Chapter 5: Interrogation
900 Words
The young man is called Xia Zirui, a specially recruited member of the police force.
Before the age of twenty, he became a detective and has been by Li Ze's side ever since.
Xia Zirui is considered one of Li Ze's more favored subordinates.
There's only one reason for this:
He possesses an extraordinary talent for trace detection that surpasses everyone else in the department.
However, his shortcomings are quite evident: he enjoys leisure, is frequently tardy, and can be arrogant.
But his merits outweigh his flaws. Faced with such a genius, Li Ze often finds himself turning a blind eye to many things.
Throughout the department, only Li Ze seems capable of reining in Xia Zirui.
Even Liu Changlin can't make this brilliant trace detection expert heed his advice.
"Boss! I've missed you so much!!"
"Where have you been for three years!!"
Upon seeing Li Ze, Xia Zirui springs up like a coil and rushes over, about to give Li Ze a bear hug.
But catching Li Ze's sharp gaze, he involuntarily shivers, stops, and smiles awkwardly, "Lea... Leader."
He truly fears Li Ze.
Behind them, Fuxiaojun stares in disbelief at the suddenly docile Xia Zirui, beginning to question life.
She never imagined that Xia Zirui, who had been a headache for her in trace detection, could be rendered so compliant by just a glance from Li Ze.
Nor did she anticipate Li Ze's level of prestige within the team.
Since she became the deputy team leader, this guy has even defied direct orders and isn't afraid of reprimands!
It seems that, in Xia Zirui's eyes, even dismissal isn't something he can't accept.
Even when she complained to Liu Changlin, the captain simply brushed it off with a twitch of his face and a few words, offering no solution.
At that time, she didn't understand what he meant.
Now, she seems to have figured it out...
Li Ze gazes at Xia Zirui before him, feeling like he's witnessing a whole different person.
Three years, neither short nor long, have indeed passed.
"Carry on. We'll talk later."
"Yes, Leader!"
Xia Zirui is elated, his worries dissipating a lot, and he diligently resumes work.
Not just Xia Zirui, but the other trace detection and forensic experts also experienced a significant change in attitude upon Li Ze's arrival.
As if Li Ze is a spiritual pillar, immensely crucial within the team.
Fuxiaojun keenly observes this and becomes increasingly curious about the rumored Li Ze, feeling a sense of wonder.
In comparison, she feels far behind in her role as deputy team leader.
It's not a matter of time but of personal capability.
She understands that, even if given more time or if she becomes the team leader, it would be challenging to become the irreplaceable core of the police force, as Li Ze is.
Truly, a reputation is not without merit.
The decision to regard this person as a goal in the past was indeed not a mistake.
Li Ze, unaware of Fuxiaojun's thoughts, is observing the crime scene.
"Fuxiaojun."
After a while, Li Ze speaks up.
Fuxiaojun hastily says, "Li Leader, just calling me Xiaojun is fine."
Li Ze looks at her and, with a gentle smile, doesn't refuse, "Sure, Xiaojun."
"Tell me what happened when you entered the crime scene."
"Alright."
Fuxiaojun nods and eloquently narrates the preceding events without missing any details.
Listening attentively, Li Ze's brow subtly furrows.
"The murderer fled by jumping out the window, and you led the team to pursue?"
Seeing Li Ze's seemingly off mood, Fuxiaojun hesitates, "Yes... yes, we did."
"The murderer, having just committed the crime, hadn't left yet, and we cornered them in the study. Eventually, they escaped through the broken window."
"So, I immediately secured the area and led the team in pursuit."
"Leader, is there... something wrong?"
Li Ze shakes his head with a smile, "Hadn't left yet..."
Seeing this, Fuxiaojun's heart skips a beat.
Li Ze points to the male body on the living room floor, "How long do you think it's been since he died?"
Following Li Ze's gesture, Fuxiaojun looks over but hesitates.
"Well..."
She's a field detective, not a forensic expert.
Just by a glance, it's impossible to determine the time of death.
Even with a thorough examination, it's challenging to discern.
Everyone has their own expertise.
This is beyond her abilities.
Li Ze naturally understands and speaks, "Since we can't determine it, why not stay here, wait for the forensic autopsy results, and survey the scene."
"Arresting suspects is not something where having one more or one less makes a difference."
In his tone, there's already an element of questioning.
Beside him, all the waiting police officers turn their gaze to Fuxiaojun.
In their view, this newly appointed, decisive female team leader may have decent abilities, but compared to Captain Li Ze, she's likely far behind.
Clearly, Li Ze is suggesting that Fuxiaojun's command was inadequate.
With the captain absent, the responsibility naturally falls on Fuxiaojun and Wu Kang.
Today, when Fuxiaojun leads the team to the crime scene, how the case develops depends largely on Fuxiaojun's command.
A small mistake in a detail could lead to irreversible consequences.
"I..."
Faced with Li Ze's questioning, Fuxiaojun is unsure how to respond.
At the same time, she feels somewhat wrong.
Everyone saw the murderer fleeing. Is it wrong to lead the team to catch them?
- Writer
