=The Truth=
=Episode 23=
Victim Liu Min,
female, 47 years old,
from Yushan,
with theft and fraud convictions
and wanted by police for multiple counts of child trafficking.
She used a lost ID card.
Liu Jianyuan's DNA was found under her fingernails.
Suspected to be from a struggle.
Liu Jianyuan,
male, 46 years old,
also from Yushan.
He served time for robbery and assault.
Like Liu Min, he's also a suspect
of child trafficking.
So they were both traffickers.
So it was criminals turning on each other.
Total infighting.
Wait.
We're not sure it was definitely Liu Jianyuan.
Well...
Surveillance footage captured Liu Jianyuan entering the hotel.
At 6 PM two days ago,
Liu Jianyuan entered through the hotel's main entrance.
He passed the front desk, took the elevator to the sixth floor,
and went to Room 601.
Liu Min opened the door for him.
Later, Liu Min went downstairs to get food and returned to the room.
The next time Liu Jianyuan was caught on camera was at 2:10 AM yesterday
when he left the room.
He didn't take the elevator.
Instead, he took the unmonitored fire escape stairs down
and left through the back-door parking lot.
Surveillance shows
that Rose Garden Hotel's Room 601
had no one else enter besides Liu Min and Liu Jianyuan.
During the crime's
estimated time,
the front desk called Room 601 due to a noise complaint.
A man answered.
Has Liu Min's phone been found?
Not yet.
These two traffickers came to Yunxi surely not to commit crimes again?
I've hit another dead end.
The train station is right next door.
If they bought tickets and boarded a train,
they probably used fake IDs too.
Where do we go from here?
The train station is literally steps away.
Most motorcycle taxis wouldn't take such a short fare.
Especially for a place you can walk to.
From Liu Jianyuan's perspective,
whether for cost or safety,
taking a motorcycle taxi shouldn't have been necessary.
Captain Leng, I think we should first find that motorcycle taxi driver
and figure out Liu Jianyuan's whereabouts ASAP.
We must check Liu Min's ticket purchases using Mai Qianqian's ID.
They both stayed near the train station.
They might have arrived by train
or be leaving by train.
If tickets were bought online, we should be able to find Liu Min's phone number.
Not bad, Wang Tong.
Your analysis is spot on.
Get moving.
(Yunxi)
This is way too blurry.
I can't make out the face at all.
The bike's common without a license plate.
Our bikes all look the same.
There's no way to tell who's who.
Exactly.
So many guys work the train station area alone.
Can't help you, officer.
Everyone, listen up. No need to be nervous.
We're looking for this driver
to gather passenger info.
Nothing else.
Let me share a bit more.
The man we're looking for is a human trafficker.
A human trafficker?
You cops have to tell the truth.
Don't worry, I guarantee it.
The driver you're looking for is from my hometown.
I'll text him to come over.
I remember that guy.
That early morning,
he got on at Rose Garden's back door.
I'd just dropped off someone rushing for a train
and was thinking of resting inside the station
and grabbing a bite.
So, do you remember where you took him?
Tech University Staff Community.
Not exactly close.
But he paid well,
so I took the fare.
Remember anything more specific?
Building? Apartment?
That community doesn't let outside vehicles in.
About which building, I...
I just remember him making a call
and telling me to stop at the north gate.
Was it Building 11
or Building 17?
That guy's accent was too thick.
I didn't catch it clearly.
Thank you.
Property management said Building 17 is near the north gate.
Residents of Building 11 usually
don't use the farther north gate.
Building 17 has four entrances.
Five floors make it 20 households in total.
If we do a full sweep...
A full sweep isn't practical.
We might alert Liu Jianyuan if he's here.
Let's go check it out.
I called the police.
I didn't do it.
City CID.
I came up to have dinner with my friend.
Opening the door, I found him on the floor.
Blood was on the floor and walls.
I... I really don't know what happened.
City CID.
What happened?
We received a report.
It's said someone died upstairs.
He reported it.
My friend was killed up there.
It's all over...
Your friend's name?
Liu Jianyuan.
You should go up and see.
It's too horrible.
