Chapter 42: Are You Suffering?

Yu Dazhang felt a touch of surprise; this was too smooth.

He had expected at least three or four vehicles to remain.

His next step was to investigate why these outsider vehicles had entered the neighborhood, to pinpoint the final target.

Now, this step was skipped outright.

“Are you certain nothing was missed?” Yu Dazhang still felt uneasy.

“Relax,” Lu Zhongxin’s voice sounded utterly confident:

“Since the incident happened on a Tuesday, vehicle traffic was already light.”

“You narrowed the window to half an hour—only two vehicles entered or left the neighborhood during that time.”

“One was a taxi, so the only vehicle fitting the criteria is the other one.”

“I’ve pulled up the owner’s information—should I go pick him up right now?”

That’s it… Yu Dazhang exhaled in relief.

He trusted Lu Zhongxin’s work—there would be no cutting corners.

As for arresting him…

Not yet.

“Bring the files back to the branch,” Yu Dazhang ordered:

“Wait for my instructions before taking the next step.”

The owner isn’t the real killer—can’t arrest him yet… He wouldn’t do something as reckless as alerting the culprit.

The real killer and this outsider must have some close connection; if they move now, the murderer will sense it.

If he panics and runs, it’ll be a nightmare.

Twenty minutes later, Yu Dazhang met Lu Zhongxin at the branch.

“Here’s the vehicle owner’s file.”

As soon as they met, Lu Zhongxin handed over a folder.

Yu Dazhang took it and flipped through it quickly.

Zhou Hongfu, male, 44, occupation: construction contractor, residence: Building 7, Shanshui Yicheng Community

“Shanshui Yicheng?” Yu Dazhang felt a strange familiarity with those four characters.

Lu Zhongxin also said:

“They sound familiar somehow.”

Yu Dazhang mentally reviewed every place he’d been in the past few days.

He was certain he’d seen the words “Shanshui Yicheng” somewhere before.

“I’m such an idiot,” Yu Dazhang slapped his thigh.

Why think? Just search the neighborhood name online.

In the task force’s assigned office, Yu Dazhang typed “Shanshui Yicheng” into the browser.

A luxurious, elegant-looking neighborhood appeared on screen.

When he saw those four characters in the image, he finally remembered.

Yesterday, on the way to Zhang Yan’s home, they had passed this neighborhood.

He’d been preoccupied then, so he’d only glanced once, paying no real attention.

Now he recalled—this neighborhood was…

Just one street away from Zhang Yan’s house!

That fits—Zhou Hongfu is the outsider.

“Master, go find the branch leadership immediately and assign people to tail Zhou Hongfu,” Yu Dazhang said quickly:

“He’s a major suspect.”

“Got it, I’m on my way.” Lu Zhongxin had taken two steps when he turned back:

“Why not just bring him in?”

He thought it simpler and faster to detain the man directly for interrogation, avoiding complications.

Lu Zhongxin understood better than anyone that delays invite trouble.

“Because he’s not the real killer,” Yu Dazhang explained:

“You haven’t seen the new crime scene report—besides Zhang Yan and her family, there are footprints from two other people.”

“The actual murderer is someone else.”

Lu Zhongxin unconsciously scratched his head.

Why’s it so itchy~

Just by reading a crime scene report, you can tell who’s the killer and who’s the accomplice?

If it weren’t for the tight deadline and heavy workload, he’d really ask Yu Dazhang: Where the hell did you learn this skill?

Another day passed.

Only Yu Dazhang and Qian Cheng remained in the task force office.

Lu Zhongxin and another team member were monitoring Zhou Hongfu.

Two other team members investigating out of town were driving back, expected to arrive before noon.

The two team members staking out across from the victim’s home had called only once in two days—a man in his thirties had entered Zhang Yan’s house.

Upon hearing their description of the man, Yu Dazhang immediately deduced he was the younger brother Zhang Yan’s mother had mentioned.

In other words, Zhang Yan’s uncle.

He had once suspected him, since he’d visited before.

He’d even asked Qian Cheng to pull his records—but after a quick look, Yu Dazhang dismissed him.

The uncle’s social ties and personal information were extremely simple; the only complication was… his medical history.

Diabetes, glaucoma, atherosclerosis, polyneuritis, recurrent urethritis, and more…

Yu Dazhang spent two minutes just reading the disease names.

That a man like this could still be alive—and walk independently—was already a medical miracle.

He even thought that if they fought, the uncle wouldn’t stand a chance against his niece.

Besides, the uncle had no motive to kill.

No logical reason, no motive, poor health… After weighing all factors, Yu Dazhang concluded he’d come to visit out of concern for his sister.

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Without his sister’s daily care and financial support, the uncle would have been dead long ago.

All Yu Dazhang could do now was wait.

“We’ve done everything we can.”

He stood by the window, gazing toward Zhang Yan’s house, murmuring to himself:

“From the day you struck, to today—twelve days have passed.”

“You must know Kong Lingjie’s attempt to take the blame failed.”

“Right now, every minute must be torture for you.”

“Every cell in your body screams at you not to show up—but you still want to go see.”

“Even just a glimpse would be enough.”

“For the past two days, you’ve been calculating—where exactly did your plan go wrong?”

“You’re terrified, because you know this was your only chance to escape legal punishment.”

“You’re not afraid of the police coming—already, you’ve planned how to answer their questions.”

“Oh, you’ve even fabricated an alibi, just like Kong Lingjie did in your past life.”

“But deep down, the only thing you can’t let go of is the crime scene.”

“Because you were rushed, you couldn’t clean everything—only wiped away fingerprints.”

“With your expertise, you know the forensic team will find traces when they arrive.”

“So… you can’t hold out any longer.”

“In your past life, you drove a diligent old detective to leap off a bridge.”

“This life, I’m going to make you suffer—keep you restless, keep you sleepless, keep you tormented…”

“This might not be protocol…”

“Who cares—I’ll be selfish once.”

“For my past master. For the me who regretted everything back then.”

“I’m going to snap the string in your mind!”

Qian Cheng sat at his computer, occasionally glancing at Yu Dazhang by the window.

He could faintly hear him muttering something.

The words were unclear, but from his profile, it was obvious he looked relaxed, pleased, and expectant.

What was he thinking?

Why did he look so strange?

“What were you muttering just now?” Qian Cheng couldn’t help asking.

He thought Yu Dazhang seemed odd.

The case isn’t solved yet—everyone’s swamped and stressed.

This fat guy actually had the mood to admire the scenery, and he seemed to be in quite good spirits.

“Nothing much,” Yu Dazhang replied evasively.

He was indeed feeling very relaxed right now.

Every minute he delayed meant another minute of torment for the other side.

Yu Dazhang even enjoyed this moment—he felt the triumph of victory and the satisfaction of watching his enemy suffer unbearably.

His phone rang; he glanced at the screen and a faint smile appeared on his face.

He answered the call, and an anxious voice immediately came through the receiver:

“Someone just entered Zhang Yan’s house—a young man…”

Yu Dazhang cut in at once:

“Watch him!”

“No, let me finish,” replied the team member, his voice hesitant and uncertain:

“That guy is wearing a police uniform.”

(End of Chapter)