Chapter 51: Cut from the Same Cloth

This is crucial—through this question, Yu Dazhang can directly understand how deep their father-son bond truly is.

Whether or not they acknowledge their father-son relationship no longer matters.

A single paternity test will settle it.

Kong Lingjie’s earlier reaction was already an indirect admission.

Sure enough, upon hearing this question, Kong Lingjie stammered:

“I, I mean, I didn’t want to make her worry anymore… so I just…”

“It’s Zhou Zizhe who doesn’t want to acknowledge you,” Yu Dazhang interrupted, his eyes narrowing.

“I bet he doesn’t even want to recognize you as his real father—he only maintains contact because you found him.”

“You didn’t blame him, and you didn’t want your ex-wife to suffer again, so you kept it secret.”

“Doesn’t it hurt to be rejected by your own son?”

Kong Lingjie’s face turned grim; he clenched his lips and said nothing.

Yu Dazhang didn’t press further, but continued:

“You thought if you came forward to take the blame, no one would trace Zhou Zizhe—because your household records show no direct relation.”

“Unfortunately, you overlooked one crucial thing… logic.”

“Taking the blame for someone else boils down to two possibilities: money or emotion.”

“And ‘emotion’ includes familial love, friendship, and romantic love.”

“You know the process of elimination—among your relationship options, only familial love fits the logic.”

As Yu Dazhang spoke, he picked up the small vial again:

“You only guessed it contained blood—and you assumed it was Zhou Zizhe’s.”

“Let me tell you, this is a blood sample we obtained from your ex-wife with her consent.”

“Don’t worry—we didn’t tell her the child was found.”

“Zhou Zizhe will undergo a paternity test with both you and your wife.”

“Do you know what this is called?”

Yu Dazhang set the vial down and stared at Kong Lingjie’s now-pale face:

“This is irrefutable evidence! This is conclusive proof! No one can save you now!!”

His forceful words plunged the man across from him into deathly silence.

He lowered his head, as if trying to escape Yu Dazhang’s gaze.

After a moment, he lifted his head again—his eyes filled with regret, fury, and unmasked despair.

“It’s all my fault—if only I hadn’t lost him back then, none of this would’ve happened.”

“No, it’s not my fault—it’s those damn traffickers! I should’ve flayed them alive and ground their bones to dust!”

Kong Lingjie roared—this seemingly timid, introverted man had transformed into someone else.

Now, fierce light blazed in his eyes.

“Yes, it’s all those monsters’ fault—why don’t you go arrest them? You should be chasing those scum!”

“Zizhe is also a victim—and I’ve taken all his blame upon myself. What more do you want?”

“A son’s debt is paid by the father—I bear all the guilt. Please, let him go!”

As if grasping his last straw, Kong Lingjie stared pleadingly at the two men across from him, hoping to see pity on their faces.

But reality doomed him to disappointment—Lu Zhongxin’s expression was blank, while Yu Dazhang’s face was thick with contempt and mockery.

“A son’s debt paid by the father?” Yu Dazhang stared coldly at Kong Lingjie:

“From the moment you chose to sacrifice others to display your fatherly love, you and your son became cut from the same cloth.”

“Don’t disgust me.”

With that, Yu Dazhang stood up, gave Lu Zhongxin a slight nod, and walked out.

Before leaving, he cast one final glance at Kong Lingjie, who had lowered his head again, and clenched his fist.

This man doesn’t deserve an ounce of pity!

If not for his status as a police officer, he would’ve rushed over and beaten Kong Lingjie senseless.

Lu Zhongxin can handle the rest of the interrogation—Yu Dazhang just needs to send someone else in. After brief instructions to the task force, he and Qian Cheng entered another interrogation room.

He had planned to interrogate Zhou Zizhe tomorrow, but during Kong Lingjie’s interrogation, Yu Dazhang changed his mind.

Since Zhou Zizhe’s father had already broken, why not snap the last straw too?

When will we close the case?

Today!

Yu Dazhang closed his eyes, mentally reviewing the entire procedure.

Their relationship was fully clarified; evidence for every link had been collected.

Motive, method, post-crime planning, body transport and concealment, crime scene fabrication, and finally, taking the blame…

That’s all—nothing missing.

This case is now solid enough to eliminate all reasonable doubt.

Now it’s just a matter of time.

Please… collect 6…9…books…!

If Zhou Zizhe confesses voluntarily, we can close the case sooner.

Otherwise, it’ll take more effort.

But the outcome won’t change.

With this thought, Yu Dazhang felt a deep sense of relief—his heart brimmed with unspoken satisfaction.

After a while, two team members brought Zhou Zizhe into the interrogation room.

Upon their second meeting, his face had regained its calm composure, though the hatred in his eyes remained clearly visible.

“It’s been over three hours since our last meeting,” Yu Dazhang said slowly.

“I think you’ve figured it out by now.”

Zhou Zizhe nodded, saying nothing.

“Can you guess where I just came from?” Yu Dazhang asked, smiling.

He wanted to give the impression… I’m relaxed now, because I’ve found a new lead.

Qian Cheng, who was taking notes, paused—he didn’t understand why Yu Dazhang asked this.

It made no sense at all.

Why are you playing mind games with the suspect?

But to his surprise, Zhou Zizhe spoke:

“The other interrogation room?”

“Correct,” Yu Dazhang said, almost raising a thumb—but immediately realized their relationship made such a gesture inappropriate.

He dropped his smile and said seriously:

“Kong Lingjie—your biological father—has started confessing.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Zizhe showed no surprise or shock—as if he’d expected this all along.

“That’s unlike you,” Yu Dazhang said, slightly taken aback.

“You should’ve argued.”

In Yu Dazhang’s understanding, Zhou Zizhe was the type who’d argue even when he had no point.

Arrogant, stubborn, self-righteous—that was the real Zhou Zizhe: a spoiled, insecure, introverted child.

But this version before him felt… off.

“It’s useless,” Zhou Zizhe shook his head.

“I studied criminal investigation at police academy—I’ve researched nearly every investigative technique.”

“From the moment you started suspecting me, this case was already exposed.”

“Ancient blood tests might have been flawed—but DNA testing never lies.”

“You’ll make us do the test—and I can’t change your decision.”

Trouble—he’s calmed down… Hearing this, Yu Dazhang didn’t feel relief—he felt uneasy.

Seeing Yu Dazhang hesitate, Zhou Zizhe seized the moment to make a request:

"Can I see the statements from Zhang Yan’s parents? If that’s inconvenient, just read them to me."

(End of Chapter)