It's Room 502.
I'll take you up.
We'll take it from here.
Okay.
Did you know Liu Jianyuan was a fugitive?
I truly didn't know.
I'd have reported him immediately if I knew.
What did he do this time?
When did he contact you?
And why?
Officers,
he called me before dawn the day before yesterday.
Said he came to Yunxi for urgent business
and needed a place to stay after arriving.
My old place's tenant just moved out.
So I brought him here.
You two are close, huh?
N-not really, not really.
He just looked out for me in prison.
We got along okay.
How did you find him dead?
Officers,
I planned to treat him to dinner.
I called him multiple times. But he didn't answer.
I thought he was sleeping in.
But then a whole day passed.
I got worried and came to check.
He didn't answer when I knocked.
So I used the spare key.
Right when I entered,
I saw him lying there... dead.
Get in.
Yes.
Captain Leng.
Fifth floor.
Ye.
Tell us about your meeting with Liu Jianyuan.
Officers.
He called me around 2 AM the night before last, saying he was coming over.
I live nearby,
so I waited downstairs.
I brought him up and chatted a bit.
Then I went home.
What was his condition then?
Condition?
Hard to say.
Seemed nervous.
Can't really put it into words.
What did you do the last two days?
Any alibis?
Y-yes.
My wife, kids, and mother-in-law were home.
My wife was upset
that I lent the place to a friend.
We argued about it several times.
We even called the local police yesterday.
For reformed people like me,
trying to restart our lives,
the government keeps watch...
No.
I mean, the government cares about us.
Knowing they care about you,
shouldn't you cooperate fully?
Yes.
Right?
Right.
So you were on good terms, yes?
No.
Long time no contact.
What? What's going on?
Not telling the truth?
It's truth.
In 2012,
Liu Jianyuan got out, right?
Right.
He still had your number.
He called you at midnight, and you went.
You argued with your wife, and despite that,
you still lent your place to him.
And you weren't on good terms?
What?
Want more jail time?
No. I'll talk. I'll talk.
We rarely contacted each other.
Just exchanged greetings during holidays
and chatted occasionally.
Well, he did help me out back in the day.
A man should repay kindness, right?
As the saying goes,
more friends, more paths.
I... I... I...
Anything else?
I hadn't seen him in years.
When he first came in,
there seemed to be something on his sleeve.
Looked... looked like blood.
Go on.
I asked him about it.
He said he got into a fight on the way over.
I didn't dare ask any more.
And?
That's all?
That's all.
Really, nothing else.
Liu Jianyuan's time of death was between 4 AM and 5 AM yesterday.
The COD was brain injury caused by blunt head trauma.
The murder weapon was the vase found at the scene.
Also, we found traces of Liu Min's blood on Liu Jianyuan's coat.
About the vase,
we confirmed with the owner.
It belonged to the place.
No signs
of forced entry were found at the scene.
The place was always rented out.
People came and went frequently.
Fingerprints inside were quite messy.
No valuable leads have been found yet.
So, either the killer had a key
or Liu Jianyuan opened the door himself.
Hard to say.
Liu Jianyuan wasn't local.
He was a wanted man.
Not many people knew he came to Yunxi.
Could it be
that Li Feng did it?
We checked that.
Li Feng hasn't had much contact with Liu Jianyuan in recent years.
He also lacks a motive.
Captain Leng,
Tech University Staff Community is old,
but the surveillance is better than we thought.
The east, south, and north gates,
and every building entrance, have cameras.
This is Liu Jianyuan entering the community.
This is the owner, Li Feng, and Liu Jianyuan entering Building 17.
Liu Jianyuan entered the community at 3:10 AM.
After Li Feng went upstairs with Liu Jianyuan,
he didn't stay long.
It was about 15 minutes total.
So Li Feng didn't have time to commit the crime.
Someone like Liu Jianyuan must have pissed off plenty of people.
Maybe there are others we don't know about watching him.
Jiao,
did the entry or exit surveillance catch anyone suspicious?
From when Li Feng left at 3:30 AM until 6:00 AM the next morning,
when the first exerciser appeared,
no one entered or exited during that time.
