Guanyin's Tears

Chapter 6

Seeing that Zhu Zhi did not answer, Captain Wang continued coldly, "You seem to know a lot about this case."

After listening to their conversation, Wang Hongbing understood most of what the two men were thinking. He picked up where Captain Wang left off, saying, "At that time, Zeng Hai said he wanted to show me something. When he took it out of his body..." At this point, Wang Hongbing recalled Zeng Hai's ferocious face and sinister smile, and couldn't help but shudder.

"And then?" Captain Wang asked.

"Then—then—then everything went black before my eyes, and I knew nothing more. I only found out later that I had passed out."

"Oh, you fainted at the crucial moment? Well, you fainted at just the right time," Captain Wang said with a sneer, turning his head to point at Wang Hongbing and then at Zhu Zhi: "Tell me, how did you determine that he just fainted and it wasn't a 'myocardial infarction'?"

"Captain Wang, shouldn't we go and take a look at the scene?" Zhu Zhi replied, seemingly ignoring the question.

Wang Hongbing inwardly cursed himself for being too talkative. He had meant to help Zhu Zhi clarify things, but now things were even more complicated! Wang Hongbing glanced at Zhu Zhi guiltily, and Zhu Zhi smiled at him, but he could tell that it was a bitter smile.

When the police car stopped at the entrance of Daningzhong University, it was already noon. Zhu Zhi and Wang Hongbing, as the first eyewitnesses and parties involved at the scene, were also in the police car. Of course, Zhu Zhi had been listed as a key suspect, and he was already being "protected" by two "proud and spirited" criminal police officers.

Because prior notice had been given, the school gate was already filled with police officers from the school police station. As soon as Captain Wang got out of the car, a school police officer came up to him and whispered, "According to the address you provided, we didn't find any body, nor any signs of a struggle or anything suspicious, but we have secured the area around the scene you mentioned."

"Oh?" Captain Wang's mouth opened, revealing a noticeable double chin.

A moment later, Captain Wang called out to someone behind him, "Xiao Chen, come here for a second."

A rather pretty, tall, slender girl walked over, her police uniform adding to her heroic bearing. However, her right arm was wrapped in a black cloth with the character "孝" (filial piety) prominently displayed on it.

"Captain Wang, what's the matter?"

Captain Wang whispered something to her, and Xiao Chen was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure and nodded.

Zhu Zhi kept staring at Captain Wang, still unsure what had happened. He regretted not thinking things through calmly earlier; otherwise, things wouldn't be like this now.

Wang Hongbing never expected that reporting the case would result in this way.

Xiao Chen walked up to Zhu Zhi and said in a low but firm voice, "Zhu Zhi, I want to ask you, do you know the consequences of making a false police report?"

Xiao Chen's question left Zhu Zhi somewhat bewildered yet also enlightened: Calling the police in a panic? Could it be...?

"Zhu Zhi, you absolutely must know this!" Xiao Chen interrupted his thoughts. "This is an illegal act. According to the relevant provisions of the 'Regulations on Administrative Penalties for Public Security of the People's Republic of China,' you will be subject to administrative detention of up to 15 days or a fine of up to 200 yuan. If the circumstances are serious and violate the 'Criminal Law,' you will also bear criminal responsibility! I think you should understand this, right?"

Zhu Zhi nodded, but inwardly he was quite disgusted by her words. He said, "I know, but I'd like to ask, what happened?"

"Let's go to the scene of the accident first." Xiao Chen looked at Zhu Zhi with his round eyes and gave him a stern look, but did not answer him.

Several criminal police officers led Zhu Zhi and Wang Hongbing into the school and headed towards the scene of the incident. Fortunately, it was during class time, and no one was watching; otherwise, the sight of criminal police officers and students entering the school together would have been quite conspicuous.

Beneath the abandoned experimental building, the weeds on the wasteland still grew wildly and haphazardly. Zhu Zhi looked up and saw that the window was still open, but Zeng Hai's body was no longer there.

Looking at the rampant weeds, Wang Hongbing suddenly thought of the stunningly beautiful woman in ancient costume. It was here that afternoon that he had met her. He looked around, and a sudden hope arose in his heart that he could see her again.

Xiao Chen stood beside him, staring intently at Zhu Zhi. Zhu Zhi felt extremely uncomfortable under Xiao Chen's gaze, and as he stared at the empty, weedy field, sweat beaded on his forehead. Several detectives continued to follow closely behind Zhu Zhi.

Xiao Chen asked Wang Hongbing, "Did Zeng Hai call you here?"

Wang Hongbing was recalling the encounter with the woman that afternoon and didn't hear Xiao Chen's question.

"Wang Hongbing, did Zeng Hai call you here?" Xiao Chen raised his voice.

Wang Hongbing snapped out of his daze and hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes." Hearing this, Xiao Chen slowly said to Wang Hongbing, "According to Article 305 of the Criminal Law, anyone who commits perjury, that is, gives false testimony, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for up to three years or detention; if the circumstances are serious, the sentence shall be imprisonment for three to seven years!"

