Chapter 60: The Hero

What kind of person is considered evil?

Qin Qing answered cautiously: “A person’s appearance is not immutable. Evil deeds create an evil appearance, while good deeds naturally lead to a kind and benevolent face.”

Luo Chi’a seemed to have a different opinion.

“Oh? So it’s not ‘appearance reflects the heart’? Are those with evil thoughts not considered evil people?”

Qin Qing didn’t want to cause any ripples due to her inappropriate words or actions. She wanted to maintain the current balanced situation as much as possible.

She carefully chose her words.

“Police convictions are also based on results and evidence, not on thoughts. Everyone has evil thoughts in their hearts. Some can restrain them and do good deeds. Others cannot, and become evil people.”

Luo Chi’a seemed a little lost in thought.

“So, in the eyes of a fate master, the world is like this.”

His voice trailed off softly, even using a modal particle.

Brother, you’re breaking character a bit.

While complaining inwardly, Qin Qing still affirmed his words: “A fate master sees the trajectory of destiny, past and future. These trajectories are strung together by countless results, not by thoughts.”

Luo Chi’a stood up and looked at Qin Qing.

“You might be right.”

—

Lin Feng soon returned to the police station with his field team, though his expression was quite sour.

Qin Qing thought the summoning process hadn’t gone smoothly, but then saw the three suspects successively get out of the car.

Among them, naturally, was Liao Liangji.

Currently, there was no direct evidence to prove they were the murderers, so none of them had their personal freedom restricted.

Liao Liangji looked less energetic than in his registered photo.

From his expression, there was no sign of the fear a soon-to-be-apprehended murderer might have for the police station.

He was no different from the other two suspects.

Cooperative, ingratiating, curious.

Qin Qing also noticed something was off. Such good psychological resilience?

The three were taken into separate Interrogation Rooms.

Lin Feng personally went to supervise the interrogation of Liao Liangji.

Qin Qing followed Luo Chi’a to the two-way mirror outside the Interrogation Room.

So this is what it feels like to watch people from behind the mirror. A few months ago, she was the one sitting at the interrogation table inside. She never expected that so soon she would be able to stand authoritatively behind the two-way mirror and observe others.

The interrogation inside was not going smoothly.

It wasn’t that Liao Liangji was uncooperative; he seemed extremely cooperative, even sincere.

“It’s a misunderstanding, officer,” he said, trembling with fear. “You must have made a mistake. I’m usually a very gentle person and have never had any conflicts with anyone. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my friends, neighbors, and colleagues.”

He looked just like an ordinary citizen who had truly encountered violent law enforcement.

Lin Feng was almost driven to a state of “super male” by Liao Liangji.

Lin Feng: “Where were you at 2 AM on August 29th?”

“Sleeping at home. It was so late, and it’s dangerous outside.”

“Are you sure? Do you have any evidence?”

Liao Liangji was almost in tears: “I live alone, so no one can prove it for me.”

“Oh, right, my girlfriend sleeps late. I usually chat with her until after 1 AM. Officer, you can check my phone.”

An officer came forward and took his phone.

It was confirmed that what Liao Liangji said was true.

Shortly before the victim died, Liao Liangji was still flirting with his girlfriend.

However, this could not serve as an alibi; it only proved that this person’s psychological resilience was exceptionally good.

Lin Feng: “What about that pot of dog meat at your house?”

“I don’t know who left it at my doorstep. I found it the morning I woke up.”

Lin Feng: “You dared to cook something of unknown origin?”

“I checked it. The dog was killed, not poisoned. It’s autumn, so eating dog meat is nourishing,” Liao Liangji said. “Officer, I promise, I’ll never be greedy for small advantages again.”

The more Qin Qing watched, the stranger she found it. She asked Xiao Song: “What’s going on?”

Xiao Song was also completely bewildered.

“Sigh, don’t even mention it. When we got to Liao Liangji’s house, he was eating dog meat hotpot with a few people. He was very cooperative when we showed our IDs and summoned him, but he claimed to know nothing about the Shen Jianxin couple’s case. He seemed very innocent, putting on a very good act.”

Luo Chi’a stroked his chin and said, “He’s not acting, at least he’s not lying.”

Xiao Song was stunned. He carefully looked at Qin Qing: “He’s not the murderer?”

Their captain had put all his eggs in Liao Liangji’s basket. If he wasn’t…

After all these events, Qin Qing would doubt the System Panel’s motives, but she would not doubt its accuracy.

There must be something going on here.

As expected, before she could check the System Panel for details, Luo Chi’a spoke.

“Not lying doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth.”

Xiao Song was even more confused: “Huh? Luo Lü, what do you mean?”

“Collect his DNA and the dog meat sample and send them to the municipal bureau for comparison. Have the technical department colleagues there work overtime; results should be out before 12 AM,” Luo Chi’a said. “If the results match, directly apply for a search warrant.”

Xiao Song went to handle it.

Only Qin Qing and Luo Chi’a remained.

Qin Qing: “Do you have some kind of theory?”

Luo Chi’a: “Some people experience Selective Amnesia for a short period after a major shock…” He didn’t continue, but he seemed confident about the outcome.

Qin Qing glanced at the System Panel, her emotions complex.

Having someone who can see into people’s hearts nearby truly isn’t comfortable.

The outcome of this case was already clear, and the investigative approach was precise; solving the case was a foregone conclusion.

Qin Qing felt there was no point in her staying up here.

With a big shot like Luo Chi’a here, her role seemed dispensable, and he could even do many things she couldn’t.

