Solving the case: Combining the police dog's olfactory genes at the beginning

This completely contradicted her previous wishful thinking that "maybe she'll be released soon."

"Then...when will he be released? Is the case...is it serious?"

Ruan Jiaxin's voice trembled as she asked with her last glimmer of hope.

The policewoman looked up at her. Perhaps seeing that she was young and that the anxiety in her eyes seemed genuine, she softened her tone slightly, but what she said only made Ruan Jiaxin more desperate.

"It's hard to say."

It depends on the progress of the case and the evidence. However, we are working diligently to collect and preserve relevant evidence, and we should be able to complete the process soon. We will then formally submit a request to the procuratorate for approval of the arrest, after which we will file a public prosecution. What is your relationship to him? If you are a family member, you can hire a lawyer according to regulations.

The policewoman's words, conveying a sense of procedure and urgency, sent chills down Ruan Jiaxin's spine. "Arrest and prosecution will be requested soon!"

She was nobody to Luo Fei, not even a friend; just a stranger he had saved. Yet, this act of kindness from a "stranger" now weighed heavily on her heart. Hire a lawyer? How could she, a girl from out of town working at a beauty salon with a meager income and needing to send money home, afford a lawyer? Even if she did, how much could an ordinary lawyer do against the power of the Xue family?

This news made Ruan Jiaxin even more anxious, and she felt her own powerlessness and insignificance even more deeply.

She felt an undeniable responsibility for Luo Fei's predicament; if it weren't for standing up for her, Luo Fei would never have ended up in this situation. But what could she, a helpless girl struggling to survive at the bottom of society, do? A profound sense of helplessness almost overwhelmed her.

After leaving the police station, Ruan Jiaxin walked listlessly along the quiet, deserted streets in the early morning.

The rising sun could not dispel the gloom in her heart.

She couldn't just stand by and watch Luo Fei ruin his life because of helping her. After much thought, she suddenly remembered the scene of the incident—the small noodle shop, and the proprietress who had also been harassed by Xue Shihao. Yes! Witnesses! If the noodle shop owner and his wife could bravely stand up and explain the truth to the police, proving that Luo Fei was acting in good faith, that he was forced to act to stop Xue Shihao's violence, and not that he intentionally injured someone without cause, wouldn't that change the nature of the matter?

This thought, like a spark in the darkness, rekindled a glimmer of hope in Ruan Jiaxin.

She almost ran to the noodle shop in the old neighborhood again. It was still early; the shop had just opened, and the proprietress was wiping the tables and chairs while the owner prepared the ingredients in the kitchen.

When the proprietress saw Ruan Jiaxin reappear, pale-faced and with anxious eyes, she was stunned for a moment, then sighed, as if she had guessed why she had come.

"Girl, you've come again."

The proprietress put down the rag, her tone complicated.

"Boss lady, please, please help Brother Luo Fei!"

Ruan Jiaxin grabbed the proprietress's hand urgently, her voice trembling with tears.

“He was arrested by the police for helping us, and he’s been sent to a detention center. I heard he’ll be prosecuted soon! You and the boss witnessed what happened, please go and explain to the police that Brother Luo Fei was acting bravely and didn’t intentionally hit anyone! If you can testify, you can definitely help him!”

The proprietress's face showed deep embarrassment and guilt.

She glanced towards the kitchen, then at Ruan Jiaxin's pleading eyes, shook her head, and said in a low voice.

"Young lady, it's not that we don't want to help, it's just that... we're powerless to do so."

"why?"

Ruan Jiaxin was puzzled.

"When the police came to take my statement that day, their questions were... somewhat leading."

The proprietress's eyes flickered, and her voice lowered.

"Moreover, the record they brought... was a little different from what we had said at the time. We were terrified and our minds were blank. The police were also in a hurry... In the end, we... we signed and put our fingerprints on that modified document."

As she spoke, a look of regret and lingering fear appeared on her face.

"Now that things have come to this, it's all in black and white, and we've already admitted it."

If we were to recant our testimony now, saying what we said before was false, what would the police think? Would they accuse us of perjury? We'd probably be in big trouble ourselves! We're just running a small business; we really can't afford any more trouble…”

The proprietress's refusal and explanation were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flame of hope that had just been ignited in Ruan Jiaxin.

She understood the landlady's fear; for ordinary people facing powerful public authority and the potential threat from the Xue family, choosing self-preservation was a perfectly normal reaction. While she could understand it, the despair was even more profound.

