“Zhao Tianqi, Zhao Tianman’s older brother?” Gu Ling looked at Ye Sangsang with a puzzled expression, mainly asking if the other party had any doubts.
Zheng He had never interacted with Zhao Tianqi and only knew that he was Zhao Tianman’s brother. At the time, the statement was taken by Ye Sangsang and another colleague. He also asked suspiciously, “Is this person a suspect?”
The two of them had carefully thought it over earlier. Under the assumption that Qin Jiang wasn’t the murderer, what evidence did they have to prove his innocence?
Even the timeline had been meticulously examined by the two of them while waiting for the DNA results. However, Ye Sangsang didn’t know that the two had gone through all the current case information again.
Under the veil of a case where the truth seemed just out of reach, they could sense something was off, but the results didn’t leave room for doubt.
In the end, they could only console themselves with the idea that Qin Jiang had intended to persuade someone to turn over a new leaf.
But deep down, they knew this explanation was still a bit of a stretch.
Ye Sangsang looked at them and said, “The breakthrough point could be Zhao Tianqi. Let’s go meet this man who lost his younger brother and see if he still has a conscience left.”
This strange remark instantly caught the attention of the other two.
None of the three liked to drag things out, so they drove straight to Zhao Tianqi’s place. Zheng He had already been to the garbage factory twice and didn’t need to ask for directions this time.
The car stopped at the entrance, and the three got out.
The weather was quite hot, but despite the piles of scrap in the factory, there was no foul smell. On the contrary, the higher stacks were neatly arranged, with discarded steel pipes of varying lengths placed in order, and wire coils packed in snake-skin bags stacked in the corner.
Ye Sangsang walked in from the entrance, her gaze falling on the somewhat messy scrap and the empty tricycle nearby.
The small building in the western corner of the factory looked very quiet.
Zheng He stepped forward and knocked on the door, calling out, “Is anyone here?”
He knocked seven or eight times and called out three or four times before he got a response.
“Someone’s here! Are you here to sell scrap?” A middle-aged man’s deep voice answered.
As the man spoke, he opened the half-closed door and looked at the people outside.
When he saw Ye Sangsang, he knew they weren’t here to sell scrap but to ask questions.
He looked at the three of them and said impatiently, “Don’t come looking for me anymore. I don’t know anything. Zhao Tianman is dead, so let it be.”
After saying this, he reached out to close the door.
Zheng He wouldn’t allow it. He stepped forward, grabbed the door handle with one hand, and held up his badge with the other. “We’re here on police business, and you’re a person of interest. Unless you want to talk at the station.”
Dealing with people like this, a few words were usually enough.
Just like that, Ye Sangsang and the others entered the room.
After sitting down, Gu Ling and Zheng He’s eyes fell on Ye Sangsang. They were just following along and didn’t actually know what Ye Sangsang wanted to ask.
【Hurry up, I want to know too!】
【Zhao Tianqi seems pretty normal! Last time, I was even angry on his behalf.】
【His brother stole such a large sum of money, and he didn’t get it even after his brother died. I’d be heartbroken too.】
The live stream was also filled with confusion. Everyone was curious about what Ye Sangsang had figured out.
Zhao Tianqi brought over a few cups of tea, placed them in front of the three, and then sat down.
Ye Sangsang looked at him, thought for a moment about how to approach the topic, and then said, “Can you tell me about your brother? Things unrelated to his crimes.”
“Is this related to the case?” Zhao Tianqi asked.
She shook her head with a smile. “No, I just want to know.”
Zhao Tianqi glanced at her but ultimately didn’t refuse.
Perhaps, in his heart, this was his only remaining family. No matter what had happened, all grudges would fade with death, leaving only the good memories.
Although Zheng He and Gu Ling were puzzled, they listened quietly.
Zhao Tianqi began to recount some simple childhood memories, like catching fish and shrimp in the river, going to school together, and catching fireflies.
