HH Chapter 42

Fang Yuan and Jiang Fei exchanged a glance and whispered, “Quite the wild hobby.”

Jiang Fei, twitching his lips and blinking a few times, muttered, “We need to wash our eyes when we get back, seriously.”

While the technical team began collecting evidence, Cheng Ye stood outside the small hidden room, looking at Zhang Pingshun with a cold expression. “Anything you want to explain?”

Zhang Pingshun turned his head away, refusing to meet Cheng Ye’s gaze. “It’s just a personal hobby. Is that something you need to control too?”

His confidence wavered as he spoke, his voice catching in his throat. Cheng Ye, unhurried, said, “Even if you cleaned this place a hundred times, there will still be traces left behind. We’ll wait for the results. I’m in no rush.”

Every word from Cheng Ye felt like needles in Zhang Pingshun’s ears. He stood awkwardly, feeling his heart pound like a malfunctioning faucet spraying blood.

Turning back into the room, Zhang Pingshun seemed to find solace in the dim red light, which masked his shame. He admitted, “I did some unclean things, but I didn’t kill anyone.”

He added, “I know what you’re investigating. I’ll cooperate, but I really didn’t kill anyone.”

Fang Yuan, feeling disgusted by his words, rolled his eyes as he passed Zhang Pingshun, his tone dripping with disdain, “Whether you killed someone or not, you’ll still end up in jail. Don’t you have any sense of what you’ve done?”

Zhang Pingshun stood there, half-open mouthed, words caught in his throat. Everything he had built to elevate himself to a saintly status, to look down on others as subordinates, was crumbling before his eyes.

Unable to bear seeing his cherished possessions handled by others, Zhang Pingshun snapped. He suddenly shouted, “Don’t touch that!” and lunged, shoving a technician to the ground. Grabbing a sharp object resembling an awl, he pressed it against the technician’s neck.

“Get out! All of you, get out! Don’t touch them!” he screamed, his eyes red with fury.

The technician carefully placed the evidence tools down, raising his hands slowly in surrender. Cheng Ye and Fang Yuan immediately became alert, signaling for caution.

“Zhang Pingshun, calm down!” Cheng Ye called out.

Fang Yuan took a step forward, “Zhang Pingshun, think clearly. What you’re doing now is only making things worse for yourself.”

“Don’t move!” Zhang Pingshun shouted at Fang Yuan, pressing the makeshift weapon harder against the technician’s neck, drawing a thin line of blood.

“Alright, alright,” Fang Yuan halted, hands up, eyes fixed on Zhang Pingshun. “I won’t move. Just calm down.”

Zhang Pingshun’s breathing grew rapid, his eyes bloodshot. He hadn’t planned on escaping; he just couldn’t stand seeing his possessions touched by others. As his posture of superiority shattered, he bit his lip, eyes darting around frantically until they landed on Pei Qinghuai standing in the corner.

“You! Come here!” Zhang Pingshun shouted at Pei Qinghuai. “You, over here!”

Knowing he couldn’t escape, Zhang Pingshun’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point. Pei Qinghuai, meeting Zhang Pingshun’s gaze, walked forward without hesitation.

“Don’t go…” Cheng Ye whispered, trying to stop him. “Backup is almost here.”

During this exchange, Zhang Pingshun produced another small knife from somewhere, making everyone freeze in place.

“It’s okay,” Pei Qinghuai reassured softly.

In Zhang Pingshun’s eyes, Pei Qinghuai seemed the easiest target—neither too tall nor too muscular.

“Kneel down,” Zhang Pingshun ordered.

Pei Qinghuai complied, kneeling down just as Zhang Pingshun yanked him close, pressing the knife against Pei Qinghuai’s neck.

“Do you know why I chose you?” Zhang Pingshun’s glasses had fallen off, sweat dripping down his face, abandoning any semblance of a teacher’s dignity.

Pei Qinghuai’s tone was calm, “Probably because I look easy to handle. Or maybe because you want revenge for me exposing you?”

Zhang Pingshun snorted, ignoring Pei Qinghuai’s words but tightening his grip on the knife, which felt cold against Pei Qinghuai’s neck.

“What you’re doing won’t benefit you. Why don’t we talk this through? If you let me go, I can plead on your behalf,” Pei Qinghuai suggested.

Cheng Ye strained to hear, but could catch nothing.

“Shut up!” Zhang Pingshun screamed, glaring at Cheng Ye, wary of any sudden moves. “I’ll tell you this, even if I die here today, you’re coming with me.”

Pei Qinghuai sighed, “Words can have serious consequences. If you do this, you might face the death penalty. You’re not guilty of that yet.”

As the two conversed, Zhang Pingshun’s anger only grew, while Cheng Ye’s brow furrowed in frustration.

“Backup is here. We’re outside,” came a voice through the earpiece. Cheng Ye signaled to the others and spoke.

“Zhang Pingshun, tell us what you need. We can work it out…”

Before he could finish, Zhang Pingshun cut him off, “I don’t want anything! Just leave!”

Zhang Pingshun threw his glasses to the ground, glaring at Cheng Ye, “Go! Get out!”

Cheng Ye signaled for everyone to calm down, slowly stepping back with the team. Outside the study, several officers crouched, ready. With no windows, they needed to lure him out to take a shot.

Inside the room, only Zhang Pingshun and Pei Qinghuai remained. Pei Qinghuai, unusually relaxed for someone held at knifepoint, spoke, “It’s just the two of us now. Let’s talk.”

Zhang Pingshun remained silent. Pei Qinghuai continued, “I didn’t expect you to be into this. There are a lot of things here I’ve never seen.”

At the mention of his collection, Zhang Pingshun’s nerves flickered. “You like this stuff too?” he asked.

Pei Qinghuai lowered his gaze, a slight smile on his lips, “Yeah, something like that. But I’ve never had the chance to try. Could you share some tips?”

Several seconds passed without a word. Pei Qinghuai sighed, “We’re both going to die anyway. Let me hear something exciting before that. You wouldn’t deny me that, would you?”