Ruan Qingzhi’s slender frame trembled slightly as she shrank helplessly into Shen Zhanwu’s embrace, murmuring in a small, timid voice, “I sent the child to the Daoxi Public Security Bureau for the time being…”  

Lin Ruzhen: “…Impossible…”  

“Lin Ruzhen!”  

Shen Zhanwu’s voice was furious, barely restrained.  

The woman froze instantly, her gaze shifting to the man’s face.  

She saw the cold detachment and rage in his eyes.  

Shen Zhanwu said icily, “My wife does not lie! If you insist on making trouble, go to the Daoxi Public Security Bureau and verify it yourself.”  

Hearing this, Zuo Xincheng perked up immediately.  

He volunteered eagerly, “I’m great at verifying things! Chief, send me!”  

Guan Zhenbang gave a solemn nod.  

Zuo Xincheng saluted. “Yes! Mission guaranteed!”  

Fifteen minutes later, Zuo Xincheng returned with two police officers.  

They approached Guan Zhenbang and said gravely, “Chief Guan, hello! We’re from the Daoxi Public Security Bureau. At 11:10 this morning, we received a report from Comrade Ruan.”  

“This is the case filing receipt. Please take a look, Chief Guan.”  

The officer handed over the document.  

While Guan Zhenbang examined it, the officer continued, “Chief Guan, the main reason we’re here is to thank Comrade Ruan.”  

“She bravely defied threats, rescued the child in time, and provided us with a sketch and key characteristics of the suspect, allowing us to apprehend the perpetrator as quickly as possible. This also led to the rescue of three other children.”  

“This is the fastest child trafficking case we’ve solved in years.”  

“So our bureau chief decided to present Comrade Ruan with an honorary banner, a ten-yuan reward, and a personal letter of gratitude from the chief himself.”  

The officer unfurled the banner. “Comrade Ruan, the banner is a bit rough due to the rush! We hope you’ll accept it.”  

Shen Zhanwu lowered his head to coax her gently. “This is the officers’ sincere gesture. Go ahead and accept it.”  

Ruan Qingzhi, her face flushed, stepped forward. “Thank you.”  

Shen Zhanwu asked with concern, “Comrade, where is the child now?”  

The officer smiled. “After verifying the child’s identity, we handed him over to Political Commissar Chen of the military district.”  

The child had circled back to the commissar’s home.  

With the matter resolved, the four officers left together.  

In the room, the air froze for a moment.  

Until a loud slam shattered the silence.  

Guan Zhenbang slammed the receipt onto the coffee table, his eyes blazing with anger. “Lin Ruzhen! What do you have to say for yourself now?”  

Lin Ruzhen’s gaze was vacant as she staggered back two steps before collapsing onto the edge of the bed.  

How could this have happened?  

How could Ruan Qingzhi go from being a suspected human trafficker to a hero who helped the police solve a case?  

She was just a country bumpkin from the countryside—uneducated, unsophisticated! She should have been coarse, timid, and utterly unremarkable!  

But why?  

Why did she have to be so… so outstanding?  

Difficult medical cases were resolved with a single needle in her hands, while Lin Ruzhen had been paralyzed with fear, still worrying about maintaining her image as a virtuous wife and mother in front of the other wives in the compound.  

Now, the entire military district knew she had lost the child…  

Lin Ruzhen slowly lifted her eyelids, her eyes dull as she muttered, “But what did I do wrong? I didn’t want the child to be stolen either…”