Chapter 53 I Saw You a Year Ago

Reaching this stage, the interrogation could be considered a perfect conclusion.

The words Zhou Zizhe had just uttered were tantamount to a confession.

Coupled with the gathered evidence, it was nearly impossible for him to overturn the case.

Seeing that Zhou Zizhe was about to continue questioning him, Yu Dazhang simply stood up and said, "Alright, let's leave it at that. I have other matters to attend to. Someone else will take over, and you'd better cooperate honestly."

"Wait!" Zhou Zizhe shouted, "You couldn't possibly have made such an oversight. Answer me, why? Tell me why!"

Yu Dazhang did not speak again. Instead, he walked toward the door and waved his hand with his back turned to him.

It is impossible to answer you now; you might as well remain a ghost in the dark...

Entering the adjoining room, Yu Dazhang walked up to a computer. The surveillance feed on the screen showed Zhou Hongfu—Zhou Zizhe's adoptive father.

In truth, Zhou Hongfu's motive was the hardest to decipher in this entire case.

When Yu Dazhang first learned that another person's footprint was present at the primary crime scene, he had deduced that this individual was a close relative of the killer.

He simply hadn't expected 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 instructed those two team members to retrieve his ex-wife's blood sample.

Looking at the surveillance monitor showing Zhou Hongfu cuffed to the interrogation chair, Yu Dazhang muttered to himself, "I never imagined an adoptive father would go to such lengths for you. Damn it, how foolish, I..."

Never mind, I won't throw up after all; after all, this is government property.

***

That night, Songhai Hongkou District Detention Center.

In Transition Room 001, a sudden burst of loud laughter rang out.

"Hahahahahahahahahahaha."

"I remember now! It's him!"

"No wonder I didn't recognize you. In just one year, you've changed so much."

"You've gotten so fat that your facial features are completely distorted, hahahahahahaha."

"Senior Brother, I never thought we'd meet under these circumstances."

"Wonderful, fantastic! To fall into your hands must be Heaven's will!"

Soon, a correctional officer approached the door...

***

Early the next morning.

Yu Dazhang arrived at the detachment in high spirits.

Last night had been his most restful sleep in days, completely free of worries and pressure.

Today marked the official commencement of the case-closing procedure.

In other words, the special investigation team would soon be disbanded, and he and Lü Zhongxin would return to the First Major Team.

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

Upon entering the office, Yu Dazhang saw that the members of the special investigation team all wore smiles, looking radiantly cheerful.

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

The others immediately chimed in, joining the banter.

Lü Zhongxin walked up to his apprentice and patted him on the shoulder.

"This morning, I gave an oral report to the detachment captain. I'll write it up and submit it later. Rest assured, you take the primary credit."

The others nodded in agreement, not a single one showing any sign of dissatisfaction.

Looking at these criminal investigators who possessed far more seniority than he did, Yu Dazhang returned their smiles.

So this was the legendary...

Homicide Investigation MVP Settlement Screen!

How exhilarating!

Pure comfort~

However, Yu Dazhang was no fool; everyone showering him with praise was a matter of human relations, and repaying courtesy with courtesy was the way of the world.

First, he turned to Lü Zhongxin and said, "Master, you are the deputy team leader; you led us in solving this case, so the primary credit should belong to you."

Then, looking at the two officers who had staked out the suspect: "You personally arrested the real culprit, your contribution is immense."

Next, he turned to the two who had gone on the business trip: "You traveled a long distance and collected crucial physical evidence; your efforts are indispensable."

He then cast his gaze toward Qian Cheng...

After complimenting everyone around the circle, he finally concluded: "I merely helped brainstorm a few ideas. It's a good thing I didn't cause trouble. As for the credit, I am more than content to just have a sip of soup along with everyone else."

These remarks left everyone blushing with embarrassment, Lü Zhongxin included.

Humble—he was ridiculously humble.

It was almost as if he were practicing false modesty against his own conscience.

And yet...

These words certainly sounded pleasant.

This kid had a good head on his shoulders; he didn't hoard the credit for himself.

Working with someone like this was a comfort, someone who didn't play political games with his own people.

Just as laughter filled the room, Lü Zhongxin's cell phone rang.

Glancing at the caller ID, he stepped out of the office and walked down the corridor.

A minute later, he pushed open the door, looked at Yu Dazhang, and said, "Zhou Zizhe wants to see you."

Has the case taken another turn?

This thought popped into everyone's mind.

"Did he say what he wants with me?" Yu Dazhang asked, his head full of question marks.

He genuinely could not fathom why Zhou Zizhe would ask to see him.

The case was about to be closed; everything that needed to be said and confessed had already been confessed. What more was there to drag out?

"He said he has an important clue and insists on seeing you in person before he'll disclose it."

