Xiao Xun faced four police officers: two for interrogation, one for computer records, and one for written notes.
Two video cameras filmed the interrogation scene, one in front and one behind. Even at the entrance stood two "internal guards," suggesting he would be detained after the interrogation.
The leading officer stated, "We now have a complete chain of evidence indicating you are a major suspect in the murder of your assistant, Lei Wenxiu..."
Xiao Xun, unaccustomed to such a situation, tried to stand up before the police finished asking, but he was fixed in the interrogation chair and couldn't move. "I didn't kill anyone, and I have alibis and witnesses..."
The leading police officer raised his hand, interrupting Xiao Xun, "I ask you, the night before last, or rather, yesterday morning, between two and five AM, where were you?"
Xiao Xun fell into recollection. Last night, he was in another world. The night before, he hadn't gone anywhere because he was looking for the person threatening him, and then...
He suddenly remembered, "I had dinner with my old classmate Zhang Ming that night, and we drank a lot. He's also in your system, and he can testify for me."
"Zhang Ming was drunk that day. Surveillance shows you left the restaurant with him at two AM. Where did you drive alone after leaving the restaurant?"
Xiao Xun waved his hand, "Impossible. No matter the circumstances, I never drive after drinking."
The leading police officer took out a stack of photos. "Although it's always said on television, I still want to tell you about our country's policy: confess and be treated leniently; resist and be punished severely."
"I've told you everything I know, and I said it in the police car that I have alibis and witnesses."
The police officer frowned and slammed his pen down. "I've given you more than one chance. If you confess now, we'll consider it a voluntary surrender, and your sentence can be taken into consideration. If you continue to resist, we can only transfer you directly to the court."
Xiao Xun looked into the officer's eyes, certain he hadn't killed anyone, so there was nothing to confess. "I didn't kill anyone, so what is there to confess! You are attempting to elicit a confession; I will report you to the supervisory department."
The officer stood up directly, walked in front of Xiao Xun, and pointed to his badge. "You are welcome to report me, but now, please look at the photos above and recall carefully." With that, he slapped the photos onto the small table in front of Xiao Xun.
Xiao Xun picked up the photos. These were evidence photos taken by the criminal investigation team: the murder weapon, the scene where the body was found, collected fingerprints, bloodstains...
Facing the complete chain of evidence, the officer asked, "How is it? Do you recognize any of this?"
Xiao Xun frowned. "No, definitely not. This has nothing to do with me! Besides, I had no motive to kill her!"
"What if she knew your important secret, and you killed her to protect it..."
Before the police officer could finish, Xiao Xun said decisively, "Impossible. I don't have secrets."
The interrogating officer said, "Since you have no secrets, why did you go to Yue Sheng Hotel late at night?"
"That's because Lei Wenxiu was a corporate spy for Jing Ji Group, and I caught her. So, she asked me to meet her at the hotel to clarify the matter."
After saying this, Xiao Xun himself felt the loophole. "By the way, I had barely entered when her boyfriend arrived and tried to extort me."
"Do you have any evidence for this?"
Xiao Xun nodded vigorously. "Yes, it's on my phone. I can show you."
The officer helped him take out his phone, but to his surprise, it had automatically shut down and couldn't be turned on at all, not even showing the normal startup screen.
Xiao Xun found himself unable to explain. The police then produced the fingerprint comparison report, the autopsy report, and screenshots of the road surveillance showing Xiao Xun driving himself that early morning.
Xiao Xun fell into deep thought. "After drinking with Zhang Ming that night, I found a designated driver. I fell asleep as soon as I got in the car. But when I vaguely opened my eyes, I realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be, and there was no one around. That designated driver had already disappeared, so I had to drive home myself."
"Who was the designated driver you found? Do you have any platform order records?"
"Yes!" Xiao Xun exclaimed, as if he had grasped a lifeline. That designated driver was his only hope. If he couldn't be found, his suspicion of murder would be solidified.
The police officer took out his phone and asked Xiao Xun which ride-hailing platform he used. Xiao Xun thought for a long time but couldn't recall.
Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table of the interrogation chair. If he could reach his face, he would have slapped himself twice.
"I was looking for a bargain, so I called the designated driver's number directly from a telephone pole advertisement."
The police officer was still lenient. "It's fine if you can find the call records; we will verify them."
Xiao Xun thought, "That was the only call I made at that time. If it hasn't been deleted, the designated driver's number is on the community bulletin board to the right of the police dormitory exit."
"Rest assured, we will never wrongly accuse any good person, nor will we let any bad person go. The chain of evidence is now particularly sufficient and complete. Transferring you to the court would be enough to convict you. Do you know why I haven't done that?"
Facing the officer's question, Xiao Xun shook his head. "Because you gave someone else a chance once, so I'm willing to give you one."
Xiao Xun couldn't remember who he was referring to, but he always believed in showing mercy where possible, and in anything other than games, he never went for the kill.
The call records were found. There was indeed a call, but when dialed, it turned out to be a disconnected number.
Xiao Xun excitedly pointed at the phone. "See, this person definitely has something to hide. After framing me, he directly canceled the number. Otherwise, why would I call a disconnected number in the middle of the night?"
Finding a breakthrough, the investigation team began to focus on this disconnected number. This was not only the intention of the criminal investigation captain but also a special instruction from higher-ups.
However, Xiao Xun was now a criminal suspect, so he had to go to the detention center.
After all his personal belongings were confiscated, he put on an orange vest, received toiletries, and was sent into the "cell." The inmates, seeing the guard come in, all squatted obediently on the ground. Only after the iron gate was closed did they stare menacingly at the "newcomer."
During the day, it was fine, but at night, Xiao Xun couldn't sleep. He had to stay by the toilet, and the "big shot" inside had been told by the guard that Xiao Xun must confess within three days, or he would be moved to a different place.
The "big shot," looking at the frail Xiao Xun, deemed him a "softie."
He readily agreed, promising a performance that night, and if unsatisfied, Xiao Xun would "drink the soil" (a form of torture).
The guard in charge of them warned the "big shot" not to go too far, as more than one leader had instructed him to give Xiao Xun special attention, though this attention had two different meanings.
The "big shot" was also in a difficult position and could only choose to have the "big oil" in the cell deal with it quickly, preferably before the notice from above arrived, completing the task. By then, it would be too late to do anything.
As night fell, the unique "life" inside the detention center was just beginning.