Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Facing her eyes full of justice...
The fifth floor of Lijing Nightclub.
The room was choking with smoke, the light dim, and the dark green velvet curtains only slightly drawn. Su Yiyun's thin, slightly concave face was reflected in the glass window, which appeared smooth and transparent but was actually covered in dirty dust particles.
At this moment, she was staring downstairs motionlessly.
The pale daylight shone directly on the street. Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people, Yu Yexiang was escorted into a police car by several policemen. She did not resist at all and did not even look up at the building.
After all, this was something they had agreed on long ago—
Child trafficking is a serious crime and will result in a severe sentence. Although it was her idea to open this nightclub as a front, she is still young and has a chance to make a comeback.
Therefore, once the police find any clues, the mother will stand up to protect her and their business that has been going on for so many years.
However, the silver light reflected by the metal handcuffs still deeply hurt Su Yiyun's heart at this moment.
A line of clear tears slowly slid down her cheek. She raised her hand to take off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of red eyes full of resentment.
"...Mom, you owe me this."
Having said that, Su Yiyun couldn't help but lean forward, and gently stroked the slightly hunched figure with his fingers through the glass, sobbing twice.
The man standing behind her whispered, "Miss Yun, this is too dangerous." Su Yiyun did not move.
It was not until a fleet of police cars downstairs drove off the street with sirens blaring that she took a deep breath and turned around.
"Tong An." She looked at the man indifferently, "Are you all ready?"
"Well, all the children have been taken away, and the basement has been furnished."
Su Yiyun nodded, walked out of the room, and walked down the stairs slowly.
Two hours ago, Ding Tongguang called and told her that the police had looked for Su Yue and asked many questions about her. She then knew that her relationship with Yu Yexiang would soon be exposed.
Although I knew this day would come, I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
With a creak, she pushed open the door and walked into the basement where children were imprisoned.
There was no light source and no one here. There were a few pieces of cloth scattered in the corner, and an unpleasant smell in the air.
There was an altar in the middle of the room, and the photo frame in front of the incense burner was placed there by Yu Yexiang herself before she left.
Su Yiyun looked at the black and white photo above, his eyes flashing.
She was originally Su He's only daughter, a little princess who was cherished in his palm. In those days, everyone in the compound praised her beauty and cuteness, and every child wanted to be her little follower.
But since Su Yue returned to the Su family at the age of eight, everything has been different.
The girl always opened her big, timid eyes timidly, with a pitiful look on her face, which made everyone gather around her.
Whether it was Su He Chuman or the little boy who once ran after her, none of them were exceptions.
Even Ding Tongguang, the childhood sweetheart next door, fell deeply in love with her and became Su Yue's slave.
Just when Su Yiyun was feeling depressed and upset about this, the school cleaner Yu Yexiang stopped her on the way home from school and claimed that she was her biological mother.
"——Xiaoyun, you have such a good life now, all thanks to me!"
Seeing that she didn't believe it, Yu Yexiang took out the birth records from that year and said, "You'll know when you go home and look for it. Chu Man and I were in the same ward, in the bed next to each other...Xiao Yun, Mom didn't mean to abandon you. If she hadn't switched with Su Yue, you might have starved to death by now!"
Of course Su Yiyun didn't want to believe her.
But this woman was like a time bomb, hanging around the class from time to time.
If I don't shut her up, the consequences will be disastrous once my true identity is exposed.
So Su Yiyun had no choice but to meet Yu Yexiang's demands, invite her to dinner, steal money and jewelry from the house to give to her, help her abduct children who were alone on the street, and affectionately call her mother.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. Su Yue discovered her relationship with Yu Yexiang and threatened to tell Su He and Chu Man about it.
Su Yiyun was so angry that he pushed Su Yue down the stairs, breaking her right hand and severing his eight-year relationship with his adoptive parents.
From then on, although she was not kicked out of the house, she never received any warmth except for the basic food and clothing.
No matter what she said or did, in the eyes of the Su family, she had ulterior motives.
