"Brother Lei." Xiao Cuo pushed the door open and walked in. I had just drifted off for a nap and was jolted awake by him.

"What is it?" I rubbed my temples, asking with exhaustion etched on my face. I definitely hadn't slept well last night, otherwise I wouldn't be battling drowsiness all day.

"The person is here. Waiting in the interrogation room." As soon as he stepped inside, Xiao Cuo pulled up a chair and sat down, looking utterly worn out. He couldn't help but grumble, "Back when I managed the archives, I was at least an office clerk. I never had to run up and down like this!"

I let out a wry smile and teased him, "Your constitution has been cooped up in the archives too long. If you don't get out and move around, catch some sun, you’ll turn moldy and become stinky tofu!"

"That’s still better than turning into tofu dregs!" Xiao Cuo couldn't help but sigh dramatically.

"That’s all you've got, huh." I wasn't in the mood to entertain him now, merely giving Zhang Jiewei a look. He picked up his things and stood up.

We walked toward the interrogation room together, not exchanging many words on the way.

The moment I pushed open the interrogation room door, a solemn and oppressive atmosphere immediately enveloped me. I walked in step by measured step, my expression deliberately neutral. Zhang Jiewei followed closely behind me; needless to say, his demeanor was far sterner than mine. In this environment, Zhang Jiewei was practically the best tool for applying pressure on the suspect.

The eight large characters—"Confess and be lenient; resist and be severely punished"—hung on the wall flanking the National Emblem, invisibly adding a layer of gravity and solemnity to the entire room.

The man before us was just over forty, wearing black-framed glasses. The eyes beneath the lenses were surprisingly small, yet they constantly emitted sharp glints, creating a stark contrast. He was dressed impeccably in a suit, wearing gleaming alligator leather shoes, casually leaning back with one leg crossed over the other, as if he were waiting not for an inquiry, but for a pleasant date.

Zhang Jiewei and I quietly took seats in front of the man. Although a table separated us, the invisible pressure did not diminish in the slightest.

"What is your name?" I leaned back against the chair, adopting a nonchalant posture as I asked.

"Gu Hengming," he replied just as briskly, mirroring my posture by leaning back casually with his arms crossed over his chest. People like this either had exceptional mental fortitude or treated being here as routine. Otherwise, how could anyone be so composed while being interrogated?

However, the more natural he appeared, the more it fueled my suspicion.

"Do you know why I asked you here?" My tone wasn't harsh, but it subtly exerted pressure on him.

"Isn't it about Ou Jinglan? Your people contacted me yesterday. I wonder what mess she’s stirred up this time." The man named Gu Hengming said this while glancing briefly at Zhang Jiewei beside me.

I caught Zhang Jiewei’s reaction with my peripheral vision. He wasn't taking notes but maintained a constant posture, staring intently at Gu Hengming, scrutinizing him. Judging by Zhang Jiewei’s focus, he wasn't planning to miss a single detail about Gu Hengming, not even the frequency of his eyelashes fluttering.

"You probably don't know yet; we found Ou Jinglan's body on the west suburbs hill yesterday morning. She won't be stirring up any more trouble for you," I stated calmly, my eyes fixed on Gu Hengming just as unblinkingly as Zhang Jiewei's. Every expression that crossed his face was captured by us, including the fleeting flash of surprise and exhilaration when he heard the news of Ou Jinglan’s death.

"A body? She’s dead?" Gu Hengming leaned slightly forward, his eyes wide as he looked at us.

"That’s right, and she was brutally tortured to death. Her head is still missing," I added, though I saw no sign of sorrow on Gu Hengming's face.

"You seem rather pleased to hear of her death?" I asked him bluntly.

"Heh, you could say that." Gu Hengming made no attempt to hide his response, unafraid that we might immediately suspect him of being the killer.

"You're quite honest. Aren't you afraid we'll arrest you as the murderer?" Since he showed no reserve, I decided to get straight to the point.

"What's there to hide? Besides, I trust you aren't stupid enough to think that way. Her contract with the company expires in two months. Even if she was a complete money drain, as long as I don't renew it, she poses no threat to me," Gu Hengming stated dismissively, truly living up to his image as a shrewd, "career-first" man.

"Ou Jinglan was one of your people, wasn't she? Can you really be that heartless?" I couldn't shake the feeling that the relationship between Gu Hengming and Ou Jinglan was more complicated than it seemed.

