Chapter 516 - 421: The Case Is Closed, A Bowl of Noodles

Chapter 516: Chapter 421: The Case Is Closed, A Bowl of Noodles

Ordinarily, suspects are not permitted to have family visits during the pre-trial investigation phase.

This is to prevent interference with the investigation and to stop them from colluding on their stories.

At this stage, the family can usually only hire a lawyer to meet with the suspect and ask about the case’s progress.

But this is limited to checking on how they’re doing inside and getting updates on the investigation. Expecting the lawyer to help find evidence to clear the suspect is completely out of the question.

If a formal arrest has been approved, it means the evidence is substantial. Surprises are extremely rare.

Unless, of course, there are special circumstances that warrant special treatment, in which case the family may be allowed to see the suspect.

As for what constitutes "special," the final interpretation rests with the police.

In the current situation with Guo Jinhua and his parents, Guo Kaitai and his wife, Shen Xin, Sun Zhao, and Yan Peng discussed it and decided to give him a chance.

Guo Kaitai and his wife were beside themselves. Letting them see their son might bring them some closure and help them accept reality.

While Guo Jinhua had emotionally broken down and admitted to murdering Fu Lanting, it was more of an emotional outburst than a proper confession.

He was too emotionally unstable to describe the specific details and was very resistant.

Seeing his parents might calm him down, help him accept his reality, and allow the interrogation to continue.

「The next day」, under the sub-bureau’s arrangement, Guo Jinhua was taken to the hospital for dialysis.

A private room was arranged for him.

Before they entered, Shen Xin pulled Guo Jinhua aside and reminded him, "Guo Jinhua, I’ve already explained the situation to you. You should understand by now that we’ve thoroughly investigated the case."

"We’re giving you a chance now. We hope you’ll confess everything clearly."

"Your parents have been very worried about you these past two days. They’re not young anymore, and I’m sure you’re worried about them too. See them, and put their minds at ease."

"As for you, act like a man and face the consequences."

Guo Jinhua, sitting in a wheelchair with his hands cuffed to it, listened and nodded hastily. After a moment’s hesitation, he added a "thank you."

"Let’s go."

Shen Xin pushed the door open and went in.

Inside the hospital room, Guo Kaitai and his wife were already waiting.

Seeing her son, Tao Yiping rushed forward and burst into tears with a wail.

Guo Jinhua instinctively wanted to comfort her, but his hands were cuffed.

Shen Xin gave Zhao Tianxing a look, and he stepped forward to unlock the handcuffs.

Shen Xin observed silently.

Allowing Guo Jinhua to see his parents carried a risk.

For instance, what if he suddenly acted out and took his parents hostage?

Although the probability of that was minuscule, almost impossible.

But they still had to be prepared for it.

That didn’t happen. Guo Jinhua could barely stand up without assistance. He just hugged his mother, tears streaming down his face as he repeated, "I’m sorry."

Just then, Guo Kaitai stepped forward, swung his arm, and slapped Guo Jinhua hard across the face.

The sudden move made Zhao Tianxing jump.

One slap wasn’t enough. With a look of bitter disappointment, Guo Kaitai threw a punch.

But in the end, it landed softly on Guo Jinhua’s chest.

"Son, why?"

Tears streamed down Guo Kaitai’s aged face as he asked, bewildered, "Lanting was such a good girl. You... why would you do this?"

He hadn’t been fond of Du Minhui, thinking she was too materialistic.

But Fu Lanting?

She was virtuous, filial, and kind to Guo Meijing. Guo Kaitai truly felt that having a daughter-in-law like her was a blessing from heaven.

But he never would have dreamed that Guo Jinhua would kill Fu Lanting.

Guo Jinhua’s expression was one of extreme anguish. He shook his head and said, "I don’t know. It was like I was possessed. I really don’t know. Dad, I was wrong. I was so wrong. I’m sorry to you, I’m sorry to Lanting, and I’m sorry to her family."

"I deserve to die!"

Guo Kaitai clutched his chest, shaking his head in pain.

The family of three was left with only the sound of their weeping.

「A few minutes later」, Guo Kaitai’s parents were asked to leave.

"Officer Shen, thank you."

As he was leaving, Guo Kaitai turned, bowed to Shen Xin, and said, "My son committed a crime. I won’t make any excuses for him. I just feel ashamed and so sorry for Lanting’s family."

"If it weren’t for you, I would have gone to my grave never knowing how Lanting died..."

His mind was in turmoil, and he didn’t know what else to say. He trailed off, unable to continue. After one last look at his son, he supported his wife as they slowly walked out.

In his sixties, he had already been worn down by worry over the past two years.

And now, in just a few short days, he had aged a great deal more.

Guo Jinhua covered his face, repeatedly murmuring "I’m sorry."

Shen Xin sighed softly, told him to calm down, and then had him begin his dialysis.

Once he was hooked up to the machine, Guo Jinhua calmed down a little. After lying there for a while, he spoke up, wanting to confess.

"No rush." Shen Xin held up a hand to stop him, telling him to finish his dialysis first and talk after he’d had time to think things through.

Four hours of dialysis was a long time.

Guo Jinhua lay on the bed, just staring quietly out the window, his thoughts a mystery.

After he was brought back to the station and had rested for a while, the interrogation resumed that evening.

Yang Zeran was still the lead interrogator.

Now that the foundation had been laid, Yang Zeran switched tactics and started asking from the very beginning.

Specifically, about the argument He Liyuan had overheard.

Yang Zeran asked Guo Jinhua what exactly Fu Lanting had said.

Guo Jinhua’s expression was calm. He sat quietly for a long moment before shaking his head. "I don’t really remember."

Yang Zeran’s eyebrow twitched. ’He’s still playing dumb at a time like this?’

Guo Jinhua quickly shook his head. "Officer, it’s not that I don’t want to say. I really don’t remember."

"Thinking back on those days, it all feels like a nightmare. Especially after... I became like this. Sometimes I feel like I can’t remember anything. My mind is just a fog."

Yang Zeran wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth, so he simply guided him by repeating what He Liyuan had said.