Chapter 145

Eleven years ago, on that afternoon, outside the school restroom, Ji Meiyun stared at the two lines on the test paper, trembling with anger. Her heart was pounding, wanting to do something.

“Sister, sister… don’t go…” Thirteen-year-old Ji Meiyu firmly held Ji Meiyun’s hand, tears streaming down her face, fear in her eyes. She was truly afraid that Ji Meiyun would do something impulsive.

“I’m not going. Do you expect Mom and Dad to stand up for you? Are you just going to let this go?” Ji Meiyun was annoyed and shook off her sister’s hand.

Compared to her sister, she was slightly taller and had a more volatile temper, like a firecracker ready to explode.

Sometimes, Ji Meiyun really doubted whether this sister was born of the same parents as her.

She was bold, cunning, and adept at navigating social circles. Whether at school or at home, she was like a thorny rose, everyone loved her but also feared her.

Even when performing on stage together with similar faces, Ji Meiyun’s voice was louder and more eye-catching.

But her sister, like a delicate pear blossom, spoke much softer, always with a timid expression, afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing.

Her sister cried more than she laughed, like a ball of water. If it weren’t for Ji Meiyun, she couldn’t handle things on her own. Even so, she seemed weak and easy to bully. Many boys who dared not pursue Ji Meiyun would harass her instead.

That day, when she learned about it, Ji Meiyun was trembling with anger. She encountered Wang Haobin rushing out the door and immediately gave him a heavy kick. The murderer didn’t dare to make a sound and ran away.

But no matter how hard she kicked, it couldn’t compare to the injuries her sister suffered, especially after she found out her sister was pregnant.

“Why didn’t Zhang Dongmei dare to go find Wang Haobin, but instead came to cry to us? Don’t you understand? Whether it’s Zhang Dongmei or Wang Haobin or those other boys, the stronger you are, the weaker they become,” Ji Meiyun argued with Ji Meiyu. There were plenty of bad people in the world, but those bad people all bullied the weak.

“Sister… don’t go…” Ji Meiyu cried, repeating the same words. Seeing her sister’s tearful appearance, Ji Meiyun’s heart softened again. Her sister looked so much like her, it was like seeing another version of herself in the world.

Her sister was worried about her, afraid of affecting her. Ji Meiyun calmed down and wiped away her sister’s tears with a tissue. Now that such a thing had happened, her sister should be the most hurt and in pain.

She comforted her, saying, “I won’t go alone. I’ll find some boys I get along with well and go with them. At least let these two pay some price…”

Ji Meiyu shook her head, crying, “I don’t want more people to know about this… It’s already like this, let it go. I want… I want to resolve it, then end it, forget it.” As she spoke, she hugged Ji Meiyun.

Her sister’s hands wrapped around Ji Meiyun’s waist, the warmth of a young girl’s embrace. They could hear each other’s heartbeat. “Sister, I know you’re doing this for my own good. Don’t go, I’ll get up, I’ll be strong, I’ll find my happiness…”

At that time, Ji Meiyu probably didn’t know that such an experience would change her life.

Eleven years later, in the temporary interrogation room of the Lotus Moon Tower in Nancheng, Ji Meiyun was lost in thought for a moment. This time, there was no sister to hold her back, because her sister was already dead.

Song Wen looked at Ji Meiyun in front of him, and her expression had already told them that Lusi’s previous reasoning was correct.

At this point, with crucial physical evidence in the hands of the police, Ji Meiyun’s denial was futile…

Tonight’s video, the witnesses present, all could testify that this scarf had once been around her neck, stained with Zhang Dongmei’s blood.

Song Wen looked at the suspect in front of him again and asked the crucial question: “What happened to your sister?”

It was only then that Ji Meiyun seemed to wake up. She reached out to run her fingers through her hair and sighed with a bitter smile: “My sister, she committed suicide by taking medicine three days ago. The so-called cause of death due to illness was just something her prospective in-laws arranged with the hospital to make it sound better…”

Song Wen continued, “Was your sister’s death related to Zhang Dongmei’s extortion?”

Ji Meiyun sighed and lowered her head, her whole demeanor resembling a wilting rose: “Just a few days ago, my sister suddenly committed suicide by taking medicine. At that time, I rushed back home in a hurry after learning about it. I saw my sister’s suicide note.”

