parasitisme veille - Chapitre 21
Zhong Zhenyu believed Zhao Qing's words, so he could only hold her tighter, letting her feel his determination.
After finishing his story, Zhong Zhenyu was drenched in sweat, as if he had just completed a long journey and felt completely exhausted. By this time, all the imposing manner he once possessed had vanished; he resembled a severely wounded person, no longer even having the strength to lift his head.
“Now you know why I killed Zhao Qing. I killed a woman who was willing to kill her husband and abandon her family to follow me on my escape to the ends of the earth.” It was rare for Zhong Zhenyu’s expression to show a hint of sarcasm. “I killed the only woman in the world who could bring me joy. I suppose you are very satisfied with this result.”
Qin Ge remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on the man before her, a deep seriousness appearing between her brows.
"You are the youngest division-level cadre I have ever seen. You could have had a bright future ahead of you, but desire not only ruined your career but also your life." Qin Ge held up the newspaper again. "This news article says that you and Zhao Qing were discovered by the police in another city not long after you went on the run. When you were surrounded, you fled to the rooftop of a building and then both fell to your deaths. You were corrupt and unable to extricate yourself from the sea of desire; Zhao Qing's methods of killing her husband were cruel, which shows her wicked nature. For people like you, no matter how big the world is, there is no place for you. If it were me, I would rather die than live in this world."
Zhong Zhenyu was drenched in sweat again, and his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"A corrupt official like you has committed grave sins, and the law will surely deliver a just verdict upon you." Qin Ge turned around, his tone somewhat strange. "Right now, I'm only considering this one thing: most corrupt officials in power are arrogant and domineering, placing themselves above the people and using the power entrusted to them by the people to line their own pockets and do whatever they want. But once their crimes are exposed, they flee in panic like stray dogs. They are useless, lacking both courage and strength, no different from a cripple. Such a cripple can barely protect himself, so how could he possibly kill a living person silently?"
Qin Ge's words were clearly emotional, and everyone could hear his hatred for corrupt officials. Because they shared the same feeling, no one paid much attention. However, Qin Ge's words also revealed another meaning, which was that he seemed to now believe that Zhong Zhenyu was not the murderer of Zhao Qing.
Zhong Zhenyu's story evokes both disgust and pity. While his relationship with Zhao Qing deviates from legal and moral boundaries, the element of love adds a touch of sorrow. Everyone in the room, except for the six young models and Gao Qiao, has experienced heartbreak, making this story particularly relatable.
They also found it hard to believe that Zhong Zhenyu had killed Zhao Qing. Who would kill a woman who had stood by him through thick and thin, vowing to die for him?
Asi Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 6, Chapter 89: Lust (4)
“Zhong Zhenyu is not the murderer of Zhao Qing. I only wanted him to tell his own story, so I deliberately misled him and everyone else. This newspaper was found in Zhao Qing's handbag. If Zhong Zhenyu had killed her, he wouldn't have left the newspaper in his bag. Just as he said, if he had destroyed the newspaper, none of us would have discovered his secret. He can even kill so quietly, so why would he make such a basic mistake as leaving a newspaper? Moreover, given his relationship with Zhao Qing, he would never have thought of killing her. Without motive, there is no murder; that's common sense.”
Qin Ge paused for a moment, then continued, "Now that I know the story of Zhong Zhenyu and Zhao Qing, I also know that after Zhong Zhenyu saw the corpse in Zhao Qing's room in that small building, he suddenly became a different person. He used to be decisive and very courageous, but after that, he became timid and slow-witted. It turns out that this was all because of that corpse. Also, when we were talking about our own things in that small building that day, just as it was Zhong Zhenyu's turn to speak, Zhao Qing suddenly fainted. Now it seems that Zhao Qing was obviously deliberately trying to divert our attention."
Dong'er asked in confusion, "Then who exactly is the murderer who killed Zhao Qing?"
"The murderer will eventually appear, but everyone needs to wait patiently a little longer. Now let's take another look at the circumstances surrounding Tong Hao's murder," Qin Ge said.
Mentioning Tong Hao's name, Su He trembled, a sharp, cold glint appearing in her eyes. At this moment, she hated the murderer who killed Tong Hao to the core. Her feelings for Tong Hao were not deep; it was only because the murderer destroyed one of her dreams that her emotions towards Tong Hao and the resulting sadness could easily transform into hatred.
