I'm not a genius detective

Chapter 136 Son, confess your sins
The relationship between men and women is a popular topic of conversation. Compared to Ma Chen, the graceful college student Ren Yi stands out as exceptionally outstanding.

From a purely personal standpoint, Ren Yi is the kind of person Ma Chen can only admire from afar and is difficult to reach.

One of them had never been to school, while the other was a graduate student at Qingchang University. The difference was obvious, and it was unlikely that the two would have any romantic connection.

Over the years, has Ma Chen ever had any romantic feelings for Ren Yi?
Ji Bowei judged that it was very likely.

If Ma Chen's sexual orientation is normal, he must have felt emotionally attracted, which may be one of his motives for committing the crime.

Assuming Ma Chen likes Ren Yi, then killing Du Juncai would bring him four benefits.

First, subjectively, he avenged Ren Yi's mother.

He believed in repaying kindness tenfold. As a child, he had eaten Ren's family's steamed buns for free. Now, because Du Juncai's act of stealing the scholarship "caused" the death of Ren Yi's mother, he wanted to kill Du Juncai.

Secondly, he helped Ren Yi.

Ren Yi also wanted revenge. He liked Ren Yi, so it was only natural that the two sides reached a cooperation agreement.

Third, he killed Ren Yi's boyfriend to vent his personal anger.

Du Juncai was still Ren Yi's boyfriend until the day he died. Ma Chen felt envious and jealous, and developed negative feelings towards Du Juncai.

Fourth, indiscriminate revenge against society.

He wanted to vent the suffering he had endured on others. Du Juncai's family was wealthy, and he himself was admitted to Qingchang University, where he excelled and became a prominent figure among the students.

Killing and destroying such people gave Ma Chen an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

I'm not doing well, and I can't stand seeing others do well either.

In this case, Ma Chen clearly had multiple motives, just like Li Hui, one of the murderers in the previous Hou Jiarou case.

One of the motives alone might not have led Ma Chen and Li Hui to commit murder, but when all of them are put together, the quantitative change leads to the qualitative change.

"I like her," Ma Chen readily admitted. "Who wouldn't like someone as outstanding as her? But I'm not good enough for her."

Ji Bowei said, "It's understandable. There are many people who like Ren Yi in college. Lü Zhanpeng is one, and Du Juncai is another. She ultimately chose Du Juncai."

It seems that in the eyes of college girls, guys like Du Juncai, with his strong social skills, are more attractive.

“That’s because…” Ma Chen stopped mid-sentence, realizing his mistake.

Ji Bowei pressed further: "Why?"

Ma Chen shrugged: "It's nothing, I was just thinking about something else."

Ji Bowei: "Let me explain. It's because Ren Yi wanted to kill Du Juncai, so she agreed to be with him. As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' She could only find a better opportunity to strike if she got close to Du Juncai."

However, she hasn't taken any action in over two years, perhaps because she hasn't mentally prepared herself and mustered the courage, or perhaps because she hasn't found a foolproof opportunity.

Ma Chen: "Say whatever you want."

Ji Bowei: "Ren Yi probably didn't promise you... that she would be your girlfriend after it's all over, right?"

You can't tell if a girl is attractive or not just by looking at her.

Whether Ma Chen killed Du Juncai voluntarily or was misled by Ren Yi is hard to say.

"Hehe." Ma Chen laughed. "How could I be qualified to be her boyfriend? You're overthinking it."

Judging from his tone and attitude, he's another sycophant, much like Lü Zhanpeng.

Ji Bowei: "To be honest, you still have a chance. There are four suspects involved in this case. Even if you don't say it, others will. Confessing and repenting can lead to leniency."

"If we wait until the death penalty is carried out immediately, it will be too late."

Ma Chen shook his head: "I'm telling the truth. I killed Du Juncai. I didn't cooperate with anyone."

While Ji Bowei was interrogating Ma Chen, Hu Lihui led a group to the detention center and first interrogated Pan Xia.

Pan Xia was used as a breakthrough point before, and she still is now.

She has a weakness.

People with weaknesses are more easily breached psychologically.

"Why did you enter and exit Ping An Garden through the broken fence?" The police have asked this question countless times.

After a few days in the detention center, Pan Xia was somewhat listless, her hair disheveled. She said, "I just wandered around aimlessly, I didn't do anything."

Hu Lihui looked at her: "Pan Xia, it's all over."

Pan Xia looked up slightly: "What's over?"

Hu Lihui: "We have arrested Ma Chen. If you haven't heard of this name, I can tell you that he is the murderer who killed Du Juncai."

Upon hearing this, Pan Xia's expression immediately changed, and she became visibly flustered, her hands involuntarily making small movements.

To reiterate, the risk of murder in cooperation is much higher. If even one person gives in, the whole group is wiped out. It is far less secretive and safe than committing a crime alone.

Over the decades, criminal investigation files have revealed a number of suspects who liked to pull off outrageous maneuvers. They always thought they were clever enough to fool the police and escape the law, but little did they know that it was all just superfluous.

"What...what did he say?" Pan Xia couldn't help but ask.

Hu Lihui: "What do you think he will say? Pan Xia, this is your last chance to confess, and it is also your son's last chance to confess. I hope you will think it over carefully."

Pan Xia remained silent.

Hu Lihui is not in a hurry this time. Ma Chen has already been brought to justice and confessed. It is only a matter of time before the other suspects are apprehended. Once the suspects in the joint murder are identified, it will be impossible for them to safely leave the detention center and regain their freedom.

“Zhanpeng…didn’t kill anyone.” After a long pause, Pan Xia spoke.

