Chapter 234: Fearless and Determined
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“Classmate, you might have forgotten that we are on a street, and there are surveillance cameras everywhere,” Huo Fanjin pointed out with a smile, indicating one right above them.
“As for what you said earlier,” Jiang Fuyue took out her phone and pressed the play button, “I have recorded it.”
Ren Xinghe’s face turned pale, and a thought flashed through his mind: Who’s dumber among those who made it to the summer camp?
About fifteen minutes later, the police arrived and took statements on the spot.
Jiang Fuyue suspected Ren Xinghe of intentional harm and refused mediation, explicitly demanding accountability. The two officers exchanged glances, realizing this matter couldn’t be resolved easily. They couldn’t help but direct their attention to the overly young girl before them, their eyes filled with curiosity, doubt, and a hint of scrutiny.
But she met their gaze steadily, without a trace of evasion, making them feel a bit uneasy.
“Ahem…” One of the officers cleared his throat, “Are you classmates?”
Jiang Fuyue: “We were in the same summer camp training class, but the training is over now.”
“Technically, we are former classmates,” Jiang Fuyue did not deny this.
“Since you are classmates, it might be better to resolve this amicably rather than escalate the situation…”
“Officer,” Jiang Fuyue interrupted him, “If you didn’t hear me clearly, I’ll repeat: no negotiation, no mediation, and I insist on pursuing accountability.”
“Hey, I was just saying that this girl…”
At this moment, another slightly older officer stepped forward, “Xiao Liu, go to the car and get some water for everyone.”
“But…”
“Just go, I’ll handle this.”
The younger officer, called Xiao Liu, walked away sullenly.
“Don’t mind him, young lady. He’s new and lacks experience,” the older officer said with an awkward smile.
“Really?” Jiang Fuyue smiled, “I thought he handled this kind of dispute quite skillfully, very seasoned.”
The middle-aged officer rubbed his nose, laughing awkwardly, “Ahem! Hello, my name is Officer Zhou.”
“Officer Zhou,” Jiang Fuyue nodded, following the lead.
With such poise and demeanor, she showed no trace of the naivety typical for her age, more like a seasoned negotiator.
No, she was even harder to deal with than a seasoned negotiator. From the first word she spoke, she had been calm and collected, leaving no room for error.
“Xiao Liu, oh, my young colleague, just wanted to mediate the dispute, to make peace on both sides, without any intention of sheltering anyone. In modern society, peace is precious. We are just following the standard procedure. Of course, if one party refuses to mediate, we won’t force it and will fully respect the wishes of those involved.”
Indeed, wisdom comes with age.
With a few words, he had redefined the young officer’s actions as “part of his duty,” leaving Jiang Fuyue with no room to exploit the situation. Moreover, it’s hard to argue with someone who is being so reasonable. If Jiang Fuyue insisted, she might come off as unreasonable.
Her deep eyes stared directly at the officer, her smile widening, “Since Officer Zhou understands my stance, that’s for the best.”
“So, you still insist on no mediation?”
“Of course.”
Officer Zhou was silent for a moment, “Alright. But I need to remind you of a few things. Normally, I wouldn’t say this, but you youngsters can be impulsive and make rash decisions…”
Jiang Fuyue: “I’m all ears.”
Officer Zhou sighed, “First of all, you are all high school students, minors. Going to the police station can have a bad impact. If things get serious and leave a record, it could haunt you for life. That’s why I advise you to think carefully.”
“Secondly, it’s clear that Classmate Ren was at fault. If you insist on pursuing this, he might face criminal charges, which is a severe punishment for a young high school student. Isn’t that too harsh?”
“As the old saying goes, ‘To forgive is divine.’ Perhaps he acted on impulse. If this ruins his future, isn’t it too much?”
“Of course, I’m not saying that mistakes shouldn’t be accountable. Nor am I sympathizing with anyone. I just think that some matters don’t need to be taken to extremes.”
“Finally, I see that Classmate Ren has injuries on his neck too. If you pursue this, he could counter-sue. If this drags on and involves parents or even goes to court, the costs will be high.”
“Litigation means high time and money costs. You know this as well as I do. Looking back, it might not be worth it to escalate the matter.”
Appeal to reason, stir emotions, and the other party analyzed the pros and cons thoroughly.
I have to admit, this old ginger is indeed quite spicy.
Even Fang Canyang, the primary victim, couldn’t help but waver a bit.
Not to mention kids like Gao Zhaoming and Huang Hui, who came from ordinary families.
Subconsciously, they were accustomed to avoiding risks. Unless necessary, they didn’t want to bring trouble upon themselves; stability and safety were probably their highest pursuits.
However, there was no sign of wavering on Ling Xuan’s face.
Lin Shumo let out a light scoff, his eyes filled with mockery.
Huo Fanjin furrowed her brows slightly, seemingly in deep thought.
The growth environments and family backgrounds of these three gave them the confidence to avoid trouble but also not to fear it.
If they were in this situation today, needless to say, Ren Xinghe would be done for.
But if it was merely about standing up for Fang Canyang, they couldn’t help but weigh the situation.
After all, they had only known Fang Canyang for a day, without deep friendship or mutual benefits to exchange, and they weren’t even in the same social stratum.
It’s not that they were cold-blooded; it’s human nature.
Anyone in this situation wouldn’t easily step up to defend a newly acquainted friend.
Only Jiang Fuyue—
Her growth environment was not privileged, her family background was ordinary, even less so than Gao Zhaoming’s, and she couldn’t compare to Lin Shumo or Huo Fanjin.
