Newly Bought Phone
At the Municipal Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Team, Captain Ji Jiang listened to Gu Zhiya’s report, somewhat unconvinced.
“You’re saying these two cases were committed by the same person? But didn’t Meng Dawei already confess? He also implicated Zhou Xiaoheng and Zhou Cahui, claiming that because Zhou Xiaoheng owed a huge gambling debt, they planned to kick him out of the company and even send him to the Rehabilitation Center. Zhou Xiaoheng wanted to kill his father to seize control of the company, so he used Meng Dawei. This Meng Dawei was often mocked by Zhou Yaohui because of his sexual orientation, so he harbored deep resentment. His motive is solid, and he confessed clearly to the process of the crimes.”
Ji Jiang pushed his notebook computer over to Gu Zhiya and continued, “The hospital’s surveillance footage is very clear. He Zilu did jump by herself. We found records on her phone of purchases of tungsten carbide and ring molds. That ring was assembled by her one week ago from her own purchases. Because of Yu Song’s arrival, she couldn’t jump at home, so she went to the hospital, where she was forced to undergo various examinations, which definitely made her more agitated. Then, she took advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention and rushed onto the rooftop.”
Gu Zhiya frowned. “Then how do we explain that Yu Song received two phone calls? The second call was even recorded.”
“Maybe someone’s playing a prank. Even if it’s true, what’s so special about Yu Song? Did she provoke someone?”
Ji Jiang flipped through the notes. “Neither of the two calls was made to her. The deceased were all connected to her. No—more precisely, they all bullied her. It’s likely someone’s taking revenge on their behalf.”
Gu Zhiya said, “That’s what I thought at first too.”
Ji Jiang continued analyzing, “If this person is avenging Yu Song, then he should be trying to solve her problems. Yet he called to notify Yu Song to come to the scene. Doesn’t he know that this will make her a suspect and bring even more trouble? It doesn’t make sense.”
He glanced casually at the information on Yu Song’s phone and added, “Of course, anyone who would take such an approach to avenge their beloved isn’t normal—they’re either a pervert or paranoid. Their behavior logic is definitely different from ordinary people. But the question remains: why Yu Song? Why use such an indirect method to avenge her?”
Gu Zhiya knew there were too many suspicious points in this case and shrugged helplessly.
“This is what we need to investigate first. Captain Ji, every clue related to the homicide must be thoroughly verified. But I think we shouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet. The other party isn’t necessarily one of Yu Song’s admirers.”
“Then let’s first investigate her social circle. Dispatch someone to monitor her and wait for the next call.”
Gu Zhiya snorted.
“Her family situation is quite complicated, and her personality is very peculiar. Previously, at the Bath Center, she recognized the plainclothes officers at a glance and even reported the head of an organ trafficking ring. The people around her definitely need to be carefully checked.”
Ji Jiang put down the phone, surprised.
“You’re sending someone to watch her? I knew about that. But how does she know the organ trafficking ring? Could it be that she’s involved?”
He recalled the young girl with green hair, clear-eyed, and thought she didn’t look like someone who sold herself.
Seeing Ji Jiang’s suspicion, Gu Zhiya hurriedly waved his hands.
“No, her mother Song Wenya is a middleman who often drags people into trouble. Guangtou Qiang and Wenya have a close relationship. According to Yu Song herself, he tried to drag her down, but Yu Song drove him off with a few words, then went to Xiao Zhong and Xiao Liu to report Guangtou Qiang, even reminding them not to forget to apply for a reward for her.”
Ji Jiang was even more amazed.
“This girl is no ordinary one. Gu, I think there’s no need to establish a special task force for now. Maybe someone’s just playing tricks. The other party happened to know these two would be in trouble and called Yu Song to notify her, but didn’t expect her to actually show up. Or maybe…”
Seeing Ji Jiang hesitate, Gu Zhiya asked, “Captain Ji, are you afraid this whole thing was staged by Yu Song herself?”
Ji Jiang nodded.
