Old Chen harbored suspicions of a love triangle involving Li Banfeng, He Jiaqing, and Lu Xiaolan. Li Banfeng felt a surge of anger, more than just a little, in fact, he was furious. Yet, he managed to suppress it. Not only did he rein in his temper, but the corners of Li Banfeng’s lips even curved upwards into a faint smile.
Displaying no outward emotion, Li Banfeng stated deliberately, "There isn't even a friendship between Lu Xiaolan and myself, let alone any other kind of relationship. You can ask my college roommate about this, or find other classmates to provide testimony."
Old Chen pressed further, "Truly, no other form of relationship?"
Li Banfeng responded with calm composure, "If there is, there is; if there isn't, there isn't. If you find it hard to believe, by all means, investigate. It's as straightforward as that. There's absolutely no need to overcomplicate a simple matter."
The reality of the situation was indeed that uncomplicated.
Old Chen gave a nod, stating, "I believe you."
Li Banfeng continued, "It's true that I transported He Jiaqing to the hospital, but you can't possibly infer that I'm the murderer solely based on that, can you? He Jiaqing’s Third Uncle was present at the hospital. Why don't you summon him, and we can clarify everything together."
"No one is deeming you the murderer; otherwise, I would have escorted you back to the police station by now," Old Chen fumbled in his pocket for cigarettes, resisting the urge to light one. "Regarding He Jiaqing’s Third Uncle, are you referring to He Haisheng? He was the one who reported the incident, he brought me to the hospital, and it was he who instructed me to locate you."
Li Banfeng fell into silence.
Old Chen returned the cigarette pack to his pocket. "Prior to He Jiaqing's mishap, he was drinking and dining with you. Following a bout of drinking, he lost consciousness. You mentioned escorting him to the bus station, and we will verify this with the surveillance footage there. I am inclined to believe your account aligns with the truth, and I sincerely hope this matter is unrelated to you. However, I must caution you that the circumstances currently place you in a significantly disadvantageous position. In the immediate future, you are expected to cooperate fully with our investigation and refrain from leaving Yuezhou."
CLICK-CLACK.
Li Banfeng’s phone began to ring.
A fleeting expression crossed the corner of Li Banfeng’s eyes. He appeared deeply conflicted.
"Someone is trying to reach you?" Old Chen asked with a knowing smile, seemingly grasping Li Banfeng’s internal struggle. "There might be certain details you're reluctant to share with me, and that's perfectly acceptable. When you feel prepared to talk, feel free to seek me out."
Old Chen and Li Banfeng exited the hospital room together. Upon reaching the hospital entrance, their paths diverged.
Old Chen entered a black sedan, where a woman in her early twenties was seated in the back. Dressed in a business suit, she had her ear-length hair neatly brushed back, adjusted her rimless glasses, and kept her knees together. She turned sideways to face Old Chen, her plump backside resting just one-third on the seat.
Her name was You Xuehan, codenamed Dumpling, and she served as the team's secretary.
Holding a pristine notebook, You Xuehan respectfully inquired, "Captain Chen, what is the current situation?"
Old Chen lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, the crow's feet and laugh lines around his eyes softening, making him appear considerably more youthful.
"This young man possesses a resilient psyche and exhibits considerable emotional control. However, I do not believe he is a Dark Energy User; he is likely a White Lamb. Nevertheless, he undoubtedly possesses knowledge regarding He Jiaqing's predicament. Has he received any calls recently?"
Upon hearing this, You Xuehan consulted Li Banfeng’s file. "I've just reviewed his call logs. Since He Jiaqing's accident, he has placed one emergency call. The school contacted him twice. Aside from these instances, there are no other call records, not even a single message."
"Perhaps it's not that there are none, but rather that we are unable to access them," Old Chen exhaled a cloud of smoke. "The moment he heard the notification for a message, Li Banfeng became visibly uneasy. Someone is attempting to contact him, but he is intentionally trying to conceal this communication."
The man occupying the passenger seat turned around and offered a suggestion, "Since this individual appears suspicious, why don't we proceed with his arrest?"
This man, in his early thirties, possessed thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a distinctly angular face, presenting a rather handsome appearance. However, his hair was thinning, although it was sleekly styled and impeccably neat.
"Arrest him?" Old Chen frowned, glancing at the man in the passenger seat. "On what grounds can we do that?"
The man seemed oblivious to any flaw in his reasoning. "If he had no involvement in what befell He Jiaqing, why would he have taken him to the hospital?"
Hearing this, Old Chen exclaimed in exasperation, "What kind of preposterous logic is that!"
