Interrogation Cloud

Chapter 15 - Interrogation Clouds

Li Bai's rented house and the Seventh People's Hospital where he worked were both in NH District. The Public Security Bureau for his interrogation was naturally also in NH District.

The NH District Public Security Bureau was empty with few people. There were also few police cars parked outside; most were out "patrolling the streets," working nine to five, a very stable schedule.

After all, there weren't many major cases. For a provincial capital like Huxi City, it seemed unlikely that the police would be constantly swamped with work. How chaotic would the public order have to be?

Two police officers led Li Bai to an office. They also poured him a glass of plain water and placed a recorder, paper, and pen on the desk, beginning the interrogation on the spot.

After a few routine questions, one of the officers suddenly asked out of the blue, "Do you have any classmates or friends from Dongling Auto Company?"

"No!"

Li Bai shook his head in confusion.

After graduation, his life had basically been a straight line between his rented house and the hospital. He had never interacted with anyone who worked at Dongling Auto Company.

He didn't have much money, so buying a house or car was still a long way off.

The other officer asked, "Before you conducted the psychological diagnostic assessment for Yao Bing, did anyone from the Yao Family contact you beforehand?"

"No, I only found out that morning that there was an appointment for an assessment."

As a Psychiatrist, Li Bai keenly sensed that they were scrutinizing him with a gaze similar to how he observed his patients during consultations, the only difference being the absence of oppressive doubt.

Such a gaze often caused those with something to hide to inadvertently reveal their flaws. However, Li Bai, with a clear conscience, was completely at ease in front of the two officers.

The police interrogation, however, revealed one piece of information: Young Master Yao, driven mad by the Green Flood Dragon Demoness, had made the Yao Family extremely angry.

Coupled with the bank SMS about the inexplicable one million RMB that arrived last night and that unfamiliar call, Li Bai vaguely sensed that he had already fallen into the center of a storm.

The current tranquility was only temporary; the brewing [REDACTED] would strike at any moment.

"Did you receive this call then?"

The younger officer took out his mobile phone and opened an audio file.

"Is this Doctor Li from the Seventh People's Hospital?"

"It's me! Who is this?"

"Doctor Li, the one million has been transferred. Thank you for your hard work this time. We hope for a pleasant cooperation next time."

Click, the call ended, lasting no more than fifteen seconds.

"Did you receive the one million?"

The younger officer didn't play the audio again.

Li Bai was stunned. He hadn't been paying attention to the internet, otherwise, he would have known that these events were all part of a meticulously planned sequence.

After all, this was a provincial capital. Money couldn't buy everything, and even if some underhanded methods were used, they still had to follow the rules.

"I did receive a bank SMS last night, but other than that, I know nothing."

Li Bai took out his mobile phone and brought up the SMS about the one million RMB deposit.

"Was it a bribe from the Yao Family?"

After taking a screenshot of the bank SMS as evidence, the older officer stared intently at Li Bai.

"If I transfer ten thousand yuan to your bank account, would you consider it accepting a bribe?"

Li Bai could naturally tell they were trying to trick him, so he calmly deflected the question.

An ordinary person would likely have panicked and desperately tried to explain, but he remained as calm as ever.

If they wanted to convict him based on this, it was far from enough.

"Then how did someone know your bank account number?"

The two officers didn't give up.

"Tch, get a fake ID, go to the bank to report it lost, and you can easily find it out. If you have an insider at the bank, it's even simpler."

With a father who was a Public Security Bureau chief in a remote northwestern county, Li Bai knew these tricks inside out.

These two officers weren't just taking his statement; they were trying to entrap him. If one were to be strict about it, it couldn't be called deliberate targeting, only a reasonable use of the rules.

"Heh, you certainly know!"

The older officer chuckled.

"My old man is also a police officer, the Public Security Bureau chief in a remote northwestern county."

Li Bai was issuing an invisible warning: I know all your tricks, stop wasting your time.

"So that's how it is. After returning from the Seventh People's Hospital, Yao Bing went mad. Did you know that?"

The older officer got straight to the point, no longer beating around the bush.

Originally, they had intended to use the excuse of a report to verify the situation and, perhaps, obtain more useful information. Now, it seemed highly likely that their gains would be limited.

Li Bai stated matter-of-factly, "I am a doctor in the psychiatry department. I diagnosed Yao Bing with mental illness. He had an episode. Is there a problem with that?"

The two officers exchanged glances.

It seemed natural for a mental illness patient to have an episode; if they didn't have episodes, they wouldn't be called mental illness patients.

It wasn't as if he had to insist that Yao Bing didn't have mental illness before the diagnostic assessment, wouldn't that be slapping himself in the face? The Yao Family is shameless, but the Public Security, Procuratorate, and Judiciary still have their reputations to uphold!

We absolutely cannot take the blame for collusion between officials and businessmen, not even give them any pretext. This is a minefield, whoever touches it will be unlucky.

Seeing the other party speechless, Li Bai said, "You don't expect me to completely cure this rich second generation during the diagnostic process, do you?"

The young policeman and the older policeman were at a loss, unable to continue the conversation.

Among so many patients with mental illness, very few are truly cured in the end. All require long-term medication and guardianship to reduce the incidence rate. Once one contracts mental illness, it's only slightly better than contracting cancer.

Although many people knew in their hearts whether Yao Bing had mental illness or not, what good would it do to know? This matter simply couldn't be explained clearly.

The Yao Family suspected Li Bai was scheming. Although the suspicion was strong, they were unable to find any evidence, either openly or secretly. They could only resort to these low-class tactics, even willing to engage in self-deprecation, just to drag Li Bai down.

"Your bank account's one million has been temporarily frozen. Do not leave Huxi City for the time being. Keep your mobile phone turned on. If there are any inquiries, you must be available on call. Here is our contact information."

After a moment of hesitation, the younger policeman took out two security liaison cards, similar to business cards, and handed them to Li Bai.

Since useful information couldn't be extracted, they could only take their time.

Not only the Yao Family, but even the police wanted to understand how Yao Bing suddenly had an episode of mental illness out of the blue, with no premonition beforehand.

"Okay!"

Taking the two liaison cards made of ordinary white card paper, Li Bai knew this matter was not over; perhaps it had just begun.

"Try not to go out these few days. If anything happens, call the number on the contact card. Contact Xiao Wang or me."

The older policeman added as he saw Li Bai out.

Li Bai paused, sensing a meaningful tone in his words, or more accurately, a reminder.

The Yao Family or those netizens unaware of the truth might take adverse actions against him.

"Thank you!"

However, Li Bai didn't expect that as soon as he took a bus back to the residential community where his rental housing was located, he would be stopped by four men in black suits at the entrance of the apartment building.

"Li Bai?"

One of them held a mobile phone, compared it, and accurately called out his name.

The other three immediately surrounded Li Bai.

"Who are you?"

Li Bai wondered if he should call the contact number the two Comrade Police had given him. The contact card they gave him clearly indicated they had anticipated this situation.