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

Ye Sangsang listened to the other person's words and was slightly moved. "How is Mr. Wang's drinking capacity usually?"

"His drinking capacity is average. In many social settings, he often comes home utterly drunk, carried by his driver. For this, my wife and I have argued with him several times, hoping he would drink less, as excessive drinking is harmful to his health."

Wang Ziyang's father spoke up, his expression mixed with a sense of disappointment.

Ye Sangsang looked at him. "What I mean is, what is his exact drinking capacity?"

"Hmm..." He pondered for a moment. "Once, when we were having a small drink together, he could probably handle five small cups of baijiu. One more cup and he would pass out immediately."

Ye Sangsang nodded to indicate she understood and looked at the two of them. "Alright, I will do my best to defend him. If you have anything you'd like to send to Wang Ziyang, you can give it to me, and I can take it to the detention center. You can also tell me any messages you want to pass on."

"We don't have much. Just some clothes and some money for him..." Wang Ziyang's mother said, hesitating for a moment, she worriedly asked, "Can I ask how long the sentence might be?"

Wang Ziyang's father also looked over, his expression reflecting a deep sense of distress.

Ye Sangsang thought for a moment. "Generally speaking, for drunk driving that results in legal recognition of slight injury, the sentence is around three years."

The two of them looked at Ye Sangsang, their eyes dimming with despair. Three years!

"There's no need to worry. Today, I've already talked to the victim of the accident, and there seems to be a tendency for forgiveness. If the compensation amount is settled, there's a chance to obtain a letter of forgiveness, which could reduce the sentence to about one year."

Ye Sangsang comforted the two, who were filled with sorrow.

They exchanged a glance and sighed. "We'll leave the matter of the letter of forgiveness to Lawyer Qi. We believe in your abilities. That girl is also pitiful, meeting our son and suffering through this unwarranted disaster. Even if the compensation is a bit high, it doesn't matter. If it's not enough, we, as a couple, will make up the difference."

【It seems this family has a good heart. Previously, when I was in a car accident, the other party was fully responsible and didn't even have insurance. They still wanted to waste my time and energy, and it wasn't until I sued that I got the compensation.】

Recently, I checked the time. The in-game copy's time is 2016. One million yuan in 2016 was quite valuable, showing a lot of sincerity.

【Listening to the narration, it seems this family has a good character. How could they be so careless! Once again, a reminder: never drink and drive; it harms both yourself and others!】

The live broadcast room was lively with discussions on this topic. Many people felt touched by this seemingly ordinary dispute.

Ye Sangsang listened and nodded, indicating she would do her best. She then took her leave.

After exiting the villa and getting into the car, Zhang Xiaoxiao, who had been silent until then, said, "Lawyer Qi, this case seems quite straightforward. Why are you personally handling it?"

Cases like this could be handled by the interns.

Qi Qin was already a big lawyer, and taking this case seemed a bit of a waste of her talents.

"The client is wealthy and offered a high lawyer's fee. I'm personally handling it to show my sincerity. If the client accepts my sincerity, Wang Ziyang will become a valuable contact in the future." She said, looking at Zhang Xiaoxiao. "The legal profession is a bit like sales; many businesses need to be cultivated personally. Since Wang Ziyang specifically requested me, I naturally want to do my best to secure this opportunity."

Zhang Xiaoxiao pondered for a few seconds. "I see."

"Moreover, this case doesn't seem as simple as it looks. I feel there's more to it," Ye Sangsang said casually while driving out of the residential area.

Zhang Xiaoxiao widened her eyes, clearly puzzled. She thought the case was quite ordinary.

Thinking this, she asked aloud, "Lawyer Qi, what do you think is not right? I haven't noticed anything."

"Partly the drinking aspect, and there's something else I haven't figured out yet," she pressed the brake and stopped at a traffic light.

Looking at the red light counting down in front of her, she slightly frowned.

This case might require more investigation, such as the specific details of the scene.

She thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have Wang Ziyang's assistant's phone number? Arrange to meet him; I want to talk to him."

"Uh, yes, I'll check the materials," Zhang Xiaoxiao, sitting in the passenger seat, quickly opened her bag and started flipping through the documents.

