Chapter 216: Investigation and Interrogation
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Wang Yue clenched her hands tightly, hesitating, and said, “How much do you want then?”
Lu Ming opened his palm, looked at the emerald thumb ring, and smiled, “Considering your willingness, I’ll need thirty thousand. 1’11 help you shut those people up!”
“Another thirty thousand? Where am 1 supposed to get that much money?” Wang Yue stood up excitedly and argued with him.
Lu Ming, displeased, put down his hand and said, “Ms. Wang, I’m not negotiating with you. If you don’t provide the money, and by any chance, those who know the truth accidentally let something slip, I won’t be the one in trouble.”
Wang Yue, infuriated, lowered her head and began to negotiate with him, “Ten thousand, I can’t offer more! I genuinely don’t have that much money!”
“Ten thousand? Do you think I’m begging for alms? Do you know how many people 1 had to involve to help you this time?” Lu Ming, observing her stubborn demeanor, finally ran out of patience and walked slowly to her. “1 won’t guarantee your safety if you pay me a single penny less than thirty thousand.” “You’re too greedy! If I’m exposed, you won’t escape either!” Wang Yue argued angrily.
Seeing her about to throw a tantrum, Lu Ming, without any fear, said, “Ms. Wang, 1 want you to understand something. I, Lu Ming, have been in Lincheng for many years. The reason I’ve been safe all this time isn’t just luck. I have some powerful backing, but you don’t. If your husband finds out that you were involved in what happened to Mei Shu, do you think he’ll still want you?” “You!” Wang Yue was suddenly trapped, unable to say a word.
After a long while, she finally made up her mind, “Fine, but you have to give me time. 1 definitely can’t come up with that much money right now!”
“Three days,” Lu Ming raised three fingers in front of her. “I’ll give you only three days. You must deliver the money within that time, or face the consequences.”
“I understand,” Wang Yue closed her eyes and left the detective agency, accepting her fate.
Last time, in order to send Meimu to school, she had already sold two shops. Now, she had used up her savings, and to come up with more money, she would have to sell her last remaining shop.
This meant that she had already exhausted all her resources.
If she couldn’t bring down Mei Shu and obtain her shares, she and her daughter would likely end up on the streets.
With this in mind, Wang Yue suddenly made up her mind and took the initiative to contact the buyer from last time, inquiring if they were interested in purchasing another shop.
Meanwhile, the police were conducting a thorough investigation.
Based on the restored video footage, they had already identified the identity of the girl and personally brought her and Yellow Hair, among others, to the police station.
Furthermore, they had seen in the surveillance footage the hooligan who had intentionally given the video to the grade director at the entrance of No. 1 Middle School, and they had also brought him in for questioning.
In the interrogation room, Yellow Hair sat confidently in front of the camera, facing two police officers who had suddenly entered. He didn’t appear the least bit flustered.
Captain Wang leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing with authority. “Huang Rui, we’ve checked your criminal record. You were arrested three years ago for molesting a minor, and now you’re back to your old tricks. Have you learned nothing?”
“What did I do? Can the police just smear someone’s name like that? Do you have any evidence?” Huang Rui, unimpressed, sat slouched in his chair, his behavior disgraceful. “If you don’t have any evidence, you’d better release me quickly, or I’ll sue you for defamation!”
“Is this video clip your doing?” Captain Wang placed a screenshot of the fake video in front of him.
Huang Rui burst into laughter as soon as he saw it. “Of course, it’s me. So what? It’s just a matter of mutual consent between adults. It’s not illegal, is it?”
“Are you sure the girl in the video is the one you were with?” Captain Wang stared at him, his aura intimidating, leaving him no room to breathe.
Huang Rui, with a sly grin, held the photo in his hand. “Of course, I’m sure. Her name is Mei Shu. She’s a pretty and tempting girl. I still want to have fun with her again. 1 just haven’t found the opportunity!”
Captain Wang sneered and took the photo from him. “As long as you can confirm her name.”
“What do you mean by that?” Huang Rui furrowed his brows and shifted his gaze from the photo to Captain Wang’s face.
Captain Wang then showed him another photo, taken from the same angle, with everything identical except for the woman’s face. “How do you explain this person?”
Yellow Hair was immediately stunned. He straightened up involuntarily, holding the photo in his hand. His gaze unconsciously landed on the mole on the woman’s thigh. He swallowed nervously. “Th-this is fake. I don’t know this person! The person I was with in the video is Mei Shu! It’s her, not someone else!”
Captain Wang continued to apply pressure, “Huang Rui, if you confess now, there’s still a chance for leniency. Your other comrades are in the adjoining interrogation room facing questioning. If they confess first and cooperate, they might receive reduced sentences, but you won’t be included!”
Without a second thought, Huang Rui directly denied, “No, the person 1 was with that night was definitely Mei Shu! Don’t think you can trick me!”
