Chapter 56 - The Wicked Girlfriend

UNEDITED VERSION: PLEASE WAIT FOR 1 HOUR,

"I thought you were my best friend, Cai Hong. But it seems like you got a huge pile of secrets hidden away from me."

"I didn't mean it like that. I hated that wretched girl because everyone liked her. But I swear meant to kill her,"

"I'm not asking about the murder. I heard that you were childhood buddies with both of them. We went high school together, and you never mentioned anything about Wan Yi Jun."

"We just went to the same school. I don't know why Wan Yi Jun said that we were childhood friends. Apart from academics, he never talked anything else to me. On the other hand,  Han Ze Min was quite a charmer. He was loved by everyone, including me."

"You liked him?'

"He was my first crush."

"Yeah, thanks for telling at least now. I almost got engaged to him, do you have any idea if I hear it about you and Han Ze Min after marriage?"

"Chill out, I was damn sure that you will never accept him, let alone get engaged. Also, I said I had a crush on him, that brat always roaming around that wicked girl."

"His girlfriend?"

"I don't know...that's what everyone used to say. Even though she came from Novaria with Wan Yi Jun, she was closer to Han Ze Min. At first, we all thought that she might be their cousin, but later on, when someone proposed to him, he said that he likes Tsuki,"

"Tsuki?"

"Yeah, her parents were Daisun."

"How did she die?"

"That's a huge story. Her parents were spies from Daisun."

"What?"

"Yes, they sold the national secrets to Daisunese mafia and even created a bomb blast in Wan Corporation that ruined their entire business."

"When did all these happen. How come I'm not aware of any of these?"

"It happened fourteen of fifteen years ago when we were in school. You were staying in Zhui Shan with your mother."

"But, how did that girl die?"

"She died in an arson, not so long after her parents died in the prison. It was rumoured that the Wan family was the ones, behind all of their death. They lost everything, and Wan Yi Jun's family returned to Novaria. I got reminded of him, only when I found that you were friends. Since you two were thick friends, I didn't want to tell you either, also just like how I know his dark secrets, he knew mine."

"What's your dark secret?"

"I was the one who started bullying her and made sure to ruin her life even before she got tagged as a terrorist's daughter."

"You are a meanie."

"I wasn't...She had a weird pair of eyes and an even weirder personality. You would have said the same if you saw her, too."

"Was she ugly?"

"She was a monster."

"What?"

"She had two different eyes and a silver hair from the day she was born itself. No one could like someone like a monster like her, but Han Ze Min did and I think he still do."

"Cai Hong, what are you saying?" Zhi Lan was the first person to react when she realized that Wan Yi Jun had no intention to help out her friend. 

"No. Why would I do something reckless and ruin my life? I'm not a fool. And more than anyone else, you two know about my father and brothers. They will literally kill me if I make any trouble." Cai Hong almost swore as she remembered the toxic household she grew up. As a girl born in a highly patriarchal family, her life was nothing better than a slave or even worse. However, instead of growing into an oppressed human being, she has become a rebel and got into as much trouble as she can just to ruin her family's status. Her life only changed when she joined her maternal uncle's entertainment agency and made a career of her own, away from her family.

"Help me? Zhi Lan, you know nothing about him...This man here, this monster, he is the last person in the world who would help me." Cai Hong blathered in a distressed voice as she tried hard to control her boiling anger.

Of course, she knew that Cai Hong was a bully despite her angel-like looks, but she never imagined a back story between her friend and Han Ze Min, that too something related to a dead girl.

"Why would officer Han try to trap you? He is only trying to help?"

"I'm damn sure he is unnecessarily dragging me into this mess because of that girl."

"

"Wan Yi Jun, are you going to stand there and listen to his bullshit? 

As soon as Cai Hong's voice echoed in the room, everyone understood one thing - there is some old rivalry going on between Cai Hong and Han Ze Min, and Wan Yi Jun was someone who is supposed to be the 'mediator'

"Miss Cai, please mind your words," Fei Yan tried to remind the woman who had forgotten that she was sitting in the middle of police officers. It was the first time in his service he met someone who picked up a fight with a police officer.

"I don't care. This man, here, he just trying to avenge-"

Even before Cai Hong could spew some shade over Han Ze Min, he interrupted her with his iconic smile doused with an equal amount of sarcasm and mockery.

Unnecessarily dragging you into this mess? Woah, then what about these videos, miss Cai? Does anyone think that this evidence is fabricated to ruin Miss Cai's career and her uncle's company?" Han Ze Min purposefully asked in a mocking tone, only to annoy Cai Hong more and more.

"Whom are you trying to blackmail, Han Ze Min? Do you think this is enough to ruin everything?" Cai Hong's eyes burned like coal as she spat out those words with utmost hatred, 

"Anyone with a brain could figure out that it is something that normal...something trivial like, calling names and laughing at others mistakes, it's as simple as that."

"As simple as that? Wow?" Han Ze Min almost clapped his hands listening to her claims,  "It seems like  you have no idea what damage your simple "words" left on someone else's life."