"I manage plenty of artists. If I got emotionally involved with every one of them, I wouldn't have survived in this industry!" Gu Hengming’s words held a measure of logic.

"Then tell me, just how much do you actually know about Ou Jinglan's background?" I pressed further.

"She worked under me. Of course, I know her background inside and out." Gu Hengming was extremely confident in his professional competence and took his job very seriously.

"Then you know she was born locally, and her parents are both in the city, right?" I naturally steered the questioning in that direction.

"Naturally," Gu Hengming answered proudly without a second thought.

"So, when Ou Jinglan called you five days ago asking for leave, saying she had an urgent family matter back home—you didn't suspect anything? Or are you just lying!" I suddenly sped up my words, raising my voice, and slammed my right fist heavily onto the table, startling the previously relaxed Gu Hengming.

"Well..." A flicker of doubt and panic crossed Gu Hengming’s eyes, but it was instantly replaced by composure and confidence. He spoke unhurriedly, "She just wanted an excuse to skip work. Who knows what game she was playing? Besides, her presence or absence made no difference to me, so why should I call her out on it!"

"Do you realize that because of this very mindset of yours, a vibrant life has been extinguished! And her father passed away suddenly from the shock of this news!" I couldn't stand it anymore, losing control of my temper and venting at a scumbag like Gu Hengming.

"That has nothing to do with me," Gu Hengming was truly heartless, even taking the time to pull out a cigarette and light it, smoking with smug satisfaction.

But when I saw the fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead, I held my tongue and spat out four forceful words: "You are truly cold-blooded!"

Gu Hengming smiled, perhaps a self-mockery, perhaps a derision aimed at me. His face leaned closer to mine, and he blew a smoke ring toward me, saying faintly, "We are all the same, really."

Gu Hengming’s eyes looked strange, no longer indifferent as before, but profoundly serious, as if he were imparting an ancient secret.

"Did Ou Jinglan have anyone in the company who didn't get along with her?" I steered the conversation back, unwilling to continue wasting time with Gu Hengming.

"Too many people didn't get along with her. You should be asking if there was anyone who did get along with her," Gu Hengming still treated my questions lightly, always contradicting me. It was frustrating, but since he wasn't officially a suspect, there was little I could do about him.

"Fine, then. Was there anyone who did get along with her?" I wasn't being led by the nose by this man named Gu Hengming; this was actually what I wanted to know.

"No," Gu Hengming replied instantly. I genuinely wanted to kick him then. "Did she not even have a secret boyfriend?" I pushed further, although the information we had suggested Ou Jinglan was single. Still, who knew if she had a clandestine lover? If so, this supposed underground lover would undoubtedly be another crucial breakthrough point.

"Heh, Officer, I think you read too many gossip magazines," Gu Hengming blew another smoke ring, looking at me with undisguised contempt.

Was I overthinking things?

"What about a close female friend? Surely she didn't lack even a single confidante or best friend?" I refused to believe Ou Jinglan's popularity was that abysmal. How could a person fail to understand basic human relations or social graces, especially when she hadn't even established her career, yet managed to make enemies everywhere?

"None," Gu Hengming's answer remained prompt, maintaining that frustratingly relaxed, unhurried demeanor.

Gu Hengming’s responses surprised me. Just who was this Ou Jinglan? Considering her parents, she should have been a filial daughter. If she could be a successful daughter, how could she lack social skills or savoir-faire?

A flood of questions about Ou Jinglan surged over me, threatening to drown me.

Overall, putting aside Gu Hengming’s attitude, in terms of the interrogation itself, he was quite cooperative. His answers basically gave us nothing solid to hold onto. He came, and he left just like that.

After Gu Hengming departed, Zhang Jiewei and I didn't leave the interrogation room immediately; we continued to discuss him.

"How much of what he said do you believe?" I asked for Zhang Jiewei's opinion. He didn't speak, merely holding up his hand to form the number 'eight' for me.

"Eight-tenths credibility?" That number was far beyond my expectation. Truthfully, I didn't trust that Gu Hengming at all.

"Yesterday, I didn't just contact Gu Hengming; I also spoke with some of Ou Jinglan's colleagues. Their accounts largely align with Gu Hengming's—Ou Jinglan did indeed offend quite a few people, high and low, in the company," Zhang Jiewei stated quietly, his gaze firm.

