Xu Zhengqing seemed completely relaxed when Luo Jian entered the interrogation room. In front of him on the table was an empty cup of tea. Luo Jian sat down on the chair opposite him and eyed him thoughtfully. From the beginning, he didn't have a good feeling about the man. Not even his willingness to cooperate with the police changed that. The only problem was that he couldn't arrest him on the basis of a mere gut feeling.

"I didn't expect to meet you again under these circumstances," the watchmaker greeted him with a friendly smile. "But as a now-righteous citizen, I considered it my duty to seek you out. Is Zhuang Wenjie not with you at all?"

Luo Jian frowned. It had not escaped his notice, how Mister Xu emphasized that he was a righteous citizen now. Obviously that man had not a clean criminal record at all and knew very well, that the police would check his identity and find record entries about him.

"What is your relationship with Zhuang Wenjie?"

Mister Xu folded his hands. "His father and I were childhood friends before Yaobai retired from the business. I was involved for a few more years until I had an unfortunate encounter with the police. After that, I turned my back on the business as well."

Anyone could say that. Whether or not it was true remained an open question. In any case, Captain Luo would take a close look at the man's past. And if he found even the slightest hint that something was fishy, he would probe further. 

"You talked to Wenjie about this?"

"Of course. We have no secrets from each other." Mister Xu leaned back in his chair and smiled. "But that's not why I'm here. You know I've been helping him with his private investigation? He assumes that his father might still be alive. If that's really the case, then there's only one explanation for me why he never contacted him, it would be too dangerous for him and Wenjie."

The little sidestep made Luo Jian's blood boil, but he managed to keep his temper. Unfortunately, at the moment, he couldn't put a rope around Mister Xu's neck and put him behind bars. On the one hand, Mister Xu was extremely cooperative and talkative, and on the other hand, the police didn't have anything on him yet. But Luo Jian would find something to bring him down with. 

"So you just assume that his father might still be alive," he took up the subject that was of primary interest to him. "Or do you happen to have any proof?" As he spoke, he drummed his fingers on the table.

"Well, you see. Yaobai was one of the best. If anyone can survive such an accident, it's him. But, like I told Wenjie, there's a whole syndicate behind Ding Shenghuo."

Luo Jian tapped the tabletop a little more vigorously. "And you know this, how?" Wenjie had already hinted that he had all his knowledge on the Luoshen case from Mister Xu. At this point, things got interesting.

"Yaobai and I belonged to the same sect. It's not easy to break free from it. But I heard you caught Monsieur. Congratulations. You've done a great favor to all those who no longer want anything to do with the syndicate. As long as Monsieur was at large, we had to expect that he would think of something to cause us problems. That's why I shied away from contacting Wenjie for a long time and only supported him in the form of rent for his parents' house. It was the least I could do for him after he lost his parents."

Now he was playing the social benefactor. Luo Jian saw through the man's facade. Certainly, his actions were by no means as altruistic as he pretended. Well, then. He had something for Xu Zhengqing and was eager to see his reaction. 

"Having been friends with Zhuang Yaobai, perhaps you can tell me something about the third man in this video. The man who turns his back to the camera." Without further ado, he handed Xu Zhengqing his smartphone. He had already set the video to just play. Lurking, he watched the watchmaker as he watched the video.

The latter continued to remain calm as he watched the video with a curious look. "This was recorded twelve years ago?"

Luo Jian nodded.

"I recognize Yaobai and Ding Shenghuo. And the third man, is he relevant? Ah, I see, because Yaobai is indignantly throwing water in his face. That must have been a very heated discussion. But Captain Luo, I have to disappoint you. I have no idea who the third man might be. Do you think it could be Monsieur?"

That was Luo Jian's exact thought. And he could have bet that Mister Xu knew more. Either the watchmaker was an excellent actor, or he knew less than Luo Jian assumed after all. The latter would be at least as dangerous because a little bit of hope could have a big effect on Wenjie. Luo Jian picked up the smartphone again and nodded. 

"Then we'll ask Ding Shenghuo about him again." 

Wenjie as well. And who knew what would come to light then?

"Something else," Luo Jian changed the subject. "After you were all about helping Wenjie, and you were with him at the hotel to set a trap for Monsieur - why did you leave in the van? You could have joined us right away."

Mister Xu smiled. "I knew Wenjie had come into contact with you. And I was aware that you had a lot of work to do in apprehending the criminals and getting Monsieur. So I made sure that Monsieur would definitely fall into your net. I have already told that to your colleagues. I was also aware that you would still want to question me, but I had borrowed the van and was a bit overdue, so I had to do that first. I gave your colleagues the contact details of the delivery company. They will have checked it out already."

Luo Jian's cheeks hurt from grinding his teeth. Of course, Mister Xu had hedged his bets. Luo Jian did not doubt for a moment that his information would prove to be correct.

"Besides, I would have been in the way at the scene anyway. It seemed more sensible to me to return the van promptly, thus saving the company stress, and heading to the station immediately after I was done," Mister Xu added to his statement.

Luo Jian took him at his word. Xu Zhengqing’s behavior was highly suspicious, but Luo Jian had nothing tangible to nail him down with. Aside from that, the interrogation of the Undercurrent's members was still pending as well and he couldn't keep Mister Xu here overnight just based on his gut feeling.

But he could have him observed. Thus, he contacted Jiang Hao immediately after Mister Xu left. 

"Hao, keep Mister Xu under surveillance. I want to know about his movements. In the meantime, have Dazhi check Mister Xu's identity, and I'll interrogate Ding Shenghuo right away."

to be continued...