Chapter 139 Reversal of Fate
On the way to Changhe Film and Television City.
Gu Yanzheng, driving a Cherokee, explained the case: "This morning at five o'clock, a crew member wanted to see Ouyang Qing for makeup and to prepare for filming. When they arrived at the hotel room, no one answered the door. The crew member happened to run into Shao Li, who said that Ouyang Qing had stayed up late memorizing the script yesterday and might need to sleep a little longer, so they asked the crew member to wait a while."
"You're about to start filming and you're making the whole crew wait?" Shen Zhenzhu said, dumbfounded. "Given Qing's personality, she wouldn't allow something like this to happen."
Lu Ye said from behind, "The crew's daily expenses for location and personnel are extremely high, and money is flowing out like water. How can we possibly wait?"
Gu Yanzheng said, "We still waited. Shao Li said that Ouyang Qing might have trouble sleeping, which would affect his acting. We waited from 5:00 to 8:30. Finally, the director came to invite him personally, but he wouldn't open the door no matter how much we called. Later, we found out that Ouyang Qing had come back from swimming. We used the hotel's security door to open the door and entered the master bedroom, where we found Ouyang Aihua dead on the bed, already stiff. The forensic team also sent people to investigate the specific cause of death."
"Ouyang Aihua died in Ouyang Qing's bed? Ouyang Qing came back from outside?" Lu Ye scratched his short stubble vigorously behind him, a little annoyed.
Zhao Qiqi remained calm and composed, sitting upright in the back seat with wide eyes staring at Chen Zhenzhu, like a golden retriever awaiting orders.
“Sometimes, you have to try to use your brain more,” Lu Ye said to Zhao Qiqi in a low voice. “One day you’ll have to learn to handle cases independently.”
Zhao Qiqi said, "If you don't understand something, just ask Sister Pearl and the boss."
Lu Ye said helplessly, "But we can't keep asking."
Zhao Qiqi was baffled: "Can't I even ask questions?"
"Ask away, ask whatever you want." Shen Zhenzhu understood that Lu Ye's good intentions had been wasted, and said with a wry smile, "Everyone has their own reasons, let's not argue."
Lu Ye said, "We didn't argue. I couldn't bring myself to argue with him. I was just wondering why Ouyang Aihua suddenly died. Weren't they going to do a urine test on him? Could it be that he died from a drug overdose?"
"You'll know when we get there." Gu Yanzheng drove to the Changhe County intersection. It takes them one hour and forty minutes to get here.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the film and television city, some media outlets that had gotten wind of the situation were already waiting outside the filming location, hoping for a response from Ouyang Qinghe and the production crew.
Shen Zhenzhu and her group walked through the film studio and arrived at the Tianhou Hotel in the north.
Police officers from Changhe County Police Station are maintaining order at the scene, preventing unauthorized reporters and other unrelated personnel from entering or leaving the top floor.
As Shen Zhenzhu and the others headed into the elevator, a reporter who had sneaked in behind them shouted, "Is Ouyang Qing the murderer?! Are you police going to arrest her?"
Shen Zhenzhu pressed the elevator door switch and said to Lu Ye and Zhao Qiqi, "Don't pay attention to them, the more you explain, the more they'll get worked up."
Gu Yanzheng was about to remind her, but when he heard that she had already said it, he nodded: "This case has received unprecedented media attention, so be careful in everything you do, and don't let unscrupulous media outlets take advantage of any loopholes."
“We learned it all from overseas,” Lu Ye said.
bite.
As soon as the elevator reached the top floor, before the doors even opened, we could hear Shao Li wailing and crying her heart out.
She and Ouyang Qing collapsed to the side of the corridor. She clung tightly to Ouyang Qing's sleeve, refusing to let her leave, and wailed, "Your brother and I have worked so hard for you all these years, how could you bear to kill him?"
Ouyang Qing's usually spirited face showed signs of fatigue. She had already said it many times, but had to say it again: "He wanted to sleep there by himself. I wasn't in the room at all last night."
"You killed him and left!"
"..." The repetitive words left Ouyang Qing feeling exhausted. She had lost her brother and was in great pain when she saw her sister-in-law criticizing her.
When Ouyang Qing saw Shen Zhenzhu and the others coming, he was about to stand up to greet them when Shao Li pulled him down and made him bump into the wall.
"Separate them, I'll go in with Section Chief Shen to take a look." Gu Yanzheng pointed at Shao Li and Ouyang Qing.
Zhao Qiqi received orders and, together with his operatives, quickly released Shao Li's hand.
