Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 421 - 298: Please Allow Me to Make Amends (2nd Update, Part 1)
Across the time difference, the news of Meng Chuyan’s death traveled from Singapore to M Country, right as Shi Nian was getting off work.
Ye He and Xiao Mai gathered around, the three of them discussing what ingredients to buy at the supermarket for their meal together.
The news arrived unexpectedly, leaving Shi Nian somewhat at a loss even after hanging up the phone.
Ye He and Xiao Mai sensed something was wrong and quietly asked what happened.
Shi Nian grabbed his coat and briefcase and headed out, instructing succinctly, "Ye He, keep it simple tonight, don’t fuss. Book the earliest flight to Singapore tomorrow before work ends, two tickets. Xiao Mai, stay at the company, and keep your phone online 24/7. I’m heading out first, don’t wait for me for dinner."
Both Ye He and Xiao Mai were professionals; although Shi Nian didn’t tell them exactly what had happened, they knew how to find the source of information. They tacitly went online simultaneously to search for the latest news from Singapore.
Shi Nian walked outside and took out his phone.
Hua Zhang answered the phone while in the office of the Fude Group. He hadn’t been coming to the company often lately, but when he appeared personally at the office, it meant something significant was happening.
The completely glass-walled office, seemingly suspended, offered a 360° view of Chinatown. Anyone sitting in this office would have the illusion of overlooking the world, feeling like a monarch.
He smiled while holding the phone, "You’re inviting me to dinner tonight? Ha, how could the news spread so fast? How did you already know my decision? Anyway, however you found out, you must tell me you have accepted my apology."
Shi Nian was taken aback, "What is Sir talking about?"
Hua Zhang paused, "Didn’t you hear I’ve just decided to support Tang Mingyi’s candidacy?"
"What?" Shi Nian was taken aback, "Sir means the Ford family and Fude Group both support Lawyer Tang?"
Hua Zhang sighed with both satisfaction and melancholy, "I was originally hesitant, as both Tang Mingyi’s team and his opponent’s team were vying for my support. But because of my irrationality, the White Horse incident made you unhappy. I promised you I would try to make amends, so I decided to fully support Tang Mingyi!"
The winter sunset had no real warmth, yet at this moment, it seemed to pour down overwhelmingly, making Shi Nian feel sweat on his forehead.
"Sir, this concerns the future development of the Ford family and Fude Group. Choosing the wrong side could have a significant impact. You truly don’t have to because of me... Everything from the past has passed."
He laughed again, "You’re speaking foolishly. I have said there is no matter more important to me than you. First, tell me, is what I did enough to make up for the last mistake?"
Shi Nian could only lower his head, "Enough. So I should be the one inviting you to this dinner."
A half-hour later, Hua Zhang happily attended the dinner.
The two calmly finished their meal; Hua Zhang ate little, with his gaze quietly resting on her, watching with a smile.
— rather like a child who has just pleased their parents, satisfied yet subtly expectant.
After the meal, the waiter cleared the plates, Shi Nian dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, and Hua Zhang nodded, "You’ve been thoughtful and worried. Tell me, what’s wrong?"
Shi Nian lifted her gaze, "Sir, this meal is actually a farewell. I’m going to Singapore for an interview tomorrow morning."
"Oh?" Hua Zhang raised his eyebrows, "What urgent case is making you rush over?"
Shi Nian looked at Hua Zhang’s eyes, "Meng Chuyan is dead."
Hua Zhang raised his eyebrows slightly, but then his expression became calm again, "Then why are you so agitated?"
Shi Nian pressed her lips together, "She was introduced to the family by Tang Yanqing as a girlfriend... I felt uneasy about her. So upon hearing of her death, I feel a bit guilty and I want to personally handle this case."
He lowered his gaze, focusing on the nearly transparent bone china that appeared isolated in its whiteness under the dimly lit ambience.
"Yanqing... is also in Singapore."
Shi Nian took a deep breath, "That’s why I need to invite you for dinner, to report to you. I’m a journalist, pursuing news truth is my profession, I don’t want personal feelings to hinder me."
He placed his elbows on the table, aligning his long fingers together, "Okay, you go."
Only then did Shi Nian smile warmly, "Thank you, Sir."
.
In Singapore, at the local police station.
