Chen Jingsheng inquired earnestly.
Although he harbored little hope for the memory of a young girl who was less than a month away from turning five, his investigations that afternoon had revealed many extraordinary aspects about her.
Her intelligence and memory far surpassed those of ordinary people, so he still held onto a sliver of hope.
He anticipated obtaining more useful clues from the little girl.
However, the moment the topic turned to Lou Jusheng's friend, the girl's expression became visibly conflicted.
She didn't fully grasp human affairs, but through prolonged exposure and the explanations from Gu Jiangyan and Qi Suibai, she understood quite a bit about the current societal environment.
Setting aside the Cheng family lineage that had moved overseas and formed a vast power base abroad.
If people from the overseas Cheng family discovered that Cheng Zhixian had been murdered, they would undoubtedly move heaven and earth to find the perpetrator.
Moreover, their main family within the country was even more formidable and worthy of apprehension.
After Gu Jiangyan ascertained the ownership of the seaside villa and learned about the connection between the overseas Cheng family and the domestic Cheng family,
He had repeatedly cautioned Jian Sheng not to reveal any information related to Cheng Zhixian.
It could be said that fate played a cruel trick.
It was Gu Jiangyan's investigation into the background of the overseas Cheng family, triggered by Cheng Yongtai's words, that led him to connect the overseas Cheng family with the domestic Cheng family.
Now, discovering that someone from the Cheng family, outside of the overseas Cheng family, had dealings with those who kidnapped Sheng Sheng.
And that Cheng family member had been dealt with by Sheng Sheng herself, Gu Jiangyan was at a loss as to how to break this news to Old Master Cheng.
Chen Jingsheng straightened his back and asked seriously, "Do you have something difficult to say, or did that person threaten you in some way?"
The little girl scratched her hair, "Ah, it's not like that. This is very complicated to explain."
Chen Jingsheng's spirits lifted, and he tightened his grip on the pen in his hand.
"No rush, take your time."
Jian Sheng curved her fingers and scratched her head, unsure where to begin.
"It's not me! It's that Dad and Xiaobai said that continuing to investigate that person further would be detrimental to everyone."
Chen Jingsheng frowned.
He had not known the identity of the little girl's father previously.
However, on the way here, he had learned about it through the news.
The fact that someone like Gu Jiangyan would advise against further investigation indicated Gu Jiangyan's apprehension regarding the other person's identity.
At this moment, recalling Xiaobai's words, Jian Sheng also organized her thoughts.
"Uncle Chen, I can help you continue to review and investigate the Lou Jusheng case."
"As for the other person, he clashed with Lou Jusheng after they discovered my father was looking for me. That person is already dead, so there's no point in pursuing it further."
Chen Jingsheng's brow furrowed. He had a feeling the little girl was deliberately hiding something.
But the girl's reminder also made him realize a problem.
That person was abroad. Even if he knew who that person was and what they had done,
His current authority would not extend to matters overseas.
Chen Jingsheng recorded what the little girl said, then suddenly smacked his forehead.
He looked at the girl with intense eyes.
"I won't concern myself with that person's affairs abroad, but I need to know who he is."
"What his name is, what he looks like, if he has a criminal record in China, and if he was involved in Lou Jusheng's case."
Jian Sheng: ...
She covered her forehead.
Were government offices always this serious now?
The little girl patted the table in frustration.
"That person went abroad over a hundred years ago. You can't possibly find his criminal evidence from a hundred years ago and prosecute him, can you?"
Chen Jingsheng stopped and stared at the girl.
"Although the setting is rather informal, I must tell you that we are taking a statement, not playing house!"
"If you don't know, you can simply say so, instead of making things up!"
"This is a police station, not a place for rambling!"
The little girl rolled her eyes slightly, appearing to find him overly surprised.
"Officer, how about I just retell the content of their conversation? You can record it, and then ask me if you don't understand anything afterward?"
Chen Jingsheng felt that the girl's tone was a bit peculiar when she said this.
However, he didn't overthink it and agreed, turning on his recording pen.
The little girl began her performance, even vividly portraying the tone and demeanor of the two individuals.
But the more Chen Jingsheng listened, the stranger his expression became.
Several times he wanted to interrupt the girl's performance, but his professional integrity made him hold back.
When the girl started talking about the so-called cultivators, Chen Jingsheng finally couldn't stand it anymore and stood up with a bang.
The little girl paused, then continued her retelling as if no one else was there.
She omitted the part where Cheng Zhixian's name was mentioned.
Chen Jingsheng, at his wit's end, believed this was a childish prank and, wanting to end the farce, when a middle-aged man in plain clothes and with a calm demeanor walked in.
It was the person who had been following Chen Jingsheng all along and had barely made his presence known.
The newcomer firmly held Chen Jingsheng back.
He didn't speak, but his actions conveyed his intentions unequivocally.
Listen to her finish!
Not much time had passed before Jian Sheng finished speaking.
The plainclothes middle-aged man walked over and turned off the recording pen.
Chen Jingsheng angrily questioned, "Team Leader Xiao, what do you mean by this?!"
"The child is being foolish and making a scene, and you expect us to humor her nonsense?"
Team Leader Xiao patted his shoulder and crouched down, speaking gently, "Little girl, is everything you've said true?"
Jian Sheng jumped off the chair and looked him directly in the eye, "Of course. I take responsibility for what I've said."
Team Leader Xiao continued, "Do you understand what the implications are of what you've just said?"
Jian Sheng nodded, "Roughly, yes."
"Since you understand, why did you say it?"
"In this world, someone has to know these things, don't they?"
The little girl smiled happily, "And now, the people who need to know have appeared, haven't they?"
Team Leader Xiao's expression was complex. Emotions that had remained dormant for a long time were now stirred by a few simple words from a child.
Chen Jingsheng watched them exchange veiled words in utter disbelief.
He felt as if the world had gone mad.
Otherwise, why would Team Leader Xiao, representing the national security department, be chatting so congenially with this nonsensical little girl?
Team Leader Xiao turned and said to Chen Jingsheng,
"Captain Chen, I would like to speak with little Jian Sheng alone about the details of this case."
"Also, please remember to turn off the surveillance here."
Chen Jingsheng: ...
He felt he no longer understood this world.