Couple of Mirrors - Chapter 8: Shielding

 

(cn: domestic violence, attempted sexual assault in last section)

'Post-mortem identification records?' asks Jiang Bin. 

'What is it, boss?' asks his subordinate, Chen Yong.

Jiang Bin picks up the red braided string left behind by Yan Wei. 'If I remember correctly,' he says, 'I last saw this red string around the wrist of that girl who was run over by the car...'

'Yes, I remember now!' exclaims Chen Yong. 'She was brought in the day before yesterday, a girl called Hongmei. She died of blood loss after being run over.' He adds, 'The driver escaped after causing the incident. We're still trying to identify the killer.'

'Chen Yong,' orders Jiang Bin, 'go to the morgue at once, and see if the red string is still around that girl's wrist!' 

'Yes!' says Chen Yong, running off.

If this red string does belong to the dead girl, Jiang Bin muses, then it was probably taken away by the person who identified the body. Meaning that the person who identified the body was most likely the killer... Given the destruction of the records, the killer was likely one of the people who were brought in for questioning yesterday!

Chen Yong rushes back in. 'Boss! The red string is missing!'

'Interrogate the people who were brought in for questioning immediately!' Jiang Bin tells him. 

'Yes!' responds Chen Yong.

Chen Yong looks over the group of people who were rounded up for questioning. 'Odd ... why don't the numbers add up?' he wonders. 'Please wait,' he tells one woman. 'Let me ask you, when the police station caught fire earlier, did you see anyone running away?'

'There was so much smoke, quite a few people got away in the confusion!' the woman tells him. 'I saw a beautiful lady running away with another girl. I think she was someone famous...'

'I saw her, that was Xu Youyi!' says a second woman. 'The beautiful authoress. I really like her!'

Xu Youyi... wonders Chen Yong, as another police officer calls out, 'Next!'

'Boss!' says Chen Yong, returning to Jiang Bin's office. He whispers something in Jiang Bin's ear. 

'All right, I know,' says Jiang Bin.

They end up in the living room of the Zhou mansion. 

'Detective Jiang, you're truly persistent,' says Zhou Heng, coming down the stairs. 'Your investigation has brought you all the way to my door.'

'You seem to have certain views about your superior's orders?' Zhou Heng continues, taking a seat.

'Mr Zhou, you misunderstand me,' says Jiang Bin. 'This time, I'm here because I heard that your wife took someone else with her from the police station earlier this afternoon. I came here to verify this. Is it true?'

'Detective Jiang!' says Xu Youyi, coming in.

Zhou Heng springs up. 'Youyi!' he exclaims, but she brushes past him without acknowledgment. 'I left right after giving my statement this afternoon,' Xu Youyi tells Jiang Bin. 'I took no one away with me.'

'But someone at the scene saw you rush into the fire,' says Jiang Bin. 'They say you left with another girl.'

Yan Wei doesn't have any identity papers, Xu Youyi thinks to herself. She won't be able to explain herself if the police start questioning her....

'I also heard that there was a fire at your police station after I left,' she tells Jiang Bin. 'Perhaps your witness was mistaken in all the confusion.'

Chen Yong pipes up, 'But someone definitely saw you...'

'I can vouch for her!' Zhou Heng breaks in. 'We drove straight home after giving our statements.'

'Is that really so?' asks Jiang Bin. 

'Why?' retorts Zhou Heng. 'Would you rather believe those confused people from the fire, or us?' He adds darkly, 'Unless ... you're dissatisfied with your current occupation, and would like to change jobs?' 

'You!' Chen Yong begins angrily, but he's stopped by Jiang Bin, who warns, 'Chen Yong, don't do anything rash!'

'If there's nothing else, you two are welcome to leave,' says Zhou Heng. 'See the visitors off!' he tells a servant.

As the two of them leave the Zhou mansion, Chen Yong grouses, 'Those bullies have taken things too far! They must be hiding something!'

Jiang Bin lights a cigarette. 'Since the Zhous are refusing to co-operate, it seems like we'll have to start our investigation by looking into Hongmei's relationships...'

Back in the living room, Zhou Heng is earnestly saying, 'Youyi, don't worry. Whatever happens, I'll be on your side...'

'Zhou Heng,' says Xu Youyi, 'I'm very grateful for everything you've done for me today. But this is a separate matter from the way things are between us...'

'Youyi, I know you're still angry with me,' says Zhou Heng. 'But Zhang Wan and I were only having a fling. If she hadn't seduced me first...'

Xu Youyi only looks away.

'Let's stop talking about her,' says Zhou Heng, putting his hands on Xu Youyi's shoulders. 'But you must know very well how I feel about you. You are my one true love! I swear it!'

Xu Youyi slaps his hand away.

'Anyway, it's all over now,' Zhou Heng continues. 'Zhang Wan is dead, there's nothing standing between us now!' 

Xu Youyi is shocked. 'Then do you think Zhang Wan's death was a good thing?' she demands.

'That's not what I...' Zhou Heng begins, but Xu Youyi cuts him short. 'Zhou Heng...' she begins, then continues. 'Zhou Heng, I always thought I loved you, but it's only now that I realise I've never truly understood you...'

'Youyi,' says Zhou Heng, agitated, 'this isn't how...'

'In any case,' says Xu Youyi. 'I think we should separate for a while, so that we can both calm down.'

'Do you mean you're planning to move out of the house?' asks Zhou Heng. 'You're planning to leave me?!'

'Zhou Heng, I'm tired,' says Xu Youyi. 'Let's part ways amicably.'

Zhou Heng is wordless for a moment, then he suddenly grabs hold of Xu Youyi from behind. 'Youyi! Don't go! I was wrong! Don't leave me. You can hit me, you can yell at me, but don't leave me!'

Xu Youyi struggles, but to no avail. 'Zhou Heng! What are you doing? Let go of me!' 

With a 'BANG!', she is slammed against the floor.

Zhou Heng looms over her. 'I've already been so accommodating, what more do you want?' he asks. 'How dare you leave me?'

He grabs hold of Xu Youyi by her shoulders. 'Zhou Heng! Let go of me!' she screams. 

'I love you so much!' Zhou Heng yells. 'I've given you everything you wanted! Do you think you would be where you are today without me? I forbid you to leave me! I've given you everything you have! Without me, you're nothing!'

He kisses her forcibly as she screams, 'No!' Then he rips her dress.

'Zhou Heng! You've gone mad!' Xu Youyi screams.

'I'm not letting you leave,' says Zhou Heng. 'You're mine, mine...'

***

Please view the original manhua here.