Chapter 53: I Saw You One Year Ago

The interrogation had reached this stage, marking a perfect conclusion.

What Zhou Zizhe just said was tantamount to a confession.

Combined with the collected evidence, overturning the case was almost impossible for him.

Seeing that Zhou Zizhe still intended to continue questioning him, Yu Dazhang simply stood up directly:

"Alright, that's enough for now. I have other matters. If someone else comes, you must cooperate honestly."

"Wait!" Zhou Zizhe shouted loudly:

"You couldn't have been negligent. Answer me, why? Exactly why?"

Yu Dazhang spoke no more; instead, he walked to the door, turned his back to him, and waved his hand.

Answering you is impossible; you'll just be a confused ghost...

Arriving in the next room, Yu Dazhang approached a computer; the surveillance footage on the screen was of Zhou Hongfu.

That is, Zhou Zizhe's adoptive father.

In fact, in this case, Zhou Hongfu's motive was the hardest to guess.

When Yu Dazhang first learned that footprints of another person existed at the primary crime scene, he had deduced that this person was the killer's direct relative.

He just didn't expect the two to be father and son, which overlapped with Kong Lingjie's identity.

That's right; Yu Dazhang had long suspected that Kong Lingjie was the killer's father.

That was why he had those two team members bring back his ex-wife's blood sample.

Looking at the surveillance footage of Zhou Hongfu, handcuffed to the interrogation chair, Yu Dazhang murmured to himself:

"I never thought an adoptive father could go this far. It's truly damn confusing. I..."

Never mind, no more complaining; after all, it's public property.

That night, at the Songhai Hongkou District Detention Center.

In Transition Room 001, a burst of loud laughter suddenly erupted.

"Hahahaha hahahaha hahahaha."

"I remember now, it was him!"

"No wonder I couldn't recognize you; in one year, you've changed so much."

"You've gotten so fat your facial features have distorted, hahahaha hahahaha."

"Senior brother, I never thought we'd meet this way."

"Good, good! Being brought down by your hand is truly heaven's justice!"

Soon, a guard from the Mingguan Sect arrived at the door...

The next morning.

Yu Dazhang arrived at the detachment feeling light and relaxed.

Last night was the most restful sleep he'd had in recent days, without any worries or pressure.

Today, the case closure process officially began.

That is to say, the special project team would soon be disbanded, and he and Lu Zhongxin would return to the First Brigade.

The fast-paced, high-pressure days had finally come to an end.

Arriving at the office, Yu Dazhang saw smiles on the faces of the special project team members; they all looked jubilant.

"Our hero has arrived!" one of the team members shouted.

The others immediately chimed in and joined the celebration.

Lu Zhongxin came before his disciple and patted his shoulder.

"This morning, I gave a verbal report to the detachment commander. Later, I'll write it up as a formal report to submit. Rest assured, you get the Primary credit."

The others nodded in agreement; not a single person showed any sign of dissatisfaction.

Looking at these criminal investigators who were more senior than himself, Yu Dazhang returned their smiles.

So this is the legendary...

Homicide case resolution MVP settlement screen!

So satisfying!

Comfortable~

However, Yu Dazhang was no fool; the crowd praising him was a social favor, and returning the favor with plums was worldly wisdom.

He first spoke to Lu Zhongxin:

"Master, you are the deputy team leader; you led us to solve the case. The Primary credit should be yours."

Then he looked at the two who had been on stakeout:

"You personally arrested the real killer; your contribution is also great."

Next, he turned to the two who had traveled for the mission:

"You traveled long distances and collected crucial physical evidence; your contribution is indispensable."

He then looked at Qian Cheng...

After praising everyone, he finally said:

"I only helped with strategy and planning; it's good enough that I didn't cause trouble. As for the credit, I'm content just to share a bowl of soup with everyone."

After saying all this, he made everyone blush, and Lu Zhongxin was no exception.

Humble, so damn humble.

It was practically being humble against one's conscience.

But then again~

Those words were indeed pleasant to hear.

This kid is good; he doesn't crave credit.

Working with someone like this is comfortable; he doesn't play mind games with his own people.

Just as everyone was laughing and chatting, Lu Zhongxin's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, walked out of the office, and went into the corridor outside.

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

"Zhou Zizhe wants to see you."

Has the case changed again?

Everyone had this thought pop into their heads.

"Didn't he say what he wanted with me?" Yu Dazhang was also full of questions. He really couldn't figure out why Zhou Zizhe wanted to see him.

The case was about to be closed; everything that should have been said and confessed had already been confessed; what else was there to haggle over?

"He said there's important leads, and he must see you before he can say them."

"Alright then, since it's like this, no need to go through the trouble; I'll go see him at the detention center. By the way, Master, I'm asking for leave; I still have to send someone off this morning."