Hu Lihui: "It's not only when someone does the killing that it's considered murder. Otherwise, hiring hitmen would become a legal industry chain. What did Lü Zhanpeng do? Was Du Juncai's death related to him? I think you know better than us." Hearing this, Pan Xia sighed deeply, then became agitated: "He told me that he definitely couldn't find out anything! It's only been a few days, and Ma Chen has already been arrested."

I warned him long ago not to treat the police like fools!

Seeing that Pan Xia was about to confess, Hu Lihui relaxed: "Let's talk about it, what exactly happened."

after an hour.

Hu Lihui walked out of the interrogation room with a note in his hand.

This was what Pan Xia requested after she confessed; she hoped to give Lü Zhanpeng a message, which contained only five words.

Pan Xia did come to Qingchang to visit her son. She did find the notebook while cleaning the room, and she did scold her son and warn him to give up his murderous thoughts, or else she would hand him over to the police station.

These are all correct, but the later ones are wrong.

Lu Zhanpeng did not give up on taking action against Du Juncai. He told Pan Xia: "Even if you send me to the police station, you won't be sentenced for murder. After I get out, I will still kill Du Juncai. There is no room for negotiation. You can keep an eye on me for one day, but you can't keep an eye on me for a lifetime."

Pan Xia couldn't understand why her son hated Du Juncai so much. The mother and son talked until dawn, and she finally understood the bullying her son had suffered at Du Juncai's hands.

The notes only contain a part of the story; much more is missing. Lü Zhanpeng is weak-willed, a stark contrast to the domineering Du Juncai. It's fair to say that Lü Zhanpeng is nothing more than a dog in front of Du Juncai.

University is supposed to be a "summer vacation" in life, the only place where you can relax for four years, but Lü Zhanpeng has never enjoyed happiness during those four years.

The nightmare began the very first day of school when Du Juncai snatched Lü Zhanpeng's upper bunk by the window.

Du Juncai was arrogant and condescending, insulting Lu Zhanpeng without using any profanity. He even physically assaulted Lu in a secluded corner. Although he sincerely apologized afterward, the feeling of being slapped and then given a treat drove Lu Zhanpeng crazy.

Lü Zhanpeng lacked the courage and pride to resist. This honest and submissive man suppressed his negative emotions until after graduation.

This is a clash between two completely opposite personalities. If Lü Zhanpeng had been a little more assertive along the way, he wouldn't have suffered so much injustice.

Saying "no" bravely isn't actually that hard.

Are you too embarrassed to fight back when others bully you?
Later, Du Juncai caught up with Ren Yi, which greatly shocked Lü Zhanpeng, because Ren Yi had once told him that she didn't like flamboyant people like Du Juncai at all.

"Ren Yi wants him dead, I want him dead, and there's another person who wants him dead. We've made our decision, and we can't change it."

"Mom, the plan is perfect. The police definitely won't be able to find out. It wasn't me and Ren Yi who did it, so how can they investigate?"

"Go back quickly, don't worry, nothing will happen."

Lu Zhanpeng had already become obsessed with the demon and instead tried to persuade his mother.

How could Pan Xia be so easily fooled? That's murder, not a small matter.

Hearing this, Hu Lihui said, "You finally agreed."

Pan Xia nodded: "I can't stop him. Since he doesn't need to take action, I'll just send him to the police station to clear his name completely and avoid any unforeseen complications."

Hu Lihui: "Why do we have to walk through the fence to enter the residential area?"

Pan Xia: "I'm standing in for my son."

Hu Lihui was stunned for a moment, but after thinking about it carefully, he understood.

Lü Zhanpeng played three roles in this case:
First, provide shoes and house keys, including information on the distribution of community surveillance cameras.

Secondly, provide information about Du Juncai's lifestyle habits, such as the fact that the first thing he does after getting off work is to grab a cup and drink water.

Third, he came to the attention of the police as a major suspect.

Pan Xia took on the third role.

Lu Zhanpeng's alibi was very strong, and when the police found the broken fence, their suspicions would immediately fall on Pan Xia.

The original plan was to identify Lü Zhanpeng as the prime suspect.

In the current plan, Pan Xia has become the prime suspect.

"He actually let you get involved?" Hu Lihui frowned. This was really a disaster for his mother; he actually dragged his own mother into murder.

Pan Xia said in a low voice, "I forced him to change the plan. I can't let my son be in danger."

"Is there a difference?" Hu Lihui was speechless. "Whether he surrenders or not, the fact remains that he cooperated in the murder. He provided Du Juncai's living habits and house key, so he is already an accomplice in the murder."

Pan Xia countered, "If you don't find Ma Chen, is he still an accomplice? I'm still the prime suspect."

You only suspect there's a fourth person, but you have no evidence and will give up once you can't find it.

Bringing him to turn himself in is the safest way. What if you use torture to extract a confession?

Hu Lihui: "..."

He understood Pan Xia's thoughts a little better; it was quite simple.

Pan Xia didn't believe in so-called alibis; she trusted the police. As long as her son was at the police station, the police wouldn't suspect him.

For Lü Zhanpeng, it didn't matter; whether he surrendered or not made no difference and had no impact on his plans. He could listen to Pan Xia on this matter.

"Do you also want Du Juncai to die?" Hu Lihui asked as a final question.

How would a mother feel after her son has suffered so much bullying? Would she also have murderous thoughts?
Pan Xia remained silent and did not answer the question.

In another interrogation room, Hu Lihui placed a note in front of Lü Zhanpeng.

Lu Zhanpeng glanced at it, his pupils shrinking.

Son, confess your sins.

(End of this chapter)