At this moment, Zhong Zhenyu's face was ashen. Qin Ge had ruled him out as Zhao Qing's killer, and it was impossible to know what he was feeling. He believed that after hearing his story, everyone in the room would no longer doubt that he was the murderer. Even Qin Ge said he had no motive to kill Zhao Qing. However, only he knew that there had been times when murderous intent had stirred within him. Inside the black building in the valley, a man's corpse suddenly fell from the wall of Zhao Qing's room. Zhao Qing screamed and then fainted from fright. He followed Qin Ge upstairs to examine the body, and the moment he saw it, he was filled with immense fear. Although the body was slightly decomposed, the features were still discernible. At first glance, he almost mistook it for Zhao Qing's husband.
It was a male corpse that looked remarkably like Zhao Qing's husband.
This seemed like a premonition; he sensed that someone had discovered his secret, and the corpse was a message from that person. Zhao Qing had killed her husband; he had no idea she would act so drastically. If it was the ghost of Zhao Qing's husband or something else seeking revenge, then they should be looking for Zhao Qing, not him, Zhong Zhenyu. This thought flashed through his mind, but it resurfaced when he was alone with Zhao Qing in a room in Asi Town, accompanied by other fears.
The more alluring Zhao Qing became to him, the more deeply she loved him, the more terrified he felt. Who could tell that such a frail woman was the murderer who wielded a sharp blade to kill her husband? What kind of power lay hidden beneath her weak exterior? And if one day, that power were to be inflicted upon him, would he be able to bear it? A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, and he couldn't even complete his final thrusts with Zhao Qing. A profound fear suddenly gripped him towards the woman beneath him.
The murderous intent arose in that instant, and once it was born, it was unstoppable. "If I had more time, I might really have killed Qingqing," he thought. "Maybe I really would have killed Zhao Qing, killed Zhao Qing."
It felt like two sharp needles had pierced his temples; Zhong Zhenyu's head was throbbing with pain, and even Qin Ge's voice was becoming somewhat muffled.
“If the murderer who killed Tong Hao is the same person who killed Zhao Qing, then we can estimate that Tong Hao died between 7 and 9 pm last night, because Su He left the bar with Tong Hao at around 7 pm. Tong Hao went back alone to get something and never came back. Around 8:40 pm that night, Lei Ming and I came back from outside, and then 20 minutes later, Zhang Song also came back.”
Zhang Song was somewhat nervous, while Lei Ming was also intently watching Qin Ge. Since Qin Ge had already ruled out Zhong Zhenyu as the murderer of Zhao Qing, the only remaining suspects were Zhang Song and Lei Ming. Now, if the two murders were committed by the same person, then they were naturally the prime suspects.
"There are also four people who have the opportunity to commit the crime: me, Zhang Song, Lei Ming, and Su He." Qin Ge glanced at Su He with a hint of apology in his eyes. "Su He spent the whole afternoon with Tong Hao. She could have gone to the altar with Tong Hao after leaving the bar, killed him, and then run back to the Tan Guan Tang, pretending that Tong Hao had disappeared."
Su He was somewhat surprised. She shook her head silently, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Qin Ge's gaze.
"This is just one possibility, but the truth is definitely not like that. I confirmed with the bartender that she did leave the bar with Tong Hao around seven o'clock, when it was already dark. Neither of them had ever been to that altar, and she didn't even know such a place existed. So, even if she really did kill Tong Hao, how could Tong Hao's body be on the altar?"
Su He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much more relaxed.
“If we follow this line of reasoning, then only you and I were at the altar, and you obviously can’t be the murderer. So, the murderer can only be me.” The speaker was Lei Ming.
Asi Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 6, Chapter 90: Malice (5)
“Then let’s come and see you now. You know the location of the altar, and you were outside alone all afternoon. You returned to the Tan Guan Hall at almost the same time as me in the evening, so you have plenty of time to commit the crime. Now all that’s left is the motive for murder,” Qin Ge said.
"Now I'd really like to know what my motives are." Lei Ming's words carried a hint of provocation.
Qin Ge waved his hand: "I think we should put this issue aside for now and talk about Zhang Song. He was the last one to return to the Tan Guan Hall that night, so he had enough time to commit the crime. But his suspicion is much less than Lei Ming's because, like Su He, he didn't go to the altar."
Lei Ming simply closed his eyes at this point.
"The next day, the Self-Defense Forces discovered Tong Hao's body. Takahashi and I rushed there and found that Tong Hao had been stabbed through the heart with a sharp weapon, dying instantly. There were marks on his wrists indicating that he had been bound, and there were also marks on his cheeks indicating that he had been hit. Therefore, Tong Hao had been restricted in his freedom and beaten before his death, but the beating was not severe. In addition, Tong Hao's right hand was tightly clutching a crumpled photograph, and I also found several other newspapers under his buttocks."
