[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi":3,"chapter-reborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi-reborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi-chapter-53":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Reborn in 2014: I Am the King of Criminal Investigation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2315909,4529,"Chapter 53: I Saw You a Year Ago","reborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>The interrogation had reached this point, a perfect conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zizhe’s earlier words were essentially a confession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with the evidence collected, it was nearly impossible for him to overturn the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhou Zizhe still pressing him for answers, Yu Dazhang simply stood up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s enough. I’ve got other business. Have someone else take over—and cooperate properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait!” Zhou Zizhe shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You couldn’t have overlooked this. Answer me—why? Why on earth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dazhang said nothing, walked to the door, and waved his hand over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I won’t answer you. Just remain a confused ghost…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the adjacent room, Yu Dazhang approached a computer; its monitor displayed the surveillance footage of Zhou Hongfu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zizhe’s adoptive father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Zhou Hongfu’s motive was the hardest to decipher in this case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected the two were father and son—that overlapped with Kong Lingjie’s identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, Yu Dazhang had long suspected Kong Lingjie was the killer’s father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he sent those two officers to retrieve his ex-wife’s blood sample.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zhou Hongfu, shackled to the interrogation chair on the monitor, Yu Dazhang muttered softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never thought an adoptive father could sink this low. You’re truly a fool—I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind, I won’t throw up—it’s government property after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Songkou District Detention Center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Cell 001, a burst of laughter suddenly erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahahahahahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember now—it’s him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder I didn’t recognize you. In just a year, you’ve changed so much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your face is all swollen, hahahahahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior brother, I never imagined we’d meet like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! To be caught by you is truly fate’s justice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a guard arrived at the door…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dazhang arrived at the branch team, feeling light and easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night had been the most restful sleep he’d had in days—no worries, no pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today marked the official start of case closure procedures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the special task force would soon be disbanded, and he and Lu Zhongxin would return to Team One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fast-paced, high-pressure days were finally over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the office, Yu Dazhang saw all task force members smiling broadly, radiating joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our hero’s here!” one officer called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others immediately joined in, cheering and teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhongxin walked up to his apprentice and clapped him on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded in agreement; no one showed any sign of resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at these veteran detectives older than him, Yu Dazhang smiled back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this is what the legendary…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murder case MVP reward screen looks like!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So satisfying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So good~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yu Dazhang wasn’t foolish. Their praise was goodwill; reciprocating was worldly wisdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he turned to Lu Zhongxin:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you’re the deputy team leader—you led us to solve this case. The top credit belongs to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned to the two officers who conducted surveillance:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You apprehended the real killer yourselves—your contribution is immense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned next to the two who went on the field assignment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You traveled far to gather critical physical evidence—your work was indispensable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Qian Cheng…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After praising everyone, he finally said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words left everyone blushing—even Lu Zhongxin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Modest. Too damned modest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was outright dishonest humility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also incredibly pleasant to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kid’s got class—doesn’t hog credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Working with someone like this is easy—he doesn’t play games with his own team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as laughter filled the room, Lu Zhongxin’s phone rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the caller ID, stepped out of the office, and went down the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minute later, he pushed the door open and looked at Yu Dazhang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Zizhe wants to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the case changed again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s mind flashed the same thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t he say why?” Yu Dazhang was equally baffled—he couldn’t fathom why Zhou Zizhe would want to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He says he has a crucial lead—but he’ll only speak to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, in the interrogation room of Songkou District Detention Center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this crucial lead?” Yu Dazhang asked bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zizhe didn’t beat around the bush:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw you a year ago. More precisely—I saw your photo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The you in that photo wasn’t nearly this fat. You were a clean-cut, handsome guy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dazhang nodded, unsurprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they’d attended the same school. He’d probably stumbled upon a class photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fact he remembered—and recognized him now—proved his memory was exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yu Dazhang didn’t interrupt, Zhou Zizhe continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m curious what happened to you back then—why your mother carried your photo around school, asking everyone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait!” Yu Dazhang suddenly cut in:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying you saw my photo at my mother’s place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please... collect... 6...9...books...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Zhou Zizhe confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then…” Yu Dazhang hesitated, asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly did she ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know you went missing?” Zhou Zizhe countered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dazhang: ????\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A year ago…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d gone missing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his mother went around school with his photo asking everyone… Yu Dazhang understood the words, but grew more confused by the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember her exact words?” Yu Dazhang pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The exact words? I don’t recall. But I remember the gist…” Zhou Zizhe thought for a moment, then replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your mother asked if anyone had seen you at school in May. Oh, and later, a middle-aged man came too—probably your father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did he ask the same thing?” Yu Dazhang asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zizhe nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just the same question—the same photo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True or false… Yu Dazhang deeply doubted the truth of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it’s fake, he’s describing it too convincingly—and he even knows what I looked like before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even described in detail how my parents came to school to ask about me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn’t sound like something he could have made up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Describe my parents’ physical features,” Yu Dazhang decided to verify the truth of this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just give a simple description. If you can remember what I looked like a year ago, you can remember your parents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem,” Zhou Zizhe replied promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minute later…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dazhang stared at him, eyes wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s real!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had accurately described my parents’ build, appearance, and approximate ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t seen them, he could never have known so precisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I truly have no memory of ever being overweight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mom, how much have you hidden from me… Yu Dazhang wanted to rush home right now and demand answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, suppressed his inner agitation, and fixed Zhou Zizhe with a stare:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. What do you want? I don’t believe you called me here just to tell me this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zhou Zizhe suddenly grew agitated:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask for nothing else. I’ll accept my guilt, and I’ll cooperate fully—I only ask you to do me one favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overcome with emotion, his voice cracked, but he cleared his throat and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me! Help me find those damn traffickers and bring those scum to justice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My life is over, but I can’t accept it. If not for those beasts, I wouldn’t be like this now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both my adoptive father and I can provide leads—I believe you can find them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, he gazed at Yu Dazhang with hopeful eyes, waiting for his answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t guarantee that,” Yu Dazhang said honestly, unwilling to lie:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It depends on how detailed your leads are, and this case may not even fall to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All I can say is, if I take it on, I’ll give it my all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Zhou Zizhe didn’t look disappointed—he beamed with excitement:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s enough. With your word, it’s enough. I believe in you. Thank you. Really, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the detention center, Yu Dazhang checked the time on his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>9:10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s still time… He put away his phone, walked to the roadside, and raised his hand to hail a cab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty minutes later, Hongkou District Fuyuan Cemetery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of more than ten people slowly ascended the mountain path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front of the procession were a middle-aged couple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One carried a portrait, the other an urn; each was supported by someone beside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the portrait, a young girl smiled brightly, full of youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasional sobs rose from the group—soft, yet deeply sorrowful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the mountainside, a fat man stood beside a grove of pine trees, silently watching the funeral procession fade into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group vanished from view, his lips moved slightly, as if whispering something barely audible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Girl, may you have a whole life in your next reincarnation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1549,"2026-06-20T14:22:46.062Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","32418851d61f0426d47d393171d0f399ac6f3720f6e0f3c17c54ed50b4b8f690","reborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi-chapter-54","reborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi-chapter-52",763,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-in-2014-i-am-the-king-of-criminal-investi-cover.jpg"]