Chapter 423: Chapter 423

"You know very little about Zhou Qin’s case, so now let’s talk about the kidnapping involving you and Liu Runxi a few days ago. No hurry, take your time."

Half an hour later, Shen You’an walked out of the interrogation room. Xiang Chenyu instructed his assistant, Song Shi, "Escort Shen home safely."

After Song Shi and Shen You’an left, Xiang Chenyu sat alone for a long time, a recording device and interrogation transcript placed before him.

Shen You’an’s answers matched exactly with the investigation Wen Zhou conducted that day. Her behavior showed no issues either.

But that’s precisely the biggest issue.

Wen Zhou stood by the door and knocked. "Director Xiang, you just took Shen’s statement. Any new findings?"

Wen Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiang Chenyu glanced at him. "I heard from Xiao Bei that Mrs. Liu claimed that day Shen and the criminals were in cahoots. She wanted you to arrest her. Is that true?" Get full chapters from NoveI(F)ire.net

Wen Zhou nodded. "Mrs. Liu harbors a natural bias against any female student who gets too close to Liu Runxi. Shen is innocent."

"How can you be so sure she’s innocent?"

Wen Zhou abruptly raised his head. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I just realized this Shen displays exceptional intelligence and psychological resilience. She is not to be underestimated."

"Do you have any evidence?"

Xiang Chenyu opened Shen You’an’s file. "Her resume alone is so outstanding that even in Jingzhou, she’d be one in a million. To be stuck here in this small Qingzhou—what a waste of talent."

"What does that have to do with the case?"

Xiang Chenyu smirked. "Mrs. Liu’s perspective is too narrow. This girl is destined for greatness."

Xiang Chenyu’s gaze fell upon the section about Shen You’an’s parents.

Father: Shen Li, born 1985, a firefighter in the Ninth Fire Brigade, heroically sacrificed himself during a fire ten years ago while saving others. Posthumously awarded the title "Martyr" and buried in the Martyrs’ Cemetery.

Mother: Zhang Yun, born 1982, died at the age of thirty-one due to childbirth complications, resulting in the loss of both mother and child.

Xiang Chenyu’s finger landed on Shen Li’s name.

Could Zhou Qin’s disappearance be related to the jade token?

According to the investigation, Zhou Qin’s jade token was stolen the night before Zhang Yun’s burial, taken from her coffin. She hid it for years but later hooked up with her lover, Wei Dahai, a gambling addict who squandered all his money. He sweet-talked Zhou Qin into giving up her savings. Among them, one deposit book survived because it was listed under Zhang Jian’s name at the bank where he worked.

Pressured by Wei Dahai, Zhou Qin had no choice but to sell the jade token that she had kept hidden for over a decade. Little did she know, she was swindled by a corrupt auction house and only got 10,000 yuan for it.

According to Kong Lili, that jade token was a betrothal gift Shen Li gave to Zhang Yun.

Xiang Chenyu confirmed repeatedly at the time—Kong Lili indeed said so.

Using Qing Country’s Winged Jade Token as a betrothal gift...

Xiang Chenyu could still vividly recall the excitement she felt at the time. "Shen Li, Shen Li..."

She kept repeating his name, trying to discern traces of an old acquaintance.

But to her disappointment, this Shen Li turned out to be nothing more than an ordinary firefighter.

Unwilling to give up, she specifically went to the Ninth Fire Brigade to find Shen Li’s former superior, Director Zhao.

Director Zhao had a deep impression of Shen Li. "Shen Li? He was truly the smartest and most diligent subordinate I’ve ever had. Such a pity, gone too soon."

The elderly man, reminiscing about the subordinate he once valued most, couldn’t help but tear up.

Xiang Chenyu produced her credentials. "I need access to Shen Li’s file. I ask for your cooperation."

Director Zhao shook his head. "Apologies, Director Xiang. It’s not a matter of cooperation. Shen Li’s file is restricted—even between you and me, we don’t have the authority."

Xiang Chenyu frowned. "Look closely at my credentials."

"I see them. You’re Director Xiang from Jingzhou, with status and connections. But even so, you don’t have permission to access his records."

At this point, Xiang Chenyu finally caught a whiff of something unusual.

"Then who does have access?"

"I don’t know. What I do find curious is why so many have come to investigate Shen Li recently. He’s been gone for many years. Who still remembers him?"

Xiang Chenyu narrowed her eyes. "Who else has come looking?"

"That I cannot say. In any case, Director Xiang, my apologies, but I must decline your request."