The chess room was dimly lit, the chandelier overhead cloaked in dust, casting a meager and reluctant light.
Chen Shengqiang clearly didn't believe it. He had asked several times, each met with the same precise answer. Still unconvinced, he asked again, "He's really dead?"
Lu Lie's voice was cold. "What else? You think we'd joke about something like that?"
Chen Shengqiang shook his head, his face pale. "No... it's just that it happened so suddenly. I wasn't prepared."
Then he looked up again, concern creeping into his voice. "How did he die? A living, breathing man—how could he just die?"
Lu Lie fixed his gaze on him. "You still care, even after falling out with him?"
Chen Shengqiang pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag. His brows twisted tightly, his lips curled as he exhaled. "We grew up together—known each other since we were kids. We were brothers for so many years."
"You call that brotherhood?" Lu Lie's tone brimmed with disbelief.
"Of course!" Chen Shengqiang's eyes widened as he raised his voice.
"But he's dead, and I don't see grief in your eyes."
Chen Shengqiang remained silent.
Lu Lie lowered his voice, probing, "Doesn't look like you ever saw him as a brother."
"Before he hit me, I truly did see him as one!"
"And yet you coveted his wife?"
Chen Shengqiang's lips thinned. He swallowed hard, unease written all over his face.
Lu Lie narrowed his eyes. "So it's true?" He paused, then continued, "Before the incident, someone heard He Wenhui and Bai Wenwen arguing. The reason? He Wenhui suspected there was something going on between you and his wife."
He let his eyes linger a few seconds longer on the scar across Chen Shengqiang's face before adding, "I imagine that's why he beat you."
Chen Shengqiang instantly denied it, his face flushed, neck straining with fury. He shouted, "Me? Coveting his wife? Officer, are you kidding me? I'm not exactly lacking in women!"
Lu Lie's eyes were sharp as blades. "Maybe not. But can you truly say you never had any thoughts about Bai Wenwen?"
Chen Shengqiang averted his gaze, swallowed again, blinked rapidly.
Clearly guilty.
"No such thoughts!" he muttered, after a long hesitation.
Lu Lie leaned back lazily in his chair, arms crossed, gaze piercing. "You really expect me to believe that?"
"I..." Chen Shengqiang stammered, uncertain. He was never good at hiding his emotions—every flicker of thought was written plain on his face. Lu Lie, seasoned from years in criminal investigation, had grown adept at reading the microexpressions of suspects. And Chen Shengqiang was an open book.
"I..." Chen Shengqiang sighed heavily, raked a hand through his hair in frustration, then looked up, defeated. "Yeah, damn it, I liked her. I've liked her since high school. But so what? She never saw me that way. She thought I was a loser—no skills, no future, no money. But He Wenhui—he had it all. His parents died in a car crash and left him a fat compensation. He paid off the mortgage and opened his own business."
"He Wenhui was just fucking lucky." He lowered his head, bitterness seeping through as he took another deep drag.
Zhou Zhaozhao had been quietly listening, face blank. But at this point, her brows furrowed—her sense of decency wounded.
Lu Lie crossed his legs, lips pressed together, and asked again, "So just because she didn't want you, you stopped having feelings for her?"
No reply—just more smoking.
"I asked you," Lu Lie repeated, voice ringing out like a gavel. "Can you swear you had no thoughts about Bai Wenwen?"
Driven to the edge, Chen Shengqiang snapped, "So what if I did? She's married now\..."
"You were in the same high school?" Lu Lie's tone was calm, steady.
Chen Shengqiang nodded.
"She knows you liked her?"
"She does," he answered hastily, voice laced with irritation.
"Did she ever return your feelings?"
After a long pause, Chen Shengqiang's lips pressed into a line, his eyes drifting. "No. It was just me being pathetic—one-sided."
Having circled the issue long enough, Lu Lie finally got to the point. "Where were you last night, between 8 p.m. and midnight? Answer me."
Chen Shengqiang's face darkened. He took a drag before replying, "I don't remember."
