Free Web NovelChapter 608: Chapter 578: Are you sure_1
Zhou Ning squinted his eyes, thinking that it would be impossible for Shi Yun to lay hands on Zhang Fangfang in a short period of time. freēwēbnovel.com
She was in the Public Security Bureau, and although it seemed that she was being interrogated, it was also a form of protection. Security was tight here and even with all her abilities, she couldn’t just sneak in noiselessly.
From Zhang Fangfang’s account, among the three of them—Li Li, Liu Meiling, and Zhang Fangfang—the ones she hated the most were Liu Meiling and Li Li. Her animosity towards Zhang Fangfang was a bit lighter, but that was limited to Zhang Fangfang’s own account. Leaving aside those three, the person she probably hated the most was Xu Qingshu.
As the obsessed supporter of her brother, Xu Qingquan’s downfall, along with the entanglements with those three women, might also be orchestrated by Shi Yun. However, these reasons couldn’t pacify her hatred that spanned over a decade. So what would she do?
Seeing Zhou Ning’s steps slow down, Mr. Zhao grabbed Zhou Ning’s arm.
"What’s up, Zhou Xiaozhou, are you not feeling well?"
Xu Dayuan looked over at this moment, stopping his motion to get into the car.
"Zhou Xiaozhou, if you’re not feeling well, don’t come with us."
Zhou Ning shook his head and hesitated before speaking.
"I’m not unwell, I just thought of a place she might go. After all, analyzing Shi Yun’s psychology, she is out for revenge and isn’t thinking of getting away unscathed. Xu Qingshu and Kong Wanshan’s son and daughter are about the age they were back then..."
Before Zhou Ning could finish, Mr. Zhao’s eyes widened.
"You mean, she might harm the kids?"
Zhou Ning looked towards Xu Dayuan. He wasn’t sure if Shi Yun would do such a thing, but this was indeed an oversight. If Shi Yun killed Zhang Fangfang and Xu Qingshu, Zhou Ning wouldn’t feel sorry at all, but he couldn’t accept her harming the children.
Xu Dayuan nodded, but after scanning around, he only saw Mr. Bai left capable of leading a team.
"Take a few people from the second team and check Xu Qingshu’s house. Today is Sunday, if I remember correctly, one child has a dance class in the afternoon, and the other is at a tutoring session. They should both be out. The overlapping time would be around four when it’s time to pick up the younger one."
Mr. Bai quickly reassured with all seriousness:
"Don’t worry, leader. I’ll make a run to both places, bring them out once I get there, and keep them under our control. That will be safer."
Xu Dayuan waved his hand and called out:
"No more nonsense, everyone get on the car. Two orders, protect the people that the criminal suspect might want to kill, and I strictly forbid shooting or apprehending. Let’s move!"
As the last two words were spoken, everyone got into their vehicles.
The police lights flared as they left the rear courtyard of the Public Security Bureau, scattering in different directions. Mr. Wang drove very fast, following the car that Xu Dayuan was in, heading towards the hospital.
The whole way there, no one spoke.
Actually, one could tell from Xu Dayuan’s orders that he felt a great deal of sympathy for Shi Yun. Although he couldn’t be lenient without basis, he didn’t want her to continue making mistakes.
Of course, that was the outsider’s perspective. For someone who lived through it, losing one’s parents in their teens, being slandered by the three people her father had saved leading to those deaths, along with a mentally disturbed intern reporter, had caused that year’s tragedy.
To the bystanders, they all felt a gnawing hatred, let alone Shi Yun, who had personally experienced all of it.
Zhou Ning sighed, thinking that if he were Shi Yun, he would probably have done something even more ruthless, more excessive. After all, some things can’t be constrained by the law.
The cars arrived at the Central Hospital, and everyone quickly ran towards the ICU, meeting Mr. He and Doctor Chen, who had come upon hearing the commotion. Both understood what was happening as they saw the crowd, clearly there to find Xu Qingquan.
Doctor Chen soothed the medical staff and patients, while Mr. He followed behind Zhou Ning and the others towards the ICU. Someone went with Mr. Qu to the surveillance room to check the listening devices that had been left behind.
Xu Dayuan pushed the door and entered Xu Qingquan’s ward, where he was alone. The nursing staff and Kong Wanshan were not present. Seeing Xu Dayuan, Xu Qingquan obviously froze for a second, then tilted his head slightly, acting as though he didn’t recognize anyone.
Seeing his reaction, Xu Dayuan became annoyed, pointed at him, and said:
"You can skip the pretend amnesia act. We’ve installed surveillance in this ward. Whatever you’ve said and done, I’m already in control of everything, and I know full well you haven’t lost your memory. You just want to protect yourself. So, tell me, when did you realize she was the real murderer?"
Xu Qingquan didn’t move, and Mr. Zhao stepped forward.
"Let me tell you, we sent out four teams. Whether we can catch them depends on your cooperation. If you don’t cooperate well, Zhang Fangfang, your sister, Kong Wanshan, and the two kids could all be in danger of losing their lives. Of course, this is just a probability, almost like drawing lots. Do you dare to bet?"
Also, let me tell you, we’re not just making empty threats. You know about the guy in the white shirt, right? That’s Director Xu, from the Qindao Public Security Bureau. He’s second only to the highest-ranking officer here. Would he come if it weren’t serious? So whether we can save you all and whether someone else will be killed depends on whether you tell the truth."