Then, from 6:00 AM, when the exerciser came out,
until Li Feng came here to report it
and you arrived,
apart from delivery and takeout couriers,
only residents of that building came and went.
Get the local police to assist
in screening the residents of Building 17
and rechecking all the delivery and takeout personnel
who entered and exited.
Okay.
Liu Jianyuan killed Liu Min
and then got killed by someone else.
The timing is incredibly tight.
But we still don't know why Liu Jianyuan killed Liu Min.
Neither phone was found at the scene.
Could the killer have taken them?
Liu Jianyuan might not have killed Liu Min.
Why?
Current evidence shows only that Liu Jianyuan and Liu Min fought.
But there was a secondary blow,
and Liu Jianyuan's coat showed no traces of brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid.
From the surveillance,
Liu Min packed fried leek-stuffed pastry as takeout.
But the autopsy results show
no leeks in Liu Jianyuan or Liu Min's stomach contents.
Are you suggesting
there was another person at the scene?
And this person
killed Liu Min after Liu Jianyuan fled
and also ate fried leek-stuffed pastry?
But the surveillance shows no one else entered that room
besides Liu Jianyuan and Liu Min.
Exactly.
So if this person really exists,
did he scale walls
or walk on clouds?
Is this Journey to the West? Think he's Sun Wukong?
Maybe Spider-Man?
Enough joking. Be serious.
Could the hotel's surveillance footage be faulty?
Master,
in a case in the neighboring province last year,
the suspect entered through the drainpipes to commit the crime.
What if the suspect in this case entered the hotel the same way?
Is it sturdy enough?
Can it hold?
I don't want to get killed.
Hurry up.
Get moving.
It's so high up.
I barely got this borrowed. Hurry.
Come on.
Anything?
No.
Check higher up.
Anything?
- Anything here? - Stop.
Will it work?
No problem.
Modern drainpipes are made of PVC material.
Very slippery.
Couldn't climb with gloves.
So there must be fingerprints.
Are the pipes at the Tech University Staff Community also made of PVC?
Yes.
So we have to climb again?
Master,
at both crime scenes,
climbing traces were found on the external drainpipes.
We've compared the fingerprints.
They have the same owner.
Currently known to be male,
not tall, and slightly thin.
Very likely a teenager.
A teenager?
Yes.
Analysis of the fingerprint ridge spacing indicates
this person's fingerprints are still in the developmental stage.
He should be around 18 years old.
Are you saying the suspect for both cases is the same person?
And a teenager?
We can't yet confirm the suspect is a teenager,
but he was at both scenes.
Fingerprints were found inside and outside the entry window frames.
I'll go cross-check
the fingerprints found now against all previously found ones.
See if any matches come up.
Let me catch my breath first.
Also,
here's the investigation into taxis near Rose Garden Hotel post-incident.
This taxi
picked up a passenger around 2 AM on the night of the crime.
The driver said the passenger seemed like a student.
He was not tall, slightly thin,
wearing sportswear, and carrying a backpack.
Also headed to Tech University Staff Community.
This is the surveillance footage
from the community's east gate during that time frame.
This person should match your description.
Can we see his face clearly?
No, this is the maximum zoom.
Liu Jianyuan seeking refuge with Li Feng was a sudden development.
So how did this kid know to come to this community?
If he tailed Liu Jianyuan,
timing-wise, it's unlikely.
The taxi driver didn't mention that either.
So he must have gotten it from Liu Min.
You're saying
he interrogated Liu Min
and killed her
and then rushed to this community
and killed Liu Jianyuan?
Look at him. Does he even look 18?
Could he pull that off?
And what kind of deep hatred would drive this?
Jiao,
find a way to enhance this image.
Cross-reference it with the cases Liu Jianyuan and Liu Min were in.
Wait, you mean
this kid...
Unfortunately, we couldn't extract DNA from the fingerprints.
Hello?
Son.
You'll come tomorrow?
Did your mother agree?
Alright, okay.
See you tomorrow.
A package was found at the city police entrance.
It's addressed to the chief.
We checked. Nothing dangerous.
But it's related to your case.
