Roses in Flames

"Luo Zilin's phone has been hacked. We recovered his deleted WeChat chat history and found that he had chatted with Zou Xu, the son of the richest man in the neighboring city, before he was murdered."

"Zou Xu hated Zhao Jiashu and wished Zhao Jiashu dead. Luo Zilin told him that Zhao Jiashu was already dead."

"Lei Zi's investigation also revealed that Zhao Jiashu's game account had purchased over a million yuan worth of top-tier equipment over the past three years, with Zou Xu listed as the payer for all of them."

After listening to Song Che's report, Xiao Lin's dark eyes narrowed. "Have you found Zou Xu's whereabouts?"

"We've found it. The highway records show he drove to Yecheng yesterday, and he should still be in Yecheng. It's very likely he killed Luo Zilin!"

Xiao Lin's handsome features suddenly tensed. "Immediately investigate Zou Xu's whereabouts. If there are no clues at the hotel, check each small hotel and guesthouse in the suburbs and old town. Make sure to lock down his whereabouts."

Song Che replied, "Yes."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Lin looked at the man he was blocking.

Upon hearing Zou Xu's name, the man's expression became complicated. "That young master Zou, has he gotten into trouble again?"

Xiao Lin showed the man his police ID. "I'm a police officer from the Yecheng Criminal Investigation Team. Recently, there have been two student-related murder cases in Yecheng. Zhao Jiashu and Luo Zilin both studied at No. 3 Middle School here. Do you remember them?"

The man's pupils constricted, and he asked incredulously, "The Yecheng student murder case that's been all over the internet lately... the victims are Zhao Jiashu and Luo Zilin?"

Xiao Lin stared sharply at the man. "Yes, you know them?"

The man's eyes darted away. He was about to deny it when he heard Xiao Lin's cold voice say, "This case involves multiple lives. I think you know some of the inside story. Only by speaking out can we comfort the deceased and bring those who did evil to justice."

The man sighed and pointed to the spot in front of the door. "That female student from back then fell and died right here. Her brains splattered, her bones shattered, and she was covered in blood. It was horrific."

Three years later, the man still felt lingering fear when he thought about it. His eyes reddened, and his tone was full of regret. "That girl was so pure and lovely, just the age when she was in the prime of her life."

Xiao Lin narrowed his eyes. "Do you know why he jumped?"

The man shook his head. "I don't know, but a month before the girl jumped off the building, I saw Young Master Zou, Luo Zilin, and Zhao Jiashu chasing and harassing her on the street. Zou Xu was shouting that one day he would make her cry and beg him for mercy."

"Not long after, an accident happened at the school. A female teacher who was almost nine months pregnant accidentally fell down the stairs, causing severe bleeding and resulting in the deaths of both herself and her unborn child..."

The man sighed even harder. "The female teacher's husband, who was also a teacher at the same school, was caught having an affair with a female student at her funeral. He had his teaching certificate revoked, was scolded wherever he went, and soon after, he committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. Later, that female student also jumped off a building."

Ye Yuntang, who had remained silent until now, clenched her fists tightly at her sides. She said indignantly, "Three people died in a row at school. Something's definitely wrong. How come this didn't even make the news?"

She didn't recall seeing any news about this.

The man said with a bitter expression, "I also felt something was wrong. The police came to investigate here. I told them about the female student being harassed by Mr. Zou. Not long after, I had problems at work. Later, someone kindly told me that I shouldn't have talked about Mr. Zou. That's when I realized I shouldn't have mentioned Mr. Zou."

In recent years, he has suffered from insomnia from time to time when he thinks of the female student who jumped off the building.

I always feel guilty and uneasy.

In recent years, the school has built new office buildings and a library, which I heard were donated by the Zou family.

The school doesn't care about this matter. He's just an ordinary citizen; how can he go against capitalists?

Xiao Lin shook hands with the man. "Okay, thank you for the information."

……

On the way back to Yecheng, Xiao Lin held a voice conference with Song Che, Cheng Lei, and several team members.

He began a new round of arrangements and deployments.

On the way back, Ye Yuntang was driving, and she would occasionally glance at the man in the passenger seat.

The light and shadow of the setting sun outlined his cold, hard jawline. When he analyzed the case, his eyes were cold and focused, and every instruction was precise and ruthless, showing that he had a firm grasp on the overall situation.

His mature and charismatic charm, exuding confidence and mastery, was on full display at this moment.

When the car arrived at Yecheng Police Station, a sharp police siren sounded.

Three police cars sped up, the doors opened, and Qin Feng stepped out, escorting a boy wearing a black hood.

The boy struggled, but Qin Feng held him firmly in control.

Qin Feng glanced at Xiao Lin and Ye Yuntang, a slight smile playing on his lips. "We've caught Zou Xu."

Just then, Cheng Lei ran out of the police station.

Qin Feng glanced at Cheng Lei, his smile widening. "Lei Zi, the information you provided is very useful."

Ye Yuntang suddenly looked at Cheng Lei.

Cheng Lei lowered his head, avoiding Ye Yuntang's gaze.

Xiao Lin strode towards the police station, passing by Cheng Lei without glancing at him.

Ye Yuntang looked at Cheng Lei, her brows furrowed. "Lei Zi, why did you provide information to Qin Feng?"

Cheng Lei remained silent.

After sighing, Ye Yuntang quickly entered the police station.

Upon learning that the murderer had been apprehended, Director Zheng and Director Shao rushed over.

Qin Feng, beaming with pride, announced, "Director Zheng, Zou Xu is the murderer of Zhao Jiashu and Luo Zilin!"

Director Zheng patted Qin Feng on the shoulder, "Not bad, you caught the murderer so quickly. Keep up the follow-up interrogations and strive for a breakthrough as soon as possible!"

Qin Feng smiled and nodded, "Yes." Then he turned to his team members and instructed them, "Quickly get Zou Xu's file. I need to go into the interrogation room to interrogate him."

The team members hurriedly went to retrieve the documents that had just been transferred from the neighboring city.

Qin Feng glanced at it, frowned, and then ripped off the boy's hood.

The information about Zou Xu shows him with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, sharp features, and the arrogance and unruliness typical of a rich kid.

The boy he captured, though equally handsome, was not the real Zou Xu.

Qin Feng's expression suddenly darkened. "You're not Zou Xu?"

The boy met Qin Feng's sharp gaze and trembled slightly in fear. "I... I'm really not Brother Xu. Brother Xu asked me to impersonate him."

"Damn it!" Qin Feng cursed under his breath, gripping the boy's collar tightly with both hands. "Where did Zou Xu go?"

"I...I don't know. I came to Yecheng with Brother Xu to meet an online friend. He probably went to meet someone online too!"

Meeting someone you met online?

Zou Xu didn't come to Yecheng to kill Luo Zilin and silence him.

A bad feeling suddenly rose in Qin Feng's heart.

Could it be the real killer who lured Zou Xu here to murder him?