"Don't be silly. If I want to avenge whatever you did to my 'dead girlfriend' I would have done it earlier, Cai Hong." Han Ze Min emphasized the word 'dead girlfriend' and looked at the woman with a deadpan expression on his face. Though he appeared cool as an iceberg, only Cai Hong could sense the murderous glint that flashed before her eyes.

No matter how much he tries to convince her, she knows that Han Ze Min still holds an intense grudge against her and definitely show his true colours when he gets the right opportunity.

"And someone advised me to keep my personal and professional lives separately, so miss Cai,  let's get back to the business. What would you like to say about these videos?" He smoothly changed the topic and dragged everyone's attention back to the case.

However, Cai Hong sat silently without replying to him as if she was protesting against him.

"These videos might not be enough to tag you as the perpetrator of Shu Li Li's murder, but it is enough to get your name into the suspect list. So please, cooperate with us." Han Ze Min, who had no intention to back off, urged Cai Hong to speak up but only to fail terribly.

Unlike the usual suspects who tremble in fear during the interrogation, Cai Hong appeared fearless and headstrong as she continued her silence.

Even when Zhi Lan requested her friend to explain her side of the story and try to get out of the suspect list, Cai Hong never budged from her decision. 

She made it clear that she won't speak until someone else interrogates her.

As the time moved forward in awkwardness, Wan Yi Jun let out a sigh and walked towards the Cai Hong as a last resort to solve this terrible situation.

As soon as Wan Yi Jun approached the table, Fei Yan stood up from his seat and let the other take the chair.

"I assume that you won't mind me interrogating you." Wan Yi Jun finally spoke a few words that immediately calmed Cai Hong and broke her silence.

More than anyone else, she knew that Wan Yi Jun was the suitable person to handle her case, unlike Han Ze Min, who holds hatred towards her.

"I admit that I was a little mean to that girl, but I swear I never thought about killing her." She admitted even before Wan Yi Jun started questioning her.

But Han Ze Min, who sat just beside Wan Yi Jun, almost let out a bitter laugh and commented in a voice so condescending and scornful.

"Really? I thought stealing your boyfriend from you was enough to plot against Shu Lili."  He shrugged his shoulders and leaned onto the chair as if he was watching some drama.

"Whatever officer Han is saying, is it true, miss Cai? You and Ken Wong were in a relationship and-?" Wan Yi Jun didn't complete his question as he shot a warning look at his fellow officer, who was acting like a grumpy kid.

"Yes. We were together for the last five years, and that wretched girl came out of nowhere just to ruin my life." Cai Hong gritted her teeth so hard in hatred and anger.

"Is that why you arranged someone to kill that wretched girl?" Wan Yi Jun, who picked up the burning rage in Cai Hong's words, used the same tone to press on the issue more. By now, he was sure that Han Ze Min was just trying to provoke Cai Hong so that she would spill the truth under the effect of anger.

"Yes, I was mad at that girl and Ken, but I would never kill someone...please believe me, Yi Jun." Cai Hong almost pleaded,

"Where were you on new year night?"

"She was with me...at my home." Zhi Lan indifferently replied,

"Do you have any proof for your alibi?"

"Yes, Cai Hong had dinner and stayed in my house that night. You can question my house workers and check the CCTV footage." 

However, Zhi Lan's reply didn't seem legitimate to Han Ze Min, so he casually threw bait at Zhi Lan, who spoke for the other.

"That's not believable, miss Zhi. It's New Year Eve, and why would someone like you stay home instead of partying?" He pointed since he was aware of Zhi Lan and her friend circle. All of them were part of the entertainment or fashion industries where 'clubbing' is unavoidable.

"I wasn't in the mood to go out and party. So I stayed home."

"And what about you, miss Cai? Were you in the same mood, or do you have any particular reason to skip the celebrations in your favourite party hub?" Han Ze Min tilted his head and asked Cai Hong, who was glaring at him,

"We checked the CCTV footage of rising Ravens. You were present in the club till ten 'o'clock with the same group of people from your agency, who shared the same place with Ken Wong and Shu Li Li. Why did leave the club in the middle of the party?" Wan Yi Jun cut the chase and asked without any hesitation.

"How do you feel when you see the person whom you loved the most, the one whom you trusted with your whole heart, cheating you with someone you hated the most?" Cai Hong asked as string's of tears started to roll down from her eyes, but only to receive silence in return.

"Oh sorry, I forgot that you never loved anyone."

"You can leave."

"What?"

"Please cooperate with the investigation in the future."

"Officer Fei and Bing Wen, check miss Cai's alibi on new year eve and check all of her contact numbers."

"

"Where did you get these dumplings? It's so tasty." 

"Captain Wan brought it from home. Apparently, he got a new cook. It's a shame that we won't be able to eat it regularly."

"Oh, isn't it the same person whom Chief Wu sent for captain's help? Whoa, it seems like their relationship is even thicker than blood."