Two cell phones.
Sweetie.
Why are you here?
Are you hungry?
Let me see.
What's wrong?
Hungry? Come on.
I'll feed you something.
I've got tasty treats here.
Come.
Don't rush.
Just a moment.
Come here.
Eat here. Come on.
You look starved.
Come to me anytime you're hungry.
I'm never short on food.
I've got everything.
Captain Leng,
Lei says the phone number that sent the video
should yield results tomorrow.
Good.
I heard Xiaoyu is coming tomorrow.
Yeah, he's coming tomorrow.
No one's watching him.
I figured
he could hang out with you all at the station.
Sure, we'll help watch him.
Okay.
When I pick up Xiaoyu tomorrow,
if I'm not back,
start the meeting once everyone's here.
Child trafficking cases have been spiking lately.
Have you considered bringing Xiaoyu to live with you?
Wouldn't that be safer?
Xiaoyu might be better off with his mother.
As you can see,
I'm overwhelmed.
I need to look after my dad too.
I'll let you work.
(West Exit)
Today,
we're walking to the station.
To get some exercise.
You need to lose some weight.
Alright.
What game are you playing?
All kinds of games.
You wouldn't understand.
You know what?
Officer Long at our station is really good at them.
I'll let him teach you sometime.
Okay.
Hello?
I'll be right there.
Have Ye start the meeting first.
Got it.
Okay. See you soon.
Hurry. Run.
Where are you off to?
What's wrong with you?
How dare you hit me!
Get out!
You!
You actually hit me?
Darn you!
How dare you hit me!
You hit me!
How dare you!
This is a video from Liu Min's phone.
It was sent to her by an unregistered number.
Likely filmed outside Room 601 at the Rose Garden Hotel.
The person filming is probably the one we're looking for.
Who are you?
Why... why did you hit me?
Why did you hit me?
Back in 2008.
Baijia Village, Qili Town, Renshan County.
What?
What 2008?
I don't know.
I don't know anything.
A newborn baby was kidnapped.
It was your doing.
You... you're mistaken.
You're mistaken.
I didn't do that.
Qili Town... Qili Town.
That's my home. My home.
Home... home.
This video came from Liu Jianyuan's phone.
Like the previous one,
it was sent from the same number.
By accessing Liu Jianyuan's phone,
we found his ticket purchase records.
He came to the city lately with Liu Min, who was impersonating Mai Qianqian.
They likely conducted a transaction.
Clues have been sent to colleagues handling anti-human trafficking.
The murder weapon used to kill Liu Min, the ashtray,
and the vase at Liu Jianyuan's murder scene
both had fingerprints matching those on the outdoor drainpipe.
The technical department is working on enhancing the video quality.
They're matching it against the anti-trafficking database.
Nothing has been found yet.
About the Baijia Village mentioned in the video,
we also inquired of the local police.
They said
since around 2008, no child abductions or missing children cases have occurred.
No related reports filed either.
A teenager did these?
Are kids these days crazy?
Could there be someone else behind it?
Cases using teenagers as a front aren't uncommon.
(Yunxi Police Department)
Hello?
Chief Xu?
I'm downstairs. The meeting?
No one notified me.
Okay.
I'll be there on time. Don't worry.
Alright, stop playing.
How's it going?
Captain Leng, perfect timing.
I rechecked the food containers from Rose Garden Hotel.
I found
that kid's fingerprints on them.
He was peeping, attacking, and recording a video
and still found time to eat.
He's something.
Does Ye Qian know?
Told them.
Son.
Come in.
His mom's got some things these few days.
She asked me to watch him for a couple of days.
Say hello.
Hello, everyone.
What greeting is that?
Address them properly.
Uncle Jiao.
Grandpa Jiao.
Okay, that's enough.
He can just stay with us.
You go do your thing.
Got a meeting in the city.
Okay.
Watch him for me.
Okay.
Less gaming.
More reading.
You hear me?
Okay.
Need to look into this more.
We're here.
- Hello. - Hello.
Thank you.
Hello.
This way.
Okay.
I've said this many times already.
Nothing like that happened.