As he spoke, he walked back to Takahashi, who promptly took out a photo and a newspaper from his bag and handed them to him. He turned around, holding the crumpled photo in front of him, but with his back to everyone.
"The photo that Tong Hao was clutching tightly before he died must have been very important to him. When I saw this photo, I felt very strange because the person in the photo was right among us, and according to my deduction, she couldn't possibly be the murderer who killed Tong Hao."
The photo was finally flipped over, and now everyone could clearly see that the woman in the photo was none other than Su He.
Lei Ming over there also opened his eyes. In that instant, Qin Ge saw his brows furrow, and his eyes immediately closed again, but his chest was pounding violently.
Su He stared at the photo, tears welling in her eyes. She wiped them away, her expression as desolate as an autumn street. The woman in the photo had the same face as her, but she knew it wasn't her.
"Why did Tong Hao clutch Su He's photo when he died? What was he trying to tell us? Was Su He the murderer who killed him?" Qin Ge asked slowly.
“You’re wrong. Although I’ve wanted to be the woman in the photo all these years, you’re really mistaken. That’s not my photo,” Su He said emphatically.
Qin Ge moved the photo closer to Su He's face, gazing intently. Dong'er and several young model girls also came forward to examine it closely. Everyone became puzzled; Su He's features were almost identical to the woman in the photo, only the face shape was slightly different. If she wasn't actually the woman in the photo, then the Creator was truly wondrous, able to create two people so similarly.
"Do you have a twin sister or sister?" Dong'er asked Su He, blinking her eyes.
Su He smiled wryly: "I have no brothers or sisters, and I don't even know the name of the woman in the photo."
“But you look exactly like her,” Dong’er exclaimed in amazement. “Could one of you be a clone?”
“Cloning may become a reality in the future, but it is still far from us right now.” Qin Ge patted Dong’er’s forehead. “Just stay put and don’t think too much. I think Su He will give us a reasonable explanation for this.”
Su He nodded sadly: "I will, but before I say anything, I want to know if there's a newspaper in your hand that's related to me, and I want to know what it says."
Qin Ge hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a newspaper: "The date on this newspaper is about ten years old, and it also records your death."
Newspapers from ten years ago would have reported Su He's death. Could it be that she died ten years ago?
Qin Ge felt a pang of pity, but he still continued, "The news report said that the police received a tip from the public and rescued a thirteen-year-old girl from a resident's home. The girl was dressed in tattered clothes, disheveled, and had thick chains around her feet. When she was rescued, she was covered in wounds, and the chains on her feet were deeply embedded in her flesh. Moreover, according to the girl's father, she hadn't eaten or drunk anything for seven days and was in a deep coma. After the girl was taken to the hospital, the police summoned her father and interviewed people in the surrounding area. Faced with overwhelming evidence, the girl's father had to admit that he had abused his daughter for a long time and that she had been chained and imprisoned in a dark room for thirteen months." Qin Ge paused, glanced at Su He with concern, and continued, "The girl's name was Su He. She died on the third day after being admitted to the hospital."
The room fell silent again. Everyone stared at Su He, no one believing that the little girl in the news could have any connection to her. Su He, however, calmed down, though her eyes became bewildered. She slowly stood up, bent down, and rolled up one of her trouser legs. At that moment, everyone's eyes widened. They saw a circular scar on Su He's ankle. Although its color had faded considerably, it was still extremely striking. If they had seen the scar before, no one would have thought it was circular, but now everyone knew, and no one doubted that Su He was the thirteen-year-old girl in the news.
Asi's Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 6, Chapter 91: The Murderer (1)
“I don’t know if I really died when I was thirteen, but my memory is of waking up in the hospital after being rescued by the police. My father became hysterical after my mother died, and sometimes I suspected that he was the one who killed her. My father was sentenced to prison, and I lived on my own with the help of many kind people. My body gradually recovered, but I can never forget those thirteen months when I was chained up and imprisoned in a dark room, or how my father would beat me like a madman every time he drank. He would stuff a towel into my mouth, burn my arms with cigarette butts, and if I made a sound, he would punch and kick me. In that dark room, I lay on the ground all day like a dog, and I didn’t even have the strength to stand up. For thirteen months, I didn’t see the sun, and I ate, drank, and relieved myself in that small room. I didn’t even take a bath once, and I can still smell the stench in the air now.”
