Roses in Flames

After playing the recording, Ji Chen said emotionally, "It's fake! You fabricated it! I never said those things!"

"Forgery?" Xiao Lin curled his lips into a cold smile. He tossed a forensic report in front of Ji Chen. "The technical department has already done a voiceprint comparison. The voice in this recording pen is 100% yours!"

Ji Chen swayed, as if a giant needle had drained all his strength.

He slumped into a chair, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Xiao Lin stood up, his long, slender hands resting on the table. His sharp, knife-like gaze swept over Ji Chen. "Lin Xiaoqiao was imprisoned in the basement by you, forced to write songs for you, sexually abused, and ultimately starved to death. You are the murderer who killed Lin Xiaoqiao!"

"It wasn't me!" Ji Chen glared at Xiao Lin with bloodshot eyes. His chest heaved violently, and his voice suddenly rose. "My uncle killed Lin Xiaoqiao. He was hit by a car two years ago. If you're so capable, go find him in the underworld!"

"Even though it was your uncle who ultimately caused Lin Xiaoqiao's death, you still committed multiple serious crimes. First, intentional injury: in order to control Lin Xiaoqiao and seize her talent, you instigated your uncle to ruin her voice. Second, instigation: making Lin Xiaoqiao your uncle's plaything, imprisoning and detaining her. Third, intentional homicide: knowing that your uncle's imprisonment and abuse would put Lin Xiaoqiao's life in danger, you condoned this outcome, ultimately leading to Lin Xiaoqiao's death, making you an instigator of intentional homicide. Fourth, extortion: you threatened Lin Xiaoqiao with the demolition of the orphanage, forcing her to continue writing songs for you, and also maliciously reported the orphanage."

Ji Chen's face paled, and his lips trembled. "I need to see my lawyer."

Xiao Lin's gaze, sharp as a knife, fell on Ji Chen's face. His voice was deep, cold, and stern. "Tell me, why did you treat Lin Xiaoqiao like that?"

Xiao Lin's aura was too powerful and terrifying. Under his sharp and unquestionable gaze, Ji Chen's defenses gradually crumbled.

Four years ago, he had just come out of the mountains.

He had no education, no skills, and was filthy, making it difficult for him to even find a job as a waiter.

One night, he was so hungry that he squatted outside a bar.

He thought he was going to starve to death there, but then a girl in a white dress came out of the bar, gave him a box of instant noodles, and gave him two hundred yuan.

Later, he learned that she was a resident singer at the bar.

Her voice is beautiful, like a lark singing.

In order to survive and to get her attention, he used the two hundred yuan she gave him to hire two thugs to act.

After the deed is done, give the thugs some more money.

One night, as she was walking through a small alley, some thugs blocked her way and tried to take advantage of her.

He stepped forward and began to fight violently with the two thugs.

He held her tightly beneath him, protecting her from the panic, and didn't utter a sound even when the two thugs broke his bones.

His vow to protect her that night successfully moved her.

She rented a place for him outside.

She would come to visit him whenever she had time.

She gave him half of her earnings from work.

She bought him new clothes and even took him to get a haircut.

He was tall and thin, and after dressing up, he looked very handsome and sunny.

He deliberately acted pitiful and played the victim to gain her sympathy and pity.

Gradually, she developed feelings for him.

The two fell in love.

One day, she excitedly told him that a talent scout had taken a liking to her and wanted her to become a singer.

If they have money in the future, they can buy a house in the city and settle down.

At that time, her eyes were bright and sparkling, full of hope for the future.

But he wasn't happy.

If she becomes famous, will she still remember him?

He dared not gamble on human nature; it would have been better if he were the one who became famous.

He can then take the initiative and get everything he wants.

He felt that his appearance and voice were not bad, and that he could become famous as long as Lin Xiaoqiao wrote songs for him.

At that moment, jealousy, like a wildly growing vine, entangled his internal organs.

He thought of Ji Dawei from his hometown.

He called him and told him to come out of his hometown.

He had Ji Dawei secretly put drugs in Lin Xiaoqiao's water glass.

Ji Dawei handled petty theft very well.

Sure enough, Lin Xiaoqiao's voice was ruined, and she could no longer sing beautiful songs.

He broke her wings, and she could never fly again.

He took the opportunity to comfort her, and then casually suggested that he could go on stage in her place to fulfill her wish.

He promised her that if he ever became famous, he would never abandon her.

