Reborn not to be a beast of burden, I set the rules.

The bus has arrived at the stop.

Ye Ming and Ruan Xing got out of the car together. The sunlight fell on the two of them, casting long shadows one in front of the other.

When Ye Ming arrived at the Zhujiang Road Police Station, he pushed open the glass door, and a blast of cold air rushed out.

Ruan Xing followed behind him, her pace slower than before. She glanced up at the police badge on the wall, then looked down again, her fingers gripping the strap of her backpack.

In the lobby, a young police officer sat in front of a computer, glanced up at them, and asked, "What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for Officer Li," Ye Ming said. "We had an appointment."

The young policeman called out into the building, "Brother Li, someone's looking for you."

A person peeked out from the end of the corridor.

He was in his early fifties, with a round face and some gray hair. He was wearing a police uniform but hadn't buttoned the top button.

Officer Li came out, saw Ye Ming, and nodded: "You've arrived?"

Ye Ming stood up: "Hello, Officer Li."

Officer Li glanced at Ruan Xing beside him and beckoned, "Come in and talk."

The office is small, with two desks, two swivel chairs, and a sofa opposite.

Several documents were spread out on the table, and the ashtray was stuffed with cigarette butts. Officer Li stacked the documents aside and gestured for them to sit down.

Ruan Xing sat on the sofa, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, unsure of where to look.

She glanced at Ye Ming; he was sitting upright, his face expressionless, as if he were listening to a lecture in a classroom.

Ye Ming explained the situation: During the National Day holiday in Shanghai, Ruan Xing met a startup team through a QQ group. They claimed to be working on a new model from the United States, but they couldn't specify what kind of company it was. Anyway, it sounded pretty impressive.

I paid 5,000 yuan, and now they want another 3,000 yuan, saying it's for operating costs, and they've invited me to a "live briefing" on Sunday.

He spoke quickly, but very clearly.

As Ruan Xing listened, her mind was a jumbled mess. She didn't want to think about those details anymore, but Ye Ming spoke for her, one item at a time, like reading a list.

Ye Ming glanced at Ruan Xing, who seemed dazed.

Little Ruan probably has never been to a police station in his entire life.

After listening, Officer Li lit a cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled, the smoke dissipating under the fluorescent light.

"From Shanghai?" he asked.

Ruan Xing nodded.

When you paid, what kind of receipt did they give you?

Ruan Xing shook her head. She had submitted the application on a whim without any proof.

"We've seen this kind of scam several times," Officer Li said. "They use the guise of an American company to specifically target college students. Their so-called 'introduction sessions' are just a way to get you to pay more money."

Ruan Xing's face paled slightly. She lowered her head and stared at the tips of her shoes.

Even though I knew it would be like this, hearing it from the police themselves still makes a difference.

Ye Ming asked, "Can we arrest them at the briefing on Sunday?"

Officer Li stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, glanced at him, and said, "I need to report this to the branch office. They'll definitely arrange someone then. Keep in touch on Sunday, and I'll coordinate with you."

Ye Ming nodded, then asked, "What about the money? Can she get a refund for the five thousand she paid earlier?"

Officer Li leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the table: "It's possible to refund them, but we have to go through procedures. The funds involved in the case need to be sealed up and can only be returned after the case is closed. It could take one or two months if things go smoothly, or up to six months if things go slowly. And, most likely, it won't be a full refund, so be prepared."

Ruan Xing's face paled even more. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Ye Ming glanced at her and asked again, "What if the scammer voluntarily backs out? Before the case is closed."

Officer Li paused for a moment, then laughed: "You certainly have a good idea. It would be best if they offered to refund you, but the worst-case scenario is if they don't."

Ye Ming nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Stepping out of the police station, the sunlight was so bright it was hard to open one's eyes. Ruan Xing kept her head down, silent, and her steps were much slower than before.

