Volume One, Chapter Seven: "Please Do Not Pass Moral Judgment on Me!"

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Zhuang Jie had encountered uncooperative suspects or criminals before, but Fang Yi was different. He wasn’t arrogant, not in the slightest. Although anger flickered across his face, the scholarly demeanor in his features remained untouched. The intimidating presence he exuded was unmistakable.

“What’s your reason?” Yang Chenxu asked.

Fang Yi responded quickly, “As a police officer, my wife has been missing for so many days, and you have no leads at all. I haven’t even questioned you yet! Why is your investigative efficiency so low?!”

Yang Chenxu paused briefly. “Police officers are human, not gods. Investigations do take time. Please understand.”

Fang Yi said nothing, maintaining the same expression as before.

“Where were you on September 26th?” Yang Chenxu asked.

“In Paris, France,” Fang Yi replied. “I left Guangnan on the 25th, and was in Paris on the 26th.”

“I heard you had a conflict with Lin Xiaoyang before leaving Guangnan?” Yang Chenxu continued.

“Correct,” Fang Yi nodded, then after a moment’s thought, asked, “Couples argue—that’s normal, isn’t it? Can trivial quarrels like that really serve as a breakthrough in your search for suspects?”

Yang Chenxu remained undeterred and pressed on, “What was the cause of your argument?”

Fang Yi considered briefly, then shook his head. “I forgot.”

He immediately added, “Like I said, trivial matters.”

“Forgot so quickly?” Yang Chenxu asked. “It’s only been a few days.”

Fang Yi replied promptly, “There are no substantial conflicts between my wife and me; every argument is over everyday trivialities. Precisely because the issues are minor, I can’t remember them. I don’t hold grudges, nor do I dwell on such small matters—they pass and I forget.”

No sooner had Fang Yi finished than Yang Chenxu said, “I’ve heard you and your wife have often quarreled over the years because you have another woman on the side. Your recent conflicts with your wife have been recurring, largely because of Jiang Shishi. Your wife feels you love Jiang Shishi more than her, more than your family.”

Fang Yi was momentarily taken aback, then suddenly smiled. “Officer, imagination is a useful tool in investigations, but you must not let it run too wild.”

Zhuang Jie turned to look at Yang Chenxu, who remained unfazed and continued, “Even if Lin Xiaoyang harbors negative feelings about you and Jiang Shishi, you have no intention of separating from Jiang Shishi. In fact, you even went to Paris for a honeymoon. That’s true, isn’t it?”

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Fang Yi nodded. “True. But some things shouldn’t be judged merely by appearances; the essence must be considered.”

“What is the essence?” Yang Chenxu asked.

“This trip to Paris with Jiang Shishi was to make plans to part ways,” Fang Yi said. “At first, we truly fell in love at first sight and had a very good impression of each other. Later, after I failed to win her over, we remained friends for over a year. During that time, our personalities were highly compatible, our souls deeply connected. We appreciated each other’s shining qualities, and…”

“Fang Yi, are you trying to boast about your great love?” Zhuang Jie interrupted, growing impatient. “Don’t get it twisted—you two were having an affair!”

“I’m just stating facts,” Fang Yi replied. “Are you trying to pass moral judgment on me?”

“That’s greed!” Zhuang Jie said indignantly. “People who are too greedy will inevitably be punished by their own greed!”

Fang Yi looked her in the eye, his expression serious. “Tell me, what is greed?”

Zhuang Jie almost blurted out, “Wanting everything, and then wanting more! You don’t restrain your desires, yet you praise your own immorality and try to ease your guilt by doing so! Am I wrong?”

Fang Yi’s gaze remained calm, though his eyes shifted slightly. “Officer Zhuang, you’re still young. If you truly understood human nature, you’d realize there isn’t much difference between people—at least not in essence. Humans are driven by desire; wanting more isn’t necessarily greed, but a perfectly normal basic need. Those who claim ‘desires should have limits’ either lack resources, have already experienced what others long for, or are deliberately lying.”

“Don’t be too clever—desire can turn against you!” Zhuang Jie warned.

Fang Yi lifted the corner of his mouth in a faint smile. “If desire backfires, it’s still because conditions are insufficient.”

Zhuang Jie was about to retort when Yang Chenxu raised a hand to interrupt. “Let him speak.”

Fang Yi continued, “Of course, I know some of my actions were improper. At least by conventional standards, they are wrong. But we had no choice. Especially Jiang Shishi; she has a strong sense of morality and is very kind. She refused to be my mistress, didn’t want my money, and didn’t want to destroy my family. That’s why we decided to go to Paris—to make a clean break.”

Zhuang Jie snorted but said nothing.

Yang Chenxu then asked, “After going to Paris, who proposed the clean break?”

“She did,” Fang Yi answered.

“Who is she?” Yang Chenxu pressed.

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“Jiang Shishi,” Fang Yi said. “But going to Paris was my idea. I felt that such a beautiful relationship deserved a proper ending ceremony.”

After speaking, Fang Yi grew restless, reaching up to tug at his collar, as if dissatisfied with the notion of “ending,” or perhaps trying to release some suppressed tension.

Before Fang Yi could finish, Yang Chenxu’s eyes suddenly fixed on something and asked, “What about the injuries below your neck?”

Fang Yi was taken aback. “Injuries? What injuries?”

Zhuang Jie’s gaze involuntarily followed Yang Chenxu’s line of sight.

Sure enough, just below Fang Yi’s neck, more precisely above his chest, there were several dark red spots resembling bite marks. Next to the “bite marks” was a scar, as if cut by a blade—not deep, only half visible, but still conspicuous.

Fang Yi seemed to realize something and quickly buttoned his shirt collar.

“I’m asking you a question,” Yang Chenxu said sternly.

Fang Yi slowly fastened his collar buttons and then said, “This is a private matter, not appropriate to disclose.”

“That’s uncooperative!” Zhuang Jie exclaimed.

Fang Yi smiled faintly. “Though I am a suspect, cooperating with your interrogation is my greatest support and respect for your work. But please respect my right to privacy.”

“This is just part of our standard procedure to understand the situation,” Zhuang Jie said.

Fang Yi glanced at Zhuang Jie. “I have the right not to answer questions that invade my privacy. It’s a legitimate demand to protect my personal rights.”