The producer frowned, half-impatient and half-sneering: "So do you know who the killer is or not?"
Jian Jing remained very calm, unhurried: "I just said the first necessary condition for the killer. Now I'll say the second important condition - the killer will be confident that they won't disturb the other person in the room when they commit the murder. After all, most people planning a murder don't want a witness present."
Jiang BaiYan raised his hand again that he had just put down: "Why can't it be a crime of passion, where they acted without thinking it through?"
Good question.
"That possibility can't be ruled out, but the probability is low," she said, "Crimes of passion generally happen right after a conflict with the victim, when the anger builds up until they can't hold back. The biggest conflict Qu Jie had was with Director Li, but he didn't know the haunting was man-made."
Director Li nodded repeatedly.
"Plus, the killer's use of the trap was very ingenious. To say it was a spur-of-the-moment thing would be a stretch, so I'm inclined to think he came prepared, with a plan."
She explained slowly: "But that's quite strange - how would the killer know the states Qu Jie and the girl were in?"
The producer shifted uncomfortably, hands on his hips, taking the initiative: "You're not going to say it was me, are you? Why would I kill him?"
"The motive for murder is only useful for narrowing down suspects, it's not always that important," Jian Jing shrugged, continuing at her own pace, "Two possibilities: the killer knew Qu Jie and the girl's situations very well, knew they wouldn't wake up, or the killer used some means to ensure they wouldn't wake up."
She said, "I examined many things at the crime scene, but found no trace of anesthetic gas or tainted drinks. This puzzled me for a while, but then I realized - the answer might be very simple: the killer was already in Qu Jie's room."
The female lead Bei's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "What do you mean?"
"The killer entered the room before Qu Jie returned, witnessed his state, and then boldly committed the murder with a third person present," Jian Jing's gaze fell on the Production Manager, "The only person capable of that and with intimate knowledge of the haunting truth is the one who returned to the inn at 11:10 - the Production Manager."
The Production Manager fell silent.
"You readily admitted to the trap, probably afraid I'd find your footprint climbing through the window or your fingerprints, and wanted to use that as a cover. The haunting incident was something you planned with others, so the suspicion on you would be lower.
"However, you didn't expect Qu Jie to bring someone back today, which should have changed your plan. But you found the girl was completely unconscious, and wouldn't interfere with your actions, so you still decided to strike..."
She slowly spoke, then shifted, "Or is the truth a bit more noble - you originally just wanted to scare Qu Jie, but when you saw the atrocity at the crime scene, you couldn't hold back and decided to eliminate the evil?"
"No," the Production Manager said, "I'm not as noble as you think."
He took two steps forward, exhaling deeply: "From the moment I heard the rumors of the haunting here and proposed scaring him, I had the whole plan figured out. If there was any unexpected thing, it was that the fake bloodied hand print made with a blood pack got Bai to call you here."
Jiang BaiYan looked surprised, as if he hadn't recognized the prop blood pack.
But the acting was too fake for Jian Jing to bother with.
"I was actually really afraid of you finding out," the Production Manager admitted, "But after thinking it through, I couldn't bear to give it up, so I had to act quickly. I didn't expect that I wouldn't be the only one wanting to kill him."
Jian Jing's expression didn't change, grave: "What do you mean?"
The Production Manager said, "You'll have to ask Director Wang about that - what did he put in Qu Jie's cup?"
The producer was suddenly implicated, flustered: "What nonsense are you making up?"
"I've already admitted to the murder, why would I frame you?" The Production Manager sneered, "Okay, let me repeat your conversation again."
He mimicked vividly:
"He won't wake up, right?" - Director Wang's voice.
"No, I poured half a bottle, enough for her to sleep till morning." - Qu Jie's reply.
"She's vomited." - Director Wang, still a bit worried.
"Don't worry, Wang-ge, don't you trust me? Even if she wakes up, she won't be able to tell shit." - Qu Jie's drunken tone.
The producer's face immediately turned deathly pale.
The Production Manager: "After you were done, while Qu Jie was undressing, you handed him a glass of water, and he drank it and fell asleep quickly. I didn't think much of it at first, just cursed you as a bastard. But then I got suspicious - hey, Old Wang, what did you put in there?"
The producer forced himself: "I didn't put anything in. Stop dragging others down with you."
"It doesn't matter if you admit it. The body will speak for itself," Jian Jing finished, "Oh, and if you think leaving it for a day would mean the drug residue can't be detected - I always take a blood sample for cold storage when I do autopsies."
This was like a punch to the producer's face, dazzling his eyes.
Director Li truly couldn't understand: "Old Wei, why did you have to kill him? Qu Jie's temper is bad, but we were just cooperating on a film. If you really didn't want to work with him, you could've just told me to terminate the contract. Why did you have to kill him?"
He stomped his foot angrily: "What on earth made you have to kill him?"
The Production Manager remained silent, only saying to them, "Call the police. You can resume filming tomorrow."
"No." Director Li grabbed his hand, anxiously, "Are you taking the blame for someone else? I really can't think of a reason for you to kill him, Old Wei, we've known each other for so long, surely I know your character?"
He unusually took a firm stance: "Miss Jian, you can't frame an innocent person."
"Old Li." The Production Manager sighed, smiling wryly, "It's fine, I don't regret it."
He looked at the producer and said, "I guessed that even if I didn't do it, he might still die. But I was afraid, afraid I'd guess wrong and he wouldn't die. So I did it myself, I wanted to kill that bastard with my own hands."
