Fang Zhenyue was chasing someone at high speed, coordinating with Gary and a few others to encircle from different angles.
Although Jiayi wasn’t sure if she was good in a fight, she was not slow at running. She managed to keep up with Fang Zhenyue without falling behind.
However, the ‘Door-Breaking Shield’ was too cumbersome and she had already discarded it on the road.
After chasing for about fifteen minutes, everyone was out of breath from exhaustion. They finally cornered Qin Xiaolei in a small alley in a village surrounded by wasteland.
Qin Xiaolei stood against the wall, his eyes darting around, clearly considering whether to jump the wall or break through the police to continue running.
Given Qin Xiaolei’s immense strength and formidable fighting capabilities, and uncertain if he was armed, the detectives did not dare to rush in to capture him recklessly.
“Qin Xiaolei, you can’t escape. Lie down on the wall and don’t move, come back to the station with us,” Fang Zhenyue shouted, causing Qin Xiaolei to shiver in fright.
“Qin Xiaolei, with so many guns pointed at you, do you think you can escape?” Gary said, panting and threatening.
Qin Xiaolei, leaning against the wall, his eyes shifting nervously, was still full of doubts and fear about going back with the police.
Jiayi chased him to the end of the alley and saw Qin Xiaolei’s distressed and haggard appearance, taking several deep breaths.
Looking again at her colleagues with their guns aimed at Qin Xiaolei, she suddenly became anxious and flustered.
Both parties were at a standoff, the atmosphere was tense, and a fight seemed imminent.
If a fight really broke out, one side was a strong man with immense strength and barehanded lethality, and the other was armed detectives. Either outcome was not what she wanted to see.
Taking a deep breath, Jiayi urgently shouted:
“Qin Xiaolei, I’ve consulted with a professional, and your situation is considered legitimate self-defense and involuntary manslaughter. Just turn yourself in, and it won’t be a serious matter!”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“Do you remember fixing the awning at a restaurant the day before yesterday? I am the sister of the restaurant owner, I know you’re not a bad person.”
“Believe me, don’t resist, don’t worsen the situation.”
“Come back to the station with us, we’ll clear everything up. The woman you killed was the murderer in the Changsha Bay Bone Case, she had already killed 5 people and was going to make you the sixth.”
“She is the real villain, you are just an innocent victim. Why run? And definitely don’t assault the police!”
“…” Finally unable to hold back, Qin Xiaolei suddenly covered his face, crying painfully, and passionately defended himself:
“I didn’t do it on purpose! She took a knife to my neck, I was so dizzy and scared to death, so I grabbed the knife and fought back… who knew she would die so easily! Wuuu…”
He shouted himself hoarse, his voice booming like a great bell.
“…” Fang Zhenyue.
“…” Liu Jiaming. What do you mean by ‘she dies so easily’? Can’t you reflect on yourself being as strong as an ox, who could withstand a blow from you?
“…” Sanfu. He still can’t exert any force with his shoulders. If Qin Xiaolei slashed his throat with a knife, even a strong man like him would die, wouldn’t he?
She Jingjing’s neck wasn’t cut off, it must be thanks to Qin Xiaolei about to pass out, lacking strength.
“Qin Xiaolei, take a deep breath, don’t get excited.” Jiayi turned to look at Fang Zhenyue, they exchanged glances and nodded to each other, then moved shoulder to shoulder toward Qin Xiaolei.
“I’m really not a bad person, officer, I never intended to hurt anyone. I worked for your brother, he paid me enough for a meal. That woman also said she would pay me, I cleaned her kitchen exhaust, why would she want to kill me?” Qin Xiaolei stood there feeling both wronged and angry.
“Qin Xiaolei, I’m also afraid you might hurt me, so could you turn around slowly, face the wall, okay?” Jiayi took off her handcuffs from her waist, raised her hands high, one hand holding the handcuffs, the other palm facing Qin Xiaolei, showing him she wasn’t holding a gun:
“After we get back to the station, we’ll make a statement, and help you seek legal aid.”
“At the trial, the jury will also sympathize with your situation, and you will be judged as acting in legitimate self-defense.”
“Justice will protect you, trust me.”
