The Cannon Fodder Roles I Play All Become White Moonlights [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 29.2

After dropping Su Qingmeng off at the entrance of the Cultural Troupe, Yang Dongming watched her walk inside. He suddenly called out, “Su Qingmeng.”

She turned back, her eyes bright and lively, already back to her usual self, as if the earlier gentleness had been nothing but his illusion.

Pouting with displeasure, she said, “How many times has Uncle Jiang told you not to call me by my name directly? Hurry up and go to school. I’m telling you, if your school calls for a parent now, I won’t even bother.”

With a wave of her hand, she headed into the Cultural Troupe.

Halfway there, she was pulled aside by Teacher An.

Worry was etched deeply on Teacher An’s brow. “I heard Lin Wangbei’s father has come to Nanjiang Island.”

Su Qingmeng remained calm. “Maybe he’s here to take him back.”

Teacher An swallowed nervously and whispered, “I heard that after Lin Wangbei was captured by Commander Jiang, he committed suicide out of guilt. So, his father is here to settle the score with Commander Jiang.”

“Really?” Su Qingmeng widened her eyes as if hearing it for the first time, then patted Teacher An’s hand reassuringly. “Even if it’s as you say, Lin Wangbei’s father is in the wrong. Commander Jiang will be fine.”

“I hope so.” Teacher An was still worried. She glanced at Su Qingmeng and asked, “Aren’t you concerned?”

After all, Jiang Lingfeng and Su Qingmeng were close, and everyone knew Jiang Lingfeng was pursuing her. For her sake, Jiang Lingfeng, who rarely attended performances, never missed a show where Su Qingmeng was dancing.

“I’m not worried,” Su Qingmeng replied, her expression unchanged. “Worrying won’t solve anything.”

Teacher An didn’t know whether to admire her carefree attitude or her strong mental fortitude. With a temperament like hers, she was truly suited for dance, nothing from the outside world could affect her performance.

Su Qingmeng had thought it would be a few more days before she was called in for questioning, but on the third day of Jiang Lingfeng’s confinement in the military unit, someone came looking for her.

She was in the dance studio of the Cultural Troupe, wearing her practice attire, when Teacher An rushed in, flustered and stammering, “I… I saw Lin… Lin…”

Right behind her, the troupe leader, Zhang Dachun, hurried in. “Xiao Su, come out for a moment. There’s a leader from the capital here to see you.”

Su Qingmeng paused briefly. “Let me change my clothes first.”

“Ah, at a time like this, what’s the point of changing?” Zhang Dachun didn’t let her change and immediately led her to Lin Jiaying.

Lin Wangbei’s father, Lin Jiaying, appeared to be an exceptionally refined man, but his eyes were filled with a sinister intensity, making him seem far less gentle than his son.

He stood there, scrutinizing Su Qingmeng from head to toe. The young woman was tall and slender, with delicate features and fair skin. Dressed in her practice attire, her long limbs and slender waist were accentuated, as if she were glowing, strikingly eye-catching. No wonder not only had Lin Wangbei fallen for her, but even someone as rigid as Jiang Lingfeng was pursuing her.

“Sit.” Lin Jiaying spoke with a semblance of courtesy as he invited Su Qingmeng to take a seat. Instead of bringing her back to the military base, he had come directly to the cultural troupe with Li Jianhua and another investigator from the capital, Old Zheng. This was to avoid Jiang Lingfeng encountering Su Qingmeng and, more importantly, to break through Jiang Lingfeng’s psychological defenses.

Having someone you care about creates a weakness.

Su Qingmeng showed no trace of the anxiety one might expect when facing superiors. Boldly pulling out a chair, she sat down and asked, “Is there any water? I’m thirsty from dancing just now.”

Lin Jiaying was momentarily taken aback, struggling to process her casual demeanor. Li Jianhua, familiar with Su Qingmeng’s style, quickly slid his teacup over to her.

Su Qingmeng glanced at it and wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I don’t drink coarse tea. I want plain boiled water.”

Lin Jiaying’s expression hardened. “Comrade Su, we’re here to ask you some questions.”

“Since you’re here to ask me questions, shouldn’t you offer me a glass of water? Comrade, I don’t know who you are, but since you’re from the capital, I’d expect your ideological awareness to be higher. Can’t you even manage the most basic service for the people? Or are you trying to practice bureaucracy here?”

When it came to verbal sparring, Su Qingmeng never lost. She even preemptively pinned the label on him before he could speak, nearly making Lin Jiaying choke with anger.

But having seized the initiative, Lin Jiaying, who was usually the one pinning labels on others, found himself unable to get a word in. Old Zheng tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to stay quiet.

Li Jianhua suppressed a laugh and stood up. “Xiao Su is right. I’ll get you a cup of boiled water right away.”

Zhang Dachun, who was still standing nearby, was so flustered by Su Qingmeng’s boldness that his legs went weak. He hurriedly interjected, “Leaders, please sit! I’ll go get it! I’ll go!”

“Director, bring me an empty cup too,” Su Qingmeng instructed.

Soon, a cup of boiled water and an empty cup were placed in front of Su Qingmeng.

The two leaders from the capital and the political commissar from Nanjiang Island watched as she poured the hot water back and forth between the cups. The three exchanged bewildered glances, this girl was remarkably at ease…

“So, what did you want to ask me?” Su Qingmeng asked, taking charge as she cooled the boiled water.