After the rustling sound of papers, she quickly found the number.

After confirming the time and location with Ye Sangsang, she called Wang Ziyang's assistant.

Ye Sangsang listened as Zhang Xiaoxiao made the call, arranging to meet tomorrow noon during the assistant's break. After finishing, Ye Sangsang drove back to the law firm.

She currently had no other cases, so this marked the end of her workday.

Ye Sangsang chose not to skip the timeline and returned to Lawyer Qi Qin's home.

His home was a large apartment in the city, featuring a minimalist and austere decor style. There was only one housekeeper who took care of cleaning, as he usually cooked for himself.

After changing into comfortable home clothes, Ye Sangsang went to the wardrobe and stood in front of the full-length mirror.

Looking at her rather handsome reflection and checking her phone contacts and home situation, she gained insight into some details Qi Qin hadn't mentioned in the game scenario.

She went to the study, pulled out a drawer, and turned on the computer.

After reviewing the contents, a hint of doubt appeared on her face.

Maybe she was overthinking it.

She stopped her inspection, stood up, and left Qi Qin's study.

Then came the timeline skip, arriving at the next day's noon.

Ye Sangsang, according to the agreed time, arrived at the designated café.

She and Zhang Xiaoxiao arrived earlier and sat for a few minutes before the other person entered, walking in with slow steps.

Clearly, the assistant seemed reluctant to meet them.

“Sorry, did you wait long?” A young man in his late twenties, dressed in a white shirt and trousers, said with complete apology.

Ye Sangsang shook her head at him. "No, we just arrived. Order a cup of coffee." She extended her hand, ready to signal the waitstaff to order more coffee.

"No, no... I don't want to drink; I'll leave after we talk." The assistant quickly stopped her.

His hands were nervously clasped on his thighs, and he kept rubbing his palms on his trousers, likely due to nervousness.

Watching Ye Sangsang leisurely sipping her coffee, he paused and then took the initiative to speak. "Lawyer Qi, I wonder what you need from me?"

“Don’t be nervous; I’m not a police officer. There’s no need. I just wanted to learn more about the specifics of that day,” Ye Sangsang took a sip of her coffee, slightly frowning, not understanding why Qi Qin liked this pure coffee so much, as it was quite bitter with a hint of sourness.

The assistant sighed slightly upon hearing this. "Everything I said is true. I'm sure you've read the testimony at the police station; it's just as I described."

"Could you please recount it again for me?" Ye Sangsang looked up at him.

The assistant's face immediately showed impatience but suppressed his annoyance and recounted the details of that day.

As an assistant, he had also drunk a bit that day.

But as the one being targeted, Wang Ziyang drank even more, and by the time they left the restaurant, he was quite drunk.

"I helped him into the back seat, intending to call a ride-hailing service. But he wasn't having it. During the short time I was calling the ride-hailing service, he got into the driver's seat and drove off..." The assistant recounted, clearly exasperated, his face showing genuine frustration.

Ye Sangsang observed his expressions and asked again, "How do you think his mental state was at that time? Were there any unusual actions or words?"

She didn't ask why he didn't call the police, as that would have meant his boss would have been caught immediately, and the assistant would surely have faced consequences. He wasn't part of the family, so there was no need to be that loyal.

Allowing the boss to leave, he probably thought his boss was still awake and hoped the boss could smoothly return home without being caught.

But he didn't expect his boss not only didn't return home but also ended up in detention.

Besides being a bit dazed and speaking incoherently, he seemed relatively normal. I thought late at night on that road, there might not be any traffic police, so I didn't take any actions to stop him," he paused, helplessly said, "You know, if I had called to report drunk driving and sent the general manager to jail, I would have been blacklisted in the local area and wouldn't be able to find a job."

Ye Sangsang didn't ask, but her assistant ended up spilling all his luck-based reasoning.

Zhang Xiaoxiao, sitting beside her, thought it over and didn't find anything wrong with it. If she were in the same situation, she probably would have done the same.

Ye Sangsang placed her hand on the armrest, looking at the assistant. "How did you get home after that?" she asked.

"I... I was worried for a while at the spot, then I took a taxi home. I still have the taxi record, and I showed it to the police," the assistant hesitated for a moment, as if recalling something, before answering.

