My autobiography is definitely not a tragedy!
Chapter 39 - 38 Tiger’s Venom, Does Not Consume Its Offspring

Chapter 39: Chapter 38 Tiger’s Venom, Does Not Consume Its Offspring

[I want to know, those pinhole cameras, were they a coincidence, or a trap you deliberately set?]

[Before I answer your question, I have one for you as well.]

[...]

...

Outside the interrogation room.

The crowd was observing the situation inside the interrogation room through a one-way mirror.

The voices of the two men were clearly transmitted through the speaker.

Wang Zhao Ping listened to their conversation, shook his head helplessly, and turned to Lin Haitang beside him.

"Lawyer Lin, it was you who advised Mr. Meng to ask this, right? But it’s useless, Yuan Li is very cunning and won’t be easily fooled."

The voices of the two continued to emit.

[Is this question very important to you?]

[Hmm... you can consider it my exploration into a profound philosophy of life, concerning the dialectical relationship between man and the universe.]

[Ha! Naïve.]

[It seems we can’t communicate in the normal way.]

[Now, look into my eyes!

I’m going to say a code word next, and after you hear this code word, you must answer all my questions completely and truthfully...]

At first, everyone thought Meng Lang was trying to induce Yuan Li to admit his criminal intent, but as they listened, they all felt a bit puzzled.

What’s this about the dialectical relationship between man and the universe?

Did he think he was the "Hero of Guanzhong" who could bamboozle the other party?

And a code word?

Playing with hypnotism?

However, just as everyone began to wonder if Meng Lang had gone off course, they saw Yuan Li’s face suddenly turn pale with shock.

His eyes widened in terror.

[You... you...]

[Shush~] Meng Lang raised a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture.

This gesture, as if by some magic, immediately caused Yuan Li’s face to change color, and he froze on the spot, unable to utter another word.

[See, my code word is quite effective, isn’t it? Now, I’m going to start asking.

First question, children are cute, right? Like tender little saplings. So, tell me... is it particularly cruel and inhuman to harm children?]

Meng Lang’s voice was very gentle, but it inexplicably gave off a chilling aura.

An illusion?

To everyone’s surprise, Yuan Li, upon hearing this question, appeared as if he saw something terrifying, and his face became even more frightened.

[Yes... No!]

[Good, it seems we have reached a consensus, right? This is a very good start.

Now back to my first question, when did you start planning to make me the scapegoat?]

Yuan Li’s complexion changed, as if he was in a moral struggle.

But in the end, he finally gave in.

[It was the afternoon Lin Xiaoyu bumped into you.]

He spoke? Did he really speak?!

Everyone’s eyes widened, hardly believing their own ears.

[So you were tracking Lin Xiaoyu from the beginning, right?]

[Yes.]

[Why were you following her?]

[To... take revenge.]

[Alright, although you’re avoiding the main issue, I can understand... So, next question, if I hadn’t appeared, how were you planning to deal with Lin Xiaoyu?]

[...]

[Xiao Yu is quite cute, isn’t she? She also loves plants very much. Just yesterday, I promised her to take her to cut down a Christmas tree on Arbor Day.]

[...]

After a long silence, Yuan Li finally opened his mouth, his voice hoarse.

[I would have knocked her out and taken her away, selling her to a human trafficker I knew before.

A missing person case wouldn’t attract much attention from the police, in this way... it would still serve to take revenge on Lin Haitang.

It was only after discovering that you had just met Lin Xiaoyu and, coincidentally, lived next door to her, that I began to entertain the thought of killing and framing.]

[This way, the shock to Lin Haitang would undoubtedly be greater, and my act of revenge would be more successful.

I chose a rainy night because the heavy rain could wash away many clues.

Then, I waited until I saw you return to your rental house, where you could no longer fabricate an alibi, before I started my action. But I hadn’t expected...]

Hearing this series of devilish plans, Lin Haitang shook with shock, her body trembling slightly.

Fear crawled over her heart!

Even on the day Yuan Li was caught, she had not felt such apprehension.

Previously, it was just a vague guess, but now that guess had become reality.

And the reality was even crueler than she had imagined.

If not for Meng Lang... she couldn’t even imagine what kind of oppressive future awaited her and Xiao Yu.

