Chapter 418: An Old Case

In the following days, Jiang Cheng, as if nothing had happened, maintained his usual routine of attending classes, eating, and sleeping. However, his classmates could feel that he had become quieter, often lost in thought, and his eyes would occasionally reveal a depth that belied his age.

In private, his relationship with Li Wen and Li Yu remained a secret. The three of them usually communicated through subtle glances and gestures, or through brief, hushed conversations that seemed innocuous to outsiders. During class, they would sometimes exchange notes, written in a seemingly innocent manner, but containing coded messages only they could understand.

One afternoon, after school, Jiang Cheng was walking home alone. The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle began to fall. He wasn’t particularly bothered by the rain; in fact, he found a certain tranquility in it. As he walked, he noticed a black car parked a little further down the street from his house, which he hadn’t seen before. It was an ordinary sedan, not particularly flashy, but it stood out in the quiet residential area.

He walked past the car, trying not to appear overly curious, but he subtly observed the people inside. There were two men in the front seats, both dressed in dark suits. They didn’t seem to be doing anything specific, just sitting there, but Jiang Cheng felt a prickle of unease. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were waiting for someone, perhaps even for him.

He continued walking, reached his gate, and entered his house. He went to his room, put down his bag, and looked out the window. The black car was still there. He watched it for a long time, until the streetlights began to flicker on as dusk settled. Eventually, the car drove away, disappearing around the corner.

The next morning, as Jiang Cheng was leaving for school, he saw a police car parked near his house. This time, it was a marked vehicle, clearly identifiable. Two police officers were standing by the car, talking to an elderly neighbor. Jiang Cheng felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He tried to walk past them naturally, but one of the officers called out to him.

“Xiao Jiang, can we have a word with you?” the officer asked, his tone polite but firm.

Jiang Cheng stopped, his heart pounding. “Of course, Officer,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

The officers introduced themselves as Detective Wang and Detective Li. They explained that they were investigating a past incident, a case that had been closed but had recently resurfaced with new evidence. They didn’t specify the nature of the case, but Jiang Cheng had a chilling premonition.

They asked him to accompany them to the police station for an interview. Jiang Cheng, knowing he couldn’t refuse, agreed. He sent a quick text message to Li Wen, “Going to the station. Old case.” He hoped she would understand the gravity of the situation.

At the police station, Jiang Cheng was led into a small, sterile interview room. Detective Wang and Detective Li sat opposite him. They began by asking him about his family, his school, and his daily routine, seemingly innocuous questions. But Jiang Cheng knew they were laying the groundwork.

Eventually, Detective Wang leaned forward, his expression serious. “Xiao Jiang, we’re here to talk about the incident that happened five years ago, involving your family.”

Jiang Cheng’s blood ran cold. He knew exactly what they were referring to: the fire that had claimed his parents’ lives and left him an orphan. He had always been told it was an accident, a tragic fire caused by faulty wiring. But now, it seemed, the truth was far more complex.

“We have reason to believe,” Detective Li continued, “that the fire was not an accident. We suspect arson.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Jiang Cheng felt a surge of emotions—shock, anger, sorrow, and a terrifying sense of vindication. He had always harbored a faint suspicion, a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right, but he had suppressed it, for his own sanity. Now, those suspicions were confirmed.

The detectives then presented him with a series of questions, asking him to recall every detail he could remember from that night, no matter how small or insignificant. Jiang Cheng tried to piece together the fragmented memories, the images of flames, the screams, the chaos. He described the sounds, the smells, the feeling of being pulled away from the burning house.

He also recounted the events leading up to the fire, the subtle changes in his parents’ behavior, the hushed conversations, the fear in his mother’s eyes. He told them about the stranger he had seen near their house a few days before the fire, a man with a distinctive scar on his cheek.

The detectives listened intently, taking notes. They asked him if he knew anyone who might have wanted to harm his family, if his parents had any enemies or business rivals. Jiang Cheng thought of his father’s work, the complex world of corporate finance, where stakes were high and competition fierce. He remembered a heated argument his father had with a business associate a few weeks before the fire, a man named Zhao Hai.

He relayed this information to the detectives, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and resolve. He knew this was just the beginning. The old case had been reopened, and the truth, no matter how painful, would finally come to light.