Ye Sangsang nodded, her gaze fixed on the assistant, deep in thought.

Under Ye Sangsang's sharp gaze, the assistant's eyes flickered, and after three seconds, he acted as if nothing had happened and turned away.

Ye Sangsang stood up and said to him, "Thank you for answering my questions. Your lunch break is almost over, so you should head back now. The traffic is pretty bad."

"Okay... okay, I'll go back. I can't be late in the afternoon," he instantly relaxed, as if the chair had pricked him, and he jumped up, lowering his head to listen to Ye Sangsang before grabbing his bag and leaving hurriedly.

Ye Sangsang's gaze followed his trembling fingers, her expression unreadable as she watched him leave.

【It seems like this assistant is quite guilty.】

【There's something fishy here.】

【Could Wang Ziyang really be innocent?】

His obvious display of guilt wasn't just noticed by Ye Sangsang but also by many viewers in the live broadcast.

Ye Sangsang stood up and called out to Zhang Xiaoxiao, "Let's go, we should head back and take a closer look at the situation. We'll also pay another visit to the victim."

"Again?" Zhang Xiaoxiao scratched her head, confused.

Ye Sangsang looked at her and said confidently, "Yes, we must not be afraid of trouble when dealing with things."

In the car, Ye Sangsang recalled the assistant's statements, still feeling many unanswered questions in her mind.

The assistant's obvious behavior gave her some clues, but it didn't reveal the truth. In fact, it made the truth even more elusive.

She decided to visit the victim again and then apply for another meeting, and she also planned to request an inspection of the car involved in the accident.

She had a hunch that the order of these actions was crucial.

This time, they didn't bring a flower basket. Zhang Xiaoxiao followed closely behind Ye Sangsang, looking like a little attendant.

The girl was full of energy, and it was clear from her eyes that she deeply admired Qi Qin.

When they arrived at the hospital parking lot, Ye Sangsang stopped the car and lit a cigarette, taking a few puffs.

This was Qi Qin's usual way of thinking, and Ye Sangsang had discovered this habit after the "Rainy Night Taxi" simulation. This was only the second time she had encountered a protagonist who occasionally smoked.

Although she didn't know why smoking helped with thinking, it didn't stop her from using this method to clear her mind and review the situation.

This simulation felt different from the previous ones, less thrilling but equally filled with a sense of danger. It gave her the impression that one wrong move could restart the entire simulation.

In her eyes, everyone seemed to have their own hidden intentions, providing her with information to make her judgments.

She felt as though she was gradually stepping into a trap, yet this trap was shrouded in an air of mystery.

She wasn't frustrated; rather, she was simply curious. Curious about what these people were thinking and how everything fit together.

It felt like she was playing a game of chess, each move requiring careful consideration.

After finishing her cigarette, Ye Sangsang took out a piece of gum from Qi Qin's bag and popped it into her mouth.

Before entering the ward, she disposed of the gum.

This time, the ward only had the girl, as her mother must have stepped out temporarily.

The girl looked at Ye Sangsang and struggled to sit up, "Lawyer Qi is here again. Are you asking if I've decided yet?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao, being a sharp girl, helped adjust the bed and placed a pillow for the girl, then stood behind Ye Sangsang after making sure they were comfortable for the conversation.

"I hope I'm not intruding," Ye Sangsang said with a slightly apologetic smile, "I just want to ask a few more questions."

The girl nodded. Her name was Lin Xiu, twenty-two years old, in the second half of her junior year. As her name suggested, she was quite graceful, and her demeanor appeared very pleasant.

After Ye Sangsang asked, Lin Xiu smiled and said, "You can ask whatever you want."

"During the accident, did you see who was driving the car?" Ye Sangsang inquired.

Lin Xiu shook her head and honestly replied, "At the time, the school dormitory was about to close, and I was worried about that. I didn't notice until the car was close who was driving."@@novelbin@@

"Did you pass out immediately after being hit?" Ye Sangsang asked again.

Lin Xiu nodded, "Yes, I felt a sudden, huge force, and then I fell and lost consciousness right away. I didn't wake up until the doctors checked me at the hospital."

