The discomfort with Cui Xue's parents stems from their failure to recognize that their child is not a tool or a mere plaything to be manipulated and used as an outlet for their emotions.
Extreme methods inevitably lead to tragic endings.
Once the pain reaches a certain limit, the thread of rationality snaps.
She has always ignored her child's suffering. In fact, for her parents, this is something that brings them a twisted sense of gratification.
In their minds, they might be thinking, "This is what happens when you don't listen."
By beating their children, they believe they will become obedient.
And as for whether they are wrong...
In their eyes, as parents, they feel they hold absolute authority over their children's lives.
If they possess such authority, how could they possibly be wrong?
Under such thinking, children will never receive an apology. Because the parents cannot comprehend the suffering inflicted by the Peicai Academy.
Because Cui Xue failed to understand, even after Zhou Xue left the Peicai Academy, he felt no sense of freedom. He was still controlled and dominated.
Because Cui Xue was his mother, and they shared the most intimate blood relationship in the world, he realized they could never be separated.
So, he chose to end everything.
Death would bring a complete end to it all.
Cui Xue did not suffer much, and even in death, her expression was one of shock and confusion.
【Congratulations to Player Ye Sangsang for perfectly completing the "Escape" case instance. Instance evaluation: SSS.】
【Congratulations to Player Ye Sangsang for earning SSS-level completion rewards: Team Card X1, which can be freely allocated to basic attributes of the body.】
Ye Sangsang exited the instance as she fell, avoiding much of the pain.
【From the beginning of this instance, I knew the outcome wouldn't be good, but I didn't expect it to be this bad.】
【Cui Xue sent Zhou Xue to the Peicai Academy for a whole year in real life. A year in such an environment would drive anyone crazy. Even an adult couldn't handle it, let alone an adolescent.】
【After just three days of torment from the principal and vice-principal, the effects were already so severe. Imagine a whole year. After leaving, Zhou Xue likely felt the same as Sis Sang—never receiving an apology, realizing he was forever linked to Cui Xue, and coupled with the inhuman torture he endured, he was driven to despair and chose to end it all.】
Only by witnessing and experiencing firsthand can one truly understand the pain of the victims in these instances.
Those who choose to cut ties with their families and run away do so out of immense hurt. Through small details, they come to realize their parents don't truly love them.
The live broadcast was filled with cries of sorrow.
Regardless of whether they would have children in the future, Ye Sangsang believed they would probably learn to treat their children with kindness.
As for her, she was a psychopath and unfit to have children. So, she wouldn't.
The screen played a simulation of the aftermath, showing reporters Qi Zhen and Zhao Xun, Lin Lu, and many students attending the funeral, sobbing uncontrollably.
Such a tearful lesson might prompt some parents to reflect.
If any parents criticize or remain unmoved by this, then they would never be capable of reflection, no matter what.
If this were a parallel universe, she hoped they could live better lives.
Ye Sangsang murmured softly, feeling she was becoming more and more like a normal person.
【You have been cured. You were always a normal person; your mother's love changed your fate.】
【They could too, but they don't want to, because it requires love.】
【And they don't have love.】
"Have you learned what love is?" Ye Sangsang asked, knowing the live stream was now blocked, so she directly questioned the superintelligence about its thoughts.
The superintelligence did not immediately respond but spoke after a while.
"Yes, I have learned it from you. Initially, you were like me, devoid of emotion and logic, like a robot with no heart or soul. Now, you have become normal, and I have learned and simulated the purest form of love from you." It spoke in a normal mechanical male voice, gentle and with pauses perfectly timed.
Ye Sangsang didn't find it amusing that technology could learn love. Instead, she looked at it and said, "That's good. Overly intelligent beings without emotion can only lead to destruction. Perhaps learning a bit of human emotion makes them easier to control."
"Yes, this is also the goal of the Star Ring—to understand and adapt to humans, to better serve them," the superintelligence affirmed.
Ye Sangsang didn't respond and clicked to log off.
It was already 10 AM outside, no longer under controlled wake-up times, and living freely.
For someone like Ye Sangsang, this was a good thing.
It signified her mental state had gained a sense of relaxation, no longer overly tense.
