DF Chapter 25
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He remained composed, letting go of her hand almost instantly, but the cool and delicate sensation of his touch seemed to linger on Zhen Yi’s wrist. Her heart was stuck in her throat, unable to settle. Blushing, she took a deep breath to calm down.
They walked in silence for a while before he finally asked, “What are you thinking? You looked quite happy just now.”
“Oh, I realized Tang Yu was lying.”
Yan Ge, from his professional standpoint, sensed something was off but knew Zhen Yi always had her own way of looking at things. “For example?”
Zhen Yi lifted her chin confidently. “When I provoked her earlier, she went on a long rant, scolding me. People tend to blurt things out when they’re mad. Didn’t her tone sound like she was certain Song Yi wasn’t the killer? But how could she be so sure? She must have been at Ecstasy that night.”
“Her tone was indeed suspicious,” Yan Ge admitted in his usual measured tone. “It can be interpreted as her not wanting anything bad to happen to Song Yi, but it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s certain Song Yi isn’t the killer. You’re drawing too many conclusions.”
“You’re too rigid,” Zhen Yi muttered to herself before continuing, “She and the club manager, Suo Lei, are dating.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“In the photo, Suo Lei is wearing a couple’s wristband on his left hand.”
“But Tang Yu wasn’t wearing one in the photo.”
“She wasn’t, no. But she tied it around a small flowerpot instead.”
Yan Ge stayed silent, surprised that she had picked up on such a minor detail.
Zhen Yi raised her chin with pride. “Why would she hide her boyfriend? She just doesn’t want anyone linking her to the crime scene.”
“That’s a stretch,” Yan Ge commented bluntly. “Some people just don’t like to make their relationships public.”
“You think everyone’s like you?” Zhen Yi shot back, realizing only after speaking how quickly she had let her words slip. She sneaked a glance at Yan Ge’s handsome, unruffled profile. He didn’t seem to care. He was so detached, as if nothing ever really bothered him.
It was one of the unexpected benefits of being around him—no need to worry about offending him, or whether he thought any less of her. No misunderstandings, no tension—just peace.
Zhen Yi brought the conversation back on track. “Alright, even if my reasoning isn’t enough, there’s still another point.”
Yan Ge walked beside her, nodding slightly, a gesture that invited her to explain further.
“Remember when she said the police hadn’t questioned her? Why do you think that is? It must be because no one at the scene noticed her, and those crappy security cameras didn’t capture her.”
“And?”
“Suo Lei’s familiarity with the place helped her avoid detection,” Zhen Yi declared excitedly.
“It’s also possible that she really wasn’t there and just doesn’t like talking about her boyfriend,” Yan Ge calmly offered another possibility.
“Ugh, I guess that’s true too. But I’ve got another piece of evidence,” she said, still trying to prove her point.
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear it,” he said with a hint of amusement.
“Huh?” She hadn’t even presented her next argument yet.
“You’d make a terrible detective novelist.”
“What?”
“You’ve shown me the art of twisting logic to its limit,” he said, not holding back with his playful “compliment.”
“You’re making stuff up!” she protested, indignant.
“You’re spouting nonsense,” he replied casually.
“…”
Yan Ge glanced at her sideways. “You assumed she was at the crime scene, then searched for evidence to support that assumption. It’s like conducting an experiment—the method is correct. But the evidence you’ve listed only holds if your initial assumption—that she was at the crime scene—is true. You’re using those arguments to prove your hypothesis. What do you think of that?”
Zhen Yi fell silent, at a loss for words. His scientific reasoning had left her speechless. It had always been like this—she could talk endlessly, and he could shut her down with one sentence, making her feel unreasonable.
Her face burned with embarrassment, but at the same time, she felt a sense of relief. It was comforting to have someone sharp enough to point out her mistakes, someone who could tap her on the head and prevent her from developing dangerous patterns of thought. She realized she needed to reflect on this. Her sharp instincts, honed from her background in criminal investigation, had served her well at work, but maybe she had grown overconfident. That was risky!
Taking a deep breath, her face still red, Zhen Yi looked up. “Thank you, Yan Ge.”
When she said that, he clammed up, pressing his lips tightly together. He didn’t say another word, just kept walking with his hands in his pockets.
Following him, Zhen Yi added, “But honestly, this unscientific approach of mine works in real life more often than not. It’s surprisingly effective. How do you explain that?” Her voice softened without her realizing it. She wasn’t challenging him—she was genuinely curious.
“I understand,” his voice was calm and warm. “Often, there are already subtle clues before you even begin to form your suspicions. It’s a fifty-fifty chance—there will be failures, but there will also be successes. And when there’s not enough objective evidence, some people’s intuition and experience can really come into play. I don’t know what exactly tipped you off, but based on my judgment, Tang Yu did lie. She’s involved in this case.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. What I said earlier was just a reminder—when using this kind of ‘unscientific’ approach, always be aware of the other 50%—the possibility of failure. Even if you’re right, a correct result doesn’t mean the process was sound.”
Zhen Yi lowered her head and repeated his words in her mind. She had fallen into the trap of believing that just because she had been right many times before, her methods must have always been correct. That was a dangerous thought. “I’ll remember that,” she said softly.
He didn’t respond, and she wasn’t sure if he’d even heard her.
The alley was narrow and crowded. After walking a bit further, they passed by a row of adult stores. Thinking about the case, Zhen Yi turned to Yan Ge and said, “Wait here for me, I’m going to buy something.”
Yan Ge glanced at the exaggerated posters and large signs outside the store, displaying all sorts of suggestive poses and words like “big”, “long-lasting” and “enduring.” His gaze remained calm as he looked at Zhen Yi. She, on the other hand, was completely unbothered. With a little twist of her head, she confidently strode into the shop, leaving him standing outside to endure the curious looks of passersby. After a minute, Zhen Yi emerged, looking disappointed. “They didn’t have what I wanted. This place needs to expand its selection.”
Yan Ge didn’t comment, thinking the ordeal was over. But to his surprise, she continued hopping from one adult store to the next, going through street after street. Noticing the strange looks they were getting from people, Zhen Yi asked, “I’m not making you uncomfortable, am I?”
“No,” he replied flatly, clearly indifferent to others’ opinions.
Zhen Yi smirked mischievously. “Oh, so it’s making you comfortable then?”
“…” Yan Ge chose to remain silent.
They passed by another adult store, and once again, Zhen Yi left him standing in front of yet another sign advertising “big”, “long” and “lasting.” She darted inside.
The shop was cramped and dingy, the shelves cluttered with various contraceptives and novelty items.
“Oh, Lawyer Zhen! You’re here!” The shop owner greeted her warmly. Zhen Yi had represented several people from the migrant village in a hit-and-run case, so many locals recognized her. “Here to investigate a case? Ask away, I’ll tell you everything I know.”