Simulated Crime, This Criminal Doesn’t Seem to Be Acting

Before the interrogation, Ye Sangsang had to prepare first, as she couldn't let the other party down.

Some things had already surfaced during the investigation.

Ye Sangsang felt that she was growing more and more fond of this game.

It was real and challenging.

【Sang Sister looks a bit off.】

【Last time she had this expression was when she captured the taxi hijacker Wang Shun. It was all about exploiting the situation and then acting!】

【I love to go crazy online, but in front of Sang Sister, I feel like a tiny piece of garbage. Even facing her, I have to breathe lightly.】

The audience, seeing Ye Sangsang's slightly inscrutable expression, knew she was about to stir things up.

After sending the suspects to their room, Ye Sangsang didn't immediately begin the interrogation but had them sit in the room for a while.

Her purpose was simple: to let them cool down and rethink their statements.

Of course, the statements here weren't about confessing willingly; rather, they were about getting their stories straight and figuring out how to deceive their interrogator.

After an hour of tidying up in her office and drinking two cups of tea, Ye Sangsang pushed open the door to the interrogation room where Zhou Xue was held.

The interrogation room was simply furnished, with a metal grate door separating both sides. On this side sat Ye Sangsang and Yang Hao, while across from them was the single seat for the suspect.

The prisoner's feet weren't restrained, and the chair had a partition. You sat down by lifting the partition, placing your cuffed hands on it, and then lowering it.

If you really wanted a sip of water, you could request it, though it depended on whether the interrogator was feeling generous.

Ye Sangsang was quite generous with these little details, personally pouring a cup of water for the suspect before returning to her seat.

Once seated, neither side spoke first.

After a while, ensuring the suspect had moistened his throat, Ye Sangsang straightened her back and looked at him with keen interest.

Fortunately, Wang Lan's character was quite laid-back and not one for rigid rules, otherwise her actions would have seemed out of character.

She opened her mouth and said, "Speak up, what did you do? Be honest, and you'll avoid unnecessary suffering."

This statement was truthful; continuing like this, the ones who would suffer eventually would be them, not her.

Yang Hao sat quietly, like a silent mascot.

Zhou Xue loosely held the disposable cup in his hand, his expression cold, his head slightly tilted, showing no intention to speak.

It almost seemed like he was asserting his right to remain silent.

He probably thought they couldn't do anything to him and was confident in his stance.

Ye Sangsang smiled faintly, "Zhou Ya, your brother, you just couldn't help it, could you? You thought he was a burden, didn't you? Ready to cut him loose?"

Zhou Xue's complexion slightly changed, his lips twitching a few times, but ultimately, he didn't speak in rebuttal.

She scoffedcontemptuously with a hint of lament, "Yes, he is a habitual thief, unable to have offspring, destined to live out his life alone. He can be taken care of for a while, but how about for a lifetime? It's only natural that you wouldn't want to take care of him."

After a long silence, Zhou Xue's lips moved, and he couldn't help but refute, "No."

"The fact is, he has developed psychiatric illness that won't receive treatment. His condition will worsen, and slowly, no one will want him to work. It's foreseeable that he'll have to scrape by picking up garbage. How pitiful," Ye Sangsang said casually, gripping her left hand and tapping her right index finger.

There was no trace of pity, or maybe she just didn't overburden herself with such emotions. She didn't have many.

Or perhaps because her words were coldly spoken, they conveyed the merciless cruelty vividly, and Zhou Xue's face showed signs of being moved.

Ye Sangsang didn't press, yet he felt the pressure of emotion. Her gaze was sharp, as if she had already seen through all his pretenses.

"What do you want?" Zhou Xue lowered his eyes, only speaking after a long while.

Ye Sangsang remained unmoved. She looked at Zhou Xue and said, "Tell me, who was the mastermind, and why did you kill Ye Hua."

Zhou Xue looked at Ye Sangsang with a hint of innocence and defended himself, "I didn't do it, I don't know. I also feel deep sorrow for Mr. Ye's death."

Ye Sangsang bluntly stated, "It seems you're determined to pin everything on Zhou Ya."