We've never had any missing children here.
Have some water.
Seems like you came for nothing.
Please, think carefully again.
No need to think anymore.
It's such a small place.
Do you think I wouldn't know about every household?
Please look at these two people. Have you seen them?
Haven't seen them.
What about him?
Don't know him.
Cooperating with police investigations is every citizen's duty.
You're the village Party secretary and a member.
I shouldn't need to say more.
Hey, who are you trying to scare, young man?
Who am I trying to scare?
This case involves a fugitive with a warrant.
If you maintain this uncooperative attitude,
then we have reason to suspect you're harboring a suspect.
Well... that kid really did something wrong?
Here.
It's not that I deliberately wanted to hide it from you.
About this matter,
how do I put it... it's a family shame.
Everyone in the village is related. It doesn't sound good.
(I saw him alone,)
(and he didn't look well.)
So I went over to ask.
When I went up and took a look,
that kid was definitely a Bai.
His eyes and brows looked exactly like Bai Youfu's.
What's the deal with this family?
The household head is Bai Shengguo.
Youfu is their youngest son.
He has an older brother and sister.
They've all moved out.
The youngest son stayed to care for the ancestral home.
So I took the kid home to stay the night.
I wanted to find out what was really going on.
The kid said his name
was Ning Haiyang.
Yeah, Ning Haiyang.
He was snatched by traffickers soon after he was born.
A couple from the neighboring province adopted him soon after.
His adoptive dad died in an accident early on.
His adoptive mom soon died of illness too.
His adoptive relatives
didn't treat him like family.
He wasn't biologically related.
So they pretty much ignored him.
So the kid decided to go find his birth parents.
You know what?
Somehow,
he actually found them.
His father is Bai Youfu.
Why didn't the Bai family report the child missing?
Missing? No child went missing.
That kid wasn't missing at all.
He wasn't missing?
Bai Youfu was working away from home,
met a girl and started dating her.
They got carried away, and she ended up pregnant.
Now with a baby on the way, marriage was the next step, right?
The girl demanded a betrothal gift.
Youfu's brother had just gotten married.
They'd thrown a feast
and built a new house.
The debts hadn't been paid off.
They had no money for Youfu's betrothal gift.
Well, you know what?
Youfu found a way himself.
He gave the baby up for adoption
and used the money from that adoption for the betrothal gift.
So according to you,
the kid was sold by Bai Youfu himself?
It wasn't selling.
It was giving him away.
That's a nice way to put it.
Parents selling their own child is still illegal.
After Bai Youfu 'gave the child away',
didn't his wife have any objections?
From what I heard,
they both planned it
together.
Life was already tough enough for Youfu and his wife.
They didn't have the energy or money to care for a baby.
Did Ning Haiyang know?
Probably not.
How could they tell their own child something like that?
The Bai family was struggling financially.
Bai Shengguo had to manage what little land was left,
take care of his elderly mother,
and help raise his grandchildren.
He lacked both the money and energy for a kid appearing unexpectedly.
The eldest Bai son avoided his brother's troubles.
And Bai Youfu himself was under a lot of pressure.
He and his current wife had a baby last year.
He did marry that girl he got pregnant,
but they divorced within a couple of years.
His then remarried his current wife.
When was the last time Ning Haiyang came back to the village?
About half a year ago.
Yeah.
I even let him stay at my place for a night.
I figured I'd find some time to take him over
to the Bai family to ask some questions and talk it out.
But the Bai family wouldn't even open their door.
I couldn't do much.
I couldn't exactly force them out.
The poor kid felt hopeless.
So he just took off.
Ning Haiyang is still a minor.
And you just let him leave?
Well, he came here on his own.
That boy is tall,
very mature for his age.
He looks practically like an adult.
And he knows how to fight.
Oh yeah,
there are dents on the tree in my yard
from him practicing.
I figured he'd be fine.
Kids roughhousing a bit shouldn't be a problem.
He's probably gone back to his adoptive relatives by now.
Do you know where Bai Youfu and his ex-wife are now?
I'm not sure about his ex-wife.
But Bai Youfu and his current wife got a big rig, doing long-haul trucking.
