“This recording is a forgery,” the forensic technician said gravely. “Just by listening, you can’t tell, of course, but look at this spectrogram. From here to here, it’s full of modification traces.”

Ji Chenjiao asked, “So you can take anyone’s voice to record this segment of speech, then overlay and replace it with Mou Dianpei’s voice?”

The technician nodded. “These days, even faces can be swapped; swapping voices is very simple. And it’s even harder to detect a voice swap than a face swap. It’s perfectly normal for Lu Feixiang to believe these were Mou Dianpei’s words.”

Ji Chenjiao turned the recording pen in his hand. “Now, we have our first key piece of evidence.”

Shen Wei was brought to the interrogation room again. He hadn’t seen Lu Feixiang since their last encounter in the hallway. His face was still clouded with sorrow, but he seemed much calmer. He knew Lu Feixiang was an obedient kid; since he had already gone this far, Lu Feixiang wouldn’t throw himself into the mess again.

But Ji Chenjiao’s first words were a bucket of cold water poured over his head. “Lu Feixiang has confessed.”

Shen Wei froze in his chair. After a long moment, he said, “He… he’s trying to take the blame for me.”

“He has already handed over the remaining paraquat, as well as the small vials used to portion it out,” Ji Chenjiao said. “Also submitted was a modified recording pen. Boss Shen, the details you couldn’t provide, he has explained them all. You weren’t the one who administered the poison. At most, you had a motive and failed to report what you knew.”

Shen Wei shook his head numbly. “It wasn’t him, it wasn’t him! Xiao Lu is only in his twenties, he still has a future!”

Ji Chenjiao: “You were also in your twenties back then. You’re only in your forties now. Are your future and your life not worth mentioning?”

Two lines of murky tears slid down Shen Wei’s face. He murmured, “I incited Xiao Lu. I’m the main culprit!”

Ji Chenjiao: “No, you were deceived.”

After a moment of stupor, Shen Wei suddenly became clear-headed. “You just said the recording pen was tampered with?”

“Yes, Mou Dianpei never said he killed Tan Fabin,” Ji Chenjiao paused. “To be precise, at least he didn’t say it in this recording. The recording is a forgery. Therefore, the person who gave you the recording, implying that the police were useless, the law was useless, and that you could only seek revenge yourself, is highly problematic.”

Shen Wei’s eyes widened, the corners twitching continuously. Disbelief was written all over his face. “Fake? It’s fake? How could it be fake? I heard it, I…”

Ji Chenjiao showed the spectrogram analysis to Shen Wei. “Voices can be faked, and words from a friend’s mouth can be lies, but cold, hard data will not deceive you. Boss Shen, Lu Feixiang has already told us that the one who gave you the recording pen was Fu Shun’an.”

Shen Wei gasped for air, his whole body trembling. “He, why would he…”

Ji Chenjiao remained silent, waiting for Shen Wei to think for himself. Shen Wei had been investigating Tan Fabin’s case for seventeen years. He was obsessive, but not a fool. He had never suspected Chen Xiangli and Fu Shun’an, likely for the same reason as the criminal police on the original case: his emotions had caused him to overlook the possibility of their involvement.

But now, with this crucial clue laid before him, he might find it hard to accept, but the truth would not stop flooding his mind just because it was difficult.

“Fu Shun’an gave me a fake audio recording,” Shen Wei said with difficulty. “He emphasized that reporting it to the police was useless, that revenge was the only way. But from my past interactions with Mou Dianpei, I couldn’t really see him as the killer… Mou Dianpei wasn’t the killer at all, but Fu Shun’an wanted me to kill him. Why? Why?”

Ji Chenjiao stared at Shen Wei. “Yes, why?”

Shen Wei slowly raised his head, the bright light from above making it hard for him to open his eyes. He inhaled and exhaled several times before saying in a trembling voice, “In this world, I am the only one still tracking the killer. Once I believe I’ve killed the killer, I will never hunt for the murderer again. I would most likely be caught and imprisoned. If Mou Dianpei isn’t the killer, then the real killer can live freely for the rest of their life.”

