Chapter 13: Leaving the Police Station

4:15 AM, inside the Police Station Chief's Office.

Chief Li, Officer Yan, and Officer Lu huddled before the computer screen, which displayed the summary of the interrogation records just compiled.

Chief Li rubbed his throbbing temples, his gaze sweeping over the key points of the transcript Officer Yan had handed him: "So, the young girl never thought of calling the police from start to finish? Because she was afraid her father would find out about this?"

"Yes, Chief Li," Officer Yan pushed the transcript materials forward a bit, her fingertip pointing at the critical spot.

"More importantly, her brother Xiao Rongyue emphasized over the phone: if it was a hit-and-run, as long as we settle privately and pay the money, he won't have to go to jail. This child was terrified by her brother and truly believed this line of reasoning. She said a few years ago her brother got into a bar fight, and after her father found out, his leg was broken."

Officer Lu looked at the records he had organized and interjected: "Wang Chuan was at least more clear-headed than her. He took her to People's Hospital immediately to verify the 'car accident,' exposing the scam. The problem was the bus was delayed, and her mobile phone ran out of power and shut down, effectively cutting off contact. That gang of scammers couldn't get the money, couldn't reach the person..."

Officer Yan sighed lightly and added: "There's another detail. The young girl's Sony Ericsson Phone used a small SIM card, which simply wouldn't fit into Wang Chuan's Nokia mobile phone. She was very resistant to calling the police at the time, only thinking of quickly finding a way to contact the other party to hand over the thirty thousand yuan and get her brother out of trouble."

"Later, when Wang Chuan suggested waiting until dawn to buy a charging cable and see how things went, she agreed to this proposal and followed them back home."

After she finished speaking, her finger tapped unconsciously on the desktop, feeling helpless at this minor's bold decision.

"She's got some serious guts." Chief Li took a sip of Black Tea and frowned, saying, "Crossing provinces, carrying a huge sum of money, seeking help from a strange college student she's known for only a few hours, and even staying at their house... the logic chain is barely passable, but the risk factor is off the charts. Is the young girl just foolishly bold, or did she really read people accurately?"

Officer Yan recalled Xiao Yuchu mentioning how Wang Chuan had stepped forward at the Iron Dragon Restaurant; the corner of her mouth lifted slightly: "The young girl said Wang Chuan had helped her, and Wang Chuan's appearance also 'didn't look like a bad person.' Although such a judgment is very emotional and one-sided..."

She paused, "However, the facts indeed proved that Wang Chuan and Li Wei, at least in this matter, were not only not bad people but were quite enthusiastic, even somewhat wronged. The young girl's eye for people was... a lucky guess, getting it right once."

Officer Lu nodded, his gaze turning to Officer Li: "Chief Li, was the reporting phone number confirmed to be her brother's mobile number?"

"Confirmed without error, it was indeed Xiao Rongyue's mobile number." Officer Li said affirmatively, his brows tightly furrowed.

"It is currently in the powered-off state."

"The situation can basically be sorted out: the scam gang didn't wait for the 'ransom,' couldn't contact Xiao Yuchu who was responsible for delivering the money, and in a fit of anger, forced Xiao Rongyue, who they controlled, to make this phone call framing Wang Chuan and the others."

"This is venting their anger, and also trying to use our hands to cause trouble for 'those who hinder their profits'."

In the conference room, Li Wei, Wang Chuan, and Xiao Yuchu sat around the large round table.

Sitting at the head of the table was a very young female Police Officer named Du.

Officer Du received Chief Li's call and brought a Sony charging cable from her home.

Xiao Yuchu spoke quietly to Wang Chuan beside her: "Brother Wang, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Officer Li will release us in a moment."

On the far side, Li Wei had been terrified just now, but facing Officer Du, he didn't dare to shout at Xiao Yuchu, so he squinted his eyes and pretended to sleep.