Xu Qingquan looked around and saw the serious expressions on everyone’s faces. In that instant, he panicked.
"What do you mean, she... she’s going to harm my sister?"
"I would think that your sister should have told you what she did back then. I don’t want to judge that. I just want to say, if it were you, with your parents driven to death and after preparing for fifteen years, when you finally find these people, would you have a friendly chat with them or would you kill them for revenge?" freewēbnoveℓ.com
Xu Qingquan pursed his lips. He was listening, and he was truly frightened. Hesitantly, he said:
"I don’t have direct evidence, and I didn’t see anyone. But during the car accident, I was sitting in the middle of the back row. Suddenly, as the car swerved, I was flung directly to the right side. Officer Ma caught me, so I woke up.
I just saw the headlights in front of us were very blinding. But something flashed by in front of our car. The police car immediately pulled to the side, but the oncoming truck was already right before us. As it rolled over, I was pinned under Ma Liang, but my legs were still crushed and deformed."
"Don’t rush me. I need to sort this out in order, step by step. I was conscious the whole time after the accident. All the policemen were seriously injured, but I was trapped and couldn’t move. Outside, people were shouting, ’Is anyone alive?’ I wanted to speak, but I couldn’t open my mouth. Then I smelled a scent."
"This scent was very familiar to me. It was Penhaligon’s Luna. It’s a niche fragrance from a foreign brand, not too expensive, just over two thousand, but extremely unique. As far as I know, only two people I know like this scent, it’s like lying on a haystack, smelling the sea breeze."
"Who?"
"One is my fiancée. She loves this scent the most. The other is Zhang Fangfang. She liked the scent on me and asked what brand it was before she got someone to buy it for her through a shopping service. But I’m not sure if she wore it every day. That brand of perfume is almost unseen, not just in Qindao, but even in China."
Zhou Ning and the rest didn’t go in during Zhang Fangfang’s interrogation, so they really wouldn’t know the scent. Xu Dayuan was about to speak, but Zhou Ning stopped him.
"Is there anything of your fiancée’s here?"
Xu Qingquan pointed at the bedside table next to him and quickly replied:
"There’s a bag in there, with a card and seven or eight boxes of gold jewelry inside. That’s what my fiancée returned to me."
Zhou Ning paused.
"So, Zhong Xiaoyan knows about your past, and even though your sister told her not to come to the hospital, she still came to break off the engagement and brought the things here, is that correct?"
Xu Qingquan nodded. He had come to understand that this handsome policeman, though not of high rank, held significant power. Thus, he didn’t dare to resist at all.
"Zhong Xiaoyan came on September 6th?"
"Yes, that day close to noon, my sister rushed to the hospital, shooed the nurse away, and told me that Zhong Xiaoyan wanted to break off our engagement. I shared my suspicions, and just as we were discussing what to do, Zhong Xiaoyan arrived. She didn’t make a scene or anything. She said the investigating police had informed her about my situation.
After some thought, she felt we weren’t suitable for marriage. She returned the money and jewelry, and the engagement was off. Also, she said that if I felt it was necessary for her to take care of me, she could still help as a friend and that I should let my sister know if anything came up.
She spoke so flawlessly that I didn’t dare to make a sound. After all, I was still in a state of amnesia then. My sister patted me and told Zhong Xiaoyan that her brother was spoiled and currently had amnesia, so getting married soon really wasn’t appropriate.
As for the dowry, my sister told Zhong Xiaoyan to take it back. Even if we weren’t getting married, there was no need to return it; it’s a separate matter. Zhong Xiaoyan asked my sister to check the balance, wrote a receipt for her, and then left. I was sweating with fear at the time because when Zhong Xiaoyan looked at me, it was with a knowing smile. I felt like she knew I wasn’t really amnesic."
Xu Dayuan stared at Xu Qingquan, asking:
"Continue. What exactly did you see during the car accident? Was it just the scent?"
"It wasn’t just the scent. Like I said, something flashed by, going between the police car and the truck. The truck braked and swerved to avoid it, and right after that vehicle got through, we collided. Then I heard someone shouting. But at this point, a hand reached into the shattered cabin.
I told you, even though I was seriously injured, I didn’t pass out. Officer Ma protected me very well. That hand was very cold, as if checking for signs of life in everyone. I was pinned under Ma Liang; she didn’t see me.
But I saw her. Although I didn’t see the face, her index finger had a ring-shaped scar. I am too familiar with that scar. The first time I met Zhong Xiaoyan, I asked about it because it didn’t look like an ordinary cut."
"She told me that as a child, she was mischievous and had wrapped a fishing line around her finger. A friend didn’t see what she was doing and rushed by her, injuring his leg. Her finger was also cut in a complete circle, leaving a scar similar to a ring."
"Are you sure it was Zhong Xiaoyan?"
"Positive."
"Did she check everyone and then leave?"
"Yes, I didn’t dare to open my eyes. But after the scent faded away, I heard a car starting off in the distance. But it wasn’t in the direction we were traveling, it was the opposite. The car was heading backward. Later, the shouting person approached and a policeman woke up and started shouting too. That’s how we were rescued."
Xu Dayuan turned to Mr. Zhao and said:
"The map, is there a side road next to this main road that can be used to go in the opposite direction?"