"No, I truly am innocent," Zhou Xue shook his head, his eyes conveying his firm belief that he was telling the truth.

Ye Sangsang didn't refute. She reached out her hand on the table, pointed to a photo of a bronze ornament, and asked, "Do you recognize this? Your fingerprints and Yu Qingqing's were found on it. Why don't you explain to me how your fingerprints got on it?"

"I cleaned Mr. Ye's study once. As for Yu Qingqing, maybe she was the one who got her hands on it," Zhou Xue shrugged, speaking in a nonchalant tone.

"You don't seem to get along well with Yu Qingqing, do you? It's like you both wish the other would just disappear," Ye Sangsang stood up, her palm flat, her right hand resting on the table, her left hand tapping the edge of the table intermittently, producing clear clicking sounds.

These sounds, one after another, seemed to strike right at Zhou Xue's core.

As he listened and watched, his throat involuntarily swallowed hard.

The pressure this person exerted on him far exceeded that of other police officers. It felt like all his secrets were laid bare before her.

He swallowed his emotions and replied, "Our relationship is indeed poor because she's very materialistic. She married Mr. Ye even though he was nine years older. I don't like or look down on such people."

His gaze was calm as he looked naturally at Ye Sangsang, trying to prove that he truly thought that way.

Ye Sangsang jokingly said, "But I think your relationship is quite good, like allies. Sharing the same hardships, with shared memories. Allies that can't be broken." She pondered for a moment, then added, "Unbreakable!"

The taut tension at this moment was like a tightrope walker's line, pulled so tight it threatened to snap.

Zhou Xue's hand trembled uncontrollably due to his stirring emotions, his breathing grew heavier, and his direct gaze at Ye Sangsang carried an unspeakable fear.

But soon, he clenched his trembling hand, forcibly steadied his breathing, and with an effort, pulled a smile at the corners of his mouth. "You're quite the joker, but I don't enjoy such jokes." He paused, then strained to maintain his smile. "Why don't you just ask about the case directly? If I have any leads, I will be as candid as possible."

"Then let's go back to the case. Let me guess, why did you kill Ye Hua?" Ye Sangsang looked at him with a meaningful gaze, then continued, "I'd say it's because you encountered a situation you couldn't avoid, something... that was discovered."

Zhou Xue's clenched hand showed blue veins, biting his teeth as he looked down, avoiding Ye Sangsang's gaze.

Ye Sangsang retracted her gaze with a final remark. "You're too tense; let's take a break."

She signaled Yang Hao to leave with her.

【I think I even felt the pressure Zhou Xue was under—so terrifying.】

【In such an interrogation, I feel like I wouldn't be able to keep quiet. Zhou Xue has some nerve!】

【Zhou Xue's straight back quickly bent over as soon as Ye Sangsang announced a break. It felt like he was about to collapse. My question is, why did Sang Sister suddenly give up?】

Yang Hao was also puzzled, but he held back his questions and followed her out.

He could feel Ye Sangsang's intimidating presence, but he didn't understand the meaning behind her words. He felt a bit lost, not understanding the underlying implications.

But this time, he didn't dare to ask further, just waiting to see the outcome later.

The 'rest' Ye Sangsang mentioned wasn't really a break. After leaving, she went straight to Yu Qingqing's interrogation room.

This interrogation room didn't have a metal grate, except for that, it was similar to the one next door. The walls were adorned with "Confess to leniency - Endure and face stricter punishment" in bold letters and featured a red electronic time display.

Yu Qingqing was more challenging to deal with than Zhou Xue. This woman was older than Zhou Xue and had good acting skills.

However, for Ye Sangsang, this was a good challenge. She decided to leave this more difficult task for later.

She didn't use the pressure tactics like before, even coming across as quite pleasant.

She asked gently, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting here for so long due to some matters."

Yu Qingqing shook her head, showing understanding of Ye Sangsang's busy schedule as a detective.

She pondered for a moment, then sighed, "I initially didn't want to arrest you because I thought you were innocent, but the weapon was tested, and your fingerprints were found on it. I had no choice but to go through this procedure."

