Chapter 5

 After entering the cubicle, Song Yi sat down and smiled as she took off her sunglasses and scarf. "I've seen how capable you are, Attorney Zhen. I trust you. You said that this time, the matter will be resolved quickly?"

"Well, it's simpler than the last time when I asked you to testify in court," Zhen Yi replied, not bothering to raise her head. She was focused and no-nonsense while she was working.

"But this time, you'll be facing the police. Of course, I'm not doubting you," Song Yi flattered in a formulaic manner. "Attorney Zhen, you've always fought against unfair forces, which is very inspiring to us..."

"Billing by the hour, say less unnecessary things," Zhen interrupted. "Did you memorize the information I gave you?"

Song Yi's expression slightly changed. As a big star, she hadn't been treated this impolitely for a long time. "I've memorized it."

Last weekend, Song Yi told Zhen Yi all about her experience on the day of the incident, and the latter then designed 93 possible questions that the police might ask, along with standard answers: cooperate tactfully, do not lie, and do not provide any extra information.

"Good." Zhen Yi stood up. "Let's go to the conference room for a simulated police interrogation." After she finished speaking she then picked up the phone. "Zi, help my client to do a mock interrogation... um, yes...you need to sign a non-disclosure agreement first."

In a small conference room, Yang Zi sat across from Song Yi, her expression cold. Zhen Yi stood beside Yang Zi, her gaze sharp.

Song Yi knew they were deliberately creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere similar to a police interrogation room, but she thought that they were bluffing a little too much.

She believed in Zhen Yi's abilities. The questions and answers were designed flawlessly, and she had memorized them thoroughly, so she didn't feel nervous but considered it as a review.

Yang Zi's gaze remained neutral as she began questioning:

"Name?"

"Song Yi."

"Occupation?"

"Actress."

"On the night of April 28th, were you at the Ecstasy Club?"

"Yes."

"Do you often go to that club?"

"I don't think so."

It was Song Yi's first time going there. If she answered "the first time," it would be as if she was looking for trouble and it would be seen as suspicious. If she answered with vague words like "probably not often," she would be pressed for more details. Zhen Yi's negative answer was designed as a play on words to avoid that problem.

Before asking the next question, Yang Zi glanced at Zhen Yi's conspicuous blue marker note on the question: {Follow-up questions from the police after doing their homework (10% probability)}

"We checked the club's records, and it shows that it was your first time at Ecstasy. Additionally, we interviewed nearby bars and clubs, and your regular spot was Mayflower, two blocks away. Why the sudden change that night?"

Yang Zi secretly admired Zhen Yi's meticulousness. Song Yi herself wouldn't have paid attention to such details, but Zhen Yi had thought of it.

Song Yi was well-prepared and remained composed. She fluently replied, "I went to the club to meet a wealthy second-generation investor, as I heard that there were more wealthy people at Ecstasy..."

"Stop!" Zhen Yi suddenly interrupted. "Miss Song, did you look at the note I made for you?"

Zhen Yi's almost reproachful demeanor stunned Song Yi. Yang Zi felt a bit embarrassed, and Song Yi's face couldn't hold back her dissatisfaction. She pouted, "I'm sorry, I answered too quickly."

Yang Zi picked up the file and saw a green marker note under that question: {You might find it hard to speak about this, so hesitate and answer slowly!}

She was momentarily stunned, not expecting Zhen Yi to be this thorough.

After being reminded, Song Yi hesitated with lowered eyebrows and answered again, this time in a softer and somewhat embarrassed tone.

The questioning continued methodically.

"Do you know the deceased?"

"I met them once, but I wouldn't say we knew each other."

"Did you see the deceased that night? Do you remember anything about them?"

"It's a bit hazy."

When designing this question, Song Yi wanted to deny any knowledge of the deceased, but the truth was that at one point she had been dancing in a close range with the deceased. Zhen Yi had advised her that if others present at the scene had an impression of it, it would be troublesome. So she disagreed with denying it outright.

Zhen Yi noted: {If pressed, make the memory vague, as if being intoxicated with alcohol; expand the scope, such as having too many dance partners, making it random}.

Yang Zi followed up with more questions.

Song Yi was brimming with confidence as she recited her answer, "After drinking, I went to dance and it was very high, I danced with a lot of men and women. There were so many people, and I was excited at the time, so I can't remember it clearly."

"Stop!" Zhen Yi interrupted again without being polite. "Miss Song, you raised an eyebrow just now."

Song Yi didn't care. "Does it matter?"

"Raising an eyebrow shows that you're cocky and contemptuous. It will seem to the police that you are well-prepared and that you have something to hide," Zhen Yi said, placing her hands on the edge of the table, leaning forward and looking down at her.

"Do you think the police won't be suspicious? Miss Song, if you think memorizing these 93 questions will put your mind at ease, let me tell you, they will find the loopholes and target them. Then, I hope you can still maintain this nonchalant and indifferent attitude at that time!"

Suddenly, a low-pressure atmosphere filled the room.

Yang Zi didn't expect Zhen Yi to have such an aura to reprimand a popular star like this.

Song Yi was even more ashamed, her eyes widened in disbelief, she remained motionless, and only after a few seconds did she subtly adjust her sitting posture.

She earnestly became more serious, as if self-hypnotizing, "I will always remember what you said. These are not just answers; they are my genuine thoughts. I'm not reciting; I'm describing my inner thoughts."

