Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

Lin Xianfeng's forehead was beaded with sweat, and his hands unconsciously gripped the fabric of his trousers at his knees.

After a long pause, he seemed to have lost his spine, his shoulders slumped, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he squeezed out a dry sentence: "Wang Qiuyan and I... have an affair."

But I swear on my life, her death has nothing to do with me.

Wang Qiuyan was pretty and quite eye-catching in the factory.

Lin Xianfeng, standing before them, was of average appearance and already had a family.

How could an unmarried young woman be involved with him like this? Jia Dongming and Liu Xiangqian, who was listening in, exchanged a glance, both seeing the same doubt and seriousness.

"Private affair?"

Jia Dongming grasped every nuance behind the word, "You make it sound so easy."

How could a young woman like her willingly be with you?

Liu Xiangqian couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted in disbelief, "Lin Xianfeng! Say that again? You and Wang Qiuyan... have that kind of relationship? How did this happen?!"

Lin Xianfeng lowered his head, ran his hands through his hair, and rubbed it vigorously. When he looked up again, all that remained was exhaustion and regret. "How exactly it started... I can't really say."

His voice was hoarse as he reminisced, "About half a month ago, it was my turn to be on duty."

While patrolling the factory at night, I heard some noise coming from the old warehouse, so I went to check it out.

The warehouse door was bolted from the inside. I called out a few times, and the door opened... Out came Director Ding from logistics, followed by Wang Qiuyan.

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, or perhaps resisting some uncomfortable memory. "I noticed then that Wang Qiuyan's eyes were red, and her face was still wet with tears."

I couldn't resist asking a question.

She only told me that she hadn't done her job well and had been criticized by Director Ding, and that she felt wronged.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming had a vague, unsettling feeling, as if there was some unspeakable entanglement between Director Ding and Wang Qiuyan.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on Lin Xianfeng's slightly pale face, his tone tentative: "Xianfeng, when you saw the two of them that day, did you notice anything unusual? Even just the details of their clothing."

Lin Xianfeng immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Jia Dongming's words.

He lowered his eyes, trying to search his memory for the scene from that day, but after a moment he shook his head: "When I saw Wang Qiuyan's eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just been crying, I didn't pay much attention to anything else."

I just asked casually, "It wasn't a day off, so why were they staying in the warehouse?"

They didn't react much when they heard that.

Director Ding explained that the warehouse was currently taking inventory, and the frequent movement of supplies during the day made it impossible to conduct the work; they could only catch up on it during their rest day.

"In the evening, Director Ding asked Wang Qiuyan to go out and buy some cooked food. He then took me to the warehouse office for a few drinks."

When I wake up again...

Lin Xianfeng paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, "She's already lying on that cot in the warehouse with Wang Qiuyan."

Jia Dongming almost immediately realized that there was probably a trap involved.

He pressed on, "When you woke up and found yourself lying next to Wang Qiuyan, were you wearing clothes or not? Also, what was Wang Qiuyan's reaction at the time? Were there any... marks indicating it was her first time?"

Lin Xianfeng subconsciously shook his head: "After she found out, she was stunned and sat on the edge of the bed, silently shedding tears."

I was so flustered at the time, I was only focused on comforting her and didn't pay attention to anything else.

"Later she cried for almost half an hour, just telling me to pretend nothing had happened."

After that, she avoided me.

Jia Dongming had already formed a preliminary understanding of the situation.

His expression turned serious as he stared at Lin Xianfeng: "You said she's been avoiding you—so last night you left your post without permission, was it because you saw her working overtime and wanted to stop her on the way to get some answers?"

Lin Xianfeng hurriedly waved his hand: "No, that's not it, police officer."

To be honest, ever since that incident, I've been constantly on edge, afraid that she'll make me take responsibility.

She avoided me, and I actually felt a sense of relief.

"Last night it was my turn to be on duty when Wang Qiuyan suddenly came to find me and said that she had to work overtime at the factory that night. She asked me to meet her at the abandoned courtyard next to the factory after she finished, saying that she had something important to tell me."

"I was on patrol until a little after eight o'clock when I saw her leave after get off work."

