Chapter 1

Suspect Interrogation Record (1)

Time: 13:30 to 19:05 on August 6, 2025

Location: Xiadu Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Team 3 Interrogation Room

Investigator Name: Zhang Yu

Unit: Xiadu Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Team 3

Interrogator: Zhang Yu

Recorder: Li Chen

Unit: Xiadu Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Team 3

Suspect: Mei Qian

Q: We are investigators from the Xiadu Police Bureau. Today, we are legally questioning you. You must truthfully answer our questions and assist in the investigation. You must not forge, conceal, or destroy evidence, or you will bear legal responsibility. You have the right to state and defend your position regarding relevant matters, the right to refuse to answer questions unrelated to the case, the right to request the recusal of the case handler, investigators, or experts, the right to review the interrogation record, and the right to request corrections or supplements if there are errors or omissions in the record. If your answers involve state secrets, commercial secrets, or personal privacy, the investigative agency will keep them confidential. Have you understood all of this?

A: Yes, I have understood.

Q: We hope you will truthfully confess to your illegal activities. Only by doing so will it be to your benefit in the future. Do you understand? This is the Notice of Rights and Obligations. Please read it carefully and sign it if you understand.

A: I understand.

Q: Please tell us about your situation.

A: My name is Mei Qian. I live in Building B, Unit 1201, Sijihua Garden, Jingcheng. I am 26 years old and work as a freelance writer.

Q: Is there anything else you want to add?

A: No, I have already explained it clearly.

Q: You are quite modest. You are a renowned author whose novels have become popular online and have been adapted into movies and TV series. Why didn't you mention this?

A: It seems irrelevant to the case you mentioned.

Q: Do you know why you were brought to the police station?

A: They said it was due to suspicion of tomb raiding, but I really don't know anything about it!

Q: Please cooperate. If you had no issues, would we have brought you here?

A: I really don't know. I hadn't even arrived home when you arrested me, and you were quite rough. Be careful, I might sue you for brutal law enforcement!

Q: Brutal law enforcement? When we arrested you, you resisted. You are quite skilled. If we hadn't been in numbers, we might not have been able to subdue you.

A: I got out of the car to cooperate with the inspection, but you immediately grabbed me. I just struggled a bit.

Q: Struggled? Almost injured someone?

A: It was a reflex. I cooperated afterward, didn't I?

Q: Humph, not because we drew our guns? Your vigilance is too high.

A: These days, there are all sorts of imposters. I have some assets, so I need to be cautious to avoid kidnapping. I didn't stop because of the guns but because you showed your credentials.

Q: Then please explain how a writer like you has such impressive martial skills.

A: As you know, I usually stay at home writing. Sitting all day is bad for my health, so I practice martial arts from time to time. It's quite reasonable, isn't it?

Q: Don't pretend to be ignorant! Don't think that because you are a public figure, you can act arrogantly here. Giving you the chance to confess is an opportunity for you. Think carefully. We allow you to consider, but there are limits. Don't let your stubbornness lead to future regrets.

A: I can't think of anything. Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what the case is about.

Q: Besides being a writer, do you have any other jobs?

A: No, I just write books and rarely go out. You can investigate this.

Q: Then let's talk about your recent activities. Last week, on July 30, did you go to Nanyun?

A: Yes, I went to participate in a slow-pace variety show as a way to relax.

Q: According to our investigation, the show called "Leisure Village" only lasted one day, and you left after filming. Where did you go afterward?

A: I said I was relaxing. The local scenery is beautiful, so I stayed for a few more days.

Q: Where exactly did you go? Which village? Which town? You should be able to explain this clearly.

A: It's hard to say. I just went wherever the mood took me. If there was a ride, I took it; if not, I walked. I stayed at local residents' homes at night. You should be able to investigate this.

Q: Besides traveling and relaxing, did you do anything else? For example, did you look for a tomb and raid it?

A: (Laughs) Do you think I went tomb raiding? Although I have written tomb-raiding novels, I am just a writer. I wouldn't even recognize an antique if you put one in front of me. If a tomb was raided in Nanyun, it has nothing to do with me.

Q: Answer the questions we ask. Are you sure you were just relaxing?

A: Yes, I am sure.

Q: Good. Please look at these photos. These were found in your home. The items are quite complete: a Luoyang shovel, a short-handled hoe, a miner's lamp, a spade, a curved knife, and even a bottle of black dog blood. Do you have any explanation? Don't tell me you were just farming at home. These are tomb-raiding tools.

A: These were all bought online. I have written tomb-raiding novels, so I couldn't be ignorant of the tools the protagonist uses. I bought these to get a feel for them. They haven't been used, and I'm sure you can tell. As a writer, it's not unreasonable to collect items to enhance the sense of immersion, right?

Q: Not necessarily. Other writers don't play with these things at home. We suspect you are a tomb raider.

A: Do you also suspect people who collect fitness equipment? They could be suspects too, right?