“I don’t rule out that possibility. She could quickly identify plainclothes officers and handle Guangtou Qiang—it doesn’t seem like an ordinary young girl.”
He pointed at Yu Song’s phone.
“Nowadays, many young people suffer from phone anxiety—they feel uncomfortable if they’re without their phone for five minutes. Their phones hold all their secrets. Yet Yu Song calmly left her phone at the Criminal Investigation Team. Does that make sense? Gu, what would a normal girl’s reaction be in such a situation?”
Gu Zhiya’s intuition told him Yu Song wasn’t lying, but Ji Jiang’s analysis made sense—there were too many illogical aspects to Yu Song.
Ji Jiang’s imagination ran wild.
“These two people bullied Yu Song, so maybe Yu Song was monitoring them in some way. After realizing they were in danger, she neither stopped them nor reported to the police. She might even have done something to cause the tragedy, then gone nearby to watch.”
Gu Zhiya subconsciously defended Yu Song, but he had had the same thought before.
Especially serial killers and arsonists—they love to revisit crime scenes, perversely reliving the entire process.
If they meet relatives of the victims or others mourning the dead, they get even more excited because they enjoy witnessing the impact they caused.
It’s like skipping stones on water—the most enjoyable part isn’t the stone flying off, but the ripples it creates.
Ji Jiang added, “Of course, this isn’t a conclusion—just a reasonable hypothesis. She might have used software to make two calls from her own phone to get rid of suspicion. Nowadays, various apps can make anonymous calls, use AI voice changers, or even synthesize voices—it’s all easy. Yet she handed over her phone and shifted all blame to the person who made the calls to prove her innocence.”
Gu Zhiya suddenly remembered that Yu Song said she never celebrated birthdays or Children’s Day.
She was fishing for sympathy, trying to clear her suspicion, placing herself on the side of the weak and righteous, even handing over her phone for them to check freely.
Ji Jiang continued his analysis, convinced Yu Song was crying wolf.
Gu Zhiya was usually decisive, but this time he realized he was too easily influenced by others.
When dealing with Yu Song, he always felt like she was leading him by the nose.
Was she just more skilled, or was he blinded by her appearance?
Now he thought Ji Jiang’s deductions were all extremely reasonable.
“Captain Ji, your analysis fits the facts, but what was Yu Song’s motive? After watching from a close distance, she could have left without trouble. Even if she didn’t mention those two calls, we couldn’t find any evidence linking her to Zhou Yaohui or He Zilu’s deaths. She did go to Jin Hong Hotel, but didn’t do anything. She went to He Zilu’s house, but they hadn’t contacted each other online or in real life for over a month. Captain, after doubting her, we’d still have to release her. Why fabricate a mysterious caller for her?”
“Our suspicion is why she managed to arrive at the scene exactly twice. She can’t explain that with just cleverness. Even if she’s innocent, we’ll monitor her like last time. She exposed the identity of the plainclothes officers at the Bath Center—she’s not easily fooled. So she created a mysterious caller to guide our investigation, while she took the chance to escape.”
Gu Zhiya said, “Makes sense. Looks like there’s no need for a special task force. Captain Ji, how about we split up? I’ll check for this mysterious caller, and you keep an eye on her.”
“Alright, deal.”
Ji Jiang reached out his hand.
Gu Zhiya was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood and gave a high five.
“Gu, do you sympathize with Yu Song so much that you don’t want to investigate her further? A troubled family isn’t her fault, but it affects every aspect of her life. If she were truly innocent and good-hearted, she’d have reported those anonymous calls when she filed the complaint at Jin Hong Hotel.”
Gu Zhiya recalled Yu Song’s casual posture during interrogation, her feet swinging under the table, and was momentarily speechless.
Yu Song didn’t know a task force had been formed, but she once again became the prime suspect.
She thought Gu Zhiya was easier to control than the male lead and more decisive.
Once he said he’d form a task force, she believed him.
