Christmas reds and large “Happy New Year” banners filled the happy districts.
The small shops played “Jingle Bells” and “Happy New Year” melodies that blended together, echoing back and forth.
Thin layers of ice on the roads had been cleared by early morning street cleaners, making for a light ride—albeit an unpleasant one due to the Saturday overtime.Whether it was the content or the act of working overtime itself.Luo Wenzhou bantered with Fei Du all the way as his smile remained unchanged until he saw a middle-aged couple approaching the office entrance.
Judging from their appearance and attire, they seemed not well-off.
The woman had freckles on her face, and her voice was shrill;the man was slightly chubby, hunched over and holding a dingy briefcase.“Absolutely not!Our children said that nothing happened, it’s just hearsay spread by unscrupulous students.
It’s irresponsible for schools to ignore such rumors.
Our child is fine;he never tells lies,” she spoke rapidly, continuously making rejecting gestures with her sharp hands.
"Police officer, don't take things at face value and summon people.
It's not good for the office image!Don’t you know that people might think we’re in trouble!"Tao Ran hurried to follow them out: “Can’t he come to talk to us himself?”“Why should he come here once and then twice?” the woman’s voice suddenly rose, causing an echo in the hallway.
"She's only a 15-16 year-old girl;she isn't a thief or robber.
She's still scared sick over this.
What if something happens?Will public funds cover it?What nonsense are you saying!Where is your boss?"Tao Ran opened his mouth but felt he shouldn’t say more, so Lang Qiao stepped in: "Sister, maybe she should be taken to the hospital for a check-up...""Why would we need a check-up and why now?" the woman seemed angered by this.
She crossed her arms, stretching out her neck two feet longer as if ready to peck someone’s head off Tao Ran's.
"What are you talking about?You’re just a girl;how can you slander others?This will damage your reputation!Are you not...?"The man glowered and tugged at her.
“Say it isn’t so, then there is no problem.
Don't waste time with them, we have work to do.
Let’s go.”By this point, the middle-aged couple had disappeared like a gust of wind.Tao Ran wiped his face, walked over in helpless resignation, and gestured towards Luo Wenzhou: “See?It's always like that.
Besides irrelevant bystanders, everyone else either sends a lawyer to argue or is as dismissive.”“Isn’t this the parent of the girl leading the bullies, Liang Youjing?I don't think she’s a school board member;could it be one of their acquaintances?”Tao Ran sighed: "It's Wang Xiao's parents."Luo Wenzhou was taken aback and then frowned—why were the victim’s parents more eager to clear themselves than the perpetrators?"About Wang Xiao, the child only received a call and didn't appear.
Her parent denied any incidents of abuse at school in the morning.
Old Luo, if it's really like that, gathering evidence will be difficult."If Yufeng High School was to be whitewashed, the issue could be dismissed as minor student conflicts.
Without Xia Xiaonan’s testimony about Wang Xiao being dragged into a boys' dormitory, the city bureau's criminal investigators would have little leverage—since no one had been beaten badly and any injuries couldn't be detected now.Verbal insults were hard to prove;even if evidence was concrete, it wouldn't do much harm to a group of half-grown children.
At most, they could receive criticism and education before being sent back where they came from.
Perhaps the victim once experienced an oppressive fear, but in adult terms, this was merely a trivial “incident.”Now with the perpetrators decided by their lawyers to remain silent and the victims refusing to admit any wrongdoing, it seemed like the case would go unresolved.