"Debería haber sido después de la media noche," añadió Studió Chun, "Gao Gangchuan era muy cuidadoso."
"Luego... lo que vi superó mis expectativas. Los sueños adolescentes son generalmente borrosos," continuó Studió Chun, "fui demasiado sorprendido y olvidé la ira y el celos. Pero cuando recuperé la cordura, me di cuenta de que Gao Gangchuan era un maestro, ¿no sería un crimen?"
"Me sentí asqueado y sospeché que no lo había hecho voluntariamente," agregó, "así que establecí una alarma para preparar un telescopio, usando la cámara y lentes que me habían costado tanto persuadir a mi madre."
Luo Wenzhou apretó su mano en el policía que quería interrumpir a Studió Chun: "¿Cómo descubriste que Su Xiaolan no era una víctima sencilla? ¿Sería Gao Gangchuan tan irresponsable como para traer chicas raptadas a casa?"
Studió Chun cerró los ojos, mostrando una sonrisa autoironizante. "Durante ese tiempo, pensaba en ella todo el tiempo. Me sentía triste y alucinado, con ira y amargura. Quería destrozar a Gao Gangchuan. Un día no pude resistirlo, mentí para pedir licencia médica y fui a verla. La vi con una chica desconocida que parecía su amiga, pero me detuve sin saludar y me marché. Pero poco después, se escuchó que esa chica había desaparecido y apareció en la noticia local."
"Sentí un mal presentimiento cuando ella suplicó no decir nada a nadie," Studió Chun cubrió su rostro con las manos, "era la presidenta del claustro, podía tomar licencia sin dar explicaciones. El maestro creía en mí y no revisaba la nota. Pero para ella, me espié, mientas y oculté crímenes... perdí mis primeros dieciséis años de vida normales."
Luo Wenzhou preguntó: "¿No te encontraste con Su Hui en casa de los Studió?"
Studió Chun negó con la cabeza. "Si hubiera, no estaría aquí para hablar contigo."
Luo Wenzhou quedó callado durante un momento, tocando su sien con el pulgar. Pidió: "¿Te molestaría si fumo una?
Studió Chun: "También dale una a mí, por favor."
Luo Wenzhou le ofreció la pizca de tabaco. "No pensé que fueras un fumador."
"Realmente no," sus manos temblaban ligeramente cuando aceptó el cigarrillo, su voz se relajó, "solo fumo ocasionalmente en las reuniones. No tengo mucha adicción... lo siento, hoy ha sido muy doloroso para mí. Estas cosas me han atormentado durante veinticinco años y siempre he fingido que no existían," explicó Studió Chun con un tono de tristeza.“Umm,” Luo Wenzhou checked his phone. Neither Lang Qiao nor Tao Ran had responded yet. A cigarette seemed to have eased the tension between him and the suspect, making the atmosphere more relaxed. "I can understand why you felt that way—could you tell me what was going through your mind when you helped Guo Heng investigate Wu Guangchuan?"
"At first, I thought she was being forced by Wu Guangchuan," Xu Wenchao exhaled a cloud of smoke. "I promised Su Xiaolan not to report it or tell anyone else; otherwise, she would be in trouble. At the time, I had this crazy idea... as a young boy, I had some hero complex and thought I could handle Wu Guangchuan myself, rescue Su Xiaolan. But when tracking Wu, that uncle found me out. We were both secretly investigating—both for our loved ones. I felt sorry for him; he was also an adult who provided comfort—yet I never expected he would stab Wu Guangchuan to death with a knife. If only I had known earlier, I wouldn't have helped."
Luo Wenzhou: "Why?"
"That guy went crazy," Xu Wenchao said, his face turning ashen. "Fortunately, I didn’t tell her what she did to Su Xiaolan; and fortunately, Wu Guangchuan was killed before he could speak, so she escaped that day." He inhaled two deep breaths, smoke billowing from his nostrils, appearing somewhat disoriented. "Now, thinking back, it terrifies me."
"Terrifying," Luo Wenzhou looked at him with a meaningful gaze, repeating the word softly. Then he asked, "What was your relationship with Su Xiaolan after Wu Guangchuan's death?"
Xu Wenchao remained silent for a moment as if feeling a tight collar around his neck. He raised his head slowly and moved slightly.
"Su Xiaolan wasn't forced; she was willingly involved. She is like a poppy flower growing in the middle of a rose garden—poisoned from the root," Xu Wenchao propped himself up with an arm, wiping it across his face. "After that incident, her whole being wilted, turning into a mere shell. I couldn’t believe it at all. Can you imagine the helplessness? I had to pretend not knowing and save up my pocket money for her time from her mother."
"Wait," Luo Wenzhou paused. "Is Su Luozan your daughter?"
"No," Xu Wenchao denied immediately, his words flowing effortlessly. "I never touched Su Xiaolan; I only bought her time to keep her company, not as you think."
"She was so vicious and twisted, yet I loved her—there's nothing I could do about it...”
The criminal investigators who had been tormented all day by the victims' families couldn’t hold back any longer. They looked ready to strike Xu Wenchao’s literary head into a fine powder when Luo Wenzhou’s iron-like hand kept him in place: "Chief!"
"I still have a few questions," Luo Wenzhou gestured for his colleague's patience and then asked, "When did you start helping Su Xiaolan with her aftermaths? What role did you play?"