Chapter 325: The First Tale (2/2)

I grabbed my cell phone and showed him a photo of the victim’s remains along with the three hamsters. ”What about this?” I continued.

He denied vehemently but his microexpressions betrayed him. It was obvious he recognized both of them.

I had only shown him the ring and photos to test his reaction. Before leaving for the dinner party, I carefully considered what role the ring played in the case. So far, all our speculations were based on Ding Xu’s version of events.

When I tried to deconstruct the details and reassemble them, I found a new angle to analyze the case. And Xu Zhipeng's reaction to the evidence was the final piece of the puzzle that I lacked.

I looked him in the eye and said, ”Mr. Xu, I’d like to tell you a story, one of conspiracy and calculation!”

Once, there was a pair of business partners named A and B who co-owned a telecommunication equipment company. Two years ago, after the company developed a smartphone which was well received, their business improved by leaps and bounds and the company went public. The two began to compete with each other, both wanting to own the other's shares.

A learned through an investigation that B had a first love, so he found a girl who resembled B's lover and had her undergo cosmetic surgery. He sent her to B in an attempt to steal information.

Unexpectedly, the commercial spy fell in love with the young, rich Mr. B and even betrayed A. But the wily Mr. A didn’t stop there. He kidnapped the girl, tortured her through various methods and forced B to sign the share transfer contract.

After the shares were successfully obtained, the girl became a ticking time bomb! So A silenced her by murder but he never expected a twist of fate. The girl had somehow snatched his gold ring before she died, and it was this ring that led us to find the real culprit.

With that, I sneered, ”Mr. Xu, isn’t this story wonderful?”

Dali and Xiaotao looked at me in consternation, never imagining that the murderer switched from Lang Jun to Xu Zhipeng.

Upon listening to my story, Xu Zhipeng started sweating profusely. His hands trembled so much he couldn’t even hold his glass. His guilty reaction confirmed my suspicions. I felt as if my dangling heart had found solid ground.

”No-nonsense!” he retorted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

”What are you nervous about?” I quipped. “Did I say anything about you being the antagonist?”

My words were a huge slap in the face. His mouth fell agape and he panted, plagued by shortness of breath, forehead glistening with sweat.

”Mr. Xu, don't try to hide it from us,” Xiaotao struck while the iron was hot. “You better behave!”

Xu Zhipeng threw the glass in his hand, face contorting with his venomous outburst. ”I didn't kill anyone!” he shouted. “Her death has nothing to do with me.”

”What about using her to threaten Lang Jun?” I questioned.

”At most, my actions can only be considered as intentional injury,” scoffed Xu Zhipeng. “Lang Jun signed the contract on his own volition...” He suddenly clammed up.

”So you admit to it?” I sneered.

Xu Zhipeng's lips trembled uncontrollably. ”Don't try this on me!” he roared. “Show me the evidence! Otherwise, I’ll sue you for slander!”

Xu Zhipeng left us with those words.

”Aren’t you going to arrest him?” asked Dali.

”We only have a letter of assistance, not an arrest warrant so we can’t do that,” explained Xiaotao. “By the way, Song Yang, what made you suspect Xu Zhipeng?”

”It's very simple,” I smiled. “Because Xu Zhipeng is the biggest beneficiary of the whole incident. And there’s also the gold ring.”

Xiaotao made a phone call and assigned an officer to closely monitor Xu Zhipeng. We were about to leave the dinner when Dali ran off to stuff his pockets with imported chocolates. ”Ugh, just look at yourself!” I chided.