Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 422 - 299: Still Want to Stand Beside You (2/2)
Fang Xingwei’s hope was reignited when he heard this.
"If that’s the case, Mr. Tang, why did you stop me from questioning him for his testimony? We need to get more information from him to find more clues!"
However, Tang Yanqing dismissed the idea: "Your approach earlier treated him like a suspect. In the face of such interrogation, he would instinctively put up defenses. Under a rebellious mindset, he can’t calmly think or recall completely. Truly valuable clues are hidden in the details, and we have to wait for his resistance to diminish; otherwise, the testimony yielded won’t be of much value."
"Mr. Fang, when there is minimal evidence at the crime scene and the suspect is a calm and mature criminal, studying criminal psychology can open more doors for you. But to track the psychological trajectory of suspects and witnesses, the officers must first be mentally strong and regard each interrogation as a battle of wits and courage."
Fang Xingwei solemnly expressed respect and quietly removed his cigarette from his lips, "Thank you for the lesson."
Tang Yanqing nodded, "We don’t need to move him; let him stay in the interrogation room. The atmosphere of the room will apply suitable pressure to enhance the effectiveness of his recollections."
After speaking, Tang Yanqing turned and left. This was Singapore; he couldn’t directly handle cases, only operate in a role similar to a consultant. Therefore, he had to be careful to maintain his distance and not offend the local police.
However, Fang Xingwei chased after him, "Mr. Tang, one thing is still unclear to me: what does the cross left on Judy’s face signify?"
As he spoke, there was suddenly a crisp sound from the door at the end of the corridor. It was the sound of high heels striking the ground, revealing the walker’s habitual pace, and to keen ears, even the stress points of the steps, which were as unique as fingerprints.
Tang Yanqing merely perked his ears up, unable to answer Fang Xingwei’s question.
Fang Xingwei hesitated, "Mr. Tang, what’s wrong?"
The corridor was backlit, making it hard to discern the person’s face. However, the voice reached out first.
"Who says the one leaving the cross has to be the killer?"
.
With this crisp voice, the person finally emerged through the backlight haze, walking within a perceivable distance to the two.
She crossed her arms, raised her eyebrows at Tang Yanqing, but her face was void of a smile.
"Who is this?" Fang Xingwei was surprised.
The other person turned her gaze, proactively reaching out to Fang Xingwei, but her face remained cold: "Deep Throat reporter Shi Nian. Are you Fang Xingwei, Mr. Fang? I believe Deep Throat’s Singapore office has already contacted you."
Fang Xingwei shook Shi Nian’s hand and nodded with a smile, "Yes, the press officer has already gotten in touch."
A star from M Country died in Singapore, making the Singapore police somewhat embarrassed. Thus, M Country’s renowned media requested to follow up, and the Singapore police accepted for various considerations.
The atmosphere suddenly became slightly subtle, with Shi Nian only speaking to Fang Xingwei, shaking hands only with Fang Xingwei. Somehow, Fang Xingwei seemed to have forgotten and held Shi Nian’s hand while speaking, forgetting to let go for quite a while.
Tang Yanqing, constantly ignored, could only raise his eyebrows and stare at the two hands still clasped together, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Fang Xingwei held Shi Nian’s hand and discussed business: "Mr. Shi said earlier that leaving the cross doesn’t necessarily mean the killer, why?"
Shi Nian replied: "Because judging from the smoothness of the cross’s incision and the degree of blood coagulation, the cross was more likely drawn after Meng Chuyan’s death. Thus, if we rely solely on the Blood Cross to identify the killer, the evidence isn’t very strong."
Tang Yanqing raised an eyebrow, unable to resist interjecting: "So, after the plane landed, instead of heading to the police station first, you chose to meet the coroner?"
Shi Nian then turned to give him a glance, "The coroner allows me to see the body and obtain more accurate data, so why wouldn’t I go to the coroner first?"
Fang Xingwei raised a thumb, "Mr. Shi is from the entertainment section, but it’s truly professional."
Tang Yanqing bit his lip, suddenly said: "Little Fang, is it appropriate to raise your left thumb?"
Fang Xingwei wasn’t left-handed, and all right-handed people naturally use the right hand to raise a thumb. In terms of subconsciousness, sincerely raising a thumb means using the dominant hand, while the left hand could imply insincerity, potentially sarcastic.
Fang Xingwei immediately felt awkward and hurriedly said, "I should use my right hand." Saying this, he finally let go of Shi Nian’s hand—his right hand had been holding Shi Nian’s hand all along.
Fang Xingwei’s face turned as red as a cloth, while Shi Nian disapprovingly raised a brow, glancing at Tang Yanqing. This glance naturally exposed his little trick.