The mere thought of such a future filled her with an overwhelming sense of despair...

"Good, I’ve finished my questions, and I’m very satisfied with your answers. Didn’t you just ask me whether those cameras were a coincidence or a trap?

Now... do you still need an answer from me?"

"No... no need..."

Yuan Li was like a man drained of all his vitality, slumping helplessly in the chair.

Yes! How could there possibly be such coincidences in the world?

Everything had been premeditated!

The other party used the homophonic "shush" to remind him, he had long known the Xu Group was right behind him.

This matter was extremely secretive; besides himself and his employer, it was impossible for outsiders to know.

He couldn’t have leaked the information, so... there must be problems originating from the Xu family’s side!

There was a mole who had leaked his actions in advance!

Beyond this explanation, Yuan Li could not conceive of another possibility.

And in this world, the only person who could know his plan of action and the name "Yuan Shu"... was probably that person...

...

"Click!" The door of the interrogation room opened.

Meng Lang walked out with a grave expression.

He had learned all he needed to know and didn’t want to spend another second with the scum inside.

So in that timeline, Xiao Yu had disappeared, and the disappearance probably remained unresolved, no wonder his alternate self felt nothing.

And that night... he must have been in the hotel, enjoying a false love, not returning home.

A perfect alibi...

His mind was still immersed in another timeline when suddenly, a fragrant breeze hit his face, and a figure crashed abruptly into his embrace.

"Thank you! Really, thank you..."

Feeling the slightly trembling body in his arms, Meng Lang was surprisingly devoid of any improper thoughts.

He gently patted Lin Haitang’s shoulder.

"It’s okay, it’s all over now..."

Looking up, he saw that all the officers present were looking at him as if he were God.

Uh...

Sorry, I was just showing off and might have dazzled everyone by accident.

...

"Mr. Meng, are you interested in becoming a consultant for our detective team?"

Wang Zhao Ping was very enthusiastic and personally brewed a cup of tea for Meng Lang.

"A consultant?" Meng Lang took the tea, a bit startled.

"Oh, sometimes our police force encounters tricky cases, and we may seek external assistance.

Generally, these are top experts in various fields, or non-government individuals who can play a key role in solving cases.

It’s a part-time role that wouldn’t affect your regular job."

"That... I’m just an ordinary insurance salesman. If there’s a case, what’s needed is a claim, not a policy, right?"

The corner of Wang Zhao Ping’s mouth twitched slightly.

"Ha, Mr. Meng, you jest. You are a master hiding in plain sight, given the way you subdued Yuan Li and got such a tough nut to crack so easily.

I knew Mr. Meng couldn’t be just a normal person!"

"Well... Captain Wang, you must have seen that I only took advantage of some leverage over Yuan Li to force him to speak."

"I noticed, but getting a hold of someone like Yuan Li’s weaknesses isn’t so easy, is it? Mr. Meng, you needn’t be so modest.

Additionally, we certainly wouldn’t expect Mr. Meng to help for nothing, the consultant fee will definitely satisfy you."

"Emm... As a citizen full of a sense of justice, I’m honored! Here’s my business card, feel free to contact me anytime you need."

Wang Zhao Ping took the business card bearing the Huaxia Life logo, his mouth involuntarily twitching again.

Are experts always such characters?

"By the way, Captain Wang, that Yuan Li mentioned something about human traffickers, right?" Meng Lang suddenly reminded.

Meng Lang didn’t see himself as a hero, but human traffickers as creatures... it would indeed be better if they were eradicated.

"Yes, there was such a matter." Wang Zhao Ping’s expression also turned serious.

"Yuan Li has been... involved with all sorts of people, it’s not strange that he knows such people."

"Right! It might even be a nest case. Isn’t that exciting, Captain?"

"You’re suggesting..."

"Tell Yuan Li to give up that person. I said so!"

"Brother Meng, I now consider you my brother!"

...

After saying goodbye to Wang Zhao Ping, who had been amiably chattering all the way to the door, Meng Lang and Lin Haitang walked out of the police station.

"Just now, how exactly did you get Yuan Li to talk?" Lin Haitang finally asked.

"It was nothing much, everyone has their weaknesses."

"What’s Yuan Li’s weakness?"

"He... is like a tiger that doesn’t eat its offspring, I suppose..."