HH Chapter 60

After the police cars had driven away, Pei Qinghuai came running from a distance, panting heavily. He bent over, frowning, and asked, “Why did you guys run so fast?”

Cheng Ye looked into the distance, then turned to pat Pei Qinghuai on the shoulder. “You need to work on your fitness. You can’t be this weak.”

Pei Qinghuai swatted Cheng Ye’s hand away and caught his breath, retorting, “You’re the one who’s weak.”

Cheng Ye stretched and yawned. “Well, at least we didn’t wait in vain these past few days. Time to head back and interrogate him.”

The police car sirens tore through the night as Feng Daqiang sat inside, futilely trying to resist. His face twisted as if he were gravely wronged. “Why are you arresting me? I did nothing wrong. Why are you arresting me?” he demanded.

“Shut up!” the officers on either side of him ordered.

It wasn’t until they reached the police station that Feng Daqiang finally quieted down.

“Out of the car!”

Obediently, Feng Daqiang poked his head out and stepped out of the car.

---

Ten minutes later, Cheng Ye and the others returned. Feng Daqiang sat in the interrogation room, staring blankly ahead, seemingly lost in thought.

“Feng Daqiang, tell us what happened,” Fang Yuan said, tossing the documents onto the table.

Feng Daqiang’s vacant gaze shifted to Fang Yuan. He sneered, “I did nothing wrong. It’s not my fault.”

Fang Yuan slammed the table, shouting, “Speak properly!”

“Did you kill Chen Mengyao?” Cheng Ye asked.

Feng Daqiang lowered his head, his voice heavy. “Yes, I killed her.”

“What about Cheng Xiaoxiao?” Cheng Ye continued.

Feng Daqiang’s head stopped moving, and he slowly looked up at Cheng Ye. “Who is she? I don’t know her.”

Cheng Ye pursed his lips and pushed a photo of Cheng Xiaoxiao in front of Feng Daqiang. Recognition dawned on his face.

“Oh, I remember her,” Feng Daqiang said nonchalantly. “She fought pretty hard that night.”

Cheng Ye restrained his rising anger, asking through gritted teeth, “Why did you kill them?”

Feng Daqiang shifted in his seat, saying, “I didn’t intend to harm Cheng Xiaoxiao. She ran into me herself.” He sighed impatiently. “As for Mengyao, I didn’t plan to kill her either, but she kept calling out another man’s name. How could I tolerate that?”

---

In the adjacent room, Zhang Yibao watched the interrogation on the monitor, perplexed. “Feng Daqiang has no criminal record. He was a dog meat seller in Fengjia Village. How can he remain so calm after committing murder?”

Pei Qinghuai, leaning on the table, stared at Feng Daqiang in the interrogation room. “He’s probably imagined this scenario thousands of times in his head.”

Cheng Ye, seething with anger, said, “Did you know Chen Mengyao was three months pregnant?”

“Pregnant?” Feng Daqiang’s eyes lit up with a disturbing excitement. “Whose child was it? Was it mine?”

Pei Qinghuai and Feng Daqiang almost spoke simultaneously, but Pei Qinghuai bit down on his molars, taking a deep breath.

Feng Daqiang was an extremely arrogant and self-absorbed individual, far beyond redemption. He believed any woman who glanced at him was infatuated with him. Unmarried, his repressed desires built up, leading to violent outbursts. His lack of education and recklessness—leaving his DNA openly—might seem like a challenge to the police, but it was sheer stupidity.

Pei Qinghuai’s years of experience allowed him to predict Feng Daqiang’s thoughts easily. He left the room, feeling Cheng Ye’s and Fang Yuan’s skepticism about Feng Daqiang’s mental state.

“Step out for a moment,” Pei Qinghuai said, looking at Cheng Ye and Fang Yuan. “And turn off the surveillance.”

Both men hesitated, with Cheng Ye pulling Pei Qinghuai aside. “As police officers, we can’t use violence. If you need to ask something, let me do it.”

Fang Yuan also urged, “Yes, Pei, even we can hold back. You can too.”

Seeing the two most hot-tempered officers advising him to stay calm amused Pei Qinghuai. “I won’t hit him,” he said, suppressing a smile.

“Then why turn off the cameras?” Cheng Ye asked.

“I don’t want him faking insanity and leaving evidence,” Pei Qinghuai replied.

“Smart thinking,” Fang Yuan commented. “What are you planning?”

Pei Qinghuai shrugged and opened the door, smiling. “I’ll say things that make him doubt his own sanity.”

Violence and rage only punished oneself. Pei Qinghuai’s method was to make Feng Daqiang squirm psychologically.

Pei Qinghuai dragged a chair to sit opposite Feng Daqiang, silently staring at him. Feng Daqiang initially found this amusing but soon felt the intensity of Pei Qinghuai’s gaze.

“Why are you staring at me?” Feng Daqiang finally asked.

“Who’s staring at you?” Pei Qinghuai retorted. “I’m just zoning out. Don’t flatter yourself.”

Feng Daqiang, agitated, tugged at his handcuffs. “Who are you calling self-centered?”

“Not naming names, just stating facts,” Pei Qinghuai said, lounging back. “Do you like the officer you met today?”

The noise ceased as Feng Daqiang pondered. “What do you mean?”

“Do you want to see her again?”

Feng Daqiang nodded thoughtfully. In the other room, Fang Yuan held back Chen Xiaonuan.

“Stay calm, Officer Chen,” Fang Yuan said. “It’s all for the case.”

Chen Xiaonuan took a deep breath, adjusting her clothes and glaring into the interrogation room.

“Then answer a few questions,” Pei Qinghuai continued.