Death Notice 2 Destiny

Chapter 29

Luo Fei smiled and shook his head: "You're being too sensitive. At the time, Liu Song and I were just suspicious of Yin Jian, worried that Han Hao might be hiding something about Yin Jian."

Mu Jianyun stared at Luo Fei for a moment, his expression growing increasingly serious: "Captain Luo, you're not a good liar... and you rarely lie. The more you do this now, the more it shows you have something to hide."

Luo Fei's smile froze on his face. Yes, he wasn't good at lying, especially not under the nose of a psychology expert. Embarrassed, he sighed helplessly, unsure of what to say.

Then, pressing his advantage, Mu Jianyun said, "You deliberately let Han Hao's actions go unchecked, and there's only one explanation: you wanted Deng Hua to be killed."

Luo Fei smiled wryly, as if he had given up resisting: "Fine... I admit your deduction."

"Why?" Mu Jianyun asked, raising his head. "Just because Deng Hua has a background in organized crime, you think he should face the death penalty handed down by Eumenides?"

Luo Fei fell silent. He couldn't tell the other party the real reason, so he could only remain silent, neither admitting nor denying it.

Mu Jianyun, however, took Luo Fei's attitude as tacit approval. She gently shook her head and sighed, "This sounds absurd—as the head of the task force, you actually approve of Eumenides' actions. If this news gets out, everyone's enthusiasm for the operation will probably be doused with cold water, won't it?"

"I hope you'll keep today's conversation a secret," Luo Fei earnestly requested, "a secret known only to the two of us."

Mu Jianyun smiled and nodded. It seemed that sharing private matters with Luo Fei was a happy thing for her. At the same time, being able to force this "unfathomable" guy to confess and submit had swept away the frustration that had accumulated in the interrogation room.

But Luo Fei added, "However, please rest assured about one thing. I will never forget my responsibilities as the captain of the criminal investigation team and the head of the special task force. Apprehending Eumenides is my primary concern. Regardless of my likes or dislikes towards those on the death penalty notices, nothing can affect my desire to solve the 'April 18' case."

"That's for the best." Mu Jianyun turned around, crossing his arms smugly. "Let's get back to the case. What should we do now?"

Luo Fei said solemnly, "Go and find out Ding Ke's whereabouts." This was a plan that had been finalized during the meeting that morning. Because Eumenides was eager to find out the details of his biological father's shooting, and Ding Ke was the person who knew the most about the case from back then, he would definitely become Eumenides' target. If the police could find Ding Ke first, they would have a firm grip on Eumenides's lifeline.

Mu Jianyun hummed in agreement and then asked, "Any clues?"

"We need to go to the Provincial University of Science and Technology," Luo Fei said, pulling out a note and handing it over. "--Ding Ke's son is there."

The Fate of the Death Sentence (15)

"Ding Ke's son..." Mu Jianyun's gaze lingered on the photograph for a long time. In the provincial police force, Ding Ke was a household name, but Mu Jianyun had only heard of his legend and had never had the chance to meet this police prodigy. Now, holding Ding Zhen's photograph, he figured he should reflect some of his father's traits in him.

The man in the photo is a man of extraordinary bearing. He has a square face, an upright posture, and bright eyes that reveal exceptional intelligence. Coupled with the titles "Vice Dean, Professor" below the photo, it is enough to inspire respect and admiration in onlookers.

Even setting aside the case investigation, Mu Jianyun was eager to meet this person.

At 11:03 a.m., the School of Environmental Science and Engineering of the Provincial University of Science and Technology.

In recent years, China's higher education has developed rapidly, with the country increasing its financial investment and the number of students enrolled in various universities rising steadily. As one of the top universities in the province, the University of Science and Technology is naturally not to be outdone: through a series of resource integrations, it has merged with several surrounding universities, increasing its size several times over, and showing a clear trend of becoming a first-class university in China.

The School of Environmental Science and Engineering is a flagship school of the university, its prestige evident in the location of its main building. Situated inside the main gate, this building is considered a "face" of the university, boasting not only a luxurious and imposing exterior but also unique functional designs: the building is C-shaped, opening to the south and embracing a green ecological atrium. The lush greenery within the atrium not only provides shade for the south-facing rooms but also filters dust and purifies the air. To maximize sunlight penetration and expand the atrium garden, the building features tiered floors, and each floor's south-facing exterior wall is covered with solar panels. It is said that the electricity generated by these panels can not only power the building but also be fed into the city's power grid.

