CHAPTER 196: 187 DOUBTS AND INTERROGATIONS (TWO-IN-ONE 4411)_2

He pondered for a moment. "Then let’s use the process of elimination. Focus on those who left the rest station before 5:07 and went to that patch of woods."

The time, location, and people were identified: Zhou Zheng was one, but it couldn’t possibly be just one person. That anonymous ’do-gooder’—were they simply trying to help or did they have other motives? Being able to silently procure such things, no matter the reason, was a latent threat.

Jiang Jinghuai summoned a few subordinates and instructed them to question and investigate one by one—who had done the aforementioned actions before that time.

Zhou Zheng observed him throughout, working methodically and decisively, and panic suddenly overtook him. An investigation? Why was it escalating into an investigation? Did this mean they didn’t trust him? It was just a few bags of supplies, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t their concern be more about whether the disaster victims had food to eat?

Lowering his head, Zhou Zheng’s cold sweat poured down even harder.

"Is it really that hot?" Jiang Jinghuai glanced at Zhou Zheng with an enigmatic smile as he placed Meng Shuyan onto a chair.

He stood, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. Taking a deep drag, the smoke swirled around him as he paced to the door and lifted the flap of the military tent.

Step by step, like the footfalls of a devil returning, each tread struck Zhou Zheng’s heart.

Meng Shuyan squinted his big eyes. Daddy smoking looks so cool!

Lu Chi took a sip of water. "Maybe it really fell from the sky after all?"

Jiang Jinghuai remained silent.

Lu Chi rarely struck up conversation with him—that he had just casually thrown out this remark spoke volumes of his inner turmoil. He was desperately seeking reassurance. In the past, he might have dismissed Zhou Zheng’s words as nonsense, but now he couldn’t be so sure. His mind conjured up the image of a pure and beautiful face—Guan Kunling... If there really was nothing supernatural at play, why did she look so much like Jiaqi?

Even though her personality was nothing like Jiaqi’s, he couldn’t help but be drawn to her. Why?

"Anything else you want to add?" Jiang Jinghuai sat back on the chair, holding Meng Shuyan in his arms. While his handsome face bore a faint smile, Zhou Zheng felt only the coldness and solemnity emanating from him.

"Y-yes, I do." Zhou Zheng caved.

Jiang Jinghuai stubbed out the cigarette between his fingers, the ash scattering slightly. He spoke calmly, "Then talk."

"I need to, uh, relieve myself," Zhou Zheng raised his hand. "I had a watermelon, and now I really need to go." Especially faced with someone as unpredictable and unreadable as Jiang Jinghuai, his legs were trembling, and he nearly lost control.

"Hold it," came the two-word reply.

Zhou Zheng’s heart plummeted.

"Or finish talking first, then go," Jiang Jinghuai added, his voice an unsettling calm.

If he didn’t go soon, Zhou Zheng felt like he was going to wet himself. He deeply regretted eating that watermelon, and even more regretted trying to take credit for something. These soldiers were terrifying!

"Fine, I’ll say it! Captain, Major, I’m guilty—I confess! I shouldn’t have lied to you. I... I was momentarily out of my mind thinking..."

"Focus on the main point," Jiang Jinghuai ordered, his eyelids barely lifting as his voice grew heavier.

Zhou Zheng shuddered. His pale face flushed red, then turned white again. Was it from holding it in, or from fright? Likely both.

If he were going to be found out anyway, better to admit it himself.

"I... I found a woman in the woods. She was there at that time. She got there before me, actually. But when I saw that she didn’t seem interested in those things, I thought..."

Jiang Jinghuai’s deep, dark eyes, like the surface of an ancient, unfathomable well, bore into Zhou Zheng, cutting him off before he could ramble. Zhou Zheng continued, choosing his words carefully. "That woman—I don’t know who she is. She had a cold expression, looked really pretty, but didn’t talk much. Her tone was kind of strange. She was dressed in white, like a doctor..."

Jiang Jinghuai’s pupils constricted sharply, and his fingers twitched imperceptibly.

Lu Chi’s heart pounded, and he snapped his head up in a flash.

Both men fixed their gaze on him. Zhou Zheng licked his dry, pale lips nervously. "C-can I go relieve myself now?"

"No!" Lu Chi’s stern face darkened as he barked, "Explain it clearly!"

"That’s all I know..." Zhou Zheng never expected that this usually gentle and polite Major Lu could also turn fierce.

"Think harder," Jiang Jinghuai said coldly, his piercing gaze sweeping over Zhou Zheng.

Closing his eyes, Zhou Zheng suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! That woman often hangs around with Tian Sangsang!"

"Yes, that’s it! She’s always with Tian Sangsang!" He clapped his hands in confirmation. No wonder she looked familiar...

"And when I was, uh, relieving myself, I heard someone talking outside. It seemed like someone was speaking with that woman."

Talking? So... there were others outside at the time? Guan Kunling, and who else? Jiang Jinghuai’s sharply angled brows furrowed deeply.

"Tian Sangsang—she’s the mother of your child?" Lu Chi turned to Jiang Jinghuai.