"I want to see your superior," Chen Jinzhao requested, but his words went unheeded until a turning point arrived in the dead of night.
A middle-aged man with bloodshot eyes entered, walked up to Chen Jinzhao, and offered him a cigarette. Chen Jinzhao recognized him as the captain of the Ninghai Bureau's Criminal Investigation Team.
"Thank you."
"What should I call you?"
Chen Jinzhao lit the cigarette and exhaled smoke.
The captain offered a tired smile, "Just call me Old Zhao, no need to be formal."
Chen Jinzhao chuckled wryly, "I'm a man facing execution, why would I be polite with you?"
Zhao Defeng, who was reviewing the interrogation records, looked up at Chen Jinzhao, then smiled and shook his head. Chen Jinzhao waited for Zhao Defeng's questions. Zhao Defeng flipped through the files a few times, then closed the dossier.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Zhao Defeng asked.
Chen Jinzhao's answer was simple, "I am innocent. I want to make a phone call to notify my family."
Zhao Defeng nodded. "I believe you are innocent, but this case is under immense pressure from all sides, and the higher-ups want a quick resolution."
"If you can provide strong evidence, I can make one last effort."
Chen Jinzhao pondered for a moment. "I have no evidence."
Zhao Defeng sighed. "Then this is indeed tricky. I'll give you five minutes for a call. I'm sorry, this is all I can do."
Chen Jinzhao took the phone and, without hesitation, dialed Xu Hanchen's private number.
He just hoped the old man wasn't asleep yet, or he might truly be finished.
Fortunately.
The call was connected.
"Hello, who is this?" Xu Hanchen's voice was puzzled.
"Elder Xu, it's Chen Jinzhao. I'm at the Ninghai Bureau, and I've gotten into some trouble. Please, could you come over?" Chen Jinzhao explained the situation in the most concise terms, which instantly sobered Xu Hanchen up.
"Alright!"
"I'll be right there."
Xu Hanchen wasted no time.
Chen Jinzhao said with a tone of guilt, "I'm truly sorry to trouble you so late at night."
Xu Hanchen chuckled, "What are you being formal with me for? I'll hang up now, I need to get ready. Regarding that incident with Yaoyao, I haven't had a chance to thank you properly yet."
After hanging up the phone.
Chen Jinzhao breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Zhao Defeng again.
*Clang!*
The interrogation room door was pushed open, and Yang Yiqian strode in angrily towards Zhao Defeng, slamming his hand on the table and shouting, "Zhao Defeng, what do you think you're doing? This is against regulations!"
Zhao Defeng was not to be outdone and retorted, "I won't say who's breaking the rules, but everyone knows the truth."
Yang Yiqian's eagerness to close the case greatly displeased Zhao Defeng.
However, his rank was lower than Yang Yiqian's, so he could only follow Yang Yiqian's orders. Allowing Chen Jinzhao to make a call was the extent of his ability.
Yang Yiqian narrowed his eyes, staring at Zhao Defeng, creating a palpable tension in the interrogation room.
"You allowed the suspect to make a call without authorization. This could have severe consequences. What if he has accomplices? You're being reckless. It seems you need to take a good rest."
Zhao Defeng immediately stood up, showing no signs of backing down.
He retaliated sharply, "Then let me make amends. Give me a week, and I guarantee I'll get to the bottom of this."
Yang Yiqian's expression changed. "You're a lunatic!"
"How am I as crazy as you?" Zhao Defeng sneered.
Yang Yiqian waved his hand, signaling others to leave the interrogation room and turn off the camera. Just as he was about to say something unpleasant to Zhao Defeng, Chen Jinzhao, impatient, suddenly spoke up, "Yang Yiqian? Why are you so eager to close the case? Don't you want to find the real culprit?"
"I advise you to follow the procedures."
"Otherwise, I'll suggest to the higher-ups that we investigate backwards for ten years and dig up your entire past."
Chen Jinzhao stood tall and unashamed.
If Yang Yiqian had followed the proper procedures, he would have been acquitted and the true killer would have been found.
But now...
Yang Yiqian clearly had no such intentions.
Instead, he intended to make Chen Jinzhao a scapegoat.
This was only possible because Chen Jinzhao had the confidence to challenge Yang Yiqian. If it were an ordinary person, who knows how much injustice they would have suffered!
Dying unjustly was not an impossibility.
Yang Yiqian's anger flared upon hearing this. What right did a criminal suspect have to point fingers at him? It was no wonder Chen Jinzhao had displeased the Ning family; there was a reason for it.
"You have no right to speak here," Yang Yiqian said.
"With witnesses and evidence present, how dare you plead innocence to me? Those you've harmed can't even speak for themselves."
A heavy accusation was leveled against Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao immediately recognized Yang Yiqian as an old hand within the system. He sneered, "I understand. You're not giving me a chance to speak now, so don't blame me if I don't give you a chance to speak later."
A mocking smile appeared on Yang Yiqian's face.
Before convicting Chen Jinzhao, he had used his authority to repeatedly check Chen Jinzhao's file and found that Chen Jinzhao had an ordinary background with no powerful backing.
This was why Yang Yiqian dared to agree to Ning Pingguo's request.
"Fine."
"I'll wait for you to prove me wrong."
Zhao Defeng, hearing Yang Yiqian's shameless words, was so enraged that he threw his hat on the table. "Yang, don't push your luck! You disregard the law and disrespect authority. You'll face retribution sooner or later."
Yang Yiqian maintained a smiling demeanor, uninterested in arguing with Zhao Defeng.
Zhao Defeng and Yang Yiqian had a long-standing feud. Years ago, Zhao Defeng had been more qualified for promotion than Yang Yiqian. However, Yang Yiqian was skilled at flattering elders and currying favor, thus securing the protection of influential figures and pushing aside the more experienced Zhao Defeng.
With powerful figures above, one could be so brazen.
Not only that.
Yang Yiqian also presented a confession letter, asking Chen Jinzhao to fingerprint and sign it.
Both of them expected Chen Jinzhao to resist signing, but to their surprise, he complied with Yang Yiqian's instructions. Zhao Defeng sighed and repeatedly shook his head.
Helpless!
Yang Yiqian, on the other hand, was smug, revealing a cunning smile like an old fox.
Where was that earlier defiance?
"Consider yourself sensible. You can prepare for prosecution in a few days. If you have money, you can hire a good lawyer, and perhaps you'll get a lighter sentence," Yang Yiqian said with a smile.
Concluding the case in less than a day would surely earn him praise from the higher-ups.
As such.
He had hope for further advancement.
After signing the confession, Yang Yiqian felt a great weight lifted from his mind.
By morning, Chen Jinzhao would be transferred to the detention center, and the rest would be out of his hands.
Zhao Defeng sighed repeatedly.
He wanted to do something, but Yang Yiqian had people watching him at every turn, making it difficult to act.
What should he do?
Could he only stand by and watch an unjust case occur?
Just as Yang Yiqian was feeling pleased and Zhao Defeng was worried, hurried footsteps were heard from outside the door. The door was pushed open without Yang Yiqian's permission, causing him displeasure.
"Get out!"
"Knock before entering, have some manners!"