He will share his successes and honors with her, take responsibility for her, and build a small family of their own in the future.

Lin Xiaoqiao believed him. She taught him to sing and play the piano, and even recommended him to a talent scout.

With his first album, he earned the title of "Prince of Love Songs".

Standing under the spotlight, he received unprecedented applause and flowers.

His world used to consist only of the mountains.

But now, he saw the prosperity outside.

The number of followers grew from zero to 100,000, 500,000, 1 million...

Those who like him are all young and pretty girls.

They call him brother, oppa, husband.

The women who appeared around him were all prettier than Lin Xiaoqiao and knew how to please him better.

What else does Lin Xiaoqiao have besides talent?

Gradually, he began to look down on Lin Xiaoqiao.

His attitude towards her became cold.

During that period, Lin Xiaoqiao's songs became much more melancholic.

But by sheer chance, he found that there were quite a few listeners who enjoyed sad songs, and he repeatedly made it onto the charts and won awards.

Seeing his increasing success, Lin Xiaoqiao tried to force him to make their relationship public.

He's an idol, and at the height of his career, how could he possibly publicly reveal that he has a girlfriend?

He reassured Lin Xiaoqiao with various lies, saying that as long as Lin Xiaoqiao didn't cause trouble, he wasn't going to touch her.

But who would have thought that she would secretly follow him, go to the villa he rented for Ji Dawei, and overhear his conversation with Ji Dawei?

Now that she knows the whole truth, how could he possibly let her go?

If it weren't for her talent, he would have had Ji Dawei kill her long ago.

……

When Xiao Lin came out of the interrogation room, Ye Yuntang came to find him.

"Captain Xiao, I've made a new discovery."

Ye Yuntang handed the phone to Xiao Lin.

"I found photos of that couple looking for their daughter who was going to teach in a rural area online. Look, in the photos, their daughter is wearing a light purple hair clip with rhinestones."

Xiao Lin nodded. "And then?"

Ye Yuntang then opened the video Zhou Qing had recorded of Lin Xiaoqiao singing. Ye Yuntang zoomed in on the screen, "Look, Lin Xiaoqiao is wearing the same hair clip. I don't think it's a coincidence. Could it be that Ji Chen took the volunteer teacher's hair clip and gave it to Lin Xiaoqiao?"

Xiao Lin looked at it carefully.

They do indeed look like the same hair clip.

……

Xiao Lin re-entered the interrogation room.

He rushed to Ji Chen in a few strides and showed him the hair clip Lin Xiaoqiao was wearing, as well as a photo of the volunteer teacher wearing a hair clip.

"Tell me, is the disappearance of volunteer teacher Jiang Yao related to you?"

The panic from before was gone from Ji Chen's face; instead, a defiant smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Officer, don't throw all your dirty water on me. What does it prove to have the same hair clip? I have no idea what a volunteer teacher is."

Before Xiao Lin could say anything, Ji Chen's provocative smile grew even more unrestrained. His tone was incredibly arrogant and domineering, "Besides, if you're so capable, go find her body. Don't try to convict me with just a hairpin, you idiots!"

Xiao Lin's temple veins throbbed, and he gripped Ji Chen's collar tightly with his large hand. "Your words are an admission of guilt. I never said Jiang Yao was dead. How can you be so sure we'll find her body?"

Ji Chen raised an eyebrow, looking completely unfazed. "I was just saying it casually. If you're so capable, show me the evidence! If you can't, stop putting on airs in front of me! Bah, you stinking cops, do you know how much tax I pay in a year? Enough to support you cops for years! And now, you're taking my money and turning around to bite me. It's disgusting!"

Cheng Lei and Ye Yuntang, standing outside the interrogation room, were absolutely furious at Ji Chen's arrogance.

"I really want to go in and punch him." Cheng Lei rubbed his hands together, itching to punch him.

Xiao Lin, however, calmed down in the interrogation room.

He stared sharply at Ji Chen, each word ringing with conviction, "We are paid by the state and are bound by the laws and regulations of the country, not by the charity of scum like you."

Ye Yuntang raised her hand to applaud Xiao Lin.

Although he doesn't talk much, he always gets to the point.

She's so charming.

Xiao Lin has concluded that the disappearance of the volunteer teacher is related to Ji Chen.

Furthermore, the volunteer teacher has already been murdered.

Xiao Lin went to his office and made a phone call to the New District Police Station.

After making the call, his expression suddenly changed drastically.