"Just like that?" Officer Tang asks flatly, staring at them with beady eyes.
"That's the highlight, Officer Tang," Jingwei says seriously.
"Well, there was more to it than that," Xue Ning says, trying her best to remember the conversation. Sun Jingwei really cut out a lot of things in the middle to make her look like a superhero.
"There was a lot of trash talking going around. And I told her I had no idea who the fu - I mean who she was, but I called her a total bitch," Xue Ning says seriously, trying to censor herself in front of Officer Tang. He was technically an elder and an officer.
"Then what happened?" This time it is Lin Rui that asks eagerly, leaning forward to listen more carefully. The distance between him and Xue Ning is now closer than ever, and Jingwei has to restrain the urge to pull Xue Ning away from this baby-faced junior officer.
If he tries something like that, Xue Ning might be pissed enough to ignore him entirely, then what would he do?
"Then that woman got so offended that she straight up screamed at me, saying that I was the one that ruined her chances of being Sun Jingwei's bride," Xue Ning recalled, wincing. "Her voice was… loud. Grating. Terrible."
"Also, she was preposterous and most importantly: WRONG," Jingwei can't help but chime in. "She ruined her own chances by trying to drug me, for goodness sake. You'd think after what was done to her she'd place more importance on consent, but clearly that's not the case."
"So she was the woman responsible for your drugging?" Lin Rui asks, in a manner that is less investigative and more like a fan asking his favourite celebrity about their day.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtOfficer Tang makes a mental note to lecture him on the right interview methods. They are here as professionals gathering information, not aunties at the wet market gossiping about whose son went out with whose daughter!
And more importantly, they are not here for Lin Rui to make heart-eyes in front of a witness that happens to be Sun Jingwei's not-wife. That's behaviour unbecoming of a police officer, who should remain professional at all times!
"Yes, I remembered her from the time I saw her at the club," Xue Ning says. "You guys should have the file from the previous case? I gave my statement then."
"We do?" Lin Rui asks, confused. He looks at Officer Tang.
"That case was immediately escalated to our higher-ups because it involved an important person-of-interest. So while we do know about your case, we're not privy to all the details, nor are we in-charge of solving it." Officer Tang explains.
"That's too bad," Jingwei muses. "I would trust my case with you, Officer Tang."
"Please don't give me extra work," Officer Tang says, rubbing the bridge of his nose in tiredness.
"Sorry," Jingwei and Xue Ning both say at the same time.
"Back to the topic, so she admitted to the drugging?" Officer Tang asks.
"Yes, because I accused her of causing me to be hospitalised, but then she claimed it was my own fault for drinking the spiked drink that was meant for him." Xue Ning continues, and Lin Rui lets out a gasp.
"She even mentioned me by name, Officer Tang," Jingwei adds. "I recorded the entire audio, want me to send it to you?"
"Yes, thank you." Officer Tang says, and he soon receives the notification that he has a new audio message. He also forwards it to Lin Rui, who was giving him eager hopeful eyes.
"So yeah, after that, we fought." Xue Ning states simply, and does not elaborate further, but Sun Jingwei was there to fill in the gaps.
"I didn't even need to see the fight, I just heard the screaming and the sound of fighting, and then I heard a crack and Xue Ning yelling at me to call the police if not she'll sic that madwoman on me." Jingwei says proudly. "Isn't she great? She even broke her nose!"
"That's so cool!" Lin Rui says excitedly. Jingwei smiles at him in agreement before remembering that he's a love rival. His smile automatically changes into a scowl, but Lin Rui doesn't notice. He's too busy staring at Xue Ning with starry eyes.
Meanwhile Xue Ning is staring at the table, slightly embarrassed by the way Jingwei is gushing about her accomplishments.
Officer Tang clears his throat and gives all of them a stern look. Lin Rui hurriedly schools his face into one of professional calm. "I mean, that's incredible. You did a good job."
"Exactly! That's what I told her too!' Jingwei agrees haughtily. He doesn't want to have anything in common with Lin Rui, but at least he has the sense to know that Xue Ning is incredible.
Jingwei will let him keep his job for now.
"That's not the most important part," Xue Ning is compelled to say, because Sun Jingwei seems to be forgetting the elephant in the room.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"What is it?" Officer Tang asks.
Jingwei steels himself and answers." Apparently she was the woman in my sex tape scandal. All this time, I thought she leaked the video, and she thought the same about me! So we suspect there's someone behind orchestrating everything, and she kept mentioning a Boss that helped her."
"She also said that they were coming for not only Sun Jingwei, but the entire Sun family. We still didn't get a name from her though." Xue Ning adds. "Everything is fishy."
"That's alright," Officer Tang, "Our people will look into it."
"Please do - in fact, show him the text!" Xue Ning exclaims, suddenly remembering the threatening text that Jingwei thought he received from her non-existent boyfriend.
"Text?" Both officers ask.
Jingwei shows them the threatening text.
From Unknown Number:
ENJOY YOUR EVENING
IT'LL BE YOUR LAST
"This is ridiculous right?" Jingwei asks rhetorically. "Imagine sending threatening texts like this in this time and age."
While Sun Jingwei remained relatively calm, both officers gave each other worried looks.
Sun Jingwei's phone number wasn't exactly public knowledge - and one had to send him a friend request to even send a text!
Was his phone compromised?