Wrong Interrogation Room, The First Cracked Case Shocked the World

Chapter 73: Find physical evidence and solve the case!

Jiangcheng, Nanlian Town. Following up on suspect Chen Yang, Zhou Ziyan and Ning Cheng split their investigation. Zhou Ziyan focused on the Li Rongfang murder, examining Li Rongfang's background and social connections. Ning Cheng headed straight for Chen Yang's house.

Ning Cheng felt the urgency. Chen Yang, a more cunning suspect than the original Scalpel Killer, needed to be apprehended quickly to prevent further victims. However, obtaining a search warrant was risky; Chen Yang might have already destroyed any evidence. A different approach was needed.

Ning Cheng devised a plan, using Zhao Xiaoli, the daughter of the first victim, as a pretext to visit Chen Yang's home. He would use the guise of a high school relationship issue.

After explaining his plan, Zhao Xiaoli readily agreed. Ning Cheng didn't reveal Chen Yang's suspect status, instead framing the visit as a general inquiry into her classmates' families, starting with Chen Yang's.

"That's Chen Yang's house!" Zhao Xiaoli pointed to a luxurious villa.

"Impressive," Ning Cheng commented, subtly shifting the conversation. "What's your classmate, Chen Jiankang, like?"

"He's kind, handsome, and smart. Lots of girls like him," Zhao Xiaoli admitted, then added softly, "But he likes me. I focused on my studies, but he eventually won me over."

Ning Cheng learned Zhao Xiaoli was a top student, with potential for a prestigious university. "Have you met his father, Chen Yang?"

"Why?" Zhao Xiaoli asked, suspicion dawning. "Is he a suspect?"

Ning Cheng shook his head, avoiding a direct answer. "Several families are under scrutiny. Chen Yang is one of them, but we'll investigate others later."

"I don't know him well," Zhao Xiaoli replied. "At parent-teacher meetings, he seemed energetic, like a powerful businessman. He seemed intimidating."

"Did Chen Yang object to your relationship with Chen Jiankang?" Ning Cheng asked.

"Not really," Zhao Xiaoli said. "Jiankang says his father doesn't interfere much, as long as he does well in school."

"Did Chen Yang ever have any conflict with your mother, Wang Shuzhen?"

"No," Zhao Xiaoli shook her head. "We avoided them. At meetings, we only exchanged a few words. There was no conflict."

"Except..." Zhao Xiaoli hesitated.

"Except what?"

"At a parent-teacher meeting, Chen Yang seemed to look at my mother with disgust, like he looked down on us," Zhao Xiaoli recalled. "Maybe because of our family's financial situation."

"Did he seem to dislike other less well-off families?" Ning Cheng asked.

"Not that I noticed," Zhao Xiaoli admitted.

Ning Cheng suspected Chen Yang's disgust wasn't about poverty, but Wang Shuzhen's profession—a bar worker. He likely encountered her at a bar, explaining his reaction at the parent-teacher meeting. If that was his motive for killing Wang Shuzhen, what about Li Rongfang?

Ning Cheng messaged Zhou Ziyan, asking her to investigate Li Rongfang's connection to Chen Yang and her character.

Ning Cheng then took Zhao Xiaoli to Chen Yang's villa. Chen Jiankang, Zhao Xiaoli's classmate, greeted them.

"My cousin wants to talk to you," Zhao Xiaoli explained.

Ning Cheng glanced around. "Are you alone?"

"Yes, Mom's doing yoga, and Dad's at work. Come in!"

As they entered, Ning Cheng noticed the spotless floor. "Let's change shoes."

Chen Jiankang reluctantly opened the shoe cabinet. Ning Cheng's eyes fell on a pair of size 43 Nike sneakers.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Jiankang asked, picking them up. "These are my AJs."

"May I see?" Ning Cheng asked.

Examining the sole, Ning Cheng recognized the pattern—identical to the footprints at Li Rongfang's crime scene. Size 43 matched Chen Jiankang's size. But Chen Jiankang couldn't be the killer.

"How tall are you?" Ning Cheng asked casually.

"1.83 meters. I'm on the school basketball team," Chen Jiankang replied proudly.

1.83 meters—the height the forensic doctors estimated. This pointed to Chen Yang. He must have worn his son's shoes during the murder.

"Are those your dad's shoes?" Ning Cheng pointed to a smaller pair.

"Yes," Chen Jiankang confirmed. They were size 41, matching Chen Yang's height.

"These are nice," Ning Cheng said, "I might buy a pair."

"Take these!" Chen Jiankang offered generously.

Ning Cheng accepted, surprising Zhao Xiaoli. However, these shoes were crucial evidence.

Ning Cheng then discreetly questioned Chen Jiankang about his father's whereabouts the previous night, learning Chen Yang arrived home around 10:30 PM.

"My dad doesn't have a set schedule," Chen Jiankang explained. "It depends on his work."

Chen Jiankang became suspicious of Ning Cheng's intense questioning. Zhao Xiaoli quickly covered for him.

"I'll use the bathroom," Ning Cheng said, excusing himself.

Instead, he slipped into Chen Yang's bedroom and study. He found no clues in the bedroom, but discovered a locked safe in the study. This strengthened his suspicion. Even without systematic evil analysis, the evidence—the shoes, Chen Yang's alibi, and the safe—pointed to Chen Yang as the killer. He could now apply for a search warrant and arrest him.

Chen Jiankang, growing uneasy about Ning Cheng's extended bathroom visit, offered to check on him. Zhao Xiaoli dissuaded him.

Ning Cheng returned, feigning nonchalance. "Let's come back tomorrow," he said, leaving with Zhao Xiaoli.

As they left, lights flickered on in the garage, indicating Chen Yang's arrival. Ning Cheng immediately contacted Zhou Ziyan.

"Team Zhou, I've applied for a search warrant for Chen Yang's house. I also have physical evidence—the shoes he wore at Li Rongfang's crime scene."

Zhao Xiaoli was stunned. Chen Yang was her mother's killer.

Meanwhile, Chen Yang returned home and discovered his son's missing sneakers, his face paling. "Jiankang, where are your sneakers?"