Beneath the Dome, Sin within Sins - Chapter 57 - Hidden Truths

I watched the man pinned down by Su Mo for a long moment before it suddenly hit me who he was. I quickly said, “Wait a second, isn’t this the guy who just let us in?”

My words seemed to jog everyone else’s memory, and they realized that this was indeed the young guy who had let us in earlier.

After hearing what I said, Su Mo’s expression darkened even further. “So, you know who we are? Spill it! Did you let us in with some hidden agenda?”

The young man’s face turned pale at Su Mo’s words. He shook his head frantically and explained, “No, it’s not like that! I came to you because I need your help. My father was murdered!”

I gestured to Su Mo to release him and motioned for the young man to sit down on the sofa. “What’s your name?” I asked.

“Zhang Yang¹.”

When he said his name, I almost burst out laughing. What an interesting name-“Zhang Yang”-I couldn’t help but wonder if his parents had hoped for him to be outspoken or the exact opposite.

Luckily, I managed to hold it in. Otherwise, it would’ve been an awkward situation.

“So, is it safe to assume that the reason we ended up here was all your doing?” I asked.

Zhang Yang shook his head and replied earnestly, “No, not exactly. I was just taking a shot, but I didn’t expect that Director Su would actually choose our house.”

Even though Zhang Yang said that, I wasn’t convinced in the slightest. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him, but there were just too many coincidences in this situation, and I couldn’t afford to lower my guard.

“So, you’ve planned all this out from the start?” I pressed.

Zhang Yang nodded.

I shifted my gaze to Su Mo. The fact that news of the director’s movements was not only known but used to set him up was alarming. No matter what Zhang Yang’s motives were, it was clear that this whole situation had been strange from the very beginning.

Su Mo stared at Zhang Yang with a wary expression. After a long silence, he asked, “Tell me, how did you even find out about me?”

“I… I looked it up online,” Zhang Yang stammered, his head bowed. His reluctance and hesitation made it obvious he was lying.

I frowned, and just as I was about to say something, Su Mo beat me to it.

“You little punk, still lying? Do you want me to beat the truth out of you?” Su Mo barked.

Though Su Mo was a police academy graduate, there was an undeniable roguish energy about him. It was especially evident when dealing with Zhang Yang. The moment he said those words, I noticed Zhang Yang’s neck shrink ever so slightly-clearly terrified.

“I… I’m sorry, I’ll tell the truth. I actually hacked into the police department’s system and found out that Director Su was going on vacation. But I swear, Director Su coming to my family’s place wasn’t something I planned!”

Zhang Yang’s voice rose slightly as he spoke, a clear sign of someone trying hard to prove their innocence.

Although there were many coincidences at play here, I had a gut feeling that Zhang Yang wasn’t lying about this.

With that thought, I spoke before Su Mo could. “You said your father was murdered. Does that mean your father was the owner of this holiday resort?”

I had recalled the waiter mentioning something when we first arrived. Linking that with the way the staff had behaved toward Zhang Yang, along with his earlier words, it wasn’t hard to deduce that the man who had allegedly jumped to his death was Zhang Yang’s father.

Zhang Yang nodded firmly, his expression resolute. “My father would never kill himself! Director Su, I know you’re capable. Please, you have to find the person who killed my father!”

Zhang Yang’s plea caused the expression on Su Mo’s face to grow more serious. As a director, even if Zhang Yang hadn’t come to him for help, Su Mo would’ve pursued this case diligently once he found out. After all, in our country, criminal cases don’t follow a “no report, no investigation” principle.

“When did your father pass away?” Su Mo asked.

“Three days ago.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present grew noticeably uneasy. A murder that occurred three days ago and is only being brought up now raised many issues-for one, the integrity of the crime scene and the potential loss of critical evidence that might have only been retrievable on the day of the incident.

“And where is your father’s body?” Su Mo continued.

In criminal investigations, a forensic pathologist’s assessment often plays a crucial role in advancing a case. If the body is well-preserved, the forensic team can find traces of evidence that could significantly aid in solving the case.

“He was cremated.”

When Zhang Yang said those words, I was dumbfounded. Is he really here to report a crime?

With the body cremated and the condition of the crime scene still unknown, how were we supposed to investigate?

Su Mo, in contrast to me, remained calm. After pausing to think, he asked, “What about the condition of the crime scene?”

“Since my father’s death, I’ve locked the room, and it hasn’t been opened since,” Zhang Yang answered.

Hearing this gave me a sense of relief. At the very least, the scene hadn’t been disturbed, which meant there was still a chance to uncover clues.

It was already getting late, so after gathering more details from Zhang Yang about his father, we agreed to visit the crime scene first thing in the morning.

When Zhang Yang left, the living room fell into silence. All eyes turned toward Su Mo.

“W-What are you all looking at me for? That kid’s got skills, but what does that have to do with me?” Su Mo stammered, looking visibly uneasy under the pressure of everyone’s gazes.

“Inviting everyone out for some fun, huh? Turns out being a police director isn’t just a title. Even on vacation, cases just seem to find their way to you!” Tang Xin, who had been sitting quietly off to the side, suddenly chimed in.

Her comment hit the nail on the head, echoing what everyone else was probably thinking. In fact, it was almost exactly what I had intended to say, but now that Tang Xin had spoken first, I felt a little annoyed, like someone had stolen my thunder.

Su Mo looked about ready to explode, visibly exasperated. Given his frustration, no one could really blame him. After the exhausting ordeal with the heart removal case, another complex case landing in his lap was probably the last thing he wanted. Anyone in his position would feel the same.

It was Bigo who broke the tense atmosphere. While we sat there brooding, Bigo’s soft, soothing voice filled the room. Her words were like an oasis for weary travelers lost in the desert-a gentle reminder that all was not lost.

“No matter how you look at it, the fact that the boy found his way to all of you is a kind of fate. Maybe this is something destined by the heavens. Otherwise, how could Director Su have chosen to stop by this specific place?” she said warmly.

“Bigo, this isn’t one of those cults we dealt with before,” Tang Xin retorted bluntly. “All this talk of fate, destiny… none of it holds up.”

“But that’s exactly how I feel!” Bigo persisted, her tone unwavering. “Just like how we were able to escape the depths of despair, just like how I met Tang-Jie and all of you, and just like how we happen to be sitting here together today. Isn’t it all tied to some kind of divine plan?”

Her words may have bordered on the fantastical, but they carried a heartfelt warmth that made each of us smile. It didn’t matter whether we believed it or not-Bigo’s optimism was infectious, and in that moment, the heaviness in the room lifted ever so slightly.

Footnote:

1. Zhang Yang(张扬):In Chinese, “Zhang Yang” (张扬) means “to be outspoken” or “to show off,” which creates a playful ambiguity regarding his personality.