“Did you see the report of the Ferry Street Park dismemberment case? At the press conference, a female detective staunchly defended a mainland guy as not the murderer, innocent, do you remember?”
“That person was me!”
Jiayi patted her chest, her face earnest, her big eyes watery as she looked at Qin Xiaolei, harmless and gentle.
Qin Xiaolei’s chest heaved less violently as his emotions were soothed.
Looking back at Fang Zhenyue following behind Jiayi, the latter was slowly putting his gun back in his waist holster.
This towering police officer seemed to have come only to protect the petite policewoman, his relaxed posture reducing the fierce aura around him, and thus Qin Xiaolei’s sense of crisis.
“You are the justice-loving lucky star policewoman mentioned in the newspapers and on TV.” Qin Xiaolei didn’t remember her name, but he recalled those reports.
Jiayi nodded, forced a relaxed smile, afraid to startle him, daring only to take small, slow steps forward.
Across from her, Gary tried to take advantage of Qin Xiaolei’s distraction for a surprise arrest, but Fang Zhenyue quietly signaled to Gary and the others.
Indicating them not to interfere, allowing Jiayi to handle it in her way.
“I will walk up to you, and then you will face the wall, put your hands behind your back… I will gently handcuff your hands, and then take you to the police car, and we will all go back to the police station together.” Jiayi did not dare to breathe heavily, her eyes fixed on him unwaveringly, always maintaining a smile.
Qin Xiaolei swallowed hard, clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly.
He kept making eye contact with Jiayi, not perceiving any threat or hostility, only seeing a clear, distinct spring of black and white.
Finally, the education he received from childhood and his inherently kind and simple nature overcame his fear and unease. He slowly turned to face the wall, but his head was still twisted, his eyes still on Jiayi’s face.
“I’m coming over now.” Jiayi walked up to him, grabbing his wrist with her left hand, “I’ll handcuff your left hand first.”
With a click, Qin Xiaolei’s body trembled slightly, and Jiayi soothed him again: “Now I’m going to handcuff your right hand.”
Another click, and the handcuffs securely fastened around Qin Xiaolei, who, surprisingly, was not startled this time. With no other options like escape, he relaxed completely.
“Don’t be afraid, our other agents will escort you, and we’ll go back to the police station together,” Jiayi said as she let go of his hand and stepped back.
Gary and Liu Jiaming quickly stepped forward, surrounding Qin Xiaolei from both sides, trapping him.
Jiayi whispered, “He’s not resisting, let’s not scare him.”
“Mhm.” Gary nodded.
Qin Xiaolei, looking dejected, walked forward under Gary’s direction.
Some villagers peeked curiously as Gary took off his jacket and draped it over Qin Xiaolei’s back, covering his handcuffed hands to preserve his dignity.
Only then did Jiayi breathe a sigh of relief, collapsing slightly, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
“Scared?” Fang Zhenyue had been standing by her side, nudging her shoulder with his, teasing her with a smile, “Weren’t you all impressive just now? The wild bull soother? The fierce beast tamer?”
“Of course I’m scared, Brother Yue.” How did she suddenly earn so many nicknames? Jiayi raised both hands, “Shaking like I have dementia.”
“What’s there to be scared of, I’m right here. You think I’m a vegetarian? If he even hints at harming you, I’ll have him pinned against the wall. I haven’t acted yet only because I’m afraid of hurting him, not because I’m afraid of him. Feel sorry for him, that’s all.” Fang Zhenyue made a fiercely threatening face, adding comically:
“Is he that strong? Against me, it’s like an old ox facing a fierce-eyed tiger, or a tiger meeting the tiger-slaying hero Wu Song.”
Jiayi, who had been nervous about possibly being attacked by Qin Xiaolei like She Jingjing was, had her ears buzzing.
But seeing Sergeant Fang’s display, who was usually as stern and fierce as Yama, the king of hell, yet now boasting playfully, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter, sweeping away all other emotions.
“You’ve been in the police station for almost two months now, right? Have you heard my nickname?” Fang Zhenyue asked seriously, trying to distract the young policewoman.
“What is it?” Jiayi took the bait as expected.
“‘Victorious over half the heavens,’ Fang Zhenyue, that’s who!”
