HH Chapter 61

Feng Daqiang nodded, “Ask.”

Pei Qinghuai put his hands in his pockets and asked, “When you killed Chen Mengyao, were you prepared?”

Feng Daqiang opened his mouth, “Didn’t I say it already? I didn’t originally intend to kill Mengyao.”

“Go ahead, I just want to hear it. I’ve already had them turn off the surveillance,” Pei Qinghuai said.

He had long noticed that Feng Daqiang liked to read detective novels, especially those with an old-fashioned style, trying to imitate them but missing the essence. Even his murders were clumsy, let alone his illogical reasoning.

“Really?” Feng Daqiang asked dumbly.

Pei Qinghuai: “What good does it do me to lie to you?”

Feng Daqiang seemed to be considering the truth of Pei Qinghuai’s words, while Pei Qinghuai remained nonchalant, continuing, “Let’s change the question. How did you feel after killing her? I’m quite curious.”

Seeing Feng Daqiang’s half-skeptical expression, Pei Qinghuai was in no hurry.

“Didn’t feel much,” Feng Daqiang said, “Does ‘pretty good’ count?”

Pei Qinghuai gave a slight smile, “It counts.”

“Next question,” Pei Qinghuai said, “What was your mindset when you killed Cheng Xiaoxiao?”

Feng Daqiang seemed to recall the scene from that night, his face showing fierceness, “If I didn’t kill her, she would have called the police.”

Before Pei Qinghuai could ask the next question, Feng Daqiang spoke first, “You’re not a cop, are you?”

Pei Qinghuai’s eyelids moved slightly, a smile playing on his lips, “How do you know?”

At this point, Feng Daqiang seemed to have taken control, leaning back in his chair and thoughtfully scrutinizing Pei Qinghuai, “Just a feeling, you don’t seem like one.”

Then he continued, “You were hired by them, weren’t you?”

Pei Qinghuai found it amusing and said, “You’re right.”

Hearing this confirmation, Feng Daqiang lifted his chin as if to show off his prowess, making Pei Qinghuai laugh. Suddenly, Pei Qinghuai asked, “Do you know whose child Chen Mengyao was carrying?”

“Whose?” Feng Daqiang pulled his chin back, looking at Pei Qinghuai, waiting for an answer. His eyes showed no remorse, just a hint of unfulfilled excitement.

Pei Qinghuai snorted coldly, “It wasn’t your child, that’s for sure.”

Feng Daqiang was momentarily stunned, Pei Qinghuai continued, “Did you really think it was your child? Even if it was, you already stabbed it to death.”

Seeing Feng Daqiang’s elongated face, Pei Qinghuai felt disgusted. He continued, “The child’s father is a thousand times better than you in terms of looks, family background, and wealth.”

He put on an incredulous yet provoking expression, “Did you really think you were something? What did Chen Mengyao like about you? Your refusal to bathe or brush your teeth? Or did you think she liked the little money in your pocket?”

“Mr. Pei sure knows how to talk, I almost want to hit him,” Fang Yuan said, holding back a laugh.

Seeing Feng Daqiang’s face turn green and purple, Pei Qinghuai continued, “Am I not speaking the truth? You’re just trash.”

Feng Daqiang stayed silent, and Pei Qinghuai asked, “Have you studied the law?”

Then, as if he had an epiphany, he added, “Oh, you’re so smart, you should know you’ll be sentenced to death.”

Feng Daqiang sneered, “But I’m sick,” he said quietly. Then his body began to convulse, shaking uncontrollably, his fingers curling tightly together, twisting.

On the other side, Fang Yuan, fearing something might go wrong, turned to go over, but Pei Qinghuai spoke first.

“Didn’t I say I had them turn off the surveillance?” Pei Qinghuai’s eyes widened slightly, “Did you forget?”

Feng Daqiang ignored him, continuing to twist his body.

[How did you feel after killing her? I’m quite curious.]

[I felt nothing, ‘pretty good’ counts, right?]

Pei Qinghuai took out a recording pen from his pocket and pressed play, Feng Daqiang’s voice came out, Pei Qinghuai said, “I told you, lying to you does me no good.”

Finally, Feng Daqiang’s convulsions slowed down, and he turned his head to look at Pei Qinghuai, “Really turned off?”

“Turned off.”

Pei Qinghuai spat out the words, watching Feng Daqiang’s flushed face, then got up and leaned in to whisper something in Feng Daqiang’s ear. As he left the interrogation room, Feng Daqiang’s impotent roar came from inside.

Pei Qinghuai tossed the recording device to Cheng Ye, “Got the recording.”

“Thanks,” Cheng Ye said.

After sending Feng Daqiang away, the police station quieted down a bit. Jiang Fei, sitting on a bench, shivered, “The longer you live, the more types of people you meet. I thought Li He and Tian Mingwei were bizarre enough, but there’s someone even stranger.”

Chen Xiaonuan raised her hand, indicating, “Stop, I’m starting to feel sick.”

Sitting by the window, Zhang Yibao pushed his glasses up and clicked his tongue, “You have to admit, Feng Daqiang had a pretty tragic life.”

He said, “His parents divorced early, he followed his mother to make a living outside, but it wasn’t through legitimate means. His mother worked at an underground club, probably influencing his twisted psyche from a young age.”

Fang Yuan made himself a cup of coffee and clicked his tongue, “The hateful must have their pitiful side.”

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Pei Qinghuai sighed, standing by the window, sipping his coffee.

A person’s lifelong efforts are really about integrating the personality formed since childhood. Feng Daqiang was wrong, but his childhood wasn’t. We can’t judge his evil based on one act, nor forgive him for one good deed.

Everything you do must be based on the law. Once you cross that line, everything you say becomes meaningless.

The next morning, Cheng Ye brought a bouquet to the cemetery in the east. His steps up the stairs seemed heavy. At this time, there weren’t many people around, and the wind felt chilly.

Cheng Ye bent down and placed the flowers in front of a tombstone. Looking at the photo on it, his brow furrowed. The young face in the photo wore a smile.

“Her smile is beautiful, isn’t it?” Suddenly, a voice came from beside him.

Cheng Ye turned and saw Cheng Yuanjun carrying a bag of snacks, “We searched a long time for this photo.”

He bent down and began placing the snacks from the bag on the ground, “She used to love these, but her mom never let her have them. Now that her mom’s not here, I brought them all.”

Cheng Yuanjun hesitated each time before putting down a snack, as if once he let go, he couldn’t get it back, wanting to linger a bit longer.

Cheng Ye stood beside him, hearing his quiet sobs. He clenched his fists, steadying his voice, “We caught the culprit.”

Cheng Yuanjun clenched the snack packaging, slowly placing the last one down. He stood up and looked at Cheng Ye, “Thank you.”

Cheng Yuanjun looked like he had aged decades overnight, his hair now streaked with white. Cheng Ye looked away, speaking softly.

“Sorry.”