Yu Qingqing responded with understanding, "It's okay, I get it. I was always one of the suspects the police would consider."

"I still need to apologize. When investigating a case, we have to follow procedures and ask you some questions," Ye Sangsang said as she walked over to her and patted her hand, which was handcuffed, with a hint of apology.

Yu Qingqing shook her head again, indicating her understanding.

Ye Sangsang began to chat casually, asking about Ye Hua's habits, family, and even the details of their relationship.

Although Yu Qingqing had been understanding before, her smile now seemed a bit forced when facing these questions. Due to her earlier responses, she didn't object to why these questions were being asked, simply answering them one by one, even though they seemed quite irrelevant.

Ye Sangsang asked a lot of questions, and Yu Qingqing's answers gradually became more and more impatient.

[This is the most talkative I've seen Sis Sang.]

[Feels like she's holding back a big move.]

[Yu Qingqing might be in trouble.]

The live stream audience was lively, curious about whether the suspect would confess, how the crime was committed, and why it was committed. Humanity's curiosity about the unknown was always at play here.

Ye Sangsang wasn't aware of the live stream audience's thoughts. She simply looked at Yu Qingqing and said softly, "You have a younger sister, don't you?"

"Yes," Yu Qingqing answered instinctively.

Ye Sangsang tilted her head slightly, looking straight at Yu Qingqing, "Is that the truth?"

Instantly, Yu Qingqing's face turned pale. Holding back, she quickly added, "I answered instinctively. I don't have any sisters; I'm an only child."

[Wow.]

[The words spoken instinctively are the truest, hidden deep within the heart!]

[She’s been misled, thinking Ye Sangsang believes she's not the culprit, not realizing this is part of the interrogation.]

Yang Hao sat there with his lips slightly parted.

"I believe you! Don't be nervous; we're just casually chatting," Ye Sangsang reassured.

Yu Qingqing sighed, "Actually, what I said is true."

Ye Sangsang looked at her with confusion.

Yu Qingqing spoke with some sadness, "My parents had more than just me; I have a younger sister. But she passed away at a very young age, just an infant, and only my family knew about it."

"I’m sorry for your loss," Ye Sangsang said sincerely.

Yu Qingqing smiled faintly, "It's okay. I was very young at the time and have only vague memories."

The two continued to talk about other topics.

Ye Sangsang used the previous conversation to bring up Yu Qingqing's letters and manuscripts, "I really like your manuscripts. They're very realistic, depicting the complexity of human thoughts vividly. The sister's heartbreak and jealousy, the sister's pain and selfishness—if the story were complete, you might even become a more famous author than your husband."

"You flatter me. I just happened to be inspired," Yu Qingqing said with a smile.

Her smile seemed genuinely happy about her work being appreciated, and she even lowered her eyes slightly, displaying a hint of shyness.

Ye Sangsang placed her hand on the back of Yu Qingqing's chair, "The interrogation is a bit boring. Can I ask you about the story? Investigating cases is just so tedious."

Feeling the almost imperceptible touch, Yu Qingqing subtly straightened her back.

Hearing Ye Sangsang's request, she nodded.

"Why do you think the sister committed suicide? That's something that has puzzled me for a long time," Ye Sangsang asked.

Yu Qingqing thought for a moment before replying, "Because she was abandoned. She felt despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair, despair. Yet, despite the despair, she realized that the person she loved didn’t care about her, and even violated her."

"I don't think so. I believe she died happily. Hope was like a bubble to her. It was the sister who burst that fragile hope, and she saw the truth, choosing liberation." Ye Sangsang said quite casually.

Yu Qingqing fell silent, a different emotion gradually creeping into her expression, as if something inside her was crumbling.

She spoke with a hint of difficulty, "Your perspective is fascinating."

"I think so too. Often, different thoughts lead to different viewpoints," Ye Sangsang said slowly.

Yu Qingqing lowered her head, blinking rapidly to hide her emotions and the bitterness in her heart.