Half an hour later, inside the interrogation room of the Hongkou District Detention Center.

"What important leads?" Yu Dazhang asked straight to the point.

Zhou Zizhe didn't beat around the bush and said directly:

"I saw you one year ago; to be precise, I saw your photo."

"The you in the photo wasn't as fat as you are now; you were absolutely a clean and handsome guy."

Yu Dazhang nodded, not finding it too surprising.

After all, they were from the same school; it was very possible he had accidentally seen a group photo with classmates.

However, remembering it and being able to recognize his current self was enough to show his memory was truly excellent.

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

"I'm very curious about what happened to you back then, that your mother took your photo and asked everyone at school..."

"Wait!" Yu Dazhang suddenly interrupted:

"Are you saying you saw my photo at my mother's place?"

Please... collect... 6... 9... Book... now...!

"Yes." Zhou Zizhe said affirmatively.

"Then..." Yu Dazhang asked hesitantly:

"What exactly did she ask?"

"You wouldn't be saying you don't know you went missing, would you?" Zhou Zizhe asked in return.

Yu Dazhang:????

One year ago...

I went missing!

Then Mom went to the school with my photo and asked everyone... Yu Dazhang understood what he heard, but he was getting more and more confused.

"What were her exact words? Do you remember?" Yu Dazhang continued asking.

"The exact words, I don't recall clearly, but I remember the general meaning..." Zhou Zizhe thought for a moment, and only after a short while did he answer:

"Your mother asked if anyone had seen you at school in May. By the way, later a middle-aged man also came to ask; he should be your father."

"Was the content of the question the same?" Yu Dazhang pressed on.

Zhou Zizhang nodded:

"Not only was the content the same, but the photo was the same too."

Is this real or fake... Yu Dazhang was very suspicious of the truthfulness of the content.

If it were fake, he was acting too much like the truth, and he even knew what I looked like before.

Even the story about my parents going to the school to inquire about me was told with such detail and conviction.

It didn't sound like something Du Zhuan could make up at all.

"Describe the physical characteristics of my parents." Yu Dazhang decided to verify the credibility of this matter:

"A simple description is fine; since you can remember what I looked like a year ago, you can remember my parents'."

"No problem." Zhou Zizhe agreed very readily.

One minute later...

Yu Dazhang stared at him with wide, blank eyes.

It's true!

He actually accurately described my parents' physical features and approximate ages.

If he hadn't seen them, he absolutely wouldn't know so clearly.

And I indeed have no memory of my body gaining weight.

Mom, exactly how many things have you hidden from me... Yu Dazhang really wanted to rush home right now and ask Mom to clear things up.

Taking a deep breath, he forced down the irritation in his heart, stared at Zhou Zizhe, and asked:

"Speak up; what do you want? I don't think you called me here just to tell me these things."

Sure enough, after hearing this, Zhou Zizhe suddenly became excited:

"I ask for nothing else; I will confess to the crime, and I will absolutely cooperate; I only ask you to help me with one thing."

Because he was too excited, Zhou Zizhe's voice even changed pitch a bit, but he only coughed once and continued:

"Help me! Help me find those damn human traffickers and bring those scum to justice!"

"My life is basically over, but I'm not resigned; if it weren't for those beasts, I wouldn't be in this state now."

"Both my adoptive father and I can provide clues; I believe you will definitely find them!"

After speaking, he looked up at Yu Dazhang with pleading eyes, waiting for his answer.

"I cannot guarantee such a thing." Yu Dazhang did not want to lie to him, so he could only speak the truth:

"It depends on whether the clues you provide are detailed, and this case might not be investigated by me."

"I can only say, if I investigate it, I will do my utmost!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zizhe showed no sign of disappointment; instead, he said excitedly:

"That is enough. Your words are enough. I believe you. Thank you, truly thank you."

Coming out of the detention center, Yu Dazhang took out his phone and checked the time.

Nine ten.

There is still time... Putting away his phone, he walked to the roadside, raised his hand, and hailed a taxi.

Twenty minutes later, Fuyuan Cemetery, Hongkou District.

On the mountain path, a group of over a dozen people was slowly walking up the mountain.

At the very front of the procession was a middle-aged couple.

One held a memorial portrait, the other held an urn; people on either side were helping to support them.

On the memorial portrait, a young girl in the bloom of life smiled like a flower.

From time to time, sobbing sounds emerged from the procession; the volume was not loud, yet it made anyone who heard it feel sorrowful.

At the mid-mountain slope, a fat man stood beside a pine forest, silently watching the funeral procession gradually move away.

As the procession gradually disappeared from sight, his lips moved, as if saying something, the sound barely audible.

"Girl, may you have a complete life in your next existence."

(End of this chapter)