HH Chapter 49

“Such a pervert,” Chen Xiaonuan said.

“There’s something even more perverse,” Yan Ya, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “Chen Mengyao was already three months pregnant.”

“What?” Fang Yuan was shocked. “Such a beast, how could he do that?”

“I don’t dare tell Gao Yuan, fearing he won’t be able to handle it mentally,” Yan Ya continued. “The victim Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t suffer much; she was killed with two quick stabs. But Chen Mengyao wasn’t so lucky.”

“I found traces of paraffin, propylene glycol, and triethanolamine in Chen Mengyao’s mouth and genitals. These are components of lubricants usually found in…” Yan Ya paused, “in condoms.”

“I also found some substances under the victim’s fingernails, which are currently being analyzed,” Yan Ya added. “The killer was meticulous, leaving no trace behind. The method was practiced—rape first, then murder, without hesitation.”

“It’s clear now that Cheng Xiaoxiao was indeed collateral damage,” Cheng Ye muttered. Then he asked, “Where are Cheng Xiaoxiao’s family members now?”

“They’ve just arrived in the city,” Zhang Yibao answered. “By the way, Cheng Xiaoxiao’s father, Cheng Ye, you should know him.”

Cheng Ye was taken aback. “Who?”

Zhang Yibao looked down. “Cheng Yuanjun, Professor Cheng.”

Cheng Ye’s expression froze. He stared at Cheng Xiaoxiao’s photo on the screen. No wonder her features had seemed familiar; now Zhang Yibao’s words made sense.

Cheng Yuanjun had been his instructor at the police academy and a retired soldier. Cheng Ye’s thumb rubbed his left knuckle, his face contorting with distress. After a moment, he took a deep breath to steady himself before speaking in a controlled voice, “Any other clues?”

“I learned from Gao Yuan that there’s someone who lives in the same neighborhood and works at Chen Mengyao’s school, though their relationship wasn’t good. His name is Li Cheng,” Zhang Yibao said.

“Investigate him,” Cheng Ye ordered.

“Got it,” Zhang Yibao replied.

The meeting ended, leaving Cheng Ye alone, lost in thought.

“What’s the connection between Professor Cheng and Cheng Ye?” Pei Qinghuai asked out of curiosity, as Cheng Yuanjun’s name was well-known at the police academy.

“Ah…” Zhang Yibao sighed. “Cheng Ye had a conflict with some outsiders while at the academy. The school intended to expel him, but only Professor Cheng pleaded with the authorities to let him stay. Since then, they’ve been like brothers. After graduation, they lost touch due to work commitments.”

Pei Qinghuai observed Cheng Ye through the meeting room window and decided to check on him. He opened the door and sat across from Cheng Ye. “Are you thinking about how to explain this to Cheng Xiaoxiao’s family?”

Cheng Ye glanced at Pei Qinghuai and then looked down again, nodding. “I don’t know how to face them.”

“You’re a police officer, and they are the family. Just present the facts,” Pei Qinghuai said calmly.

“It’s not the same!” Cheng Ye’s voice rose as he looked at Pei Qinghuai.

“What’s different?” Pei Qinghuai asked, pausing before adding, “Is it because they’re people you know?”

Cheng Ye argued, “What if it were your brother’s child who died? How would you feel? How would you face him?”

Pei Qinghuai’s expression remained unchanged. He responded quietly, “I would inevitably feel sadness and regret, but as a police officer, I would do what needs to be done: inform the family and then catch the perpetrator.”

Cheng Ye found himself conflicted, unsure whether to label Pei Qinghuai as heartless or unemotional. He knew Pei Qinghuai wasn’t that kind of person. Logic and emotion wrestled in his mind, but ultimately, logic prevailed.

He lowered his head, saying nothing more.

After a few moments of silence, Pei Qinghuai began speaking slowly, as if recalling something, “Do you remember the female corpse with butterflies case? I told you the victim was my sister.”

Cheng Ye looked up as Pei Qinghuai continued, “My parents died early, and I grew up with my sister. When she died, I was at the scene, but I didn’t show any sadness or emotion. After the site investigation, Director Zhang called me to his office.”

Pei Qinghuai chuckled softly. “Director Zhang is usually the most composed in the team, but that day he was sweating bullets, bringing in several doctors to check on me. I was young then, and Director Zhang treated me like his own child, afraid I’d suffered a shock.”

“They found nothing wrong with me, but Director Zhang almost lost his mind, thinking I had to cry or scream to prove I was okay. Since then, people have called me a cold-blooded monster behind my back, among other things.”

“My sister was well-known; she often brought food for me and the team. After this, I left the case and returned to school. A week later, I finally cried in my dorm when no one was around.”

“We are police officers. During an investigation, we cannot let personal emotions interfere. This is easy to say but hard to do. If you were the family in this case and saw the police disheartened or acting rashly, wouldn’t you feel even more hopeless?”

“We are the people’s police. Everything we do is to give victims and their families answers,” Pei Qinghuai said, looking into Cheng Ye’s eyes.

“I’m not giving you a motivational speech; these things don’t exist. Uncertainty is the only certainty in our lives. This might happen again. Doing our job is what we must focus on now.”

Cheng Ye exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair and looking at the glaring light above. “You psychologists really know how to talk.”