The producer was in a cold sweat, his mind in a knot, only able to repeat the same words: "You're making things up."
The Production Manager spoke calmly: "I'm not that selfless, I did it to expose you and get you to admit to the murder. But now that I'm caught, I won't help you cover it up either."
The producer swayed unsteadily.
Jian Jing didn't even look at him, taking out her phone to call the police.
For once, she hoped the accomplice would go to prison, more than the real culprit.
*
With the Production Manager's testimony, along with the towel Shao Mai had used left at the scene, and the other evidence, the case against the producer was airtight.
However, even with a female detective and prosecutor handling the case, after learning the truth, Shao Mai still collapsed.
She refused to believe anything they said, unwilling to accept that Qu Jie had done such a thing.
"Impossible, you're lying!" Shao Mai reacted strongly. "Qu Jie was very good to me. He gave me gifts, remembered my birthday. You're all lying! I don't believe you, you're all deceiving me!"
She stubbornly insisted, "Did someone pay you to smear Qu Jie? He's a celebrity, how could he possibly deceive me? It must be... it's you... deceiving me..." By the end, she couldn't hold back her tears, her voice filled with helplessness and panic.
The police officers across from her did not accuse her. They knew the girl did not truly disbelieve, but was afraid.
She could not face what had happened to her.
She felt fear, panic, terror.
She struggled.
"Please," Shao Mai said, her eyes and nose red, her voice trembling. "Tell me this isn't true, that you're deceiving me, please..."
Those present exchanged glances, maintaining a difficult silence.
Shao Mai completely broke down, covering her face as she wailed, "No... why... why me? What did I do wrong?"
"You..." The policewoman had not finished her words when another voice overlapped.
"You did nothing wrong!" someone answered firmly and powerfully.
Shao Mai lifted her head, looking at the speaker with surprise and bewilderment. "You are..."
The person did not answer, instead continuing, "My daughter was like you, did nothing wrong, but she encountered a scumbag who deceived her. She thought it was her fault and foolishly committed suicide—you did nothing wrong either, the one at fault is that bastard Qu Jie. He's dead now! I killed him with my own hands."
Shao Mai was frightened by the ferocity in his words, temporarily forgetting how to speak.
"I know many wanted him dead. He didn't clean up properly, word got out, sooner or later someone would investigate him. At that point, prison would be the lightest punishment, maybe someone would make sure he stayed silent forever."
The Production Manager's gaze passed through Shao Mai, falling onto a scene from half a year ago that tore his heart apart—his daughter locked herself in at home, not responding even to her mother's calls. When they pried open the door, she had fallen from the balcony, like a butterfly with torn wings.
Falling, shattering, blood and flesh a blur.
What had she done wrong?
She was just a young girl who, through her biological father's connections, got the WeChat of her idol, originally just wanting to exchange a few words. But unexpectedly, the idol was kind to her, chatting with her continuously.
Then, the brilliant, shining idol revealed bloody fangs, devouring her life.
The Production Manager's eyes brimmed with the thrill of revenge, "I'd rather kill him myself, strangle him with my own hands. Only then can I vent this anger—" He tapped his rock-hard chest, laughing maniacally, "Only then can I go see my daughter!"
Shao Mai moved her lips, staring at him in bewilderment, "You... you killed Qu Jie..."
"He deserved to die," the Production Manager told her. "He was the one who did something wrong, it had nothing to do with you."
Hot tears immediately welled up in Shao Mai's eyes. "I didn't know," she murmured. "Why me? What should I do? What should I do??"
The policewoman put her arm around Shao Mai's shoulders, passing her some tissues.
Shao Mai leaned against her shoulder, crying loudly.
"Time to go," the escorting officer gripped the Production Manager's arm, speaking gently. "You shouldn't have contact with the witness. This time is excused, but it won't be allowed again."
The Production Manager clenched his jaw, leaving expressionlessly.
*
The Detective Sisters.
Jian Jing annoyed: [Did you find out?]
Liang Yi wanting to curse: [As expected, it's a new kind of drug, appearing frequently in cases these past two years. Odorless, tasteless, takes effect quickly when dissolved in alcohol, causes unconsciousness for six to eight hours, damages nerves, causes memory loss. Many victims can't recall what happened.]
Ya Nan wanting to sue: [I've handled similar cases before. If the victim ingests too much of this drug, it's easy for them to die.]
Jian Jing annoyed: [Looks like Wang Producer did want Qu Jie dead after all.]
Liang Yi wanting to curse: [I checked the confession, no clear motive.]
Ya Nan wanting to sue: [Silencing him.]
Jian Jing annoyed: [Qu Jie must have had something on him.]
Since he could blackmail the female lead Bei, it proves he's the kind of scumbag who would secretly keep dirt on important people. But his blackmail failed, so he got killed.
Liang Yi wanting to curse: [The rape charge should stick, right?]
Ya Nan wanting to sue: [The evidence chain is complete, Teacher Jian's physical evidence was very important. Three years minimum.]
Jian Jing annoyed: [Too bad we can't dig up all of them, I dare say this wasn't an isolated case.]
Liang Yi wanting to curse: [We'll catch them one by one.]
Ya Nan wanting to sue: [Convict them one by one.]
Jian Jing annoyed: [Kill them one by one.]
Liang Yi wanting to curse: [You're still the most hardcore.]
Ya Nan wanting to sue: [The law is supreme.]
Case closed.
