Chapter 196: 107. How many people use love as an excuse to hurt (First Update)
At the same time.
Police station. Interrogation room.
Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang sat across from Jack, separated by a table.
Jack leaned back against his chair, distancing himself from the table, his gaze defiant: "Officers, I’ve already confessed. What more do you want? What else do you need to ask?"
Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang exchanged a glance.
Guan Liang then turned the laptop around, directing the screen toward Jack: "These were found on your personal computer."
Jack squinted: "That’s right, I stored them on my computer, so what?"
The laptop screen displayed several posts made by "Han Haoniao" on a forum.
"The document opening records show you frequently read these articles. Where did you get these articles from?"
When it came to computers and network technology, Guan Liang seemed like a different person, no longer the newbie with a pale face in the morgue. Now, Guan Liang was mature, calm, and wise.
Jack laughed exaggeratedly: "So what? These articles have no copyright notice, and I haven’t infringed on anyone’s rights. Officer, why so serious?"
Jia Tianzi gently pressed down on Guan Liang’s hand, smiling affably: "Don’t worry, we’re just casually chatting."
"Casually chatting?" Jack shrugged: "If it’s just casual chat, then forget it. Talking about this has no benefit for my case."
He leaned forward, his face originally shy, now showing shadows in the light: "Unless, you can plead for me with the judge because of this, otherwise why should I speak?"
Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang exchanged a glance, remembering what Tang Yanqing mentioned in the morning, when discussing the Spicy Girl logging into the forum:
"Among these people, perhaps only Jack, whose crime is most clear, is relatively innocent."
Jia Tianzi nodded: "What you say today will help us with the investigation. I promise, as long as what you say is true, Guan Sir and I will plead for you with the judge."
Jack finally smiled with satisfaction, pressing against the table: "These were all from Zhou Ping. She said these were written by Zhou Guanghan, and at that time, S was very into Zhou Guanghan. Zhou Ping told me to really look at these articles, maybe I could learn a thing or two from Zhou Guanghan and attract S."
Jack squinted, dazzled by the bright white light, recalling the shock he felt when he first saw these articles. The articles were intense and bold in language, saturated with emotions and aggressive, all centered around the topic of Tong’s wife.
However, the logic within the articles sometimes appeared contradictory, leaving one questioning the author’s stance. Even within the same article, contradictory views emerged - often starting with an objective discussion about the plight of Asian girls turning into child brides, expressing indignation and sympathy... but then shifting in the opposite direction, becoming obsessed with discussing how shy, beautiful, and - entertaining, those girls were.
If Zhou Ping hadn’t mentioned it, Jack would never have believed Zhou Guanghan had written those articles. Normally, Zhou Guanghan was a typical Eastern gentleman to Jack, reserved and elegant, with speech and actions adhering to norms; wealthy family background allowing him a composed attitude.
— Completely different from the man depicted in the articles.
"Later, Zhou Ping told me that when Zhou Guanghan wrote these posts, he was taking drugs while writing. The first half of the articles, he was just beginning to ingest, so his perspective was still relatively objective; but by the latter half, the drug effects kicked in, showing him in his high state."
Jack recalled the initial shock upon reading those articles, yet gradually, strangely - he became addicted to the distortions and intensity reflected in them.
That feeling - perhaps similar to how Zhou Guanghan and S felt about Spirit Mushroom? Clearly knowing it was poison, knowing they shouldn’t get close, yet even more attracted by the strange halo, step by step approaching, step by step falling. Ultimately, losing their lives.
Jack snorted, as if having withdrawal symptoms, feeling his nose running.
"Zhou Ping said what Zhou Guanghan liked, S liked too. Except they’re different genders, Zhou Guanghan liked shy, quiet girls, and S liked shy, quiet boys... Zhou Ping patted my shoulder, encouraging me, saying ’Look, you’re her type. Don’t be scared of her, keep liking her. As long as you persist, she’ll eventually be yours.’"