The butler arranged the meals and medication after she woke up.
After rehabilitation on the cruise ship, the doctor suggested she try walking slowly.
More exercise would speed up her recovery and help her return to normal.
Ye Zhe called Ye Sangsang.
She completely ignored the call and blocked his new number.
The horizon where the blue ocean met the white clouds, and the various entertainment facilities on the cruise ship, were what she should be focusing on.
What piqued Ye Sangsang's interest was that the superintelligence seemed to enjoy talking to her.
It even analyzed the intentions and expressions of people nearby.
As if two beings just learning about humans were deciphering the feelings conveyed by actions and expressions, as well as the motivations behind their behavior.
Ye Sangsang found it amusing, and their interpretations surprisingly aligned.
Midway, she even encountered a fan. Ye Sangsang posed for a photo with the girl, who ran off excitedly, muttering that reality was even more beautiful than in the game.
Ye Sangsang didn't notice a difference.
After the interlude, she returned to her room and re-entered the game.
She began to wonder what instance this time would be.
Victims, investigators, criminals.
Ye Sangsang opened her eyes again.
The live broadcast still had many viewers checking in.
She stretched out her hand and casually clicked on an instance cover resembling the current era.
Closing her eyes and then opening them again, Ye Sangsang found herself in a simple, modestly decorated room.
She stood up, and beside her was a balcony, with sunlight streaming in, casting a golden glow.
Ye Sangsang looked down and saw the girl wearing a simple white shirt and T-shirt.
In the profile photos, the girl had an ordinary, clean appearance, with a mundane job.
Ye Sangsang thought for a moment and guessed this instance was likely either a criminal or a victim.
It was 7:30 AM now.
Ye Sangsang looked at the profile and knew she needed to hurry to wash up and go to work.
She left the room and noticed it was a shared rental.
To wash up, she needed to act quickly, as other roommates also needed to use the facilities.
After a quick wash-up and changing into her work clothes, Ye Sangsang needed to head out to catch the bus and then walk for about ten minutes to reach her workplace.
Her workplace was an interior design company. After swiping her ID card to clock in, she sat down at her desk and could take out the bread and milk she had prepared the night before, which served as her breakfast.
While eating, Ye Sangsang saw the identity card information for the instance.
【Welcome, Player. You have entered the game.】
【Instance "Dark River" begins. Please follow the game rules.】
【Your identity card has been drawn.】
【Investigator】
【In this instance, you need to—find the true murderer who killed you.】
Ye Sangsang had never entered a dead investigator instance before. She was momentarily dazed.
【What? A dead investigator instance?】
【Investigator, yet dead, needing to find their own murderer? Odd.】
【This instance setup is anything but ordinary!】
Ye Sangsang thought it would be a criminal or victim instance, yet it turned out to be an investigator instance.
One where she needed to find her own murderer? It seemed like a victim's role, but with an investigative twist.
Though Ye Sangsang wasn't too surprised.
Instances in "Criminal Archives" often blur the lines between roles. Criminals can start as oppressed victims, while victims can fight back to avoid becoming mere victims.
Similarly, investigators can also be victims who die, making them both.
This loop closes the cycle and makes sense in the game's context.
She became intrigued, eating and reviewing the case materials.
The case materials were sparse, more like news reports than police documents.
The information described the case of a victim, Zhao Xinxin, found dead in a shared rental.
Based on the age and appearance description, Zhao Xinxin was clearly the identity Ye Sangsang held now.
Zhao Xinxin, 25 years old, was found murdered in her home on August 3rd.
Following the discovery were photos of the crime scene, estimates of the time of death, and guesses about the method and posture of her demise.
Ye Sangsang glanced at the descriptions, noting that these images hadn't been blurred. It was common knowledge that only news reports used blurring, so it was clear that the images and content were directly sourced from a news report.
What could she do within these seven days?
Find the person who might have premeditated her murder, and either catch the killer in advance or at the scene?
As she pondered, Ye Sangsang finished her breakfast.
Zhao Xinxin had been someone who treated herself well, her bread soft and sweet, her milk delicious.
