Chapter 251: Please Don't Question the Professional

From Ye Zhiyu's expression, one could tell the hypnosis had gone very smoothly this time.

"We'll talk after we get out."

Yu Dazhang went back inside to exchange a few words with Liu Jinsong, mainly asking if the other man had any needs.

Overturning a case also takes time.

If Liu Jinsong wanted to improve his life in prison, Yu Dazhang could fully accommodate him.

He didn't even need to negotiate it himself—just a word to Captain Xu would do.

"No need, no need, I'm doing fine right now."

Liu Jinsong refused outright:

"Ever since my case was reopened for investigation, I've been eating well and sleeping soundly every day. Thank you for your concern, Officer Yu."

Seeing him in such good spirits, Yu Dazhang said nothing more.

If things went smoothly, it wouldn't be long before Liu Jinsong regained his freedom.

He'd already endured sixteen years; for him, as long as there was hope, every day ahead was worth looking forward to.

They left the prison.

The moment the two got in the car, Yu Dazhang spoke up:

"Any concrete information on Li Yong's little group?"

This was what concerned him most.

"No." Ye Zhiyu shook her head:

"Although Liu Jinsong and Li Yong were classmates, they didn't really interact, so there are very few memory points."

"The information I got is only slightly more detailed than yours."

Yu Dazhang thought back for a moment.

The first time he'd met Liu Jinsong, the man had said Li Yong was very introverted—usually taciturn, rarely taking the initiative to talk with others.

People like that tend to get overlooked by the class.

Later generations would call such a person a "little invisible."

There was nothing to be done about it—memory points were already scarce to begin with, and with so many years gone by, it was perfectly normal not to be able to extract any memories.

"Tell me what information you did manage to get."

Yu Dazhang had already given up hope. Since there was no new information, something a bit more detailed would have to do—better than coming away empty-handed.

"Let's start with the number of people."

Ye Zhiyu said confidently:

"Through my repeated hints and guidance, Liu Jinsong has been able to recall the specific circumstances of the campus confrontation back then."

"He can confirm that exactly ten people came from Li Yong's side at the time."

Hearing this, Yu Dazhang's eyes immediately went wide:

"Really?!"

If that number could be pinned down, a great many new leads could be inferred from it.

He hadn't expected Ye Zhiyu to obtain such crucial information.

"You have to trust the professional."

Ye Zhiyu gave him a disgruntled sideways glance:

"So far, I don't think I've ever given you incorrect information."

"If I can't be certain, I'll give an approximate range—for example, the number of people might be between ten and fifteen."

"The less sure I am, the wider that range gets."

"Conversely, the fact that I can pin the number at exactly ten proves I'm that confident."

Trust is built up through repeated interactions.

Yu Dazhang didn't doubt Ye Zhiyu's ability in the slightest, but the matter was of great importance, so he had to be sure.

Seeing Ye Zhiyu say so, he was reassured.

"Give me a second."

As he spoke, Yu Dazhang pulled a notebook out of his carry-on bag:

"This is important—let me write it down first."

That gesture showed he took it seriously, and was also an affirmation of Ye Zhiyu.

After noting it down, he asked again:

"Anything else? Like a code name for that little group."

The reason Yu Dazhang was so eager to learn that code name was so he could use it to ask other wrongfully convicted people about the situation.

A code name is essentially a memory point.

If they had any impression of it, they'd recall things associated with that code name.

"You can scratch that one."

Ye Zhiyu also looked a bit helpless:

"I've tried. In Liu Jinsong's memories there are plenty of similar code names, but they can no longer be matched to anyone."

The code names really were plentiful… Yu Dazhang felt embarrassed just thinking back on all the code names Liu Jinsong had recalled.

The later-day Burial Love Family would have to bow its head in defeat. "Anything else?"

As Yu Dazhang asked this, he closed the notebook.

Even he couldn't imagine what other information Liu Jinsong could possibly offer.

"During the process of guiding Liu Jinsong's recollection, he volunteered one piece of information."

Ye Zhiyu paused for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"He said that among the ten people on Li Yong's side, there was a leader who left a deep impression on him at the time."

"That person resembled the action movie star Jet Li in both appearance and temperament."

"Even their height was similar; not tall, but very conspicuous when standing before others."

"He really nailed that temperament part..." The sentence unconsciously popped into Yu Dazhang's mind.

Imitating one's favorite star is a perfectly normal thing in any era.

Besides, not everyone in that era imitated Brother Haonan.

!

"This is also very important."

Yu Dazhang opened his notebook again, jotting down notes with a pen while praising:

"It has to be you; you managed to extract such crucial information."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiyu showed no expression on his face, but a hint of pride flashed in his eyes, and he straightened his back a bit.

This was indeed information Yu Dazhang had overlooked.

Mainly because he had never personally participated in group brawls during his school days.

Typically, in such group fights involving many people, regardless of which faction, there would always be someone acting as the leader.

And that leader would naturally become the most conspicuous focus of the entire scene.

Such an important memory point had almost been missed.

The two subsequently found a hotel in Xicheng to stay at.

At the meeting, Yu Dazhang set the investigation period at two days.

Two days later, regardless of whether the investigation made progress, they must return to the Provincial Department for a collective report.

If following past case-handling habits, the special task force should hold a daily meeting to ensure information synchronization.

But this situation was special.

Since the wrongfully accused were detained in different cities, the investigation time was appropriately extended.

As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Ye Zhiyu asked with a worried expression:

"I've been away for so long; won't Yisheng Group think I've resigned?"

"No," Yu Dazhang reassured him:

"As long as Qu Wannian is still the chairman, even if you don't go to work for a year, no one dares to say anything."

He believed Qu Wannian must have already known about Ye Zhiyu.

Since he chose silence, it meant Qu Wannian was willing to help him with this favor.

Besides, Ye Zhiyu was not someone without value to the company; he just occasionally traveled on business to assist the police.

"You and Director Qu must get along well."

Ye Zhiyu advised earnestly:

"That she took a liking to you is due to the merit you accumulated in your past life; you must not miss such an opportunity."

"For you, this is a heaven-sent good match."

You're just afraid of losing your job... Yu Dazhang glared at him:

"If you have nothing to do, go out for a stroll; don't disturb my thinking about the case."

He was in no mood to discuss such matters with Ye Zhiyu now.

Since leaving the prison, Yu Dazhang's mind was entirely occupied with Li Yong's small group.

"Fine, fine, fine, I won't say anything then, okay?"

The two booked a double room; Ye Zhiyu was unfamiliar with the place and had nowhere else to go.

Seeing him sit on the bed, light a cigarette, and start looking at his phone, Yu Dazhang got up and went to the window.

Gazing at the traffic and crowds on the street below, he sorted through the information he had just obtained in his mind.

Even if Liu Jinsong's memory was correct, it could not be confirmed that the small group definitely consisted of ten people.

It was also possible that not everyone who came that day was present.

So, assumptions must be made.

"Assume that sixteen years ago, the number of people in that small group was ten."

"Based on this, two more wrongful cases occurred successively over the following three years; each wrongful case represents a pledge of loyalty."

"That is to say, based on the currently available information, the small group Li Yong joined must have at least twelve people."

"Subtracting the nine known victims, the suspects' targets must still include at least three!"

(End of this chapter)