“Where are you going?”

Qin Qing: “To get off work, of course. Just call me for the closing meeting.”

Qin Qing did a self-review of this case.

She discovered a major drawback of the System Panel regarding murder cases. Even if relatives harbored intense hatred for the murderer, because they didn’t know who the person they hated was, even if the hatred value was maxed out, the murderer wouldn’t appear on the relative’s Character Relationship Map.

Furthermore, due to her lack of criminal investigation knowledge, even if she knew who the murderer was, she wouldn’t know how to tip off the police.

Her two tips this time were accidental. She might not be so lucky in the future.

If she wanted to do this consultant job well, increasing her professional knowledge had to be put on the agenda, otherwise, she would have the System Panel but wouldn’t know where to start.

She made a simple plan.

First, supplement theoretical knowledge;

Second, to better absorb theory, the next stat increase should ideally be in intelligence;

Third, spend more time at the police station and get more exposure to practical case files;

Fourth, don’t just focus on murder cases; there are so many criminal cases, and not every one involves a deceased person.

After thinking it through, she fell into a deep sleep.

One Luo Chi’a, no big deal.

No matter how smart or professional he was, he couldn’t replace the System Panel, but theoretically, Qin Qing could achieve his professional state through learning.

The police station indeed didn’t bother her again, only inviting her to the closing meeting.

At the meeting, Qin Qing filled in the information gaps she had missed.

Liao Liangji’s oral mucosa sample matched the DNA information from skin tissue extracted from the victim’s cat’s claws, and he also had cat scratch marks on him. Furthermore, the dog meat at his home matched the DNA information of the dog blood sample from the crime scene. The higher-ups promptly approved a search warrant for Liao Liangji’s residence.

They successfully found a pair of blood-stained shoes, the blood on which was indeed the victim’s, and the shoes, after trace examination, matched those found at the crime scene.

In addition, they also found the victim’s missing mobile phone, surveillance equipment, and computer hard drive from the home.

With each piece of evidence laid out before him, Liao Liangji, who had always believed himself innocent, was greatly stimulated, and his mental state almost collapsed.

The interrogation was once stalled.

Fortunately, the desired result was finally obtained.

Liao Liangji’s motive for murder was ridiculously absurd.

His interrogation video was played at the meeting.

“As a consumer, it’s my right to consume wherever I want. I often ate Firewood Chicken at Shen Jianxin’s place, but that doesn’t mean I have to stick to their restaurant for Firewood Chicken in the future. What’s wrong with my girlfriend wanting to try another place?”

“But Shen Jianxin found out I was eating at Yang Er’s place and openly gave me a dirty look. He said that every time I went to his place, he gave me discounts and free dishes, and that since I enjoyed his discounts, I should have a ‘contractual spirit.’ Although he only argued with Yang Er that day, every word he said was directed at me, which made my girlfriend very unhappy.”

“At the time, I felt wronged, and the more I thought about it afterward, the angrier I got. I was angry that I didn’t retort directly then. I was so angry I couldn’t sleep, so I wanted to go argue with him. Who knew Shen Jianxin would only talk nonsense and get even angrier than me? By the end, he even said that me eating at another place was like betraying him. I couldn’t win the argument, and in a fit of anger, I…”

“He was wearing gloves and washing something at the time. I saw a knife nearby… When I came to my senses, I found that the feeling of the sharp blade cutting through flesh was very satisfying; I didn’t feel wronged at all anymore… After I vented my anger, I wanted to dismember the body, but I found it too difficult. After cutting off one leg, I stopped. Anyway, I was in a daze then. When I left, I saw a dog that had just died, and I felt it shouldn’t go to waste, so I took it with me. After sleeping at home, I don’t know how I completely forgot everything.”

This was truly regrettable.

Luo Chi’a summarized simply: “Shen Jianxin and Liao Liangji are very similar; they both have a strong need for order, but the direction of order is opposite when viewed from their respective interests. And Liao Liangji’s demand for order is even stronger, which led to the disaster. He must have experienced severe psychological trauma in his childhood, which has been suppressed until now. He just chose an inappropriate way to erupt. It’s not particularly unusual.”

The Bureau Chief knocked and entered.

“Ah, still going?” Every wrinkle on his face showed satisfaction.

Of course, he was satisfied. The higher-ups demanded the case be solved within 36 hours, and they only took less than 48 hours.

What was this? Strength!

“Comrades, you’ve all worked hard.” The Bureau Chief walked to the center and said, “I heard that our consultant Qin drew a circle on the whiteboard and pinpointed the murderer? Excellent! Our comrades are messengers of light, banes of evil…”

Here he comes, here he comes again!

Qin Qing had witnessed the Bureau Chief’s speech prowess, and from the sound of his voice, she had a bad feeling.

So, she interrupted him in time.

“Bureau Chief…”

The Bureau Chief raised his hand, signaling her not to speak.

He had a knowing smile.

He said to Qin Qing, “I know. I’ve already told Old He, there will be plenty of shrimp!”

Qin Qing’s heart sank.

“Actually, it’s not necessary to go to such trouble.”

The Bureau Chief was very generous: “I understand, but don’t be polite with me. A hero should be rewarded. Old He is currently in the kitchen killing shrimp; you can eat them right after your meeting.”

Other colleagues cheered, finally able to taste Master He’s legendary braised prawns.

Qin Qing was crying inside.

No, Bureau Chief, you don’t understand. Your hero can’t eat meat right now, so in the end, it will only benefit your subordinates.