Chapter 556: Chapter 556: Stubborn as a Dead Duck

Once you’ve committed a crime, this is what happens. You tell one lie, then you need a hundred lies to cover it up.

Zhao Zhijun might have seemed quite shocked and genuine about Yang Qianqian’s death, not at all like he was pretending, but there’s a logical issue with him saying he saw Yang Qianqian on Thursday.

"Zhao Zhijun, I advise you to be a bit more honest. Even if you’re making things up, at least make it sound believable. On Wednesday of last week, you killed Yang Qianqian and then dismembered her."

"And yet you say you saw her on Thursday?"

"Who are you trying to fool?"

"Officer, there must be some misunderstanding here. I’m really not lying to you, every word I said is true. I did see Qianqian on Thursday." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Thursday?"

"Zhao Zhijun, I’ll say it again: Yang Qianqian was killed on Wednesday. How could you have seen her on Thursday? You should at least come up with a better excuse to lie."

Lu Chuan’s side confirmed that Yang Qianqian was killed on Wednesday, while the neighbors reported hearing the sound of chopping in her home on both Thursday and Friday.

This means Yang Qianqian was killed on Wednesday, and the killer spent Thursday and Friday dismembering her.

Meanwhile, in another interrogation room.

"The guy named Zhao came to our store on Thursday night."

"There were three of us on duty that day. We can all testify he came that night."

"It’s been almost a week since last Thursday. You’ve seen so many customers every day. How can you be sure you remember him clearly?"

Zhang Meili nodded affirmatively: "I’m sure I remember. Others might forget, but I certainly remember."

"Because that night, when Zhao Zhijun came, he immediately picked three of us."

"Three people?"

"Yes, three people. He gave each of us an extra 100 bucks, 300 per person, and had all three of us accompany him."

"Of course we took the job, it was such a great deal. That’s why we all remember him so clearly. He came to the store that Thursday night, around 11:30."

"Not many people come in and pick three at a time, so I checked the time, and it was 11:30 at night."

After Song noted the time, the policewoman continued to ask.

"On Thursday night, until what time did Zhao Zhijun stay at your store?"

"Probably a little before one..."

"I don’t remember too clearly, but it should be sometime after 1 and before 2."

"Because after 2 o’clock, we ordered takeout and then took a break."

"When was the second time Zhao Zhijun was with you?"

"It was the next day, Friday. He came just after we started work, around 3 in the afternoon."

"And that day, he gave me 800 bucks to spend the night with him. We went to his house."

"800?"

"Yeah, 800 is the going rate around here, 800 for a night."

"Why did he give you 500 tonight then?"

"Well, we’re closer now, gave him a discount. He sought me out on Friday, didn’t come on Saturday, started again on Sunday, and has been seeing me every day since."

"Why has Zhao Zhijun been seeking you out these past few days?"

"That night on Thursday, he said I was the prettiest and the best, so after that, he only wanted me."

"Zhang Meili, I need to remind you that everything you’re saying is evidence and will determine whether Zhao Zhijun is a murderer."

"So I hope you’re not hiding or lying about anything."

Zhang Meili nodded confidently: "Don’t worry, officer, I’m telling the truth. Everyone at our store knows, you can verify it. I haven’t said a single false word. If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning and suffer a miserable death."

"That’s enough, no need for curses. Check your statement here, and if it’s all correct, sign here and press your fingerprint..."

"Write this sentence here: ’I have read the above statement and confirm it is consistent with what I said.’

"Uh-huh, alright, officer... It’s done. Where do I press my fingerprint?"

"Here... your name... in the middle... and here, under your name, you also need to press your fingerprints."

Zhang Meili had been to the police station before, but only for simple questioning, never gone through such a formal process, so she was a bit unfamiliar.

But the clues Zhang Meili provided were very important.

Because according to Zhang Meili, Zhao Zhijun left the foot massage parlor a little after one, before two, on Thursday night.

He was with Zhang Meili the whole night on Friday.

His whereabouts on Saturday are unclear, but on Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday nights, he was with Zhang Meili.

This is critical for verifying the timeline of the crime as stated by Yang Qianqian’s neighbors and comparing it to Zhao Zhijun’s timeline of dismemberment.

"Officer, can I leave now?"

Leave?

"You’ll need to stay at the Criminal Investigation Team for a couple of days to cooperate. My colleague will take you to rest shortly."

The Criminal Investigation Team has temporary holding rooms for suspects.

"Song, organize the records and report to the leader later."

"Got it."

The interrogation with Zhang Meili progressed quickly, but the interrogation with Zhao Zhijun was moving very slowly.

Even when Zhang Hui placed the fingerprint analysis report from Lu Chuan in front of Zhao Zhijun, he still wouldn’t admit to the murder.

"Officer, you can’t just accuse me of murder based on a fingerprint."

Zhang Hui laughed in frustration.

"Zhao Zhijun, we found your fingerprint on the black plastic sheet that Yang Qianqian was dismembered in."

"Now tell me, if this can’t determine you’re the murderer, then what can?"

Zhao Zhijun looked distressed: "Officer, as I said, I gave a plastic sheet to Yang Qianqian a month ago because she said something was leaking at her place."

"So my fingerprints on the plastic sheet are perfectly normal, aren’t they?"

"You gave it to her?"

"So tell me, you broke up with Yang Qianqian three months ago. Why would you send her a plastic sheet a month ago?"

"We were still friends after breaking up. You can still meet after breaking up. We were college classmates."

"She asked me for a favor, and I couldn’t refuse, could I? It was just a plastic sheet."

"Officer, you really misunderstood. I am truly innocent. I definitely didn’t kill Qianqian. Even though we broke up, I still had feelings for her."

Feelings?

"The feelings you’re talking about, is that why you’re in bed with another woman?"

Zhao Zhijun looked embarrassed: "Well... we did break up after all, and I also have physical needs."

"Okay, we’re not talking about whether you killed Yang Qianqian right now. Let’s talk about your money."

Money?

Zhao Zhijun looked completely baffled.