She had to admit that Ye Sangsang was a very skilled interrogator.

Everything was under her control.

Ye Sangsang's eyes held a thoughtful look as she said, "Let me tell you a story."

Yu Qingqing was momentarily stunned; Ye Sangsang's turn was so unexpected.

Before she could respond, Ye Sangsang began, "She was a sixteen-year-old girl, just starting high school, a time of innocence and naivety. She looked at the sky, not thinking about how vast it was, but imagining she had wings, joyfully flying away from her current situation, free and carefree as a bird..."

"The wings she imagined were symbols of happiness and freedom, until one day, they were broken, soaked in horrifying blood..."

"She lost her wings forever and fell into the abyss."

Ye Sangsang leaned closer to her and said, "The story is quite good, isn't it? Just like the sister, who thought she had hope. Little did she know, it was all an illusion. What awaited her was only the abyss."

Yu Qingqing's lips turned white as she clenched them tightly, her teeth biting down hard. Tears streamed down her face, and her tightly clenched fists showed the depth of her inner turmoil, far more than what was visible on the surface.

Yet, she remained silent, as if she had merely heard a story.

"It's just like a moth flying into a flame. There's no need to persist..."

Ye Sangsang's voice, cold and merciless, pierced through Yu Qingqing like a blade, causing pain to erupt in that moment.

"Wang Lan, shut up! Get out! GET OUT!" Yu Qingqing screamed at the top of her lungs, her eyes red as she glared fiercely at Ye Sangsang, her cries of sorrow echoing throughout the room.

The hatred in her eyes surged, provoking a feeling of shock and unease in those who witnessed it.

[Emotion exploded!]

[What happened? What did Sis Sang say to make her so angry?]

[I feel a bit sorry for her; Sis Sang must have said something really provocative.]

Yu Qingqing's eyes were sharp, her emotions in turmoil as she struggled, sinking into the manufactured emotions created by Ye Sangsang. Rationally, she knew it was Ye Sangsang who was provoking her, but deep down, anger still surged within her.

Ye Sangsang watched her vent her emotions before speaking, "It's alright; I’ll handle this."

Yu Qingqing's lips trembled lightly as she stared blankly at Ye Sangsang, seemingly unable to comprehend her words.

"Now, tell me everything," Ye Sangsang said calmly.

Yu Qingqing bowed her head, her entire body like a deflated balloon, sitting there as she began to recount the truth.

As Zhou Xue, who had gone to university, realized that Ye Sangsang had uncovered the whole truth, he also began to make his confession.

"My sister was actually their toy, from the moment they started sponsoring her…"

"I was, in a way, a rather unusual toy among them—a male toy…"

Their narratives interwove, revealing the sordid truth behind the sponsorship.

Yu Qingqing had initially been overlooked due to her average looks, ordinary grades, and a strong personality. As a result, she was not selected in the "Flowers Plan."

My sister was chosen. She had fair skin, was pretty, and was a very quiet and well-behaved and understanding girl… Only later did I realize why I was overlooked…

Yu Qingqing's handcuffed hands rested on the table as she spoke about her sister, her smile carrying both pain and sorrow. "That afternoon after I was not selected, I approached the teacher to argue about why I wasn't chosen, simply because my sister's grades were a bit better than mine?"

"My sister came and pulled me away, saying she would share half of her sponsorship with me, so we could both afford to continue studying, even if we sometimes went hungry…"

Tears filled her eyes, filled with deep guiltruthruthruthruthruthruthruthruthruth.

If she had known earlier, she would have rather chosen to drop out of school with her sister instead of accepting that money.

Her sister's life was worth far more than everything else.

Zhou Xue forced a smile, looking bitter as he said, "I was selected as a beneficiary, and I was elated. I thought that with my older brother, we would escape that impoverished town, depend on each other, and live a good life."

"I thought that in the future, I would repay those who sponsored me, and if I had the ability, I would pass on this kindness, sponsoring others like me."

Zhou Xue's eyes were filled with hatred and spreading despair.