I found an excuse to sneak out of the factory and rush to see her.

When I arrived at that deserted courtyard, I asked her what was going on.

She only said she had a favor to ask me, and if I agreed, all the past debts would be wiped clean.

"I asked her what she was busy with, but she wouldn't say."

At that time, I... I was momentarily out of my mind and had physical intimacy with her again.

When I asked her again after things had calmed down, she still wouldn't tell me anything, only telling me to go back to the factory and that she would tell me after she had thought it through.

Without thinking much about it, I went back the way I came.

"If you hadn't told me that Wang Qiuyan had gotten into trouble, I would still be completely in the dark."

Jia Dongming carefully examined every change in Lin Xianfeng's expression and judged that he was not lying.

Judging from this account, Wang Qiuyan's request to meet with him, which she seemed to want to say but hesitated to, was probably related to Director Ding.

The person who poisoned her was most likely Director Ding.

An idea took shape in Jia Dongming's mind.

He turned to Liu Xiangqian beside him and said in a low voice, "Section Chief Liu, may I speak to you in private? There's something I'd like to ask you about."

Liu Xiangqian understood and immediately led Jia Dongming back to his office. After closing the door, he asked solemnly, "Deputy Captain Jia, if I'm not mistaken, what you want to inquire about is related to Director Ding of our factory's logistics warehouse, right?"

Jia Dongming nodded: "Exactly."

Please tell me more about Director Ding.

Liu Xiangqian then introduced, "Director Ding's name is Ding Chunliang. He is twenty-eight years old this year. He was transferred from the ministry to our machine repair factory at the beginning of the year. He can be considered the youngest cadre in the factory."

Jia Dongming pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "Where is the logistics warehouse office? Could you take me to see Director Ding?"

Liu Xiangqian readily agreed: "It's not far from here, I'll take you there right away."

Jia Dongming turned and walked to the next room, instructing Xie Jian, who was organizing the notes, "Xie Jian, have Xiao Zhang and the others stay here and keep an eye on things."

Come with me to the logistics warehouse office of the machine repair shop.

Before long, the three of them arrived at the door of the warehouse office.

The young man had a refined appearance and looked at Jia Dongming and his group with a humble expression. He bowed slightly to Section Chief Liu and said, "Section Chief Liu, Captain Xie, please come over here. Is there any progress in Wang Qiuyan's case?"

Liu Xiangqian smiled and stepped aside to indicate, "Director Ding, this is Deputy Chief Jia of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Dongcheng Branch. He's here today to ask you about some things."

Ding Chunliang's gaze fell on Jia Dongming's shoulder insignia, his eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly, and then he stretched out his hands to greet him: "Deputy Captain Jia, it's great that you've come to our logistics warehouse in person. Please feel free to ask if there's anything you need our cooperation with, and we will definitely give you our full support."

From the moment Jia Dongming entered the room, his gaze never left Ding Chunliang, and he had already taken in the thin, long bloodstains on Ding Chunliang's wrist and neck.

He reached out and shook hands with him, his grip gradually tightening: "Director Ding, you're too kind."

But how did you hurt your wrist?

Ding Chunliang's smile froze for a moment, then he quickly forced a smile again: "The stray cats on the roof were making a lot of noise at night. I went to catch them, but I ended up getting scratched a few times instead."

"Oh?"

Jia Dongming's knuckles tightened slightly as he glanced at the man's collar. "This cat certainly knows how to pick its spot; it even has lines all over its neck."

A thin layer of sweat beaded on Ding Chunliang's back, but he still forced a smile: "That beast struggled fiercely, scratching and clawing wildly, and that's how it..."

Ding Chunliang.

Jia Dongming abruptly interrupted him, his voice cold and deep, "You've committed a crime. Come with us now."

The words hit the ground hard, and Ding Chunliang's knees buckled, almost causing him to lose his footing. His voice trembled as he said, "Captain Jia, what... what are you talking about? How could Wang Qiuyan's death possibly be related to me?"

A faint smile appeared on Jia Dongming's lips: "I only said you committed a crime, but I didn't mention Wang Qiuyan."