"Then you should give Gu Hengming a full ten points, and the two points you deducted must be for something else?" I responded with a smile, after all, it wasn't a perfect score. Zhang Jiewei must also harbor significant doubts about Gu Hengming, just like me.

"Because he's off," Zhang Jiewei’s eyes locked onto mine, no longer drifting elsewhere.

"I also feel like he's definitely hiding something from us." I nodded, feeling a strong sense of rapport with Zhang Jiewei, despite our minimal exchange of words.

Zhang Jiewei and I rose simultaneously, preparing to leave the interrogation room, only to find someone had already pushed open the door. Walking toward us was Hong Yang, from the Fourth Team of the Criminal Investigation Unit.

I was about to say, "What a coincidence," when I saw who was behind Hong Yang: Gu Hengming. He hadn't left after all. Following Gu Hengming was Ding Qingyuan, whom I remembered as slightly more agreeable than the others, though he always possessed an unreadable quality.

"What is he doing back here?" Upon seeing Gu Hengming return, I couldn't help blurting out to Hong Yang, then turned to Gu Hengming, "Didn't you just leave?"

"I left, yes, but I had barely reached the police station entrance when I got a call from your esteemed officer, wanting to keep me here for more 'tea time,'" Gu Hengming said, clearly displeased with Hong Yang's actions, but he continued, "Who told me I was born a good citizen? If I hadn't stayed, who knows what trumped-up charges this great officer would have cooked up to drag me back in."

"Mr. Gu, please watch your words," Ding Qingyuan interjected a reminder, glancing at Hong Yang's reaction.

Hong Yang remained impassive, as if he hadn't heard Gu Hengming’s words, only giving me an unfriendly look.

"We have already questioned Mr. Gu Hengming. Please let him go now," I said politely to Hong Yang. From Gu Hengming’s perspective, no one would willingly waste any more time here. Just looking at Gu Hengming’s expression told Zhang Jiewei and me more than half the story.

"It’s not your jurisdiction to interfere with my case," Hong Yang gave me a slightly hostile look, clearly annoyed by my intrusion.

"May I ask what case this is?" I swallowed my rising anger and asked politely, after all, Hong Yang was still part of the police force.

"The dismemberment case of Ou Jinglan and Li Yalian. I forgot to tell you, given the strong connection between the two cases, we have applied to the higher-ups to take over both. So, you won't be needed for these two cases anymore," Hong Yang stared hard at me, his voice rising.

"I apologize, but as long as we haven't received official notice from above, these two cases remain under our responsibility. Zhang Jiewei, escort Mr. Gu out!" Since Hong Yang chose to be impolite first, he couldn't blame me. If I was going to clash with him, it was following orders from our superiors anyway. If any heat came down, Elder Jiang would take it. Why should I fear him?

"Wang Lei, don't be so arrogant. What you're doing is obstructing police work. I have the right to file a complaint with our superiors," Hong Yang’s irritation was palpable now. He fixed me with a somewhat low tone—a clear threat.

"Very well." I nodded to Hong Yang, then turned to Gu Hengming. "Mr. Gu, regarding Ou Jinglan’s case, we still have many points that require your assistance. I must ask you to accompany us to the office for a detailed discussion."

"Gladly! Absolutely no problem!" Having just enjoyed the silent confrontation between Hong Yang and me, Gu Hengming looked eager to watch the show. Now that I was openly challenging Hong Yang over him, he was even more anxious to come with me, lest he fall into Hong Yang’s 'sea of suffering.'

"You've got guts! I’ll make you submit sooner or later!" Hong Yang’s face turned ashen with anger when he saw Gu Hengming side with me and agree to leave with me. For some reason, seeing him like this filled me with exceptional satisfaction.

"I await that day anytime!" I threw those four words at Hong Yang before heading toward the "Special Operations" office, with Gu Hengming wisely following behind me.

That Hong Yang—if I don’t curb his arrogance, he’ll really think I’m a sick cat!

In the end, however, only Zhang Jiewei and I returned to the office. That damned Gu Hengming—I had completely lost the desire to talk to him. The moment we disappeared from Hong Yang’s sight, I let Gu Hengming go. If it weren't to intentionally provoke Hong Yang, I wouldn't have bothered with that cold-blooded man for anything.