Insights Chapter 52: Demolition

Chapter 52: Demolition

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Shen Junci and Gu Yanchen arrived at the western restaurant near the police station, finding a spot close to the corner. Gu Yanchen ordered a few dishes. Shen Junci didn’t object, quietly eating when the dishes arrived. When he chewed, his eyelashes drooped, emitting a delicate sound, much like that of a kitten.

Gu Yanchen looked at him and noticed that Shen Junci’s fingers holding the utensils were slender. Due to his fair skin, a faint pink color could be seen at the joints of each finger. Usually, these hands were covered by gloves, touching dirty, decaying flesh. A stroke of the scalpel could make the deceased speak, revealing the cause of death. Yet inside the gloves, there were long and slender fingers, with jade-like color nails.

Last night, he intentionally touched Shen Junci’s hand, reminiscent of when he massaged Lin Luo’s hand years ago, similarly long and slender, except for a few calluses from wielding a scalpel on his right hand.

Shen Junci ate his meal and repeated his earlier words, “I believe there are some issues with this case.”

Only then did Gu Yanchen retract his gaze, looking at the food in front of him. “If there are issues, they are significant.”

Since the case began, numerous clues had been continuously presented to them. All evidence pointed to Zhang Kabei. Due to previous online disputes and subsequent events, it seemed she had ample motive for revenge. Netizens analyzed the case and expressed their opinions, hoping the police would quickly find the culprit. However, the more this happened, the more Gu Yanchen dared not to make rash conclusions.

Shen Junci said, “I think the culprit may not be Zhang Kabei.”

Gu Yanchen asked, “Is there any theoretical basis for this?”

Shen Junci organized his thoughts. “Qi Yi’an and I simulated the entire crime process. Firstly, the injuries on the victim’s body required multiple forceful blows from the right hand over a sustained period. However, based on Zhang Kabei’s past records, her right thumb had suffered severe injuries due to domestic violence, with ruptured ligaments. Although it had recovered later, she would not have been able to exert force in many movements. Therefore, it’s unlikely she could have made consecutive strikes. Secondly, in terms of the duration and intensity of the assault, the perpetrator is also unlikely to be her, at least not acting alone,” Shen Junci paused here. “Of course, this is only analyzed from the perspective of a medical examiner.”

After one simulation, Qi Yi’an was exhausted. Shen Junci had seen the information Gu Yanchen gave him and had also seen some footage of Zhang Kabei, knowing a bit about her. She was a fragile woman, physically weak due to years of violence. If this was Zhang Kabei’s doing, she couldn’t have planned it so meticulously, remained calm and composed, and had sufficient physical strength.

Watching a living person gradually die, for hours on end, wasn’t a crime of passion. Besides requiring anger and resentment, it also demanded immense physical strength and psychological endurance.

“Is it possible that someone hired a hitman or committed the crime together?” Gu Yanchen asked, “Zhang Kabei’s fingerprints were found at the scene, indicating she was likely there.”

“That possibility cannot be ruled out,” Shen Junci said, using his fork to poke at the seafood spaghetti in his plate, “but I’m more inclined to believe it’s a setup.”

“A setup?” Gu Yanchen frowned, looking at Shen Junci with some confusion.

Shen Junci took out the evidence photos from before, one of which showed the remains of a beer bottle. Zhang Kabei’s fingerprints were found on the unbroken part of the bottle neck. The fingerprints were very clear, especially those of the thumb. Several fingerprints were clearly marked on the image.

This was also one of the direct pieces of evidence proving Zhang Kabei’s involvement in the case.

“On this section of the bottle, these fingerprints are quite suspicious. Do you remember when I told you about Zhang Kabei’s thumb injury?” Shen Junci gestured, holding a narrow-necked drink bottle beside him. He suddenly realized, “If the thumb cannot exert force, it would not be possible to leave such clear fingerprints in this position.”

Gu Yanchen nodded, “Considering Zhang Kabei’s injury, if she gripped the bottle end to hit someone, she would likely use the base of her thumb with force. The thumbprint wouldn’t be clear, nor would it be in this position. So, I suspect these fingerprints were lifted.”

For medical examiners or evidence collectors, lifting fingerprints was not difficult. As long as they obtained something the other person had touched, they could lift it. Especially nowadays, with advanced 3D printing, some malicious individuals might even print out fingerprints and press them onto surfaces.

Shen Junci felt that such clear thumbprints were likely lifted from a cup or mirror. Someone collected Zhang Kabei’s fingerprints, pressed them onto the beer bottle, unaware of Zhang Kabei’s thumb injury and disregarding the actual circumstances, resulting in a slight oversight. This oversight turned out to be their loophole. This precisely proved that the beer bottle was intentionally left as evidence, and the case might not have been committed by Zhang Kabei.

Hearing this, Gu Yanchen frowned, following the line of thought. If Zhang Kabei was framed, how could the existing two testimonies be explained? Gu Yanchen organized his thoughts and found it not difficult to achieve. Fu Meng only answered a few phone calls. Perhaps she was manipulated by someone behind the scenes, or maybe she was also involved in the act. The female driver might have really picked up Zhang Kabei, only to be bribed by others afterward.

