Chapter 247: Inner Demon

Gu Changzheng waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave the hall as he had instructed, when Zhang Shaodong added, “Brigade Chief Gu, stay behind—I need to speak with you alone.”

The other team members turned to look at Gu Changzheng, who said, “Everyone, step out!”

The group obeyed and exited the hall. Gu Changzheng glanced around and said, “Alright, speak.”

Zhang Shaodong said, “Brigade Chief Gu, since you found Fang Yuan, you must also know our story.”

Gu Changzheng grunted, unsure of his intent in bringing this up now, and merely watched him without speaking. Zhang Shaodong let out a hollow laugh: “In your eyes, I’m surely a murderer deserving death, a monster, even a schizophrenic! But I want you to know—I was once a kind person! That old witch Zhou Hui turned me into this!”

Gu Changzheng silently thought: they use the same term for her.

At the mention of Zhou Hui’s name, Zhang Shaodong’s fury flared visibly; the creases on his face writhed like living slugs. Gu Changzheng watched, deeply unsettled, and subtly shifted his gaze away.

But this slight change in his gaze was caught by Zhang Shaodong, who let out a shrill, metallic laugh: “Everyone’s the same! Even you, this police captain, are no different from those worthless women! What? You think I’m ugly, right? But I wasn’t always like this! I was ruined by others! What right do you have to look down on me?”

Looking at Zhang Shaodong, now even more terrifying with rage, Gu Changzheng silently cursed himself—he’d been careless. The fire hadn’t just scarred his body; it had shattered his mind.

“Calm down,” Gu Changzheng said, watching the surgical knife in Zhang Shaodong’s hand tremble violently against Lin Xiaoxue’s carotid artery, afraid he might suddenly strike. He kept his gaze steady on Zhang’s eyes and spoke slowly: “I know you were burned trying to save others in that fire. I understand your anger. Here—first, stop her bleeding. Fang Yuan is almost out of detention. You’ll see him soon. I’ve already begun fulfilling my promise—”

“When did I ever agree to that? If you want to save her, get your people moving fast! I want to see Fang Yuan leave with my own eyes! Don’t waste my time with more empty words!”

At that moment, Luo Fei’s voice came through Gu Changzheng’s earpiece: “Master, SWAT is in position, snipers are ready—but no clear shot. We’re under Director Zhong’s command, drafting a forced rescue plan!”

Gu Changzheng cleared his throat lightly. Luo Fei continued: “We’ve checked every wood processing plant and furniture factory in the city. So far, no sign of where they’re holding the hostage.”

Gu Changzheng frowned slightly, then looked at Zhang Shaodong: “Fine, fine—I’ll do as you say. But I want to know: before the fire, what happened? Why did you choose those girls from the same orphanage as you? What did Zhou Hui do to you? To Fang Yuan? I need answers. You must know what’s at stake now. Isn’t it better to speak out, so you won’t regret it later?”

Zhang Shaodong’s lidless eyes seemed to blink, as if considering Gu’s words. He lifted his head: “You’re right. I never thought I’d see tomorrow. My methods were cruel, yes—but the true monster is that old witch!”

“You mean Zhou Hui?” Gu Changzheng asked.

“Yes! That old witch who pretended to be kind, so good, so pure! She destroyed me! That fire wasn’t an accident—but I’ll never be able to prove it!”

Gu Changzheng frowned, waiting silently for him to continue.

“Because I started that fire.” Though contradictory, Gu Changzheng sensed the blaze had been a carefully laid trap—and Zhang Shaodong had been its trigger. If so, he truly could never prove he’d been framed.

Zhang Shaodong went on: “That day, helping in the kitchen—I seemed to volunteer willingly, but it was all part of her plan. She understood my nature. She knew I’d take responsibility for that dish, because I’m proud and care what others think. So easily, I ended up in the kitchen. Meanwhile, her assistant—the oldest girl the orphanage had ever taken in—Fang Shengnan—happened to be in the pine grove behind the kitchen. And she wasn’t alone. She was—with—”

Zhang Shaodong’s voice trembled with rage. He gasped for air: “She was with Xia Mingde. They were doing that disgusting thing together!”

Gu Changzheng, watching his expression, thought: Could he have loved Fang Shengnan?

Zhang Shaodong glanced at him: “Don’t guess. I did love Fang Shengnan—back then. I loved her so much, no other woman existed in my world.”

Gu Changzheng exclaimed: “You saw them together, lost control, and knocked over the oil pot?”

“Hmph! Exactly! I felt like the world had collapsed. My mind went blank. Worse—Xia Mingde knew I could see them. He even smiled at me on purpose! I don’t know how it happened, but the bowl of chicken I was about to fry slipped from my hands and landed right in the oil pot. Then—I became this.”

“At the time, my mind was consumed by jealousy and rage. Only after waking in the hospital did I realize: the timing was too perfect. Why did that stone slab break then? Why did little Yu Jiajia appear in the kitchen at that exact moment? I always looked after the younger kids—I felt like their older brother. And Zhou Hui, as head of the orphanage, knew all of it perfectly.”

Gu Changzheng stared at him for over ten seconds, then asked: “Are these all just your guesses?” He couldn’t believe Zhang Shaodong had turned his suspicions into facts and then—

“Hmph! I knew it! You don’t trust me! Only Fang Yuan understands me!” His eyes flashed with fury again: “Ten more minutes have passed! Fang Yuan should be out of detention now! I want to speak to him!”

Gu Changzheng had already prepared for this demand. He glanced at his wristwatch: “Time should be right. I’ll go ask.”

But Zhang Shaodong snapped: “Stop! Ask right here! Don’t you have an earpiece?”