My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Chapter 138 - A Key Witness

"Impossible!" Ru Meiqi cried out. "It's not possible for one person to be in two places at the same time!"

Qin Weizhe tried to calm her down. "I know. I know, we doubted it too. Last night have been Jin Renguang's major operation and at the same time, a murder case is happening in the Capital." He pulled the pale woman to sit on the chair and made her a cup of camomile tea. "That's why, we have sealed the murder scene and suppressed the news. Right now, everything is under control. We just need to wait for Lin Zhouyi to finish performing the autopsy. Then, we can make everything clear."

Ru Meiqi warmed her chilly hands on the surface of the warm cup. After hearing Qin Weizhe's explanation, she relaxed slightly. Following that, she pinched her brows. "You're right. I was too agitated."

"You're too exhausted." He pointed out in concern. "What time did you sleep last night?"

"3 am." She sipped the tea and frowned. "You should have worried about that madman instead. He hasn't slept for three days straight."

"Binchen?" Qin Weizhe waved his hand. "Don't worry, he's as strong as a mule. During our time in the police academy, when everyone splayed down like a dog at night, he was up monitoring the trade market. He could balance work and study just fine. This kind of man will not collapse just because of something like that."

The man whom Qin Weizhe said wouldn't collapse dashed out of the office, disheveled. The area under his eyes had turned bluish green. With a voice so hoarse that it didn't resemble human anymore, he staggered to Qin Weizhe's desk. "Where did you say the crime scene was?"

"It's…" Qin Weizhe gulped. "Your apartment district."

Crash!

Xu Binchen tripped on a chair, toppling it down as he grabbed the edge of the table to stabilize himself. "Shi Nian? What about Shi Nian?"

Ru Meiqi threw Qin Weizhe a disdainful glance. The latter caressed his cheek. The feeling of being slapped not even five seconds after his grand declaration truly was a novel experience.

"Calm down, calm down! She is fine and dandy!" He pulled Xu Binchen to sit down and made a cup of strong coffee for him. "Everything isn't clear yet. Don't make any hasty assumptions!"

Xu Binchen was cold to begin with, now that he was pale to the point of resembling a corpse, he looked like he could create ice shards with a snap of his fingers. After gulping down the coffee, he looked more sober yet still unkempt like a handsome zombie. His fingers fiddled on the red bracelet on his wrist.

After that, he grabbed his phone which was dying soon and sent Shi Nian a period. Not one minute later, the girl replied with a question mark. Only then did Xu Binchen feel tension loosened from his shoulders."How is the development?"

"Don't worry. It's been 80% confirmed that it's not the same case. First, the crime scene was too messy and there's no butterfly marks on the body. We can basically gather enough proof to zero in on the suspect." Qin Weizhe analyzed. "Second, the log of visitors in the apartment district for yesterday was empty. It means that either the culprit has been hiding there or he is there to begin with. Everything—from how the victim was dismembered and thrown to a public place—should have been a coincidence."

Xu Binchen and Ru Meiqi sank into deep thoughts.

Jin Renguang's words reverberated in their minds. In this world, there is no coincidence, only premeditated actions.

It was good if it's not the same culprit, however, they couldn't exclude the possibility that it was. If so, then how could they explain the phenomena of a person appearing at the same time in different places? Or else, there were more than one suspects?!

Xu Binchen's face was getting more and more unsightly. His head ached and he felt so sleepy that he could faint if he closed his eyes right now. The coffee helped a bit and finally, he could think again. "The entrance…have you sealed it?"

Qin Weizhe was receiving a report from his subordinate and turned to him. "Yes, I have got it under control. Don't worry and leave it to me. You should just focus on your task. How is it? Have you found something?"

"Of course." Xu Binchen snorted.

But before he could elaborate further, their office door slammed open from outside and a police officer came in. "Detective Qin, a witness to last night's case is here to see you!"

"What?!" Qin Weizhe shot up from his seat, astonished. "A witness…?"

The police officer nodded, his eyes bright in joy. "He said that he saw it when the culprit threw the body!"

Qin Weizhe's eyes met with Ru Meiqi and Xu Binchen. He grinned wildly and commanded. "Then what are you waiting for?! Invite him into Interrogation Room 3, I will be there shortly!" After the police officer left, Qin Weizhe pinched his cheek, his expression in disbelief. "Am I dreaming? Less than twenty four hours, we can actually crack the case?!"

"Shut up and let's go." Ru Meiqi put down the cup and left. Xu Binchen followed after her.

"Ah, ah, ah, wait for me~" Qin Weizhe grabbed his notebook and pen then left with wind under his feet.

The police officers saluted Xu Binchen and Ru Meiqi along the way. The latter spoke softly. "What do you think?"

"Qin Weizhe is right." Xu Binchen said. "It's not the same culprit."

"But do you think that everything is such a coincidence? The easier we crack this case, the more unsettled I feel."