"Why is Lawyer Qi asking these details? This doesn't seem to have anything to do with me. Are you suspicious about the accident?"

Lin Xiu's expression towards Ye Sangsang turned slightly hostile and suspicious. She suspected that Qi Qin's questions were leading to something that could be detrimental to her.

Ye Sangsang looked at her and acted very calmly. "I'm just asking casually. As a law student, you should understand that a lawyer should have a comprehensive understanding of the case."

"I hope Lawyer Qi isn't defending a bad person," Lin Xiu said.

Ye Sangsang nodded lightly and then added, "I don't defend bad people. I just want to know the truth. At the same time, I also want to ensure my client gets the best outcome."

Lin Xiu's smile turned into a determined expression, "I look forward to it."

The way she said it carried deeper layers of meaning.

Ye Sangsang's eyes flickered, and after a moment, she said, "Alright, I'll do my best. Regarding the compensation, I hope you can make a decision soon. Please inform me as soon as you decide."

"Okay," Lin Xiu replied.

Ye Sangsang stood up and made eye contact with Lin Xiu.

The girl's eyes showed trust, without the hostility or suspicion she had displayed earlier. It was as if Ye Sangsang had imagined those emotions.

She felt that Lin Xiu had many things she wanted to say but couldn't due to the current circumstances.

Ye Sangsang glanced at Zhang Xiaoxiao and the other people in the ward.

Finally, she said, "Get well soon. This is just a temporary difficulty, and everything will be better in the future. If you're looking for an internship position for your senior year, you can try applying to my law firm. Just contact me."

"Thank you," Lin Xiu said.

Ye Sangsang left the hospital.

She began to enjoy the feeling of uncovering secrets step by step, but she didn't know what lay behind them.

Next, she needed to apply for a meeting. After returning to work in the afternoon, she called the case handler.

The process of applying for a meeting required first informing the case handler and then submitting the necessary documents for approval. Each city had slightly different procedures, and this was Ye Sangsang's first time applying, so she familiarized herself with the specific steps.

The case handler didn't say much, only stating that everything should follow the official procedures.

After expressing her gratitude, Ye Sangsang started preparing the materials and decided to apply tomorrow.

Her intuition told her that delaying slightly might reveal some hidden tricks.

For the following period, Ye Sangsang didn't skip any timeframes but instead focused on understanding Qi Qin's background.

The textual information in the records slightly differed from the immersive simulation environment, sparking her curiosity about this person.

It wasn't romantic interest; she wasn't attracted to a forty-one-year-old, who was actually sixty-plus in reality, and someone who was homosexual.

Yes, Qi Qin was homosexual.

Although it wasn't stated in the records, the simulation environment and previous colleagues' subtle hints about Wang Ziyang's good looks suggested this. Without any special circumstances, male colleagues wouldn't casually comment on another man's attractiveness.

Qi Qin was forty-one, successful in his career, had good looks, and maintained a healthy physical condition. His mobile phone and social media also showed that he had never had a girlfriend or wife, which likely pointed to his homosexuality.

At first glance, this detail seemed unimportant, but Ye Sangsang felt that anything hidden in the game simulation wouldn't be insignificant.

Originally, she thought it was out of respect for Qi Qin's privacy, but later she wondered if that was not the case?

This point was verified during her conversations with other partners at the law firm.

Because they didn't seem to shy away from joking about it. If they really wanted to keep it hidden, those conversations wouldn't have happened.

Moreover, Zhang Xiaoxiao seemed to know as well; she didn't have the usual nervousness one might feel facing a male superior alone.

It wasn't a matter of long acquaintance, as she had only been interning for half a month.

Unless she was confident that such situations were "safe."

In reality, being alone together, someone as shy and introverted as her would undoubtedly feel uncomfortable.

"So, what was the purpose of hiding it…" she murmured, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the scenery outside.

【Sang Jie noticed it, and so did I the first time, heeheehee.】

【I felt something was off before, and I wondered how Sang Jie would get along with Qi Qin's wife when she went back, but it turned out there was no need.】

【Homosexuality, in 2016, wasn't that open yet! The design industry was fine, but in the legal profession, openly gay people were quite rare.】

Different sexual orientations are no longer a big deal for many viewers.

