ling left.

Qiu Wan contacted Professor Zhou and obtained her address: North Gate of Shujiang University, Residential Area, Building 5, Unit 2.

Tao Ling led the way, taking a shortcut across the basketball court.

“I’m glad I brought you along.” In the biting cold wind, Qiu Wan tucked her hands into her jacket pockets. “Is everything settled at home? Xiao Qiu told me you sold the house.”

Tao Ling didn’t dodge the subject. “Yes. There are no people or things there worth holding onto. I probably won’t go back much in the future.”

“That’s good. I used to work at the Wangyan Town Police Station; I know the local customs there,” Qiu Wan remarked. “There’s still a long road ahead.”

“I hope more girls from my hometown can make it out,” Tao Ling said, looking into the distance, a glimmer of light in her eyes.

As they rounded Building 4, Professor Zhou was already waiting by the roadside across from Unit 2 of Building 3. Qiu Wan stepped forward. “Hello, are you Professor Zhou Min?”

“I am.”

“I heard you worked with Professor Du for seven or eight years.”

“Yes. He took on his first class of graduate students eight years ago.”

Qiu Wan introduced herself first to ease any concerns. “We will be recording this, but we will not make the information you provide public. Please rest assured.”

“I understand. As a teacher, I have a duty to tell the truth,” Professor Zhou began. “Du Guozhou was never decent. Five years ago, someone anonymously reported him for molesting a female student, but there was no evidence then, so the college suppressed it.”

“Groping, sexual innuendos… it might have been his first offense, so he wasn’t bold enough. When the student refused, he didn’t force it. But he got worse. Early last year, Du Guozhou tried to take a female student to a hotel. Fortunately, her parents intercepted them. When they checked the chat logs, they found he had threatened the student multiple times and sent harassing videos.”

“The parents wanted to report it to the police, but because there was no physical harm, the college intervened to mediate. Du Guozhou paid money to settle the matter.”

Qiu Wan frowned. “How much?”

“150,000 yuan.”

The amount was correct.

Tao Ling’s voice was heavy. “Didn’t he pay any other price for this? Did the college issue any formal punishment?”

“Of course. Since last year, he has only been allowed to take on male students.”

Tao Ling shook her head. “That’s not enough. The price was too low. His teaching credentials should have been revoked at the very least.”

“Sigh, that’s why I said I had to tell you the truth. I suppose he’s finally reaping what he sowed.”

Qiu Wan reviewed the testimony, looking for key points. She asked Professor Zhou, “He was anonymously reported five years ago—was that his first class of graduate students?”

“Yes. He had five students, two of them women. But when the Vice Dean approached them, they both said they had nothing to do with the anonymous letter.”

Qiu Wan recorded the details. “Alright, thank you.”

Earlier that morning, Li Hewei had revealed the clues she discovered the previous night. Liu Datong and Zhang Heyuan were both around 170cm tall, and their shoe sizes didn’t match the prints at the crime scene. However, they were still key figures and needed to be investigated thoroughly.

Returning to the car, Qiu Wan immediately contacted Liu Datong, Zhang Heyuan, and Shen Ning.

Zhang Heyuan was honest; Qiu Wan gained no useful information from him. Next was Liu Datong. She asked, “I recall that you were the one who suggested this class reunion?”

“Yes. We haven’t seen each other in five years. It was time for a get-together.”

“But aside from Du Guozhou and Yang, you see the other three frequently for dinner.”

Liu Datong hesitated for a few seconds before responding, “Like you said—aside from Old Du and Old Yang. For a five-year reunion, everyone had to be there.”

Sensing his abnormality, Qiu Wan went straight to the point. “Liu Datong, Li Hewei was knocked out by a bottle of mineral water and was unconscious for nine hours. Whose hands did that water pass through?”

“At… at the time, there were so many people, and I was drunk. I don’t remember.”

“Really? Because Li Hewei said you handed it to her.” Qiu Wan pressed harder. “You’ve been classmates for years. Why frame her? If she is convicted, it’s a capital offense. Two lives are on the line.”

Liu Datong stared at a WeChat message on his tablet. He took a deep breath, gradually regaining his composure. “Don’t try to bluff me. The police don’t have enough evidence. Nothing will happen to her.”

“I work within the public security system too. Who do you think you’re scaring with these tricks? Who are you trying to direct the conflict toward?” Liu Datong played dumb. “I don’t understand.”

“Did you know Du Guozhou molested students?”

Liu Datong swallowed hard. “No.”

“Were you aware of the anonymous letter back then?”

“I wasn’t.”

He denied everything, but Qiu Wan found her answer in his strained breathing.

“Fine. Since you work in the system, you know the severity of perjury. At best, your career is ruined; at worst, you face criminal charges.” Qiu Wan hung up.

She didn’t call Shen Ning immediately. She waited until she arrived back at the station forty minutes later. Only after locking her office door did she make the call.

“Forensic Pathologist Shen, hello.”

“Hello.”

“The public is watching the Du Guozhou and Tao Yang case very closely,” Qiu Wan said. “The Shujiang Municipal Bureau has sent two deputy-level officials to assist. Originally, all evidence pointed to Li Hewei, but as we peeled back the layers, we found someone else. We’ve already modeled his height and build.”

Shen Ning’s tone remained flat. “Why are you telling me this?”

“I just can’t figure out who Li Hewei offended that they are so determined to see her dead.”

“Perhaps it’s a case of good intentions leading to bad outcomes,” Shen Ning said bluntly. “Captain Qiu, is there anything else?”

“The person who anonymously reported Du Guozhou five years ago—it wasn’t you or Li Hewei. Could it have been Liu Datong acting out of a sense of justice?” After her talk with Liu Datong, Qiu Wan was testing her theory.

The voice on the other end remained calm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Just then, Wang Cen knocked and entered, placing a photo of Shen Ning’s younger brother on the desk. He whispered an introduction: “Shen Hao, male, 27 years old, 181cm tall. Ex-military, currently the Deputy Chief of the Security Section at Puchen Experimental Middle School.”

“Got it.” Qiu Wan nodded. She uncovered the phone’s mouthpiece, but before she could speak, the voice on the other end trembled.

“I admit to killing Du Guozhou, Tao Yang, and Shen Zong,” Shen Ning said. “But the death of Chu Xiaoyi, the reporter from the Puchen Evening News—are you people going to do anything about that?”