The light on the other side of the single-layer coated glass was a ghastly white, illuminating the figures of six people; while this side of the glass was shrouded in darkness.
Trying hard to recall her earliest mories of Mr. Q, Shi Nian seed to be stranded on a solitary island amidst the dark tides. The murky waters surged around her, lapping at her feet, gradually soaking the hem of her pants...
Shi Nian kept her eyes firmly on the six people and took a deep breath, raising her hand.
She turned her gaze towards Huangfu Huazhang.
Huangfu Huazhang placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you. No one dares to harm you."
Shi Nian nodded, gently closed her eyes, and her hand pointed towards soone on the other side of the glass: "It’s No. 3."
Old Qiao was delighted upon hearing this and instructed for all six individuals to be taken away before escorting Shi Nian and Huangfu Huazhang back to the eting room.
It was as if Shi Nian had experienced a nightmare again; her complexion was sowhat pale after returning to the eting room, with a slight sheen of sweat on her nose.
In such a state, she looked softly at Old Qiao, asking in a sorrowful tone, "Did I point out the right person? I was terrified that day and couldn’t see the person’s face because of the mask, so I’m not sure if I misidentified them."
"What if I really got it wrong just now? Wouldn’t a good person then be wrongly accused, and the real culprit escape justice?"
Old Qiao pondered slightly.
"We are still in the midst of the investigation, so I can’t disclose that person’s true identity to you yet. But I can tell you this: at the mont of greatest fear, all self-preservation instincts are actually activated. It’s like turning back into that beast of the jungle, with the spine raised in constant self-defense."
Shi Nian gave a weak smile, her face still pale: "Your taphor is so vivid, I think I understand."
"That’s good."
Although Old Qiao was sowhat annoyed earlier by Shi Nian and Huangfu Huazhang, he was an old policeman, the kind with a bit of a temper but a strong sense of right and wrong. Seeing Shi Nian’s pale and pitiful face, he could only offer comfort.
"Go ho and don’t think about anything anymore. Leave the rest to us at the police. Rest assured that when that bastard is in my hands, I’ll never let him have a chance to escape."
Old Qiao sent them to the corridor, then eagerly returned to continue the interrogation.
The corridor was silent and empty; only through the large glass doors could one see the busy figures of the officers in various offices.
Shi Nian paused, looking up into Huangfu Huazhang’s eyes: "Sir, do you think the person I identified earlier is George? He’s your brother, and you’re naturally more familiar with his body language than I am; I’m really afraid of having mistaken him."
Huangfu Huazhang reached out and held her little hand, his long fingertips probing into her small palm, discovering the cold sweat within.
He then sighed softly, enveloping her small hand in his palm: "Trust yourself, you wouldn’t have identified the wrong person."
Shi Nian rejoiced: "It really is George?! God, that’s great."
He also smiled warmly at her.
Hand in hand, the two looked at each other, a scene originally full of warmth, yet soone erged to ruin the mood, and both felt a chill sweeping through the corridor, inescapable.
Both turned their heads simultaneously, looking towards the other end of the corridor.
A tall figure stood silently and soundlessly there.
The jet-black, well-fitted police uniform, the shimring silver police badge, and epaulet accentuated the inherently tall and powerful figure to perfection. The man with broad shoulders, a trim waist, and long legs leaned languidly against the corridor wall with his arms crossed. A pair of eyes, clear like a spring, brimd with coldness and ridicule, cutting unreservedly across their faces ti and again.
Huangfu Huazhang frowned slightly, while Shi Nian panicked and cried out in alarm: "Mr. Tang! You, you’re back?"
He shrugged and chuckled lightly, "Seeing , is it like seeing a ghost?"
As he spoke, he uncrossed his arms and strode towards them. Without even glancing at Huangfu Huazhang, his spring-like eyes remained fixed on Shi Nian’s face.
Standing in front of her, his height of 188 cm made him tower easily above her.
He pointed a finger at Shi Nian’s chest.
"... But the ghost isn’t ; it’s the greed in your heart. Shi Nian, search your heart, haven’t I been good enough to you? Haven’t I been earnest enough? Ever since I t you, haven’t I been gentle and devoted enough?"
"Dare you say otherwise?"
Shi Nian stood frozen, eyes fixed on him, unable to speak due to the choking lump in her throat.