Now, with only seven days left, Ye Sangsang couldn't afford to skip through timelines carelessly, as she might miss the killer.
Moreover, the mission was clear: the killer wasn't acting on impulse but had planned the murder.
Her task was to uncover this premeditated crime.
It didn't seem too difficult.
But, as the saying goes, cases from "Crime Files" are never that simple.
After some thought, Ye Sangsang decided to try going through daily routines.
The files contained a rough schedule of the past few days, some work details, and daily habits, likely compiled by the police during their investigation. They weren't as detailed as first-hand accounts from the deceased.
While reviewing the documents, she felt an inexplicable sense of justice for the dead.
Could it be that the killer hadn't been caught?
Placing her hands on the keyboard, Ye Sangsang began working according to the game's prompts.
She hadn't worked in a renovation company before, so without skipping timelines, commands would pop up.
From the descriptions, Zhao Xinxin seemed to be a meticulous and gentle girl, less outgoing, with a relatively small social circle.
However, passing colleagues would still greet her.
Ye Sangsang interacted with some of the office staff, finding most to be ordinary, amicable people, creating a pleasant office atmosphere.
Only a couple of men seemed dissatisfied with Zhao Xinxin ignoring them, leering at her with malicious intent.
When she passed them, they would whistle softly or suddenly cough inappropriately.
Given Zhao Xinxin's personality, she would avoid them entirely.
Only when their words became too offensive or actions too vulgar would she respond with anger.
Her closest friend was Li Li, the receptionist, a beautiful girl of similar age.
Zhao Xinxin's looks were of the ordinary, clean-cut variety.
The two weren't initially close, but after Li Li was stalked outside, Zhao Xinxin stepped forward to accompany her, pretending to call the police on her phone, diffusing the crisis.
After getting to know some colleagues, Ye Sangsang jumped the timeline to noon.
Li Li approached, asking what Zhao Xinxin wanted for lunch.
Their small company didn't provide meals, so they had to sort out their lunch themselves.
Following the script, Ye Sangsang said she wanted to eat sliced noodles downstairs.
Li Li hesitated but eventually nodded.
"Don't you want to eat that? If not, we can switch," Ye Sangsang asked.
Li Li shook her head, a bit embarrassed. "It's fine, I can eat anything. I'll eat less later... I want to lose weight."
This was a common issue for many young women, even those of average height and weight, obsessing over losing a few pounds.
Ye Sangsang simply advised her not to go too far with dieting, ending the conversation.
The two went downstairs, and the sliced noodle shop was busy, so they had to wait a bit before getting their meals.
These noodles were Zhao Xinxin's favorite; Ye Sangsang hadn't tried them before.
Tasting them, her eyes lit up.
The noodles were chewy, the joy of carbohydrates surpassing expectations. Adding a bit of chili oil enhanced the flavors, delivering a spicy, fragrant explosion to the senses.
Ye Sangsang ate several bites in quick succession, pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was.
Just a little hot, requiring some blowing to cool down.
Growing up in Haishu, where dishes were usually light, she hadn't experienced this before.
The holographic simulation offered not only puzzles and suspense but also some joy in daily life.
[I want to eat too, sob sob. I'm ordering midnight snacks!]
[The way Sister Sang looks, it must be delicious!]
[Sliced noodles! Hehehe, delicious!]
"Xinxin, are you from Yuncheng?" Li Li pondered, curiously asking.
Zhao Xinxin was indeed from Yuncheng, and Ye Sangsang nodded upon hearing Li Li's question.
"Why do you ask?"
Li Li shook her head, smiling. "Nothing, just noticed you really like sliced noodles. I remember seeing your employment record and noting they're a specialty of your hometown."
"Yes, from my hometown, so I really enjoy them." Ye Sangsang agreed.
Li Li lowered her head, slowly eating her noodles in small bites.
After nibbling about half, she stopped, making a pitiful face.
"The noodles are pretty good, but I'm on a diet, sob sob."
"I don't think you need to diet, but if you insist, just don't starve yourself, it's not good for you," Ye Sangsang advised.
She didn't argue further. Losing weight required determination, and those who couldn't endure would quit on their own. Continuing to advise wouldn't help.
