Chapter 25: Suicide

"Zhu Xuejun, do you really think that by using cash you can leave no trace behind? That you can’t be implicated?"

Zhou Yi placed three photographs on the table—the very pictures Chen Yan had taken of the designer goods in Du Xiaolin's room.

"You are mistaken! Let me tell you, a person's behavior in society cannot be erased so easily."

"These items in the photos were all gifts from you to Du Xiaolin, weren't they?"

"This brand has never even been imported into this country."

"And this perfume; the text on the box is in traditional characters."

"You must have brought these back when you traveled abroad or to Hong Kong, right?"

Just as Zhu Xuejun started to argue, Zhou Yi raised a hand to stop him.

"I know what you want to say, but I must tell you that our country’s customs have strict management systems for personal clearance. No matter how you try to quibble, it’s useless. Once we check with customs, we will know exactly how many items in Du Xiaolin's room were gifts from you."

"Well? Can you tell us now what your true relationship with Du Xiaolin was?"

After hearing this, Zhu Xuejun furrowed his brow, his expression reflecting an intense inner struggle.

Suddenly, he leaned back in his chair and said with an air of indifference, "Fine. Du Xiaolin was my mistress, and I bought her those things. So what? Having a mistress isn't illegal, is it, Officer?"

His entire posture, expression, and tone had shifted completely, now reeking of arrogance and disdain. It was clear that this was his true face; everything before had been a facade.

"It is not illegal, but it is morally questionable," Zhou Yi replied.

"Morality?" Zhu Xuejun sneered. "What is morality worth? When you're dying of a terminal illness, can morality save you?"

Zhu Xuejun balled one hand into a fist and pointed his thumb at himself. "My medical skills save lives. Money saves lives."

"Do you know how many people I’ve saved? Do you know how hard it is to get an appointment with me?"

"They say that saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. I’ve saved so many people—what’s wrong with me enjoying a few young bodies!"

"Besides, I never forced them, and I never mistreated them. I got what I wanted, and they got what they wanted. Everyone was happy. Is that really any of your business as police?"

Zhou Yi was stunned. A man like this was a doctor?

Someone with such twisted values holding a scalpel—was he saving lives or destroying them?

If this had been the rookie Zhou Yi from years ago, he probably would have pounced and kicked him a few times by now. But the current Zhou Yi was a seasoned and composed criminal investigator. Even if he wanted to kick the man, he would make sure it happened in a place with no witnesses or evidence, preferably where the man wouldn't even know who had attacked him. In that case, he would definitely make sure to get a few extra kicks in.

Wu Yongcheng slammed his hand on the table and said in a deep voice, "Zhu Xuejun, this is a police station. Mind your language. You may think your actions aren't illegal, but spewing nonsense here to obstruct our investigation is a crime. I can charge you with obstruction of justice. The police could even choose to issue a public notice. Do you want to try that?"

"Captain Wu, are you trying to scare me? It doesn't matter, go ahead and try. I have the best lawyers in the province. And whether or not I've obstructed justice isn't up to you—it’s up to the court. Do you take me for someone who doesn't know the law?"

Zhou Yi could tell that Wu Yongcheng was also furious. This guy was truly disgusting to the core, but what he said was indeed a fact. Zhou Yi suddenly found himself wishing, more than ever, that this bastard was the murderer, just so he could see him weep and beg for mercy.

"Zhu Xuejun, where were you between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM last night?" Zhou Yi didn't want to continue this pointless argument.

"What, you suspect me of killing Du Xiaolin? Unfortunately for you, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I have a solid alibi. I was dining with friends at the Jinjiang Hotel last night; there are plenty of people who can vouch for me."

"You were eating until 1:00 AM?"

"What are you thinking? Do you think I'm some pauper who's never had a meal before? We finished eating at 9:30, then we went to karaoke to drink."

"What time did you leave the karaoke bar?"

"Around midnight. I was drunk, so my friend booked a room for me at a nearby hotel."

"Which hotel?"

"The Jianghai Hotel. You're welcome to check; the front desk staff there know me."

"Fine, we will check. And we will verify everything with the people you were drinking with."

Zhu Xuejun remained indifferent. It was no wonder he was so confident; hotel records were the best possible alibi. And if multiple people could confirm he had been drinking heavily, it would indeed be difficult for him to have had the capacity to commit the crime.

"How has your relationship with Du Xiaolin been lately? Did you have any arguments or conflicts?"

"Officer, I don't even have the opportunity to commit the crime, so is there any point in asking me these things? Besides, she’s dead now. Your questions make me very uncomfortable, and I refuse to answer."

Zhou Yi smiled. "That's fine. If the dead make you uncomfortable, let’s talk about the living. When did you break up with Zhang Xinli?"

Human language has a logical structure. Zhou Yi had seized upon a logic in the man's words, using it to steer the conversation toward questions that would make it harder for the suspect to maintain his narrative.

Zhu Xuejun said impatiently, "It was when I gave her the fifty thousand yuan. Didn't I tell you that just now?"

"So the reason for the breakup was exactly what you said? Are you sure you don't want to change your story? Your shifting attitude makes it hard for us to believe what you just said."

Zhu Xuejun hesitated for a moment and cursed under his breath.

"Damn it, that woman Zhang Xinli had too much of an appetite. She was always trying to get me to divorce my wife and marry her. I humored her time and time again, but she just wouldn't let it go."

"What era is this? It was supposed to be a game where everyone got what they needed, but she had the delusional fantasy of climbing to the top."

"I had been wanting to get rid of this hot potato for a long time, but I had no choice but to bite the bullet and pay up. She promised me that once she took the fifty thousand, she would make a clean break."

"But, just over three months ago, when I went to a hotel with Du Xiaolin, she actually ran into us."

Zhou Yi immediately asked, "How did she react?"

"She went ballistic. Like a lunatic, she started tearing at Du Xiaolin, calling her a vixen and accusing her of stealing her man."

"I was furious. Who the hell did she think she was, the real wife? I told her to get lost, or I would report her for extortion. I specifically used a bank transfer for that fifty thousand precisely because I was afraid she’d come back to harass me."

Zhu Xuejun said this, then suddenly looked shocked. "Officer, it couldn't be that Zhang Xinli killed Du Xiaolin out of spite, could it? She’s a lunatic, and she’s capable of extreme behavior."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the interrogation room door.

Wu Yongcheng stood up to open it, and Zhou Yi saw Chen Yan standing in the doorway. Chen Yan whispered something into Wu Yongcheng’s ear, and Wu Yongcheng’s expression instantly turned to one of shock.

Zhou Yi knew that something major had happened. He hurried out and closed the door.

"Captain Wu, is there news?"

Wu Yongcheng nodded. "Xiao Qiao, who was tailing him, just sent word: Wang Youfu has jumped to his death."