Li Jianhua coughed, masking his barely contained amusement. “It’s like this… Do you know Lin Wangbei…”

“Oh! That psychotic serial killer!” Su Qingmeng blurted out, completely ignoring Lin Jiaying’s darkening expression. She went on without pause, “He transferred here from the Central Cultural Troupe, claimed he used to be a doctor and always carried a scalpel in his pocket. That night, he even pried open my door and said he wanted to turn me into a specimen.”

“Let me take a sip of water to calm my nerves,” Su Qingmeng said, taking a drink before continuing, “It really scared me to death. Luckily, Division Commander Jiang arrived just in time with a team and caught him. By the way, where is he now? Shouldn’t he be sentenced to death?”

Lin Jiaying’s face was extremely grim, his fists clenched tightly as he struggled to control his temper.

It was Li Jianhua who spoke again: “He’s dead…”

“Good riddance!” Su Qingmeng immediately clapped her hands.

Li Jianhua found himself at a loss for words. He glanced at Lin Jiaying and Old Zheng. “Perhaps the two leaders would like to take over the questioning?”

Su Qingmeng smiled sweetly and interjected, “How should I address the two leaders?”

“This is Minister Zheng, and this is Director Lin,” Li Jianhua briefly introduced them.

“Lin? What’s his relation to Lin Wangbei?” Su Qingmeng immediately asked.

Li Jianhua glanced at Lin Jiaying and said very lightly, “It’s his father.”

“Heh…” Su Qingmeng let out a cold laugh, clearly questioning the impartiality of the investigator from the capital.

Old Zheng glanced at Lin Jiaying and thought the young woman’s skepticism was quite justified. After all, Lin Wangbei was both the perpetrator and the victim, so Lin Jiaying shouldn’t have been involved in the investigation. Unfortunately, Lin Jiaying had extensive connections.

Lin Jiaying was also aware of the issue, so he chose to ask directly, “You said Lin Wangbei wanted to turn you into a specimen. Is there any other evidence? Did he take any actual action?”

“Yes, he broke in late at night. Not only Commander Jiang saw it, but other soldiers did too,” Su Qingmeng said. “He was carrying several surgical knives and anesthetics. But he’s no longer a doctor, where did he get these things?”

Lin Jiaying said with an awkward expression, “Comrade Su, we are here to gather information from you, not the other way around.”

“As the victim, shouldn’t I have the right to know?” Su Qingmeng took another sip of water and looked at them with an innocent expression. Except for Lin Jiaying, the other two almost laughed.

Lin Jiaying took a deep breath and changed the subject. “You are the widow of the late Commander Yang, and your stepson Yang Dongming is only four years younger than you.”

“Yes, that’s common knowledge. What does it have to do with Lin Wangbei?” Su Qingmeng asked, puzzled.

“Jiang Lingfeng is also pursuing you,” Lin Jiaying continued.

Su Qingmeng’s smile faded. “Director Lin, your phrasing is rather odd.”

Lin Jiaying looked at her, his gaze as cold as a venomous snake. A less experienced young woman might have been intimidated, but Su Qingmeng clearly wasn’t.

She met his gaze fearlessly. “Although I personally believe it’s highly inappropriate for Director Lin, as Lin Wangbei’s father, to participate in this investigation, I abide by the organization’s arrangements and cooperate with your inquiry. However…”

Su Qingmeng stood up and slammed her cup heavily on the table. “As a family member of a martyr, I will not tolerate anyone slandering me!”

If not for their reservations about Lin Jiaying, Old Zheng and Li Jianhua would have clapped and cheered. Instead, they coughed lightly, and Li Jianhua stepped in to mediate. “Don’t get worked up, Xiao Su. No one is slandering you, and the organization would never allow anyone to slander you.”

Lin Jiaying hadn’t had his authority challenged like this in a long time. His face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He wanted to slam his teacup on the table but remembered Su Qingmeng had already done so. If he followed suit, it would seem as if he were trying to slander her, as she had accused. Swallowing his anger, he gently set his cup down.

He signaled to Old Zheng with his eyes, and Old Zheng reluctantly spoke up, “Comrade Su, we heard that Comrade Jiang Lingfeng is pursuing you, and previously, Lin Wangbei was also pursuing you?”

“Yes,” Su Qingmeng didn’t deny it. “But I repeatedly rejected Lin Wangbei in public. Are you suggesting he held a grudge because of that? However, I heard him admit himself that he’s a complete psychopath who gouged out the eyes of several girls in the capital. Has there been no investigation into that in the capital?”

Old Zheng said, “This is a separate case. We’re here to question you mainly about Lin Wangbei’s unnatural death. He died in the military interrogation room. Although he was guilty, he should have been judged by the court. We now need to find the person who killed him.”

Su Qingmeng nodded and continued with her startling remarks: “First, let’s rule out Division Commander Jiang. He was the one who brought Lin Wangbei back. If he really wanted to kill him, there would be no need for such complications. Could it be that someone dissatisfied with Division Commander Jiang deliberately killed Lin Wangbei to frame him?”

Li Jianhua and Old Zheng felt like applauding again, but Lin Jiaying shot them a cold glare before turning back to Su Qingmeng. “You like Division Commander Jiang, so you’re speaking up for him,” he said.

He sneered, “As I recall, on the very day you married Old Yang, he went on a mission with Jiang Lingfeng. In the end, Old Yang died, and Jiang Lingfeng became the division commander, then openly pursued you. Looking at it this way, Division Commander Yang’s death also raises serious questions. Comrade Su, I advise you to confess honestly and not hide anything from the organization.”

Su Qingmeng glanced at him and smiled, openly lodging a complaint with the other two: “Director Lin is slandering me. Director Zheng and Commissar Li, the organization must stand up for me.”