Seeing Yang Na's expression and actions, Li Jian already had a plan in mind.
His years of experience in criminal investigations told him that the psychological defenses of the killer were about to collapse.
To Li Jian, this high school girl was a piece of cake.
However, thinking of how they had initially played him like a fiddle, a wave of anger surged within him.
Li Jian turned his head to glance at Jiang An.
Jiang An was taking notes.
If not for this newcomer's timely discovery, another ticking time bomb might have been planted in the career of the criminal investigation captain.
Moreover, such a life-threatening ticking bomb, once exposed as a wrongful conviction, would certainly ruin his reputation beyond recognition.
Thinking about this, Li Jian felt a jolt of fear.
He looked up and scanned the opposite Yang Na.
"Confession leads to leniency, resistance leads to severity."
"Your life still has a long way to go!"
After a slight pause, Li Jian said gravely, "However, I know you didn't intend to kill her."
"Li Rui's death was merely an accident."
As he spoke, Li Jian deepened the tone on the word "accident."
Instantly, Yang Na broke down like a collapsing dam and started wailing.
Two minutes later, she spoke, "Actually, we just wanted to scare her a bit; we didn't expect she would stop breathing."
Success!
Suspect Yang Na had cracked.
Li Jian suppressed his excitement and asked, "Besides you, who else was there?"
Yang Na replied, "There were two other girls who came in with me."
Indeed!
The numbers matched precisely as Jiang An predicted.
With this record, Jiang An felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Once she admitted her crime, the rest was just a matter of evidence.
Li Jian said, "Although we've already deduced your process of harming and disposing of Li Rui, please recount it once."
Upon hearing this, Yang Na nodded gently.
After a long pause, she began, "Li Rui and I were classmates in junior high; I disliked her throughout those three years because she dated a guy I liked very much. I kept that grudge in my heart."
"Coincidentally, she got into Hexi Bilingual Middle School, and thanks to my uncle's care, I also came here for schooling."
"In high school, two classmates and I often bullied her."
"A week ago, I saw her dating that guy at the school gate. I was furious, so I wanted to teach her a harsh lesson."
"That night, while she was out jogging, I intercepted her and brought her to the riverside."
"Because there were many willow trees by the river, with branches hanging low, it was hard for people to see."
Then, Yang Na paused and said, "Actually, we just wanted to teach her a lesson by hanging her upside down from the tree branches."
"At first, she struggled, grabbing things everywhere. Our legs were scratched during that."
"But somehow, after a while, she stopped moving."
After that, Yang Na said, "Officer, please believe me, I never wanted her to die."
After she finished speaking, Li Jian asked, "What did you use to hang her upside down?"
"My elastic rope for physical training."
"Where is that elastic rope now?"
Yang Na replied, "Under my dorm bed."
"How did you hang Li Rui upside down on the willow tree?"
"We tied both ends of the elastic rope to Li Rui's calves, then passed the rope through the willow branches, like a pulley system. It was easy for us three to lift her up."
There's a saying: catch the ringleader first.
The main conspirator had already confessed, making testimony from the other two easy.
Li Jian squinted slightly, recalling the entire death process which had become very clear.
No further inquiries were needed.
This case could now be declared solved.
Li Jian then turned to Jiang An and asked, "I've finished my questions. Do you have any?"
Jiang An put down his black pen and assessed Yang Na again.
Despite her makeup and stylish attire, her slender physique suggested limited strength.
Recalling the other two girls, their build was similar to Yang Na's.
Suddenly, a new question emerged in Jiang An's mind.
Were these three slender girls truly capable of this crime?
Considering the victim Li Rui's weight was around 100 pounds.
Especially just after death when the corpse's limbs become limp, making it hard to move.
Could the three girls really have managed the hanging disguise?
With that thought, Jiang An asked, "Was anyone else involved?"
Hearing this question, Li Jian was momentarily stunned.
What indicated a fourth person's involvement?
Yang Na quickly said, "No one else, just us three!"
"Really?"
"Really! You can ask the other two."
"With your slender shapes, it's hard to believe you could carry a barrel of oil. How could you move a corpse?"
"You underestimate law enforcement intelligence."
Then Jiang An's lips curved slightly upward, and he said gravely, "No need for questions! Your actions have already revealed the answer."
At that moment, Yang Na clenched her hands tighter.
Her long nails nearly dug into her skin.
"If I'm not mistaken, that person is likely your uncle?"
Suddenly, Yang Na raised her head sharply.
"It's not him! It's not him!"
Just then, Li Jian also realized suddenly.
He looked at Jiang An in astonishment.
This was akin to pulling up a radish and extracting the soil.
At this moment, Zhang Yean, by the one-way glass outside the interrogation room, also widened her eyes.
Through the glass, she stared at Jiang An as if seeing an alien.
Is he a forensic expert?
How could he be more skilled than the investigation captain!
Inside the interrogation room, Li Jian felt another bout of anger.
Almost getting tricked by this young girl again.
Instantly, his tone grew more severe.
"Was it him or not?"
"Is there anything else you've withheld?"
"I advise you to be honest."
Instantly, a heart-wrenching cry resounded in the interrogation room.
"Uncle, I'm sorry, I dragged you into this!"
"I'm sorry! It's all my fault."
....
Five minutes later, Yang Na calmed her sobs a little.
She spoke, "Uncle is innocent; I was too scared then and called him for help."
"And the idea of staging a suicide was his, right?"
Jiang An asked.
Yang Na's eyes were blank, she just nodded.
After a while, Jiang An said, "Mr. Li, I've asked what I wanted to."
Li Jian angrily said, "You will face the harsh punishment of the law."
As Li Jian and Jiang An stood to leave, Yang Na suddenly looked up and softly asked, "Officer, what is your name?"
Jiang An was surprised and replied, "Jiang An!"
"In the morning, my uncle said everything was fine, but suddenly it's reversed because of you?"
Jiang An solemnly replied, "The net of heaven has large meshes, but it lets nothing through."
"Even without me, Jiang An, there would be others to tear apart your lies."