HH Chapter 43

Pei Qinghuai looked somewhat aggrieved as he tried to turn his head towards Zhang Pingshun, but Zhang Pingshun’s vigilance was still high.

“Don’t move!” Zhang Pingshun shouted into Pei Qinghuai’s ear.

“I’m not moving yet,” Pei Qinghuai replied, “But keep your voice down. Being so close, it’s a bit unbearable.”

As he spoke, his gaze was drawn to an object in the distance. He asked, “What’s that thing?”

Zhang Pingshun’s nerves were still on edge, and he didn’t respond to Cheng Ye’s calls from outside. Instead, following Pei Qinghuai’s question, he looked over.

“You don’t know what that is?” Zhang Pingshun threw out a question.

Pei Qinghuai paused, adjusting his position as best as he could. “I’ve only ever imagined these things. I haven’t seen many in person, that’s why I’m asking you.”

Zhang Pingshun glanced sideways at Pei Qinghuai, who seemed nonchalant and genuinely curious, especially about Zhang Pingshun’s expertise.

The constant tension in Zhang Pingshun’s mind urged him, almost consuming the part of his brain that still held rational thought. He slowly pulled Pei Qinghuai further into the room.

Finally, seizing a few seconds of distraction, Pei Qinghuai grabbed Zhang Pingshun’s knife hand, pulling it away. He ducked out from under the blade, turned, and kneed Zhang Pingshun in the stomach, causing him to drop the knife in pain.

“Get in here!” Pei Qinghuai shouted towards the outside, swiftly pinning Zhang Pingshun’s arm behind his back.

Hearing the commotion, Cheng Ye and his team rushed in, seeing Zhang Pingshun subdued by Pei Qinghuai. Cheng Ye took over, shouting, “Take him away!”

Pei Qinghuai had effectively shut Zhang Pingshun’s last hope. No matter how much Zhang Pingshun yelled, no one paid him any mind. Faced with the evidence, he had no words left.

“Did my words go in one ear and out the other?” Cheng Ye scolded Pei Qinghuai, “I told you not to go, but you still did?”

“He’s a bit twisted in the head. Isn’t it better to handle him with someone equally twisted?” Pei Qinghuai joked with a cough.

“This is no time for jokes,” Cheng Ye retorted. “What if Zhang Pingshun had really retaliated? You wouldn’t even know how you died!”

Pei Qinghuai pursed his lips, glancing around before his eyes settled on Cheng Ye’s. He replied softly, “But I didn’t get hurt.”

“What if you had?” Cheng Ye looked visibly upset. Fang Yuan and Jiang Fei, standing behind, were at a loss for words.

“I was wrong.” Pei Qinghuai took a step back, glancing around again. “We can discuss it when we get back. Staying here is making me uneasy.”

“Yes, let’s go, Captain Cheng.” Fang Yuan interjected, trying to lead Cheng Ye away, “The tech team is still waiting to collect evidence.”

As Fang Yuan led Cheng Ye out, Jiang Fei caught up with Pei Qinghuai, gesturing with his hands. “Mr. Pei, those moves you did were really cool.”

Pei Qinghuai smiled faintly, looking at Cheng Ye, who was still visibly upset. “Don’t try it. You might hurt your back.”

---

Back at the station, Zhang Pingshun’s once-neat hair was now a mess. He sat dazedly on the bench, head down, silent.

For hours, wave after wave of interrogators came, but Zhang Pingshun remained tight-lipped. Ultimately, they had no choice but to wait for the forensic results.

Though not a direct murderer, the accumulation of other charges ensured Zhang Pingshun would spend the rest of his life in prison. On the day he was escorted out, it was only thanks to Fang Yuan and Jiang Fei’s efforts that Gu Qiaolan didn’t tear him apart at the station entrance.

After the Zhang Pingshun incident, the affiliated school’s reputation plummeted. Many parents pulled their children out overnight, carrying bedding and all.

The story dominated the news, and everyone condemned Zhang Pingshun, unaware of the full truth. In the years to come, this story would be remembered for its tragic ending, detached from the harsh reality faced by the victims. People would occasionally feel pity for the victims, but the reality was far more brutal than anyone knew.

A butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest might cause a tornado in Texas weeks later. From Gu Qiaolan to the students and their teacher Liu Lili, each was a small link in a chain of events that led to unimaginable harm.

Though the case was closed, no one felt joyful. A life was needlessly lost, slipping away before their eyes, while the police could only watch helplessly. The world was colder and harsher than they knew, and their efforts often seemed in vain.

The office fell silent until Zhang Yibao wheeled his chair over to Pei Qinghuai. “Mr. Pei, it’s as you suspected. They spliced in a segment of surveillance footage. The original is likely gone for good.”

Pei Qinghuai nodded, rubbing his temple. “Thanks for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing,” Zhang Yibao replied with a smile.

The office returned to its quiet state until Zhang Deli came out with a water cup, surveying the room. “The case is over. You all should rest. You’ve been working non-stop, and it’s unusually quiet here.”

Taking another sip, he added, “Look at the team next door. They solved a major robbery and are still celebrating outside. You’re younger than them, so why look so defeated?”

“Chief Zhang, I…” Cheng Ye began, but Zhang Deli cut him off. “No excuses. Sort it out among yourselves.”

As Zhang Deli left, Cheng Ye sighed and looked at his team. Suddenly, he slammed the table, startling everyone.

“Why so glum? We’re not new to this! We can’t let the other team outshine us!”

With that, he pulled Pei Qinghuai up. “Go home! Get some sleep!”

Fang Yuan rubbed his face and stood up, “The captain’s right. We exist to prevent these things from happening again. If we give up, the criminals win!”

“Here speaks the master of speeches, Fang Yuan,” someone joked, and laughter followed.

“More like the master of hot air,” Zhang Yibao teased while packing up his laptop.