DF Chapter 35

Chapter 35 “That is our shared trophy.”

Chapter 35 “That is our shared trophy.”

What exactly is going on?

This was the first question Liu Qing asked after bringing Sheng Jia, Song Ji’an, and the others back to the police station.

Perhaps the story should begin a week ago.

The threat Wang Jian’s Brother posed to Sheng Jia was not a bluff.

Starting the next day, the two of them began to follow Sheng Jia, loitering around the gates of Jingjiang No. 1 High School, tailing her every day.

However, because Song Ji’an, Xu Lijing, Su Zhaolin, Zhang Jing, and Zhao Yijia would randomly appear to accompany Sheng Jia after school, they never found an opportunity to strike.

Song Ji’an and Xu Lijing had discovered this a week ago. To this end, Song Ji’an specifically went to the principal to obtain the authority to access the surveillance footage and confirmed her and Xu Lijing’s suspicions.

However, they were afraid of scaring Sheng Jia, so they had been concealing it.

“So today, you didn’t walk with Sheng Jia on purpose?” Liu Qing asked, her gaze sharp, as she listened to Song Ji’an’s explanation.

At this moment, Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia were sitting together in her office, being scrutinized by her.

One of the two young women was calm and collected, and the other was expressionless, neither of them too intimidated by Liu Qing’s sharp words.

“It’s not that,” Song Ji’an shook her head. “Legally, there isn’t a significant punishment for someone following you. Reporting it to the police is also not very useful; at most, they’ll give the person a warning because he hasn’t done anything. Officer Liu, am I right?”

Liu Qing nodded, “You’re right.”

“We can’t keep following Sheng Jia all the time. We also have our own things to do.” Song Ji’an said, “Today, Xu Lijing had to go to tutoring, and I had to go home to take a cooperation call from my mother’s assistant. I’ve been doing small business since I was young, and I have to set aside time every week to handle these things.”

Liu Qing: “Then what made you return to school and gather there?”

“But halfway there, I felt uneasy and called Sheng Jia, but couldn’t get through. So I simply called Xu Lijing to explain my worries. It just so happened that she was still looking for a teacher to answer her questions, so she quickly left school to find me. Today, Jingjiang No. 1 High School and Sanzhong had a basketball league game. Song Yi and the others were pulled over by us after just finishing the league game.” Song Ji’an showed Liu Qing her phone’s call history. There were indeed two missed calls from Sheng Jia at 6:10 PM today.

“Because the other party is an adult male, if it were just Xu Lijing and me, we might not be able to save Sheng Jia in danger. So it was a good thing that Song Yi and them were willing to accompany us.”

“And when we arrived, Sheng Jia had already been dragged into the alley in front of us.” At this point, Song Ji’an leaned back, as if she breathed a sigh of relief. “Actually, we were all terrified. Xu Lijing immediately wanted to rush up to save her, but it was a narrow alley, and too many people would have been bad, and it would have been easy to cause a stampede. Officer Liu, you also said that the best thing to do next time you encounter this kind of thing is not to risk yourself, so we decided that some people would stay put, and the other part would go around to the other exit to see if they could wait for Sheng Jia to escape.”

“Fortunately, Sheng Jia escaped, so we were able to help her.”

In a few words, Song Ji’an explained the source of everyone and the cause and effect of the matter clearly. Wang Jian’s Brother had already been taken for a medical examination. Xu Lijing and Song Yi were measured people, and they had fought quite a few times at school. Except for a few broken ribs, there would be absolutely no problems. This could completely be regarded as legitimate defense to save someone.

Liu Qing glanced at the two of them, her gaze fixed on Sheng Jia, who had not spoken much, “Sheng Jia, did you notice you were being followed?”

Sheng Jia then raised her head, her face showing obvious fatigue, and the bloodshot eyes spread from the pupils, making them particularly frightening.

“A week ago, they came to my house to threaten me, splashed paint, made a big show of it, and demanded that my mother return the house under her name to them.” Sheng Jia took a deep breath, “My mother wasn’t home, so they threatened me, and they threatened me in public.”

“My mother took her annual leave during this time and went on a trip.” Sheng Jia continued, “She has worked too hard these past few years, and she has finally saved some money. She has never left Jingjiang in her life, and they have made trouble several times recently, making her exhausted. So she decided to go out and play for half a month. When I was threatened, I didn’t know they would really do this. I was afraid my mom would worry, so I didn’t tell her.”