Ye Ming glanced at her sideways and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"One or two months, or even half a year... that's too long," Ruan Xing said softly. "If my parents knew about this, they'd laugh at me for ages."

Ye Ming didn't reply and took a few steps.

He pondered for a moment.

To get their money back, they must do so before the police close in.

Suddenly he said, "It might not take that long."

Ruan Xing raised her head.

"If they want to get away with it, they have to return the stolen goods as much as possible." Ye Ming's voice was very calm, with almost no emotional fluctuation. "Voluntary return and waiting for the court's verdict are different in nature."

Ruan Xing paused for a moment, then her eyes slowly brightened: "You mean..."

"Don't be too optimistic," Ye Ming interrupted her. "Go to their office first, then we'll know what to do."

Ruan Xing stared at his back, watching his steady steps, without even changing his rhythm.

She gripped the strap of her backpack and hurried after him.

No. 187 Zhujiang Road, opposite New World Department Store.

A gray-white office building, with several mobile phone repair shops and printing shops on the ground floor, their signs side by side, crowded together.

The upstairs windows were tightly closed, and the curtains were drawn, so you couldn't see inside.

Ruan Xing stood at the doorway, looked up, and asked, "This should be it?"

Ye Ming nodded, pushed open the glass door, and went inside.

The hallway was dark, the paint on the walls was peeling, and there were a few "For Rent" signs posted on the walls.

There was a sign at the elevator entrance listing the names of the various companies and their floors.

Ye Ming glanced at it and found the name on the fourth floor: Huasheng Network Technology Co., Ltd. The name sounded quite professional, and there was nothing wrong with it.

He pressed the elevator button, and Ruan Xing stood next to him, clutching the strap of her backpack, staring at the numbers flashing above the elevator door.

The elevator arrived, the doors opened, and the elevator was empty.

The two went inside, and Ruan Xing pressed the button for the fourth floor. The elevator doors closed and began to hum as it went up.

We've reached the fourth floor.

The door opened to reveal a corridor covered with a gray carpet, and several framed propaganda posters hanging on the walls.

At the end of the corridor was a glass door with the company logo on it, and you could vaguely see a few people working inside.

Ruan Xing paused at the elevator entrance. Ye Ming glanced at her and said, "Let's go."

He pushed open the door and went inside. A young woman was sitting at the front desk. She looked up at them, smiled, and asked, "Hello, who are you looking for?"

Ruan Xing took a deep breath and stepped forward: "I'm looking for Manager Wang, whom I've contacted before."

"Okay, please wait a moment." The girl picked up the phone, dialed a number, and whispered a few words.

A moment later, a man in his thirties emerged from the end of the corridor. He wore glasses and a shirt and looked quite refined.

"Ruan Xing, right?" He smiled and extended his hand. "Welcome, welcome. Come in and have a seat."

Ruan Xing shook hands with him and glanced at Ye Ming.

Ye Ming nodded and followed her inside.

Manager Wang led them into a small conference room.

Several display boards hung on the wall, printed with words such as "US Headquarters," "NASDAQ Listed," and "Hundred Billion Market," accompanied by photos of foreigners and colorful charts.

On the long table were several bottles of mineral water and a stack of brochures. The cover featured a blond, blue-eyed foreigner in a suit, with his hand resting on the conference table, next to a line of gold lettering.

"The next multi-billion dollar opportunity is waiting for you."

Ruan Xing sat down, her fingers gripping the corner of the brochure, and remained silent.

Manager Wang sat opposite him, legs crossed, and began to speak.

From the US headquarters to the China layout, from Nasdaq to future listing, they talked about "Wall Street capital's optimism," "exclusive authorization in China," and "limited founding member slots."

Every sentence was grand, every word resounding, and the demeanor was calm and composed.

Ye Ming sat down beside him without saying a word. He put his backpack on the side of the chair. The recording had been on for a while, and his phone was in the side pocket of his backpack, screen down.

I haven't touched it since the moment I walked in.