Chapter Six: Climbing the Ladder

Everyone stared at her wide, glistening eyes, truly unable to tell if she was being serious or just teasing them.

Who on earth thinks flipping someone off means "bounce back"?

Chen Da, in particular, was at a loss for words. He was deeply convinced that the rough-around-the-edges men at the bureau had corrupted her, and as he thought this, he didn't forget to glare fiercely at Deng Xingwang.

Deng Xingwang, an innocent casualty of this crossfire, felt incredibly wronged. It was obviously Brother Zhang and the others who loved to tease people, but no one had expected that she truly didn't know the meaning of the middle finger and had taken it at face value.

Qiu Jiang wasn't stupid. Watching everyone’s reactions, she realized she had made a mistake. She awkwardly retracted her fair, delicate finger and hid it behind her back, trying to act as if nothing had happened. She looked so pitiful and aggrieved.

Seeing such an adorable girl looking so crestfallen, the group of rough men could no longer bring themselves to tease her. They swallowed their mocking words and coughed, letting the matter slide. However, Wu Yongjun couldn't let it go so easily, and he continued to shout wildly.

"Is this how you police officers treat common folks? Flipping me off? I’m going to report you—"

He didn't stop for a single moment, but Guo Kai didn't indulge him; he slammed his hand on the table, his tone exceptionally impatient.

"Shut up! You consider yourself a common citizen? You’re a piece of trash waiting for a bullet. Why don't you start telling us the truth about the crime, honestly?"

"Pah! Hahaha, I won't say a word, what can you do to me?!"

He wore the expression of a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water, determined not to cooperate.

Seeing that Guo Kai was about to continue trying to pry information out of him, Ji Mingcheng reached out to stop him. His tone was calm and casual. "The evidence is now ironclad. Even if he doesn't confess the details of the crime, it won't affect the case’s processing or the final conviction. That’s fine, too; it saves us from hearing about his stupid methods, which have zero reference value."

Ji Mingcheng knew exactly how to infuriate people. As soon as these words left his mouth, Wu Yongjun's bloodshot eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His entire face turned a deep purple from rage, and he couldn't stop himself from roaring at him.

"Bullshit—"

"My plan was clearly flawless—"

"It was me who tricked that idiot Li Guimin into drinking and got him drunk. It was me who killed Li Qiumei and dumped that fool into the earthen hut, just so he could see with his own eyes the consequences of that slut angering me. And it was me who gave him ideas while he was panicking, making him treat me like a god—"

"And that bitch Wang Qiumei! Where was I inferior to Li Guimin? Yet she couldn't stand me, only wanting to be with him, right? She even dared to say I wasn't a good person. Hahaha, whether I’m a good person or not, that fool Li Guimin just wouldn't believe it. Tell me, how could I let such a fool off? Look, what a grand gift I gave him."

His expression was twisted and manic, saliva flying as he boasted about how perfect his methods were. His face was filled with intoxication; clearly, he hadn't forgotten the wonderful sensation of standing above everyone else.

However, once he returned to reality, the people in this cramped interrogation room were either expressionless or looking at him with disgust. There was no praise for him whatsoever.

His plan was so perfect! These idiots had been fooled by him at the start! He could have twisted these damned police officers—who had caught him and thrown him in prison for years—around his finger. Why were they looking at him like this? And why had everything changed? His plan... it was so perfect...

Gradually, tears began to stream down his turbid eyes. Whether it was from regret or fear, no one knew, but sadly, not a single person felt even a shred of pity for him. In this case, he was a pure demon, and who would pity a demon?

After Wu Yongjun was taken away, Ji Mingcheng, Lu Jianian, and Guo Kai were called away by the city bureau leadership, while Chen Da took his two "kids" back.

As they walked, Deng Xingwang’s eyes turned red, and he couldn't stop sighing.

"Think about Li Guimin and Wang Qiumei. They had no old grudges or recent grievances with him. Just because his love wasn't reciprocated, he turned to violence, and even after killing her, he smashed her face. Isn't that just pure psychopathy?"

He had joined the force only a year before Qiu Jiang and hadn't yet faced many tragedies; he truly couldn't accept that someone would kill for such a reason.

"The most pitiful one is Wang Qiumei. She went out to work alone, suffering so much, only to run into a pervert like that. She died such a miserable death at such a young age. I don't know how much her family will cry when they come to claim her body."

Hearing him say this, Qiu Jiang also furrowed her brows. Her mood instantly plummeted, losing all the excitement of having solved the case.

After all, even if she had been accustomed to seeing corpses in the past, those people had died on the battlefield for their country; even in death, it was an honor, and everyone would praise them. Even if an occasional spy was executed, it was deserved. Seeing their bodies wouldn't make anyone sad; some might even spit on them to show their disgust.