"Later, I left my hometown to go to university, and I vowed that I would never go back to that place that humiliated me. My father was released after two years in prison. He seemed to be much better after treatment and even wrote me a letter in which he confessed his sins. But I will never forgive him. If he had stood in front of me then, I would have stabbed him in the heart without hesitation."
“I vowed to sever all ties with the past, and I actually did it. Until my junior year of college, one day I bought a new dress and stared at myself in the mirror for a long time. Suddenly, I realized that I looked so much like my father. At that moment, I almost despaired. I could sever all ties with the past, but I couldn't sever the blood of my father flowing in my veins, and I couldn't change the undeniable fact that he was my father. He was like a persistent ghost, haunting my life, becoming a nightmare from which I would never wake up.”
"Later, two more things happened in my life that completely changed my life and my appearance."
What were those two things? One of them, of course, was finding that woman's photo outside the photo studio that autumn night. That woman was so beautiful that even the most beautiful words in the world couldn't describe her. She was enveloped in a hazy aura, like the gentle moonlight of Mid-Autumn Festival caressing her, cool yet alluringly captivating. Su He was utterly mesmerized by her; from then on, she became a frequent visitor in her dreams. Each time, she would smile and say to her, "You will become a woman like me."
What's the other thing? It's related to an American singer named Michael Jackson. Su He once read an article in an entertainment gossip magazine that said the reason Jackson kept getting plastic surgery and even bleaching his skin was because he was molested by his father when he was a child, and as an adult, he wanted to try his best to get rid of his father's shadow.
This article touched Su He: Why can't I change my appearance like Michael Jackson?
Su He smiled sadly: "Now you know why I look exactly like the woman in the photo. I've had at least eight facial surgeries in the past three years. If any of you lack confidence in your appearance, I'll introduce you to my plastic surgeon; his skills will satisfy you completely. Now, I've completely escaped my father's shadow. I want to live happily like everyone else forever. Do you understand? When I changed my appearance, I was truly happy. I no longer mention my past to anyone, and no one will associate me with that thirteen-year-old girl anymore. I thought my happiness would last forever, especially after meeting Tong Hao here. I felt I was a little closer to that woman. If Tong Hao were still here, I think I would have become the woman of my dreams."
Everyone suddenly realized what had happened, but they all sighed at the things behind the story.
"Happiness!" Qin Ge said solemnly, uttering the two words heavily. He stared at Su He, as if he had finally untied a knot that had been accumulating in his heart for a long time, but why was there no sign of relief on his face?
"It has now been confirmed that the woman in the photo is not Su He, but other questions have arisen before us: who exactly is the woman in the photo, and why does Tong Hao have her photo?"
Of course, only Su He knows the answer to this question.
She recounted what Tong Hao had told her at the bar the previous afternoon, and Dong'er and the other model girls listened in rapt attention. They had always thought that those poignant and beautiful love stories only happened in novels and movies, but they never expected that the stories happening to people around them were even more passionate and romantic than those in novels and movies.
Qin Ge nodded after listening and picked up another newspaper: "This matches the death of Tong Hao mentioned in the newspaper. The newspaper said that Tong Hao committed suicide by lying on the railway tracks and left a suicide note at the scene. In it, he described in detail the death of his beloved and that he had no intention of living alone in this world, so he went to another world to reunite with her."
Dong'er and several young models were almost moved to tears by Tong Hao's infatuation.
"Now the problem is basically clear, but there is still one most important question left, which is who the murderer is." Qin Ge held up the last newspaper in his hand. "I have one last newspaper here. I think everyone can guess who the news in the newspaper is related to without me having to say more."
Asi's Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 6, Chapter 92: The Murderer (2)
All eyes turned to Lei Ming. Although his eyes were closed, he could still sense that he had become the central figure in the incident. He sighed deeply, opened his eyes, and his arrogant expression from before was gone: "It seems that everyone here has been cleared of suspicion, leaving only me. I don't understand what reason I have not to be the murderer, and besides, Tong Hao really was taken hostage by me to that altar."
His words shocked everyone present. Although they had all had a premonition, Lei Ming's statement still came as a surprise. By saying this, he was essentially admitting that he was the murderer of Tong Hao.
Qin Ge seemed stunned as well. He stared at Lei Ming, speechless for a moment.
“Yesterday afternoon I was secretly watching Tong Hao. He went into that bar with Su He, and I stayed outside the bar all afternoon. In the evening, when they went out, I followed them. Later, Tong Hao went back to that bar, and I stopped him when he came out.”
