CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: GOING TO THE POLICE STATION

Lin Xiaoyan clutched her phone tightly and said, "The night before last, I got off work and went to El Hospital to visit a colleague, then..."

Lin Xiaoyan told the police about what happened at the hospital, the call from Sister Lin yesterday, and what happened on the bus today.

Mao Hong frowned slightly, this is tricky, it’s just the girl’s speculation, we can’t file a case.

"Excuse me, what should I do in this situation? Can you protect me?" Lin Xiaoyan asked.

Mao Hong hesitated for a moment, thought for a while, and said, "Why don’t you come to our police station, because nothing substantial has happened with this case, so..."

Hearing the police’s words, Lin Xiaoyan was silent for a moment, "Okay, can I go now?"

"You can, whenever you have time, you can come over any time."

"Alright, thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Lin Xiaoyan hung up the phone and decided to go to the police station during her lunch break. The police station was not far from her company and would take about half an hour to get there.

The lunch break was two and a half hours, which should be enough time to make it back for work in the afternoon. At noon, as soon as she got off work, Lin Xiaoyan told Gao Miao and Susan that she had something to do and wouldn’t be having lunch with them.

"Okay, bye-bye."

"Mm."

Lin Xiaoyan said goodbye to the two and quickly set off to the police station.

Half an hour later, Lin Xiaoyan walked through the doors of the police station.

At this moment, the staff on duty saw someone coming in and smiled, "Hello, is there anything you need help with?"

Lin Xiaoyan nervously walked up to the police officers, "Hello, I... I called this morning and was asked to come over..."

"Hmm? Did you do something wrong?" asked the duty officer looking at Lin Xiaoyan.

Lin Xiaoyan quickly shook her head, "No, no, I... I’m here to report a case."

"What’s your name?"

"Lin Xiaoyan."

Just then, He Qi’an happened to walk out, about to leave, when he suddenly heard a familiar name, "Lin Xiaoyan."

He stopped in his tracks, looked at the girl in the hall, and walked over.

"You said you’re here to report a case, have you encountered something?"

"I... I found out someone is trying to catch me..." Lin Xiaoyan clenched her fist, mustering the courage to say it.

He Qi’an stood by, looking at Lin Xiaoyan, consistent with the information he had.

Lin Xiaoyan, female, 24 years old, just graduated from college this year, introverted, socially anxious, with simple interpersonal relationships...

He Qi’an walked over, knocked on the table, "You, Lin Xiaoyan, come with me inside."

Lin Xiaoyan stared fearfully at the tall and expressionless officer in front of her.

"Wha... What do you want?" Lin Xiaoyan’s voice trembled.

She regretted it; she wanted to leave.

The police officer looked too intimidating to not be a bad guy, right?

He Qi’an noticed Lin Xiaoyan was a bit scared of him, softened his voice, "It’s okay, I just heard you say you want to report a case, so I’m here to understand the situation."

"Can I... not go inside?" Lin Xiaoyan took a step back.

Seeing Lin Xiaoyan’s cautious fear, He Qi’an was a bit puzzled, patiently saying, "It’s okay, I just want to understand the situation, and there are other officers inside too."

"Let’s go."

He Qi’an turned and started walking inside, while Lin Xiaoyan stood frozen, somewhat hesitant.

The officer whispered to Lin Xiaoyan, "Don’t worry, that’s our captain. He just looks a bit stern, but he’s actually a really nice guy. Go on."

"Oh, okay..." Lin Xiaoyan mustered up her courage and stepped forward.

He Qi’an heard the footsteps behind him and continued to the office.

"Huh? Captain, weren’t you going out for something?" Li He asked, puzzled as he saw the captain who had just left returning.

He Qi’an went to his spot, "Someone came in to report a case, I’m bringing them over to inquire about the situation."

"Oh." Li He continued to lower his head and eat his instant noodles.

Lin Xiaoyan followed He Qi’an to their office area and saw other officers inside, which relieved her slightly.

"Sit."

He Qi’an pulled over a chair, inviting Lin Xiaoyan to sit down.

"Tha... thank you..." Lin Xiaoyan cautiously sat down, only occupying a third of the chair.

He Qi’an glanced at Lin Xiaoyan, then looked down and took out paper and pen, "Go ahead, why do you want to report a case?"

Lin Xiaoyan opened her mouth, looked at the police officer in front of her, thought for a while, and said, "The night before last, I went to El Hospital to visit a colleague..."

He Qi’an’s eyes flashed with a trace of darkness upon hearing "El Hospital," and he wrote the words "Ai Lin, victim" on his notepad.

"Then, my eyes recently got injured, and my colleague suggested I have them checked at El Hospital."

"...Later, I took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and left the hospital."

When Lin Xiaoyan mentioned being forcibly dragged by a nurse to handle the hospitalization procedures, He Qi’an looked down, lost in thought.

"...This morning, on the bus, a man intentionally bumped into me, and then my arm got cut and bled..."

Lin Xiaoyan raised her arm to show the scratch to the police officer.

He Qi’an saw the cut on Lin Xiaoyan’s arm, just as she said, clearly done with a sharp object.

"So, I suspect that..." Lin Xiaoyan showed signs of difficulty, unsure of how to continue.

He Qi’an looked at Lin Xiaoyan, "What do you suspect?"

Lin Xiaoyan was indecisive; she truly didn’t know how to articulate it.

Seeing Lin Xiaoyan’s troubled expression, He Qi’an put down his pen and looked at her.

"There’s something I’d like to ask you."

Lin Xiaoyan raised her head to look at the officer in front of her.

"Do you know Ai Lin?"

Lin Xiaoyan’s heart tightened, "I... I do."

"What is your relationship?"

At this moment, Lin Xiaoyan’s mind was in turmoil. She suspected whether this officer knew it was her who made that call, and whether he discovered something...

Lin Xiaoyan slowly explained her relationship with Ai Lin.

"During the deposition, Ai Lin once said, it would have been better if I listened to you and didn’t order takeout."

He Qi’an’s eyes were fixed on Lin Xiaoyan, and as she heard this sentence, Lin Xiaoyan’s face turned a bit pale.

"Do you know Li An?"

Lin Xiaoyan shook her head stiffly, "No... I don’t know him."

"Li An, he’s the delivery guy who broke into Ai Lin’s house that night."

Lin Xiaoyan kept her head down, clenching her fingers tightly.

"We interrogated Li An, he said it was only after entering the community that he had the sudden intention to commit murder; he didn’t make any calls outside, nor did he tell anyone about his intent to kill."

"And you, Lin Xiaoyan, made a call to the police on the night of the 19th, claiming you heard the delivery guy..."

Lin Xiaoyan’s lips trembled; she silently told herself not to panic.

"Perhaps what I heard... that delivery man... wasn’t alone."

Lin Xiaoyan glanced at He Qi’an and said.

However, under He Qi’an’s sharp gaze, she felt as though all her disguises were seen through by the man in front of her.

In He Qi’an’s eyes, Lin Xiaoyan’s face was filled with fearful unease.