Zhen Yi said, "Close your eyes and repeat what you just said in your mind three times."

Song Yi complied.

During the waiting interval, there was silence.

Zhen Yi was actually reminded of Yan Ge, and the idea of "repeating three times" was inspired by him. She didn't know if it counted as "self-hypnosis" or if it would be effective.

Song Yi opened her eyes and said, "Done!"

Yang Zi continued, "Why did you pass by that corner in the hallway?" She glanced at the answer: Drunk, went to the restroom.

Red marker note: {'Drunk, went to the restroom' – Remember, don't forget!}

...

After one round, Song Yi let out a sigh of relief, but Zhen Yi remained vigilant. "Considering the pressure and potential changes at the police station, let's practice a few more times and try to find out all the problems that could be exposed."

Song Yi didn't object.

Yang Zi was deeply moved: Due to their areas of expertise being different,  they rarely collaborated with each other. Today, however, was eye-opening. She hadn't expected Zhen Yi, who was usually carefree and not serious, to be so imposing and astonishingly fierce at work.

It seems that she has to work hard to improve.

They practiced many times and were well prepared, but when they went to the police station the next day, they encountered an unexpected obstacle.

Song Yi went to the police station for questioning, with Zhen Yi accompanying her as her attorney. Before the interrogation, she saw Si Gui. However, since both of them were at work, they didn't have much to say to each other.

The person in charge of the questioning was a male police officer surnamed Lin, but Zhen Yi knew Si Gui would be watching behind the glass. Si Gui was currently in the process of pursuing a minor in behavioral psychology, so Zhen Yi wondered how much she would be able to discern.

It was precisely because she knew how powerful her opponent was that Zhen Yi paid extra attention to Song Yi's behavior and small movements during the simulation.

Was this a showdown between them? Zhen Yi was excited and looking forward to it.

The interrogation room was narrow, with opaque black glass. Song Yi had heard from Zhen Yi that they deliberately applied pressure, so she wasn't nervous.

Before starting, Zhen Yi declared, "My client doesn't want to testify. You can morally condemn her, but you cannot threaten her. Unfortunately, you have already done so. My client now agrees to provide information, and I hope you won't disturb her again in the future."

Song Yi heard this and felt somewhat reassured.

Officer Lin said polite words like "thank you for cooperating" and then added, "Miss Song's statements will be recorded. You can choose not to testify, but the law does not allow perjury."

There was an implication in his words.

However, Zhen Yi had prepared a backup plan for Song Yi, so she remained composed.

Officer Lin's questions were within Zhen Yi's expected range. After multiple rehearsals, Song Yi began to believe that everything she said was true and portrayed it convincingly.

But occasionally, Zhen Yi would interrupt. Even if they had prepared for a certain question, she would firmly forbid answering and bring up long accusations such as "irrelevant to the case" or "infringing on privacy."

Song Yi knew that Zhen Yi was deliberately diverting the police's hostility and attention. Moreover, Zhen Yi was clever and cautious, interrupting only during the seemingly subtle but actually insignificant questions.

The inquiry gradually reached its crucial point:

"Why did you pass by that corner in the hallway?"

"I was drunk and went to the restroom," Song Yi replied.

She had been drinking that day, but she didn’t get drunk. When Zhen Yi designed the answers, she said that this reason had a realistic basis, and it would not be considered  lying, and was very reasonable in the context of a bar environment. It also served as a setup for later questions she could be ambushed with.

"Did you hear any strange sounds?"

"The club was very noisy, with sounds everywhere. What do you consider strange?" She threw the question back at the officer, neither directly answering nor lying.

Lin explained, "Men screaming, moaning, or fighting."

Song Yi frowned and recalled, "I was quite drunk at the time and not clear-headed. These sounds are common in a bar, and even if I did hear them, I wouldn't have paid much attention to them." She expanded and blurred the range in a reasonable manner.

"In the surveillance footage, you glanced at the corridor where the incident occurred. Did you see any suspicious people?"

"What do you mean by suspicious?"

"Someone who appeared in a hurry."

"There was a restroom over there, so even if someone was rushing, it wouldn't be particularly noteworthy."

Lin realized he was being led astray and asked directly, "Just describe anyone you saw."

"The corridor was poorly lit, and I caught a glimpse, but I'm not sure."

"So, you did see a person?"

"I saw a shadow." Song Yi did see a person, but she also saw the shadow on the wall.

Zhen Yi advised her to downplay the importance of the observation.

"Did you get a clear look at their appearance?"

"I don't think I have any specific impression of that shadow."

Zhen Yi advised that denying it this way could avoid lying.

The officer didn't seem to notice.

After the questioning, there was no useful information obtained. Song Yi successfully left the impression that Zhen Yi deliberately created for the police: indifferent, morally unconcerned, cautious, and unwilling to get involved. This made her behavior of initially refusing to cooperate but later bringing a lawyer to assert herself reasonable.

However, before concluding, the officer said, "Miss Song, even if you can't remember due to being drunk, perhaps there's something in your subconscious."

This sudden question didn't have a standard answer. Song Yi looked to Zhen Yi for help, and Zhen Yi asked, "So?"

"Does Miss Song want to cooperate with us and try to awaken any subconscious memories?"

Song Yi didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

The officer was about to explain when Zhen Yi suddenly stood up and said, "Absolutely not!"

Before coming here, she didn't anticipate that the real obstacle would be Yan Ge.