Chapter 71: A Subtle Ruse

However, Li Yufeng still refused to admit she had deliberately poisoned anyone, always taking the posture of a victim. Each time she was interrogated, she appeared like a pitiful flower buffeted by a storm.

Several rounds of interrogation had already passed, but the police had made no progress.

Her detention period was also about to expire.

When the time came, if there was no new solid evidence, the police would have to release her.

Zhou Mei had been occupied with this case these past few days.

She couldn’t bear to see a criminal slip through the net of justice, nor could she accept that Lin Xiaosu’s analysis of Dale Corporation’s Du Lifeng would remain forever unverifiable.

But that’s how the rule of law works—everything depends on evidence!

Without evidence, the presumption of innocence prevails.

Captain Zhang nodded lightly. “He’s back!”

Zhou Mei’s heart leaped—he? Who was he?

With a gentle push, Captain Zhang turned the computer screen toward her. Displayed onscreen was a location map...

The locator was something Zhou Mei was all too familiar with—it was her own car. And the location was Feng City!

That little rascal had finally returned!

Two days and two nights, you tormented me... No, not physically, but you tormented my heart! I’ve been worrying about what happened to you, unable to eat or sleep, always trying to guess what had befallen you, and finally—you’re back!

In that instant, all Zhou Mei’s worries and frustrations vanished.

“I’m really curious what he’s been up to these past two days and nights,” Captain Zhang mused.

Zhou Mei, now in high spirits, replied, “Then why not use those interrogation tactics from your glory days—the kind that scared suspects into wetting themselves! Interrogate him directly!”

Captain Zhang stroked his newly sprouted beard and looked at Zhou Mei. “A direct interrogation doesn’t feel appropriate. Maybe we could try a honey trap or something?”

Catching his gaze, Zhou Mei quipped, “Really? Captain Zhang, are you planning to give me half a day off to let me pull off a honey trap?”

“Time off? Don’t even think about abusing your position for personal gain.” Captain Zhang pointed at the screen. “He’s already come to us!”

The locator had stopped moving. The final location was right at the Criminal Investigation Division.

Roughly five minutes later, the office door was gently knocked...

Zhou Mei sprang up and opened the door. Standing outside was Lin Xiaosu...

“These past two days—” Zhou Mei began but suddenly halted mid-sentence, her gaze fixed on the person behind Lin Xiaosu.

Behind him stood Chang Ye.

“Officer Chang!”

With a swift motion, Captain Zhang moved from behind the desk to the door, raised his hand, and saluted. “Officer Chang!”

Captain Zhang had met Chang Ye once before.

When was it?

The first time Chang Ye came to the Feng City Public Security Bureau, landing on the rooftop, Captain Zhang had been one of the two people welcoming him.

He didn’t know exactly who Chang Ye was, but he had his suspicions. Afterwards, the bureau chief relayed instructions from Chang Ye: assign a female officer to the case. Captain Zhang himself carried out that order, and he had chosen Zhou Mei.

Chang Ye raised a hand lightly. “Today I’m not the main character. I’m just accompanying Detective Lin on his investigation.”

He stepped inside, closing the office door behind him.

Captain Zhang showed Chang Ye and Lin Xiaosu to the sofa. Zhou Mei brought tea.

“Sit down as well, Zhou Mei,” Chang Ye said.

Zhou Mei and Captain Zhang took seats on the opposite sofa.

“I came here today because of something interesting that happened just as I was returning,” Lin Xiaosu began, lifting his teacup.

“Interesting?” Captain Zhang was taken aback.

“Yes. Right at Sanlihe, on the edge of Feng City, just below Yueshui Villa—I had just driven past a mountain bend when a car came down from above and nearly caused a terrible accident.”

Zhou Mei’s expression changed dramatically.

Lin Xiaosu glanced at her. “Don’t worry—your car didn’t lose a single hair. I dodged in time.”

“Your car grows hair?” Zhou Mei shot him a glare. “Do you think I’m worried about the car?”

Captain Zhang looked up. “You call that... interesting?”

“Yes, very interesting!” Lin Xiaosu replied. “There are three intriguing points. First, we just investigated the car—it belongs to Lu Lin, who works for Dale Corporation!”

Captain Zhang’s face darkened abruptly.

“Second point: right after this thrilling near-miss, who should we see but a traffic cop. Do you know who it was?”

“Who?” asked Captain Zhang.

“Zhou Yuanqing! Formerly the deputy director of Xicheng Police Station. Remember when I called you last time and asked you to look into him? What, did you transfer him to the traffic police?”

Captain Zhang nodded. “I reported to the chief, who ordered a thorough review. Zhou Yuanqing’s reputation was indeed poor, so the bureau reassigned him to traffic, effectively demoting him... You’re saying his appearance there was suspiciously timely?”

“Don’t you think so too, Captain Zhang?” Lin Xiaosu continued.

Captain Zhang’s expression was grave. The traffic department had always been understaffed, so road checks were rare. To have a near-accident, then immediately encounter a traffic cop—what were the odds?

