36: I'm really not a thief, where's the proof?

Bu Shan sat on a single-seater leather armchair, his eyes fixed on his phone screen as he bit down on the cigarette butt in his mouth.

It was a video clip captured from a certain livestream room.

In the video, a man was setting up props with extremely skillful techniques. With every obstacle he created, Bu Shan's heart grew heavier.

It looked like the Film Crew was in a rush, so this fellow had only set things up simply.

However, every detail was effective; every obstacle successfully slowed them down.

If this guy had been given a bit more time, he likely wouldn't have been able to pull off the job today.

At this moment, Little Fatty and Not True also leaned in.

"This guy is the one who swapped the props?"

*Hiss*, his hands are pretty fast."

"This person must have worked in our line of business before; otherwise, it would be impossible for him to know our methods so clearly."

"..."

Bu Shan blew out a smoke ring.

"This person is indeed not simple. If he joined this trade, he would definitely be a promising talent."

Little Fatty grinned.

"Right?"

"How about we recruit him into our gang?"

Bu Shan smiled.

"He was reported by the Film Crew, saying he stole the painting. He's already been taken away by the police."

The other two glanced at each other, both a bit surprised.

"That's a pity then."

"But he deserves it. If it weren't for him, would we have had to work so hard today?"

"Isn't this great? He's perfect for diverting the heat for us first."

"We don't need him to divert anything. We didn't leave any traces behind; the police won't find a thing."

Bu Shan turned off his phone.

"Get some rest early. There's still work tomorrow."

...Hengcheng Police.

Lin Pei, now on his third visit to the station, sat once again in that familiar interrogation room.

Looking at the cuffs on his hands, he had become completely numb.

What kind of decent person ends up in the Police Station, wearing silver bracelets and sitting in an interrogation room every other day?

But the key was, he really was a decent person.

How could a good person withstand such tossing around?

It's truly hard to be a good person.

Before long, Xu Feng and a young Police Officer entered and sat opposite him.

"Lin Pei, back again? I feel like I've been seeing you more often than my own son lately."

Even bringing up his son.

Whose advantage was he trying to take here?

Lin Pei said helplessly, "Captain Xu, stop joking. I'm innocent this time too."

The officer beside him seemed to be a newcomer.

"Be serious! Wipe that smirk off your face!"

Lin Pei's frown deepened.

Officer, why don't you take a look at who's the one joking?

The young officer flipped open his notebook and questioned him sternly.

"Speak. Where is the painting?"

??

Lin Pei looked bewildered. "Officer, I've been framed. I didn't steal the painting at all."

The young officer sneered.

"Everyone who comes here says they're framed. In the end, nine out of ten are convicted."

"I suggest you come clean early!"

Lin Pei sighed.

"Officer, I'm the one innocent person left out of those ten."

He turned to look at Xu Feng.

"Captain Xu, is this your apprentice?"

When he first came in, Xu Feng had interrogated him exactly like this.

The tone was identical, even the words hadn't changed.

The corner of Xu Feng's mouth curled up.

"Good guess."

The young officer's expression was much more serious.

"We've questioned the people in your Film Crew, and everyone has confirmed it."

"You were the only person who went near the safe where the painting was kept."

"And you still say you didn't steal it?"

"Did it grow legs and run away on its own?"

Lin Pei was utterly speechless.

Just a moment ago it was a gang of master thieves? Now they're flat out saying he stole it?

He explained earnestly.

"I did go near the display case because I work part-time as the Film Crew's Prop Master. I couldn't avoid going near it."

"That doesn't prove I stole the painting, does it?"

"Besides, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who went near that display case. The thief went near it too."

At this point, he felt a bit of regret.

If he had known, he wouldn't have taken that job.

That thief's skill level was higher than he had imagined.

In the end, the painting was still stolen.

The young officer set down his pen.

"Saying all that is useless. How do you prove you didn't steal the painting?"

Lin Pei indeed couldn't prove it.

Because at the time, the entire venue was filled with white smoke; the surveillance likely didn't capture even half a silhouette.

"But I really didn't steal it."

"Who can prove I stole it? Where's the evidence?"

The young officer wasn't very old, but his smile was quite unnerving.

"Fine, we'll summon the witnesses for you right now."

The young officer called out into the phone in front of him.

"Xiao Li, bring the witnesses in."

A moment later, an officer led three people inside.

It was the Director of the gate of rebirth, Yan Song, and Zhang Ze.

The moment he saw Yan Song's large forehead, Lin Pei really wanted to punch someone.

If it weren't for him, would he have been caught and brought here?

The group stood still and glanced at him together.

The young officer asked Yan Song, "I'm asking you, you said you saw him steal the painting with your own eyes. Is this true?"

Lin Pei almost stood up to kick him.

Good grief, reporting based on suspicion is one thing, but now he's saying he saw it with his own eyes?

You don't have to take responsibility for anything you say, do you?

Have you never paid the price for spreading rumors?

Perhaps Lin Pei's gaze was a bit terrifying, as Yan Song didn't dare look at him.

"Officer, I saw it. He's the one who stole it."

For heaven's sake.

Lin Pei pointed at Yan Song.

"Officer, he's talking nonsense!"

"How many years can someone get for defamation like this?"

Yan Song's eyes darted around. "I... I'm not lying."

"There was a lot of smoke on set at the time. I only saw him open the display case and take the painting. I thought he was adjusting a prop."

"I didn't expect it to be an actual theft."

Lin Pei glared at Yan Song.

"Yan Song, do you want to die?"

Yan Song shuddered under his glare, looking like he was about to cry.

"Officer, he's threatening to kill me..."

"..."

For some reason, upon meeting Lin Pei's gaze, the young officer also felt a chill in his heart.

How was this a thief?

This was clearly the look only a murderer could have.

"Lin Pei, be... behave yourself..."

He turned and asked the Director.

"Did you see it?"

The Director glanced at Lin Pei.

"Cough... I didn't see it, but... Lin Pei was indeed the only one who touched that display case. So..."

Zhang Ze, standing to the side, was visibly indignant.

"It's true that only Lin Pei went near that display case, but that doesn't mean he stole the item."

"Police comrades, I hope you investigate this case thoroughly and clear Lin Pei's name."

Lin Pei was somewhat moved.

It had to be Teacher Zhang Ze.

True character really shows at critical moments.

The young officer only listened to half of what was said.

"Lin Pei, did you hear that? They can all prove that you were the only one who went near that display case. You can't escape suspicion at all."

Lin Pei laughed.

"Where's the evidence, the physical evidence?"

The young officer had someone lead the witnesses away.

"Lin Pei, don't get ahead of yourself. The evidence is on its way."

Lin Pei was speechless.

Was he getting ahead of himself? He was laughing out of anger.

Moreover, from the officer's words, it sounded like they were currently gathering evidence.

Lin Pei suddenly felt bad for the small door of his rented room.

He hoped they wouldn't break it down.

But the results should come out quickly, because there really wasn't much to search in ten square meters... Sure enough, ten minutes later, someone came in to report.

Although they leaned in to whisper into the young officer's and Captain Xu's ears, the voice wasn't quiet, and Lin Pei heard it too.

That officer said they hadn't found anything.

It couldn't be ruled out that he let Lin Pei hear on purpose.

Because when he left the interrogation room, that officer's gaze seemed to be cheering him on.

Oh.

Lin Pei remembered.

This seemed to be the officer who had taken him to the melon field to buy a broken melon and had gotten him food from the cafeteria a while back.

Lin Pei asked the two sitting opposite him, "Officers, since there's no evidence, can I go now?"