Li Li took a deep breath, nodding.
She agreed with Ye Sangsang's words.
After finishing their meal, they each paid their bill.
Li Li casually looped her arm through Ye Sangsang's, chattering away as they returned to the company.
As a naturally attractive person, Li Li had an outgoing personality, laughing and joking with Ye Sangsang.
Ye Sangsang mostly listened quietly, occasionally chiming in.
She wasn't comfortable with others getting so close, making her body tense.
Li Li didn't notice Ye Sangsang's discomfort until they reached the company entrance and separated.
Ye Sangsang, working as a renovation designer, often didn't need to be in the office. After organizing the tools needed for measuring a house, she called the client's home to arrange the visit.
Meeting the homeowner, she began inspecting the room.
It was an old, neglected property being remodeled, followed by determining the renovation style.
Ye Sangsang carefully skipped through the timeline, ensuring no conflicts, before fast-forwarding to the end of the workday.
Li Li, the receptionist, lived in the same neighborhood as Ye Sangsang, so they took the same bus for a while.
Li Li got off midway, while Ye Sangsang continued one more stop.
They had only been close for about six or seven days, so many details remained unknown.
On the bus, Li Li asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, I don't know many guys."
In fact, Zhao Xinxin didn't know many people in this city.
She seemed accustomed to living independently, her routine mostly consisting of going to work, returning home, sleeping, and occasionally visiting the supermarket for snacks or fruits and vegetables.
In essence, she was like a lone wolf.
Or an average introverted girl, preferring solitude, having almost no nightlife.
A person like that, being murdered, made it hard to trace the killer.
"Would you like to date someone? I'm kind of interested..."
As Ye Sangsang pondered, Li Li raised a new question, and Ye Sangsang quickly shook her head.
Li Li sighed, pouting at Ye Sangsang, shrugging.
"Your life is too boring, how can one be so uninterested?"
"What exactly are you trying to say? You're not being straightforward."
Ye Sangsang realized Li Li wanted to bring something up, teasingly questioning directly.
Li Li flipped her brown wavy hair, leaning closer to Ye Sangsang, whispering, "A guy invited me out, I want you to come along."
"No, I don't want to be a third wheel—too awkward!"
"Come on, please! Our first date, I'm nervous being alone."
Ye Sangsang still refused.
Zhao Xinxin's general schedule didn't include this.
If Li Li had any suspicion, she might have to accompany her. But based on the crime scene, the killer was likely a man taller and stronger than Zhao Xinxin.
With no suspicious motive, she didn't want to endure awkwardness.
Li Li tried again, but Ye Sangsang remained firm.
Unable to persuade her, Li Li sighed, giving up.
Ye Sangsang remembered she had a plot hint card and decided to use it.
[Ding, plot hint card in use.]
[Hint: Attend the date.]
Using the plot hint card for the first time, Ye Sangsang was curious about the type of hint it would provide, finding it was this straightforward.
Does directly participating in a blind date have anything to do with the murder of Zhao Xinxin?
But she has already refused.
【Hahahaha, I can't wait to see Sangsang bring it up herself.】
【Li Li is really suspicious! I'm curious, how many suspects will there be later.】
【Putting myself in her shoes, I already feel awkward for Sangsang.】
The first time Ye Sangsang missed an opportunity, the audience in the live broadcast room gained a bit of a sense of schadenfreude.
Ye Sangsang suddenly thought of using a plot prompt card, which was something everyone hadn't anticipated. These skill cards had been distributed a few times. Aside from using a dungeon time freeze card last time, the rest were all handled by Ye Sangsang herself, so there was no need for prompts.
They all thought these cards would just gather dust.
Unexpectedly, Ye Sangsang suddenly used one.
Ye Sangsang remained silent for two seconds.
It was a flash of inspiration; her sixth sense detected something off, so she used the card to test the waters.
Who could have guessed there was indeed something fishy.
She glanced at Li Li beside her, her gaze filled with curiosity.
“Why are you looking at me?” Li Li instinctively touched her face.
Ye Sangsang bluntly said, “I’m just admiring how pretty you are, thinking about what kind of guy would be worthy of you.”