The man remained silent, his gaze fixed on the world outside the car window. Known as Deputy Captain Xiao, his real name was Xiao Zhenggong. His unconcerned expression clearly communicated that he held Old Chen in no regard and saw no fault in his own actions; he simply found further discussion a waste of valuable breath.
Although his back was turned to Old Chen, the latter could observe his reflection distinctly in the rearview mirror.
With a sigh, Old Chen admonished, "From the moment you joined this bureau, I've told you: you must do your work, uphold the rules, and never abandon your Conscience. Yet, you still haven't grasped this, even now!"
You Xuehan pressed her lips together, feeling a distinct discomfort from the palpable tension in the air. Seeking to ease the mood, she swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere. "Li Banfeng's background is largely accounted for. He's an orphan, raised in an institute, with no prior criminal record. However, he has faced multiple investigations for incidents categorized as justifiable self-defense."
"Justifiable self-defense?" Old Chen's curiosity was piqued. He reached for Li Banfeng's file, his eyes scanning its contents. "One against three, resulting in two serious injuries and one minor. Another instance, one against five, yielding one severe injury and four minor... He possesses such formidable skills? It doesn't seem possible given his rather ordinary physique!"
Old Chen meticulously reviewed Li Banfeng's dossier. Midway through, an amused chuckle escaped him. "This young man... he's truly audacious."
"Captain Chen, should we continue to monitor Li Banfeng?" You Xuehan inquired.
Old Chen paused in thought before responding, "Assign Light Bulb to keep an eye on him."
"Light Bulb only joined us last month. It would be more prudent to assign Big Head to this task," You Xuehan advised.
Taking another deep drag from his cigarette, Old Chen declared, "A 'White Lamb' doesn't necessitate Big Head's attention. This is an excellent opportunity for Light Bulb to gain some practical experience. Let Big Head focus on He Haisheng; he's proving to be a rather troublesome individual."
「...」
On the subway, Li Banfeng reached for his phone.
A message was indeed waiting for him, though it was not from He Jiaqing.
"Hello, this is Old Chen."
Li Banfeng had no intention of contacting Old Chen, yet a particular point of curiosity had taken hold of him.
Li Banfeng wished to put everything behind him swiftly. He unlocked his phone and began scrolling mindlessly through social media news feeds.
The top headline read: "8.83 Seconds! Sprinter Qiao Yuesheng Shatters the 100-meter World Record Once More! His Post-Race Statement Carried This Shocking Message!"
Li Banfeng clicked on the news item.
"At the recently concluded Diamond League, sprinter Qiao Yuesheng blazed across the finish line in 8.83 seconds, once again breaking the world record he had established just last month. It's astonishing to consider that this legendary sprinter, who once teetered on the brink of abandoning his athletic pursuits due to severe financial hardship, originated from a humble farming family..."
The article detailed Qiao Yuesheng's journey from birth to his triumphant Diamond League victory. Li Banfeng scrolled to the concluding paragraphs and finally encountered the quoted statement:
"Dreams are not dictated by skin color."
However, Li Banfeng distinctly recalled Qiao Yuesheng uttering those same words the previous year, after he, an individual of Asian descent, had conquered the 100-meter dash and breached the nine-second barrier.
The subsequent news headline caught his eye: "Renowned Entertainer Chu Zikai Exposes the Entertainment Industry's Hidden Rot With a Single Declaration!"
"A decade ago, Chu Zikai captivated the Mandopop scene with his iconic song 'I Am Your Guokui.' His pure and heartfelt vocals resonated deeply with countless fans. Yet, this exceptionally gifted musical prodigy has now made an unexpected public declaration, unveiling the clandestine realities of the entertainment world. Chu Zikai, now thirty-one years old, born into an ordinary working-class family, harbored a profound passion for music since his childhood...
Li Banfeng lost interest in reading further and scrolled to the next piece of news.
"Astounding Revelation! Our Sun May Not Be Alone – Astronomers Uncover Evidence of a Potential Companion Star!"
"In a recent breakthrough, astronomers have made a startling discovery: our Sun might not be a solitary celestial body. It potentially possesses an unknown stellar companion. As the gravitational anchor of our Solar System and the source of life-sustaining energy for humanity, our Sun came into existence approximately 4.6 billion years ago..."
CLICK-CLACK!
An agitated Li Banfeng received another message. This one was from He Jiaqing.
"Brother, don't believe them. They are all deceivers."
Li Banfeng typed back, "Who exactly are you referring to when you say 'them'?"
"Third Uncle, the police, and the He Jiaqing you encountered – they are all liars."
Li Banfeng put his phone away, a sudden, inexplicable chill descending upon him, making the confines of the subway car feel unnaturally cold.
PS: Dear readers, show your support for Shala by investing and voting!