“But the psychological pressure was too great for one person. After I scrubbed off the red paint, I lived in a state of anxiety every day. I couldn’t sleep, and I didn’t want to talk much, living a monotonous life. How could I have noticed they were really following me? Besides, I am the victim. Why are you interrogating me? Whether I knew or didn’t know, what good way could I have to avoid his stalking threat?”

Sheng Jia’s appearance was indeed terrible, but her questioning made Liu Qing breathe a sigh of relief.

“This is not an interrogation, just a conversation. My professional habits make my tone rather sharp. If it makes you feel nervous, perhaps I can apologize.”

Liu Qing is in charge of criminal cases. She came to take over this case today because she happened to be free and the bureau lacked police resources. Originally, she thought it was just a simple gang fight, but who knew this matter would escalate to murder.

In fact, the evidence provided by Song Ji’an and the others was very strong. From the long-term stalking to the video of Sheng Jia being nearly strangled when she was alone, she couldn’t find any mistakes, but it was too complete, so out of a sense of responsibility, she had to clarify the details.

Before inviting Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia into the room, she had already taken statements from the other female students, and Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia’s words matched their statements.

She didn’t ask Sheng Jia why she didn’t call the police when she was threatened.

Because saying it would also make her feel helpless. Facing such disputes, especially those involving family or relatives, the police mostly focused on mediation. Even if the police detained the other party in accordance with the regulations, the victim would often issue a letter of understanding because they could not accept the pleas or pressure from the other party’s family.

This is not the victim’s problem. The human touch between people in a society of personal connections always produces huge repercussions when they are hurt, forcing them to retreat in order to maintain a normal life.

Sheng Jia and her mother have been threatened repeatedly because the other party bullied them as orphans and widows. A long time ago, they may have called the police, but the other party came out after being detained for a few days, and their attitude was even more arrogant, while they had to suffer the resentment of their relatives because of this, even though they themselves were victims.

This is what Liu Qing discovered when reviewing past files.

With this premise, she didn’t expect Sheng Jia to call the police the first time she was threatened again. Obviously, past experiences gave Sheng Jia plenty of reason not to believe that the police could completely resolve this matter.

Even if Sheng Jia called the police the moment she was threatened this time, she might just be retracing the same old path.

But she is stronger than everyone else, and she also has a group of sharp and equally clever classmates.

In fact, there are still some small loopholes in Song Ji’an and the others’ words.

Sheng Jia’s part-time route is a full three kilometers long. How did they accurately find the place where Sheng Jia was attacked by Wang Jian’s Brother?

In Song Ji’an’s narration, they happened to see Sheng Jia being attacked when they arrived, but the time they gathered was so short that dozens of people precisely gathered at the entrance of the alley in less than ten minutes.

But Liu Qing didn’t plan to continue asking.

It’s meaningless.

She is facing a group of passionate high school students who are sticking to their bottom line. They are using their own methods to help their classmates. Regardless of whether they have their own small thoughts or whether Wang Jian’s Brother’s attempted murder came from a gap they deliberately left, his criminal facts are already a established reality.

Liu Qing never intended to get to the bottom of it. In fact, besides helping Sheng Jia defend herself and intercepting surveillance evidence, they didn’t do anything else.

She invited the two to the office instead of the interrogation room just out of curiosity, curious about the wisdom and courage of a group of high school students.

Liu Qing’s gaze softened, “Drink some water, you can go home after Wang Jian’s Brother’s injury report comes out.”

“Huh?” Song Ji’an smiled when she heard this, “You believe that we didn’t beat him into serious injury?”

Liu Qing also relaxed at this moment. There was actually a ball of fatigue gathered between her eyebrows and eyes, probably caused by staying up late to handle cases, but she was in a rare relaxed state when facing the two.

Speaking of which, after the last time, they can be considered old acquaintances with Liu Qing.

“I’ve been a criminal police officer for many years, and I can tell how badly someone is injured just by looking at them.” Liu Qing said, “The kick you gave was not even a minor injury, and it was out of self-defense, so what could happen?”

In private, she revealed a bit of her original personality, waving her hand casually, “Alright, you two can rest assured, nothing will happen this time. Your troubles are probably going to disappear too.”

Wang Jian’s Brother will definitely go to jail this time.

Sheng Jia thanked her. She glanced at the clock in the office and suddenly asked, “Actually, I have another confusion.”

Liu Qing: “What?”

“Why would he want to kill me?” Sheng Jia said, “A week ago, they were just threatening my mother and me from time to time. What made them want to get this house so badly in just one week, even so anxious to attack me?”