As a result, Shao Li persisted, leaning out to grab Ouyang Qing's hair. Zhao Qiqi reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist and twisting it aside, allowing Ouyang Qing to escape unscathed.
"Let me go! She killed Aiwa!"
The suite's doors and windows were open, just like last time, for easy access.
Chen Zhenzhu entered the master bedroom and sneezed: "What's that smell?"
Gu Yanzheng glanced at it and said, "She's having diarrhea and vomiting."
Ouyang Aihua lay peacefully on the bed, seemingly asleep. But the filth around him and beneath him betrayed him.
"Qin An's car is downstairs." Gu Yanzheng glanced through the open window, walked over, took out a glove, and handed it to Chen Zhenzhu.
After putting on the pearl, Shen Zhenzhu approached Ouyang Aihua and said, "Let me take a quick look."
Gu Yanzheng also put on gloves and gently pressed Ouyang Aihua's whole body: "The body is cold, and rigor mortis has spread all over the body. The time of death is between 6 and 8 hours."
"We found vomit on the pillow and bedside, and there were also traces of vomit around the lips." Shen Zhenzhu bent down and said, "There were no obvious signs of resistance, and the oral mucosa and nail beds were cherry red."
Gu Yanzheng said, "The livor mortis also showed a cherry red color, which is a sign of poisoning. Ouyang Aihua died of poisoning. The specific cause of death still needs further examination by the forensic doctor."
"Perfect timing, I'm here." Qin An, carrying his forensic kit, said in a serious but unserious tone, "Thanks to the two of you, the initial examination is complete. Now I will proceed with further examination."
"Thank you for making this trip, Section Chief Qin." Gu Yanzheng took off his gloves and said to Shen Zhenzhu, "Are you going to conduct the investigation here or go out to take statements?"
Chen Zhenzhu said, "I'll take a look around here."
Death from poisoning is a general category; cherry-red rashes can be caused by various factors, including poisoning, sleeping pills, gas leaks, and charcoal burning.
Other causes of death, such as heroin and fentanyl overdose, involve skin turning a purplish-red color that can be easily mistaken for drug use, and a peaceful, serene expression. However, no drug paraphernalia is found at the scene. Death from pure nitrogen gas is similar to drug overdose, but it also requires tools, such as a hood or a gas canister.
None of these were available, and Chen Zhenzhu thought of the sleeping pills that people in the industry often took.
"We need to perform a gastric contents examination," Qin An said to the intern forensic doctor next to him. "Have someone prepare autopsy room number three."
During this process, Chen Zhenzhu scanned the master bedroom and found nothing suspicious except for Ouyang Qing's personal belongings. The most suspicious item was Ouyang Aihua, who was found dead in the bed.
She leaned against the door, and a vision of celestial recollection slowly unfolded—
Gai Duoduo came over with two lunchboxes and said a few words to Ouyang Aihua, who was sitting on the sofa as if she were having a drug withdrawal. Before leaving, she specifically instructed, "This medicinal meal is for Sister Qing. It's very nourishing. Remember to remind her to eat it."
Ouyang Aihua ignored her and picked up the soy sauce fried rice next to her, smelling it: "It's not spoiled, is it? Why does it taste a little off?"
Gai Duoduo walked to the door and cursed, "Eat it or don't, it's up to you."
Given his previous temper, Ouyang Aihua should have been angry, but instead of getting angry in the empty living room, he threw the soy sauce fried rice aside and picked up the medicinal meal to eat with relish.
"I'm doing this all for Qingqing's own good. If the medicinal diet is too nourishing and makes her gain weight, no director will want her."
After rehearsing with the supporting actors in the back room, it was already one o'clock in the morning. Ouyang Qing was hungry.
Upon entering the living room, I saw fried rice on the coffee table with a note written by Ouyang Aihua: "This is a loving meal specially prepared for you by your brother. Don't waste it."
Thinking of the unpleasantness of the day, Ouyang Qing picked up the cold fried rice and ate it all.
"Brother, go to your room and sleep."
Unexpectedly, after being woken up by Ouyang Qing, Ouyang Aihua threw another tantrum and even barged into Ouyang Qing's room to sleep.
Having long been accustomed to his older brother's bad temper, Ouyang Qing had no choice but to exercise at the bar. Feeling a bit better, he turned off the lights in his room and went out.
It was already 2 a.m.
The entire suite was dark and silent.
哢.
The suite door was opened from the outside, and in the moonlight, one could vaguely see that the person was wearing a military green raincoat, completely covered up. A bulge appeared in their chest, and they walked precisely to the door of the master bedroom.
The other person put down the charcoal brazier in his arms, opened the door, and quietly entered the bedroom.
