Chapter 6

 "Absolutely impossible," Zhen Yi firmly refused.

Officer Lin: "Let her talk to our professional staff, just to enhance her memory and..."

"Hypnosis, right?" Zhen Yi interrupted forcefully, "Using such an unscientific trick to judge a case involving human life? Are you wearing a police uniform to joke around? Who can guarantee that what's in the subconscious mind must be the truth? If you make any more unreasonable demands, I will sue."

Song Yi was taken aback, sue the police? She didn't want to get into trouble.

But Officer Lin fell silent.

During the process of recalling the crime scene and searching for clues, shallow hypnosis of witnesses often proved unexpectedly useful. However, it was an unwritten practice, lacking procedural protection, and could not be enforced by coercion. With Song Yi's indifferent attitude, no amount of persuasion could make her comply voluntarily. Moreover, she might not have seen clearly even in her subconscious mind.

They had no choice but to give up.

Zhen Yi walked out of the interrogation room, and coincidentally, Si Gui came out from the adjacent observation room. Both had poker faces, showing no expression. However, Song Yi recognized Si Gui as Zhen Yi's friend, and after the high-pressure interrogation, she greeted, "Hello."

Si Gui's response, however, was, "Miss Song, we hope you can answer the previous question again on the polygraph."

"What?" Song Yi's emotions reversed drastically as she turned to look at Zhen Yi, her eyes full of resistance.

This time, Zhen Yi didn't outright refuse, instead asking, "Why?"

"The ecstasy's surveillance has blind spots. We simulated it, and in the video, Miss Song did go to the restroom, but if she turned into the corridor at a blind spot, the surveillance couldn't capture that."

Song Yi was at a loss for words.

After some thought, Zhen Yi calmly said, "Let me discuss it with my client."

After saying that, she pulled Song Yi aside. However, Song Yi was angry, shaking off her hand, abandoning her usual politeness, and warned in a low voice:

"How much money did you take from me, Zhen Yi? Don't forget that you must always protect my interests. How could you snap at that police officer just now? And now you back down when you see your friend? If you can't handle it, just say so, and I'll find another lawyer!"

Zhen Yi remained composed, "Miss Song, do you think you have a choice? This is a criminal case, and you are a suspect. We're not in a TV drama, and you don't have that much power. Whether you like it or not, they will find ways to pressure you. You should be grateful they won't force you to undergo hypnosis, simply because it's technically challenging."

Song Yi gritted her teeth and fumbled with her phone, saying, "I'll use my connections."

Zhen Yi snorted, "Lin Ziyi is the one who died. If your connections include top government officials, go ahead and make that call."

She didn't have such powerful connections. Song Yi hesitated and said fiercely, "The police can't find the real culprit, so they want me to be a scapegoat? Where's the evidence against me? You haven't even seen the evidence to judge me, yet you treat me like this?"

"Lawyers can access evidence, but that's only after you've been formally charged with a crime," Zhen Yi explained.

In front of law enforcement agencies, lawyers and individuals were actually quite powerless.

"If there's a problem with the polygraph, am I done for?"

"No, the polygraph can only serve as auxiliary reference, not definitive evidence. Don't worry. Besides, the answer I provided for you was evasive, not a lie, so it shouldn't show up on the polygraph."

"But what if..."

"Even if they detect that you're lying, it will only be because you refuse to describe the appearance of the murderer. The worst-case scenario is that the police will pester you again, but you won't be in trouble. Moreover," Zhen Yi's gaze was determined as she encouraged, "you haven't done anything wrong, so trust me, nothing will happen."

Song Yi was persuaded by her words and gradually calmed down. She took a deep breath and nodded.

Zhen Yi told Si Gui that she agreed.

Si Gui turned and pushed open the door of the observation room, saying, "Teacher Yan, you can proceed."

The title "Teacher Yan" made Zhen Yi slightly surprised. She casually glanced inside and caught a glimpse of a tall figure dressed in white passing by.

She was quite familiar with that figure. She whispered to Si Gui, "Is that the polygraph examiner?"

Si Gui remained silent.

"I'm not asking as a lawyer. Besides, I know he probably isn't."

Si Gui replied in a low voice, "He's a research-oriented doctor who needs physiological data for polygraph detection. But don't worry, he had assistance in preparation, and is very professional. He has also studied polygraph detection and possesses many talents, like you. He could be a good police officer or a good lawyer."