Liu Qing smiled this time, a smug smile, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes were wrinkled together, as if she had been prepared for her question for a long time, and she admired it very much.

“When you were taking notes, we checked his bank statements. In just one week, he was 720,000 in debt due to gambling.” Liu Qing said with a smile, “Speaking of which, I have to thank you for the performance you sent. I just followed the clues to find the black casino he went to, and finally got the evidence at hand.”

Sheng Jia took the bank statement. In just one night, Wang Jian’s Brother gambled away all his wealth, which was staggering.

While they were talking, there was a knock on the door. Wang Jian’s Brother’s injury report was out. Not only Sheng Jia and Song Ji’an, but also Xu Lijing and the others who stayed downstairs could leave.

When the two said goodbye to Liu Qing and walked out of the Public Security Bureau, only Xu Lijing and Su Zhaolin were waiting outside.

This time, they owed Song Yi and the others a big favor. Xu Lijing had already made an appointment to treat them next week.

Seeing the two come out safely, Su Zhaolin was also relieved. Her sister had rushed over as soon as she received the call from the police station and was waiting to take her home.

Su Zhaolin said goodbye to the three and left.

Xu Lijing glanced at Sheng Jia and asked, “Want to go to the beach for a drink? To celebrate today.”

“I can,” Song Ji’an replied in support.

Sheng Jia raised her bloodshot eyes and actually nodded, “Okay.”

The three of them did what they said they would do, took a taxi and drove to Xu Lijing’s secret base.

The beach was quiet. The three turned on their lights and hung out the ambient lights that Xu Lijing had hidden.

“Sheng Jia!” Xu Lijing, who had been holding it in all the way, finally said what she had wanted to say for a long time: “You’re not kind! You don’t treat us as friends at all! You had such a big thing happen, if Song Ji’an and I hadn’t been smart enough to help you notice it early, something would have happened to you! Tell me what’s going on today.”

Sheng Jia was silent for a long time. This time, Song Ji’an rarely came out to smooth things over. She just quietly watched her under the small night light.

“Thank you,” Sheng Jia said softly.

She rarely said something soft. The scars on her neck were so obvious that even the most thick-skinned Xu Lijing felt that she was like a porcelain doll that was about to shatter at any time, and her heart softened.

Originally, she and Song Ji’an had said that after the matter was over, they would come to Sheng Jia’s head to show off their power.

Xu Lijing pursed her lips and explained, “We were very worried about you. Why don’t you try to tell us about this kind of thing next time? Song Ji’an stayed up several nights to contact Song Yi and the others to come and help you without leaving any traces. In order to obtain surveillance authority, we went to the principal’s office seven or eight times before we got Principal Lu’s permission.”

“I’m telling you, tonight I have to get you drunk and make you remember.”

Sheng Jia actually laughed.

She took the lead in opening a bottle of wine and clinked glasses with Xu Lijing, “Okay, however you want to drink, I’ll accompany you today.”

“Are you in a better mood now?” Xu Lijing teased.

“You helped me solve a serious problem, and I’m indeed in a good mood.”

These were Sheng Jia’s heartfelt words.

She rarely showed her emotions, but when she walked out of the police station today, she was really happy.

“Okay, okay, it’s rare to catch this kind of opportunity. Song Ji’an, we have to make her embarrass herself today.”

No one mentioned unhappy things anymore. Neither Xu Lijing nor Song Ji’an felt that Sheng Jia would not have a shadow over what happened today. This was also the last thing they wanted to do after discussing it—to comfort Sheng Jia’s emotions and accompany Sheng Jia, whether she needed them or not, they would do it.

They didn’t need Sheng Jia to remember any favors. They just needed Sheng Jia to be happy.

Sheng Jia understood, so she put the favors in her heart and followed their wishes.

Bottles of cocktails were poured on the beach one after another. The first to fall was Xu Lijing, who was the most rowdy.

She lay down on the fine sand, probably dreaming that she was a turtle that had been turned over, and kept waving her hands and feet. After she got tired, she simply fell asleep.

When Sheng Jia and Song Ji’an faced each other, they were much quieter.

No one spoke. They stood side by side in the place closest to the sea, letting the cold night wind blow. The wine that had just been poured into their stomachs seemed to have little use except to make their faces blush.

But in fact, there was—alcohol always makes people impulsive.

Song Ji’an thought silently in her heart.

“Sheng Jia, you did it on purpose, right?”

Song Ji’an said suddenly.