Jack laughed: "If it weren’t for Zhou Ping’s constant encouragement, I might have given up due to my own insecurities long ago. Thanks to Zhou Ping, I finally got S..."
He laughed insanely, spreading his arms: "Do you understand? That night, I held her, I caressed her, I ended her life with my hands. She was mine, she always will be mine. She’s only mine..."
Guan Liang’s fingers flew as he recorded every word of Jack’s confession in detail. Printed, and handed over for Jack to sign and confirm.
Jack stopped snorting, grabbed the pen, and looked up at the two officers: "I have no problem signing, but you both need to first sign to confirm what you promised me earlier."
Jia Tianzi’s gaze was cold: "Whatever we promised you, we will fulfill."
There was a moment when he regretted promising Jack earlier. Jack was completely "indoctrinated," initially somewhat innocent, but now fully a mature criminal.
.
Jia Tianzi immediately called Tang Yanqing.
Tang Yanqing looked at Shi Nian, "Emperor, I turned on the speakerphone."
Jia Tianzi choked. Such an important matter, why use speakerphone? For whom to listen?
But he hesitated only briefly before tentatively asking, "Are you at school now?"
Tang Yanqing laughed and teasingly glanced at Shi Nian: "Yes, you’re right. I turned on the speakerphone for her."
Jia Tianzi finally breathed a sigh of relief, luckily not saying anything else much. He greeted through the phone: "Hi, Mr. Shi, I miss you~"
Tang Yanqing immediately rolled his eyes: "Did you call just for ’phone love talk’? Do you want me to find the song for you as background music?"
Jia Tianzi raised an eyebrow amidst the overwhelming teasing coming through the phone line.
"May I ask Mr. Shi, did Professor T have sweet and sour ribs, or stir-fried cabbage for lunch today?"
Shi Nian innocently, having not said a word, not wanting to disrupt the two officers discussing work, but they both wouldn’t let her go, each mentioning her in their conversation. Her face blushed to her ears as she curled in the sofa corner, unsure whether responding or continuing to pretend she’s not present was wiser.
Feeling cornered, luckily Jia Tianzi knew to leave himself a way out and quickly switched to business: "Alright, greetings done. Let’s talk business."
Jia Tianzi then recounted Jack’s confession, "Young Master, Guan Liang should have already sent the electronic version to your phone. You can check the text now."
Tang Yanqing lowered his head, scrolling through the phone screen, his expression gradually growing serious.
Jia Tianzi said: "At least it confirms your deduction: Zhou Ping is the informant; and Jack’s criminal desire can be seen as cultivated by Zhou Ping over time."
Shi Nian was stunned.
Despite growing suspicion toward Spicy Girl, she truly didn’t expect her to do so much. Nor did she think Jack’s criminal desire was actually incited by Spicy Girl.
On the mobile side, Guan Liang couldn’t help but squeeze over and ask: "Can we arrest Zhou Ping now?"
Tang Yanqing decisively denied: "No, arresting her is useless. At most, only talk to her. From a legal standpoint, she’s not guilty."
Shi Nian frowned: Indeed, counting what Spicy Girl did, she merely logged onto a site, downloaded several posts for Jack to read; then repeatedly emphasized to Jack that S liked his type, continuously reinforced Jack’s infatuation with S... Though it ultimately resulted in Jack’s distortion and murder, her actions are legally beyond reproach.
Similarly, Sean to some extent also acted due to her, leading to resentment and intent to kill Zhou Guanghan... yet legally, she remains exonerated.
Vaguely, she seemed linked to each case, yet on legal grounds held no responsibility. Like an elusive existence able to hover in the air, like a master of stealth.
"That’s too lenient for her!" Guan Liang frustratingly shouted over the phone.
Tang Yanqing slowly narrowed his eyes: "True scoundrels who want to kill never need to do it themselves. The laws of this world are made by humans, thereby some can find loopholes and escape justice. To them, slaughter is just a level-challenge game."
Guan Liang fell silent, while Shi Nian raised her eyes.
"Sometimes what laws can’t achieve, journalists like us can."
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[Second update later]