DF Chapter 22

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The manager remarked, “You’re so sharp; it’s really surprising.”

Yan Ge glanced over at Zhen Yi. At that moment, she was examining the screws on the window’s security bars, her face nearly pressed against the windowsill. Illuminated by the projection lights from the trees outside, her face looked as white as porcelain, and her lively eyes were full of focus, as if they held the night itself, deep and mysterious. Her small, straight nose slightly stirred the edge of the window screen with her breath.

Surprising? Yan Ge didn’t think so.

She was always playful, quirky, and a bit unpredictable. But when she got serious about something, she could pour into it a passion and focus that most people wouldn’t. She lived her life with intensity—falling in love with all her might, working with unrelenting strength.

People who burned with such passion often ended up victorious.

Having once been chased by such a determined Zhen Yi, Yan Ge had felt fortunate.

Zhen Yi inspected the room, gaining a basic understanding before thanking the manager. As soon as she stepped out of the room, she froze.

On the opposite wall hung a painting of a girl falling from a tall building, her pose graceful, as if she were flying. The frame was covered in glass, and on the surface, there was a thin reflection, capturing Zhen Yi’s startled eyes and the empty wall and door across from her. On the door was the black number: 31.

An eerie feeling crept over her. Was Wu Zhe’s dream really just a dream?

Yan Ge saw it too. He had heard Zhen Yi recount her conversation with Wu Zhe, so upon seeing this, he frowned slightly. “Either Wu Zhe has been here before, or the killer has been in contact with him.”

As they descended to the main hall, Suo Lei politely offered, “Don’t rush off just yet. I might not have much here, but how about a cocktail?”

“Sure, I’ll take a Black Jack.”

“Good choice.” The young man smiled as he expertly mixed fruit juice, ice, coffee, and alcohol.

Zhen Yi perched on a barstool and asked Yan Ge, “What about you?”

“I’m driving.”

“It’s low alcohol, tastes like juice.”

“No thanks.”

“All you ever say is ‘no thanks,’” Zhen Yi muttered softly, slightly pouting. Back when they were in Shen City, “no” was what he said to her the most. Hearing it now brought a faint sense of déjà vu.

She rested her chin on her hand, watching Suo Lei mix the drink. Yan Ge, however, was focused on the wine rack behind him. “Do many customers store their alcohol here?”

“A few.”

“What about Lin Ziyi?”

“He did. The police took some for testing. What’s left is over there.” Suo Lei pointed to a bottle of gin on the shelf with his chin.

Thanks to Yan Ge’s detailed observation, Zhen Yi had a new idea—Lin Ziyi’s alcohol might be another key. She tilted her head and smiled meaningfully at Yan Ge, who remained calm, but they both knew what the other was thinking.

She pondered for a moment, then mischievously nudged his leg with her foot and leaned over, blowing softly near his ear. “You’re so clever.”

Yan Ge didn’t respond to what seemed like her attempt at teasing.

Amused, Zhen Yi sat back properly, sipping her drink as she thought:

1. The killer couldn’t have escaped through the window, so they must have still been in the club after the murder.
2. The fact that the police took Lin Ziyi’s stored alcohol for testing suggests there were drugs in his system. But why drug him? If it were purely for revenge, wouldn’t it be better for the victim to be conscious? Lin Ziyi was a regular in nightclubs, not someone easily caught off guard. How did the killer get close enough to drug him?

It was becoming clear that the killer was smart, cautious, and calm, with strong anti-investigation skills. In criminal investigations, someone with a record would be a prime suspect.

While Zhen Yi was lost in thought, she heard Yan Ge’s cool voice break through. “Something doesn’t add up.”

“What?” Zhen Yi turned her head to look at him, her eyes bright with curiosity, staring directly at him.

He wasn’t used to being stared at like that, so he turned his head away. “It’s clear the killer planned this carefully, but the murder weapons—fruit knives and razor blades—were found in the bar. Doesn’t that seem odd?”

Zhen Yi paused, taken aback by this new thought. Before she could respond, her phone rang—it was Song Yi.

Her voice was frantic. “Lawyer Zhen, the police have arrested me! You have to help me—I didn’t kill anyone!”

When Zhen Yi arrived at the police station, the entrance was swarmed with media. As soon as they spotted her, they rushed toward her like a flood.

“Have the police found key evidence? Is Song Yi really the murderer?”
“Is this related to the Tang Shang case?”

Even though it was late at night, Zhen Yi was fully prepared, wearing sunglasses, a scarf, and a sun hat. Her coat collar was pulled up high as she quickly squeezed through the crowd. The past few months had already made her loathe reporters.

In the meeting room, Song Yi sat with her head down, visibly dejected. She had none of her usual pretentious or bossy attitude. The moment she saw Zhen Yi, her voice cracked with sobs. “Lawyer Zhen…”

“I know everything,” Zhen Yi sighed. “Song Yi, you’ve been hiding too much. You said you hadn’t entered the crime scene, but the police found your hair on the curtains. This puts you in a very bad position. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Song Yi said in a low voice.

“I’ve got time to wait.” Zhen Yi softened her tone. “Remember, only by telling the truth can I help you.”

Song Yi pressed her hand to her forehead, silent for a long time before she finally spoke. “I’m sorry, I’m a freak. I hate people like Lin Ziyi, those rapists, so I went into the crime scene. You have no idea how satisfying it was to see him dead like that.” A cold smile crept onto her lips as she said this.

“I understand.” Zhen Yi paused briefly. “Now, I need you to explain why you lost control during the polygraph test. The police will look into it, and I don’t want to be caught off guard again.”

Under the bright fluorescent light, Song Yi’s face looked ghastly pale. “Lawyer Zhen, I must have made things difficult for you, haven’t I? I’m sorry.”

“I don’t need your apology. I just want to defend you.”

Song Yi sat in silence for a moment, her face gradually showing a sense of loneliness. “You know, I never wanted to be an actress. Acting isn’t being yourself, it’s not your own life. You’re always wearing a mask in front of the media and fans. I’ve sacrificed a lot for fame and exposure. But honestly, I didn’t have much to sacrifice even before I entered this industry.” She smiled faintly, calm and detached. “I like painting. I wanted to be an artist. But when I was sixteen, I can never forget that day—I went home late and passed through an alley… Six men… One was fat, heavy, disgusting. I felt like my stomach was being crushed…”

“Song, you don’t have to go into detail…” Zhen Yi’s eyes flinched, and when she glanced up, the lights stung her eyes.

“They couldn’t get in,” Song Yi continued, unfazed. “They tried violently, one by one. I was in so much pain I wanted to dig my heart out. I screamed for my mom, only to be met with vulgar insults. They got what they wanted. I never thought time could feel so long, split into infinite seconds. Afterward, they cursed at me, urinated on me. I was bleeding the whole time, torn apart inside. I stayed in the hospital for a long time. My mom tried to seek justice, but those men had power in that small town. The police turned a blind eye. My mom had no way out—she protested with banners, only to be beaten. She eventually sat in silence and took her own life, thinking it would bring attention to our plight. But it didn’t.”

Zhen Yi clenched her fists, her temples throbbing painfully. Hearing this real-life tragedy unfold in front of her filled her with a deep sense of rage and sorrow.

“Living… it’s so hard, so painful,” Song Yi said with a faint smile. “But I wasn’t as brave as my mom. I was afraid of dying, so I became an escort, earned money, got a new face, and became a model. I used to be even prettier than I am now, believe it or not.”

She turned to look at Zhen Yi, who was at a loss for words.