Sheng Jia didn’t turn her head. Her hair was dancing wildly in the sea breeze. She drank the last can of beer in her hand, and only the easy-pull can was crushed in her palm.

“What are you talking about?” she asked slowly.

Song Ji’an didn’t turn her head either. She just stared at a seagull that suddenly broke into her view not far away—a seagull that didn’t know whether it was lonely or enjoying itself.

“I said, you had already discovered that your uncles were following you, and you even knew that they were gambling, and you also knew that we had been following you. You were waiting for them to attack, and you were also waiting for us to attack.”

She said it so surely, with no doubt in her tone.

After her words fell, there was a long silence in the air.

“Yes, but didn’t you know all along?”

Sheng Jia turned her head and looked at Song Ji’an steadily, her eyes dark, spreading everything out, “You knew all along that I was using you, and you were also fueling the flames when my two uncles fell into the trap, weren’t you?”

Song Ji’an looked at her, not knowing why, her heart was pounding.

For this tacit cooperation she and Sheng Jia had completed.

Even this cooperation didn’t have a single word.

Her thoughts returned to the night a week ago when she and Xu Lijing discovered Sheng Jia’s secret.

She squatted between the hollow wall bricks, remotely watching Sheng Jia standing by the bloody red door wall, and Xu Lijing’s low complaints in her ear.

That was the first time she had seen Sheng Jia from this angle, so small, it seemed that she could use her finger joints to compare her height.

She thought she was hiding very secretly, but in a corner that Xu Lijing couldn’t see, Sheng Jia turned her head.

She couldn’t see her expression, but she could feel her gaze.

Extremely calm.

For a moment, Song Ji’an suddenly came back to her senses.

Would Sheng Jia, such a strong person, really be depressed because of the noise of a few uncles?

Would Sheng Jia, such a person who never suffers losses, really let a few uncles bully her like this and remain silent?

How could Sheng Jia’s mother leave so well?

If that was the case, then she wouldn’t be the Sheng Jia that Song Ji’an wanted to befriend.

Song Ji’an suddenly had some tremors for her guess.

What did Sheng Jia want to do?

What was she saying in that glance she cast over?

When Xu Lijing urged her again to ask her what to do, Song Ji’an subconsciously looked at Sheng Jia again.

Sheng Jia’s eyes did not move away.

This time she felt that her guess should be true.

She also suddenly knew what Sheng Jia was going to do.

It was an invitation for cooperation. She was inviting Song Ji’an to jointly complete a play that only the two of them knew.

She was inviting Song Ji’an to become her accomplice.

After two months, Sheng Jia once again showed the madness in her bones with coldness.

She never acted rashly. As long as she acted, it would definitely be a fatal blow.

Regardless of whether Song Ji’an received her signal or not, she had already prepared for the worst.

But how could Song Ji’an give up such an exciting invitation?

Over the past week, Song Ji’an had been busy before and after, doing her best, and she was also waiting for the result that Sheng Jia wanted.

In the police station, she and Sheng Jia had the same confusion. How could people take such a dangerous path unless they were at the end of their rope?

The bank statement explained everything.

It was also at that time that Song Ji’an belatedly realized that Sheng Jia’s question was not only to testify to her ignorance, but also to answer her questions.

This was a game that succeeded without a word of communication, relying only on tacit understanding and trust.

Song Ji’an licked her lips. She felt as if something had been released from the bottom of her heart. It was all the yearning for adventure and excitement.

In the dark night, she made clear the secret that the two knew, and Sheng Jia did not avoid it in any way.

“That is our shared trophy.”

Sheng Jia shook her phone. It showed a message sent to her by Liu Qing, asking her to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to propose the compensation she wanted.

There was still no expression on her face, but she took a step forward and took the initiative to hug Song Ji’an.

She whispered in her ear, “Song Ji’an, I’m free.”

“Thank you.”

Still the same hoarse voice that had not recovered.

The beating of the chest seemed to be contagious, from one person to another. Song Ji’an looked blankly at the seagulls soaring in the distance and suddenly realized how fast her heart was beating at this moment.

She rested her chin on Sheng Jia’s neck, blinked her eyes lightly, and raised her hand to hug her back.

This time she did not answer.

She just leaned against Sheng Jia’s shoulder in a daze, and it took a long time before she realized what she was thinking at this moment.

—She seemed to like Sheng Jia a little more.

The throbbing in her heart made her unable to deceive herself any longer that her desire to confide in Sheng Jia was out of a pursuit of perfect friendship.

For a moment, she couldn’t say anything.