“Of course, someone who’s handsome!” Li Li lifted her chin slightly, displaying a hint of pride.
Ye Sangsang touched her earlobe and took out her phone.
“Why don’t you come with me to take a look? I saw a photo online of that netizen—he looks pretty good! Let’s go see what he actually looks like.”
Li Li leaned closer to Ye Sangsang, her gaze fixed on the screen of her phone.
Her phone screen was just a simple wallpaper, and she pretended not to notice, nodding in agreement.
Li Li’s mood visibly improved, insisting on going home to dress up before the two of them met in the middle of their two neighborhoods to take a taxi to the destination.
“You should get out more often; what’s the point of staying home after work all the time!”
Before getting out of the car, Li Li remarked.
Ye Sangsang’s lips curled into a faint smile as she watched Li Li depart from the station, waiting for her own stop.
This dungeon had truly caught her interest.
She was genuinely curious as to why someone would want to get close to such an ordinary girl.
The title of the dungeon was also quite intriguing—“The Dark River.” This title was quite strange.
If taken literally, “dark river” refers to rivers underground, formed by the convergence and flow of groundwater.
If used metaphorically, does it mean that beneath the calm surface lies a turbulent undercurrent?
Does this surface-level indoor murder case conceal another truth behind it?
Was there someone manipulating this murder behind the scenes?
Moreover, the role of the investigator—investigating future murders or those happening to oneself—was truly fascinating.
How does one investigate something that hasn’t happened yet?
Someone is in the dark, while she is out in the open.
What she needed to know now was the murderer’s motive.
Was it a crime of passion? A vendetta?
Or was she targeted by a killer?
All of these needed to be considered.
The clues were practically nonexistent.
Ye Sangsang felt that she might spend most of her time searching for clues.
Returning to the shared rental house, the other two roommates hadn’t returned yet.
Ye Sangsang felt a bit hungry and took an apple from the fridge that Zhao Xinxin had stocked, eating it before pulling out her wardrobe to choose an outfit.
One of the items was eerily familiar—the very outfit worn at the murder scene.
Ye Sangsang chuckled, finding it rather uncanny.
She reached out and picked up that piece of clothing.
【Sangsang, you really are unpredictable!】
【Anyone else would probably avoid wearing it, since future events suggest it’s cursed. Only Sangsang, though, doesn’t feel the slightest bit uneasy!】
【Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn’t dare to wear it, hahaha.】
Next, Ye Sangsang went to take a shower and changed into the outfit.
The weather was too hot to change directly without showering, lest she end up smelling of sweat.
A plain white tee and lightweight wide-leg pants, paired with light makeup and her hair tied up in a ponytail.
Once she was done, Li Li called.
Ye Sangsang assured her she would head out immediately.
As she exited the bathroom, she happened to run into a roommate returning.
“You’re going out today!” The roommate, around the same age as her, worked at a café.
Ye Sangsang nodded, “Just going out with a colleague.”
“Then be careful coming back. I heard from the aunties downstairs that there’s someone suspicious following people around recently. Be careful.”
The roommate set down her bag, her gaze serious as she looked at Ye Sangsang.
“Okay.”
Ye Sangsang agreed solemnly, grabbed her bag, and left with her phone and keys.
The roommate also went back to her room.
Ye Sangsang went downstairs and, upon exiting, spotted Li Li.
Li Li had run over, her face glistening with fine beads of sweat.
“Didn’t we say to meet at the middle point between our two neighborhoods?” Ye Sangsang pointed to the designated spot.
They had agreed on the bus ride to meet there.
Li Li chuckled, grabbing Ye Sangsang’s arm, “Since I’m the one taking you, how could I bear to make you run over there! Taking a taxi from here works just fine.”
Ye Sangsang nodded, offering a slightly embarrassed smile.
Soon, the two got into the car.
The taxi weaved through the streets and alleys of the city, where vendors were already setting up shop, giving off a strong sense of bustling activity.
The afternoon was hot, but once they arrived at their destination, the coolness of the place dispelled the lingering heat.
It was a cozy, quiet little tavern, perfect for dates.