“In her suicide note, my sister mentioned some things. She mustered up the courage to confess her past to her fiancé, hoping that those things wouldn’t become a barrier between them. But that man flew into a rage and wanted to call off the wedding they had planned. The reason my sister broke down was because she suddenly realized that the man didn’t truly love her; he only saw her as a beautiful trophy to show off. Now that he discovered this trophy might have some flaws, he couldn’t wait to distance himself from her…”

For Ji Meiyun, the outcome for her sister was something she had anticipated long ago. She believed that the marriage wouldn’t last, considering her sister’s weak personality, which wasn’t suited for that social circle.

Since setting the wedding date, while other brides-to-be were happy, her sister had been growing increasingly emaciated.

Even if this incident hadn’t happened, there were still other latent dangers between them. Ji Meiyun had advised her sister, but her sister was somewhat stubborn.

Ji Meiyun now recalled that her sister’s reaction at that time might have shown signs of depression…

She didn’t know if, without the events of that year, if the lie had continued, whether her sister would have found happiness…

It had come to this.

Ji Meiyun’s voice became somewhat hoarse: “I once asked my sister why she wanted to marry that man. She said she truly loved him. My sister was a naive girl; she actually… didn’t want to marry into a wealthy family. She was just… deceived by that man’s sweet words. Girls like us, if we were to marry into such families, would need prenuptial agreements, property proofs. We wouldn’t be able to gain any advantages as others said or thought; she probably, at that time, truly had her head clouded by love.”

When the glass castle shattered, Ji Meiyun finally realized that she wasn’t Cinderella wearing glass slippers. Upon awakening from her dream, she gave up on herself and chose suicide to end her life.

In the funeral parlor, facing her sister’s body, Ji Meiyun sat quietly beside it and, in the end, cursed her: “Silly girl!”

She couldn’t understand why her sister, who was so fragile, would act so decisively this time? Suddenly revealing that thing to her fiancé, suddenly worsening her depression, deciding to commit suicide—everything was too abrupt.

She vaguely felt that perhaps something had happened in the past, things her sister hadn’t said, things she didn’t know.

“I know my sister’s usual password, and all the chat records on her phone were deleted before her death.” Ji Meiyun said with a bitter smile, “Maybe she didn’t want anyone to see those things, wanted to quietly leave this world, or maybe she didn’t want me to do anything for her… but at that time, I was too angry. I wanted to find out what my sister had experienced during that time and didn’t want her to die with unanswered questions.”

“I could only see her last contacts, which included Zhang Dongmei. Then, I checked my sister’s remittance records and found that she had sent money to Zhang Dongmei twice. At this point, I received an invitation from Tan Shan and was added to their group. They were discussing how to deal with Zhang Dongmei in the group.”

She pursed her red lips: “It was then that I probably guessed the course of events. My sister was also being blackmailed by that woman. She didn’t want to be blackmailed anymore, so she found her husband and wanted to confess everything. That was the catalyst for the tragedy. But I’m still not entirely sure. I wanted to personally ask Zhang Dongmei during the gathering.”

“At that time, I decided to come here and find out everything. During dinner, I asked Zhang Dongmei about the extortion, and she tearfully admitted her mistake and apologized.”

“Earlier this evening, during the recording, I kept reflecting on why I was here… I wondered if the punishment for Zhang Dongmei was enough. After all, although my sister’s death was related to her and she couldn’t escape responsibility, there were also other reasons. I thought my sister wouldn’t want her own sister to become a murderer for the sake of revenge…” Ji Meiyun raised her head, and finally, a tear slid down from her eye: “But tonight, when I came back to get my things and was about to leave, I heard… Zhang Dongmei loudly cursing her students on the rooftop… She said her students were all bastards, ungrateful wolves… She said the world was unfair to her… It was then I realized that no matter how we had treated her before, she had no remorse for what she had done. Her apologies were fake; she didn’t understand the cruel consequences of her actions… Whether it was in the past or now…”

She paused, then continued, “Then why did my deceased sister end up like that?”

Ji Meiyun’s eyes grew misty: “I initially wanted to go over and argue with her, to tell her about my sister’s death. But as soon as Zhang Dongmei saw me, she went crazy and started pulling my hair. In my drunken state, I pushed her off the building. The rest, you probably already know. I…” Her voice trembled, but her gaze became resolute, “admit my crime.”

As Ji Meiyun uttered these words, her eyes glistened, and more tears flowed. Now, she could finally have a good cry.

“And Zhao Yuliang? Did he help you kill Zhang Dongmei?” Song Wen asked again.

Ji Meiyun hesitated for a moment, then cried and shook her head: “No, I did everything alone. I didn’t see him.”

