Chapter 17: Under Suspicion

Chen Yongzhi collapsed to the ground in utter despair.

Xiao Yu Liu could hardly believe it. “Chen Yongzhi, you... you actually want to kill me? I’m carrying your child!”

Zhen Liu added, “According to our investigation, he’s been gambling online and lost a significant amount of money. He even mortgaged the house you live in now. That’s why he bought you an accident insurance policy worth ten million three months in advance—planning to turn his luck around by using your death.”

“He even consulted an online doctor beforehand, asking if traces of sleeping pills could still be detected after being burned. After receiving a negative answer, he then figured out how to buy sleeping pills.”

“If he succeeded, he would have easily taken on the role of a victim.”

Xiao Yu Liu trembled with anger as she quickly got out of bed and slapped Chen Yongzhi several times. “You’re truly ruthless! The child I’m carrying is yours! Do you have any heart at all?”

The police stepped forward to restrain her. “Miss Liu, please don’t be impulsive. You’re still pregnant.”

“Yes, the child,” Xiao Yu Liu sneered. “I would never keep a child fathered by a murderer. I’m going to terminate this pregnancy immediately! And I want a divorce!”

With that, she went off to see a doctor.

Soon, Chen Yongzhi, who had remained silent, was taken to the police station. Faced with the evidence, he knew there was no point in denying it. He confessed outright to what he had done. It was he who had instructed his mother to give sleeping pills to Xiao Yu Liu. Everything that Yan Ningxi and the police had guessed was true.

At the hospital, Xiaoxuan Chi watched the whole drama unfold, her mind foggy as she walked home with Yan Ningxi.

After arriving at the hospital earlier, Xiaoxuan had not been with Yan Ningxi, so she didn’t know what Yan Ningxi had told the police or that Chen Yongzhi had been arrested because of Yan Ningxi.

Seeing Xiaoxuan’s state, worried she might be in danger, Yan Ningxi insisted on escorting her home.

“Ningxi, can a person really stop loving just like that? Xiao Yu Liu was carrying his child, and even if he didn’t care about her, wouldn’t he care about his own flesh and blood?”

“I married right after graduation and have been trying to conceive for a whole year, but there’s no sign of pregnancy at all.”

“He has a child but doesn’t know how to cherish it.”

Clearly, Xiaoxuan was deeply shaken by what had just happened.

She had never imagined that such a cruel man could be so close to her.

Now, Chen Yongzhi had lost his wife and child, his mother was imprisoned, and his future ruined forever.

Before Yan Ningxi could respond, Xiaoxuan continued, “Chen Yongzhi has worked at the company for three years and is considered a veteran employee. Whenever someone needed help, he was always willing to assist. How could he do something like this?”

Yan Ningxi sighed. “I’ve never had a boyfriend, so I don’t know what being in love feels like. But I do know that most dogs who bite don’t bark. Bad people don’t reveal themselves willingly, and murderers don’t announce their intentions before killing.”

“Men become fathers without pain. A man with a conscience will cherish his wife and child. Those without hearts sometimes don’t even care for their own parents, let alone a child born from another woman’s womb.”

“To them, money is more important than women or children. And once a man has money, women and children won’t lack anything—it’s just a matter of time.”

“Life is like a play, and it all depends on acting. Some people will outshine professional actors with their performances just to achieve their goals.”

“So, always be cautious and don’t trust people too easily, even those closest to you.”

Xiaoxuan fell silent and began to think.

Does my husband’s insistence that I hand over my salary every month mean he’s scheming against me?

Seeing her expression, Yan Ningxi didn’t say more.

Her implication was clear—she wanted Xiaoxuan to be wary of her husband.

Although Yan Ningxi had never met Xiaoxuan’s husband, a man who refuses to give his wife control over money, insisting instead that she hand all her earnings to him and limiting her spending—something about that just didn’t feel right.

But other people’s domestic affairs were not hers to interfere with; she could only hint at caution and leave it at that.

That evening, Zhao Quan and other officers were working overtime in the conference room due to the day’s events.

In three consecutive days, Zhao Quan had led his team to arrest three suspects, all of which were connected to Yan Ningxi.

The first two cases could be dismissed as coincidences, chance encounters.

But today’s case clearly made everyone feel there was more beneath the surface than it appeared.

Deputy Director Jiang Zhengde reviewed the files from the three cases and then looked over Yan Ningxi’s profile. After setting them down, he fixed his gaze on everyone in the room and said sternly, “You’re all familiar with these three cases. What are your thoughts?”

Han Li responded, “Director Jiang, I think these three cases all involve Yan Ningxi, which could mean one of two things.”

“Either Yan Ningxi is truly a master of deduction, able to piece together clues from daily life and accurately identify suspects with her sharp skills.”

“Or, she already knew these people were going to commit crimes and reported them in advance.”

“As for how she could know this, one possibility is that she herself is the mastermind. Another is that she learned it from someone else—people close to her who were about to commit crimes.”

Jiang Zhengde nodded. “Good analysis. I share the same view. Does everyone else agree?”

The others all nodded in unison.

Jiang Zhengde asked, “Which possibility do you think is more likely?”

Zhen Liu said, “I believe it’s the second one. If Yan Ningxi truly had such strong deductive skills, why have we never heard any rumors about her before?”

“We investigated her family background. Before she was thirteen, her father was a successful entrepreneur, and she lived comfortably. After that, the family fell into massive debt they still haven’t cleared.”

“During middle school, high school, and university, she applied for numerous scholarships due to financial difficulties.”

“In college, she even fainted several times from exhaustion caused by part-time jobs.”

“If her reasoning skills were really that impressive, why wouldn’t she have used them to make money for her family and restore their comfortable life?”

“Reports show she is filial and cares deeply for her parents and younger brother. She wouldn’t just watch her family struggle.”

Jiang Zhengde furrowed his brow. “You raise valid points. Does anyone remember the case all police academy cadets must study?”

Huang Qian suddenly spoke up, “Yes, I know that case. It involved a criminal abroad with twisted tastes who liked to identify potential offenders in everyday life, then advise them on crimes. Each time, he inserted himself into the plan to mock law enforcement’s authority.”