Chapter 658: A Million Times for You (20)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“I don’t care about the process, I just want the results,” Lin Mingyuan remarked. “Contact me when you find someone.”
Xu Youran threw her earpiece aside and fixed her gaze ahead.
—
Mei Shuangshuang, Xiaozong, and his friend’s case would have its court hearing conducted very soon.
During the court hearing, Mei Yangyang and her father went despite it all to sit in and hear the judgment.
At the same time, Xiaozong’s friend’s family went as well. Only Xiaozong’s family did not attend. He had gotten into trouble so many times that his family was already thoroughly disappointed with him and did not even attend.
Xiaozong’s fatso friend was absolutely regretful that he had not only not gotten the money, but had also landed himself with charges for a crime.
Compared to his remorse, Xiaozong acted fearlessly, as if there was nothing that could worsen the situation he was already in.
Mei Shuangshuang looked at him and felt that his rotten character did not live up to his good looks.
His handsome face was really for nothing.
While she blamed others, she herself knew that she was thoroughly stupid as well.
At this point, she still held a last bit of hope in her heart that the court would lighten her sentence.
She genuinely hoped for this.
However, she was destined to be disappointed.
While the fat friend was sentenced to twelve years in prison, she and Xiaozong were sentenced to life imprisonment.
This result was like being struck by lightning. No matter how prepared she was, hearing it still made her feel there was no more meaning in life.
She turned around to look at her sister and father and realized that both of them had no expression on their faces. She suddenly felt a sense of despair in her heart. Thinking of the things she had once done, Mei Shuangshuang knew that it was because of what she had done that her sister no longer wanted to even see her. This would probably be the last time she and her sister would see each other in this lifetime.
With Mei Yangyang’s capabilities, she definitely could help her fight for a lighter sentence of ten or so years in prison or even lesser. But it was evident that she didn’t want to help her.
Mei Shuangshuang stood there like a zombie and persisted ’til the end of the court hearing.
With handcuffs around her wrists, she was brought back by the prison officers. What awaited her was a life of being imprisoned.
Was she regretful?
Mei Shuangshuang thought about it. Most criminals would regret what they have done after being sentenced, right?
Even though she regretted it badly, that did not help things at all.
She realized that one had to think of the consequences of everything they do. Relying on luck to survive would only leave one sighing in regret in the end.
After leaving the court, Mei Yangyang held onto her father’s arm. “Father, talk to me if you’re upset.”
Mr. Mei shook his head. “It’ll be fake if I said I’m not upset. What is really upsetting is that since she was young, your mother and I have spoiled Shuangshuang to this state. For her to land in this state, we as her parents have a responsibility that we cannot shirk. Since time cannot rewind, at least now, both you and I don’t have to worry about what trouble she will stir up in the future, and we’ll have more peace as well. Your mother isn’t around anymore, but if she were still here, she would have been crying her eyes out.”
Mei Yangyang helped her father onto the car. During the drive back, she did not say anything further.
When Mei Shuangshuang was still in school, she’d still tried to discipline her sister. But the more she disciplined her, the more disappointed she grew with her.
As time passed, the sisterly bond between them faded as well.
Up until she laid her hands on Xiaoxi. If anything had happened to Xiaoxi, she didn’t know what she would have done. Also, if she were to be softhearted and spare her this time, with her fearless character and spending problem, it was a matter of time before she got into other trouble. Mei Shuangshuang was a bottomless pit that she could never fill up.
Hence, she simply just washed her hands off this matter.
She and her father did not meddle in it and left the matter to the law.
Wasn’t this good, in a way?
But why was it that while she had maintained her composed manner in court, she suddenly felt a stinging pain in her eyes and some liquid flow out?
—
For two consecutive days, there was no progress in Yuan Mingzhu’s case at all.
The coroner’s report came out, and there were no traces of any poisonous substance in her body, nor any injury on any part of her body.
The members of the special team knew that Yuan Mingzhu could swim. Although her swimming skills were not the most excellent, if she’d fallen into a river, she would have had the basic ability to save herself.
Other than the lack of valuable leads from the surveillance camera footage, there was also no leads elsewhere.
Everyone’s hopes were placed on the data in Yuan Mingzhu’s phone.
It would have been fixed by today.
In the afternoon, the officers retrieved the phone.
Officer Zhang from the Serious Crimes Investigation Unit went through the phone for any important information.
But there was nothing from Yuan Mingzhu’s communication applications.
Her call and text message records and phone album were also gone through. There was nothing.
It could be said that repairing the phone was a futile effort.
Pan Zhenghui had his attention closely on this case. “How is it? Is there any progress with the investigation?”
“Bureau Chief, I think that Yuan Mingzhu committed suicide.”
“For what reason?”
“We’ve investigated so many areas already and still can’t find anything. Yuan Mingzhu has psychic abilities. I’m sure Chief has heard of those evil spirits. When they want revenge, who can stop them unless you’re a professional? So, there’s a high possibility that Yuan Mingzhu’s death was the same as what happened to Shi Shaochuan’s mother. Does Chief remember how Shi Shaochuan’s mother died in Ya Long Wan Hotel and appeared to have gone there to commit suicide? Yuan Mingzhu’s death seems similar in that way. So, I speculate that her suicide is similar to that case.”
Pan Zhenghui felt that it made sense.
“That’s true, but I still think that something is amiss.”
Once Pan Zhenghui finished speaking, Team Leader Zhang beside him suggested, “Bureau Chief, why don’t we let the powerful Team Leader An take a look at this case? She isn’t willing to come back to take the position as team leader, but she can communicate with spirits. Wouldn’t everything be clear if she just asks Yuan Mingzhu’s spirit? Chief, if you go and ask her yourself, Team Leader An might give you some face.”
“Give me face?” Pan Zhenghui remarked. “In her eyes, my face has no value at all. Back then, the one who invited her to help out at the station was the Head Officer, and he personally went to ask her. I can only blame myself for not informing her about getting Yuan Mingzhu to take over her position. Thinking about it just makes me feel foolish.”
“Then, Chief, you should go and ask Team Leader An personally. You should just try.”
Pan Zhenghui nodded. “Alright, I’ll go and see her.”
He was afraid that if he called An Xiaoning, he would get rejected by her over the phone. Thus, he did not call her and instead went to the Gu residence to find her.
Other than in the morning and night, An Xiaoning was usually not around at the Gu residence throughout the day.
Realizing this, Pan Zhenghui told Mrs. Gu that he would return at night.
After he left, Mrs. Gu called An Xiaoning. Hearing it from her, An Xiaoning immediately understood why Pan Zhenghui went personally to find her and did not simply call her.
She was fine with it and did not mind meeting him at night when he visited.
Visiting Beijia Bay daily was a habit she wanted to keep.
When she was at her teacher’s place, she received an invitation from Ji Yu to go fishing at the frozen stream by carving a hole in the ice.
Since she was in a leisurely mood as well, she agreed.
At past one in the afternoon, Ji Yu drove over to meet her.