Thirteen years ago in September, Ji Meiyun held her sister’s hand as they entered the lush junior high school campus. Her sister, with her twin ponytails, found everything fascinating. She quickly found her classroom and waved to her: “Sister, I’m going now. That woman is our homeroom teacher. She seems very strict… But I’ll study hard…”

“Oh, if anyone dares to bully you at school, you must tell me,” said Ji Meiyun, who felt like an adult now that she was in eighth grade.

Over a decade later, things had changed, and people had moved on.

By the Mingyue Tower by the Lianjiang River, night had deepened, and the streetlights had come on, dispelling the darkness.

It was past ten at night, and the street blockade had been lifted.

The grand celebration was over, and the crowds of hundreds of thousands had dispersed, each returning to their homes with cherished memories.

Perhaps years, or even decades later, they would still remember witnessing such a grand event.

But few would recall that on this night, a teacher was killed by her student’s sister, falling to her death at the Lotus Moon Tower.

Zhang Ziqi escorted the handcuffed Ji Meiyun to the police car.

Ji Meiyun lowered her head, still wearing her red dress, looking like a delicate rose in the night lights. Just before getting into the police car, she glanced back at the bloodstain at the entrance of Mingyue Tower. She pressed her red lips together before resolutely entering the car.

The coroner’s vehicle also arrived to transport Zhang Dongmei’s body to the funeral home for a final autopsy.

Song Wen stood on the steps at the entrance of Mingyue Tower, silently watching. For some reason, he didn’t feel much hatred for the suspect, nor much sympathy for the deceased. He only felt a sense of lament, perhaps because Zhang Dongmei had done too many wrong things.

The street felt a bit desolate, with scattered paper scraps and trash on the ground. Sanitation workers were quietly cleaning up.

Cheng Mo led the students out, reminding them, “You need to come to the city bureau tomorrow to give a statement and sign your names. Then you can go.”

He turned to Tan Shan: “Teacher Tan, don’t take what happened to heart. We were all just trying to solve the case…”

Tan Shan said nothing, neither defending herself nor expressing gratitude. She tightened her collar, looking forlorn, and turned to leave, as if she were the one who had fallen, as if she had already died once, leaving behind a mere shell of a person.

Cheng Mo watched her walk a few steps before suddenly chasing after her: “Teacher Tan, I know you’re a good teacher… I have a car nearby. Let me drive you home. Let me explain…”

Zhao Yuliang’s eyes remained on the police car transporting the prisoners, watching Ji Meiyun board and leave, then he walked in that direction.

Meng Tiantian pulled up her mask and called her agent: “Hey, I’m fine now. Yes, I’ve come out… Where are you guys? What? Drinking to celebrate? That’s not necessary… I’m so tired now, I just want to go home and sleep… I have an appointment tomorrow morning.”

Under the neon lights, at a bustling street corner in the southern city, several people came from different directions and now headed off in different directions.

The next class reunion, who knows when it will be, but for now, the shadow that had loomed over them had dissipated.

Song Wen, hands in his pockets, looked at Lu Siyu beside him. Following Lu Siyu’s gaze, he saw Qian Jiang standing a few steps away.

The young man standing by the roadside appeared even taller, with a slightly roguish smile on his lips, as if tonight’s case had nothing to do with him.

Curiously, Song Wen asked, “Why haven’t you left?”

Qian Jiang replied, “I’m waiting for a car to pick me up.” The road blockade had been lifted, so cars could now come through.

Song Wen asked again, “Although it might not be relevant to the case, I’m still curious. What was the matter that Zhang Dongmei was blackmailing you about, which you didn’t mention before?”

The other students had revealed their weaknesses that Zhang Dongmei had exploited. What about him?

Qian Jiang, a bit guarded, touched his nose and his eyes flickered: “This isn’t an interrogation, is it?”

Song Wen speculated, “I looked into some of your class records and found that a classmate named Wang Haobin had his legs broken by some masked outsiders during the third year of junior high. The police never found the culprits, and the case was left unresolved. That classmate became permanently disabled and had to drop out. But I also found out that your family compensated Wang Haobin’s family with some money.”

Such actions were akin to a private settlement. Perhaps Wang Haobin had some evidence, or Zhang Dongmei knew something.

Qian Jiang hesitated, then looked at Song Wen: “I was still a minor back then…”

With that statement, he effectively admitted it.

“I just wanted to verify my deduction. I’m not planning to reopen the case,” Song Wen said.