Being part of a generation that grew up with the internet from birth, surfing the web was second nature to them, and these issues were trivial.

However, just like Ye Sangsang, they felt there was something amiss about the game's dungeon, as if it were trying to conceal something.

After Ye Sangsang said this, she stopped thinking about it. She skipped the timeline and submitted a meeting request.

Once the result was obtained, she handed over the clothes and money given by Wang Ziyang's parents to the detention center for processing and walked back into the detention center once again.

Passing through one door after another, Ye Sangsang sat in front of the meeting room once more.

This time when Wang Ziyang walked in, he looked noticeably worse than the last time, with more visible signs of fatigue.

Life in the detention center wasn't good, even worse than in prison. Many prisoners, after being detained for a while, even looked forward to being sentenced and transferred to prison.

Of course, she had only heard about this, never experienced it herself.

But looking at Wang Ziyang's condition, she felt it probably matched what she had heard.

"Are you okay?" she asked with concern.

Wang Ziyang lifted his head, his stubble darker, his eyes more numb. "I… I guess I'm okay…"

He reached out, ruffled his hair, revealing his smooth, delicate forehead.

From Ye Sangsang’s angle, she could see his long, dense eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings. His emaciated figure looked incredibly fragile and pitiful.

"Don't be too discouraged. I came today to tell you that the victim's forgiveness letter should be alright. I will do my best to aim for a reasonable sentence," Ye Sangsang said, her tone softening slightly.

Hearing this, Wang Ziyang, who had been looking down, pursed his lips. "Are my parents alright? Their health isn't good, and I'm afraid I've upset them. I wasn't a good son—they tried to pressure me into marriage multiple times, and I always weaseled out of it. I thought I could always be with them, but I was too confident."

"I really didn't mean for the accident to happen. These days, I've been so tormented by guilt that I haven't slept well for several nights…"

"Even when I do sleep, I dream of waking up in the car, seeing the girl lying in front of the car, and almost collapsing to my knees."

As he spoke, he frantically ruffled his hair, his handsome face full of agony.

Ye Sangsang watched him finish and softened her voice. "Can I ask some detailed questions?"

Wang Ziyang slowly raised his head, looking puzzled at Ye Sangsang, wondering why she was asking again since he had answered before.

Despite his confusion, he still nodded. "Sure… ask away, it's like a break from just talking."

"Did your assistant drink that day? Did he drink a lot?" Ye Sangsang asked.

Wang Ziyang nodded. "Yes, he drank, but not much. They were mainly trying to get me drunk."

"Before you got into the car, was your assistant arranging you in the front or back seat? Think carefully," Ye Sangsang said with emphasis, her eyes sharp as she gazed at him.

Even though she had asked this question before.

Wang Ziyang paused, thinking again, before speaking. "I'm not very clear about that part. I just felt like someone helped me into the car."

"I feel it was the back seat, so I said the back seat, but I'm not very sure about my memory at the time."

He sighed. "After all, I drank so much, and my tolerance isn't good… I really can't remember…"

"Absolutely no memory of driving?" Ye Sangsang said, adding, "I feel that if you had driven, there should be at least some memory."

As a company vice president, Wang Ziyang's intelligence wasn't lacking. Hearing Ye Sangsang's words, his expression changed. "No… I have absolutely no memory of driving. When I opened my eyes, the incident had already happened. I woke up with my hands weakly grabbing the steering wheel."

"Then, when you looked up, you saw the victim and panicked to call for help, leaning against the car?" Ye Sangsang continued his story.

Wang Ziyang nodded in confirmation, his face full of sorrow. "If I hadn't opened my eyes to that scene, I wouldn't have imagined I could be so bold after drinking."

"Your assistant said that you were helped into the back seat, and while he was looking for a driver on the phone, you crawled to the front and sat in the driver's seat, driving away," Ye Sangsang said, watching his expression closely.

Wang Ziyang's eyes widened in shock, instinctively shaking his head, but then he gripped his forehead, his expression turning hesitant.

He still wasn't sure whether he had done those things or not.

Ye Sangsang looked at him and finally spoke openly. "Do you have any evidence that might help your case? I think the case might have some twists."

