"Group leader, I was just saying. If you're unhappy, I won't say it. Let's eat, ah! This chicken leg is good!"
Frankly, I felt we were being a bit too casual, leaving the entire task to the two of them and not getting involved at all. If any problems arose later, I wouldn't know how to face it.
But since everyone else was hands-off, I also relaxed and ate. After filling our stomachs, Gao Mingqiang let out a satisfied burp and said, "If it weren't for the two heroes, I probably wouldn't have had a chance to be so relaxed. It's all thanks to them!" He picked his teeth with a toothpick, took a sip of water, and pushed his wheelchair away.
That guy was quick. We were still eating when, after satisfying our appetites, we returned to the office. He Xin had just finished eating. She didn't leave her seat. After her meal, she stood up and went to the corridor outside to get some fresh air and stretch. Unexpectedly, some noise came from outside again.
I thought I had misheard at first, but the voice from the 110 emergency call center was still deafening.
"Members of the Crime Punisher Squad, please note: we have received notification that someone is jumping from Guangming Building. The person is Zhou Hengling. Please rush to the scene as soon as possible!"
"What? Jumping? What happened to Miss Zhou?"
We had cleared her of suspicion. What was she thinking?
Without time to ponder, we quickly located the place and drove there.
Upon arriving at the bottom of the building, we realized that Zhou Hengling had come here intentionally. This wasn't her workplace but a public plaza. It was said to have various shops, but Zhou Hengling likely chose this location because of its height.
We hurried upstairs desperately. The elevators were already overwhelmed, but we still hadn't reached the 18th floor.
When the elevator doors opened, we all rushed out as if losing control. Zhou Hengling was standing on the edge. Several police officers were trying to reason with her, along with a man in a suit.
After inquiring, we learned that this was Zhou Hengling's husband.
We approached not too far behind Zhou Hengling. She seemed to have noticed our presence.
"Don't come near me! Go die! People like me should die!"
"Miss Zhou, what's going on? Why are you doing this?" I asked.
"It's all your fault! Why did you keep people watching me? Don't you suspect me? What did I do wrong? Worthy of your suspicion? I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Did I?"
"Calm down, Miss Zhou. Our people have already withdrawn. Don't you know? We've found a new suspect. Yes, I did suspect you at first, but given your special relationship with the victim and the evidence around the time of the incident, it's hard for us not to have some thoughts."
I tried my best to persuade her. Only then did I notice that Zhou Hengling was still dressed neatly and even had light makeup on. At that moment, I realized this woman wasn't actually going to jump.
Liu Yuning and the others had also noticed. Then Xia Hou chimed in, "Miss Zhou, we won't be watching you anymore. But is this really worth it for something like this? If you truly have a clear conscience, why are you so agitated?"
Xia Hou's words seemed to provoke Zhou Hengling. "These past few days, I don't know why, I've felt like I was being followed. I think the killer has targeted me!"
"What? Then shouldn't you be seeking our help now? What is the meaning of this?"
"Officer Xia Hou, it's because after you withdrew, you completely ignored me. Even my calls to you went unanswered."
At this, we all took out our phones and discovered several unfamiliar incoming calls. Due to the previous questioning, we had exchanged numbers.
Suddenly, I realized this was a big misunderstanding. "Miss Zhou, we've been very busy lately. Truly, it wasn't intentional not to answer!"
"You were all busy at the same time? No one had time to answer?"
I looked at Liu Yuning. She coughed and gave me a "I don't know" look. I had no choice but to explain, "We were executing a mission at the same time."
"This is the only way to get your attention!" Zhou Hengling said to us unexpectedly, her actions matching her words. However, knowing she had no intention of dying, Xia Hou quickly acted and pulled her back.
Fortunately, no accidents occurred during the process; otherwise, Zhou Hengling would have been unfortunate.
Back at the provincial department, I immediately inquired about the matter of her being followed. She told me, "Since Elder Liang had an accident, I've felt like someone was watching me. Every day, near the faculty office building, classrooms, the sports field, and even on my way back to the dormitory, a stranger was lurking nearby, watching me. I don't know what's going on. I didn't know it was related to Liang's death at first. Later, I saw a message he left for me in a tree, saying: 'Elder Liang is already dead, and you're next.'
I have no grievances with this person, nor am I related to Liang's death. I was curious why he would target me. It was so strange. Besides fear, I was extremely confused. So, I called you all. But none of you answered, which made me more and more anxious. I even thought about going to the provincial department to find you, but your colleagues said you weren't there, so I had to come back. Then I went into hiding, not daring to show myself. I thought if I didn't go to class and just hid, that person wouldn't find me. However, when I got up to eat, I found blood-red writing on the bathroom window: 'Did you think hiding would solve everything?' That person had entered my room. I don't know how he got in."
"I suggest we go to your school and dormitory. You should stay here for now. We will have people protect you!" I said. Zhou Hengling told me her dormitory was near the academy, in unit 402.
I asked Xia Hou to come with me. We split up. He went to check the trees near the path Zhou Hengling took back. I went to Zhou Hengling's dormitory. Fortunately, I had brought the key. After all, we had agreed to check her dormitory. Upon opening the door, I found the room to be quite small. I turned on the light. The surroundings were cozy, all decorated in purple.