Chapter 136 - 134: Dying for Love
Ruan Zhixia stared at the familiar diary she held, lost in a daze for a long time.
It was the birthday gift she had given to Tianqi.
"You fool... you silly fool," Ruan Zhixia sobbed quietly, clutching the diary.
’Risking his life for someone like me... it wasn’t worth it at all. He had such a bright future ahead of him. It shouldn’t have ended like this for him.’
When Chen Kai received the news from the police station that Ruan Zhixia wasn’t dead, his mind went completely blank.
’Ruan Zhixia is actually alive? Then Tianqi...’
Chen Kai rushed to the hospital and saw the person inside, who was disfigured beyond recognition. She looked nothing like the gentle, captivating Ruan Zhixia he remembered.
’No wonder Guo Tianqi couldn’t find her. Zhang Qingzhi and those bastards... they’re worse than animals!’
Chen Kai walked in. Ruan Zhixia looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen.
"Chen Kai... Tianqi... H-how did he die?"
"I... I don’t know. He didn’t go to the party that day. After you didn’t come back, he pretended like nothing was wrong, but he rarely left the house.
Later, when Liu Shan and Wang Hua started having... incidents, one after another, I finally realized he had planned it all himself.
Zhixia, he would be so happy to know you’re alive. You just focus on getting better. Don’t let your mind run wild. If you need anything at all, just call me."
Chen Kai offered a few more words of comfort, but seeing that Ji Qinghe and the others were there, he didn’t stay for long.
A few minutes later, Ruan Zhixia wiped the tears from her face. The injured corner of her mouth pulled into a smile as she looked at Jiang Li and the others.
"Thank you. And don’t worry, I’m going to live a good life, for Tianqi’s sake."
Ruan Zhixia looked at Ji Qinghe. "Officer, I hear Yang Ziyi is still alive. When his trial starts, you have to take me with you."
Ruan Zhixia forced a smile. ’Even if I have to crawl there, I will be in that courtroom.’
"Alright. The trial is in three days. You focus on healing," Ji Qinghe said, stepping forward to give Ruan Zhixia a hug.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she forced them back. ’I can’t cry. I have to work with the doctors, do whatever it takes to get better, even if I only have three days.’
After leaving Ruan Zhixia’s hospital room, Ji Qinghe observed Jiang Li. She seemed to be fine, so she had likely come to terms with what happened.
"Jiang Li, this special ability of yours... does it take a toll on your body?"
Ji Qinghe walked up to Jiang Li and looked at her seriously.
Jiang Li was surprised that Ji Qinghe had noticed.
"Officer Ji, the dreaming itself is fine, actually." Jiang Li gave an embarrassed smile and then explained what had happened that day.
It all clicked for Ji Qinghe. ’No wonder the security footage showed Jiang Shuran suddenly rushing out like a madwoman to grab Du Xueqing. It was because of Jiang Li.’
"Jiang Li, I know that dreaming about these murder cases is extremely traumatic for you. But if a situation like this happens again, I need you to promise me you’ll prioritize your own safety first. Don’t put yourself in danger."
Ji Qinghe looked at Jiang Li. ’If this happens every time, I’ll really have to worry about her.’
"Don’t worry, Officer Ji. It seems like the ability has a limited number of uses. After three times, it’ll be gone."
Ji Qinghe nodded, making a mental note of it.
The two of them then went to Du Xueqing’s room. Du Xueqing hadn’t been heartbroken for long after learning what her parents had done; after all, it wasn’t exactly hard to believe.
’I should have known all along. That’s just the kind of people my parents are.’
"Du Xueqing’s parents haven’t come?" Ji Qinghe asked Huo Qing, who was by the door.
"Nope. Probably too ashamed to show their faces. By the way, do we have anyone watching Jiang Sheng’s people?"
Ji Qinghe shook her head. "Tiancheng says they’ll definitely lay low for a while. If we watch them too closely, it might provoke them into doing something unpredictable."
Huo Qing nodded at her words. "Good point."
Ji Qinghe went inside. The school holidays for students like Du Xueqing were about to begin.
Du Xueqing looked at the two women as they entered. She didn’t know why, but her mood had been much better the last few days. Plus, she hadn’t heard the strange voices anymore.