That was her goal. If it wasn't Wang Ziyang who was driving, it was highly likely his assistant.

If it was the assistant driving, then they needed to apply for an on-site investigation of the car.

As Ye Sangsang spoke, Wang Ziyang sank into deep thought.

Ye Sangsang's words were straightforward: evidence was key. If there was any evidence in his favor, the case might turn around.

And it had to be favorable evidence; mere words wouldn't be enough to reverse the case.

This was also about trust in the lawyer.

After a while, Wang Ziyang seemed to remember something, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Ye Sangsang. "I logged into the driver service app that day, ready to order a driver, but then I was called to drink and forgot."

"That's not evidence," Ye Sang said shaking her head, directly stating that it wasn't evidence, just a weak defense.

Even in court, it couldn't be brought up. In the presence of evidence, it was better to seek leniency by admitting guilt and expressing remorse, which might lead to a lighter sentence when the judge considered the good attitude of confession.

Wang Ziyang was silent, frowning and thinking for a while before speaking again. "…I… I remember… now, I should have been in the back seat! I was talking to someone, and that person replied to me! The voice… the voice sounded like my assistant's…"

"Oh! That's why I felt safe and fell asleep!"

Ye Sangsang looked at him, puzzled. "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

Wang Ziyang's eyebrows were tinged with sadness. "I thought it might be my imagination, but when you asked, I was sure it had actually happened."

“Alright, I’ll check into it,” Ye Sangsang said dubiously, frowning as she acknowledged.

Wang Ziyang’s eyes had a tea-like shade, and under the white light, he stared at Ye Sangsang deeply, full of trust.

He reached out, realized it wasn't appropriate, and retracted his hand, looking at Ye Sangsang with a sincere smile. "Thank you, whether the result is good or bad, I am grateful for your sincerity. If there’s a chance, we will surely become the best friends."

"Alright… alright…" Ye Sangsang lowered her eyes, looking at his thin and graceful hands, her tone carrying a hint of inexplicable emotions.

【Is Wang Ziyang really innocent?】

【That assistant doesn't seem right; could it be that the assistant caused the accident?】

[Wang Ziyang was genuinely sincere, which put Qi Qin at ease. Handling such a client made it easier to focus on the case, even if it failed, it wouldn't be too distressing.]

The meeting ended in such an atmosphere, with Ye Sangsang obtaining critical clues that there were other people in the car at the time.

After leaving the detention center, she inquired about the evidence regarding the assistant's taxi home.

The investigating officers provided screenshots of this evidence.

After reviewing the timestamps, Ye Sangsang immediately went back and started driving with Zhang Xiaoxiao from the restaurant to the accident site.

After the second round, Zhang Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but ask, "Qi Lawyer, what are we doing?"

What she really wanted to ask was whether Qi Lawyer believed that the person who hired them wasn’t the one responsible.

After all, the evidence seemed pretty conclusive.

Ye Sangsang, while driving, replied, "Wang Ziyang said that at the time in the car, he had a conversation with someone and heard a response."

"This could be an illusion… or perhaps even a lie…" Zhang Xiaoxiao hesitated before cautiously suggesting.

Ye Sangsang looked at her and said, "Regardless of whether it's an illusion or not, we should do our best to uncover the truth of the case."

"Alright," Zhang Xiaoxiao nodded, finding this reasoning reasonable.

Their afternoon test didn’t go smoothly; the heavy traffic disrupted their timing.

Ye Sangsang considered it and decided to move the test to the evening.

Curious about the truth, Zhang Xiaoxiao joined in the testing.

Monitoring data provided an approximate speed, which Ye Sangsang matched as closely as possible to reach the accident site.

After three tests, Ye Sangsang got the data.

"At the latest, it takes eleven minutes to return from the accident site to the restaurant," Ye Sangsang glanced at her watch and said.

An eleven-minute drive isn’t very far; with little traffic, it could cover six to seven kilometers, even with traffic lights.

The police surveillance showed that the suspect took ten minutes to travel from the restaurant to the accident site.

Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at the data, puzzled, and asked Ye Sangsang, "The assistant’s taxi ride time was recorded eleven minutes after the accident. Logically, the suspect couldn't have been in the car at that time."