Ye Sangsang raised her eyes and looked at him with a calm gaze, devoid of any pity or sympathy, nor did she attempt to empathize. She simply asked, "When did it start? Tell me about it. Yu Qingqing is not aware of the details."

Perhaps knowing that Ye Sangsang had already uncovered everything, he looked at her and said, "A year after the sponsorship, the 'volunteer' overseeing the funds contacted me, saying they wanted to treat me to a meal to learn about my academic progress."

"I was taken to a private room, seemingly normal but discreet. They even kindly refrained from offering me alcohol, considering my minor status at the time. Under such circumstances, who would be on guard? Everything had been prearranged, leaving me with no ability to resist. When I woke up, I was met with the humiliating truth."

“Before this, I never thought that men could also be victims of such violations.”

“Even at the time, I was naive about what had happened to me."

“Afterwards, the other party used the photos as leverage, forcing me to comply time and again. Or perhaps, even without the photos, they had the power to make me submit. Sometimes it wasn’t just one person; sometimes they’d change others."@@novelbin@@

“…Every time was different. I was merely playing the role of a toy."

Zhou Xue's expression was dull, tinged with bitterness, as he felt utterly powerless against everything.

Ye Sangsang dutifully recorded the details, while Yang Hao had already stormed out, unable to bear the weight of this revelation, fearing his anger might ruin the interrogation.

When he returned, his eyes were bloodshot, his restrained fury evident beneath the surface.

Ye Sangsang lowered her head and asked again, "When did it end?"

"You’re too perceptive, Inspector Wang," Zhou Xue sighed wryly, but still answered, "Two years ago, as I was about to graduate from university. The man seemed to like students, so once I was no longer one, he let me go."

Ye Sangsang nodded and asked, "Was the reason you chose to avenge yourself because of Ning Yuanyuan?"

“Yes… but not entirely…” Zhou Xue lowered his head, hiding the tears in his eyes.

Yu Qingqing calmed down for a long time before speaking in response to Ye Sangsang's inquiry, “My sister was very strong. For a long time, I was unaware of what was happening, even envying her for being able to dine with the sponsor and receive gifts from them."

“There’s no need to blame yourself,” Ye Sangsang gently consoled her.

Yu Qingqing shook her head and continued, “Later, I finally realized what it all meant, and I felt an overwhelming pain. Watching her die, I knew I would never forget.”

“Our mother didn’t know. My sister died silently, there was no alleged abortion.”

“She was just… unable to endure it any longer…”

Ye Sangsang made notes and then looked up at Yu Qingqing.

They locked eyes, and Yu Qingqing began to speak about the incriminating letter draft that Ye Sangsang had discovered. “In truth, the painter was more like a fictional creation of mine. I invented this character, imagining he could save my sister. But gradually, I realized… my sister’s fate was already sealed…”

“The painter’s infringement was symbolic, wasn’t it?” Ye Sangsang asked.

Yu Qingqing gave a wry smile, “Look, even in my writing, I couldn’t bring myself to spell it out… How cowardly of me…”

“What role did Ye Hua play in all of this?” Ye Sangsang asked, aiming for the core of the matter.

Yu Qingqing’s previously feigned affection vanished completely. She coldly stated, “He was a procurer. Every so-called ‘inspiration-seeking’ trip he took was merely a guise. His real goal was to travel to remote areas and bring back images of victims for those monsters to choose from."

Her eyes burned with hatred, and perhaps Ye Hua’s demise held no relief for her, as her anger remained undiminished.

【The story is truly heartbreaking.】

Painful. So the switch in identities and the plan to marry him in the letters were real. The intent to murder him was real… In a way, the painter symbolized Ye Hua himself, representing the violation. The child my sister bore was conceived from her rapist’s seed. Unable to endure it, she took her own life. Yu Qingqing’s writing is all true, just hidden within the transcripts of letters.

【It aligns with that narrative of offering hope, only to plunge my sister into despair… Perhaps she didn’t want to sugarcoat the truth, so she resorted to symbolism.】

The viewing audience analyzed, and Yu Qingqing herself spoke of the identity change.