So, the domestic violence case might be fake.

Since taking on this case, Gu Yanchen had a feeling that the whole case exuded an eerie atmosphere. The investigations conducted by the police seemed to be prearranged; they were being led. The last time he had such a feeling was during Lin Luo’s case. To fabricate a murder case, a complete story must be told to the public. People were willing to believe what they wanted to believe. Rumors spread like wildfire. Gossip is human nature. But as it spreads and is guided, falsehoods become truths.

In the morning, people were still asking each other if the murderer was Zhang Kabei. By the afternoon, it had become ‘Zhang Kabei had killed her ex-husband’. When sensitive issues such as domestic violence and campus bullying are mentioned, people tend to jump to conclusions. The “fake culprit” who is being used as a scapegoat then has plenty of motivation.

At the same time, those behind the scenes are planting various false evidence for the police. As the public empathizes and the police believe in clues, they are actually stepping into traps set by the other side step by step. There must be hidden reasons behind Zuo Junming’s murder. Just like Lin Luo was killed because he had evidence of Lin Xianglan’s death, what did Zuo Junming do to bring about his demise?

A person’s life is multidimensional, not just a single facet presented to the public, but a complex interplay of events and relationships. To uncover all the truths, thorough investigation is necessary.

During Gu Yanchen’s investigation, disregarding external factors of the case and focusing solely on Zuo Junming himself, he indeed made some discoveries.

Shen Junci asked Gu Yanchen, “What about you? What have you found?”

His conclusion was drawn from experiments and experience. Which angle did Gu Yanchen investigate from?

Gu Yanchen said, “I’ve found some strange things here. This man, Zuo Junming, only completed junior high school and didn’t have a proper job, yet he’s very wealthy. He opened an account using his mother’s ID card, and he’s the actual user of this card, which regularly receives large sums of money. Just this year, he’s added eight million. The source of this money is unclear.”

Shen Junci asked, “How did he make money then?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “After discovering this issue, I delved into his various communication apps and checked all records. Among the login records of a niche game, I found his registered spare phone under someone else’s name and a series of alternate accounts…”

Even with a backdoor into the police system, it takes time to untangle the relationships between various primary and secondary accounts, requiring great patience. Zuo Junming was extremely cautious in his online communications. Many pieces of evidence weren’t on the same account, and many matters were handled directly via phone calls, but Gu Yanchen still found some clues.

While having his meal, Gu Yanchen continued, “Then I found more evidence. This man has connected with some wealthy individuals, and a single transaction can earn him from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. He seems to be quite well-known in a certain industry, and because of his dispute with his wife last year, his reputation has soared even more.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Junci frowned.

“His business was thriving, and many people actively sought him out. It seems like there’s high demand for what he sells. He’s cautious, only taking deals recommended by acquaintances, and all communications were conducted over the phone with cash settlements. From bits and pieces of information, I can deduce he has stable upper-level sources, maintaining contact with…”

Shen Junci processed all this, “So, he’s a demolitions expert with abundant resources?”

Listening to this, Zhang Kabei seems more like a pawn in this case. There must be other reasons for Zuo Junming’s murder.

Gu Yanchen nodded, “But I haven’t found out yet what Zuo Junming’s actual business is.”

Shen Junci stopped, resting his chin on his hand, “Dodgy, lucrative… What could it be?”

Aside from the usual industries known to regular people, there are many gray and even black areas. However, profits always come with risks. Shen Junci pondered, “Pyramid schemes? Illegal fundraising? Drugs? Or perhaps, was he actually a pimp?”

Gu Yanchen shook his head, “None of those. I’ve dealt with those before during my investigations, and they have their own jargon and tight-knit networks, but Zuo Junming clearly isn’t part of them.”

Shen Junci found it odd, furrowing his brow, “Then what could it be? Drugs, maybe?” In the past, people sold drugs through networks in the medical system. He thought for a moment, then guessed, “Endangered animals?”

Many endangered species were extremely rare on the market. Then Shen Junci thought that Gu Yanchen, being so clever, must have already considered all these possibilities.

Indeed, Gu Yanchen shook his head, “I carefully looked into Zuo Junming’s customer base. There are very few repeat customers, mostly one-off deals. After the transaction is completed, they delete each other.”

While these two items are also contraband, the more repeat customers, the better for business. What Zuo Junming sells doesn’t fit this pattern.

Shen Junci’s grip on his chopsticks tightened, “One-time deals, high prices… The only thing I can think of is trafficking babies or organs.”

“Those are possibilities,” Gu Yanchen said, “I’ve applied for a search warrant for all of Zuo Junming’s assets, so there might be fieldwork this afternoon. Your medical examiners should also be ready.”

Searching the residence, although mostly evidence gathering work, having medical examiners along would be much more convenient. If there are any unnoticed bloodstains, saliva, or human tissue at the scene, it could greatly expedite the investigation.

Talking up to this point, Gu Yanchen automatically paid the bill with his phone, “You should go back and get some rest. You didn’t sleep well last night and got up early today. I’ll contact you again this afternoon once everything’s ready. Maybe this case will unearth some monstrous anomalies.”