"I’ll drive you back to the restaurant. On the way, you’ll book a taxi from the restaurant to the assistant’s residential area," Ye Sangsang thought for a moment and suggested.

Zhang Xiaoxiao nodded and began operating on her phone.

The restaurant’s location was somewhat remote, so Zhang Xiaoxiao had to wait a while before someone accepted the ride. She looked up at Ye Sangsang and said, "We’ve left for three minutes, and the driver indicates they’ll arrive at the pickup location in six minutes."

"That means, if the speed is fast enough, it’s possible to return to the restaurant and catch the taxi." Ye Sangsang calculated and stated directly.

Zhang Xiaoxiao scratched her head, speculating, "Could it be that the assistant was driving and caused the accident, moved the client to the driver’s seat, and then fled?"

"That’s… quite bold, isn’t it…"

Wasn't it Wang Ziyang? But now it seems the assistant is indeed suspicious.

[What grudge could the assistant have against Wang Ziyang…]

[Watching Wang Ziyang’s behavior, he doesn’t seem like the type to do something like that. Now it seems like it might not have been him.]

Ye Sangsang smiled meaningfully, "Why don’t we just ask the assistant directly about his situation?"

"Before that, I think we should apply for a forensic examination of the car’s interior to determine the specific details."

Mere verbal arguments won’t convince anyone to confess. We need a crucial piece of evidence.

And with that, we’ll strike decisively.

Zhang Xiaoxiao’s face showed excitement at the prospect of uncovering the truth of the case.

For lawyers, if it turns out that the client is truly innocent, that’s the best outcome.

But thinking of Lin Xiu in the hospital, Zhang Xiaoxiao’s expression grew worried. If the perpetrator of the accident wasn't Wang Ziyang, then Wang Ziyang wouldn't need to compensate, and if the assistant had to compensate instead, the amount would likely be significantly reduced.

She sighed, telling herself that this was just how things were in reality.

It’s not right for someone who didn’t do anything to have to pay out over a million yuan.

The accident vehicle had been towed to the traffic police team and hadn’t been touched in between.

After communicating with the investigating officers, Ye Sangsang applied for a forensic examination of the car’s interior to confirm if there were fingerprints or other traces of a second person inside the car.

It just so happened that the car had been serviced only days before the accident at the restaurant, so it hadn’t been driven much.

The application required two days to get results, so Ye Sangsang could only wait quietly.

During this time, she visited the victim and Wang Ziyang’s parents.

She also investigated the personal relationship between the assistant and Wang Ziyang, which wasn’t difficult to inquire about.

Soon, Ye Sangsang found that the two were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds.

From Wang Ziyang’s communications, she learned that he had once mentioned to someone that he planned to fire the assistant because the assistant had a habit of talking negatively about Wang Ziyang behind his back.

This was confirmed by some colleagues.

After the investigation, Ye Sangsang received the forensic results.

The driver’s seat had fingerprints from both Wang Ziyang and the assistant, and the rear seat had Wang Ziyang’s fingerprints. There were no other suspicious traces in other areas.

Upon receiving the news, Ye Sangsang immediately located the assistant, Xue Shan.

This time, Ye Sangsang actively scheduled the meeting at a coffee shop downstairs from the company, but Xue Shan still arrived late, his steps considerably slower.

Ye Sangsang watched him sit down and ordered him a glass of iced lemon water, "Have some, it’s too hot outside."

Xue Shan's face was serious, his body stiff with tension as he grabbed the glass and took a sip.

Watching the slight trembling of the glass and the water inside, Ye Sangsang directly said, "On the steering wheel’s interior of that car, besides Wang Ziyang’s fingerprints, there are also yours."

The meaning behind these words was clear, even to someone with no intelligence. Naturally, Xue Shan understood.

His head jerked up abruptly, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at Ye Sangsang.

"I… I… I didn’t…" he stammered.

Ye Sangsang’s black eyes stared at him without wavering.

Xue Shan felt a chill run down his spine and quickly averted his gaze, lowering his head, clenching his fists tightly around his clothes.

After a long silence, he closed his eyes in despair, his voice trembling as he spoke each word carefully, "That night… it was… it was me… I was the one driving…"