Q: Mei Qian, be serious. Do you know where you are? If you confess honestly, do you understand the current situation?

A: What do I need to confess? Just because of these items? It's not illegal, right?

Q: What about this photo? This was also found in your home. It looks exactly like a Tang Sancai yellow-glazed fox from a Tang dynasty tomb in West Shan. Experts have identified it as genuine, and we suspect it was excavated at the same time. Don't tell me you bought it online.

A: I bought it from a street vendor in Lijia Yuan, Xiadu, when I had some free time.

Q: When? How much did you pay? Which vendor?

A: It was a long time ago, and I don't remember. I thought it was fake and didn't pay much. I have many such items at home, and I just display them as decorations. I never thought they were antiques.

Q: Who would sell such items as fakes? Do you think they are stupid?

A: I am really being wronged. Let me think. It was about a year ago. It wasn't a street vendor but an old lady. She said it was genuine, but I didn't believe her. I paid about 500 yuan. At such a low price, who would think it was genuine, right?

Q: Humph! Let me tell you, we have been investigating this case for over three months. There is now sufficient evidence to show that you are a notorious tomb raider. If you hadn't committed any crimes, would we have brought you here?

A: I am a tomb raider? I don't even know that. You can't accuse me of being a tomb raider just because I wrote tomb-raiding novels. Where is the evidence?

Q: Look at this photo. Do you recognize it?

A: It's a cave? I've never seen it. Is it an animal's den?

Q: Look at this one. Do you recognize it?

A: This, this is a spider? Sorry, I know nothing about biology and can't identify the species.

Q: Why are you stuttering? Fine, since you won't say, I'll ask directly. You have a novel called "Memoirs of a Tomb Raider." Where did you get the inspiration and clues for the ancient tombs in the novel?

A: Novels are made up, of course. You can't accuse me of illegal activities just because they are realistic. By your logic, are all mystery novelists murderers? That doesn't make sense.

Q: The first photo is of a tomb raiding hole in Poyue Gou, Grassland Province. Does it look familiar? Here are photos of the tomb's burial items. Do you want to see if they match your book?

A: What's the point? I research when I write novels. Similar place names don't mean anything. Even if there is a real tomb there, it's just a coincidence. China is so vast; where isn't a burial ground?

Q: Coincidence? Fine, the second photo is from Shan Province, showing a black-faced spider. Do you dare say you don't know it?

A: When I saw the photo, I had some guesses. I thought it was a folk legend and just referenced it. I didn't expect it to be real.

Q: So, you have never seen this spider, and all the information is from research?

A: Yes, I read about it in an ancient book.

Q: Where is the book?

A: I don't remember. It's been a long time, and I might have thrown it away.

Q: Ha, you have no sincerity. How could you throw away something so important?

A: Whether you believe me or not, it is a coincidence. I rarely leave home, and I usually write at home. How could I have time to raid tombs?

Q: Your travel records for the past four years are detailed, but what about four years ago? Where were you?

A: Four years ago, I was in a car accident that caused severe head injuries. I was in the hospital for several months. Although I was lucky not to become a vegetable, I lost my memory. I reported it to the police, but no records have been found. You should have investigated this. My ID was issued by the police station.

Q: You really don't remember? How did you write the novels?

A: I've already said, they are made up. How could an honest person like me commit crimes? If you have evidence of my tomb raiding, just put me on trial!

Q: Mei Qian, your attitude is a problem. Don't resist. Confess your crimes. We suspect you have already recovered your memory, which is why you are so familiar with so many tombs.

A: Go ahead and investigate. If you find I have raided tombs, I have nothing to say.

Q: You have written three tomb-raiding novels: "Bottle Mountain Notes," "Memoirs of a Tomb Raider," and "Tomb Raider Diary," involving over ten tombs. If all of this is confirmed, have you thought about the consequences?

A: If over ten tombs have been raided, it means countless national treasures are being lost. This is a major case. Can you handle it? Can you handle the consequences?

A: I still say, if you have evidence, just sue me.

Q: Forget it. If you insist on finding your own death, I can't help you. We have been investigating you for a long time. Do you know why we arrested you today?

A: No, I don't.

Q: This morning, the Dongshan Provincial Archaeological Bureau discovered a corpse beetle in a live archaeological broadcast, and the tomb's layout and environment match your novel's description exactly. How do you explain this?

A: Really?

Q: The whole internet has seen it. You are now famous nationwide. Do you still think you can escape legal punishment? With so many similarities, one might be a coincidence, but two or three times can't be explained as coincidences.

A: (Silent for a long time) I have a craving for a cigarette. Can I have one?

Q: Sure, my cigarettes aren't as good as yours, but don't be picky. Think about your future. Four years ago, you were 22. We believe you might have been just a participant. Now you have fame and fortune, and you are young. If you confess and provide information about the gang, we can apply for leniency. With a good lawyer, you might be out in seven or eight years. Then you can start fresh, free from psychological burdens, and write your books in peace. Isn't that a good outcome?