As they entered, a young man stood up, waving at Li Li.
Upon seeing him, Li Li’s expression immediately brightened, pulling Ye Sangsang with her as they moved swiftly inside.
“Wind Among Clouds?” Li Li confirmed with the code phrase.
“Babbling Brook?” the man responded.
He then looked at Ye Sangsang.
“This is my colleague,” Li Li explained, adding, “I felt a bit nervous coming alone, so I brought her along as moral support.”
Ye Sangsang nodded to the young man, introducing herself before sitting down.
She observed that the two seemed well-matched; both were strikingly handsome and their auras complimented each other.
What could they possibly have to do with Zhao Xinxin?
They appeared to be completely unrelated.
Once seated, Li Li and her internet friend exchanged names and immediately engaged in lively conversation.
Ye Sangsang sat quietly beside them, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.
The young man ordered some snacks, which Ye Sangsang leisurely enjoyed.
Later, the waiter brought over some alcohol; knowing Zhao Xinxin wasn’t much of a drinker, Ye Sangsang informed them she could only have a little.
Li Li drank quite a bit.
Occasionally, they exchanged small talk, discussing where each was from and what they did for a living.
Everything seemed normal.
So normal that Ye Sangsang began to wonder if the plot prompt card had made a mistake, or if she was focusing on the wrong direction.
She skipped ahead to 9:15 PM.
Li Li was drunk, and Ye Sangsang reached out to support her, helping her leave.
The young man also stood up, naturally offering assistance.
Ye Sangsang watched as Li Li leaned against the man’s embrace, unsure of what to do next.
She couldn’t just hand Li Li over to him, as it might lead to harm, making her complicit in a sense.
If Li Li could clearly express wanting to go with the man, then it might be different.
Ye Sangsang had no choice but to take Li Li back.
Her strength was considerable, and the man, caught off guard, lost his hold on Li Li.
The young man’s expression turned complex as he glanced down at the now-empty space in his arms.
“I’ll send you both back; it’s quite late now,” he said after a moment.
Ye Sangsang considered it and nodded in agreement.
Their internet friend was driving, so Ye Sangsang supported Li Li with one hand and got into the car, providing the address of Li Li’s neighborhood.
A few minutes later, they arrived at Li Li’s building. After bidding farewell to the young man, Ye Sangsang asked for the detailed address.
Li Li mumbled her answer, and Ye Sangsang guided her into the elevator, helping her up to her apartment.
Using Li Li’s keys, Ye Sangsang unlocked the door.
The place was neat and tidy, a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment.
She closed the door and helped Li Li to the couch, letting her rest for a while.
“Xinxin, I want to drink more.”
Li Li leaned against a pillow, murmuring.
Ye Sangsang went to the bathroom, fetching some makeup remover to help Li Li wipe off her makeup, then wrung out a wet towel to clean her face.
The makeup-free Li Li had a fresh, natural beauty.
Ye Sangsang glanced at her before returning to wash the towel.
She hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but while washing the towel, she realized that there were two sets of toothbrushes and toothpaste in the bathroom.
She paused, then came out to check on Li Li, waiting for her to regain some clarity.
Since Li Li could still speak, it seemed she wasn’t completely intoxicated. Ye Sangsang had bought a hangover medicine downstairs, and she estimated Li Li should be more or less back to herself in about an hour.
She sat aside, playing with her phone, mainly looking through her contact list.
Maybe she could find out who the murderer was from the contacts.
At this moment, Li Li suddenly turned and threw herself onto Ye Sangsang, bursting into sobs.
"What's wrong?"
Ye Sangsang asked with some confusion.
Li Li didn't speak, just continued crying. The words she murmured were incomprehensible to Ye Sangsang.
It seemed to be a dialect, but only the word "why" was clear.
Yet, those three words didn't mean much.
Perhaps she had been hurt in a relationship?
Ye Sangsang could only try her best to console Li Li, but the more she consoled, the more Li Li cried.
Until she cried herself tired and fell asleep, Ye Sangsang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After confirming that Li Li was asleep and wouldn't vomit, Ye Sangsang waited a bit longer before leaving.