But Wang Qiumei? What did she do wrong?

Did she have to die just because she rejected someone she didn't like?

It was truly hard to accept.

The two of them slumped in unison. Seeing them looking so listless, Chen Da gave each of them a flick to the forehead.

"Ouch—"

Both of them cried out in pain, covering their heads as they looked at him.

Chen Da spoke in a harsh, aggressive tone, "Why are you moping? Is this the time to be moping? If you both just give up, who is going to catch those heinous murderers? Are you waiting for them to have an epiphany? Or waiting for them to kill more people? Instead of wasting time like this, you’d be better off summarizing your experiences and putting those murderers behind bars."

A tough guy's comfort is equally blunt, but he couldn't say anything else. Besides, when he first joined the team, his captain had lectured him the exact same way, and he found it quite effective.

Qiu Jiang’s confused eyes gradually became firm. Her gaze was bright. "You're right—the way those bastards' brains work is beyond understanding. Even if we feel dejected, the victims won't come back to life. The best comfort we can provide them is to catch those bastards and make them confess their crimes."

Deng Xingwang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that's right—"

The two, who had been listless just a moment ago, were now as energized as if they had been injected with adrenaline. It was truly a headache.

Chen Da didn't even have time to marvel at how effective his reverse psychology was. He flicked their foreheads again and walked toward his van, saying irritably, "If you want to be hot-blooded, be hot-blooded tomorrow. Tell me where you live first, and I’ll take you home."

"Cuihu Residential District on Heping Road."

"Liuzhi Alley on Anqiao Street."

The two reported their addresses promptly. Chen Da paused, his hand on the steering wheel, feeling utterly frustrated. "Good grief, one is due south and the other is due north. You two really didn't leave me any room to breathe."

It was rush hour, and not only were the roads blocked, but the locations were completely out of his way. By the time he dropped them off and returned, it would be dark.

"Captain, why don't you just take Jiangjiang? I can just have my family pick me up," Deng Xingwang said with great camaraderie.

"Enough nonsense. Just get in," Chen Da urged them immediately after getting into the car.

"Hehe, thanks, Captain."

The two climbed into the car happily.

This van was battered but sturdy. Even though it looked like it was about to be scrapped, once it hit the road, its acceleration was no worse than a Jetta.

Qiu Jiang sat in the car, obediently watching the dazzling neon lights and the bustling traffic outside. Although everyone was in a hurry, they carried smiles on their faces, possessing an upbeat, high-spirited energy.

To her, every scene here was fresh. Whether it was the balloons being sold on the street, the bus turning a corner, or the elderly exercising on the street equipment, it all made her smile.

The young girl pressed against the window, smiling sweetly. Anyone who saw her couldn't help but feel their heart soften.

Ji Mingcheng was one such person.

Stopping his sports car at a red light, he glanced to the left and spotted the familiar van. Looking inside, he saw her.

She was full of curiosity about everything, pressing quietly against the glass. She looked nothing like the person from earlier in the day, making him feel a bit suspicious for a moment.

"What is this? This girl can actually be this sweet?" Ji Mingcheng’s muttered words were heard clearly by Lu Jianian beside him.

It was rare for him to pay so much attention to a girl. Lu Jianian nodded at Qiu Jiang, who had already spotted them, and praised, "This girl is quite sharp."

Ji Mingcheng curled his lips into a smile. "Sharp, yes, but she’s also truly reckless. Chasing someone with those meager skills of hers... I bet she won't be able to lift her shoulders tomorrow."

Qiu Jiang never expected to run into her leaders on the way home. Seeing him look over, she felt she had to greet him. To her surprise, as soon as the window rolled down, she heard that comment. Her expression turned deeply depressed.

"Captain Ji, I was just afraid he would get away."

So, even if her shoulders hurt tomorrow, it was an injury sustained in the line of duty, and she deserved praise, not to be teased.

Ji Mingcheng raised an eyebrow. "Sharp ears, too."

"Thank you for the compliment, Captain Ji," Qiu Jiang said with a giggle.

She really knew how to climb the ladder.

Ji Mingcheng glanced at her and exchanged a few words with Chen Da. After learning their situation, he offered a solution that was convenient for everyone.

The result of this solution was that two minutes later, Qiu Jiang got out of the van and sat in the back seat of a sports car that was infinitely more comfortable than the team's van.

"Thank you for driving me home, Captain Ji," Qiu Jiang said with a bright smile.

"Hmm."

The car started moving again. Qiu Jiang sat quietly like a mascot, listening to the two men talk.

It didn't matter at first, but once she heard them, she felt a sudden jolt.

She seemed to have discovered a secret.