"Very well then, since that's the case, no need to make a fuss. I'll go to the detention center to see him. By the way, Master, please grant me a leave of absence for the morning; I still have to send someone off."

***

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

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

Zhou Zizhe didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I saw you a year ago. To be precise, I've seen your photograph."

"In that photo, you weren't as heavy as you are now. You were definitely a fresh-looking, clean-cut handsome guy."

Yu Dazhang nodded, unsurprised.

After all, they had attended the same school; it was entirely possible he had inadvertently seen a group photo containing them both.

Yet, to remember it and recognize him as he was now demonstrated that his memory was truly exceptional.

Seeing that Yu Dazhang remained silent, Zhou Zizhe continued, "I was just curious about what had happened to you back then, given that your mother was carrying your photo and asking everyone she met at the school..."

"Wait a minute!" Yu Dazhang suddenly interrupted, "Are you saying you saw my photo with my mother?"

"Yes," Zhou Zizhe affirmed with certainty.

"Then..." Yu Dazhang asked hesitatingly, "What did she ask?"

"Don't you even know that you went missing?" Zhou Zizhe retorted.

Yu Dazhang: `????`

A year ago...

He had gone missing!

And then his mother had gone to the school with his photo, asking everyone she met... Yu Dazhang understood the words, but it only made him more bewildered.

"Do you remember her exact words?" Yu Dazhang pressed on.

"Her exact words? I don't recall the specifics, but I remember the general gist..." Zhou Zizhe thought for a moment before replying, "Your mother asked if anyone had seen you at school during May. Oh, and later on, an older uncle came to ask as well; he must have been your father."

"Was the inquiry the same?" Yu Dazhang pursued.

Zhou Zizhe nodded: "Not only was the inquiry the same, but the photograph was identical, too."

Really? Yu Dazhang deeply doubted the veracity of this account.

If it were fabricated, his description was far too lifelike, and he even knew what he used to look like.

Even his parents going to the school to ask around sounded entirely plausible.

It didn't sound like something someone could simply make up out of thin air.

"Describe the physical features of my parents," Yu Dazhang decided to test the credibility of the story. "Just a brief description. Since you can remember what I looked like a year ago, you should remember my parents."

"No problem," Zhou Zizhe agreed readily.

One minute later...

Yu Dazhang stared at him with a blank, unblinking gaze.

It was true!

He had accurately described his parents' physical characteristics and approximate ages.

Had he never seen them, there was no way he could have known so clearly.

And indeed, he had no personal recollection of gaining weight.

Mom, just how many things have you been hiding from me... Yu Dazhang genuinely wanted to rush home right this instant and demand an explanation from his mother.

Taking a deep breath, he forcefully suppressed the turbulence in his heart, stared at Zhou Zizhe, and asked, "Tell me, what is it that you want? I don't believe you called me here just to tell me these things."

True to form, upon hearing this, Zhou Zizhe suddenly grew agitated.

"I don't want anything else. I will plead guilty, and I will cooperate fully. I only ask you to do one thing for me."

Because of his agitation, Zhou Zizhe's voice cracked slightly, but after a brief cough, he pressed on: "Help me! Help me find those damned human traffickers and bring those scumbags to justice!"

"My life is effectively over, but I refuse to reconcile myself to this. If it weren't for those beasts, I wouldn't have turned out the way I am today."

"Both my adoptive father and I can provide leads. I believe you can find them!"

With that, he looked at Yu Dazhang with pleading eyes, awaiting his answer.

"I can't guarantee a thing like that," Yu Dazhang had no intention of deceiving him and spoke with brutal honesty, "It depends on whether the leads you provide are detailed enough, and this case might not even be assigned to me to investigate."

"All I can say is that if I am the one investigating, I will give it everything I've got!"

Upon hearing this, far from showing disappointment, Zhou Zizhe said with a spark of excitement, "That's enough. Having your word is enough. I trust you. Thank you—truly, thank you."

Emerging from the detention center, Yu Dazhang pulled out his phone and checked the time.

Nine-ten.

There was still time... Tucking his phone away, he walked over to the roadside and raised a hand to hail a cab.

***

Twenty minutes later, Hongkou District Fuyuan Cemetery.

A group of over a dozen people was slowly making their way up the mountain path.

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

One carried a framed portrait while the other held an urn, both supported by helpers.

In the photograph, a young girl in the prime of her youth smiled like a blooming flower.

The sound of weeping drifted from the group from time to time—not loud, but sorrowful enough to pierce the heart.

Halfway up the mountain, a heavy-set figure stood beside a grove of pine trees, silently watching the funeral procession as it gradually moved into the distance.

As the group vanished from sight, his lips parted, murmuring something in a voice barely audible to the wind.

"Little girl, may you have a complete life in your next incarnation."