His expression relaxed as he spoke. “When I was a kid, I was more mischievous than my brother. I always liked to go swimming in the river. Back then, the river was big, and the kids were small. Summer was the most dangerous time, and accidents were common. Our parents wouldn’t let me go…”
At this point, his expression became a bit uneasy.
Ye Sangsang didn’t speak, just continued to listen quietly.
Zhao Tianqi paused, then continued, “My brother was like my shadow. Every time our parents found out I’d gone swimming, they’d whip me with bamboo sticks. My brother would always step forward and say it was his fault, that he’d begged me to catch fish for him to eat.”
“In the end, they’d end up whipping both of us, and we’d just laugh it off.”
Here, Zhao Tianqi lowered his head and covered his eyes with his hand.
Only the occasional trembling of his shoulders and the tears falling revealed his current emotions.
Ye Sangsang said softly, “He loved you very much. I just don’t know if your relationship changed over time. Maybe it did. But that’s normal. People grow up, and relationships often grow distant in the adult world.”
Zhao Tianqi heard this but remained silent, his head bowed.
Ye Sangsang wasn’t in a hurry and continued, “You haven’t been out for a few days. Since your brother died, have you lost the motivation to work? What a pity. He was planning to make amends after getting out of prison, but he died before he could.”
“What do you know! He never planned to live a decent life. He took my money, saying he was going to invest, but he just wanted to go out and live it up like he always did!”
Zhao Tianqi suddenly stood up from the couch, his eyes red with anger as he glared at Ye Sangsang and retorted.
Ye Sangsang turned her head and said logically, “The third floor was built later, after your parents passed away. Wasn’t two floors enough for three people? Why did you need to build a third floor? Tell me! Who was the third floor built for?”
“So what! The way he was, did he deserve it?” Zhao Tianqi shouted angrily.
Ye Sangsang stared directly at him, her tone suddenly serious and accusatory. “Was that five thousand really stolen by him?”
When someone is about to lie, they often feel a subconscious guilt, afraid of being found out. Zhao Tianqi’s eyes flickered as he forced an explanation. “It was mine.”
Ye Sangsang let out a mocking laugh.
But Zhao Tianqi didn’t dare to lash out at Ye Sangsang again because he was guilty.
After a moment, Ye Sangsang’s voice lowered. “He might have wronged others, but he never wronged you. For example, he was thinking of using that five thousand to invest so the two of you could live a better life. But he never expected that you’d covet that money, wanting to use it to get married, but instead found him and Qin Jiang in the room.”
She spoke firmly, her words measured. “He knew it was you under that mask. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken that bullet for you.”
“I didn’t go up there!”
Zhao Tianqi protested.
Ye Sangsang looked at his shoes. “Your brother’s shoes were bought together after he got out of prison, right? The same pair. You thought you’d treat him better, borrow money from him, but he didn’t budge. He didn’t agree to your proposal.”
“And your brother’s five thousand—you got it, just as you wanted.”
“Now, tell me, who stayed in your brother’s room, and how did they convince you to go get the money at that time?”
The sharpness of her questioning made Zhao Tianqi instinctively take two steps back.
He looked at Ye Sangsang with fear in his eyes.
Because the person in front of him seemed like a monster, someone who had seen through his experiences and thoughts completely.
In the end, he closed his eyes and lowered his head. “Arrest me. What you said… it’s all true. I lost my way for a moment and listened to them, did something wrong.”
Zheng He’s mouth hung slightly open, unaccustomed to the rapid pace of the conversation.
This… this was it? The case was solved?
Gu Ling smiled slightly, her eyes shining with admiration as she looked at Ye Sangsang.
She took out the handcuffs and cuffed Zhao Tianqi.
【Ahhhh, so that’s how it was!】
【So Zhao Tianman had genuinely repented, but Zhao Tianqi became greedy, leading to this tragedy.】
【The real culprit manipulated Zhao Tianqi, probably telling him no one was home, but Zhao Tianman returned, and a police officer showed up too. But didn’t they know each other? Why did they still act, resulting in one death and one injury?】
The live stream’s questions were soon answered by Zhao Tianqi.