“I liked a classmate back then and was constantly bullied by him. This scumbag threatened people everywhere, acting extremely arrogant. At that age, after watching too many superhero movies, you start wishing for Batman or Iron Man to come help solve your problems…” Qian Jiang’s smile faded as he looked at the dark city, “Later, I realized that having money is good. With money, you can do some things. I don’t believe the law should be trampled on, but I’ve heard a saying: ‘Beasts shouldn’t be protected by human rights and laws.'”

Song Wen looked at him, finding it hard to judge this young man. From one angle, what he did seemed right, but from another, it was wrong. The case back then wasn’t his to solve, and there were hardly any clues left. He didn’t want to dig into those past events.

Qian Jiang sighed: “Honestly, when it comes to junior high and high school, adults seem to have a fixed impression that those are carefree times filled with pure first loves and kids tirelessly running around the playground. But what I remember is never getting enough sleep, despising and feeling powerless against the teachers, and endless exams like a battlefield. Not to mention the persistent bullying and discrimination… Compared to my teenage years, I think I prefer adult life, even without the summer and winter breaks… I wonder if it was just our school that was like that, or if they all are.”

Song Wen replied, “A few might be happy, but most, I think, are the same.”

People’s memories tend to beautify things, so many adults might think their school days were wonderful.

Of course, that period definitely had its memorable moments: good teachers, good friends, the excitement of sports meets, and the emotion of leaving school.

But the main theme was still the heavy coursework, the endless exams, the layers upon layers of test papers, suffocating people.

If you also encountered one or two less-than-ideal teachers like Zhang Dongmei or classmates like Wang Haobin, it wouldn’t be a fond memory at all.

Qian Jiang then quietly asked, “By the way, the one you just took away, she wasn’t in our class, right? Maybe she’s a sister of one of our classmates?”

So he had noticed too.

Song Wen asked him, “Did Zhao Yuliang like Ji Meiyu or Ji Meiyun?”

Qian Jiang thought for a moment and said, “During a game of truth or dare, he told Ji Meiyun, ‘I liked you in junior high, you often wore a red hairclip.’ At that time, I thought Ji Meiyu never wore a red hairclip. When I was locked in the room, I figured it out. Despite the similarities, the sisters still had some differences.”

Song Wen hesitated, then decided to tell him, “Ji Meiyu has passed away. She committed suicide before her wedding…”

Qian Jiang was silent for a moment, processing the news. His eyes reddened slightly, and he said, “In my heart, Ji Meiyun is a hero for what she did tonight.”

Feeling it might not be appropriate to say this in front of the police, Qian Jiang added, “I can’t help it, I’m just a morally corrupt person with no principles. I’ll see if I can help her get a good lawyer or something.”

Song Wen didn’t mind his words and asked, “Who was it that you liked back then?”

“Aren’t you police officers supposed to be great at solving cases? Take a guess,” Qian Jiang said, waving his hand. “My car is here, see you later, officer.”

Song Wen said, “Your phone password matches the birthday of someone present tonight. I think it must be that person.”

Qian Jiang waved again without turning back, his voice carried by the night wind.

“It’s all in the past.”

beauty

With his doubts resolved, Song Wen turned to Lu Siyu and said, “Let’s go home.”

Lu Siyu, seeming a bit tired, nodded gently.

It was autumn, and though the crowd earlier and the smell of fireworks had masked it, now the scent of osmanthus flowers was discernible in the air.

The two walked quietly along the street at night.

Every investigation, the process of uncovering the truth bit by bit, is like opening layer after layer of wrapped boxes. Before opening, one doesn’t know what is inside—perhaps love, perhaps hate, perhaps malice, or perhaps regret.

Everyone was once an innocent, kind child, like a blank sheet of paper. It’s hard to pinpoint which day or event caused one to grow, to understand more, to put away childish innocence, and to wave goodbye to the past self.

There are some people we remember vividly; that’s the feeling of love, the stirrings of the heart.

And there are some people we also remember clearly, likely because of hate. They are the obstacles on the path of growth. Once overcome, they make you stronger, but looking back, they still evoke disgust.

This world is vast, filled with pain, disease, death, sorrow, and confusion—that’s the reality of life.

Fortunately, for all the evil in the world, there is an equal amount of warmth to counterbalance it.

TN:

I’m glad to hear about what happened to Wang Haobin. Zero empathy for that psychopath. And I really feel sorry for Ji Meiyu. Just when she was leaving her shadows behind this f*cked up mental case excuse of a teacher destroyed her again. I’m with Qian Jiang on this one, Ji Meiyun is a hero. I guess I’m also morally corrupt like that. That’s the end of this case! See you in the next one~

PS. You can join discord to get notified when I make updates since I have no schedule.