Deputy Shen’s legs went weak at his words and his palms started sweating.

  “Dire- Director Jiang?”


  The Chief shook his head and called Officer Li out for a detailed inquiry.

  Grandma Xu noticed that something was wrong. She squeezed her hands and stared at Deputy Shen with turbid eyes. “Deputy Shen, I didn’t hear clearly just now. Who was the Chief talking about?”


  “Director Jiang, Jiang Hui, the one reported daily by Yun Cheng Evening News. You have really done me harm this time!” Deputy Shen wiped his face and stared at her.

  Then he immediately chased after the Chief.

  He had really kicked the iron plate this time. He had a good relationship with Xu Shen’s father and had thought that this was just a small tension between high school students, so he had come to help out.

  Who knew that even Jiang Hui was involved. Now, he could barely protect himself.

  Ning Qing just called the lawyer.

  She had yet to see Xu Shen’s injury report, so she just talked about it briefly. If she wanted to settle it privately, she would have to compensate an estimated 800,000 yuan.

  This was a small sum of money for the Lin family, but Lin Qi had the details of Ning Qing’s card records.

  Ning Qing walked inside the police station while pressing her temple.

  “Mrs. Ning.” The policewoman came forward politely.

  Her attitude was so good it was a little strange. Ning Qing looked up. “My daughter……”


  “Oh, the Chief is dealing with the matter now.” The policewoman took her pen and lowered her head to write down her notes. “Your daughter has already left the police station. As for Xu Shen, we have already sent people to transfer the Ninghai Town’s files, and we will also bring people there to question him.”


  When the section chief politely sent her out, Ning Qing had not fully figured out what was going on.

  The Chief was dealing with the matter?

  What did this have to do with the Chief?

  She didn’t even know who the Chief was.

  **

  The school’s medical office had incomplete tools, so Cheng Mu drove the car directly to the hospital.

  Cheng Juan had a temporary sterilization box in his car but didn’t have other tools, so he could only help her disinfect it and handled it slightly.

  The lights in the back seat were on.

  It was either because Cheng Mu’s driving was stable or because the car was performing well, but the journey was smooth and without any bumps.

  Cheng Juan lowered his eyes and wrapped the bandages thinly. He swept disinfected water across her two wounds gently.

  Because Qin Ran’s skin was too white, the contrast of bright red was even more obvious.

  His heart ached and tightened at the sight.

  He paused, cleared his throat, and looked up. “You……”


  He saw Qin Ran holding the window in her left hand, leaning lazily on the backrest with her head tilted. She was looking out the window, and the light shone a shadow under her dark eyes.

  Her eyes were narrowed slightly, and when he looked closely, it seemed absentminded and slightly cynical.

  Qin Ran didn’t move her hand. She slightly tilted her head and opened her mouth slowly. “What?”


  Her eyes were clear and her expression was plain as if she didn’t have two wounds on her hand.

  The phrase “If it hurts, tell me” was swallowed back into his throat. Cheng Juan stared into her eyes and couldn’t look away from those eyes filled with a sea of stars.

  They arrived at the hospital soon. In the evening, the doctor was ready to help her with stitches.

  Cheng Juan held a cell phone against the wall and talked with Lu Zhaoying.

  “It’s good to be eighteen,” Cheng Juan said, his eyes falling heavily on the door. He had a lit cigarette between his fingertips and his expression was still lazy, but his words were cool. “All the responsibilities can be taken.”


  The stitches on Qin Ran’s hand were sewn, and the anesthesia time was estimated to be over soon.

  Cheng Juan kept the phone and subconsciously wanted to get rid of the cigarette.

  “Don’t avoid me.” Qin Ran thought for a moment, then tilted her head and leaned against the wall. She looked into his eyes and smiled. “Give me one?”


  Her voice was light.

  Cheng Juan stumped his cigarette without changing his expression and threw it into the trash.

  He also threw away the cigarettes in his pocket.

  Qin Ran didn’t mind. She just shrugged and said, “Thank you for today. You can deduct the expenses from my pay.”


  Cheng Juan looked at her back as she walked in front of him, pressed his temple with his fingers and stood there for a long while.

  **

  Over here.

  Ning Qing returned to the Lin family’s house.

  Lin Qi was sitting in the lobby.

  Lin Jinxuan hung up his phone call and saw that she was back. “Aunt, why are you back? How is Qin Ran?”


  Qin Yu heard the voices and put down her violin. “Aunt, Mother seems to be back. Shall we go down and take a look?”


  She led Lin Wan downstairs.

  Ning Qing was still thinking about the Chief. She had called Qin Ran but she didn’t pick up. Now that she saw Lin Wan, she didn’t know how to speak all of a sudden.

  She pursed her lips and didn’t speak.

  “What’s the matter, making the whole family so restless. Jinxuan and my brother have been looking for people the whole night.” Lin Wan took a sip of tea and glanced at Ning Qing.

  “This matter isn’t so simple.” Lin Jinxuan shook his head. “Deputy Shen intervened. Aunt, is there anyone you know in the Public Security Bureau?”


  Lin Wan put the teacup on the table and said nothing.

  “Aunt, please help my sister. She’s still detained at the police station.” Qin Yu shook Lin Wan’s arm.

  “Detained at the police station?” Lin Wan glanced at Ning Qing until Ning Qing was too embarrassed and looked back. “You are ridiculous. I do know a few people. I can find them tomorrow.”


  Ning Qing was relieved. The Ning family really couldn’t find a few acquaintances, so it was good that Lin Wan offered to help.

  “Jinxuan, do you know their Chief?” Ning Qing asked Lin Jinxuan.

  “Ha—” Lin Wan laughed. “Brother, Jinxuan, I’ll go to bed first.”


  Ning Qing sat on the sofa, on her pins and needles.

  Lin Jinxuan explained, “Our Lin family is only a merchant.”


  After all, the Lin family had a very weak foundation.

  That was why it was strange.

  Ning Qing smiled awkwardly. She didn’t know much about such things, but……

  She frowned…… what had that policewoman meant?

  Could it be that Qin Ran or Pan Mingyue knew him?

  **

  The next day.

  Early in the morning.

  The sound of classroom exercises in the dormitory building kept sounding.

  Qin Ran had already asked for leave, but the noise was still unbearable.

  She got out of bed irritably.

  Her eyes were bloodshot.

  Yesterday, Lu Zhaoying had taken the school uniform coat to the dry cleaners and she had taken a thin black jacket on the way.

  At this moment, it was time for official exercises, but First Middle School rarely had drills, and the lesson period was long, so the students all went out to buy snacks.

  People came and went.

  Qin Ran had her head lowered slightly and was dressed neatly in her school uniform. She half-squinted her apricot eyes and frowned slightly.

  In the past two days, Qiao Sheng hadn’t paid much attention to Qin Yu. Qin Yu had felt it, but she pretended that it was nothing.

  He went downstairs with Xu Yaoguang to buy lollipops, and Qin Yu went with them to discuss a few questions with Xu Yaoguang in a low voice. Most of the people’s eyes were on them along the way.

  Qiao Sheng put one hand in his pocket, and there were a few younger brothers following him.

  “Qin Ran took leave today?” He peeled a lollipop and stuffed it into his mouth, and then tilted his head and asked Xu Yaoguang.

  Xu Yaoguang was today’s discipline leader.

  Xu Yaoguang was cold. He paused, then shook his head. “I don’t know.”


  Qin Yu stood aside and froze. “Don’t you guys know?”


  “What?”


  “About my sister……” Qin Yu pursed her lips, then shook her head and played with her fingers. “She committed a crime, so she’s still in the police station.”