DF Chapter 7
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“Occupation?”
“Actress.”
“Were you at the Ecstasy club on the night of April 28th?”
“Yes.”
“Do you go there often?”
“I wouldn’t say so.”
It was Song Yi’s first time at the club. If she had answered, “It was my first time,” it would have raised suspicion and made her look guilty. But if she used vague terms like, “I don’t think I go there often,” it could invite further questioning. Zhen Yi had crafted the negative response carefully to avoid pitfalls.
Before asking the next question, Yang Zi glanced at Zhen Yi’s blue marker notes on the document, which were especially bold: Follow-up questions if the police have done their homework (10% chance).
“We’ve checked the club’s records, and it shows this was your first time at Ecstasy. Additionally, our investigation of nearby clubs shows that you usually frequent Mayflower, two blocks away. Why the sudden change?”
Yang Zi admired Zhen Yi’s meticulous attention to detail. Even small facts that the client might overlook were things Zhen Yi had anticipated.
Song Yi was prepared and responded smoothly, “I went to Ecstasy because I wanted to meet some rich second-generation kids. I heard there were more wealthy people there…”
“Stop!” Zhen Yi suddenly interrupted.
Song Yi, startled by Zhen Yi’s harsh tone, was left speechless. Yang Zi felt awkward, and Song Yi, visibly unhappy, pouted. “Sorry, I answered too quickly.”
Yang Zi picked up the materials to check. Beneath the answer, there was a note in green: You should find it difficult to say, hesitate, then answer slowly… very slowly. She was surprised that Zhen Yi could think through things to this degree.
Prompted by the reminder, Song Yi lowered her head and hesitated for a moment. She then replied softly, with an embarrassed tone.
The questioning continued smoothly.
“Did you know the deceased?”
“I met him once, but I wouldn’t say I knew him.”
“Did you see the deceased that night? Do you have any recollection?”
“It’s a bit hazy.” Song Yi had initially wanted to deny it. But in reality, she had danced close to the victim. Zhen Yi had advised against denial, pointing out that if anyone else at the scene remembered, it could cause problems.
Zhen Yi’s note was clear: If questioned further, blur the memory. Mention being tipsy and too excited to recall. Widen the scope—there were many dance partners, and they changed randomly.
Yang Zi followed up, and Song Yi confidently recited her answer: “I had a lot to drink and danced with many people, men and women. There were too many people, and I was so excited that I don’t remember much.”
“Stop!” Zhen Yi cut in sharply again. “Song Yi, you raised your eyebrows just now.”
Song Yi was nonchalant. “Does that matter?”
“Raising your eyebrows shows arrogance and contempt. It makes it obvious you’re well-prepared, suggesting you’re hiding something,” Zhen Yi leaned forward, pressing her palms against the table as she looked down at her. “Do you think the police won’t notice? Miss Song, if you believe reciting these ninety-three questions guarantees your safety, let me tell you, they’ll find every mistake you make and focus on it. At that point, I hope you maintain this same carefree attitude!”
Suddenly, a wave of tension filled the room. Yang Zi hadn’t expected Zhen Yi to scold a famous celebrity so sharply.
Song Yi, now embarrassed, widened her eyes in disbelief, adjusting her posture after a few moments.
Feeling uneasy, she muttered to herself, almost like self-hypnosis, “I will remember what you said. These are not just answers; they reflect my true thoughts. I’m not reciting. I’m explaining what I truly think.”
Zhen Yi instructed, “Close your eyes and repeat everything you just said to yourself three times.”
Song Yi obeyed.
In the brief silence that followed, Zhen Yi’s thoughts drifted to Yan Ge. The idea of repeating something three times had come from him. She wondered if this was a form of self-hypnosis and whether it actually worked.
Song Yi opened her eyes. “I’m ready!”
Yang Zi continued, “Why did you pass through that hallway corner?”
After asking, she glanced at the answer: Drank too much, needed to use the restroom. In red, Zhen Yi had emphasized: Don’t forget to say you drank too much!
…
After one round of questioning, Song Yi let out a sigh of relief, but Zhen Yi wasn’t done. “Considering the pressure and unpredictability of the police, let’s run through this a few more times to iron out any issues.” Song Yi didn’t object.
Yang Zi was filled with admiration. Since she and Zhen Yi specialized in different fields, they rarely worked together, but today she was truly impressed. She hadn’t expected Zhen Yi, who was usually so playful and carefree, to be so sharp and commanding at work.
They practiced over and over again, fully preparing themselves. However, when they arrived at the police station the next day, they encountered an unexpected obstacle.
The next day, Song Yi went to the police station for questioning, with Zhen Yi by her side the entire time. Before starting the process, they ran into Si Gui, but since both women were in work mode, they didn’t speak to each other.
Officer Lin Han was in charge of the questioning, but Zhen Yi knew Si Gui would be watching from behind the one-way glass. Si Gui had minored in behavioral psychology in college, and Zhen Yi wasn’t sure how much she could read from Song Yi’s behavior. Knowing her opponent’s strengths made Zhen Yi pay extra attention to Song Yi’s micro-expressions during their practice sessions. This felt like a duel between her and Si Gui, and Zhen Yi was both excited and eager for the challenge.
The interrogation room was cramped, with black, opaque glass designed to increase the psychological pressure. Song Yi wasn’t nervous, though, since Zhen Yi had already explained that this was an intimidation tactic.
Before they began, Zhen Yi made a statement. “My client does not wish to testify. You can morally criticize her, but you cannot coerce her. Unfortunately, you’ve already tried to do that. My client has now agreed to provide information, but we request that you refrain from contacting her further.”
Hearing this, Song Yi felt more confident.
Officer Lin responded with the usual polite phrase, “Thank you for your cooperation,” before adding, “What Miss Song says will be recorded. You are not required to testify, but the law does not permit false testimony.” His words carried an implicit warning.
Zhen Yi had prepared Song Yi for this, so she remained composed.
Officer Lin’s questions were within the scope Zhen Yi had anticipated. After multiple rehearsals, Song Yi had come to believe that every word she said was true, playing her role convincingly. Even so, Zhen Yi occasionally interrupted. Despite having prepared for certain questions, Zhen Yi would sternly intervene, throwing out lengthy objections like “irrelevant to the case” or “invasion of privacy.”
Song Yi understood that Zhen Yi was deliberately shifting the police’s focus away from her. Zhen Yi was clever, strategically objecting only to seemingly important but ultimately inconsequential questions.
The interrogation eventually reached the crucial point: “When you left the lounge and passed through the hallway, what were you doing?”
“I drank too much and needed to use the restroom,” Song Yi answered. She had indeed had some drinks that night, though not excessively. Zhen Yi had carefully crafted this response, knowing it was a plausible excuse in that setting and one that could set up further defenses.
“Did you hear any strange noises?”
“The club was noisy, there were sounds everywhere. What do you mean by strange?” She tossed the question back at him, neither lying nor directly answering.
Officer Lin explained, “A man’s scream, groaning, or sounds of a fight.”
Song Yi furrowed her brows as if trying to recall. “I was tipsy and not paying attention. These kinds of sounds are normal in a club. Even if I heard something, I wouldn’t remember it.” This response expanded the context while blurring the specifics.
“The surveillance shows you glancing down the hallway where the crime took place. Did you see anyone suspicious?”