Chapter 46 Does He Know Me?

Arrogant!
Extremely arrogant!
This was Lyu Zhongxin's most direct impression at the moment.
To think that a suspect would actually dare to say "You are not qualified" to the police interrogating him.
Let alone witness such a suspect, Lyu Zhongxin had never even heard of one.
However, in order to solve the case as quickly as possible, he did not fly into a rage. Instead, he endured it and temporarily suspended the interrogation.
Upon entering the adjacent room, he found all the members of the special investigation team gathered there.
"Dazhang, what do you think?" As soon as he stepped through the door, Lyu Zhongxin fixed his gaze on his disciple.
He knew very well that the person Zhou Zizhe wanted to see was Yu Dazhang.
And among the entire special investigation team, only Yu Dazhang could answer Zhou Zizhe's question.
The only reason he hadn't brought it up directly was to save face for the others.
"He wants to swap people and we're just supposed to swap?" Yu Dazhang stood up from his computer chair, his expression extremely displeased.
"Does he think this is a karaoke bar, picking hostesses off a lineup?"
As soon as these words left his mouth, all the members of the special investigation team, including Lyu Zhongxin, froze.
Simultaneously, they cast their gazes toward the disgruntled Yu Dazhang, their eyes filled with curiosity and probing interest.
So he's actually been to those places~
Otherwise, how could he make the connection to that kind of venue in a split second?
And knowing about picking from a lineup—needless to say, he must have patronized them before.
They really say heroes don't ask where they come from, and scoundrels don't look at their age.
He managed to check both boxes.
What a talent!
Did I let something slip... Seeing the not-so-friendly looks from his peers, Yu Dazhang hurriedly changed the subject:
"Master, we can't let the suspect lead us by the nose. Just because he casually tossed out a question, do we have to answer it?"
"If you ask me, we shouldn't accommodate his request for a switch."
"As the mama-san—no, I mean, as the deputy team leader, you need to show some backbone."
"Regardless of whether what the suspect said is sincere, even if he really wants to make a confession, we can't just dance to his tune."
You definitely have been to that kind of place before... Every member of the special investigation team shared the exact same thought.
"I'm afraid that won't do," Lyu Zhongxin said with hesitation.
"He finally started talking, and I think this is an opportunity we should seize."
He suspected that his disciple simply didn't want to get involved in the interrogation.
Yu Dazhang's speech just now might have sounded somewhat reasonable at first glance, but it fell apart upon closer inspection.
A little thought revealed that he simply wished to avoid direct dialogue with the suspect.
"Alright then," Yu Dazhang said helplessly, forced to make a concession.
"Stall him for now, drag it out for at least another day. If he's still acting dead tomorrow, we'll swap people."
Naturally, he had his own agenda.
Despite the suspect only speaking up now, Yu Dazhang noticed that compared to when he was first brought in, his mental state was evidently much better.
He must have figured something out to reach this state.
Yesterday, Yu Dazhang had carefully observed the suspect's condition via the surveillance footage.
While his legs might not have been turning to jelly, his eyes were shifting restlessly, indicating that he was in a state of extreme panic.
He was clinging to the very last shred of his rationality to keep his thoughts clear.
Yet, after just a single day, he had actually calmed down.
After a whole night of thinking, it seems you've already accepted your fate... Yu Dazhang estimated that the suspect wanting to see him boiled down to no more than two reasons:
1. To set another trap and achieve a specific goal of his own.
2. To understand his demise clearly before dying.
Or perhaps, a combination of both.
Indeed, he must know he is dead meat; otherwise, he wouldn't be this composed.
Forget about that famous high-profile defense lawyer from his past life; even if every renowned defense lawyer in the entire country were summoned here, they couldn't save him.
The nature of the crime was simply too heinous.
Intentional homicide, hiring a scapegoat, setting traps for the police—stack these charges together, and it was enough to execute him a dozen times over.
What other purpose could he possibly have... This was what concerned Yu Dazhang the most.
As for engaging in a direct dialogue with the suspect, he felt zero interest.
With himself keeping watch from the sidelines in this lifetime, Yu Dazhang actually hoped Lyu Zhongxin would carry out the interrogation to the very end.
In a way, this could be considered the master avenging himself indirectly.
.
Another day passed, and Zhou Zizhe still hadn't uttered another word.
Lyu Zhongxin repeatedly presented evidence, attempting to persuade him to confess.
Yet Zhou Zizhe remained completely indifferent, and by the afternoon, he even closed his eyes.
This time, not only Lyu Zhongxin, but the entire special investigation team began to grow anxious.
"Dazhang, you should go."
"I can practically feel it—he's waiting for you."
"Stop making things difficult for your master. I've realized there really is a generation gap between them."
"That's right, you and the suspect are alumni; maybe you can find some common ground to talk about."
What common ground could I possibly share with him... Yu Dazhang shot him a sidelong glance.
Still, the time had come.
Over the past two days, after synthesizing the evidence and deliberating repeatedly, he had ruled out every other reasonable doubt.
As far as Yu Dazhang was concerned, this case now had a complete chain of evidence, lacking only the final step...
To complete the closed loop.
He slowly stood up, stretched lazily, and picked up the microphone beside the computer:
"Master, let's take a timeout. Halftime substitution."
Lyu Zhongxin, inside the interrogation room, seemed to have been waiting precisely for this moment.
Hearing Yu Dazhang's voice through the miniature earpiece, he nodded unconsciously.
Disregarding whatever reaction Zhou Zizhe across from him might have, he stood up directly and walked out of the interrogation room.
Arriving in the next room, Lyu Zhongxin spoke briskly:
"Do you need me to go in with you?"
Yu Dazhang waved a hand, swept his gaze around the room, and finally let it rest on Qian Cheng:
"Brother Qian, you and I will go in together."
Seemingly caught off guard by Yu Dazhang's summons, Qian Cheng didn't react immediately and instinctively replied:
"I don't know how to do that, and I've never participated in an interrogation before."
"It doesn't matter." Yu Dazhang grabbed him by the wrist:
"New faces bring a new atmosphere. Since we're changing personnel, let's change them all. Come on, let's catch him off guard."
I feel like I'm even more caught off guard than the suspect... Qian Cheng had no desire to go, but despite struggling hard a few times, he remained firmly rooted to the spot.
In the end, he was dragged into the interrogation room by Yu Dazhang.
The other team member inside the room looked stunned as they walked in.
Why are they walking in hand-in-hand?
"You can head out first," Yu Dazhang told him.
"Leave this to us."
"Understood," the team member replied, quickly stepping out of the room.
After making Qian Cheng sit down first, Yu Dazhang finally turned his gaze toward the suspect, Zhou Zizhe.
As their eyes met, Yu Dazhang noticed something strange about the way the man was looking at him.
It seemed to be a mix of confusion, reminiscence, and puzzlement...
Why was that look so bizarre?
It was as if they were long-lost acquaintances meeting by chance, and the man was racking his brain trying to recognize him.
Does he know me?
Impossible... Yu Dazhang immediately dismissed the thought.
He hadn't been at the scene when Zhou Zizhe was arrested, and Lyu Zhongxin had been the sole interrogator ever since the suspect was brought back.
He hadn't even crossed paths with him in the hallway over the past two days.
Have we met before?
That shouldn't be either... Yu Dazhang remembered being a total nobody back in police academy, entirely lacking any traits that would draw someone else's attention.
Furthermore, he was thoroughly certain he had never crossed paths with this Zhou Zizhe at school.
Is he putting on an act for me... Sitting down, Yu Dazhang straightened his posture, trying his best to look imposing:
"I heard you've been looking for me."