Breaking Through The Clouds

Chapter 6

Yan Xie heard the voice of his younger self say: "That, Captain Jiang....."

"Do you believe him?" Qin Chuan asked with some skepticism.

Yan Xie's ten fingers rhythmically tapped against each other as he replied slowly, "The forensic team is recovering the surveillance footage. If we can find evidence of his absence during the incident, then I believe him."

The Vice-Captain's office was filled with a mixture of overnight instant noodles and cigarette smoke. The sound of people outside grew louder as the police officers who didn't have the night shift began to arrive for work.

"But it's hard to believe, Old Yan. Feng Yuguang's department head and advisor both said his grades were mediocre, and that completing his graduation thesis was a miracle in itself. Yet, Chu Ci claims he insisted on betting and pursuing a Ph.D., even wanting to do a research project? Feng Yuguang spends his days watching dramas, playing games, and chasing girls. He's not the type who's devoted to academics. And if you listen carefully to Chu Ci's testimony, you can tell he's not telling the whole truth. That kid definitely concealed a lot of things!"

Yan Xie raised an index finger and brought it close to Qin Chuan's nose, shaking it, saying, "I reserve my opinion on your first statement, but I strongly agree with the second half."

"He did indeed conceal some things."

Half an hour ago, in the interrogation room...

"He bet that he would pursue a Ph.D."

"What?!"

"He bet that he would definitely get into a Ph.D. program," Chu Ci said helplessly. "I don't know what gave him such confidence. Maybe it's because he miraculously passed his final exams every time."

Yan Xie and the detective in charge of recording exchanged a surprised glance. Then Yan Xie turned to Chu Ci and asked, "How did you end up discussing this topic in the first place?"

"When I entered the room, he was reading a book and had a question about an experiment he didn't understand, so he asked if I could explain it to him. Our relationship hasn't deteriorated to the point where we can't even talk, so I spent about twenty minutes explaining it to him. In the end, there were a few points he just couldn't grasp, and I told him to stop for today. After all, those were beyond the scope of the course and wouldn't have a big impact if he didn't understand them."

"Then he got anxious and told me not to look down on him, saying that he's not worse than anyone else, and if he wanted to pursue a Ph.D., he would definitely get in," Chu Ci explained. "I didn't mean to look down on him, though."

Yan Xie thought to himself that we all understand how naturally academic achievers tend to have an unconscious bias against underachievers, but we underachievers can be quite sensitive. However, he didn't show any reaction on the surface and simply asked, "So, you made a bet? What's the wager?"

"The research project. If he does get into a Ph.D. program, I have to let him join my research project."

"And if he doesn't get in?"

Chu Ci suddenly fell silent, taking several seconds before replying, "He has to give me one Yuan."

Everyone inside and outside the interrogation room was stunned.

"..." Yan Xie confirmed, "One Yuan?"

"I don't believe he can get into a Ph.D. program, and I have no interest in gaining any benefits from it either. But he was very agitated at the time and insisted on arguing with me. I had to quickly dismiss him and send him back to the laboratory," Chu Ci sighed deeply, expressing a hint of regret. "If I had known that was the last time I would see him, maybe I would have stayed longer... at least to help him understand those last few points."