"Lan Yanyan?" Jiang Cong chewed on these three words, his eyebrows arching with intrigue.
"Yes," Bo Yan replied, hastening to explain at the mention of the name. "It was that gossip blogger who broke the news about the feud between Lan Yanyan and Mo Ziqing. At first, we didn't take it seriously. After all, such gossip is usually exaggerated. But more and more netizens started tagging our official Weibo account, demanding a thorough investigation into Mo Ziqing's death."
The situation was actually much worse. Lan Yanyan herself became the target of a fierce backlash from Mo Ziqing's fans. All her personal information was dug out and posted online.
Even her parents and relatives received countless anonymous threats.
Lan Yanyan, seeing the flood of comments calling for her to pay with her life, was in a complete daze. In a moment of despair, she voluntarily went to the police station and confessed to deliberately murdering Mo Ziqing.
Having handled numerous cases over the years, Bo Yan wasn't about to believe that Lan Yanyan would turn herself in simply out of guilt.
It was highly likely that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.
That's why, despite opposition from others, Bo Yan insisted on "making a big deal out of a small problem." He submitted a special report to his superiors, requesting Jiang Cong's return to assist with the investigation.
"Bring Lan Yanyan in for interrogation," Jiang Cong commanded tersely. The cold, sarcastic glint in his glasses sent a shiver down Bo Yan's spine.
Twenty minutes later, Jiang Cong was sitting leisurely in the interrogation room. Across from him, under the harsh glare of the lights, sat Lan Yanyan, looking gaunt and haggard.
"Tell me again, word for word, about your feud with Mo Ziqing," Jiang Cong said. He had already read up on the details of their conflict, but there was nothing like a face - to - face encounter to uncover more valuable information.
Lan Yanyan quickly ran her tongue over her dry, pale lips and began to recount the long - buried past.
Mo Ziqing and Lan Yanyan were once well - known in the industry as inseparable sisters. They were always seen together and even shared resources.
Some people, jealous of their close bond, started spreading rumors about Lan Yanyan, who was far less famous than Mo Ziqing at the time. They claimed that she was only befriending Mo Ziqing to ride on her coattails.
Mo Ziqing, being straightforward, publicly criticized the ill - intentioned rumor - mongers during a media interview. She even declared that as long as she was around, she would protect Lan Yanyan. Anyone who went against Lan Yanyan was going against her.
This statement sparked a flurry of discussions.
Gradually, people began to believe in the deep sisterly bond between Mo Ziqing and Lan Yanyan, and the envy and jealousy subsided.
However, their friendship was short - lived. Lan Yanyan stole a major endorsement from Mo Ziqing, which was like a direct slap in the face.
Mo Ziqing, being proud and competitive by nature, couldn't swallow this humiliation. But instead of engaging in a public feud with Lan Yanyan as the netizens had expected, she simply posted a long article late at night, announcing the end of their friendship.
Just when Mo Ziqing was at her lowest point, betrayed by her closest friend, Shan Liang showed up at the perfect moment and accompanied her through the tough times.
"You have feelings for Shan Liang," Jiang Cong concluded calmly, his eyes fixed on Lan Yanyan, watching for any reaction.
Lan Yanyan's fingers trembled involuntarily, and her breathing quickened. She averted her gaze and tried to explain, "I... I just have a little crush on him."
Jiang Cong gave a non - committal grunt, signaling for her to continue.
Perhaps Jiang Cong's interruption had thrown off Lan Yanyan's rhythm. She was flustered and her words became jumbled.
"I... I was just blinded by ambition. I was so desperate to become famous that I had to do it. I never thought Ziqing would value that endorsement so much. If I had known... I would never have done it," Lan Yanyan said, her voice filled with remorse as she recalled the good old days with Mo Ziqing.
Her expressions and movements were natural, a genuine display of emotion rather than a calculated act.
It seemed that Lan Yanyan truly regretted her actions. So, why would someone who had clearly recognized her mistakes commit such a senseless act as murdering Mo Ziqing?
If there was a reason, it could only be Shan Liang.
But...
Could things really be that simple?
Jiang Cong took a sip of warm water, glanced casually at the confession record, and leaned forward, putting pressure on Lan Yanyan. "Then why did you kill Mo Ziqing? Wouldn't it have been easier to let people think she committed suicide? Why ruin your own future like this?"
Lan Yanyan realized the flaw in her story and quickly tried to cover it up. "Mo Ziqing never forgave me. I was angry at her for being so high - and - mighty, so I decided to take action."
As she spoke, she nervously peeked at the expressionless Jiang Cong and continued, "I turned myself in because I truly regret what I've done. I couldn't bear to let Mo Ziqing die without a proper explanation."
Jiang Cong listened to Lan Yanyan's inconsistent story and became even more convinced of his suspicion.
He nodded non - committally and motioned for his subordinates to take Lan Yanyan out.
Fearing that Jiang Cong wouldn't believe her, Lan Yanyan added desperately, "Everything I said is true. Now that the truth is out, please close the case quickly."
Little did she know that her eagerness only raised more doubts in Jiang Cong's mind.
After Lan Yanyan was taken out, Bo Yan walked in. He asked with concern, "How did it go? Do you have any leads?"
Jiang Cong moved his stiff neck and said with certainty, "Lan Yanyan isn't the killer. The real culprit is someone else. She's just a pawn being manipulated."
Bo Yan's heart skipped a few beats, but he never doubted Jiang Cong's judgment. He swallowed hard and asked, "So... what should we do about Lan Yanyan? What's our next move?"
Jiang Cong idly doodled on a piece of paper with his pen. "Release her. And deliberately act as if we're monitoring Shan Liang, but make it seem like an accidental discovery on his part."
Bo Yan and Jiang Cong had developed an unspoken understanding over the years. After a moment's thought, he understood Jiang Cong's true intention.
It seemed that Jiang Cong suspected Shan Liang, who had been staying out of the limelight. Through these actions, they were trying to wear down Shan Liang's resolve and create an illusion for him.
This was a psychological battle.
Without hesitation, Bo Yan walked out and, following Jiang Cong's instructions, released Lan Yanyan from prison.
Lan Yanyan was clearly shocked by her release. She grabbed the prison guard's hand and pleaded, "Please don't let me out. I truly regret what I've done. You can't do this. Ziqing will never rest in peace!"