Huangfu Huazhang couldn’t stand it any longer and stepped forward to forcefully open Tang Yanqing’s arm.
"Yanqing, what are you doing?! If you want to bla soone, bla . No matter how you want to take revenge on , I’m here waiting for you. But don’t try to make her suffer!"
Tang Yanqing’s arm was pushed aside, but he still didn’t even glance at Huangfu Huazhang.
His gaze was deeply focused only on her, staring at her... His eyes shifted from hostility to a trace of sorrow.
He blinked hard, as if attempting to blink away his own fragility and sadness, struggling to muster his aggression and malevolence again.
"...You dare not say no because you know well how I’ve treated you!"
He said, adjusting his mood, slowly raising his chin with arrogance, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"Shi Nian, just based on your status, a divorced woman, one who can hardly be considered stunning, one—a seemingly gentle but actually stubborn to death woman! Why did I, Tang Yanqing, choose you?"
"Shi Nian, you tell with all honesty, weigh yourself. What is so good about you? How dare you provoke and then think you can leave to be with another man, huh?!"
.
As Tang Yanqing caused a scene, colleagues at the police station began to stand up and look over.
Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang hurriedly intervened, shutting all the doors leading to the corridor tightly.
Tang Yan Yi silently ca out, standing beside Tang Yanking, staring disdainfully at Shi Nian and Huangfu Huazhang.
Shi Nian felt even more embarrassed, clutching her hands tightly in vain, bowing her head low.
"Mr. Tang, you’re right about everything. You’re too good, and I’m not worthy. So I’ve always been clear; we haven’t officially started dating, so neither of us should take it seriously. We are not officially a couple, so there’s no binding force between us, so let’s not act out like this, alright?"
As he said, she indeed felt herself appearing weak on the surface, but once stubborn, no one could stop her.
She seed passive, unable to lift her head before him, but she slowly raised her gaze and stared him down, suddenly whispering, "Especially at your workplace, the police station! Mr. Tang, you’re the Tang family’s young master; you have family background to rely on. You’re not afraid of losing your job because of today’s events. But I’m different! I have no background, no support. I don’t want to accompany you in disgrace here at the police station! Please stop, don’t show that ridiculous expression or say those absurd words!"
"What did you say?" Tang Yanqing seed unable to believe his ears, deliberately digging his ears, bending down to look her in the eyes: "Say it again."
Shi Nian suddenly lifted her head, eting his gaze at the sa level.
"Alright then, Mr. Tang, listen carefully: I, Shi Nian, am a free person now. I will be with whoever I like. I have no promises to you, nor any legal obligations. I never asked you, Mr. Tang, to be good to ; everything you’ve done was what you wanted to do, your business, nothing to do with !"
"I originally didn’t want to break it off like this, but you’ve made such a scene at the police station; Mr. Tang, you’re giving no face." There were tears welling in her eyes; she turned her head, deeply drawing a breath, "...because the police station holds special aning for . I don’t want to lose my temper here; I don’t want to argue here."
She closed her eyes, and tears slid down the corner of her eyes.
"I feel like my dad is right here, watching from above. So I’m willing to assist the police, to do everything I can to the best of my ability. I simply don’t want to be like this with you in the police station!"
"So, Mr. Tang, let this be the end between us. You cannot understand ; I am not soone you should treat gently... We were never suitable, more of an accident coming together. But luckily, we still have ti to call it off, so let’s stop here."
"From now on, you take your path, and I take mine. You remain Mr. Tang, but you’re no longer anything to ."
After Shi Nian finished speaking, she bowed her head deeply and reached out to grasp Huangfu Huazhang’s wrist, softly saying, "Sir, take away."
Huangfu Huazhang then clutched her hand in return, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and held her protectively.
With a cold gaze fixed on Tang Yanqing, "You heard everything she said. Mr. Tang, as a law enforcent officer, you should understand the importance of respecting citizens’ basic rights. I hope you won’t disturb her again."
"If I hear you haven’t heeded my advice, I will file a complaint against you with the police departnt or directly seek a court injunction."
The two equally tall n locked gazes above Shi Nian’s head. Their stares were as cold as ice, yet beneath that thick layer of ice, black flas burned fiercely.
Huangfu Huazhang’s gaze swept across the officers in the surrounding offices, leading Shi Nian by Tang Yanqing, "...The law is indifferent to sentints, even if we are relatives. In dealing with her, I will not go easy."
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