After registering their visit at the gate, Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun entered the Environmental Building together. The atmosphere here was tranquil, filled with a strong academic ambiance. In such an environment, even the usually swift Luo Fei subconsciously slowed his pace, afraid of disturbing the surrounding peace.

Ding Zhen's private office was located on the eighth floor, near the elevator. A nameplate outside the office indicated the owner's position as vice dean. The door was ajar; Luo Fei stepped forward and knocked lightly twice, then waited for a response from inside.

"Please come in." The responder had a sweet voice, but it was a woman.

Luo Fei pushed open the door and entered the room with Mu Jianyun. The room was divided into two suites, an inner and an outer one. The woman who had answered earlier was sitting at a desk in the outer room, holding a stack of documents, seemingly busy with something. Seeing two strangers enter, a slight look of surprise appeared on her face. She put down her work, stood up, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"We're from the Public Security Bureau," Luo Fei said, handing over his identification. "We have a case and would like to speak with Professor Ding to learn more about it."

The woman took the document and examined it closely. Her brows furrowed, as if the title of "criminal police captain" made her somewhat uneasy.

Luo Fei smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand. The case itself has nothing to do with Professor Ding; we just need him to provide some information."

The woman breathed a sigh of relief. She returned the identification to Luo Fei and said, "Professor Ding is in a meeting. You'll have to wait a moment." Then she smiled and introduced herself, "I'm his secretary, my name is Wu Qiong."

"How long will it take?" Mu Jianyun asked from behind Luo Fei.

"That's hard to say," Wu Qiong shrugged apologetically. "Professor Ding is very busy, and he usually needs to make an appointment to see you. However, your situation is special, and I think he should be able to make time for you during his lunch break."

"Wouldn't that be too much of a disturbance?" Luo Fei felt uneasy about interrupting other people's lunch break.

"It's okay. He usually orders takeout to his office, so you can eat and chat—as long as you don't mind."

Luo Fei nodded: "Alright then."

"Please come and sit in the inner room," Wu Qiong warmly invited, leading Luo Mu and his companion into the inner room. After the guests were seated on the sofa, she poured two cups of tea before turning to leave.

"It's really great to have such a secretary." After Wu Qiong's figure disappeared, Luo Fei couldn't help but murmur a compliment.

"It's a common flaw in men," Mu Jianyun said coldly, glancing at Luo Fei. "They get distracted as soon as they see a pretty woman."

"I was just praising her work ethic," Luo Fei explained. However, his explanation lacked conviction, because his praise did indeed include admiration for Wu Qiong's appearance. She was indeed a "beautiful" woman, and Luo Fei had even secretly compared her to Mu Jianyun.

Mu Jianyun possessed a beautiful appearance and a dashing, heroic air. Wu Qiong, on the other hand, had the advantage of a sweet face and a seductive figure; perhaps such women were more likely to arouse men's lustful desires.

"A secretary, isn't that all there is to it?" Mu Jianyun pouted, then suddenly remembered something and said indignantly, "Hey, I'm always following you around, won't people think I'm your secretary too?"

Luo Fei smiled and said, "How could that be? Your temperament speaks for itself." His tone was very calm, and he didn't offer many flattering words. However, this made his attitude seem more genuine. Mu Jianyun's eyes narrowed slightly, her heart filled with delight.

Luo Fei stopped dwelling on the topic and began to examine the furnishings of the room. The office was spacious, but sparsely decorated. The most striking feature was a row of bookshelves along the wall, each shelf filled with various books and documents, revealing the owner's diligence and erudition.

Mu Jianyun, however, was not interested in such observations. She picked up her water glass and slowly sipped it, more to kill time than to savor tea.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. About half an hour later, the door to the outer room was pushed open. With a series of quick and forceful footsteps, everyone could tell that a man had entered the room.

"Professor Ding, you're back." Wu Qiong's gentle voice rang out immediately afterward. "There are guests waiting for you in the inner room."

"Guests?" The man sounded displeased, and said in a reproachful tone, "I didn't schedule any meetings today."

"They are from the criminal investigation team," Wu Qiong explained.