Once they left the Police Station, he decided to really interrogate Wang Chuan; it turned out Xiao Yuchu was this young girl, and Wang Chuan had known that long ago. Yesterday at noon while sleeping, hadn't he been calling out Xiao Yuchu's name?

The two of them had known each other long ago, and even on the bus, they acted in front of him.

Wang Chuan thought the police must have sorted out the whole story and asked: "Officer Du, when can we leave? We took the cross-province bus yesterday at 5 PM in the Afternoon, and haven't slept for even two hours until now."

As soon as the words fell, a creak! The conference room door was pushed open.

Officer Li walked in, took a look, and asked: "Little Du, has the call come in yet?"

Officer Du stood up and pointed to the mobile phone in Xiao Yuchu's hand, "No, we called, and it's still powered off."

"Wang Chuan and Li Wei, you can go now." Officer Li said.

"We can go, right!" Li Wei suddenly stood up, startling Wang Chuan and Xiao Yuchu.

"Didn't you fall asleep?" Wang Chuan touched the handcuff mark on his wrist, "Thank you, Officer Li."

Seeing Wang Chuan's action, Officer Li's voice carried a hint of apology: "Handcuffs weren't actually necessary, but first, it involved a minor, and second, the two of you are tall and strong, which also fits the regulations for using handcuffs."

"Officer Li, can't I go?" Xiao Yuchu asked.

"Xiao Yuchu, I need to criticize you. When encountering fraud, why didn't you call the police immediately? We need your assistance so we can rescue your brother."

Wang Chuan took out his keys and handed them to Xiao Yuchu: "Here are the house keys. When you go, take a taxi to the Grain Bureau Community, Building No. 5, Room 301. The clothes should be dry by then."

"By the way, when you leave, just put the keys under the doormat."

Xiao Yuchu grabbed Wang Chuan's clothes, "Can you wait for me? I don't really want to stay here alone."

Wang Chuan turned back and saw the look in Xiao Yuchu's eyes, full of pleading.

'Decide for myself, no longer have any entanglement with Xiao Yuchu. Since the police have taken over from here, stepping away now is just right.'

So he replied: "That doesn't comply with police investigation regulations. My grandmother is in Hospitalization, and I need to go to the Hospital to see her now. How about this, Li Wei, you wait for her in the lobby outside and go to the community with her."

"Me!?" Li Wei wore a look of dissatisfaction; you two liars, I really don't want to be associated with you.

Upon learning it was Li Wei, Xiao Yuchu changed her words: "Forget it, you guys go ahead."

"Okay."

After saying goodbye to Officer Du and Officer Li, Wang Chuan left the conference room, and Li Wei hurriedly followed.

At the very moment the conference room door closed, Wang Chuan heard Xiao Yuchu's Sony Ericsson Phone ring.

He didn't stop his steps, went directly to the Police Station entrance, and checked the time; it was fifteen minutes short, 5 AM.

Outside, the sky was already bright; on the trees by the roadside, the cicadas began to cry out desperately.

Wang Chuan waved his hand to stop Li Wei's question: "I know what you want to ask. Let's go eat breakfast first, and after I see my grandmother, I'll tell you."

The two took a taxi to Shuinan Street. Wang Chuan asked: "Boss Li, what do you want to eat? Soup noodles, fried noodles, soup dumplings are all available?"

"Must eat something expensive, mutton noodles then. To make up for you deceiving my feelings."

The two sat at a small table by the roadside; two bowls of rice noodles repeatedly scalded in boiling water were served, fifteen yuan a bowl.

On top were slices of mutton, drizzled with chili oil, winter bamboo shoots, shredded cabbage, Sichuan pepper powder, and garlic sprouts, the fragrance filling the air.

The slurping sounds of eating noodles began to rise.

In a short while, Wang Chuan stood up, "I'll go buy fried dough sticks wrapped in sticky rice cakes."

Before he had walked a few steps, someone suddenly rushed out from the alley, colliding full-force with Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan looked down and almost shouted out, 'Xiao Rongyue.'