A slight noise and the sound of taut tape being pulled could be heard coming from inside.
The other person then returned to the doorway, took out a lighter, lit the charcoal brazier, gently closed the door, and carefully sealed the cracks in the door...
......
......
Chen Zhenzhu snapped out of her daze from the Heavenly Eye's retrospective and walked to the window to look at the window frame. She reached out and scraped the gap a couple of times, but found no adhesive, so it must have been cleaned very well.
Someone even put out a charcoal brazier. Did the person who wrote the threatening letter actually take action?
Gai Duoduo had a motive; her food and charcoal brazier could have caused Ouyang Aihua's death and resulted in the same color of lividity.
Shen Zhenzhu couldn't make a judgment with the naked eye and could only wait for Qin An to return to the forensic room and give the results.
The room still smelled of Ouyang Aihua's vomit, and there was also excrement from her lower body due to her death.
When we came in, the windows and doors were wide open, so we couldn't smell the charcoal.
The charcoal brazier had been hidden before the death was discovered. The suspect had visited the location twice.
"Please check the trash in the room, and collect any food or medicine found," Shen Zhenzhu said to the agents who were inspecting the room.
Lu Ye tossed the wailing Shao Li to Zhao Qiqi, and just then came in, carrying a trash can, saying, "There are two lunchboxes."
Shen Zhenzhu saw that it was soy sauce fried rice that Ouyang Qing had finished eating. It was clearly meant for Ouyang Aihua by Gai Duoduo.
"Send it for testing."
"Okay," Lu Ye said.
Shen Zhenzhu went outside, where Gu Yanzheng was taking a statement from the director. When he saw Shen Zhenzhu coming over, he stopped writing and looked at her.
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Director, what was Ouyang Aihua's condition when they found him here? Had anyone moved the body?"
The director felt extremely unlucky that such an incident occurred during filming. Pointing to the next room, he said, "The person was originally covered by a blanket. When Shao Li woke people up, she pulled the blanket over them. Later, she saw that Ouyang Aihua was dead inside. She went crazy and ripped the blanket off."
"Did you smell anything else?" Chen Zhenzhu asked, trying to get him to describe the smell of burning charcoal.
When the director mentioned the smell, he said, "It stinks inside. I feel so disgusted that I want to throw up. How could I possibly smell it carefully?"
Shen Zhenzhu questioned several people at the scene, and they all said they didn't smell anything else, only the stench emanating from Ouyang Aihua. Even the suspect, wearing a raincoat and carrying a charcoal brazier, went unnoticed.
As Shen Zhenzhu was pondering, someone suddenly raised their hand. She looked over and said, "You speak."
“I remember seeing the lunchboxes you just took out before,” a supporting actor recalled. “I saw them being delivered by Sister Duoduo from the doorway.”
"Yes, I also heard her talking to Brother Aihua."
"It was Sister Duoduo who took it. She usually likes to feed Sister Qing. We all suspect that she deliberately wants to fatten Sister Qing up."
Thank you.
Shen Zhenzhu looked at Gu Yanzheng: "Gai Duoduo is currently a prime suspect, and I request that she be arrested."
There are currently two suspects. Gai Duoduo has a clear motive for wanting to steal the play "The Epang Palace".
Gu Yanzheng asked the chief director, "Where is she?"
The director said, "It should be on set, right? I'll go ask."
A while later, the director called back and said, "She's gone? She was supposed to have a scene today—"
Shen Zhenzhu immediately called over the other agents: "Immediately arrest Gai Duoduo, and notify the sealing off of major highway entrances, train stations, bus stations, and other areas."
Gu Yanzheng asked the chief director, "Where does she live?"
The director said, "Oh, how would I know?"
Shen Zhenzhu told Gu Yanzheng, "I saw that she had a whole bottle of sleeping pills in her bag."
Not knowing whether the cause of death was drugs or charcoal burning, or whether the murderers were the same group or acted separately, Shen Zhenzhu preferred to arrest them all rather than let the real culprit escape justice.
"Catch them first, then we'll talk." Gu Yanzheng made the final decision and immediately assigned manpower.
Gu Yanzheng is good at arresting people.
Shen Zhenzhu arrived at the temporary room where Ouyang Qing was. Ouyang Qing was wrapped in a blanket, his face pale, and a look of confusion appeared in his eyes.
Upon seeing Chen Zhenzhu approach, she slowly asked, "Was it the person who wrote the threatening letter? Did my brother die in my place?"