Ding Tongguang was unfaithful in love, and she wanted to remind Su Yue, but in the eyes of others, it became evidence that she was jealous enough to steal someone else's boyfriend.
At that time, Su Yiyun often felt that he was like a clown, and the meaning of his life in this world was to set off Su Yue's beauty and kindness.
When she finally got hold of some evidence and wanted to avenge the grievances she had suffered over the years, Su He suddenly resigned and went into the sea, making all her plans go to waste.
However, the report materials she prepared were discovered by Su Yue and Chu Man, and she was beaten severely.
In despair, Su Yiyun chose to leave Jiangtan and embark on the old path of human traffickers with Yu Yexiang.
She vowed to make a lot of money, stand out, and make everyone regret what they had done!
But now, the money is made.
The only family affection left in her life also disappeared.
In the empty basement, Su Yiyu said nothing, just stared quietly at Yu Yexiang's portrait.
No one knew what she was thinking. After a long while, she grabbed the bottle of the most expensive foreign wine on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
The wine bottle fell to the ground and shattered into transparent glass shards. She crushed it with the sole of her high heels and then instructed Tong An who was guarding the door:
"Burn this place, take the money, and let's go."
*
Municipal Bureau's autopsy room.
Ye Qing handed the autopsy report to Tang Ci, who was standing in the corridor, and softly gave the conclusion: "It was □□. It was hidden in the dentures, so no one found it."
"...committed suicide by taking poison?"
Tang Ci was extremely frustrated and punched the wall hard, "If I hadn't let Cheng Mo leave her alone, but brought her back for interrogation--"
"That won't make any difference." Rao came over quickly. "Xiao Tang, don't blame yourself. She's determined to die."
But the case had once again reached a dead end. Tang Ci let out a long sigh. "She died right under the noses of the Municipal Bureau. How many people would believe me if I said she committed suicide? What if Li Jing sends someone to hold up a banner, accusing us of torture leading to her death?"
"I'll figure it out. Don't worry about it. Just focus on the case."
There were quick footsteps in the corridor. Director Rao raised his eyes and called out Xiao Ji.
Ji Yinhe ran out of breath, "Director Rao, why don't we just ask those foreigners who adopted children? Let's go to the airport now. Maybe they haven't left Jiangtan yet—"
Rao just shook his head.
"Director Rao——"
"No, the current policy is not perfect and it will easily lead to more trouble."
Ji Yinhe didn't understand, "Are we just going to watch those children being taken away?"
"Okay, Xiao Ji!" Director Rao looked into the girl's eyes full of justice and took a deep breath.
"How about this," he said after a moment's pause. "After the case is over, you write a report and I'll submit it to the provincial government. I hope it will draw their attention... maybe we can eliminate the possibility of foreigners circumventing normal procedures to adopt Chinese children at the root."
"Okay!" Ji Yinhe jumped on the spot, feeling that he had never been so eager to write materials in his life.
Before her feet even touched the ground, Xiao Wu had already rushed to her at the speed of a 100-meter race.
"——Free the Director! Captain Tang!"
He shouted in panic: "I just received a call from Hongchang Police Station. There's a fire at Lijing Nightclub!"
*
The billowing smoke dyed the orange-pink sunset dirty. Firefighters in green protective suits held the water hoses tightly and tried their best to put out the fire. The police were busy evacuating the onlookers. One or two dancers ran out in panic with messy hair and black faces.
When Ji Yinhe got out of the car, the magnificent building was still emitting hot air, as if turning the entire street into an alchemy furnace.
The neon sign of "Lijing Nightclub" on the top floor was shaking and was about to fall down.
"Attention! Attention!"
"Team Two, go upstairs and turn on the lights!"
"Everyone, get out of the way—!"
The fire captain strode over and explained to Tang Ci, "Captain Tang, we just discovered the basement downstairs that they secretly renovated. Most of the fire has been put out. Perhaps you would like to go down and take a look."
"Oh my gosh!" Ji Yinhe immediately stood up.