"Officer Ji, Sister Jiang, the doctor says I can be discharged."
Du Xueqing looked at them both happily.
"Are you going home after you’re discharged?" Ji Qinghe asked her.
Du Xueqing smiled and nodded. ’Of course I’m going back. Why wouldn’t I?’
"Well, contact us anytime if you need anything."
Du Xueqing nodded.
After leaving the hospital, Jiang Li went home to rest. ’Du Xueqing is going home,’ she thought. ’She must have already figured out her next move.’
Jiang Li looked at the rankings on the First High School’s information network; Du Xueqing’s name was almost always near the top.
’What kind of revenge would a person like that enact?’
Jiang Li looked at Du Xueqing’s photo. "Little Li, is Du Xueqing’s alter ego still around?"
Little Li propped her chin on her hand. "Nope, not anymore. Probably scared to death. What a coward."
Jiang Li smiled and nodded. "Good. We can take a few days off."
While Jiang Li rested, Yu Huannian, Wu Ming, and the others stayed home more often. Yu Huannian had Wu Ming buy him a stack of books with Pinyin script, along with cookbooks and guides to medicinal cuisine.
Miao Anji watched Yu Huannian fiddling with his new things and would occasionally steal a few items to feed their bugs.
Wu Ming sat beside Jiang Li, sorting through their own things. They had earned a good bit of money lately, so after setting aside some for living expenses, Wu Ming donated the rest to an orphanage.
Jiang Li went back to her room and pulled aside a curtain, revealing a large information board. She added photos of Jiang Sheng and Liang Chengdong to it.
She picked up a pen and drew a large X over the photos of Qiao Siyuan and Wu Jianzhang. There were photos of other involved individuals as well.
’There’s a mastermind behind all these people, and now I’m a target. And yet, after all these cases, the person pulling the strings still hasn’t shown their face.’
Jiang Li frowned. ’Or maybe they have, and I just didn’t notice.’
She sat down in her chair. ’Under what circumstances would I not notice? Only if they were disguised as an ordinary person.’
’When I first realized someone was targeting me, my first instinct was to assume they were some powerful, untouchable figure.’
’But I overlooked one thing: sewer rats are safest when they stay hidden in the shadows.’
Jiang Li stared at the information on the wall for a few more minutes before drawing the curtain closed and getting into bed.
「Three days later.」
The court was in session. Yang Ziyi was brought before the judge, and Ruan Zhixia attended the hearing, accompanied by Jiang Li and Ji Qinghe.
Ruan Zhixia stared at Yang Ziyi, who looked like he’d been scared out of his wits. Her hands gripped her wheelchair tightly. ’I never knew Tianqi had done so much for me.’
When the sentencing was over, Yang Ziyi was found guilty as an accomplice to rape for directing others to commit sexual assault resulting in death. He was sentenced to life in prison.
After leaving the courthouse, Ruan Zhixia looked at Jiang Li. "Jiang Li, can you take me to see him?"
Jiang Li nodded. She pushed Ruan Zhixia’s wheelchair back to the police station and into the morgue. Ruan Zhixia spotted Guo Tianqi instantly, and the tears she had been holding back burst forth like a broken dam.
"Call me if you need anything."
Jiang Li turned and went to wait by the door.
Outside, through the glass window of the door, Jiang Li and Ji Qinghe watched the scene inside.
Qin Shu walked over, holding a forensics report. "Those skeletal remains are indeed Qiao Siyuan’s. From the looks of it, he was burned alive."
Jiang Li nodded. ’He got what he deserved,’ she thought. ’It just took a little longer than it should have.’
"There was a USB drive hidden inside his skull, too. It contained video recordings of Qiao Siyuan being imprisoned and tortured in the Southern Ocean.
Do you want to watch it?" Qin Shu asked, holding up the USB drive, which had been placed in a separate evidence bag.
"I’ll pass."
Just as Jiang Li spoke, Ji Qinghe, who was beside her, leaned closer to the glass. She stared at Ruan Zhixia inside. "Something’s not right!"
Ji Qinghe rushed forward and threw the door open. Ruan Zhixia was still draped over the slab, motionless.
Jiang Li stared at the scene, and her blood ran cold. In the end, Ruan Zhixia had chosen to leave, too.