But she stood at the forefront, meeting the officer’s persuasive gaze with an unyielding stance.
So firm and decisive, without a trace of hesitation.
Even though she almost became a victim herself, she wasn’t Ren Xinghe’s primary target and had no need to pursue the matter relentlessly.
Yet she clearly told everyone—
“If a crime doesn’t consider age, why should punishment differ?”
“If today it was an adult who did this, would Officer Zhou still offer the same advice? I guess it would depend on the circumstances, like if the person was disabled or had powerful connections. But isn’t the law supposed to be equal for everyone?”
“As for the injuries on Ren Xinghe…”
Before Jiang Fuyue could finish, Fan Ye jumped in, articulate and clear, “I only injured him to subdue him. It wasn’t to beat him or take revenge, just to prevent him from hurting my friends again. After all, he is a dangerous individual!”
“If you don’t believe me, you can check the surveillance cameras. There’s one right above us, and also on both sides. It’s all clearly recorded. I acted in… uh…”
Gao Zhaoming whispered, “Self-defense.”
“Yes! Self-defense! So, if he pursues charges against me, I’m not afraid!” Fan Ye declared proudly, full of courage.
Officer Zhou frowned, “Little girl, why are you meddling?”
“I’m not meddling. The red mark on his neck is from me grabbing his collar.” Fan Ye said earnestly.
“Right, Sister Yue?”
Jiang Fuyue nodded and smiled slightly at her.
Officer Zhou: “?” What kind of situation is this?
“And regarding going to court…” Jiang Fuyue paused briefly, “If he plans to do that, I’ll see it through to the end.”
Officer Zhou laughed in frustration, “Young lady, seeing it through to the end isn’t just about talking. What will you rely on to see it through? Do your parents know about this?”
Jiang Fuyue: “They don’t need to know, and even if they do, it’s fine because I make the decisions at home.”
“Pfft—” Officer Zhou was genuinely amused, “You? Make the decisions?”
What an international joke!
Jiang Fuyue frowned, not understanding why he found it funny.
Did she look like she was joking?
“Alright, give me your parents’ contact numbers. I’ll call and ask them how they think this should be handled.”
“No need,” Jiang Fuyue said firmly.
Officer Zhou thought she was backing down and his eyes lit up, “If you want to pursue charges, it’s no small matter. As an officer, I must notify your guardians.”
Jiang Fuyue’s face turned completely cold: “Officer Zhou, I hope you understand that I am already eighteen years old and can independently bear civil responsibility.”
“But you’re still a high school student. I must notify your parents. Please provide their phone numbers, or—”
Jiang Fuyue’s eyes narrowed: “Or what?”
Officer Zhou became serious too, “Do you think it’s hard for the police to find someone’s phone number?”
Jiang Fuyue sneered, her refusal clear and even a bit provocative.
Old Zhou felt his liver ache with anger and immediately picked up the phone, motioning for the young officer to bring over the written statements, which included Jiang Fuyue’s personal information.
“Hey, Xiao Xu, I need you to look up someone… ID number 265… Yes, a high school student, and get her parents’ contact numbers…”
Gao Zhaoming began to panic and whispered to Huang Hui, “Are we making this too big? What if Sister Yue really gets her parents called? This is the capital city!”
“It should be fine. Look at Sister Yue, does she look scared?”
Gao Zhaoming glanced over and immediately felt a deep respect.
Jiang Fuyue stood there, expression unchanged, a mocking smile on her lips.
She just watched quietly, neither panicking nor yielding.
When Officer Zhou got the phone numbers, wrote them down, and looked back at Jiang Fuyue, she still had that unyielding, calm demeanor.
This time, Old Zhou not only felt a pain in his liver but also a tightness in his chest, making it hard to dispel his frustration.
What’s with these kids nowadays?
They’re young but incredibly stubborn.
“Jiang Fuyue, I’m asking you one more time, how do you want to resolve this? Think carefully before you answer because your response directly affects whether this call gets made to your parents’ phones!”
“Are you threatening me?”
Old Zhou sighed, his previously straight posture slumping, his eyes reflecting a mix of softness, helplessness, and a bit of kindness.
He truly meant no harm, just wanted to guide these kids onto the right path.
Why won’t they listen?
“Little girl, don’t be so stubborn…”
Jiang Fuyue averted her gaze and casually gave her decision: “Go ahead and call.”
Old Zhou: “?”
Gao Zhaoming gasped, “Sister Yue is serious?!”
Even Lin Shumo and Ling Xuan couldn’t hide their surprise.
Is she really not afraid?
“Fine, you’re really something!” Old Zhou was so angry he turned red, “You think I’m bluffing?!”
Jiang Fuyue: “Not at all.” Not a hint of panic or disorder.
“Alright, looks like you won’t believe it until I make it real!” With that, he picked up the phone and dialed one of the numbers.
Everyone held their breath for Jiang Fuyue.
Gao Zhaoming walked over to her, speaking in a hushed, nervous tone, “Sister Yue, maybe we should drop this? It won’t be good if Uncle and Auntie find out…”
Old Zhou was also watching, thinking: This chubby kid is sensible. If he can persuade Jiang Fuyue to back down, I’ll hang up immediately.
But what did he hear next?
Jiang Fuyue said, “How can you abandon something halfway? If we’re going to be tough, we should see it through to the end.”
She even added a “through to the end”!
Just then, the call connected—
“Hello? Who is this?”
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