“It’s possible that the other party did it, but the specific cause of death and motive for murder still need further investigation.” Shen Zhenzhu reached out and grasped Ouyang Qing’s hand, squeezing it tightly, and said, “Sister Qing, although this is inappropriate, it’s good that you’re alright.”
"I wish I had gone back sooner." Ouyang Qing leaned on Shen Zhenzhu's shoulder and said in a hoarse voice, "They thought I was sleeping, which delayed the rescue."
She covered her face, her hair disheveled and hanging over her shoulders, and silently shed tears.
"Who on earth could hate me to this extent?" Ouyang Qing said, choking back tears. "My only family left is my brother."
At that moment, Shao Li's wailing voice came from the next room: "How could you be the one to die! How are we, mother and child, supposed to survive with you here!"
Ouyang Qing said in a low voice, "She and my brother have a very good relationship. My brother listens to her, not anyone else."
"Do you know that your brother might be a drug user?"
Ouyang Qing said in surprise, "Drugs? How could that be... My brother would never do drugs. We have no parents, and my brother has always told me that we should never touch drugs, gambling, or prostitution."
The sound of Shao Li cursing loudly came from next door. Perhaps she knew Ouyang Qing was here: "You killed Aihua! You killed Aihua! Aihua died because of you! You are a murderer!"
Ouyang Qing lowered his eyes, a sad expression on his face.
"The statements outside have all been recorded, and the key personnel have been brought back to the criminal investigation team. What about Sister Qing here?" Lu Ye asked, standing at the door.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I'll go with her."
Ouyang Qing stood up, smoothed his hair, and said, "I am willing to fully cooperate with the police in solving the case."
As Shen Zhenzhu walked out of the corridor, she saw Gu Yanzheng hang up the phone and come over to say, "Gai Duoduo's car was found at the train station, and they are currently arresting her."
"Duoduo? Why did you arrest her?" Ouyang Qing had no idea that Gai Duoduo was hostile towards her. She treated her brothers and sisters with all her heart, never expecting that people's hearts are hidden from each other.
“We suspect she put sleeping pills in the food she brought last night, but of course, we still need to test it,” Shen Zhenzhu whispered to Ouyang Qing as they walked.
Ouyang Qing stopped in astonishment: "Could you have misunderstood her? I ate fried rice and I'm fine."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "There was also a high-grade medicinal meal, which was meant for you. But Ouyang Aihua ate the medicinal meal she gave you and left the cold fried rice for you."
Shen Zhenzhu really wanted to tell Ouyang Qing that this was definitely not the first or second time he had done this to her, and whether it was really "for her own good"? But saying this now would be like stabbing her in the heart.
Ouyang Qing fell silent.
As I stepped out of the hotel, a large group of news media had gathered at the entrance. The flashes of their cameras seemed intent on illuminating the gloomy sky.
They were initially following Shao Li, who was shouting that "Ouyang Qing is a murderer," but after Shao Li got into the car, some sharp-eyed people noticed that Ouyang Qing had come out.
A group of people rushed up and surrounded Ouyang Qing, pushing and shoving each other, with cameras and lenses shoving right in his face.
Her years of experience as a film star paid off. Wearing sunglasses and expressionless, she approached the Cherokee, opened the door, and got into the car under the joint protection of Shen Zhenzhu and more than ten agents.
"Ouyang Qing, did you kill him?! Why does your sister-in-law say you're the murderer?"
"Is it a problem between you and your siblings regarding the distribution of finances or some other issue?"
What was your motive for killing?
"After you committed murder, did you ever think about your fans?"
"Did you kill him because you were hallucinating from the medication you were taking?"
Shen Zhenzhu had just gotten into the car when she was instantly provoked by these questions. She suddenly wanted to open the car door and go out to shout a few words, but Gu Yanzheng blocked the door and closed it for her.
"Be careful, Director Liu might call you in for a chat."
After Gu Yanzheng finished speaking, he turned to face more than a dozen reporters and said bluntly, "Don't interfere with police law enforcement, and don't spread rumors. We are currently in the confidential stage of the case. If anyone illegally spreads information, the Municipal Bureau will communicate with your superior management department."
After delivering his blunt and direct words, Gu Yanzheng looked at the reporters who were holding up their cameras. After a moment, they all put down their cameras.
"Is it that serious...?"
"This policeman is terrifying. He's not very old, but he's very arrogant."
"Judging from his rank, he should be a division-level cadre. We can't afford to offend him. Let's go."
......
Ignoring the noise behind him, Gu Yanzheng walked around the front of the car, got into the driver's seat, and started the Cherokee.