He trembled more and more violently, looking at Ji Chenjiao with tear-filled eyes. “Am I right? Fu Shun’an wanted to kill two birds with one stone. He’s the real killer?”

Looking at this pitiful man, Ji Chenjiao felt a momentary pang of pity. He suddenly understood why Ling Lie had insisted on starting the investigation with Lu Feixiang. Although Shen Wei still had to know the truth now, at least in the process, many of the details were provided by Lu Feixiang, who objectively bore a part of the pain for him.

The sudden blow made it impossible for Shen Wei to continue fighting with Lu Feixiang over who had poisoned Mou Dianpei. He sank into dusty memories. That year, he had an older brother who was like a father to him, and a gentle, virtuous “sister-in-law.” To help his brother’s workshop with legal issues, he audited classes at the law school whenever he was free and made many friends, the best of whom was Fu Shun’an.

Fu Shun’an was the same age as him and had excellent grades, but due to a dysfunctional family, he was introverted and had low self-esteem. He had felt an instant connection with Fu Shun’an, probably because he too had once lived in an unhappy family where his parents and siblings treated him poorly, and his financial situation was even worse.

But ever since moving in with his older brother, everything had changed. The improvement in living conditions wasn’t the most important thing; the familial love his brother gave him was the most precious gift. He transformed from a quiet child into a warm and outgoing person, not only making friends with students in his own department but also becoming popular in the law school.

He wanted to change Fu Shun’an just as his brother had changed him.

During the holidays, Fu Shun’an had nowhere to go, so he brought him back to Feng’an County. The Tan family had several residences in the county. His brother said that since he was an adult now and needed his own space, he arranged for him and Fu Shun’an to stay in a newly built house.

They had a very happy Spring Festival. Although Chen Xiangli hadn’t married his brother yet, to him, she was already a proper sister-in-law. Chen Xiangli often came to cook delicious food for them. Learning that Fu Shun’an was a law student, she frequently asked him legal questions.

Shen Wei was very happy in his heart; his sister-in-law, just like him, was concerned about the legal risks his brother’s business faced.

Later, the critical time for graduate school entrance exams arrived. Shen Wei and Fu Shun’an couldn’t settle down to study at school, so they simply returned to Feng’an County to work hard. By the end of the year, both of them got in.

Chen Xiangli cooked a huge feast for them. His brother was also there, having a few glasses of wine with Fu Shun’an and exchanging pleasantries.

After starting graduate school, the workload for a medical student was too heavy, and Shen Wei had less and less time to go home. On the contrary, Fu Shun’an would sometimes go back. He never thought there was anything wrong with that. He was the one who brought Fu Shun’an to Feng’an County; Feng’an County was their shared hometown.

Every time Fu Shun’an came back, he would bring things Chen Xiangli had sent for him. In his heart, Chen Xiangli was simply the most perfect sister-in-law.

When his brother had his accident, Chen Xiangli was heartbroken. He rushed back to Feng’an County, also in a state of immense grief and unable to manage things. If it weren’t for Fu Shun’an’s company and coordination, he didn’t know how he would have gotten through those days he didn’t want to remember.

For so many years, Shen Wei had investigated many people, only to rule them out one by one. He really couldn’t think of who else would have killed his brother.

And there were two people he had never suspected. One was Chen Xiangli, the other was Fu Shun’an. Chen Xiangli could have clearly married someone else, but she couldn’t forget his brother and remained single to this day. Fu Shun’an was already in a different world from him, yet he was still willing to help him with the investigation.

How could he possibly suspect them?

But if it wasn’t Fu Shun’an, why was there a fake audio recording?

Shen Wei looked at Ji Chenjiao, asking a question that seemed more directed at himself: “Fu Shun’an, why would he want to harm my brother?”