Because that person said he was lying in Zhao Tianman’s house, and if Zhao Tianman came back and found the money missing, he’d definitely come after him.
So, he had Zhao Tianqi bring a knife, a mask, and white wool gloves. That way, if Zhao Tianman questioned him, he’d have something to defend himself with, and it would also prevent Zhao Tianman from reporting the theft to the police, who might trace him through fingerprints.
Zhao Tianqi had been single for over twenty years, and his mind had long been clouded by desire and greed. He acted impulsively, driven by any rationale that seemed even remotely plausible.
When he saw Zhao Tianman and the police, he panicked and made a noise.
Upon realizing his money had been stolen, Zhao Tianqi flew into a rage and started a fight.
Qin Jiang tried to intervene, but Zhao Tianqi, armed with a knife, decided to take his brother hostage and flee. In the heat of the moment, he even nearly injured Zhao Tianman. Realizing he had gone too far, he tried to escape.
In a desperate move, Qin Jiang drew his gun and confronted him.
“I could have escaped, but that guy insisted on catching me. I didn’t think he’d actually shoot… but he did,” Zhao Tianqi said, his voice tinged with confusion and sorrow. “My brother shielded me, and I was about to lunge at Qin Jiang, who was frozen in shock. I only managed to push him down before my brother stopped me.”
“And then you ran,” Ye Sangsang remarked.
Zhao Tianqi nodded, his head hanging low in dejection. “I didn’t want to be caught. I happened to be wearing gloves, so I quickly tidied up, climbed over the wall, and left. By the time you broke down the door, I had already fallen and made it back to my room, unscathed.”
“I’m worse than an animal. Only now do I realize how utterly foolish I was, how I let myself be consumed by greed and delusion.”
As he spoke, he slapped himself hard twice.
Ye Sangsang looked at him and delivered another blow. “Actually, he wanted you and your brother to destroy each other. Zhao Tianman never came back from outside—he was always at home.”
She left the rest unsaid, but everyone present understood.
Zheng He pondered for a moment. “He orchestrated all of this, intending for one of you to die.”
“He just didn’t expect it to work out so well…” Gu Ling said, her face grim.
The room fell into silence.
Zheng He reached out, pulling Zhao Tianqi to his feet. “Let’s go. It’s time to come clean. Your brother has turned over a new leaf. Now it’s your turn.”
Gu Ling walked behind them, giving Ye Sangsang a thumbs-up.
“Every step leaves a trace. Since I was in charge of questioning Zhao Tianqi, it’s only natural that I’d uncover the truth,” Ye Sangsang said with a smile.
Now, she only hoped that Zhao Tianqi still remembered the features of the real mastermind who had sown discord between the brothers.
Moreover, she had another lingering doubt.
She just wasn’t sure if the answer to that doubt was what she suspected.
The three of them escorted Zhao Tianqi back to the station. While his arrest didn’t completely clear Qin Jiang’s name, it was a breakthrough.
For Zheng He and Gu Ling, it was a glimmer of hope.
After the interrogation, they went to see Qin Jiang and shared the results of their investigation.
…
On the evening the case was resolved, Jiang Chengxin turned on the holographic game *Criminal Archives* and began browsing through various livestreams. She scrolled through countless streamers’ channels, cringing at their performances. Their gameplay was so clumsy that she couldn’t bear to watch, quickly swiping away.
After searching for a while, she finally gave up and clicked on her favorites, waiting for Ye Sangsang’s livestream while watching recorded footage.
Even though it was her third time watching the recording, she couldn’t help but marvel at Ye Sangsang’s adaptability in unfamiliar environments.
For many, *Criminal Archives* was a novel experience. But for professionals like police officers, lawyers, and prosecutors, it wasn’t anything extraordinary.
After all, even though the game was based on real cases, it often struggled to fully capture the absurdity of reality.
Still, the game itself was highly engaging. As the first holographic game developed by Star Ring Games, a subsidiary of Star Ring Technology, it was the culmination of years of research and development.
Occasionally, it made for an entertaining watch, even as background noise.
