Chapter 21.1

Ruan Mingfu’s expression was dark, and Gu Yilin’s brows furrowed.

The previously relaxed atmosphere in the room became tense.

The female police officer was not intimidated by Ruan Mingfu. Her expression remained unchanged. “Comrade Ruan, we just want to understand the situation. I hope you can cooperate.”

Seeing Ruan Mingfu remain silent, the female officer continued, “Comrade Ruan, do you know Zhou Peng?”

“I do.”

“Have you ever been engaged to Zhou Peng??”

Ruan Mingfu’s frown deepened.

“I’m an educated youth, and he’s from the village. We’ve met a few times but aren’t familiar.”

The female officer took notes in her notebook.

“Comrade Ruan, according to our investigation, it appears that you and Zhou Peng weren’t just unfamiliar, you were already discussing marriage, correct?” The police officer’s gaze was sharp. “I hope you’ll tell the truth and not lie.”

Gu Yilin: “…”

How dare you talk to my fake bestie like that?

Did she think she was intimidating her?

Ruan Mingfu was not intimidated by the police officer’s piercing gaze. She looked back at her directly.

The female police officer was subtly directing every word toward Zhou Peng, guiding the conversation to clear him of any blame.

What came was not the police, but clearly someone from Zhou Dahu’s side.

Others might have been intimidated into silence by their imposing demeanor, but who was Ruan Mingfu?

“What does Comrade Police Officer think I should say?” Ruan Mingfu asked with a light laugh. “How should I respond so as not to lie? Or would you prefer to write it down, and I’ll read it out loud?”

Gu Yilin’s eyes lit up. “Exactly, Comrade Police Officer, have you considered that?”

The three police officers’ expressions changed.

The female officer’s face fell as she abruptly stood up, glaring at Ruan Mingfu. “You are insulting us!”

Ruan Mingfu’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

She had thought they were someone of consequence, but with such trivial skills, they dared to confront her.

“Comrade Police Officer, don’t be angry,” Ruan Mingfu said, relaxing her demeanor. “Please, sit down. I must have misunderstood. I was just wondering why Comrade Police Officer would speak this way about the people.”

Gu Yilin chimed in, “Oh, you overthink things!”

The female officer’s eyes seemed ready to shoot fire, but she had to hold back her anger, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she expressed her frustration.

“Comrade Police Officer, please ask your questions,” Ruan Mingfu said, sitting up straight with a compliant posture. “I will cooperate fully.”

The female officer: “…”

You’d be better off not cooperating.

The two men behind her also looked displeased.

The three police officers hadn’t closed the door since entering. With two men inside and Ruan Mingfu and Gu Yilin being women, the door was lined with curious onlookers.

As for the middle-aged lady in the purple top, Ruan Mingfu had seen her pass by three times.

The female officer took a deep breath. “Comrade Ruan, please answer our question: have you ever discussed marriage with Comrade Zhou?”

“No.”

Ruan Mingfu didn’t even think before directly denying it.

It was so funny. This bastard kept talking to himself. She never agreed to marry him. Even though the original owner had a soft personality, she never nodded once.

The female officer seemed to have found something to latch onto. “But according to our investigation, you and Comrade Zhou did indeed discuss marriage.”

“Comrade Ruan, please don’t lie!”

Her voice rose an octave, and her expression became stern.

Naturally, the people outside heard this too.

They were even more curious, pressing their ears to the door, wishing they could set up a chair to watch the drama unfold.

“Which investigation? Who conducted it, and where are the witnesses?” Ruan Mingfu wasn’t flustered. “Comrade Police Officer, please provide the evidence.”

The female officer’s face changed. “You!”

Gu Yilin, sitting nearby, opened a can and began feeding Ruan Mingfu with a spoon.

Though Ruan Mingfu wasn’t fond of canned goods, she hadn’t had fresh fruit since she arrived. She felt her once supple skin was drying out. When Gu Yilin fed her, she didn’t refuse.

She even gave Gu Yilin an appreciative glance.

Her so-called best friend had a knack for understanding her unspoken needs!

The female officer watching this scene said, “…Please, be serious.”

Ruan Mingfu straightened up, her expression becoming solemn.

“Comrade Police Officer, I had no relations with Comrade Zhou before, but we do now.”