“Sir Fang, you are so wild!” Jiayi couldn’t help but chuckle, tilting her head as she looked at him with a smile, following him out of the alley and onto the main road back towards the police car.
During this brief moment, she had completely forgotten that she was supposed to feel frightened. Her lively and optimistic nature shone through, still the same young person who seemed both naive and simple when not displaying her intelligence.
“You five also have nicknames,” Fang Zhenyue looked up and saw Uncle Jiu, who had only now arrived breathlessly, and continued to make things up.
“What are they?” Jiayi asked, turning to Jiaming and the others.
“The Five Tiger Generals,” Fang Zhenyue stretched out his hand to show the number five, and playfully slapped her on the back, teasing:
“Can’t even guess that, silly.”
With that, he smiled at her briefly before his expression became serious again.
Uncle Jiu and Gary, who had hurried over, returned to the detention facility to wait for their colleagues from the forensic department to arrive and inspect Qin Xiaolei’s residence for evidence, like blood-stained clothing.
Sanfu and Jiaming placed Qin Xiaolei in the middle of the back row of the compact police car, and Jiayi, sitting in the front passenger seat, didn’t forget to turn back and give Qin Xiaolei a reassuring smile.
On the way back in the police car, Qin Xiaolei saw a mobile bun vendor on the roadside, his stomach growling thunderously as if there was a roaring Bull Demon King sitting in the police car.
During a red light, Fang Zhenyue turned around and asked, “Haven’t eaten in a while?”
“Fearful of being caught… I haven’t left the house for the past two days, haven’t eaten in two days,” Qin Xiaolei muttered in a low voice, looking both honest and pitiable.
Jiayi caught a glance from Fang Zhenyue and understood what he meant. As the police car pulled over, she quickly ran out and bought 4 buns.
The police car started again, and before reaching the second traffic light, Qin Xiaolei had devoured all four buns, and indeed, the Bull Demon King was no longer bellowing.
Qin Xiaolei was satiated, but Sanfu’s face didn’t look too good.
He had been punched by Qin Xiaolei, a sweeping blow that left his arm throbbing painfully.
Though he could now lift it, it was still sore and tender, and rolling up his sleeve revealed a swath of purplish-red, foreseeing a certainly bruised arm tomorrow.
So it turns out, the man who gave him a “Qilin arm” was just a poor guy who hadn’t eaten for two days—how embarrassing to tell others!
“Tan Sanfu got beaten up badly by a guy who hadn’t eaten for two days!”
Does that sound good?
This Qin Xiaolei… is really a tough guy.
No wonder he managed to counter-kill She Jingjing just before he passed out… That female murderer deserved her fate.
Upon arriving at the police station, Fang Zhenyue immediately took Qin Xiaolei into the interrogation room.
Walking behind, Liu Jiaming quietly approached Jiayi and whispered:
“Did you really consult a professional about this?”
“No, I was just bluffing him… let’s catch him first…” Jiayi scratched her head, embarrassed.
She did indeed think about consulting, but she never found the time…
In that situation, if Qin Xiaolei wasn’t persuaded, and the wild bull started rampaging and injured a detective, that would add another charge of assaulting a police officer, and the detective would suffer too.
And if someone was forced to shoot, either injuring Qin Xiaolei or killing him, wouldn’t that be even worse!
It was a well-intentioned lie.
Moreover, in maritime law, there’s a lot of discretion in judgment. Given the special circumstances of this case and the murder scene she witnessed, it definitely falls within the category of special self-defense!
She Jingjing is a serial killer. In her attempt to drug and murder the victim, Qin Xiaolei, she was accidentally killed by Qin in his confused state. From any angle, this case should be considered legitimate self-defense.
Although they are major case squad detectives and belong to different departments and specialties than the Department of Justice, they also received relevant education in the police academy.
She truly believed this point, and it shouldn’t be considered too deceptive.
“Eleven, you’ve learned to be naughty!” Liu Jiaming widened his eyes in disbelief, amazed by her sincerity, even he was fooled!
“Hehe, don’t underestimate a good female cop!” Jiayi lifted her chin, gave him a look, and walked into the interrogation room.
“…” Liu Jiaming shook his head.
Done for, the seemingly harmless hunter is the most deadly.
Looks like the good cop will turn into a big devil sooner or later!