Chapter 388 The Waiting Has Received News! "Most of your speculations are correct."
Zhou Chongshan began his self-narration.
The incident began when Zhong Manqing, during her final delivery of the painting, suddenly demanded 300,000 yuan as hush money, threatening to expose her years-long ghostwriting activities otherwise.
“I agreed to her request. But I told her that I could pay her, on the condition that she could find inspiration for me to paint another picture during the group sketching session the following week.”
"The location, I specify is near that strangely shaped rock on the edge of the cliff."
The night before sketching, he went into the mountains alone and used the fishing line and the surrounding environment to set up the trigger mechanism, which was an improvement on the primitive hunting trap.
"It would be best if the incident were ruled a natural fall. But that's not enough. I need a 'culprit' to divert attention and completely clear my name."
As Zhou Chongshan spoke, he showed no remorse, even displaying the arrogance of a mastermind: "I chose Su Jianxue. She and Zhong Manqing are open rivals, and if something happens to Zhong Manqing, she will be the first suspect."
So he fabricated the plagiarism incident and, at a carefully calculated time, sent Su Jianxue the accusatory message that ignited her anger.
“I know Su Jianxue’s temper well, and I was sure she would immediately confront Zhong Manqing. People who are emotionally agitated don’t watch where they’re going.”
Ji Shuyun pressed on at the opportune moment, "You set up the trap in advance, so why didn't it trigger when Zhong Manqing arrived, but instead it was Su Jianxue who triggered it?"
Zhou Chongshan raised his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips, the kind of smile that belonged to the "strategist": "Because I specifically instructed Zhong Manqing to take another route to get to the front of the strange rock. That route is very safe."
"The shortcut that Su Jianxue would take is where the mechanism is located."
Another young police officer couldn't help but speak up: "We've investigated. You used Zhong Manqing's works to win numerous awards, with prize money alone accumulating to over a million, not to mention the fame and resources that came with it."
“But the fee you pay these students—including Zhong Manqing—for each painting is only one thousand yuan.”
He pushed the documents in front of Zhou Chongshan: "Zhong Manqing only asked you for 300,000 yuan to save her grandmother's life."
"But a single item in your collection alone is worth more than that. Why won't you even give me 300,000?"
After hearing this, Zhou Chongshan showed no remorse on his face, but instead revealed a hint of impatience as if he had been offended.
"If you give in this time, you'll do it again. You can't tolerate this kind of person."
He spoke calmly, as if discussing the disposal of a defective product: "The best course of action is to eliminate any future problems."
The officer pressed further: "Those students put in so much effort for you, and you're just going to give them a thousand dollars?"
Zhou Chongshan leaned back slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips: "A group of students who haven't even graduated yet, their paintings are only worth this price. Besides—"
He paused, his voice carrying a condescending sense of condescension, "I personally guide them; isn't that a more valuable reward? Many people would beg for that."
Every word he utters is an attempt to exploit and glorify his students, treating them as mere resources.
Within their self-constructed hierarchy, they enjoy everything with a clear conscience, believing that this is the rule that "should be" in this circle.
Ji Shuyun then asked, "Was the deceased's boyfriend, Zhai Chen, involved in the murder?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chongshan revealed an undisguised mocking smile.
"Zhai Chen?"
He chuckled. "He just happened to stumble upon my plan. But instead of telling Zhong Manqing, he chose to keep quiet—"
"Then, they started asking me for 'hush money' every now and then."
"All of Zhai Chen's later award-winning works were paintings left by Zhong Manqing. He secretly signed his name on all the manuscripts that she hadn't had time to publish."
Zhou Chongshan's tone was full of disdain: "It was nothing more than a matter of each getting what they wanted. I got peace and quiet, and he got fame and fortune."
His eyes darkened, revealing a ruthless intent bordering on mutual destruction: "Now that I'm done for, he won't have it easy either."
"What he's taken from me over the years is enough to make him suffer."
"Knowing about it but not reporting it, misappropriating his posthumous work... wouldn't it be fair to make him an accomplice?"
With the end of this lengthy interrogation, the truth from four years ago has finally come to light.
With Su Jianxue's full assistance, the police systematically reviewed and confirmed that the inspiration and core composition of all of Zhai Chen's award-winning works in recent years were directly plagiarized from Zhong Manqing's posthumous manuscripts.
Based on Zhai Chen's confession after his arrest, the relevant competition organizing committee ultimately decided to revoke all of Zhai Chen's awards and posthumously award the honors to the late Zhong Manqing.
The belated vindication finally cleansed the deceased of the grime that had tarnished his reputation for four years.
After the police released the full details of the case, public opinion on the internet was in an uproar.
Countless netizens were shocked by this tragedy, which intertwined talent, betrayal, and greed.
[I had been guessing for a long time that Zhai Chen was the murderer, but it turns out he is even more chilling than the murderer.]
[Knowing his girlfriend was going to die, he chose to remain silent to gain fame and fortune. How is this any different from murder?]
[Zhong Manqing is in so much pain... She came from a poor family, her talent was completely drained, and her mentor and boyfriend were like two opposing forces, one trying to kill her, the other draining her blood.]
The only heartwarming thing in this whole case was that a group of monkeys in the mountains dragged her body into a culvert to keep her from getting wet in the rain... I'm heartbroken.
Ironically, it was her rival, Su Jianxue, who ultimately cleared her name. Just how cruel a joke did fate play?
Su Jianxue was also a victim of this conspiracy! If it weren't for Zhou Chongshan and Zhai Chen, she and Zhong Manqing should have been each other's most respected rivals, competing openly from school to the art world... Now, all that's left is sighing.
The dust has settled, and the truth has come to light.
The investigation into the case of the female corpse found in the culvert has come to an end, and the Xia Zhining siblings' long wait has finally been rewarded with good news!
After investigation by the police, the real leaker of the operation to eliminate Tailan Jin back then has been found!
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