Because of the fingerprints Wei Zhi had left at the water station and the fact that she had been captured by the surveillance cameras outside its main entrance, the police were bound to come knocking soon.
Every second was precious.
Ji Qikun crouched in the master bathroom, mixing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda into a rudimentary cleaning solution. He had assumed the rest would be Wei Zhi’s job, but when he looked around, she had vanished.
He found her on the bed in the master bedroom. She had actually fallen asleep without a care in the world, her usual sleeping pills and a glass of water sitting on the nightstand.
*Is this really the time for a nap?!*
Fuming with rage, Ji Qikun shook her awake with a violent shove.
“Don’t sleep! We still have to clean the suitcase!”
Wei Zhi peered at him through bleary eyes and then closed them again.
“Clean it tomorrow.”
“What do you mean tomorrow? The police will be here tomorrow!”
“They won’t. Clean it tomorrow,” Wei Zhi said in a soothing tone, her voice hazy as she drifted back toward sleep.
She rolled over, pulled the duvet over her head, and turned her back to the dumbfounded Ji Qikun. Moments later, he heard the sound of her steady breathing once again.
She was a lunatic—
Why had he never seen that before?
Suppressing his fury, Ji Qikun turned and walked back to the bathroom.
First, he filled the bathtub containing the suitcase with scalding hot water. Once the temperature dropped, he drained it all. Then, he stripped completely naked before stepping into the tub to wash the case, preventing any blood from splashing onto his clothes.
Under the forceful spray of the showerhead, the water running off the suitcase turned from pale red to colorless.
Once no more blood could be rinsed away, he began using the homemade cleaning agent to scrub every inch and corner of the suitcase.
After the initial cleaning, Ji Qikun dismantled every removable part of the suitcase, paying special attention to the dirt in the wheels where blood might have seeped in. Next, he wiped the entire body of the case with alcohol, rinsed it again, and followed up with a bleach wipe.
Though it might not necessarily reach the stage of evidence collection, he had to be prepared.
The body in the trunk also had to be moved as soon as possible.
Amidst an unspeakable anxiety, Ji Qikun watched the dawn break.
At six o’clock, he put on a moisture-wicking athletic set and went out for a run, pretending everything was normal. At seven, he encountered Zhang Kaiyang, dressed in his police uniform, knocking on his front door.
“This is...” He feigned total ignorance, his expression one of surprise.
“I am Officer Zhang Kaiyang from the Dashanguan Police Station. I have some questions and would like you and Wei Zhi to cooperate with our investigation.” Zhang Kaiyang flashed his police ID. “Is no one home?”
Ji Qikun glanced behind the officer and saw no one else.
Fewer people had come than he expected. Perhaps that was a good thing; it suggested the police hadn't yet classified them as primary suspects.
“Oh, my wife is still sleeping. She took some sleeping pills last night, so she probably didn't hear the doorbell,” Ji Qikun explained with a smile. He opened the door wide and graciously invited Zhang Kaiyang inside.
“Please, come in. I’ll go wake her up.”
Anyone entering Ji Qikun’s home for the first time would be drawn to the numerous mirrored decorations on the walls.
Ji Qikun offered an explanation: “Mirrors add depth. They make the rooms look more spacious.”
Zhang Kaiyang did not respond.
Ji Qikun settled him in the living room and then walked into the bedroom. He pulled the door nearly shut, leaving just a crack so that Zhang Kaiyang could hear his conversation with Wei Zhi.
He shook Wei Zhi awake and covered her lips. Looking into her half-awake eyes, he said with a smile:
“Honey, wake up. The police are here. They say they have some questions for me.”
“I’m not sure either. We’ll ask when you’re up.”
“Hurry now. Just get dressed and come out.”
Only when her eyes regained their clarity did he withdraw his hand and walk out of the bedroom as if nothing were wrong—this time closing the door behind him.
“I’m sorry, please wait a moment. My wife will be out as soon as she’s dressed.” He sat on the sofa opposite Zhang Kaiyang and asked with a puzzled look, “Is this visit because Wei Lai has been found?”
“...We’ll talk once your wife is present,” Zhang Kaiyang said.
“Fine, we’ll wait for her then,” Ji Qikun replied with a smile.
Ten minutes later, Wei Zhi, wearing a light blue shirt and loose jeans, sat down beside Ji Qikun.
“Are you aware of what happened at the water station across the street?” Zhang Kaiyang asked, leading the questioning.
“I heard something happened, but I’m not clear on the details,” Ji Qikun said.
“And you?” Zhang Kaiyang kept his eyes fixed on Wei Zhi.
“I heard as well,” Wei Zhi said. “The neighbors are saying there was a murder inside—who died?”
“Who do you think died?” Zhang Kaiyang countered.
Wei Zhi smiled. “It’s either Tan Mengyan or Weng Xiuyue, because they’re the only two people I’ve ever seen in that water station. If it were anyone else, Officer Zhang wouldn't be paying us a visit today.”
“So you admit to seeing the two of them in that water station?”
“Of course. I told you everything yesterday,” Wei Zhi said candidly. “After I came back, I felt I had wronged my husband, so I told him about how I had been momentarily led astray by Weng Xiuyue. He forgave me.”
She took Ji Qikun’s hand, and he gripped hers tightly in return.
“Yes, I admit she made some mistakes in the past, but I don't blame Xiao Zhi for being manipulated by others.” Ji Qikun gave a gentle, refined smile. “From now on, I will use my actions to make Xiao Zhi trust me more.”
