Chapter 114 - 82: Verification! Nobody Knows Compliance Better Than Me

Liu Jingqi sat across from Huang Shi. Seeing his expression, she let out a disdainful scoff and leaned back in her chair, clearly unable to be bothered with him.

"You!"

An ugly look crossed Huang Shi’s face. It was the first time he had ever encountered someone so stubbornly defiant, so impervious to both threats and reason.

"The police have finished taking Lv Guangjun’s statement. The crime scene perfectly matches his description. You can’t escape the charge of intentional homicide."

"Liu Jingqi, if you confess now, compensate the family, and apologize, there’s still a chance for you!"

As he spoke, he stared intently at her.

He hadn’t planned to continue the interrogation today, but when he’d slept the night before, the faces of Zhao Li and Yang Jiale had appeared in his dream.

In the dream, Zhao Li had saved up enough money to install a brand-new air conditioner for Yang Jiale. Yang Jiale was an excellent student who got into a good school and wanted to earn money to get treatment for Zhao Li’s leg. Sun Zhigang personally organized a party to celebrate, while Yang Huan was still as mischievous as ever. The whole family was full of joy, preparing for the New Year.

When he woke, a cold December wind was blowing through the streets. The victims’ family was shattered. On New Year’s Eve, Yang Huan would be left to face a cold, deathly silent, dark house, staring blankly into space, all alone.

And so, Huang Shi was here.

But...

"I can get leniency even without apologizing."

A mocking smile played on Liu Jingqi’s lips. It was obvious she paid his words no mind.

"So why should I bother apologizing?"

"You!"

Huang Shi slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, his face incredibly grim.

And yet, he was completely helpless against her.

’Arrogant... I’ve never met anyone this arrogant before, and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. The reality is just as she said.’

’Even if she doesn’t apologize, even with her terrible attitude, she’ll still get a lenient sentence!’

’The law clearly stipulates that a 16-year-old "shall receive a lighter or mitigated punishment."’

’And in the legal code, the word "shall" isn’t a suggestion.’

’It’s practically a "must." It’s mandatory!’

’Unless the way Liu Jingqi committed the murder was exceptionally brutal and heinous, she won’t get a heavy sentence, even if she remains defiantly unrepentant.’

At that very moment...

BZZZT BZZZT BZZZT...

The phone on the table suddenly began to vibrate.

Huang Shi glanced at the caller ID and was about to reject the call, but he paused when he saw who it was.

The next second, he stood up, walked to the side, and answered it.

Liu Jingqi paid it no mind. She sat at the interrogation table, picking at her nails. Clearly, she couldn’t care less about the deaths of Yang Jiale and Zhao Li.

"Hello?"

Huang Shi answered. "You got something to say, spit it out."

On the other end of the line, Xu De’s voice came through. "It sounds like Prosecutor Huang isn’t in the best of moods today?"

"Cut the crap!"

Huang Shi felt utterly frustrated.

"It’s nothing major. Just wanted to let you know I’m out of the province for a couple of days."

Huang Shi froze.

"Where did you go?" Huang Shi asked.

Two words came from the earpiece. "Lianshan County."

Huang Shi grew even more confused. "Lianshan County?"

"Where is that?"

"It’s nothing, just a small county town. I’m here on business..."

"A small county town?"

Huang Shi couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

’The case’s second hearing isn’t for another week, which seems like plenty of time, but...’

’A trip out of the province, counting travel time there and back plus getting settled back in, would eat up at least four days!’

’Besides... where is Lianshan County? What business could he possibly have there?’

Huang Shi’s brow furrowed deeper as he continued to press Xu De for answers.

However, what he failed to notice was that, in his distraction, the girl at the interrogation table—Liu Jingqi, who had been sitting there picking her nails with a mocking smirk on her face—had suddenly frozen solid.

She looked up at Huang Shi, a flicker of shock in her eyes.

’Lian... Lianshan County!?’

Huang Shi asked, "What are you doing there with nothing better to do?"