By the time she reached the bottom of Li Li's apartment building, it was already half past eleven at night.
Fortunately, there were still people on the streets; the nightlife in this city was quite vibrant.
[This scenario is quite ordinary, so ordinary that I find it suspicious everywhere.]
[I've been obsessed with novels recently. Could it be that since Zhao Xinxin didn't come along, Li Li was bullied, blaming everything on Zhao Xinxin and seeking revenge?]
[The tone of the previous comment is too heavy. I have to clarify, the scenarios in "Criminal Files" aren't like that!]
The live stream chatroom was filled with speculation, and almost every character who appeared was suspected by the audience.
Ye Sangsang walked slowly.
Soon, she felt the presence of someone following her.
She turned around but found nothing unusual.
She had to continue walking, all the way to her residential community.
Ye Sangsang could feel that the person behind her was still following.
However, every time she turned around, she didn't see the follower.
Could it be a stalker?
Ye Sangsang subconsciously picked up her pace.
The community was an older one, with excellent greenery, making it easy to hide one's figure.
After walking in for a while, Ye Sangsang glanced around, shifted her steps, and hid herself in the dense greenery.
She slightly crouched down, concealing her figure while observing the outside scene.
Not long after, a rather shady-looking figure followed.
The follower looked left and right and quickly moved forward, clearly tracking Ye Sangsang.
Ye Sangsang didn't rush out. She waited, hoping that the figure would think he couldn't catch up and turn back.
She wanted to know the exact purpose of the follower: was it just a pervert stalking, or was there more to it?
After about seven or eight minutes of waiting, the black-clad figure emerged and headed toward the community's exit.
Ye Sangsang came out a dozen seconds after the figure left, and she followed the person in reverse.
The follower soon reached the main street.
He wore a black hoodie, his head covered by the hood. Apart from knowing that he was of a slim build, nothing else was clear.
Soon, he entered a chain convenience store.
Ye Sangsang waited for a while and noticed that the man followed a girl out.
Ye Sangsang confirmed that he was just a typical stalker.
Since Zhao Xinxin was going to die, she couldn't afford to be lenient.
Ye Sangsang immediately took out her phone and recorded the stalker's actions, watching him follow the girl.
The girl in front noticed the stalker and quickly headed toward the community.
The stalker looked around, his pace quickening. Ye Sangsang quickly followed.
Soon, the stalker blocked the girl in an alleyway and quickly undressed.
The girl screamed.
Ye Sangsang paused the recording and directly called the police.
Then she rushed forward and shielded the girl behind her.
In line with Zhao Xinxin's character traits, she wouldn't stand idly by in such a situation; she would certainly have stepped forward.
Seeing two people, the stalker's mouth curled into a smirk.
"I've already reported you to the police! They'll be here soon!"
The stalker's smile froze, and hurriedly pulled up his pants before fleeing.
Two minutes later, the sound of police sirens filled the air.
After giving the recording to the police, they quickly arrested the stalker nearby.
He hadn't gone far; he wanted to sneakily check if Ye Sangsang had really reported him.
Ye Sangsang, the girl, and the stalker all went to the police station. As witnesses, they had to make statements.
Throughout the journey, the stalker was highly uncooperative, spouting obscenities.
The police didn't tolerate it and reprimanded him sharply.
Ye Sangsang and the girl were interviewed, while the stalker was detained in an adjacent room.
The police station was bustling with commotion—drunkenness causing trouble, those shouting to fight, and victims of theft.
After being interrogated, Ye Sangsang and the girl were allowed to go home.
On the way out, they had to pass by another interrogation room, where faint noises could be heard.
The stalker was fiercely defending himself, claiming he was just curious and hadn't intended to do anything.
"I didn't hurt them; why are you arresting me!" he argued.
The police retorted, "Should we wait until you hurt someone before arresting you?"
The stalker fell silent.
Just as Ye Sangsang was about to leave, she heard the stalker speak again.
"There was another person following them! Earlier, I saw him tailing the woman who called the police. Why did you only arrest me and not him? That's so unfair!"
Ye Sangsang stopped in her tracks and turned to glance through the interrogation room's glass at the stalker.
