The car key snapped cleanly in Qin Guan's hands.
Under the harsh light, he stared in disbelief.
This wasn't a car key at all.
The broken halves revealed no intricate circuitry—just solid black rubber. Its weight had come entirely from that filler. It was a convincing fake, hollow inside. Only the outer casing, embossed with the Cadillac logo, was genuine. The leather sheath felt expensive, the plastic dial well-crafted. But the core was worthless. This "key" could never start a car.
"So this is your evidence?" Old He picked up the broken pieces, his eyes mocking.
"You claim Qi Min stole Xu Ruyi's car key to scheme against her? And this is what she used?"
"Mr. Qin, did you buy this off Taobao for 9.9 yuan?" A young officer chuckled, weighing the fragments. "Not bad, though. Feels real. If you hadn't yanked it so hard, you might've fooled us."
Qin Guan stood frozen, speechless.
His mind raced. When had this trap been set?
He'd obtained the key on the day Xu Ruyi was injured. After checking Qi Min's phone, he'd rushed to the repair shop to intercept the owner, paying to keep the matter quiet. The owner had said Qi Min ordered two keys: one for Qin's Toyota (already collected) and this Cadillac key for Xu Ruyi.
So why was it fake?
Had Xu Ruyi swapped it?
No. Qin had kept the key in his briefcase, which never left his side. Xu Ruyi had been hospitalized since her accident, under constant watch by Auntie Feng. No opportunity.
Unless…
Qin's blood ran cold. The repair shop owner.
The man had handed him this key knowingly. A professional would've spotted the forgery instantly. Which meant—
He's Qi Min's accomplice.
Like the fake "Zeng Demei," this man had taken Qi Min's money to play his part.
The realization cut through Qin's fatigue. An accomplice! If they caught him, they could expose Qi Min's survival and dismantle the entire frame-up.
As for Qi Min's unfinished plans? She was dead. What threat remained?
Another thought struck him: Qi Min's phone, now likely in Xu Ruyi's possession. Let her dig her own grave with it.
Dawn broke early in summer.
By the time Qin Guan arrived at the repair shop with police, the alley was already bustling.
The owner stood outside, chewing a steamed bun while lecturing a yawning apprentice: "Early bird gets the worm! That's why I drag you out at dawn. Laziness breeds poverty—remember that!"
"You!" Qin slammed the broken key onto the counter. "Explain this!"
He gestured to the officers behind him.
The owner froze, half-chewed bun dropping to the ground. "M-misunderstanding! No need for cops, yeah? Let's talk—"
The officers stepped forward, silencing him.