As soon as they were detained, she would come to dig them out that very night! No delays!
The group arrived at the Public Security Bureau. Old Woman Chu tried to seize the initiative and shouted, "Comrade Officer, you must not listen to this vixen’s nonsense! It’s clear she tried to seduce my son—her own brother-in-law—and when that didn't work, she..."
"Shut your mouth! You are a woman, too! A widow yourself! Don't you know the consequences of saying things like that about her? 'Vixen' this, 'vixen' that—the older you get, the more vicious your heart becomes!"
"The officer hasn't even spoken yet, so what are you opening your mouth for? Don't go spouting baseless accusations! Do you know what defamation is? The police could lock you up right now for that!"
Director Mei scolded her with great authority, pointing a finger so close it nearly poked into her throat. Old Woman Chu quickly covered her mouth and stepped back, not daring to spout any more nonsense.
"Enough. Let's interrogate them separately."
"This is the Public Security Bureau; acting like a shrew is useless here."
Liu Jun gave a subtle warning, then signaled for Quan Ruifeng to go and question Xia Xian, while he handled the mother and son himself. Quan Ruifeng was from Beijing, and Liu Jun doubted he knew how to deal with such ruffians; he wouldn't have let him take this case if the station weren't so short-handed today.
"Understood."
Quan Ruifeng nodded coldly and led Xia Xian and Director Mei to another interrogation room. Xia Xian remained silent, a panicked and cowering expression on her face. She looked truly pitiful, clinging tightly to Director Mei’s hand. Her acting was incredibly immersive.
Quan Ruifeng glanced at Xia Xian, who was practically glued to Director Mei, and decided to skip questioning her, turning instead to the Director.
"What is the story behind her marriage to Eldest Master Chu?"
"Oh, I know about that. Eldest Master Chu fell ill, though I don't know the specifics. The Chu family kept it very quiet. I only knew he went to the hospital every day. I saw him two days before the wedding; his face was unnaturally pale, and he could barely walk. Second Young Master Chu had to carry him back. I could tell then that he wasn't doing well, and I even asked if they needed any help."
"They refused, so I didn't bother sticking my neck out. Two days later, I saw them bringing the bride home. That was when I realized the engagement hadn't been called off. I thought Eldest Master Chu had recovered, but this poor girl had no idea he was sick. She was just tricked into marrying into this mess. He passed away only a few days later."
"Everyone felt for her. Such a fine young woman, suddenly a widow. I’ve been worried about her ever since. I’ve come to check on her twice, and I know she wants to leave. I figured the Chu family wouldn't agree and that it would take some effort, but I never expected them to be this shameless—actually trying to force her to marry Second Young Master Chu! It’s a complete humiliation!"
Director Mei spoke with righteous indignation. They hadn't clashed before, so she hadn't had a proper excuse to intervene, but today, she had finally found her opening.
Quan Ruifeng had gotten the background he needed from Director Mei. He tapped his slender fingers on the table, seemingly deep in thought, and gave a brief nod of acknowledgment.
He then turned his attention to Xia Xian. "Director Mei, please step out for a moment. I have something to discuss with her privately."
"Oh?" Xia Xian looked blank, and Director Mei appeared surprised.
"Director..." Xia Xian looked at her with fearful dependency. Director Mei patted her hand to comfort her. "Don't be afraid. The officer isn't a bad person; he won't make things difficult for you. Just tell him the truth."
"Okay." Xia Xian nodded weakly. After Director Mei left, she gripped her fingers nervously, pressed her lips together, and lowered her eyes, waiting for the questions.
This time, her unease wasn't an act. Under Quan Ruifeng’s gaze, she felt immense psychological pressure. This man was so sharp—would he realize she was pretending? But then again, she wasn't lying; that mother and son really did try to assault her!
With that thought, Xia Xian felt more justified. She lifted her eyes, her red lips parted, and she prepared to speak, but he interrupted her with a topic unrelated to the day’s events.
"Are you interested in doing me a favor?" Quan Ruifeng asked point-blank, his expression serious and his gaze piercing.
"Huh? Me? Do you a favor?" Xia Xian was stunned, subconsciously frowning. She couldn't imagine what she could possibly do for him, especially since they had only just met. Even for a police officer, this was incredibly intrusive.
"To be precise, it’s to help those who have been victimized, and the many who might be harmed in the future."
"Because you haven't agreed, I can't tell you the specifics. I chose you because your appearance and temperament are suitable, and because... you can act and think on your feet."
"This favor would put you in danger. I can't force you, but I hope you consider it seriously. Setting aside my profession, if you are willing to help, I can privately resolve two problems for you: the Chu mother and son, and money."
"If you want to move and live somewhere else, that’s no problem. If you stay here, the gossip will likely follow you for the rest of your life."
Quan Ruifeng leaned in slightly, his thin lips moving as he spoke to her word for word, his eyes as dark as ink. Under that gaze, Xia Xian felt she had nowhere to hide; it was as if she had been stripped bare. Her heart skipped a beat, and she blinked rapidly to steady her ragged breathing.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I’m not an actress, I’m not smart enough, and I don't think I can help you. I just want to leave the Chu family, go back home, and live a peaceful life."
Xia Xian politely declined. She had no intention of getting tangled up in some major case; she still had a heart full of unresolved vengeance.
"You tore your own clothes, didn't you? You lack the strength, so the tears aren't big enough, and the direction is wrong. You might fool others, but you can't fool me."
"You are very smart. You knew you couldn't get away from the Chu mother and son on your own, so you escalated the situation. You chose to play the victim, letting the righteous Director Mei fight your battles for you, using public opinion to condemn them."
"Saying you aren't smart enough—that was just modesty."
Quan Ruifeng looked at Xia Xian’s torn sleeve, pointing out exactly how she had manipulated the situation to put the Chu family at a disadvantage.
Listening to him, Xia Xian felt her face tighten and her body stiffen. She bit her lip, remaining silent for a long time. She had lived an entire extra lifetime compared to this man, yet he had seen through her so easily. It seemed that even with a lifetime of experience, one’s basic intellect didn't change all that much.
She suddenly began to doubt: could she really finish off Chu Sheng and his mother? Even if she succeeded in going home, what if the two of them just acted like hoodlums and came to cause trouble every day? What would she do then? Would she be stuck in a never-ending cycle? What about her parents? Would they be affected?
She couldn't actually commit murder. Her life had already been ruined by these two, and she was determined to make this lifetime a good one! Plus, she knew the college entrance exams would resume soon and that the economy would open up. She wanted the gold bars as capital to go into business, and she wanted to see if she could get into university. If she hadn't been pregnant with Chu Nannan in her previous life, she would have tried. She had spent a long time studying to make up for those regrets.
Perhaps leaving would be a good choice.
"I need to think about it."
Xia Xian finally relented.
"That's fine. Whenever you make up your mind, you can come find me."