She had undergone some simple cosmetic surgery.

“Those two teachers were good people. They were my genuine, selfless sponsors I met after being admitted to a junior college.”

“They advised me to live my own life, not to let my past destroy my future. But they also must have not been able to accept it, their innate sense of justice as teachers drove them to help me cover it all up.”

“They let me take on their daughter’s identity, and we moved away from distant relatives, cautioning close ones.”

As Yu Qingqing recounted her new identity, warmth colored her eyes.

Those two elderly individuals had no children, and if she hadn’t died, she would have chosen to live with them in the future.

Ye Sangsang asked again, “Why did you choose to kill Ye Hua now?”

“It was all planned. The second year of marriage. Unfortunately, evil guys tend to outlive their usefulness, and killing him wasn’t so easy. Otherwise, I might have already been in prison serving my sentence.” Yu Qingqing gave a wry smile.

“So, you chose to work with Zhou Xue. A sure and swift kill,” Ye Sangsang summarized her guess.

Yu Qingqing nodded. “Yes. Initially, I was wary of Zhou Xue, given how well he got along with Ye Hua. I thought they were birds of a feather, and I even contemplated ending both of their lives. But fate led me to discover that Zhou Xue was also a victim of the same kind.”

“Thus, we joined forces, not just to carry out the act, but to investigate the people behind it all.”

“Ning Yuanyuan was one of the reasons. Speaking of her, it’s amusing how naive I was. Before getting close to Ning Yuanyuan and Yu Qingqing, I thought I was the only victim. I approached Ye Hua to gather information. I didn’t know him personally, but the sponsorship was under his name, so I decided to dig into him.” Zhou Xue described his motivations.

Ye Sangsang lowered her eyes and said, “So, Ye Hua acted as a middleman, both selecting and sponsoring the victims.”

Zhou Xue nodded to confirm Ye Sangsang’s statement. “I was shocked to learn that there were more victims beyond myself after I got close to Ye Hua. I approached Ning Yuanyuan, hoping she could obtain video or voice evidence, and she agreed to it.”

Ye Sangsang pondered and then asked, “You seem very composed. I don’t think you would act rashly. Why did you suddenly kill Ye Hua?”

Zhou Xue gave a bitter laugh. “Indeed, I can endure a lot, and I convinced Yu Qingqing to stay patient. We waited until we uncovered the entire truth and could put all those monsters behind bars. Even after discovering that Ning Yuanyuan’s attempt had failed and she had died, I still bit my tongue and persisted.”

“Did Ye Hua discover Yu Qingqing’s letters?” Ye Sangsang made her guess.

“Ye Hua found my letters. He’s a suspense writer, so his insights are sharp. He noticed something amiss and came close to killing me just two days before his own death. But there were many people and multiple surveillance cameras in the villa area, so he held off for the time being.”

“Zhou Xue realized he had been exposed and thus chose to strike first.”

Yu Qingqing concluded with these words, admitting her role in the killing.

On the other side, Zhou Xue lowered his head and said, “I knew Ye Hua wouldn’t let Yu Qingqing go. I couldn’t accept another victim dying, so I made the move.”

Ye Sangsang remained silent, leaving the rest to Yang Hao.

They proceeded with a detailed account of the murder—time, location, method, and subsequent cover-up.

Up until now, the confession had been about the motive behind the killing. The rest of the testimony was for legally closing the case, pinning the crimes and determining guilt.

Zhou Xue confessed to deliberately inciting the crime.

He had long spotted red flags in Zhou Ya’s behavior, noting his delusional belief that he was a low-ranking member of some underworld boss.

Theft was part of his imagined mission from the boss. Anything stolen was stashed at home, with no thought of disposal.

Zhou Xue had tirelessly cleaned up his brother's messes, originally wanting to take Zhou Ya to another city for treatment.

However, since his brother’s mental breakdowns were infrequent and Zhou Xue was also treating his physical ailments, he decided to prioritize physical health. Perhaps with that malady addressed, the mental illness would subside.

Until later, he found out that if a mentally ill person has an episode, the cost of killing someone is very low.