They returned to the criminal investigation team without any problems. Chen Junsheng ran over and said, "Captain Gu, what should we do if Shao Li insists that Ouyang Qing is the murderer?"
"Are you a police officer or is she a police officer?" Gu Yanzheng said, "We'll question her when things calm down."
Shen Zhenzhu helped Ouyang Qing into the interrogation room, and Wu Zhongguo came over to help.
Shen Zhenzhu recalled the suspect in the raincoat in the Tianyan retrospective. He was not as tall as Sister Qing and looked like a short man or woman.
As for Ouyang Qing, three hotel staff members have confirmed that she had been swimming outside and fell asleep afterward, making it impossible for her to dive back in to burn charcoal and retrieve it.
"Sister Qing, this is my colleague. You can talk to him for a bit." Shen Zhenzhu handed her a cup of hot milk and said softly, "Don't worry, you're not a suspect at the moment."
Ouyang Qing nodded slightly, took off his sunglasses, revealing a haggard face: "I'm upright and have nothing to fear."
As Chen Zhenzhu came out, Lu Ye greeted her and said, "I was just looking for you and the boss. I have good news to tell you: Gai Duoduo was caught on the train and will be brought over immediately."
"That's really good news." Chen Zhenzhu then asked, "Has Section Chief Qin returned?"
"They're back, and the autopsy has already begun."
"Okay." The autopsy results were crucial, and Shen Zhenzhu was eager to get the answer as soon as possible.
She arrived at Shao Li's interrogation room and overheard Gu Yanzheng asking her, "Why did you delay waking Ouyang Qing when it was time to film?"
With tears and snot streaming down her face, Shao Li ignored Ouyang Qing's attempts to comfort her and completely disbelieved his explanation.
At this moment, she was also wailing and crying, repeatedly and incoherently saying, "She is definitely the real culprit. She killed Aihua. She is cruel and heartless!"
"Family member, I understand your sadness. But can you calm down and let us ask some normal questions?" Chen Junsheng was so annoyed by her interruption that he was relieved that Gu Yanzheng was willing to come and help him.
Shao Li said, "How can I not be calm? She's becoming more and more irresponsible. She has no parents to discipline her and was raised by Ai Hua alone. As she's become more and more famous over the years, she's become more and more disobedient. She's always arguing with Ai Hua, which makes her brother so angry that he can't sleep at night."
"You mean because of an argument, Ouyang Qing killed her only relative?" Gu Yanzheng's face was expressionless.
Shao Li said, "Yes, we've been by her side for so many years, and everything we do is for her own good. She's still immature and disobedient!"
Gu Yanzheng then steered the conversation back to the topic: "So, you're delaying waking her up because it's for her own good?"
Shao Li said, "I heard she stayed up until midnight yesterday. After I got home, I went to rest next door. I wanted her to get some more sleep today."
Gu Yanzheng asked, "Didn't you notice that Ouyang Aihua didn't come home all night?"
Shao Li said, "He said he wanted to protect Qingqing. It's for her own good."
Shen Zhenzhu shook her head, came out of the interrogation room, and heard a commotion downstairs.
The police car that escorted Gai Duoduo has returned.
The moment the police car drove into the gate of the Criminal Investigation Team, the reporters who had been waiting at the entrance kept flashing their cameras.
After Gai Duoduo got off the bus, a chorus of questions and interviews erupted.
Gai Duoduo was trembling all over; if she hadn't been supported by the two female police officers, she would have fallen to the ground long ago.
Her lips trembled as she repeated over and over, "I didn't kill anyone, I really didn't kill anyone."
"What are you afraid of if you didn't kill anyone?" someone shouted from the group of reporters through the iron gate. "Are you feeling guilty? Who is the real culprit, you or Ouyang Qing?"
"...No, I didn't kill anyone, it wasn't me." Gai Duoduo's ankles couldn't support her movements, and she walked forward absentmindedly, completely afraid to turn around and face the camera behind her.
The flustered woman at this moment was a stark contrast to her cheerful and smiling demeanor on the night of the promotional gala.
She had dreamed countless times of being the center of attention, of being a leading lady like Ouyang Qing, but she never imagined that she would stand in front of countless cameras looking like this.
She stumbled into the building, repeatedly saying, "He couldn't be dead... I didn't do it, how would I know it would be him who died? It definitely wasn't me."
Shen Zhenzhu stood upstairs watching her, completely unable to recall how glamorous Gai Duoduo had been in her previous life, standing in front of countless fans and media as an international film queen, raising her trophy.
In front of the media, there is now only one suspect who used methods but failed to obtain the lead role in "The Epang Palace"—Gai Duoduo.
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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see!]
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