Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Jian Fan weighed his words for a moment. “If I said I forgot, would you believe me?”

“Heh,” Qin Nan responded coldly.

He actually believed Jian Fan’s words. Unless he specifically asked, Jian Fan really wasn’t the type to explain everything to him. However, when he thought about how he’d committed such a massive blunder yesterday just because Jian Fan hadn’t reminded him, he felt that, emotionally, he couldn’t accept that excuse.

“What did you do yesterday?” Jian Fan quickly read the deeper meaning behind Qin Nan’s expression.

“Remember that huge gash on the victim’s head? I did that.” Qin Nan pointed to himself.

Jian Fan: “…”

He suddenly felt that he had given his guarantee to Qin Weiyi too early.

Since Qin Nan had already opened up, he simply dumped everything that happened yesterday onto Jian Fan in one go. Finally, he concluded, “Xia Zeqin isn’t the killer. Given the current situation, Xu Tian is likely the one who stabbed the victim. If we exclude you and Qin Weiyi’s duo, there aren’t many people left.”

“The one impersonating the Eldest Young Master might not necessarily be Xu Tian. However, you can also exclude Mu Xin,” Jian Fan said.

Qin Nan curled his lip. “Why don’t you just say it? None of the smart ones could be the killer. People like us, the second-tier ones, are probably suspects who failed to finish the job. In that case, you should just look for the stupidest person in the group.”

After saying that, Qin Nan paused and looked at Jian Fan. “Wait, would that actually work?”

Jian Fan gave Qin Nan a rare smile.

“I suddenly understand why you said the previous world was difficult,” Qin Nan sighed with emotion.

In a world like this, Jian Fan would never put himself in a dangerous position. But last time, it was purely a matter of bad luck.

Still, this made the situation much more relaxed than Qin Nan had imagined.

Excluding Xia Zeqin, Jian Fan, Qin Weiyi, Lu Jing, and Mu Xin… He was the one who bludgeoned the victim, Xu Tian was suspected of stabbing the victim, and the ‘Second Miss’ had already been eliminated, removing any possibility of her being the killer. That left only four people.

Zheng Jueming, Lin Junruo, and the two members of Xia Zeqin’s team.

“What if Xia Zeqin and Mu Xin also reminded their teammates?” Qin Nan suddenly asked.

Jian Fan looked at Qin Nan. “First, they aren’t the type of people who care whether their teammates live or die. Second, just because you say something doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily listen.”

“Understood. Even a god can’t stop someone who’s determined to seek death. And as for me, I’m the one abandoned by god.” Qin Nan gave Jian Fan a meaningful look.

Jian Fan: “…”

“Sorry.” Jian Fan thought about it and added, “I haven’t done this sort of thing before, nor was there ever a need to. In the future, I’ll try my best.”

Qin Nan didn’t truly blame Jian Fan; after all, he was the one who had made the choice. But being able to get a guarantee from Jian Fan made the corners of Qin Nan’s mouth curl up. “It’s a deal.”

The eleven Players returned to the main hall and took their seats.

Xia Zeqin, who usually chose to speak first, didn’t say anything this time. For a moment, no one else seemed inclined to speak either, and a silence fell over the room.

“Is no one going to speak?” Qin Nan took the initiative.

Xia Zeqin adjusted his sitting posture and replied, “On the day of the murder, I was in my own courtyard the entire time. The servants there can testify for me. After today’s questioning, my innocence should be proven. As for the results of my inquiries…” Xia Zeqin left them hanging. “I plan to share that later. I want to see if everyone is willing to be honest first.”

Qin Weiyi expressed his agreement. “Why don’t we all start by coming clean?”
Lu Jing immediately responded with an “Okay” after Qin Weiyi finished speaking. The others remained quiet, their gazes occasionally sweeping over the other players, lost in thought.

“Fine, I’ll go first then,” Qin Nan took the lead.

Everyone’s eyes fell on Qin Nan.

“On the day Father was murdered, I went to his courtyard. I heard Xiao Cui say that Father had called the Eldest Young Master over to discuss business matters. I was unhappy about this, so I wanted to go find Father to argue my case. Xia Zeqin, you said earlier that you were in your own courtyard the whole time-I think I can provide some indirect proof for that. When I arrived at Father’s courtyard, I didn’t see my elder brother. However, I did see someone dressed in the same clothes as you, but who was shorter than Father,” Qin Nan said.

Xia Zeqin chuckled. “That’s right. On the day of the incident, Father did send someone to call for me, but because he and I had just had an argument over business, I didn’t go. I didn’t expect you to speak up for me.”

Qin Nan’s expression remained unchanged. “I’m just telling the truth.”

“In other words, when you went there, Uncle was still alive. So, who was the person intentionally disguised as the Eldest Young Master?” Qin Weiyi asked.

Qin Nan nodded. “Being shorter than Father is a fairly distinct characteristic. However, that person shouldn’t be the killer. I saw the two of them talking, then I left the courtyard for a while. I didn’t return to see Father again until eight o’clock. By then, the person suspected to be my elder brother was gone, and Father had already been stabbed.”

Speaking to this point, Qin Nan paused for a moment, took a breath, and spoke again. “The wound on Father’s forehead… I’m the one who caused it.”

Between himself, Jian Fan, and Qin Weiyi, if they could win over Mu Xin, they would have five votes. He wouldn’t necessarily be voted as the killer. Qin Nan decided to take a risk.

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the room grew tense.

“I don’t know what I was thinking at the time. Maybe it was hatred, or maybe it was panic. When I saw Father wake up, I just picked up an inkstone and hit him with it. But reflecting on it afterward, the person who killed Father couldn’t have been me. I caused the second wound, but at that time, Father hadn’t been castrated yet, and the final death scene we saw hadn’t been set up. I’m choosing to confess because I hope we can cooperate to find the killer. Neither the person who hit Father nor the person who stabbed him is the killer. I also hope the person who stabbed Father will step forward; my testimony can ensure that you aren’t the killer,” Qin Nan said, putting it as plainly as possible.

After Qin Nan finished, some people remained expressionless, like Xia Zeqin, Jian Fan, and Qin Weiyi. Naturally, others began glancing at one another.

“It was me,” Xu Tian suddenly spoke up.

Following the sound of her voice, Qin Nan’s gaze landed on Xu Tian.

“I was the one who changed into the Eldest Young Master’s clothes to see my Father-in-law. When I was talking to him, I did hear movement outside. Looking back now, that must have been when the Second Young Master appeared. I was indeed the one who stabbed my Father-in-law. As for the reason, I don’t think that’s the focus right now. After I stabbed him, I was terrified, so I left through the back door and returned to my own quarters. I don’t know what happened after that,” Xu Tian said.

Xu Tian was definitely hiding something, but being able to say this much was already a good start.

However, Lin Junruo raised a counter-argument at that moment: “After Xu Tian left, Qin Nan appeared and injured Father, then Qin Nan left. After that, it’s just as possible that Xu Tian doubled back and returned to the crime scene again.”

Lin Junruo was the first to launch an attack against Xu Tian.