"You don't remember?" Lu Lie echoed, eyes narrowing. "You forgot what you did just last night?"
"Probably sleeping at home," Chen Shengqiang offered vaguely.
"Which is it? You forgot, or you were asleep at home?"
"Asleep." His gaze turned hollow, staring into the distance.
Lu Lie frowned, watching him in silence for several minutes.
The man was lying. Continuing would be pointless.
He stood up. "That's all for now. If we uncover anything new, we'll be back. I hope you'll cooperate then."
Relief washed over Chen Shengqiang's face. "Of course, I'll cooperate."
Lu Lie turned, deep in thought, and strode away. Zhou Zhaozhao followed quickly behind.
"Captain Lu?" she called softly.
He didn't respond, whether he didn't hear or chose to ignore her. He stepped out of the stifling room.
The air inside had been oppressive. As soon as Zhou Zhaozhao exited, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
In her haste, she didn't notice that Lu Lie had stopped. Unable to halt in time, her nose collided with his back.
It hurt.
But she held back a yelp, letting out only a soft grunt.
Puzzled, Lu Lie turned around and saw her wincing, holding her nose. He teased, "Chen Shengqiang didn't hit you, did he? Internal injury?"
Zhou Zhaozhao rubbed her nose, finding the pain bearable now. She lowered her hand. "No. I bumped into your back."
Lu Lie gave a lazy "Oh," and muttered with a smirk, "No wonder it itched."
His gaze dropped. Her nose had turned slightly red.
There was a hint of concern in his still-overbearing tone. "You alright?"
Zhou Zhaozhao shook her head quickly. "I'm fine. Doesn't hurt anymore."
Lu Lie gave her a long look before shifting his eyes away. He changed the subject, his tone stern again. "When Chen Shengqiang took a swing at you, why didn't you dodge?"
"It was too sudden. I didn't react in time," she answered truthfully.
"Didn't react?" His expression tightened, voice tinged with sarcasm. "With reflexes like that, you volunteered to question an angry thug? Were you trying to get yourself killed?"
Panicked, Zhou Zhaozhao tried to explain, "No, I was just—"
He cut her off. "What, still think you were right? Do you even realize how dangerous that was?"
She straightened up, eyes meeting his. Realizing her mistake, she said guiltily, "I'm sorry, Captain Lu. I acted recklessly."
"I didn't stop you because I wanted you to learn something the hard way. If you can't read people, you'll get hurt out there."
"I understand." She lowered her head.
Lu Lie looked at her again, eyes sharp.
Her ears flushed crimson.
"Repeat to me what you said to Chen Shengqiang just now."
"Huh?" She looked up, confused by the request.
"I said," he snapped, "repeat exactly what you told Chen Shengqiang."
"Oh," Zhou Zhaozhao raised her voice, "I said: Sir, I'm a police officer. There are a few things we'd like you to help us with."
"Sir? Do you think being polite with someone like him works? He'd listen to that?"
She drew a deep breath, realizing the flaw. "No."
"Talk to people the way they understand. Speak human to humans, devil to devils. Be fiercer than him if he tries to intimidate you. Got it?"
She nodded earnestly. "Got it."
He looked her over, then asked, "Regret joining the field team yet?"
"Not at all!" Her answer was firm, unwavering.
For the first time, Lu Lie's expression softened. He gave a faint snort. "Really?"
"Really," she replied with conviction.
"There'll be more danger on future assignments. I don't ask for much—just remember one thing: if you can win, fight. If you can't, run. Don't play the hero. Your life comes first. Understood?"
"Understood. I'll remember that, sir."
The rain had stopped. Lu Lie allowed a faint smirk, then resumed walking. Zhou Zhaozhao followed at his side.
She said, "Captain Lu, you really know a lot."
He glanced at her. "What did you think? That I got this position for nothing?"
She looked at him cautiously, then offered, "And you saved me too... Captain, you're amazing."
Lu Lie chuckled, voice still low but tinged with pride. "Oh, you've seen nothing yet. You'll have plenty of chances to be impressed."