Officer Fang Xingwei was recording a statement from Qin Jiajun, while Tang Yanqing observed intently from behind a one-way mirror.
Qin Jiajun was found based on the records on Meng Chuyan’s phone.
Qin Jiajun was only 20 years old, just started university, with a hint of immaturity and scholarly air typical of someone raised in a privileged environment.
Yet this also made him appear lacking in physical activity and sunlight, his handsome face somewhat pale. After such an incident, his eyes were even more filled with fear and emptiness.
"Yes, I’m a fan of Judy, I like her very much. I followed her to Singapore for her concert tour and arranged to meet... but I didn’t kill her!"
Fang Xingwei brought out the ticket and passport, "Then how do you explain your sudden return flight to M Country?"
"What’s strange about that?" Qin Jiajun was a bit agitated, "I’m a citizen of M Country, I came to Singapore just for the concert. After meeting, I was satisfied, why would I stay in Singapore? The city is so small, there’s nowhere for me to go even for an extra night, why wouldn’t I return home that night?"
"You can return home, but this happened after Judy’s death. Considering the circumstances, don’t you think your sudden departure is a bit unusual?"
Qin Jiajun laughed helplessly, "Sir, how would I know Judy would die tonight? My return ticket was booked long ago, what does her death have to do with it?"
Tang Yanqing spoke through the earpiece to Fang Xingwei, "That’s enough for now, let him settle down."
Fang Xingwei left the interrogation room, still feeling restless. The sudden death of a famous celebrity just after New Year’s brought significant pressure.
He approached Tang Yanqing with a face of confusion, "Judy is dead, as the last person seen with her tonight, his suspicion is the greatest. Doesn’t Mr. Tang think so?"
Tang Yanqing offered a cigarette, shaking his head, "He appears to be the most suspicious, yet it might be why he’s not the killer."
Fang Xingwei hesitated but accepted the cigarette and lit it.
Smoking was not permitted inside the Singapore police station, yet every detective understands each other: when dealing with tough cases, smoking becomes indispensable.
"Why?" Fang Xingwei asked, exhaling smoke through his teeth.
"Cellphone," Tang Yanqing replied simply.
Fang Xingwei did not immediately grasp this, squinting at Tang Yanqing for a while before stomping his foot, "That’s right! If he killed her, he wouldn’t have left the phone with Meng Chuyan. He communicated with Meng Chuyan using his mobile app, he knows that’s the most incriminating evidence, so after killing her, he would certainly take the phone!"
Tang Yanqing nodded.
But moments later, Fang Xingwei hesitated again, "But it’s also possible he panicked after killing her and forgot the phone."
Tang Yanqing kept his tone calm, "The killer wasn’t panicked at all: the cross on Judy’s face had clean cuts, meticulous, the killer’s hand didn’t tremble a single time during the process. He calmly and collectedly wiped the fingerprints and footprints from the scene; how could he have been panicked enough to forget the most crucial evidence, the phone?"
Fang Xingwei widened his eyes, speechless.
He took a few strong puffs of the cigarette, "If so, did the killer leave the phone deliberately to frame Qin Jiajun?"
"That’s very possible," said Tang Yanqing as he lifted his gaze through the smoke, "Considering modern people’s habits, the cellphone is the most crucial piece of evidence, so given the killer’s calm and composure, even if he didn’t initially know Judy and Qin Jiajun communicated through their phones, he would check the contents after the murder to prevent leaving any clues. Therefore, leaving the phone most likely aims to shift the suspicion onto Qin Jiajun."
Fang Xingwei felt slightly disappointed. Initially hoping the most suspicious person, Qin Jiajun, would be the killer, solving the case swiftly. Yet now, it seemed everything was just beginning.
"In that case, should we release Qin Jiajun?"
"No rush," Tang Yanqing maintained his calm demeanor, but it made him appear even more inscrutable, "Hold him for 48 hours. Let his emotions continue to ferment."
"Let his emotions ferment?" Fang Xingwei didn’t understand, "What do you mean?"
"It means even if Qin Jiajun might not be the killer, and probably framed, he can still be our ’scene’s recorder’, help reconstruct the crime scene and provide crucial clues."
Fang Xingwei clapped his hands, "Indeed; even though there are no surveillance cameras in the music bar or on the streets, he was at the scene, he must have seen or heard relevant information."