"Then you forcibly brought him to the altar," Qin Ge said. "Of all of us, only you went to that altar with me."
Lei Ming's eyes held a hint of mockery: "Why must I force him onto the altar? Even if I'm much stronger than him, how could I subdue him in such a short time unless I knocked him unconscious?" He suddenly gave a bitter smile, "In movies and TV shows, you often see people knocked out with a slap, but how many people can actually do that in reality?"
Qin Ge nodded: "But I don't know what method you have to make Tong Hao abandon Su He and obediently go to the altar with you."
Lei Ming fell silent, staring at Qin Ge with a puzzled look. After a long while, he said somewhat dejectedly, "I feel like I've been tricked by you, or maybe the newspaper in your hand has nothing to do with me at all."
This time, Qin Ge smiled slightly: "It seems that I can't hide this from you anymore."
Lei Ming's expression stiffened. He stared at Qin Ge without saying a word for a full half minute, as if he was both disappointed that he had fallen into Qin Ge's trap and secretly admired Qin Ge.
“I haven’t seen any news about you at all, but I thought that since everyone else has a newspaper like this, you must be no exception. So, if I have an extra newspaper in my hand, you won’t suspect anything, especially with the previous newspapers as a prelude.” Qin Ge shook his head and said, “My original intention was just to know some things related to you, but I didn’t expect you to be so frank. That’s good, it can save us a lot of time.”
“You’re more talkative than a gossipy old woman tonight. If you can’t even find the murderer in the end, wouldn’t that be a huge loss of face?” Lei Ming glared at Qin Ge. “I know you’ll definitely try to find out what I did all afternoon and evening. If I make up a story, I can’t fool you. So, I might as well just tell the truth. That way, maybe I’ll still have a chance.”
"What kind of opportunity do you want?" Qin Ge asked.
"Clear yourself out of suspicion!" Lei Ming said emphatically.
This time, all eyes were on him again, even Zhong Zhenyu, who looked dejected and downcast, showed a surprised expression. Lei Ming had just admitted that he had brought Tong Hao to the altar, but now he was saying that he wanted to clear himself of suspicion. Did he know that Qin Ge did not have the newspaper that published the news of his death and wanted to make excuses for himself, or was he really not the murderer?
"You admitted yourself that you brought Tong Hao to the altar. If you weren't the murderer, did Tong Hao find a knife and stab himself in the heart?" Qin Ge said.
"Does bringing Tong Hao to the altar necessarily mean I have to kill him? Believe it or not, I still have to say that I do want to kill him. The purpose of my journey is to kill him. I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Last night, I finally faced Tong Hao alone. Moreover, killing him is as easy as turning my hand."
"Then I'd like to see how you clear yourself of suspicion," Qin Ge said.
Lei Ming hesitated, as if he had a knot in his heart that was difficult to untie. He was silent for a while, then suddenly sighed heavily: "Since things have come to this point, I have nothing to hide anymore. Didn't you just ask me how to take Tong Hao away quietly? Now I'll tell you, I only said one sentence to him, and he obediently came with me."
"A single sentence?" Qin Ge asked in surprise, "What kind of sentence could have such power?"
"That sentence can not only get Tong Hao to come with me, but also make you understand why I did this. However, I also know the consequences of saying that sentence, because you will definitely ask me a lot of questions. If that happens, there is no need for me to defend myself anymore."
"Do you still have some secret you don't want anyone to know?"
"Everyone has secrets, but tonight you've dug them all out. While this is crucial for solving the case, don't you think it's a bit too cruel?"
Qin Ge lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and said solemnly, "I have another purpose in doing this. It concerns the lives of everyone here, so even if it is ten times more cruel, I will still do it."
This concerns everyone's lives. Is the situation really as serious as Qin Ge described? Everyone was filled with doubt, but Lei Ming quickly nodded: "I believe you."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "I stopped Tong Hao outside the bar. I only told him one person's name and my connection to that name, and he immediately came with me."
"Whose name?" Qin Ge knew that it was time to ask Lei Ming the appropriate question.
Asi's Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 6, Chapter 93: The Murderer (3)
A hint of sadness appeared in Lei Ming's eyes this time: "You were just holding her photo in your hand, don't you remember it now?"
It's her! It's that woman! Everyone was taken aback again, especially Su He, who stared blankly at Lei Ming, as if trying to find any trace of the woman in her dream on him.