Chapter 53: I Saw You a Year Ago

The interrogation had reached this point, a perfect conclusion.

Zhou Zizhe’s earlier words were essentially a confession.

Combined with the evidence collected, it was nearly impossible for him to overturn the case.

Seeing Zhou Zizhe still pressing him for answers, Yu Dazhang simply stood up:

“That’s enough. I’ve got other business. Have someone else take over—and cooperate properly.”

“Wait!” Zhou Zizhe shouted.

“You couldn’t have overlooked this. Answer me—why? Why on earth?”

Yu Dazhang said nothing, walked to the door, and waved his hand over his shoulder.

I won’t answer you. Just remain a confused ghost…

In the adjacent room, Yu Dazhang approached a computer; its monitor displayed the surveillance footage of Zhou Hongfu.

Zhou Zizhe’s adoptive father.

In fact, Zhou Hongfu’s motive was the hardest to decipher in this case.

When Yu Dazhang first learned a second set of footprints existed at the primary crime scene, he deduced the person was a direct relative of the killer.

He hadn’t expected the two were father and son—that overlapped with Kong Lingjie’s identity.

Yes, Yu Dazhang had long suspected Kong Lingjie was the killer’s father.

That’s why he sent those two officers to retrieve his ex-wife’s blood sample.

Watching Zhou Hongfu, shackled to the interrogation chair on the monitor, Yu Dazhang muttered softly:

“I never thought an adoptive father could sink this low. You’re truly a fool—I…”

Never mind, I won’t throw up—it’s government property after all.

That night, Songkou District Detention Center.

In Cell 001, a burst of laughter suddenly erupted.

“Hahahahahahahaha.”

“I remember now—it’s him!”

“No wonder I didn’t recognize you. In just a year, you’ve changed so much.”

“Your face is all swollen, hahahahahaha.”

“Senior brother, I never imagined we’d meet like this.”

“Good! To be caught by you is truly fate’s justice!”

Soon, a guard arrived at the door…

The next morning.

Yu Dazhang arrived at the branch team, feeling light and easy.

Last night had been the most restful sleep he’d had in days—no worries, no pressure.

Today marked the official start of case closure procedures.

That meant the special task force would soon be disbanded, and he and Lu Zhongxin would return to Team One.

The fast-paced, high-pressure days were finally over.

In the office, Yu Dazhang saw all task force members smiling broadly, radiating joy.

“Our hero’s here!” one officer called out.

The others immediately joined in, cheering and teasing.

Lu Zhongxin walked up to his apprentice and clapped him on the shoulder.

“This morning I gave the team leader a verbal report. I’ll submit the written one later—don’t worry, you’re the top contributor.”

Everyone nodded in agreement; no one showed any sign of resentment.

Looking at these veteran detectives older than him, Yu Dazhang smiled back.

So this is what the legendary…

Murder case MVP reward screen looks like!

So satisfying!

So good~

But Yu Dazhang wasn’t foolish. Their praise was goodwill; reciprocating was worldly wisdom.

First, he turned to Lu Zhongxin:

“Master, you’re the deputy team leader—you led us to solve this case. The top credit belongs to you.”

Then he turned to the two officers who conducted surveillance:

“You apprehended the real killer yourselves—your contribution is immense.”

He turned next to the two who went on the field assignment:

“You traveled far to gather critical physical evidence—your work was indispensable.”

He glanced at Qian Cheng…

After praising everyone, he finally said:

“I just offered some advice. As long as I didn’t mess things up, I’m lucky. As for credit? Just being allowed to share a sip of the soup is more than enough.”

His words left everyone blushing—even Lu Zhongxin.

Modest. Too damned modest.

It was outright dishonest humility.

But then~

It was also incredibly pleasant to hear.

This kid’s got class—doesn’t hog credit.

Working with someone like this is easy—he doesn’t play games with his own team.

Just as laughter filled the room, Lu Zhongxin’s phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, stepped out of the office, and went down the hallway.

One minute later, he pushed the door open and looked at Yu Dazhang:

“Zhou Zizhe wants to see you.”

Had the case changed again?

Everyone’s mind flashed the same thought.

“Didn’t he say why?” Yu Dazhang was equally baffled—he couldn’t fathom why Zhou Zizhe would want to see him.

The case was nearly closed. Everything to be said, everything to be confessed—he’d already said it all. What more could he possibly want?

“He says he has a crucial lead—but he’ll only speak to you.”

