When Xu Mo first met the victim, her emotions seemed relatively stable.
However, the moment Xu Mo took out his phone and showed her a surveillance video, her demeanor instantly became agitated.
The woman lying on the hospital bed began gasping for breath, overwhelmed by her emotions.
From her expression, Xu Mo could tell that she was filled with anger.
Did she know this person? Xu Mo had a thought: "You know the person in the video, don't you? Who is she?"
Hearing this, the woman opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word.
After a moment, her emotions gradually calmed, and her face turned cold.
"I don't know her."
She was lying. Xu Mo could see through her deception immediately. Even without any knowledge of psychology, it was obvious.
Before Xu Mo could continue his questioning, the woman began feigning illness: "I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Could you call Doctor Liang for me?"
It was clear she didn't want to answer Xu Mo's questions.
She knew the person in the video, but she refused to say who it was.
This was strange. It was the first time Xu Mo had encountered a victim who was unwilling to cooperate, someone who was actually protecting the person who had set the fire that burned her… It didn't make sense.
For a moment, Xu Mo couldn't figure out why the woman would act this way.
"Are you sure you don't know her?" he couldn't help but ask again.
This time, the woman shook her head with unwavering determination.
"I don't know her."
After saying this, she casually pressed the bedside call button.
The next moment, Doctor Liang walked in: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Yes, my wound hurts a bit," the woman replied.
Doctor Liang glanced at Xu Mo.
"Officer Xu, perhaps we should end the questioning here. The patient…"
Xu Mo nodded in understanding and then turned to leave the sterile ward.
When the police are investigating a case and need to question a patient, they must take care to consider the patient's emotional state and physical condition. Even if the patient might be faking, they have to stop the interrogation.
Xu Mo believed that the woman clearly knew the arsonist, but she wasn't willing to tell him. He couldn't force her, especially since she was the victim and had just escaped a life-threatening situation.
As soon as Xu Mo left the sterile ward, Han Fei and the others immediately gathered around, their faces filled with anticipation.
"How did it go? Did you get anything out of her?"
Xu Mo shook his head.
"No. She said she doesn't know the woman in the video who set the fire, but she's lying. She doesn't want to reveal the other person's identity."
"She doesn't want to reveal the other person's identity?" Han Fei was slightly stunned, then furrowed his brow in deep thought.
A victim protecting the arsonist?
That didn't make sense.
Her livelihood—her piano shop—had been burned down, and she herself had been severely injured in the fire. Logically, she should hate the arsonist. Why would she protect them?
This was completely illogical.
Han Fei had witnessed Xu Mo's interrogation skills before, and he didn't think Xu Mo was mistaken. The problem must lie with the victim.
According to Xu Mo, she clearly knew the arsonist but refused to reveal their identity, which was utterly baffling.
Han Fei's brow furrowed into a deep crease as he pondered, feeling more and more that something was off.
But he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.
"Should we go to the next ward and ask the other victim?" Li Chen suggested.
A wry smile appeared on Xu Mo's face.
He pointed to the ward behind him.
"I barely got a few questions in before the victim claimed she wasn't feeling well and called for Doctor Liang. I doubt Doctor Liang will let me into the other ward now."
After a pause, Xu Mo added,
"Besides, I suspect the other victim might not say anything either. It would be a waste of time."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Indeed, as soon as Xu Mo started questioning, the victim claimed to feel unwell. Even if it was an act, Doctor Liang wouldn't risk letting Xu Mo question another patient.
The fact that they had been allowed in once was already a favor, likely due to the help Xu Mo and Han Fei had provided to Doctor Liang not long ago.
Just then, a familiar conversation echoed down the hallway.
"Sir, I really can't let you in. I've told you many times, it's hospital policy."
"Can you at least take these fruits to my daughter? She loves them."
"No, the patient is very weak right now. Even if I brought them, she wouldn't be able to eat them. You should keep the fruits for yourself. She can't have them at the moment."
"Nurse Yang… could you make an exception?"
"…"
The voices were familiar, especially one—it was the nurse who had stopped Xu Mo and the others from entering the ward earlier.
Following the sound, they saw a middle-aged man holding a bag of fruits, trying to persuade Nurse Yang.
The man bore a resemblance to the woman in the ward, as the officers had seen her photo in the case file.
Combined with their conversation, it wasn't hard to guess that this man was likely the father of the woman in the ward.
He wanted to visit his injured daughter, but his request had been denied by the nurse.
Watching the man, Xu Mo furrowed his brow. It seemed like he had just thought of something, but the idea slipped away before he could fully grasp it.
Han Fei also noticed the man.
He took a few steps forward and approached him.
"Hello, are you Ms. Gao's father?"
"I am. And you are?" The man looked confused.
The officers weren't in uniform, so their identities weren't immediately obvious.
"We're police officers," Han Fei replied. "We're here to investigate the case."
Han Fei thought that since the victim wasn't cooperating, they might be able to get some information from her father.
However, as soon as Han Fei revealed their identity, the man's expression changed drastically.
Without saying a word, he turned and walked away.
Something was wrong!
"Stop!" Xu Mo shouted.
At that, the man broke into a run, as if he had something to hide.
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...