But...

“There’s a logical problem,” Captain Zhang mused. “If the crash was premeditated, why would Zhou Yuanqing be waiting at the scene? With police oversight and body cameras, wouldn’t that hinder their plan instead of helping?”

“Perhaps if the first plot failed, he was there for the follow-up!”

“What follow-up?”

“For example, catching me in the act—arresting me for driving without a license and detaining me for fifteen days!”

Zhou Mei’s heart skipped a beat...

Driving without a license—the ticking time bomb had finally gone off.

But...

“That’s a bit far-fetched,” Zhou Mei said. “Driving without a license is an infraction, not a crime. Would they really go through all that trouble just to catch you breaking a minor law?”

Exactly. Captain Zhang and Chang Ye were just as puzzled.

When someone in law enforcement wants revenge, there are ways to do it. Especially at their level—provoke them, and they’ll catch you in the act and punish you by the book.

Lin Xiaosu had certainly offended Zhou Yuanqing. The man had been a deputy director, now reduced to a beat cop because of Lin’s report—wouldn’t he want revenge? How could he not?

But such revenge seemed childish at best. Fifteen days’ detention at most—hardly enough to really hurt Lin Xiaosu, more an act of spite.

“The key,” Lin Xiaosu said, “is the fifteen days’ detention.”

“What do you mean?”

“I recall someone else is also being detained for fifteen days—Li Yufeng. She was arrested twelve days ago. She’ll be out in three days, right?”

Captain Zhang suddenly tensed.

Zhou Mei’s eyes brightened. “You mean, someone doesn’t want you to interfere during the period when she’s released? So they went to all this trouble to keep you out of the way?”

Lin Xiaosu replied, “And another thing—just suppose, suppose Li Yufeng gets killed the moment she leaves the detention center. By the time I’m released after my fifteen days, the evidence will be long gone. No matter how skilled I am, I won’t find the real culprit.”

Zhou Mei’s face changed...

She seemed to have pieced together the chain of events...

Li Yufeng was about to be released because the police couldn’t find any new evidence, and by law, they had to let her go.

Once she was out, those behind the scenes would kill her.

But if Lin Xiaosu was around, they wouldn’t dare, because his investigative skills were too unpredictable—no one would take that risk.

But if Lin Xiaosu was deprived of his freedom?

By the time his fifteen days were up, all traces would have vanished, allowing the real perpetrator to cover their tracks completely...

That was the real significance of the “fifteen days’ detention” he kept emphasizing.

That was the hidden meaning behind the first incident after his return to Feng City.

First, they staged a car accident.

If it succeeded, all the better—kill Lin Xiaosu and it’s over. Even if it failed, injuring him and sending him to the hospital would also achieve their goal. As for the cost—did Dale Corporation care about some compensation for injuries?

Even if the crash failed, there was a backup plan.

Seize on Lin Xiaosu’s lack of a driver’s license, detain him for fifteen days—there was no legal obstacle.

And those fifteen days would provide a window of safety for the other side...

What seemed like an ordinary traffic incident, once Lin Xiaosu broke it down, was filled with hidden dangers.

Even Chang Ye was a bit stunned. She knew nothing of the Li Yufeng case, nor had she imagined that a minor incident on the road today could conceal such intricate schemes.

“The Li Yufeng case!” Captain Zhang rapped his fist lightly on the tea table, his frustration evident. “It’s almost impossible to make a breakthrough in three days! Whether we like it or not, we’ll probably have to release her.”

“Not necessarily!” Lin Xiaosu smiled. “There’s an unconventional tactic we might try.”

“What is it?” Captain Zhang and Zhou Mei’s eyes lit up.

“People can’t escape their nature. Set a trap for her and see what happens...”

After some discussion...

The three in the office exchanged glances...

After a long silence, Captain Zhang let out a long breath. “Your idea is truly novel, Xiaosu. Let’s give it a try!”

Li Yufeng faced her seventh round of interrogation.

After twelve days in detention, most people would be dispirited and haggard, but Miss Li was different—she had turned her cell into a hotel.

She looked as fresh as a beauty who had just enjoyed a few days at a luxurious retreat.

Even in the dim interrogation room, even facing officers symbolizing the weight of the law, she was still full of flirtatious charm.

Seated across from her were Zhou Mei and Sun Yang.

She had no idea that three others—Captain Zhang, Chang Ye, and Lin Xiaosu—were watching the interrogation via camera from outside.

Normally, Lin Xiaosu wasn’t qualified to observe, but with Chang Ye present, everything changed.

“Li Yufeng, what’s your relationship with Du Lifeng, the boss of Dale Corporation?” Zhou Mei asked.

Li Yufeng replied, “Officer, you already asked me that last time, and I answered clearly—I don’t know Du Lifeng.”

“No, you’re lying!” Zhou Mei said sternly. “You were acting under Du Lifeng’s orders, drawing Wang Changfa in so Dale Corporation could control him and secure the pharmaceutical base project. Isn’t that so?”