Alright then. No need for all that trouble. I’ll go to the detention center to see him. By the way, Master, I need half a day off—I have to drop someone off this morning.

Half an hour later, in the interrogation room of Songkou District Detention Center.

“What’s this crucial lead?” Yu Dazhang asked bluntly.

Zhou Zizhe didn’t beat around the bush:

“I saw you a year ago. More precisely—I saw your photo.”

“The you in that photo wasn’t nearly this fat. You were a clean-cut, handsome guy.”

Yu Dazhang nodded, unsurprised.

After all, they’d attended the same school. He’d probably stumbled upon a class photo.

But the fact he remembered—and recognized him now—proved his memory was exceptional.

Seeing Yu Dazhang didn’t interrupt, Zhou Zizhe continued:

“I’m curious what happened to you back then—why your mother carried your photo around school, asking everyone…”

“Wait!” Yu Dazhang suddenly cut in:

“You’re saying you saw my photo at my mother’s place?”

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“Yes,” Zhou Zizhe confirmed.

“Then…” Yu Dazhang hesitated, asking:

“What exactly did she ask?”

“You don’t know you went missing?” Zhou Zizhe countered.

Yu Dazhang: ????

A year ago…

He’d gone missing!

Then his mother went around school with his photo asking everyone… Yu Dazhang understood the words, but grew more confused by the second.

“Do you remember her exact words?” Yu Dazhang pressed.

“The exact words? I don’t recall. But I remember the gist…” Zhou Zizhe thought for a moment, then replied:

“Your mother asked if anyone had seen you at school in May. Oh, and later, a middle-aged man came too—probably your father.”

“Did he ask the same thing?” Yu Dazhang asked.

Zhou Zizhe nodded:

“Not just the same question—the same photo.”

True or false… Yu Dazhang deeply doubted the truth of this.

If it’s fake, he’s describing it too convincingly—and he even knows what I looked like before.

He even described in detail how my parents came to school to ask about me.

It doesn’t sound like something he could have made up.

“Describe my parents’ physical features,” Yu Dazhang decided to verify the truth of this:

“Just give a simple description. If you can remember what I looked like a year ago, you can remember your parents.”

“No problem,” Zhou Zizhe replied promptly.

One minute later…

Yu Dazhang stared at him, eyes wide.

It’s real!

He had accurately described my parents’ build, appearance, and approximate ages.

If he hadn’t seen them, he could never have known so precisely.

And I truly have no memory of ever being overweight.

Mom, how much have you hidden from me… Yu Dazhang wanted to rush home right now and demand answers.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his inner agitation, and fixed Zhou Zizhe with a stare:

“Speak. What do you want? I don’t believe you called me here just to tell me this.”

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zhou Zizhe suddenly grew agitated:

“I ask for nothing else. I’ll accept my guilt, and I’ll cooperate fully—I only ask you to do me one favor.”

Overcome with emotion, his voice cracked, but he cleared his throat and continued:

“Help me! Help me find those damn traffickers and bring those scum to justice!”

“My life is over, but I can’t accept it. If not for those beasts, I wouldn’t be like this now.”

“Both my adoptive father and I can provide leads—I believe you can find them!”

After speaking, he gazed at Yu Dazhang with hopeful eyes, waiting for his answer.

“I can’t guarantee that,” Yu Dazhang said honestly, unwilling to lie:

“It depends on how detailed your leads are, and this case may not even fall to me.”

“All I can say is, if I take it on, I’ll give it my all!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zizhe didn’t look disappointed—he beamed with excitement:

“That’s enough. With your word, it’s enough. I believe in you. Thank you. Really, thank you.”

After leaving the detention center, Yu Dazhang checked the time on his phone.

9:10.

There’s still time… He put away his phone, walked to the roadside, and raised his hand to hail a cab.

Twenty minutes later, Hongkou District Fuyuan Cemetery.

A group of more than ten people slowly ascended the mountain path.

At the front of the procession were a middle-aged couple.

One carried a portrait, the other an urn; each was supported by someone beside them.

In the portrait, a young girl smiled brightly, full of youth.

Occasional sobs rose from the group—soft, yet deeply sorrowful.

On the mountainside, a fat man stood beside a grove of pine trees, silently watching the funeral procession fade into the distance.

As the group vanished from view, his lips moved slightly, as if whispering something barely audible.

“Girl, may you have a whole life in your next reincarnation.”

(End of Chapter)