Chapter 268: Chapter 268

Tang Yan Yi cut to the chase: "Where were you between 10 PM on October 9 and 2 AM on October 10?"

This time frame was deduced by the forensic team based on the coagulation characteristics of the glue where the clown’s smiling face was drawn. Follow current novᴇls on novel_fіre.net

Huangfu Huazhang raised an eyebrow slightly: "So the police went to so much trouble to see me, just to ask such a question? Ha, do the police really think every citizen’s time is so worthless?"

"What do you mean?" Tang Yan Yi slapped the notebook onto the table: "The police have their reasons for asking you questions. Why do you think this question is just a waste of your time? Your time is precious, but isn’t the time the police spend solving cases important too?"

Behind the glass, Shi Nian couldn’t help but frown.

Tang Yan Yi was too emotional.

At this point, there was still some rift between Shi Nian and Tang Yan Yi, so she didn’t yet understand the reason for Tang Yan Yi’s excessive sensitivity to Huangfu Huazhang. She didn’t know that Huangfu Huazhang once showed hostility only in front of Tang Yan Yi, including contempt for the police uniform and even mockery of Tang Yan Yi not being a true blood member of the Tang Family, which seriously touched Tang Yan Yi’s psychological bottom line.

When one’s psychological bottom line is touched, even pierced, the rebound of emotion will be very strong. This rebound can become two forces: one is negative, which might break through one’s rational defense, leading them towards a path of mania; the other is positive, which might ignite one’s brain to spark unprecedented ideas, helping one quickly break free from existing limitations and reach a higher level of thinking.

At this moment, Tang Yan Yi was probably in the middle of both these states, with the potential to develop in either direction simultaneously. This is also the most intense and unbearable phase.

Seeing Tang Yan Yi unable to suppress her emotions, Huangfu Huazhang curled his lips into a slight smile, raised his eyebrows subtly towards the direction behind the mirror where Shi Nian stood, and looked at her intently.

He looked at Shi Nian, then lazily spoke to Tang Yan Yi.

"Xiao Yi, after all, I am a distant relative of the Tang Family. You wouldn’t speak to me with such an attitude, would you?"

Shi Nian sighed to herself: Huangfu Huazhang is indeed a master, swiftly seizing Tang Yan Yi’s weak spot.

No matter how distant a relative, no matter how strictly business is handled, it shouldn’t be so inhumane. Tang Yan Yi came on strong and aggressive, indeed giving him a handle first.

Tang Yan Yi let out a cold snort, leaned back, and crossed her arms: "Mr. Huangfu, are you trying to bring up family ties with me? I’m sorry, we Tang Family members always distinguish between public and private matters. Let’s handle the official business first, and we can talk personally after the statement is recorded."

Shi Nian watched Tang Yan Yi’s body language, wishing she could go in and give her a reminder.

—Tang Yan Yi’s current body language clearly indicated [defensive] and [guarded].

For heaven’s sake, she’s the lead officer, she should be in control; how did she become the passive one? She’s handing over the initiative just like that.

Huangfu Huazhang stared at the spot where Shi Nian was for a moment, then indeed turned his gaze back to assess Tang Yan Yi thoroughly, his expression increasingly relaxed and pleased.

"Xiao Yi, look at how much you emphasize the term ’we Tang Family’. I’m very curious, if it were Yanqing or Yan Sheng, would they also frequently label themselves with ’we Tang Family’?"

"You!" Tang Yan Yi was at a loss for words upon being questioned.

Huangfu Huazhang laughed, shaking his head gently at her: "No, they wouldn’t. Because no one questions their identity, so why would they bother to emphasize it unnecessarily? Only you, knowing the difference between you and them, habitually say ’we Tang Family’."

"And you, towards me, a distant relative of the Tang Family, immediately showed hostility without any regard for humanity. That’s not distinguishing between public and private; that’s harboring resentment. Just because I once, at Yan Sheng’s welcoming party, inadvertently said you don’t have the demeanor of a Tang Family member, you’re taking advantage of this opportunity to settle personal grudges."

"I did not!" Tang Yan Yi exclaimed, slapping the table and standing up in agitation: "Huangfu Huazhang, stop spouting nonsense!"

"Am I spouting nonsense?"

Huangfu Huazhang raised his eyebrows with a smile, his gaze sliding over the mirror, seemingly brushing past Shi Nian’s cheeks. After a slight pause, the mocking smile instantly became focused.

Then it slipped away again, resting back on Tang Yan Yi’s face, the mockery restored.

"Madam Tang, since you’ve rudely uttered the words ’nonsense’, I have to ask carefully: which one of us is truly talking nonsense?"