Tang Ci glanced at her, remembered her feat of catching Zhang Hongbo, and nodded, "Okay, you go in later and follow me closely, and--"
He looked back and saw that Xiao Wu and Cheng Mo were busy helping the police evacuate. Only Lu Zheng was left without saying a word, holding three sets of protective clothing borrowed from the fire department.
"Alright, Expert Lu." Tang Ci took the helmet and said loudly, "The three of us will go down together."
The fire chief helped and cleared a path near the back door.
Ji Yinhe, sandwiched between two male police officers, passed through the ruins that were still emitting sparks and entered the mysterious basement.
...The small door of the dance hall finally got a reasonable explanation. It was obvious that this was where Yu Yexiang and others imprisoned the children.
It's hotter in here than outside, and the choking smoke and dust haven't dissipated yet.
Tang Ci waved a flashlight to clear the way ahead and kicked away the half-burned sofa in the middle.
Ji Yinhe covered her nose and mouth with her sleeves, and a big hand reached out from behind and pressed the helmet on her head.
"Be careful!" Lu Zheng's muffled voice came.
Ji Yinhe nodded vigorously, "Yes!"
Tang Ci had already walked a few steps away when he suddenly shouted, "Come here quickly! There's someone here!"
“……!”
Ji Yinhe and Lu Zheng hurriedly half ran and half crawled over.
——Tang Ci moved the wine cabinet with great effort. A waiter was lying motionless on the ground, seemingly unconscious.
"Hey! Wake up! Wake up!"
Tang Ci patted the man loudly a few times. Seeing that he was still breathing weakly but had no physical reaction, he simply picked him up from the ground.
"I have to take him out." He pointed outside, "Maybe he can still be saved! You——"
"Don't worry." Lu Zheng answered before Ji Yinhe, "Let's explore a few more steps forward and retreat if we encounter any danger."
Tang Ci didn't say anything, just nodded and strode out.
Lu Zheng asked Ji Yinhe to hold on to his protective suit and continue groping forward.
But the basement was burned very cleanly, and it seemed that it had been specially cleaned before the burning. Nothing valuable was found except a few pieces of cloth and half-charred furniture.
Another puff of smoke came from somewhere.
"Can you still hold on?"
Ji Yinhe struggled to nod. She didn't want to give up, but the heat wave made it almost suffocating.
She made a gesture and was about to squat down to rest when she pushed her left palm against the ground, just in time to press down a few pieces of broken glass.
"hiss!"
No one knew where Lu Zheng had gone until he heard rustling footsteps. He then came over, put something cold and wet on her face, and tore off a piece of cloth to wrap up her injured left hand.
Ji Yinhe raised his right hand and touched his face, which was a piece of cloth soaked in water.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Hmm!" Ji Yinhe didn't know where he got the water from, so he just asked, "Why don't you use it?"
"I brought a cup with me, but there aren't many left." Lu Zheng's voice was hoarse, and he smiled slightly. "Luckily, I went to look for the cloth just now, and I found two pieces of evidence."
He raised his arm to show the rope he was holding and a half-burned pair of children's trousers.
"This proves that Lijing is indeed trafficking children!" Ji Yinhe's eyes lit up, "Let's go--"
"Okay, follow me closely."
Lu Zheng took a step back and suddenly found that she was still standing there in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
Ji Yinhe didn't answer, but leaned forward and pulled out a photo frame with broken glass from a pile of wood nearby.
"Yu Yexiang's...posthumous portrait?" She stood up and flipped to the back in the dim light of the fire. "Wait, there seems to be more words on the back. It's a suicide note!"
"Go out and see."
There was a faint noise coming from above. Lu Zheng looked up and was worried that the fire that had not been extinguished would spread here.
Ji Yinhe agreed, put the photo in his pocket and quickened his pace.
Unexpectedly, just when they were about to reach the exit of the basement, the originally calm ceiling suddenly shook, followed by a loud bang, and a piece of wooden ceiling with sparks fell down!
It was about to hit Lu Zheng’s head!
"Get out of the way—"
Ji Yinhe suddenly roared, raised his long legs at an extremely fast speed, and kicked towards the ceiling!
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