If even the only eyewitness at the scene doesn't dare to or can't stand up and tell the truth, isn't Luo Fei's case a foregone conclusion?
Seeing Ruan Jiaxin's eyes dim instantly, almost as if she was about to cry, the proprietress also felt bad.

She hesitated for a moment, as if she had made a great decision, then leaned closer to Ruan Jiaxin and said in a very low voice.

“Young lady, I can tell you’re a kind person, and that young man was just trying to help you. I… I’ll give you some advice, even if you don’t want to take it, but right now, the only one who can change the situation and get Xue Shihao to back down is probably… the person involved themselves.”

Ruan Jiaxin suddenly raised her head.

"What road?"

The proprietress looked at her with a complicated expression and uttered three words.

"Xue Shih-hao".

Go to Xue Shih-hao to plead for mercy? This was indeed the path that Ruan Jiaxin least wanted to take, and the one she feared most.

She couldn't even avoid that devilish man, how could she possibly offer herself up to him? But the landlady was right, the root of the problem was Xue Shihao. If he could soften his stance and even admit that he had provoked her first, then Luo Fei's situation might really have a chance to turn around.

To save Luo Fei, this choice, which pushes her back into the fire, seems to be the only visible, thorny path in this desperate situation.

With nowhere else to turn, Ruan Jiaxin went through a fierce internal struggle.

On one hand, there was a deep-seated fear and disgust for Xue Shihao; on the other hand, there was a heavy sense of guilt towards Luo Fei and an impulse to repay him.

Ultimately, the latter managed to overpower the former.

She gritted her teeth and asked the landlady about the hospital where Xue Shihao was staying—the most expensive VIP ward of Dongguan City Central Hospital.

With a heavy heart, Ruan Jiaxin arrived at the best hospital in the city.

Instead of rushing headlong to Xue Shihao, she first carefully inquired about him at the hospital.

She remembered that Luo Fei had struck very hard, and Xue Shihao and his two men were injured.

If the injury isn't serious, there might still be room for maneuver.

However, the information she heard made her even more panicked—Xue Shih-hao himself was said to have broken several ribs and had internal bleeding, but his condition was stable; while his two henchmen who were at the forefront were in much worse condition, reportedly suffering severe brain damage and becoming vegetative, still lying in the intensive care unit without waking up.

A person in a vegetative state!
These three words struck Ruan Jiaxin like a bolt from the blue, leaving her almost unable to stand.

Such serious consequences!
If Luo Fei is convicted of "intentionally causing serious injury or death," and given the potential influence of the Xue family, she may face not just a few years in prison, but an extremely severe punishment, or even... she dared not think any further.

Panic engulfed her like an icy tide, but it also strengthened her resolve to find Xue Shihao. Now, her only hope was to beg that devil to show mercy.

Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, she'll still try.

Ruan Jiaxin found the VIP inpatient building in the Central Hospital, which was a separate building with a quiet environment.

Following the room number she had found out, she arrived at a ward located on the top floor. The heavy solid wood door was tightly closed, and the silence outside the doorway was so profound that she could hear her own pounding heartbeat.

She paced back and forth at the door for a long time, her fingers rising and falling limply several times. What would happen after she went in? How would Xue Shihao treat her? She dared not imagine. But thinking of Luo Fei in the detention center, who had lost his freedom and faced serious charges because of her, she finally mustered that pitiful bit of courage. Just as she was hesitating, the ward door suddenly opened from the inside.

A young nurse in a pink uniform, pushing a nursing cart, came out and was taken aback when she saw a beautiful girl with outstanding looks but a pale face and bewildered eyes standing at the door.

"Who are you looking for?"

The nurse asked, puzzled.

Ruan Jiaxin shrank back like a startled deer and asked in a low voice.

"Excuse me...excuse me, is this Mr. Xue Shih-hao's hospital room?"

The nurse nodded.

"Yes you are?"

“I…I am his…friend.”

Ruan Jiaxin uttered the name with difficulty.

"Come and see him."

The nurse glanced at her, asked no further questions, and simply nodded.

"He's inside. You go in by yourself."

After saying that, he pushed the cart and left.

Ruan Jiaxin stood in front of the closed door, took a deep breath as if gathering enough courage, and gently pushed open the heavy door.

The scene inside the ward was beyond her expectations.