He and Ye Hua got along well because he told Ye Hua that he didn't mind and that the sponsorship was just a transaction.

Over two years, Ye Hua brought him into contact with the Flower Project.

Ning Yuanyuan was discovered, and the person who found her, in a fit of rage, strangled her to death. They then called Ye Hua, the go-to guy for dirty work, to handle the situation.

Ye Hua had never dealt with something like this before and chose to trust him.

Zhou Xue thought of his brother and asked him for help.

He had Zhou Ya deliberately buried in the yard of their old family home, as he knew the case would eventually be reopened for investigation, and concrete would better preserve the body without appearing intentional.

Zhou Ya obeyed his older brother without question, and everything went smoothly.

Zhou Xue initially didn't want his brother to kill Ye Hua, but as things were on the verge of falling apart, he had no choice but to involve Zhou Ya.

He told Zhou Ya everything when he was in the midst of a mental breakdown, and Zhou Ya followed the plan, taking action that night.

Knowing that Ye Hua would be working late on a manuscript, Zhou Ya climbed over the wall into his house, took a copper ornament that had been prepared beforehand, and delivered a heavy blow to Ye Hua as he stood up unawares.

Ye Hua, on the verge of death, managed to take two steps, which startled Zhou Ya.

Zhou Xue calmed him down by using the name Wang Shi, and then Zhou Ya, carrying the money Zhou Xue had collected, fled the scene that night.

What remained was the cleanup handled by Zhou Xue and Yu Qingqing, who erased all traces of the murder.

This was their first time committing murder, and they managed everything well before reporting it to the police the next day.

The oversight was that they forgot to clean the weapon, but since they planned to dump it into the river under Dong San Bridge, they felt at ease and didn't worry further.

They didn't expect that after the river’s flow had washed away the weapon, fingerprints would still remain.

As for Yu Qingqing's fingerprints being on the weapon, it was just a coincidence; she had previously left them while cleaning Ye Hua's study.

After Zhou Ya regained clarity, though he knew he was taking the blame, his condition was such that he could barely distinguish reality from hallucinations. They didn't dare say much to him, fearing he would reveal something.

After all, it's normal for mental patients to be disoriented.

Everything was rushed, and they overlooked the weapon.

However, they weren't completely unprepared; they had anticipated being caught, so they had already coordinated their alibis.

They just didn't expect Ye Sangsang to be so perceptive. In just a few days of investigation, she had already uncovered the general truth.

Losing to her wasn't unjust.

After listening to the whole confession, Ye Sangsang stood up and said, "Let's go. You’ve said everything you needed to. The rest will be left to the judge, and I'll make sure to give you a prompt resolution."

As she walked to the door, Yang Hao followed behind her.

"You're far better than me," Zhou Xue said at this moment.

Ye Sangsang didn't respond.

Looking at her, Zhou Xue said with a bitter smile, "If I had met you earlier, maybe I wouldn't have been involved in taking a life."

Ye Sangsang paused, then said thoughtfully, "Don't regret it. There’s nothing worth regretting. Perhaps you should be glad. The girls and boys he pushed into the abyss? They dreamed of him dying. You fulfilled their wish."

Zhou Xue had expected to hear that it wasn’t worth it to do this for a vile person or perhaps a lamentation of his fate, but to be told not to regret it—that he’d done what he did and fulfilled other people's wishes.

At this thought, his nose tingled slightly, and a smile spread through his eyes, his lips curving upward.

[He feels consoled. If it were me, I’d just empathize with their plight all the time!]

[That’s right, he fulfilled the wish others could only dream of.]

[This comfort has even made me feel less sad watching from the screen, waaaaaaaaaah.]

After Ye Sangsang finished speaking, her steps paused. Although Zhou Xue had wronged his brother, Zhou Ya, he still tried his best to protect another victim.

In this case, Yu Qingqing wouldn't end up in the same situation as Zhou Xue.

This outcome was something they probably both foresaw when they exchanged glances in the corridor.

She walked out, the facts were clear, and there was no need for more questioning.