"Hmm." The man fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. A moment later, his footsteps approached the inner room.

Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun quickly stood up and prepared to greet their hosts.

The door was pushed open cleanly and crisply. A man walked in, took a step forward, stopped, and then began to scrutinize the two uninvited guests not far away. This man was none other than Professor Ding Zhen, the vice dean of the School of Environmental Engineering. He was dressed in a suit, his hair was neatly styled, his clothes were clean, and his eyes were bright and piercing, giving him an air of vitality.

"Professor Ding, hello." Luo Fei stepped forward and extended his right hand in greeting.

Ding Zhen didn't respond immediately. He stood still and asked, "Are you from the criminal investigation team?"

"This is Luo Fei, the newly appointed captain of the criminal investigation team." Mu Jianyun also came up, and then introduced herself, "I am Mu Jianyun, a lecturer at the provincial police academy."

Ding Zhen hummed in response, his gaze lingering on Luo Fei. He seemed more interested in the criminal investigation captain than the police academy lecturer. After a moment, he raised his right hand and shook Luo Fei's hand, saying, "Hello." However, this greeting was merely a formality, devoid of any genuine warmth or welcome.

"Hello." Luo Fei sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry we came uninvited and have bothered you."

Ding Zhen waved his hand and said, "Sit down." He then walked behind his desk and sat down in the large, armchair. Then he asked, "Would you like to have lunch with me?"

That was quite a unique opening line. Luo Fei smiled and replied, "No need. Thank you."

"Life is very short, so we should apply the principles of operations management to manage our time. For example, while eating, we can do other things at the same time—listen to the news, or have an unplanned conversation, etc." Perhaps out of professional habit, he spoke with a condescending, didactic tone, and finally asked again, "Don't you want to take advantage of this time to have lunch?"

What the other person said made sense. In fact, Luo Fei often thought about cases while eating. However, he couldn't imagine what an awkward situation it would be to eat with this person, so after hesitating for a moment, he gave a somewhat clumsy reply: "No...we're not hungry yet."

Ding Zhen didn't waste any more words. He picked up the phone on the table and said, "Order a fast food meal to be delivered." Obviously, this phone could connect directly to his secretary, Wu Qiong, in the outer room.

Time seemed incredibly precious to him. He had barely hung up the phone when he looked at Luo Fei again, and without any pleasantries, asked without delay, "Are you looking for my father?"

Luo Fei was taken aback, then he turned and exchanged a glance with Mu Jianyun. They hadn't informed Ding Zhen beforehand, so how could the other party have known their purpose so accurately?

Seeing their expressions, Ding Zhen guessed what they were thinking. He chuckled and said with a slightly mocking tone, "Your criminal investigation team isn't here for anything else. You definitely want to find my father, Ding Ke, through me because you've run into another intractable case and want his help."

The words sounded harsh, but Luo Fei couldn't deny the other person's suspicion. He nodded and said, "That's true. I heard your father is tired of criminal investigation—but this case is serious, and we hope you can help us find him."

"The case is serious..." Ding Zhen sneered. "In your eyes, no case is insignificant. I know that very well. Once you have a case, you can disregard everything else. Even family and relatives are less important than the case in your eyes."

Luo Fei paused for a moment, then laughed awkwardly, "It seems Professor Ding has quite a prejudice against our profession?"

Ding Zhen stared at Luo Fei indifferently for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you married?"

Luo Fei shook his head.

"That's good. It's better to stay single for life than to be an irresponsible husband and father."

Luo Fei remained noncommittal, but Mu Jianyun, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it any longer. She frowned and said, "Professor Ding, have you always been very dissatisfied with your father? Do you think he hasn't fulfilled his role in the family?"

This time, it was Ding Zhen's turn to be stunned, because Mu Jianyun's words struck a nerve with him. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the woman not far away, as if he were re-evaluating her. Mu Jianyun returned his gaze without backing down, and the atmosphere in the office suddenly became quite tense.

Just then, a soft knock sounded on the door.

Ding Zhen composed himself slightly, then took the opportunity to shift his gaze and whispered, "Come in."

The door opened, and Wu Qiong entered gracefully. She handed a lunchbox to Ding Zhen: "Professor Ding, your lunch is here."

Ding Zhen nodded in thanks, then said, "You can go out now."