“You… you didn’t extract a confession from Old Shen through torture, did you?” Fu Shun’an’s eyes were a mixture of surprise and suspicion. “If he wasn’t having a mental breakdown, how could he say such a fantastical thing?”

Huang Yi shouted, “You’re quick to throw accusations. The entire interrogation was recorded on audio and video. You don’t need to worry about how we treated Shen Wei. You should be thinking hard about how to explain his suspicion of you!”

“This…” Fu Shun’an rubbed his hands on his suit trousers. “Brother Tan’s case happened seventeen years ago. The police investigated me back then; I was innocent. How am I supposed to explain it now? Yes, I was in Feng’an County at the time, but does being in Feng’an County mean I’m the killer? Old Shen is really… really wronging me!”

“Don’t be in such a hurry to cry foul. Let’s put the Feng’an County case aside for now.” Ji Chenjiao took out an evidence bag and tossed it in front of Fu Shun’an. Inside was the recording pen. “On June 28th, you came to Shen Wei’s shop, gave him this recording pen, and told him Mou Dianpei was the killer. Did that happen or not?”

Fu Shun’an swallowed, his emotions steadying slightly. “Doesn’t that prove that Old Shen and I were on the same side? Brother Tan was murdered, the police couldn’t find the killer. He didn’t give up, and neither did I. It’s just that my identity isn’t suitable for investigating openly. I got this audio recording through a friend. It can’t be used as investigative evidence, but in our hearts, who else could the killer be but Mou Dianpei?”

Ji Chenjiao laughed. “If this audio recording were real, then Mou Dianpei would indeed be a suspect.”

Fu Shun’an’s face turned pale.

“Lawyer Fu, you’re a criminal defense lawyer. To use such a forged audio recording to deceive your closest friend, I’m amazed you could do such a thing.” As he spoke, Ji Chenjiao presented two evaluation reports, one from the Municipal Bureau’s technical investigation department and, for the sake of impartiality, another from a professional appraisal center. “What else do you have to say?”

Fu Shun’an stared at the two reports, his lips moving several times. “I don’t know! Could there be a mistake? How could it be fake?”

Ji Chenjiao: “I’d also like to ask, how could it be fake? Why did you use a fake audio recording to incite your friend to seek revenge?”

“I didn’t incite him!” Fu Shun’an stood up in agitation. Huang Yi immediately told him to sit down. He braced his hands on the edge of the table, his back arching like a mountain. “I wasn’t the one talking to Mou Dianpei. I also got the audio from someone else. I didn’t know it was fake!”

Ji Chenjiao: “Oh? Who gave you the audio?”

Fu Shun’an panted, not answering.

“Something this important, you wouldn’t have gotten it from just anyone, right?” Ji Chenjiao said, “Your relationship must be very close, with mutual trust. If you don’t say, I can take a guess. Was it Chen Xiangli?”

Fu Shun’an shouted, “You’re talking nonsense!”

Ji Chenjiao spread his hands. “If you won’t talk, can’t I guess? Lawyer Fu, let me remind you, based on the clues provided by Shen Wei and Lu Feixiang, you are now implicated in two cases with significant suspicion. You know the law; at least show some professionalism and cooperation.”

Fu Shun’an huffed a few times and sat down in silence.

Ji Chenjiao leaned toward him, staring into his eyes. “Who gave you this recording pen?”

“It was, it was…” Fu Shun’an’s eyes darted around, unable to name a person.

Ji Chenjiao: “There is no such person, or rather, you are that person.”

Fu Shun’an’s eyes widened. When he stared in astonishment like this, the whites of his eyes appeared unusually large.

“You forged this audio and gave it to Shen Wei. When Shen Wei wanted to use it to call the police, you repeatedly instilled in him the idea that ‘the police are useless, the law can’t punish Mou Dianpei’.” Ji Chenjiao: “Your goal was to make Shen Wei get rid of Mou Dianpei!”

“No! You’re slandering me!” Fu Shun’an yelled.

Ji Chenjiao: “Then explain it yourself. Why forge the audio? Why use it to egg on Shen Wei?”