Xu Binchen heaved a tired sigh. "I think that we all suffered from PTSD after this. Every murder case that follows are deemed to be connected one way or another to the serial killer. Especially you, Senior Ru, should see a psychologist. You're getting paranoid."

Ru Meiqi: "…"

To ask a criminal psychologist to see a psychologist? Ru Meiqi was so angry that her chest hurt. She huffed and left Xu Binchen behind, her high heels clacking sharply against the marble floor.

The witness was already seated in the interrogation room. Ru Meiqi and Xu Binchen entered the control room one after another. On the other side of the wall was the interrogation room which was only separated by a one way mirror.

Xu Binchen lifted his eyes and gave the witness a casual glance, then he halted in place.

Ru Meiqi's voice drifted from the front. "Hmm, such a handsome man. But he's quite familiar. Where have I seen him before?"

Qin Weizhe entered and sat in front of the witness. His behavior was very warm and welcoming. "No need to worry, you only need to answer my questions honestly, okay? Don't treat it as an interrogation, we're just questioning you. If we can catch the culprit, then you will receive a huge reward for your contribution!"

The witness only gave him a short "Okay."

Qin Weizhe grinned and opened his notebook. "Your name?"

"Jiang Jinyan."

Ru Meiqi jolted in shock. "Jiang Jinyan…? That athlete who got into the scandalous accident, Jiang Jinyan?!"

Xu Binchen looked at Jiang Jinyan intently, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"I saw it from the rooftop in my apartment building." Jiang Jinyan said. His skin was fair to begin with and under the room's bright light, it seemed so translucent like porcelain. His slightly longer hair covered his sight and he raked his fingers through it. The eyes beneath it were especially piercing and resolute. "Around 2 to 2.30 am. He's holding a black trash bag, wearing gloves and a mask. When he finished throwing it, he walked into the direction of the west."

Qin Weizhe smiled. "Mr. Jiang, it's not like we don't trust you. But do you have someone who can support your claim? It will be much better if you do."

Jiang Jinyan fell into a trance for a few seconds. His lips pursed tight. "Someone was there with me but I don't know if she saw it. She lived a floor above mine." Hesitation flickered through his eyes and he said carefully, "Her name is Shi Nian."

Qin Weizhe sucked in a shaky breath. "S—Shi Nian is there with you?"

Question filled Jiang Jinyan's eyes. "You know her, police officer?"

Not only Qin Weizhe but Ru Meiqi and Xu Binchen were also shocked out of their souls. What did Jiang Jinyan mean? Shi Nian was actually another key witness to this case?! Ru Meiqi's face turned pale and she turned to Xu Binchen.

"What is happening?!"

Xu Binchen needed no words, he had already barged out of the room.

In the interrogation room, Qin Weizhe chuckled dryly. Not only did he know her, but everyone else in this station did. He tried to focus on the youth in front of him and answered casually. "Coincidentally, I do. Around 2 to 2.30 am, you're on the rooftop, right? May I ask what you're doing there?"

Jiang Jinyan had prepared himself. Thus, he answered succinctly. "I'm insomniac. I went up for a smoke."

Ever since he heard of the aunties and uncles' gossip, Jiang Jinyan had been in a dilemma. When he threw his trash, he could see that the public garbage can had been sealed off by police lines. Then, everything suddenly came together in his mind.

Last night, when Shi Nian suddenly popped up out of nowhere to yank him down, Jiang Jinyan had inadvertently glanced down in a split second. He had seen a man coming out with a huge trash bag in his hands. However, he didn't think too much of it until the murder was discovered later.

Should he report to the police? Or should he not?

Jiang Jinyan didn't really want to get himself involved. But what if? What if his testimony was what helped the police to catch the culprit? What if he had actually witnessed something very, very crucial? As he thought about that, he couldn't sit still anymore and went to visit the police station to get it off his chest.

"Then," Qin Weizhe probed casually. "Do you know what Shi Nian was doing up there?"

Jiang Jinyan frowned. "I have no idea."

"Hmm?"

He repeated himself and added, "I don't know her well." Chewing on his words, Jiang Jinyan spat out. "I only know her name. That's all."

"Okay, okay sure." Qin Weizhe gave a bright smile. "Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Jiang. If you may, we have a lounge to receive guests. You can stay there for a while in case we need your further help." He just received a signal that Xu Binchen had fled back to his apartment. Thus, he added. "We have a detective who's staying in the same apartment as you. He's also on his way to get Shi Nian. Please wait for a while, it's safer to have him escort you back."

Jiang Jinyan's face turned awkward for a moment. "I can leave by myself."

"No can do, Mr.Jiang!" Qin Weizhe instantly cut his way off. "What if the culprit is monitoring the situation right now? Will you be in danger then? We're currently in the dark so we have to guard against every single threat. I hope you understand where I'm coming from, Mr.Jiang."

"I understand." Jiang Jinyan heaved a sigh and massaged his brows. "Then, I will take you up on your offer. Thank you very much."

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A/N: Our two love rivals meet again (*???*)