Chapter 46: The Girl Preparing to Jump

Returning to the Criminal Investigation Unit, Qin Chuan sensed that the atmosphere in the building had suddenly shifted. Yesterday, when he first took office, his colleagues had been courteous enough, but their gazes felt routine and impersonal, as if going through the motions.

“Good day, Captain Qin!”
“Good day, Captain Qin!”

But today, though the same familiar faces greeted him, their eyes shone with a completely different light. One by one, they snapped to attention and saluted him with spirited energy. Several young female officers even blushed, their glances shy and evasive.

“Captain Qin, you’re back,” Lu Zhiguo called out as he stepped out of the office, spotting Qin Chuan’s return. He was accompanied by three or four uniformed officers heading out.

“Is there a case?” Qin Chuan asked.

“We just got a call from the emergency center. A student at the Vocational High School is threatening to jump off the building. We’re going over to check it out.”

A student threatening to jump? Qin Chuan had no pressing matters and decided, “I’ll come with you.”

At Zhulin County Vocational Technical High School, several hundred students had gathered on the playground. A few figures clearly identified as teachers and administrators stood beneath the teaching building, trying to dissuade the student on the roof.

“Jiang Xue! Are you out of your mind? Get down right now! Do you want me to expel you?” Cheng Liang, the head counselor, shouted angrily from below.

This problem student was always causing trouble—complaining, fighting, and now threatening to jump. Damn it, he thought, they should have expelled her the first time she caused trouble.

Principal Liang Guofa shot Cheng Liang a glare. “Are you out of your mind? This isn’t the time for threats. If she really jumps, what about the school’s reputation? We need to coax her down first, then deal with her properly.”

With that thought, Liang Guofa forced a smile, trying to appear kindly. “Jiang Xue, I’m Liang Guofa, the principal of this school.”

Jiang Xue on the rooftop glanced down at the balding man beneath her. Principal Liang—how could she not know him? When she was bullied by senior girls in her first year, it was this very man who had used his disgusting, clammy hands on her…

Even from the height of the building, Jiang Xue seemed to smell the foul breath and see the greasy strands of hair on his bald head.

Vice Principal Qiu Guozheng also called out, “Jiang, if you have something to say, say it down here. Rest assured, the school leadership will stand up for you.”

But Jiang Xue remained unmoved. Suddenly, she stood still and began dropping small stones one by one.

Thud!

The crisp sound echoed below. Jiang Xue looked down, thinking how pleasant that sound was. Would her fall make a sound just as beautiful?

“Director Cheng, find a way to get her down! Where are the security guards? Have they gone up yet?” Principal Liang Guofa, seeing his shouts had no effect, vented his anger on Cheng Liang.

“If this isn’t handled well, I don’t see how you can keep your position as head counselor!” he barked. Cheng Liang felt wronged. What could he do if a student threatened to jump?

Suddenly, piercing police sirens blared.

Liang Guofa’s face darkened as he turned to the teachers and students behind him. “Who the hell called the police? Didn’t we say no calls?”

With the police arriving, the situation escalated beyond what Liang Guofa had hoped to quietly resolve.

“Principal Liang, what’s going on? Why such a big fuss?” Liang Kai, director of the city police station, took the situation seriously and led the response team personally.

Upon seeing Liang Kai, Liang Guofa relaxed slightly. They shared the same surname and were distant relatives. Liang Guofa was the vocational high school principal, a mid-level official, while Liang Kai was a county police committee member and city station chief, holding a slightly lower rank. Both were prominent figures in the county with close ties.

“Director Liang, sorry to trouble you over such a small matter,” Liang Guofa said.

“Just a student. Her mother ran off with someone, her father’s a gambler, and she’s a bit emotionally unstable. She had a minor quarrel with classmates and got upset, threatening to jump,” he explained.

Liang Kai looked up sharply. “Principal Liang, whatever the reason, this isn’t a trivial matter. No one can be allowed to die. First, get her down safely.”

“Firefighters, bring the safety air cushions,” he ordered.

Liang Kai’s approach was standard procedure, though its effectiveness in saving a life remained uncertain.

At that moment, another siren sounded.

“Director Liang, the Criminal Investigation Unit has arrived.”

“Oh? What are they here for?”

“The emergency center must have notified them as well.”

Liang Kai nodded casually. Zhulin County was small; if someone really jumped and survived, that was fortunate; if not, forensic evidence would be needed.

But when Liang Kai saw Qin Chuan step out of the vehicle, his expression turned serious.

Liang Kai had first met Qin Chuan at the Red Pavilion, the night Qin arrested Sun Tao and Song Hui. He had a vivid impression of Qin’s ruthless methods—Qin was fierce, and those he caught, especially wanted criminals, often ended up crippled.

Of course, no matter how formidable Qin was, Liang Kai wasn’t afraid—he was a law-abiding official and Qin’s superior as a county police committee member. Qin had no reason to clash with him.

Still, Liang Kai greeted him warmly, largely because Qin had captured Song Yaozong.

“Captain Qin, you’re here too?” Liang Kai asked.

Qin Chuan was familiar with Liang Kai and knew he was no villain.

Under the “Evil Eye” system, Liang Kai’s corruption rating was 8—he had accepted minor bribes multiple times and had been caught soliciting prostitutes on occasion.

“Hello, Director Liang,” Qin replied, “Lu Zhiguo got the call from the emergency center, and since I wasn’t busy, I came along to take a look.”

“Captain Qin just started yesterday and already solved a homicide case. I also heard someone was causing trouble at the Lucky KTV last night and was taken into custody by him,” Liang Kai said, avoiding mention of Song Yaozong by name, but everyone present knew exactly who he meant.

Not only the system insiders, but also Liang Guofa, Qiu Guozheng, and Cheng Liang were aware of Qin’s formidable reputation.

“This should have been handled by the Public Security Team, but since it happened under our noses, we had to intervene,” Qin said.

“What’s the latest situation?”

Qin glanced up at the thin figure on the roof, hesitant. A student threatening to jump at the vocational high school—it sounded familiar from a past life.

“Captain Qin,” Liang Guofa hurried over, “I’m Liang Guofa, principal of the vocational school. The student on the roof is a problematic one named Jiang Xue. She had a small conflict with classmates and is just acting out emotionally.”

Though Liang Guofa outranked Qin in title, his authority was far less significant. Moreover, Qin was known as a hard man who even dared to arrest Song Yaozong.

Establishing good relations with Qin would certainly be advantageous.

Jiang Xue. The name struck a thunderous chord in Qin’s mind—he suddenly remembered who she was.

In the previous life, Zhulin County had been rocked by a horrifying serial murder case.

Within one week, nine students at the vocational high school were killed.

The culprit was a disabled female student named Jiang Xue.