“I didn’t egg on Shen Wei!” After a brief silence, Fu Shun’an seemed to have regained his composure. “I admit the audio is fake; I had someone make it. But Old Shen misunderstood my meaning. What motive would I have to incite him to kill Mou Dianpei? I’m a lawyer. Don’t I know that’s against the law?”

“What was your purpose?”

“I wanted Old Shen to let go!”

Fu Shun’an’s eyes were red, as if he were genuinely moved. “For so many years, Old Shen’s life has been consumed by looking for the killer! What I regret most is that when he dropped out of school to investigate, not only did I not stop him, I even took a leave of absence with him. I eventually went back to school, but I could never persuade him to return. Look at him, what kind of life is he living now?”

Fu Shun’an spoke with great emotion, but Ji Chenjiao was not moved in the slightest, merely watching his clumsy performance with cold eyes.

“The killer simply couldn’t be found. But as long as the killer wasn’t found, he would never let himself off the hook. So I thought, maybe letting him know who the killer was could resolve his obsession.”

Ji Chenjiao: “But why did you choose Mou Dianpei?”

“Because he looked most like the killer!” Fu Shun’an said eagerly. “The police investigated him back then, and we all suspected he was the killer, we just didn’t have evidence. And personally, I feel the killer could only be him.”

“Why?”

“All these years, he’s been appearing in front of Old Shen without any restraint. Is he brainless? Shen Wei knew he was a key person of interest for the police. Even if he wasn’t arrested, any normal person would think Shen Wei would hold a grudge against him. So why did he keep getting close to Shen Wei? Isn’t that a killer’s mindset—’I’m the one who killed your brother, I’ll parade in front of you every day, what can you do to me?'”

Ji Chenjiao nodded. “Makes sense.”

As if encouraged, Fu Shun’an continued, “I did tell Old Shen that a secret recording couldn’t be used as evidence and that reporting it now would be useless. This is where he misunderstood. My intention was for him to know who the killer was and let it go from then on, and to not have any more dealings with Mou Dianpei. Not for him to think that the law couldn’t punish Mou Dianpei and to take revenge himself!”

In the temporary office of the Special Operations Team, Ling Lie was curled up in a swivel chair, his legs draped over the armrests, spinning around and around. On a monitor nearby, the situation in the interrogation room was being broadcast live.

He was holding three small figures woven from foxtail grass. Two were woven carelessly, but one was exquisite. The exquisite one was Ji Chenjiao; the careless ones were Huang Yi and Fu Shun’an. The interrogation was ongoing, and he was making the three little figures fight. After a few hits, “Ji Chenjiao” had beaten “Fu Shun’an” to pieces.

“So you deny inciting Shen Wei to kill Mou Dianpei?” Ji Chenjiao said again. “But I have a question. You say Shen Wei misunderstood your meaning, but why did Lu Feixiang also misunderstand? To him, it also sounded like you were inciting Shen Wei to commit a crime.”

Fu Shun’an: “Because what he heard was Old Shen’s retelling!”

“How do you know it was a retelling?”

“That day, only Old Shen and I were in the shop!”

“You didn’t know there was a loft above the shop?”

Fu Shun’an’s pupils constricted. “Lu Feixiang was up there?”

Ji Chenjiao: “That’s right. He was sick that day, resting upstairs. He heard your conversation loud and clear.”

Fu Shun’an’s facial muscles twitched, as if cracked skin was about to flake off. “But Old Shen said…”

Ling Lie moved one leg off the armrest, stopping the chair’s spin, and looked at the monitor. “Huh?”

Ji Chenjiao: “What did Shen Wei say?”

By now, Fu Shun’an had lost some of his composure. “I asked him to meet in my car. He said he hadn’t finished cleaning the shop and told me to come to the shop. I said what we needed to talk about was very important, and it wouldn’t be good if Xiao Lu heard. He said, he said he was the only one in the shop.”

Ling Lie dangled the carelessly made little figure. “Oh?”