Chapter 38: Two Cases?

East Garden Residential Complex.
Apartment 3-502.
The owner, He Feng Yu, is fifty years old and works as a middle manager at a company.
Both he and his wife earn well, and with only one daughter, they live without any financial pressure.
With some spare money at hand, he invested in another apartment.
After dinner, He Feng Yu sat on the sofa, picking his teeth with a toothpick while watching television.
His daughter retreated to her room, and his wife was tidying up alone in the kitchen.
He Feng Yu’s days were comfortable, but so uneventful that boredom sometimes crept in.

Knock, knock. There was a sound at the door.
“Who is it?”
“Gas inspection.” A woman’s voice answered from outside.
“Wei, go open the door.”
“Why don’t you go?” came a dissatisfied voice from the bedroom.
“Because I’m your father, haha.”
“You keep repeating these old jokes, so tiresome.” The bedroom door opened, and a girl about twenty stepped out, reluctantly going to open the door.

As soon as she opened it, Wei Yu exclaimed in surprise, “Who are you?”
“Police.”
Li Tian was the first to enter, followed by Hui Li, Bin Han, Ping Zeng, Ming Zhao, and others.
“Why are you here in my house?” He Feng Yu stood up, his toothpick falling to the floor.
“We’re from the Criminal Investigation Unit.” Ping Zeng produced his police badge for a brief display. “Are you He Feng Yu?”
“I am. What’s going on?”
“We suspect you are involved in a case of extortion. Please come with us to assist with the investigation,” Ping Zeng said.
“You must have the wrong person. How could I possibly extort anyone?” He Feng Yu argued.
“This is a summons.”
“I’m innocent.”
“We’re only asking you to assist with our investigation. If you truly are innocent, you should cooperate with us. That will help clear your name as quickly as possible,” Bin Han said.
“Cuff him.”
“Everyone else, search He Feng Yu’s personal belongings. Don’t overlook his computer or phone.”
“On what grounds are you searching our home?” Wei Yu protested.
“This is a search warrant. Please cooperate.” Bin Han said.
“You must be mistaken. My husband is innocent. He would never extort anyone.” Yang Lin, He Feng Yu’s wife, stood protectively before her husband.
“He Feng Yu, do you really not know what you’ve done in the apartment? Should I tell your wife about your situation?” Ping Zeng said.

“Don’t. I’m willing to cooperate with the investigation.” He Feng Yu’s face changed instantly; he lowered his head, not daring to meet his wife or daughter’s eyes.
“He Feng, what did you do?” Yang Lin pressed.
After decades of marriage, she could sense something was amiss from her husband’s demeanor.
“Captain Zeng, I found a laptop in the study,” Bin Han reported.
“Whose is it?” Ping Zeng asked.
“Mine,” He Feng Yu replied.
“And your phone?” Ping Zeng asked.
“On the sofa.”
Bin Han took both He Feng Yu’s phone and laptop.
Hui Li and the others found nothing else suspicious.
…

He Feng Yu was taken directly back to the branch for questioning.
Ping Zeng led the interrogation, Ming Zhao kept the record.
Bin Han, Li Tian, and Hui Li watched from the observation room.
“Name, gender, age, place of origin…”
“He Feng Yu, male, fifty years old…”
“He Feng Yu, do you know why we arrested you?” Ping Zeng got straight to the point.
“I… don’t know,” He Feng Yu answered hesitantly.
“Let me tell you: we wouldn’t arrest you without ample evidence. Don’t hope for luck; refusing to cooperate will only worsen your situation,” Ping Zeng said.
“Which matter are you referring to?” He Feng Yu probed carefully.
“From your tone, it sounds like there’s more than one. Explain them all— I have plenty of time,” Ping Zeng said.
“No, no, just one thing. I’ve only done one thing,” He Feng Yu quickly corrected himself.
“In the apartment I rented out, I installed surveillance.”
“Where did you put it?”
“In the bathroom.”
“You’re not young, and you have a respectable job. What do you call what you’ve done?” Ping Zeng said.
“I lost my head for a moment, wanted some excitement, never intended to harm anyone,” He Feng Yu replied.
“You secretly filmed young women and used those videos for extortion. If that’s not harming people, what is?” Ping Zeng pressed.
“Extortion?” He Feng Yu looked astonished. “No, I only filmed them, sometimes watched the footage, but I never extorted anyone.”
“Oh, so you’re playing coy, trying to avoid the serious charges,” Ping Zeng said.
“Officer, I’m telling the truth. I don’t lack money; why would I extort someone?” He Feng Yu pleaded.
“Didn’t you just say you wanted excitement?” Ming Zhao remarked.

“I really didn’t do it, I’m innocent,” He Feng Yu insisted.
Ping Zeng approached with some photos. “Have you seen this envelope?”
“No.”
“And this USB drive?”
“No, never.”
Ping Zeng sneered and bluffed, “Still lying? The fingerprints on this envelope match perfectly with the ones on your rental contract. If it’s not yours, whose is it?”
“That’s impossible. I’ve never seen that envelope!” He Feng Yu protested.
“I’ll say it again: we already have enough evidence. If you confess, you’ll have a chance for a reduced sentence. Do you understand?” Ping Zeng said.
“Sir, I admit to the secret filming, but I truly haven’t extorted anyone. I haven’t done it, so how can I confess to it?” He Feng Yu pleaded.
“Did you ever show the secret videos to anyone else?” Ping Zeng asked.
“No.”
“Has anyone else used your computer?”
“No.”
The interrogation lasted more than two hours. No matter how Ping Zeng pressed, He Feng Yu admitted only to the filming, never to extortion.

When it ended, Ping Zeng and Ming Zhao left the interrogation room and joined Bin Han and the others in the office.
“Damn it, wasted hours talking— I'm parched,” Ping Zeng said, gulping down water.
“That He Feng Yu is tough. Even with you questioning him, Captain, you only got him halfway,” Hui Li remarked.
“Whatever I said, he just won’t admit to extortion,” Ping Zeng grumbled.
“My guess is He Feng Yu knows something about the law. He realizes the penalty for secret filming is lighter, extortion is much heavier. He’s hoping to slip through by admitting only to the lesser crime,” Li Tian observed.
“Any progress from the tech team?” Ping Zeng asked.
“The computer’s been checked. It has spying software and videos of Lu Yan Chen. The evidence for secret filming is indisputable,” Bin Han replied.
“Bin, you’re always careful with your words. Sounds like you mean something more,” Ping Zeng said.
“I watched your interrogation of He Feng Yu in the observation room. He didn’t seem to be lying,” Bin Han said.
“Bin, didn’t you just say the evidence for his secret filming is solid?” Hui Li asked.
“All current evidence points to He Feng Yu being a suspect in the secret filming; but there’s no proof he committed extortion. Strictly speaking, these are two separate cases,” Bin Han explained.
“Is there any evidence?” Ping Zeng asked.
Bin Han shook his head. “Just a personal feeling.”