The female officer’s eyes brightened, thinking Ruan Mingfu was about to reveal the truth, and watched her expectantly.

Ruan Mingfu pointed to the injury on her neck. “He choked me like this, trying to kill me. Someone who wants to kill me is certainly an enemy.”

“What?!”

The sudden scream startled everyone.

Gu Yilin’s spoon fell to the ground, but she paid it no mind. “”You got choked? I thought you fell.”

Ruan Mingfu: “….”

Her clueless fake best friend!

Can a normal fall cause neck injuries?

Actually, you can’t blame her.

Gu Yilin had been excited all night after getting her aunt’s approval and came to the village as soon as the sun was up, only to find out Ruan Mingfu was in the hospital.

She hadn’t had time to ask many questions and came straight over.

“Choking someone’s neck, that’s murder, right?” Gu Yilin said, narrowing her eyes and glaring at the female officer. “Why aren’t you arresting the one named Zhou? What’s the meaning of harassing us instead? Are you…. covering for him?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the murmurs outside vanished.

The female officer was sweating coldly, repeatedly waving her hands. “There’s no such thing… we just came to understand the situation.”

The two male officers behind her were visibly flustered.

In this era, such statements could be fatal!

Gu Yilin continued, “Look at her… in such a tragic state. What are you waiting for if not to arrest that Zhou person?”

Ruan Mingfu’s skin was fair and her neck slender and elegant, but now, the ghastly marks marred her beauty. Coupled with her voice, it looked tragic.

The onlookers outside gave the police officers disdainful looks.

The female officer was on edge, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead.

“I… we didn’t mean it like that,” the female officer said, recalling the task assigned by the director when she first came out, feeling both regretful and apologetic. “Comrade Ruan, don’t take it to heart. It was a mistake in our questioning approach.”

The female officer, though appearing young and naive, was much more capable than her clueless friend and decided to admit defeat and retreat gracefully.

Ruan Mingfu responded, “I understand. Comrade Police Officer, you’re just trying to catch the bad guys as soon as possible. I appreciate that.”

Whether true or not, at that moment, the female officer breathed a sigh of relief.

She mustered her courage, picked up her notebook, and continued asking, “… What happened at that time…”

After being cornered by Ruan Mingfu and Gu Yilin, the female officer’s questions became much more reasonable.

Ruan Mingfu answered all the questions without causing any more trouble.

Finally, the female officer closed her notebook, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said politely, “Thank you for your cooperation, Comrade Ruan.”

Ruan Mingfu showed a perfect smile, displaying all eight teeth. “You’re welcome.”

The female officer’s expression stiffened.

She slowly exhaled. “… We’ll be leaving now.”

With that, she turned and left. The three of them seemed to be fleeing from a ghost, and Ruan Mingfu’s polite farewell was left hanging in her throat…

Gu Yilin, seeing them leave, said with a complex expression, “I thought this injury was caused by your fiancé.”

It turned out to be someone else.

Hiss…what a miserable life this fake bestie of hers has been leading.

“How could he possibly have harmed me?”

Thinking about Xie Yanzhao’s aggrieved look from last night, Ruan Mingfu almost laughed.

Besides, with Xie Yanzhao’s huge build, a single hit from him would likely be fatal.

“What about that guy named Zhou?”

As soon as Gu Yilin asked, Ruan Mingfu’s expression darkened.

The onlookers outside, who hadn’t dispersed yet, also perked up their ears.

Ruan Mingfu had sharp eyes and saw the clothes of several people. She cleared her throat and her bright face turned pale in an instant. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and she looked a little sad.

She fell silent.

The onlookers, halfway through their curiosity, fell quiet.

This is serious business!

A warm-hearted aunt spoke up, “Girl, if you’re in trouble, just tell us. We’ll support you.”

“Exactly!”

The woman in the purple top’s eyes lit up, and she quickly stepped forward.

With someone taking the lead, others chimed in.

“Right!”

“Such a good girl injured like this… How much hatred could there be?”

“Exactly…”

Gu Yilin was about to stand up and shoo them away, but Ruan Mingfu grabbed her hand and quickly said, “Thank you, aunties. You’re so kind.”

She was only putting on an act.

If the people were chased away, how would she continue her performance?

My fake best friend is indeed stupid.