Huangfu Huazhang sat up straight without standing but his aura suddenly rose, unexpectedly overpowering the standing Tang Yan Yi.

"From 10 PM on October 9 to 2 AM, Madam Tang goes to great lengths to summon me to the police station to ask such a question. Do you not know where I was? Isn’t this creating something out of nothing, making trouble where there is none?!"

With the logical setup and emotional boost from before, Huangfu Huazhang indeed gained full control over the situation the moment he threw out his main argument.

Even Shi Nian, who was outside the situation, was drenched in sweat, let alone Tang Yan Yi, who was right in it?

At that moment, the door of the observation room opened, and Tang Yanqing walked in. Shi Nian, as if seeing a savior, quickly grabbed his hand and asked in a low voice, "Where have you been? Why did it take you so long to get here?"

Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang, who followed in, glanced at each other and awkwardly cleared their throats. Only then did Shi Nian notice them, feeling so embarrassed that his face turned crimson.

Fortunately, the situation by the window was tense and thrilling. After the small joke among the few, they stood shoulder to shoulder beside Shi Nian, looking over there together.

On the other side of the mirror, Tang Yan Yi was unaware, just staring blankly at Huangfu Huazhang.

"What are you saying? How would I know where you were?"

Huangfu Huazhang sneered disdainfully, "The pink neon lights, the truck driver across the table who is burly yet stingy enough only to buy you inferior red wine... In that man’s eyes, you’re not the noble second Miss of the Tang Family, nor are you a police officer; in his eyes, you’re just a weak girl who can be easily bullied, and he was quite confident he’d have you in the palm of his hand that night."

Huangfu Huazhang described all the details from that night that could make Tang Yan Yi unhappy, and then slowly said, "Xiao Yi, don’t tell me you forgot you were also following me that night."

From Shi Nian’s perspective, it was apparent that Tang Yan Yi’s back slightly wavered.

Huangfu Huazhang stared tightly into Tang Yan Yi’s eyes and slowly smiled, "Madam Tang is my best alibi, why do you have to bother and call me to the police station for questioning?"

After he finished speaking, he stood up slowly, the cuffs of his shirt appearing elegant and attractive under the white light, not at all glaring, low-key yet luxurious, making this man appear extraordinarily refined.

"Are we done, Madam Tang? If there are no more questions, I’ll take my leave first."

Tang Yan Yi took deep breaths.

When a person is angry, all the organs in their body are in a passive state of suppression, making it easier to metabolize and produce more carbon dioxide. In turn, carbon dioxide puts the brain in a state of relative hypoxia, causing thoughts to become rigid and prone to stubbornness, which can further drive their emotions out of control.

These were principles Dad had taught her before she even went to the police academy, ringing a warning bell for her at such a crucial moment.

She used deep breathing to quickly replenish her oxygen, creating a pause for herself, allowing her to calm down.

At the same time, in the observation room behind the mirror, Shi Nian couldn’t help but ask Tang Yanqing, "Why don’t you go over and help her?"

Tang Yanqing stared tightly at Tang Yan Yi’s back but slowly shook his head, "Don’t worry, she’s not just any ordinary policewoman. She’s our Tang Family’s superwoman, she’ll definitely overcome this obstacle herself."

Interrogation is also a battle of wit and courage. If other officers were to intervene, it could disrupt the original rhythm set by the lead officer, not only possibly not helping but even potentially giving the suspect more loopholes and opportunities to escape.

Sure enough, just when Shi Nian was so nervous that he couldn’t breathe, they saw that Tang Yan Yi’s perpetually tense shoulders suddenly began to relax.

She then sat down immediately, leaning forward, appearing relaxed.

"I’m really sorry, Mr. Huangfu. I haven’t finished asking. Since you’re here, no matter how busy you are, you don’t mind answering a few more questions, do you?"

Huangfu Huazhang was slightly surprised too, his gaze quickly glided in the direction where Shi Nian was standing, then elegantly sat down again, "Alright. Please go ahead."

Tang Yan Yi pressed the remote, and the television set on a high stand in the corner began to play surveillance footage clipped by Guan Liang.

Huangfu Huazhang squinted to look at it with indifferent interest while Tang Yan Yi took the chance to closely watch Huangfu Huazhang’s facial expressions and body language.

The footage lasted about 3 minutes in total, enough time to capture dozens of effective micro-expressions. However, much to Tang Yan Yi’s disappointment, Huangfu Huazhang maintained almost the same expression and posture from beginning to end, even when he saw himself on the screen, he had little reaction.

Tang Yan Yi frowned and paused the footage with the remote, "Mr. Huangfu, do you recognize the person on the screen now?"

[Happy Holidays~ Three more updates today, with two more in the morning and forenoon.]