8 PM, back gate of the city park.
"Ugh, what a pervert!" Li Hui spat angrily.
Han Bin shrank his neck back slightly. "Watch the spit."
"Can you believe this Zheng Wen? She actually hid such an important piece of evidence?" Li Hui said with frustration.
"This case hit her hard. She might not have realized it at the time, and it's hard to talk about afterward."
"People are coming into the park."
Han Bin and Li Hui stood at the entrance to the park with a stack of photos in their hands, conducting checks.
Thanks to the tech department, they had obtained some clear images of potential suspects. More images were still being processed, but some were likely to remain too blurry, even after enhancement.
This was already the better batch — taken near the park entrance under streetlights. Without those lights, the surveillance footage would have been even worse.
If they saw anyone matching the photos, they would stop them, ask questions, and record names, IDs, phone numbers, and fingerprints.
Even if someone didn't resemble the suspects, they were still asked routine questions, such as whether they had seen anything suspicious the night of the incident.
The task wasn't physically tiring, but it was repetitive and required constant talking — a tedious job.
Zhao Ming and Tian Li were doing the same at the front gate of the park.
For several consecutive days, the four of them combed through the park, identifying over twenty men who were present during the estimated time of the crime. Some individuals had clear images but hadn't been to the park recently — their info was retrievable from the police database.
Another afternoon passed. Han Bin was lying on his desk taking a nap.
Clap, clap… A series of sharp hand claps echoed. Zeng Ping called out, "Everyone, gather up."
"Captain Zeng, back to the park again?" Li Hui said with a groan.
"Not today."
"Why not?"
"The DNA results are in." Zeng Ping pulled out a file from his bag.
"Was there a match in the database?" Han Bin asked.
"Yes. The suspect has a prior record for causing public disturbances. Here's his file." Zeng Ping turned on the projector and displayed the suspect's information.
Name: Chen Jun
Ethnicity: Han
Age: 28
Height: 177 cm
Occupation: Qindao Technology Company
Marital Status: Single
Address: 6-703, Jiangxin Community, Yuxin Road, Qindao City
"Captain Zeng, what are we waiting for? Let's go get him." Zhao Ming cracked his knuckles.
…
The team drove to Jiangxin Community.
They pretended to be from the property management company to trick their way into the unit.
It went smoothly — they apprehended the suspect, Chen Jun, without resistance.
Chen Jun was a typical shut-in. His place was a mess, rented, and he lived alone.
Han Bin and the others searched the apartment thoroughly but found no murder weapons or tools. They brought him back to the station for questioning.
To speed up the case, Zeng Ping decided to interrogate him that very night.
…
Qindao Branch Station, Interrogation Room.
The suspect sat strapped into the interrogation chair. Han Bin and Li Hui were in charge of questioning.
Zeng Ping, Tian Li, and Zhao Ming watched from the observation room through a one-way mirror.
"Name, age, place of origin…" Han Bin began with standard procedure.
"Chen Jun, 28, from Qindao," the suspect answered.
"You know why we brought you here?" Li Hui asked.
"N-No, I don't."
"You are suspected of being involved in a rape case. We need your full cooperation."
"No way! I've never done anything like that!" Chen Jun looked shocked.
"Last Monday, June 18, where were you that evening?" Li Hui asked.
"I… I don't remember."
"Try harder."
After thinking for a bit, Chen Jun said, "I was home."
"Anyone who can verify that?"
"I live alone."
"So, you can't prove that you were home that night?" Li Hui pressed.
"Officer, I swear I'm innocent!"
"Every suspect who walks into this room says that. Yelling doesn't prove anything."
"I really didn't do it!"
"Then tell me, why was your DNA found at the crime scene?" Han Bin asked.
"Where's this crime scene you're talking about?"
"The city park."
"I've never even been to that park!"
Li Hui sneered, "Stop pretending. If you weren't at the scene, how did your DNA get there? You can't fake that kind of evidence."
"I'm being framed! Something's gone wrong here!" Chen Jun cried out.
Han Bin shook his head slightly. "DNA is solid evidence. If you can't explain how yours ended up there, no one can help you."
"I honestly don't know!" Chen Jun was nearly in tears.
…
An hour later, Han Bin and Li Hui left the interrogation room.
Zeng Ping got straight to the point. "How'd it go?"
"The suspect has no alibi."
"Any new leads?"
"He's tight-lipped. Just kept saying he doesn't know," Li Hui sighed.
"We already have a DNA match. Whether he confesses or not doesn't matter," Zhao Ming added.
Han Bin thought for a moment. "Captain Zeng, I think something's off about this case."
"What do you mean?"
"This Chen Jun… he doesn't seem like he's lying."
During the interrogation, Han Bin used micro-expression analysis and noticed signs of fear and panic — but not dishonesty.
It wasn't the demeanor of a guilty man.
Zeng Ping was surprised. "Do you have any solid proof?"
Han Bin shook his head. It was just his gut and analysis.
"Han Bin, we go by evidence in police work," Zeng Ping said seriously.
"If he has no alibi and no explanation for his DNA being at the scene, he can't clear his name."
"Yes, sir."
"Alright, we're all tired. Let's call it a night and resume questioning tomorrow."
That night, Han Bin couldn't stop thinking about the case.
Was his micro-expression analysis wrong?
Or was there another suspect?
With those questions in his head, Han Bin drifted off to sleep…
…
The next morning.
Huayuan Community, Apartment 1201.
Han Bin woke up, washed up, changed into clean clothes, and headed downstairs for breakfast.
His parents lived in the same building, in unit 601.
His father, Han Weidong, was also a cop, working at the Guang'an Police Station.
His mother, Wang Huifang, was retired and stayed home.
When Han Bin walked in, his dad was reading a newspaper and sipping tea at the table.
"Dad, haven't you read enough papers at work?" Han Bin joked.
"You don't understand. Learn till the day you die. I'm reading national policy and keeping up with government initiatives."
"Where's Mom?"
"Went to the market."
"What's for breakfast?" Han Bin yawned.
"Go wash up. I'll get it for you."
"I get the royal treatment now?" Han Bin chuckled, surprised.
"Your mom said that since you criminal investigators work so hard, we patrol officers should support you however we can," Han Weidong huffed.
Han Bin laughed.
"Mom really gets it."
"Don't get cocky."
Han Bin washed up and went to the dining table, where a meal was already laid out — a plate of fried rice, a bowl of corn porridge, some pickled vegetables, and beef slices.
"Not bad," Han Bin muttered as he took a bite. Then something occurred to him: "Dad, was this rice leftover from yesterday?"
"Leftover rice has less moisture. Makes for better fried rice," Han Weidong replied. He cooked sometimes when he had the time.
Han Bin seemed deep in thought. "So not freshly made… it's from the day before."
"Eat slowly. There's more in the pot," his father said, walking back to the living room.
After eating the rice and some beef, Han Bin skipped the porridge and rushed out the door.
He had a theory — one that might explain how Chen Jun's DNA ended up at the crime scene…
(End of Chapter)