Tang Yanqing awkwardly cleared his throat and put on a shameless face as if he wasn’t afraid of being exposed.
Fortunately, Fang Xingwei is truly a dedicated officer, so he didn’t pay much attention to this awkwardness. He immediately returned to the case: "But if the person who drew the cross may not be the killer, then our two most important clues are broken. What should we do?"
"They aren’t broken." Shi Nian pulled a piece of paper from his briefcase and handed it to Fang Xingwei: "These are comments from netizens under Qin Jiajun’s post about Judy on his social network. We’ve distilled a few of them, which we believe can assist Mr. Fang."
What Shi Nian presented were precisely the interview directions that Joseph had distilled that day.
When it comes to "abnormal events," reporters sometimes have an instinct that goes beyond that of ordinary officers. Officers emphasize logic, but reporters have richer imaginations and interpretative abilities.
Shi Nian pointed to that piece of paper: "These are extensions of the two points represented by Qin Jiajun and the social network on his phone, Mr. Fang can investigate them."
Fang Xingwei was a bit troubled: "These comments are just the common assertions you see online, and the commenters are not very old. Their attitudes are mostly not serious... Can these really help us?"
Tang Yanqing curiously came over like a baby, saw them, and smacked his lips.
"Little Fang, there might be answers about the Blood Cross hidden in there."
Fang Xingwei couldn’t help but give Tang Yanqing a glance. Ever since Mr. Shi appeared, Mr. Tang’s way of addressing him had changed. Previously it was seriously "Mr. Fang," but now it suddenly turned into the slightly looking-down attitude of "Little Fang." However, maybe "Little Fang" is a more intimate form than "Mr. Fang," and it could be Mr. Tang’s way of showing closeness, so he shouldn’t mind it.
Fang Xingwei then continued his diligent discussion of the case: "What could these comments have to do with the Blood Cross?"
Tang Yanqing leisurely pointed to one of them: "Look, this person is accusing, saying Meng Chuyan isn’t as pure as she appears on the surface."
And pointed to another one: "This one says Qin Jiajun dated more than ten girlfriends, each having a bit of Meng Chuyan’s traits."
Shi Nian naturally added: "A cross might make one think of religion, while a Blood Cross is more like the medieval punishment of branding a scarlet cross on women with improper behavior. So this could reflect a motive for thinking Meng Chuyan is pretending to be pure."
"As for Qin Jiajun’s more than ten ex-girlfriends... that’s a motive for a crime of passion. Perhaps one of the girls didn’t like being treated as a substitute for Meng Chuyan, and dissatisfied with Qin Jiajun’s obsession with Meng Chuyan, acted out of feelings of hate derived from love."
Fang Xingwei suddenly grew enlightened: "That’s right! I’ll arrange for someone to investigate in these two directions right away!"
Having said that, Fang Xingwei left excitedly with the piece of paper in hand, leaving the eerie corridor with just Tang Yanqing and Shi Nian.
There was an unexpected bit of awkwardness, neither of them could relax their expressions.
Tang Yanqing simply adopted his safest, roguish demeanor: "Why did Mr. Shi personally come to report on this case, are you busy?"
His words obviously had a hidden meaning, implying that she should be busy dealing with Huangfu Huazhang. Shi Nian didn’t hold back: "The deceased was Mr. Tang’s girlfriend. Mr. Tang had deep feelings for Judy, accompanying her on a tour in Asia, but how is it that when the girlfriend is murdered, Mr. Tang doesn’t have the grief that a boyfriend should have, isn’t that strange?"
Tang Yanqing was stunned for a moment, then squatted down, holding his head in his hands, and began to cry loudly.
Shi Nian moved a hand to his forehead.
Yet she still had to go forward to support him, softly consoling: "Mr. Tang, please restrain your grief. Believe that the police in Singapore will surely catch the killer."
When she looked up, she saw genuine tears flowing down his face. The sorrow written between his brows and eyes was not a pretense.
Shi Nian’s heart sank involuntarily.
Could it be that his feelings for Meng Chuyan were not just an act?
Frowning, she released her hand and pulled out her phone to dial Luo Xiansheng’s number: "...Mr. Tang is crying like a child at the station. If you’re free, please come and pick him up."
Luo Xiansheng quickly arrived, saying he was discussing emergency plans with the partners.
"With Judy’s sudden accident, all the signings and contracts following her can’t be completed. The related partners suffer losses... Although I am very sad too, I must handle these business matters first."
Shi Nian understandingly nodded: "I understand. Mr. Luo, don’t be too upset, take care of your health."
Luo Xiansheng looked over with a tired face: "I just didn’t expect you’d personally come, Shi Nian. Are you here to accompany Yanqing?"