Wu Qiong took two steps, then seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere. She turned to look at Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun as she walked, and after their eyes met, she smiled brightly and said softly, "You two can talk slowly."

Although it was just a simple sentence, it felt like a warm breeze blowing through Luo and Mu's hearts, making them feel completely comfortable. Even Mu Jianyun couldn't help but smile, secretly praising her in his heart: This woman has such affability; she truly deserves to be called a good secretary.

Ding Zhen opened the lunchbox and began to eat his lunch. He ate quickly, swallowing large mouthfuls, as if it were just a routine task for him. After a few bites, he looked up at Luo Fei and asked, "What case is it this time?"

Perhaps he realized that his previous conversation had been rude, perhaps he had been deflated by Mu Jianyun's counterattack, or perhaps Wu Qiong's appearance had calmed him down; Ding Zhen's tone was much more peaceful at this moment.

"It's a case from eighteen years ago," Luo Fei replied. "Your father was in charge back then—actually, the case was closed a long time ago. We're looking for your father just to understand the details of the case."

Because he heard that Ding Ke had gone into hiding to avoid the mundane affairs of solving cases, Luo Fei emphasized that this was a case that had already been solved and would not cause the other party much trouble.

Ding Zhen, however, frowned. He stopped eating and asked thoughtfully, "Eighteen years ago... was it that hostage situation?"

"You know about that case?" Luo Fei was somewhat surprised, but also excited: if Ding Zhen knew the details of the case, then even if they couldn't find Ding Ke, they might still be able to achieve their goal.

"That was an unsatisfactory case." Ding Zhen gave a soft "heh," seemingly laughing at something.

"Not perfect? What do you mean?" Although Luo Fei didn't quite understand what the other person meant, he was becoming more and more interested in this kind of conversation.

"My father is a very demanding person. He was a policeman for twenty years, and he maintained a 100% case-solving rate. But this one case is the only one that he felt was not satisfactory." Ding Zhen's smile widened, and he seemed to be mocking his father.

Luo Fei had no time to analyze the complex relationship between the father and son; he pressed on with questions about the case: "Do you know the specific details of that case?"

Ding Zhen shook his head: "I don't know -- I've never been interested in his case." After saying that, he buried his head and ate a few more bites of fast food.

Luo Fei was disappointed yet unwilling to accept it: "Then why did you say the case was 'incomplete'?"

Ding Zhen swallowed the food in his mouth, then asked Luo Fei with a smug look, "If the case is resolved satisfactorily, why are you still asking about it?"

Luo Fei was taken aback by the question, then gave a helpless bitter smile. Could this be the reason? The logic was correct, but unfortunately, it was of no value to him.

Ding Zhen looked at Luo Fei and smiled, "But your police response was far too slow. I knew there was something wrong with this case eighteen years ago."

So he does know something? Luo Fei didn't press further, only expressing his confusion with his eyes—the other party was clearly deliberately beating around the bush, and it would be foolish for him to follow him around.

Ding Zhen knew exactly what Luo Fei wanted, so he reiterated, "I don't know the details of the case—I know there's something wrong with it because my father gave up his career as a criminal investigator because of it."

"Your father resigned because of this case?" This news surprised Luo Fei greatly, and Mu Jianyun, who was standing next to him, was also quite moved: if this was true, then the 130 case really felt somewhat unfathomable.

Ding Zhen sneered and retorted, "Then what do you think is the reason?"

"The official explanation is: physical reasons, illness caused by overwork." Luo Fei started with the phrase "the official explanation," clearly indicating that he had greatly doubted the credibility of this explanation.

"Physical reasons could make him give up his career as a criminal investigator?" Ding Zhen slowly shook his head. "You don't understand my father at all. He's the kind of person who would do anything to solve a case. Physical reasons could make him stop? Heh, unless he actually works himself to death at a crime scene."

Luo Fei turned and exchanged a glance with Mu Jianyun. Both of them seemed to agree with Ding Zhen's assessment. To them, Ding Ke was merely a legendary figure; they knew very little about him. However, one thing was certain: if Ding Ke wasn't a workaholic obsessed with cases, how could he have achieved the legendary 100% case-solving rate? For someone like him to suddenly retire from his peak simply because of health reasons seemed illogical.