Chapter 12: Must Be Uprooted Completely

Chapter 12

After He Xiaopeng finished speaking, he nudged Lin Hui beside him, hinting that he should try to persuade as well.

“Captain. And about that last time we tried to approach Xie Yi and the others—this traffic cop is hopelessly clumsy, he even let Xie Yi and the others discover him. We should really transfer him. Qiao Shan was careless because of family trouble, but this guy doesn't have that excuse.” Not only did Lin Hui not persuade, he added fuel to the fire.

Fang Wenxuan, standing nearby, was trembling with anger. This was clearly Lin Hui retaliating, blatantly so, just because when he was a traffic officer, he didn’t cut Lin Hui any slack and insisted on issuing him a ticket.

“We’ll consider it, both the director and I. Enough, all of you. Wenxuan, get some rest. Right now, Xie Yi might know where Hou Changping hid the murder weapon used to kill Wang Minmin and Mei Yanqin, but he won’t talk unless he sees you,” Cheng Fei said, looking at Fang Wenxuan.

“Then, Captain, I’ll discharge myself right now. I’ll interrogate him.” Fang Wenxuan immediately saw the opportunity and spoke up.

“Wenxuan, you just woke up and you can barely stand. Rest a while longer before you go,” Cheng Fei replied.

“Captain, it’s just hunger. I haven’t eaten properly for ages. Really, once I’m full, I’ll have the energy.” Fang Wenxuan smiled, got down from the hospital bed.

“Wenxuan, are you really alright? I saw the video, you…” Zheng Qiaoshan asked with concern.

“I’m really fine,” Fang Wenxuan replied.

“Alright, Hui, go handle the discharge paperwork. Wenxuan, we’ll take you to get a good meal.” Cheng Fei said.

Lin Hui shot Fang Wenxuan a glare, but went to handle the paperwork nevertheless.

At the restaurant across from the hospital, Zheng Qiaoshan ordered some light, nourishing soups for Fang Wenxuan, who was truly famished. As soon as the food arrived, he began eating quickly.

“Wenxuan, how many meals have you missed?” He Xiaopeng stared, wide-eyed, at Fang Wenxuan, who had already finished three bowls of rice and two bowls of soup.

“Three,” Fang Wenxuan replied, wiping his mouth.

Lin Hui watched Fang Wenxuan eat with such appetite—he’d never seen anyone eat so well under these circumstances. It was as if he wasn’t worried at all about being transferred. Was this confidence, or just obliviousness?

After the meal, the group returned to the Criminal Investigation Division.

Once back, Fang Wenxuan immediately began reviewing Hou Changping’s interrogation transcripts.

Lin Hui sat directly across from him, with nothing urgent to do, and spent his time staring at Fang Wenxuan.

Fang Wenxuan’s complexion was still poor and pale, but he deliberately feigned vigor.

“Another cup of tea?” By the third cup, Lin Hui couldn’t stand it any longer. He stood up, went over, and covered Fang Wenxuan’s cup with his hand. “If you’re unwell, go home. No one’s forcing you to work while sick.”

Fang Wenxuan looked up with a cold sneer, his gaze icy. Such a two-faced man. If not for Lin Hui suggesting his transfer to the captain, he wouldn’t be so anxious, rushing to work the moment he could. Sitting there, in pain and unable to focus, he could only drink tea to stay alert.

He brushed aside Lin Hui’s hand, tossed the cup into the trash—he had a mild case of OCD and hated others touching his drinking vessels—and continued reading the interrogation record.

“You—” Lin Hui was exasperated seeing Fang Wenxuan toss the cup. Was he that disgusted by Lin Hui’s touch? He wanted to say something more, but Fang Wenxuan was already engrossed in his work, his dark hair falling over his brow, his focus absolute. Lin Hui didn’t dare disturb him further and returned to his seat, watching him nonetheless.

After a while, Fang Wenxuan finished reading and got up to interrogate Xie Yi.

Lin Hui quickly grabbed his notebook and followed him into the interrogation room.

“You’re ill, aren’t you?” As soon as Fang Wenxuan entered, Xie Yi, sitting cuffed, asked.

“Oh? Is that a doctor’s intuition?” Fang Wenxuan sat down, smiling at Xie Yi across the table.

“You reek of disinfectant, you’re pale—you got discharged before you recovered?” Xie Yi observed.

“Xie Yi, if you really care about me, then please answer what I ask, quickly, alright?” Fang Wenxuan replied with a gentle smile.

After a brief silence, Xie Yi said, “Ask.”

“What did Hou Changping use to kill Wang Minmin, Mei Yanqin, He Beichuan, and the others?” Fang Wenxuan asked.

“A surgical scalpel, one he used for operations. Very sharp. At the bar, Mei Yanqin got drunk, and He Beichuan took her back to the apartment. Wang Minmin somehow found out He Beichuan was involved in organ trafficking, so she followed him home.