Zhang Kaiyang hadn't come here to listen to a display of marital bliss. His brow furrowed slightly as he continued:
“What were you doing yesterday between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM? Is there anyone who can vouch for you?”
“During that time, I was in a meeting at the office. Around 6:00 PM, our department went out for a group dinner. Many colleagues can testify to that,” Ji Qikun said.
Zhang Kaiyang’s gaze fell on Wei Zhi. From the very beginning, she was the only one he was locked onto.
“Around four o'clock...” Wei Zhi recalled. “At that time, I was at Xinji Supermarket. On my way back, I had decided to tell my husband everything that night. After I finished shopping, around 4:30, I went to a nearby community park. I found a secluded, empty bench and sat there thinking about how to communicate with my husband. I returned home around 7:30. The surveillance in the supermarket should have captured me, but I don't know about the park. That place looked quite run-down.”
“What did you buy at Xinji Supermarket?” Zhang Kaiyang asked, even though he already knew the answer.
“I bought a 30-inch suitcase,” Wei Zhi said nonchalantly.
“Why buy such a large suitcase?”
“After listening to Weng Xiuyue’s slander, I wasn't entirely sure my husband would forgive me. I bought a suitcase so that I wouldn't look too pathetic when I had to move my things out.”
“Where is the suitcase?”
“I washed it as soon as I brought it home. It’s still drying on the balcony.”
“Why wash a suitcase? Was it dirty right after you bought it?” Zhang Kaiyang asked sharply.
Wei Zhi smiled at the question and replied unhurriedly, “Officer, those who aren't particular about cleanliness don't have to wash it, of course. But I don't like that. It’s better to clean anything that’s going to hold clothes.”
“Can I see this suitcase?” Zhang Kaiyang pressed.
“Of course,” Wei Zhi smiled.
Zhang Kaiyang went to the balcony and saw the 30-inch suitcase drying. Judging by its volume, it was large enough to hold Weng Xiuyue if she were curled up.
The case had been washed very clean, but to test for blood, it would have to be taken back to the Criminal Investigation Division.
With the current evidence, however, it wasn't enough to convince his superiors to issue a search warrant.
Zhang Kaiyang could only perform a cursory inspection on the spot with his flashlight.
The case was clean—too clean. It was as if someone had anticipated his actions and performed a rigorous cleaning in advance.
Naturally, he found nothing.
When Zhang Kaiyang straightened up, he was met with Ji Qikun’s smile. His relaxed demeanor made it seem as if everything was going exactly as expected. Beside him, Wei Zhi remained quiet, appearing like a low-profile supporting character in a grand stage play.
But Zhang Kaiyang knew that she was the true protagonist when the curtain fell.
After inspecting the suitcase, Zhang Kaiyang asked to see the other rooms.
“Sure, look wherever you like. But I’m going to be late for work, so I’ll have to let my wife show you around.” Ji Qikun glanced at the mechanical watch on his wrist. “May I go to work, Officer Zhang?”
Zhang Kaiyang had no authority to detain Ji Qikun at the moment. He nodded, and Ji Qikun’s face broke into a smile once more.
“Honey, contact me anytime if anything comes up.”
Wei Zhi nodded to him—meek and submissive.
The moment Ji Qikun stepped out of the house, the smile vanished from his face.
Fifteen minutes later, after looking through every room in the house, Zhang Kaiyang asked to see the car in the underground garage.
Wei Zhi cooperatively led him down.
When the electronic rolling shutter rose, a black Bentayga sat alone in the spacious garage, watching them.
Zhang Kaiyang remembered the Mercedes that Wei Zhi had driven away from the police station last time.
“Where is the other Mercedes?” he asked.
“My husband drove it to work,” Wei Zhi said. “We have two cars and always switch between them.”
Zhang Kaiyang looked at that calm, fearless face. After a moment of deliberation, he said:
“Unlock this car.”
Wei Zhi unlocked it, and Zhang Kaiyang proceeded to check the trunk and the seats inside the cabin.
Nothing unusual.
He had already guessed as much on his way here.
Zhang Kaiyang’s phone rang at that moment. He stepped away from the vehicle and Wei Zhi, moving to a spot where she couldn't overhear, before cautiously answering his colleague’s call.
Wei Zhi leaned against the black Bentayga, watching Zhang Kaiyang on the phone with a languid expression.
She wasn't curious about what was being said on the phone, because no one knew the ins and outs of what had happened at the water station better than she did.
About five minutes later, Zhang Kaiyang hung up and walked back to Wei Zhi.
“Officer Zhang, is there anything else?” she smiled. “If not, I’m going back to catch up on my sleep. I took sleeping pills yesterday, and I’m still not quite awake.”
Zhang Kaiyang looked into Wei Zhi’s calm eyes, his expression complex. He had many things he wanted to say, but facing those eyes, he knew anything he said would be a waste of breath.
“He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster,” he said, emphasizing every word. “Never forget those words.”
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
大山关派出所 | Dashanguan Police Station | A local police station.
鑫记超市 | Xinji Supermarket | The store where Wei Zhi bought the suitcase.
刑侦大队 | Criminal Investigation Division | A higher-level police unit for serious crimes.
添越 | Bentayga | A luxury SUV model by Bentley.
奔驰 | Mercedes | Refers to the Mercedes-Benz Ji Qikun drove to work.
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