What Yu Song didn’t know was that while she slept, Ji Jiang’s spotlight was shining brightly in the Criminal Investigation Team’s office.
The next morning, after getting up, Yu Song changed into running shoes and prepared to go exercise in the park opposite her place.
Her physical fitness was too poor; if someone really came looking for her, she might not even be able to run away.
When she returned from running, she found fried dough sticks, soy milk, tea eggs on the dining table, all wrapped in plastic bags, obviously bought from downstairs breakfast.
After a day of turmoil yesterday, she was hungry.
Seeing the fried dough sticks still crisp, she sat down and started eating.
The freshly cleaned living room was already messy again; things in the corners had been knocked over, strewn about.
On the tea table sat half-eaten watermelon with a cigarette butt on top.
Yu Song didn’t know whether there had been another fight upstairs or downstairs yesterday.
Anyway, Song Wenya and Yu Daqiang definitely wouldn’t move easily.
She had nothing to cling to and had to move out soon to avoid constant quarrels every few days.
Just then, the master bedroom door opened, and Yu Daqiang peeked out.
Seeing Yu Song, he smiled and said, “Song Song, you’re up? Your mom went shopping with her friends. I specially went downstairs to buy your favorite fried dough sticks.”
Yu Song saw he no longer glared at her, so she knew he had adjusted his attitude.
She finished chewing and said, “You won’t poison me, right? What was that saying… ‘Only the dead can keep secrets’?”
Yu Daqiang sat beside her affectionately, laughing heartily, “Ha ha ha, you kid love to joke. You’re my own daughter. Besides, I’m not the type to kill people. Song Song, I don’t even dare to kill fish, how could I kill someone? Your aunt went abroad, don’t listen to your mom’s nonsense.”
Old unsolved cases have no evidence, so reporting them is useless.
For now, Yu Song didn’t plan to bother with him.
She glanced at her backup phone.
“Dad, after school starts, we’ll need to shoot microfilms with phones. I’m thinking of going to the mall to get a new phone. Can you sponsor me a bit?”
Accounting majors don’t have film courses, but Yu Daqiang didn’t even know what she was studying.
When Yu Song mentioned a new phone, he immediately understood she was asking for hush money.
Being asked for hush money by one’s own child was humiliating, but this solution was acceptable.
Yu Daqiang grabbed a fried dough stick and casually asked, “How much? I’ll buy it for you.”
Yu Song boldly replied, “Around twenty to thirty thousand!”
“Huh? What phone costs twenty to thirty thousand?”
Yu Daqiang almost spat out his food.
He hiccupped, placed the fried dough stick on the table, and still generously said, “Thirty thousand?
That’s just a gimmick.
Wait until the price drops to half, then I’ll buy you a secondhand one.
Why do you need such an expensive phone when you’re poor?”
“Poor?”
Yu Song hated this label.
Although the words ‘poor’ couldn’t hurt her, the original owner would feel utterly humiliated every time she heard it.
“It’s a professional photography phone. I’ll use it later, not just once.”
Her eyes showed some light.
“Dad, you go out every day and bring in over two hundred and fifty thousand. You can’t even spare twenty or thirty thousand?”
Yu Daqiang really couldn’t afford it.
Neither he nor Song Wenya had steady jobs.
They were always trying to make quick money from get-rich-quick schemes.
Make a little money on the side, spend it quickly, then come back to mooch food or favors.
Seeing his difficulty, Yu Song generously said, “Forget it, I’ll find a way myself. Mom asked me to report my grandfather. His bonus must be at least ten thousand.”
The mention of reporting made Yu Daqiang’s heart skip a beat.
“You’re learning bad habits from your mom. That’s extortion.”
“My funds are tight now—only about eight thousand.
I’ll give it all to you.
Let’s buy a secondhand one or a slightly lower-end one.
When Dad earns more, I’ll get the best and most expensive camera phone.”
Yu Song reluctantly nodded.
“Okay, sigh, who asked me to be born in your family? Dad, can you earn a bit more and not always make me use secondhand stuff?”