For instance, the *Brutal Carnival* scenario immediately piqued her interest.
She admitted to herself that she would have struggled to piece together the clues, predict the culprit’s next move, and apprehend them so swiftly.
Ye Sangsang was a genius, whether it came to crime or investigation.
Her intelligence stats reflected that.
Jiang Chengxin had seen many streamers’ stats, with intelligence points ranging mostly between 5 and 6. She guessed that 5 points corresponded to an IQ of 90–110, 6 points to 110–120, 7 to 120–130, and 8 to 130–140 or higher.
With such intelligence, it was no wonder Ye Sangsang reacted so quickly.
After a while, Ye Sangsang went live, and Jiang Chengxin settled in to watch.
Ye Sangsang moved swiftly, seemingly without needing to think. All Jiang Chengxin had to do was follow her lead.
Qin Jiang’s initial suspicion arose when he left alone.
His actions were highly suspicious, and when he fell from the third floor, Jiang Chengxin thought he might just be unlucky.
But as more clues emerged, she began to see the truth.
Perhaps the real culprit of this case was Qin Jiang, who was now unconscious.
As the investigation progressed, Ye Sangsang’s profile board filled with evidence, confirming her suspicions.
The scenario seemed to be heading toward a quick resolution.
The only surprise was the rapid progress of a rival internet detective streamer. They were moving so fast it was as if they were copying answers.
Jiang Chengxin ignored it, focusing on Ye Sangsang’s livestream. She watched as Ye Sangsang logged in, confirmed details, and began profiling.
She was stunned. The truth she had assumed was being rapidly overturned!
Hadn’t Ye Sangsang used profiling to prove Qin Jiang was the culprit? Why was she now refuting that?
But she had to admit, the profiles of Qin Jiang and the actual culprit were different. The two profiles clearly pointed to separate individuals.
She began to look forward to the final outcome.
At the same time, she started reviewing the clues.
When Zhao Tianqi appeared, Jiang Chengxin’s jaw dropped.
They had assumed Zhao Tianqi was the victim, with Zhao Tianman being the unrepentant bully who tormented his older brother. But the reality was the opposite—Zhao Tianqi’s greed and lack of conscience contrasted sharply with Zhao Tianman’s redemption after being released from prison.
It made sense.
Zhao Tianqi’s story didn’t hold up. Ye Sangsang must have realized it too. If Zhao Tianqi really had enough money to get married, he would have done so long ago. The actual decision-makers at the recycling plant were likely their parents.
After their parents’ deaths, the inheritance would have been split equally—or perhaps Zhao Tianqi received more, given his role in the business.
The game’s attention to detail was truly impressive.
How would this case end? Jiang Chengxin wondered.
And the name Qin Jiang… it sounded so familiar!
The livestream had a replay feature, so she rewound to the beginning of the scenario.
She hadn’t paid much attention to the city’s name before, but now she realized it was the same as her own: Chennan City.
Why hadn’t she heard of South Street or the other streets mentioned?
Could it be that the names had changed over the past thirty years?
She pondered for a moment, then searched through the system’s archives, ignoring her dinner.
Soon, she found the answer. It was indeed her city.
Chennan City.
South Street had been renamed North-South Street.
Jiang Chengxin: …
She had stumbled upon a story close to home.
Her eyes gleamed as she considered the possibility of uncovering the real truth.
Using her access, she pulled up the case file that began with the South Street body disposal case.
She set her dinner aside, her eyes fixed on the computer screen as the text appeared. Beside her, Ye Sangsang’s livestream played.
The document was lengthy, but as she read, Jiang Chengxin’s mouth fell open.
The names Qin Jiang, Zheng He, Gu Ling, and Shen Yu appeared before her, and the details of the case unfolded.
It was identical to what was depicted in *Criminal Archives*.
But there was one difference…
She reached out, paused Ye Sangsang’s livestream, and stared in disbelief.
Unsure, she looked again.
She repeated the process of looking down and up several times.
Finally, she confirmed something and tightly gripped her phone.
Swallowing hard, she dialed her superior’s number.