This place didn't resemble a hospital ward; it was more like a luxurious hotel suite. Outside was a spacious living room furnished with leather sofas, a flat-screen TV, a small refrigerator, and even a potted plant. The door to the inner room was ajar, and the voices of two men could be heard from within. One of them, with a slightly hoarse and languid tone, spoke—it was Xue Shihao.

Ruan Jiaxin's heart was in her throat.

She walked quietly to the door of the inner room and saw through the crack in the door that Xue Shihao was half-lying on the high-end hospital bed that was rocking back and forth. He was wearing a hospital gown, but his complexion did not look too bad.

A short boy, who looked only eighteen or nineteen years old, was sitting by his bedside. He was dressed fashionably and had light brown hair. He was talking to Xue Shihao with great enthusiasm.

The two noticed the commotion at the door almost simultaneously and turned to look.

When Xue Shihao's gaze fell on Ruan Jiaxin's face, his eyes widened instantly, filled with undisguised surprise and astonishment.

He clearly hadn't expected that Ruan Jiaxin would actually come looking for him here.

Although it was his first time meeting Ruan Jiaxin, his friend was instantly captivated by her pure yet frightened and pitiful appearance, unable to look away. His mouth was slightly open, and he forgot to continue the previous topic.

"Oh?"

Xue Shih-hao was the first to react, a playful, clearly mocking smile slowly spreading across his lips as he drawled out his words.

"Who do we have here? Isn't this the famous 'cold beauty' Ruan Jiaxin from Dongguan? What wind blew you here today?"

His friend then snapped out of his daze, his eyes still glued to Ruan Jiaxin. He nudged Xue Shihao with his elbow and asked with a wink.

"Brother Hao, who...who is this beautiful lady? Aren't you going to introduce her?"

Xue Shihao laughed heartily, his gaze sweeping over Ruan Jiaxin without restraint, and said in a flippant tone.

"Her? Ruan Jiaxin, the one I mentioned to you before, works at the beauty salon near 'Jingyixuan'. What do you think, isn't she pretty?"

He paused, then added in a deliberately ambiguous tone.

"She's not your sister-in-law yet, but... who knows what will happen in the future."

These words were so explicit and possessive that Ruan Jiaxin's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her body trembled almost imperceptibly. However, she forced herself not to back down or refute them, but instead bit her lower lip tightly.

Xiao Jun's childhood friend immediately understood, and a fawning smile appeared on his face as he nodded repeatedly.

"I understand, I understand! Brother Hao has good taste!"

Then I won't disturb you any longer. You two chat, take your time!

He tactfully stood up, but couldn't help stealing a glance at Ruan Jiaxin before speaking to Xue Shihao.

"Brother Hao, about what I said earlier about borrowing the car..."

"Alright, the key is in my coat pocket in the living room, take it yourself. Be careful when you open it, don't scratch it."

Xue Shih-hao waved his hand impatiently.

"Alright! Thanks, Brother Hao! Sister-in-law, I'll be going now!"

Xiao Jun smiled obsequiously at Ruan Jiaxin, quickly walked out of the inner room, found the car keys in the living room, whistled as he left the ward, and "thoughtfully" closed the outer door behind him.

Suddenly, only Ruan Jiaxin and Xue Shihao remained in the ward. The silence was somewhat oppressive.

Xue Shihao readjusted to a more comfortable lying position, leisurely watching Ruan Jiaxin who was still standing stiffly at the door. The playful smile on his face deepened, mixed with a hint of cat-and-mouse pleasure.

"Tsk tsk, I really didn't expect that."

He spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Our beautiful Ruan actually took the initiative to visit me... this poor soul who was beaten up by your lover and is now lying in the hospital? What, did you come to see if I'm dead or not? Or..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, his eyes becoming sharp and greedy.

"You have something else in mind?"

Ruan Jiaxin's heart was pounding in her chest, and her palms were covered in cold sweat.

She knew that Xue Shih-hao was asking a question he already knew the answer to, and that he was enjoying her current embarrassment and fear.

She forced herself to raise her head and meet Xue Shihao's gaze. Although her voice was still trembling, she clearly stated her purpose.

"Young Master Xue... I've come... I've come to beg you."

"beg me?"

Xue Shih-hao raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.

"What are you begging me for? Do you want me to give you another chance? Or do you want me to let that arrogant brat who dared to lay a hand on me go?" (End of Chapter)