In the apartment, Mr. Hou had someone tailing He Beichuan and learned He Beichuan’s cover was blown. Using a spare key, he entered He Beichuan’s apartment. At that moment, Wang Minmin was about to make a call, Mei Yanqin was drunk in the bath, and Mr. Hou used the scalpel to kill Wang Minmin. Then he handed the knife to He Beichuan, telling him if he dealt with Mei Yanqin, his error would be forgiven. But He Beichuan seemed to truly love Mei Yanqin, and couldn’t do it. In the end, Mr. Hou turned the knife on him. He Beichuan never expected Mr. Hou would really kill him, and was unprepared…

Mei Yanqin was unconscious in the bathroom. Mr. Hou cut her wrists with the scalpel, and she bled to death.”

“You were there, weren’t you?” Fang Wenxuan asked.

“No, I was across the way, watching with binoculars. The plan was for He Beichuan to sedate Mei Yanqin and harvest her organs,” Xie Yi replied.

“Why didn’t you intervene?” Fang Wenxuan pressed, “Weren’t you only interested in organ extraction to showcase your medical skill? Seeing people murdered before you, why didn’t you stop it?”

“At that moment… I was stunned. I never imagined there was someone whose knife skills surpassed mine. Watching him kill, each cut was precise, not damaging a single organ. I admired him. In fact, he performed the organ extraction himself that time. Through the binoculars, his technique—the speed, the precision, the mastery—my own skills paled in comparison. I truly respected him. But…”

“But you have a conscience. When you saw He Beichuan’s organs taken and him dismembered, you were deeply affected. He used to call you brother, brought you specialties from his hometown, didn’t he?” Fang Wenxuan said sternly.

“He said we’d always be together… He betrayed me first…” Xie Yi closed his eyes, unwilling to say more.

Fang Wenxuan seemed to understand. “Where is the scalpel?”

“In Mr. Hou’s residence. He’d never discard his scalpel. If you search his place, you’ll find it,” Xie Yi answered.

“Is it the villa?”

“No, the hospital staff dormitory.”

“Take him away.” With the interrogation nearly complete, Fang Wenxuan signaled the guard.

The guard led Xie Yi out of the room.

Still dizzy, Fang Wenxuan sat motionless for half a day, leaning back, not wanting Lin Hui to notice and report to the captain that he was unfit for duty, urging his transfer.

“Come on, why are you still sitting here?” Lin Hui got up with the notebook, noticing Fang Wenxuan hadn’t moved.

Fang Wenxuan gripped the table to stand, feeling faint, and swayed. Lin Hui quickly supported him. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Afraid Lin Hui would notice his discomfort, Fang Wenxuan quickly pushed him away, pulled himself together, and walked out.

Lin Hui watched Fang Wenxuan’s retreating figure thoughtfully, then followed.

“Wenxuan, we’re heading to the staff dormitory to find the weapon Xie Yi mentioned. You’ve just been discharged, take a good rest,” the captain said as soon as they exited, seeing Fang Wenxuan’s pale face.

Fang Wenxuan nodded, “Thank you, Captain.”

“Needs to be looked after for everything,” Lin Hui muttered under his breath, watching Fang Wenxuan leave.

But Fang Wenxuan’s hearing was sharp; he caught the words, but couldn’t be bothered to respond. He sat at his desk, letting Lin Hui say what he liked. One misstep, getting beaten up by criminals like this—he could only blame his own inexperience.

“Hui, Wenxuan showed up to work while still ill, so ease up on him,” Cheng Fei said to Lin Hui.

“Captain, I have no problem with him,” Lin Hui replied quickly.

“Then tell me, you’re in the same team—when he went to the crime scene to gather evidence, why didn’t he call you? As a senior officer, you should guide new members. Hui, I’ve never said this before, but whether or not you have personal grievances with Wenxuan, as long as you’re on the same team, working in the same squad room, you need team spirit. Help each other out,” Cheng Fei said sternly.

“Captain, I understand. I have my reasons. If you all keep giving him special treatment, he’ll get things too easily and won’t cherish his opportunities,” Lin Hui replied.

“Fine, since you say so, I’m relieved. But don’t go too far.” Cheng Fei said. “Let’s head to the staff dormitory to collect evidence.”

Cheng Fei and Lin Hui went to the hospital’s staff dormitory and found Hou Changping’s former room. No one else had moved in since. Before long, they found the scalpel Xie Yi described in the closet.

Back at headquarters, Lin Hui immediately sent the scalpel to forensics for Qin Lian to test the blood DNA.

It was already seven in the evening. The report would take several hours. With the case nearly closed, only Lin Hui and Cheng Fei remained, waiting; the others had gone off duty.

“Why haven’t you left?” Lin Hui noticed Fang Wenxuan was still there and walked over.

“I want to wait for the report. Nothing to do at home anyway,” Fang Wenxuan replied blandly, then ignored Lin Hui, closed his eyes, but his mind was busy. He considered the possibilities—if the blood on the knife belonged to all three victims, how would he get Hou Changping to confess and reveal the whereabouts of the organ trafficking gang’s remaining members? Such an evil organization needed to be rooted out.