Zhen Yi didn't respond to Si Gui's last remark, and her attention was soon drawn to the instruments in the room. There was a microwave-sized rectangular screen on the table with several bright lines and flashing indicators.

The polygraph?

As she focused on the equipment, the white figure appeared in her line of sight again.

The door opened, and Yan Ge stood in front of her.

He was just as she remembered him, a scene of his own, with an undisturbed handsome face. His overall temperament was profound and serene, like a calm autumn night.

The difference was that he now wore a pair of thin, rimless glasses, adding a hint of intellectual nobility.

The glasses softened his aloofness, making him seem more approachable, and Zhen Yi wasn't quite used to it.

Upon seeing him, Song Yi's restless emotions instantly vanished. Upon hearing that he was in charge of lie detection, she immediately became polite and courteous, "Thank you for your help," and then gracefully entered the observation room.

Zhen Yi was speechless; indeed, having a good appearance made getting things done easier. She wondered why she wasted so much effort earlier.

As she passed by Yan Ge, she asked, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

He was flipping through a few papers and turned his gaze to her. Behind the thin lenses, his dark pupils looked calm as water, he glanced at her for half a second, then ignored her.

Zhen Yi snorted.

He continued to lower his head, carefully examining the papers in his hands. Men who were attentive had a natural charm, and Zhen Yi couldn't help but steal a few more glances.

Song Yi leaned closer, nervously looking at Yan Ge, and in a sheepish tone said, "I'm so nervous, will this emotion be considered as lying? I'm so scared."

Zhen Yi's eyebrows twitched. Song Yi, do you even know what you're doing? Can't you be mindful of the context before flirting?

"There's a difference between being nervous and lying..." Yan Ge actually began to patiently give Song Yi a technical explanation.

His voice was naturally deep and mellow, and even unfamiliar terms didn't sound cold.

He spoke for about a minute, and suddenly, Zhen Yi realized that even when they were in a relationship, he never spoke to her for such a long time. Every time, it was only a few words, a second or two at most. It was as if he would die if he said one more word to her.

Once Song Yi completely understood, Yan Ge handed her a set of instructions. The general content was that if she stated the facts, the test results would be in her favor, but if she lied, it would be against her.

At the end, there was a line: "The psychological test is entirely voluntary, and the subject has the right to refuse or terminate the test at any point during the process."

Of course, this statement was just a formality.

Yan Ge signaled to Si Gui, who then placed the breathing sensor, blood pressure cuff, and other devices on Song Yi, and attached electrodes to her fingertips.

Zhen Yi followed Yan Ge's gaze and focused on the chart plotter on the table. One of the lines became active, but she didn't understand its meaning. Yan Ge kept his eyes fixed on it and remained silent.

After everything was set up, Si Gui stepped back and stood with Zhen Yi in the corner. Zhen Yi thought Yan Ge would start asking questions, but he looked at her and said, "Pick a number from 1 to 9, but don't tell me."

Zhen Yi pursed her lips.

"Have you chosen?"

Zhen Yi nodded.

"Whisper it to her," he pointed at Song Yi.

Zhen Yi leaned close to Song Yi's ear and whispered, "7."

"First, we'll do a stimulus test to check your physiological response chart," Yan Ge said something that Song Yi didn't understand, and then instructed, "I will ask you the numbers she mentioned. No matter which number I ask, you answer 'no,' understand?"

"Okay."

"Is it 1?"

"No."

...

Yan Ge asked from 1 to 9, and Song Yi calmly denied each one. Zhen Yi had been observing her expressions and movements, but after yesterday's reinforcement training, there was no sign of anything unusual.

Zhen Yi thought that she might have become a master at concealing things.

But after Yan Ge stared at the screen for a while, he said, "It's 7."

Song Yi stiffened, motionless. However, at the moment Yan Ge announced the answer, Zhen Yi noticed a line on the screen that jumped suddenly.

Yan Ge asked, "Is there anything that’s making you feel uncomfortable?"

Song Yi twitched her lips: "No, I just think it's amazing."

"So, lying will work against you," His tone was light, as was his gaze, which traced over Zhen Yi.

For some reason, her heart skipped a tiny beat, feeling that things would not end well.

Song Yi said, "I understand."

"Then let's begin."