"You said those words yourself."

Ding Chunliang's face turned deathly pale, and he slumped down, oblivious to his back hitting the table leg. He screamed, "I didn't kill her! You're framing an innocent man!"

Jia Dongming looked down at him and said clearly, "Wang Qiuyan had skin flakes and blood under her fingernails."

Let me take you to get it checked out, then everything will be clear.

At this point, is there any point in making excuses?

Hearing this, Xie Jian frowned slightly, thinking to himself: Can the real culprit be identified just by comparing bloodstains? When did criminal investigation technology advance to this level?

The commotion had already alerted those around in the machine repair shop.

When Director Liu rushed to the entrance of the logistics warehouse, he heard Ding Chunliang's hoarse cries of injustice.

He strode into the room, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Liu Xiangqian's face: "Xiangqian, what's going on?"

Liu Xiangqian turned around and saw that it was the factory director. He lowered his voice and said, "The police officers suspect... that Director Ding is involved in Wang Qiuyan's murder."

Factory Director Liu was stunned.

Ding Chunliang had been transferred here for less than a year, and he was usually polite and courteous in his dealings with others. How could he be involved in a murder case? He asked incredulously, "Are you sure? You can't just say things like that."

Liu Xiangqian recalled Jia Dongming's interrogation of Lin Xianfeng, then looked at Ding Chunliang, who was slumped on the ground, and nodded heavily: "The police have obtained crucial evidence."

Factory Director Liu was still in a daze when he saw Jia Dongming turn to Xie Jian: "Contact the branch office to send a car; the suspect will be taken back now."

However, a short while later, Ding Chunliang and Lin Xianfeng were both taken away from the machine repair shop.

The interrogation room at the Dongcheng branch was coldly lit. Jia Dongming looked at Ding Chunliang, who sat ashen-faced on the chair, and finally spoke:

Tell me about it.

Why target Wang Qiuyan and Lin Xianfeng? How were they killed, and why were they framed?

Ding Chunliang slowly raised his head, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes went out.

With a hoarse voice, he managed to squeeze out a few words:

"Could I have a cigarette?"

Jia Dongming did not refuse. He got up from the interrogation table, took a few steps to Ding Chunliang, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and handed it to the handcuffed hands before returning to his seat.

Ding Chunliang took the cigarette, took a deep drag, and his face looked ashen and haggard through the swirling smoke.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows: "I admit I was defeated by a woman... How could I have been so blind to believe those sweet words?"

"Tell me about it, from beginning to end."

Jia Dongming's voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable force.

Ding Chunliang's gaze was unfocused, as if he were looking into the distance.

He held a cigarette between his fingers, letting the ash fall silently, and began to narrate: "I reported to the machine repair shop, and it was only about half a month ago."

Wang Qiuyan... She often hovered around me back then, and her eyes and behavior were a bit off.

I have a wife at home, so I always deliberately avoid her.

I thought she would let it go once she cleared her name, but it turns out she has no intention of giving up.

"More than three months ago, the factory had a reception to attend to, and I drank a few too many drinks. I went back to my office and lay down to rest."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing. "She slipped in without me noticing, and by the time I realized what was happening, she was already... I was drunk and confused."

Last month, she suddenly came to my door, saying she was pregnant with my child and forcing me to divorce my husband and marry her.

After I refused, she started making a scene.

The commotion alerted Lin Xianfeng from the security department… I wasn't sure how much he heard, and I was panicking, so I pretended to invite them to dinner and secretly tampered with their drinks, hoping to put an end to this trouble once and for all.”

"Last night, after the warehouse staff finished their overtime shift, I saw her quietly go to find Lin Xianfeng."

Feeling uneasy, I followed them, trailing them all the way to the abandoned yard behind the machine repair shop.

Ding Chunliang's breathing quickened, and the cigarette butt trembled slightly between his fingers. "I saw them in the shadows... Afterwards, Lin Xianfeng asked her what was wrong, but she only said we'd talk another day and then let Lin Xianfeng leave first."

"I wanted to leave too, but I heard her muttering to herself, saying that she would make me pay the price and that she would also harm my family..."