He just left a few days ago.
Kid,
it's time to eat.
What'd you like?
I will buy it for you.
No need.
I'll just order takeout myself.
KFC.
What would you like?
My treat.
You're pretty loaded, huh?
Quite well-off.
Not rich, just getting by.
What have you been up to?
Let me see.
Look. Sudoku.
Impressive.
No wonder your parents don't nag you.
As long as my grades don't slip.
My dad can't understand it.
Perfect, I have this too.
I remember there's an online versus mode.
Let's have a match.
Okay.
Long, really?
Why are you competing with a kid?
With your gaming skills,
aren't you just bullying him?
It's fine.
But if we're playing games during your work hours,
won't my dad get mad?
No, it's lunch break.
Go online.
Okay.
- Next to three. - Long, over here.
Left, left.
- Three. - Right, right.
Stop talking.
You're way too slow.
- Nice. - One row left.
Check it.
Here, here.
And this cell.
- Right. - The cell on the right. Yes.
Look.
I won.
Not bad, Xiaoyu.
You beat Long.
Shut up, okay?
One more round.
Best of five. I'm done.
Aren't you embarrassed?
Alright, break it up.
Break it up.
Can't handle losing?
Win some, lose some. It's normal.
Uncle Long, you're not a sore loser, are you?
You're a lot like your dad.
I don't want to be like him.
Why not?
Your dad is amazing.
He's the best cop in our city and our province.
I don't know whether he's a great cop or not.
Anyway, he's not a good dad.
Xiaoyu,
your dad cares about you a lot.
You've misunderstood him.
Auntie Ziwu,
I know you have feelings for my dad.
If my dad agrees, I have no objections.
But I advise you to think carefully.
'Think carefully'? 'Think carefully'?
Is that something a kid like you should say?
Don't eat takeout.
I bought you a meal.
Have some.
Okay, thank you.
Spoon.
- Captain Leng. - Captain Leng.
Okay, got it.
- Captain Leng. - Master.
We got in touch with Bai Youfu.
He's on the Qinghai-Xizang route.
He said Ning Haiyang came looking for him again later.
Also, Bai Youfu admitted
he previously sold the kid through Liu Min and Liu Jianyuan.
He wanted to get rid of Ning Haiyang's pestering.
So he told Ning Haiyang about this.
But he didn't tell the truth.
Instead, he told Ning Haiyang those two kidnapped him.
So Ning Haiyang's motive was revenge?
Possibly.
Also, Bai Youfu said
Ning Haiyang's biological mother is in Yunxi.
Maybe Ning Haiyang will go find her.
You two, look into Xiao Lan's whereabouts.
Go.
Yes.
Young people nowadays are so impulsive.
He's really only 18?
You just graduated.
Don't be like that.
You sound like my dad.
(Dan Qing)
Sorry.
The number you dialed is busy.
Please try again later.
So many shops.
Xiao Lan's stall is in the small commodities area.
But at this hour, might it be closed?
Let's take a look first.
(Dan Qing, is everything going well? When is the delivery?)
These storefronts all look the same.
Pay attention to her unit number, D1023.
D1023.
Okay.
(Guangchang Mall)
D1023. This is it.
Are you Xiao Lan?
I am. Who are you?
We're from the Yunxi CID.
Here are our IDs.
Don't be nervous.
Ning Haiyang.
Don't panic.
Ning Haiyang ran east along the riverbank!
After him!
- Stop! - Stop!
What happened?
You, go that way.
Stop!
♪Replacing the weight of tears with that of sweat♪
♪Covering the gunshot's sound with wounds♪
♪No one is born unyielding and strong♪
♪But because someone always rushes ahead♪
♪To shield us from the storm♪
♪When every extraordinary act becomes routine♪
♪Just to polish the badge upon their shoulder♪
♪Like light surging unseen through the night♪
♪Converging into your form♪
♪Looking up♪
♪Such dazzling glory♪
♪Like hope♪
♪Reaching out its arms♪
♪Cloaked in light♪
♪Alone, they charge ahead♪
♪Traversing♪
♪The battlefield of fate♪