Zhu Zhi felt disgusted with Xiao Chen after hearing these words! Showing off? Intimidation? Legally speaking, he and Wang Hongbing were merely witnesses, or rather, suspects. Law enforcement officers had no right to "intimidate or coerce" him.

After saying that, Xiao Chen realized he had spoken too harshly, paused, and then asked, "Are you sure you saw Zeng Hai in this place?"

"Of course, I remember it perfectly!"

"So you saw Zeng Hai's body too?" Xiao Chen continued. "Oh, uh—I, I didn't see it." Wang Hongbing was most afraid of making eye contact with girls, and he lowered his head as he spoke, his face turning red. He felt that Xiao Chen's demeanor was somewhat similar to Chen Jie's, especially her eyes.

But to Xiao Chen, Wang Hongbing's actions were nothing more than a guilty conscience, and she snorted coldly.

Zhu Zhi knew in his heart that it must be that thing, the so-called ghost, continuing to use Zeng Hai's corpse and wandering off somewhere, but he couldn't explain this to the criminal police. His current problem was how to deal with that incompetent Captain Wang and his criminal police team.

Although he didn't see Zeng Hai's body, before reporting the incident to the police, he listened to Zhu Zhi's account of what happened. Wang Hongbing believed that Zhu Zhi was telling the truth, but he still had no idea why Zeng Hai's body was missing.

“Zhu Zhi, how do you explain this? Was the body moved? Or hidden, or something? But based on what you’ve said, the possibility of the body being moved seems very small,” Xiao Chen said, looking at Zhu Zhi. She was also puzzled; Captain Wang had said this person was quite “slippery,” possibly making a false police report and even getting someone to give false testimony.

But he seemed like a very sincere person, and the one who gave false testimony seemed quite shy; both of them were quite handsome! Ah! You really can't judge a book by its cover! But who would be so bored as to joke around with the criminal investigation team?

Returning empty-handed, Zhu Zhi and Wang Hongbing were clearly suspected of making a false police report before the issue was clarified.

As the police car drove away from the school gate, the old woman selling steamed buns was still peering into the school. Looking at her, Wang Hongbing felt a lump in his throat. Just then, Xiao Chen stopped the police car that had just started moving. After getting out, Xiao Chen went straight to the old woman selling steamed buns: "Grandma, Grandma, what are you doing here? Didn't Dad say you went back to your hometown? Grandma, what are you doing here?"

The old woman was clearly not in a hurry to react. She paused for a moment before hugging Xiao Chen tightly: "Ya'er, Ya'er! My dear granddaughter! I missed you so much."

Xiao Chen cried, tears streaming down his face: "Grandma, didn't Dad say you went back to your hometown? Dad... Dad, he, he, he was murdered!"

The old woman, tears streaming down her face, hugged Xiao Chen and nodded tremblingly, "Grandma knows, Grandma knows."

Captain Wang stuck his head out of the car, wanting to urge Xiao Chen to hurry back to the team, but seeing this scene, he pulled his head back in.

Xiao Chen wiped away her tears and said, "Grandma, wait for me here. I'll come find you this afternoon." After saying that, she walked towards the police car.

The old man reached out his hand, as if to say something but said nothing. A strand of white hair gently brushed against his wrinkled face, and his cloudy eyes filled with tears.

When the professor called roll for "Biological Neuroscience," only Wang Hongbing and Zeng Hai were absent.

During break, Chen Jie inquired with Zhang Li and learned the gist of the matter. However, before the police or school officially announced Zeng Hai's death, Chen Jie instructed Zhang Li not to speak carelessly, including to Liu Li, Jiang Bing, and Chun Lai. As for the outcome of the police report, she wanted to ask her cousin, Chen Ya.

After class, Chen Jie dragged Wen Xin along to the school gate to buy steamed buns.

"Buying steamed buns? Miss! You're not addicted to eating steamed buns, are you?" Wenxin teased.

Chen Jie rolled her eyes at Wen Xin: "Ugh, I don't want to eat rice anymore!"

"Hey? It looks like your cousin!" Wenxin said to Chen Jie, pointing to the gate as they arrived at the school.

It really was my cousin Chen Ya! She actually came here to buy steamed buns. "Cousin, what brings you here to buy steamed buns?"

Xiao Chen looked up and saw that it was Chen Jie, so she smiled and said, "This is my grandma." But her wet eyelashes showed that she had just been crying.

"Grandma?" Chen Jie was very surprised. "It's been so long, how come I didn't know?"

Wenxin was also startled: "Grandma?"

"Yes, she's my own grandma. I only found out at noon that she's been selling steamed buns here all this time," Xiao Chen said with a smile.

The old man watched them with a smile, and traces of moisture could be seen in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"Grandma, this is my cousin, and this is Wenxin, her best friend," Chen Jie said to the old woman, pulling the two women aside.

The old man smiled and nodded, "Yes, I know them. They bought my steamed buns." Looking at the two of them, the old man's gaze fell on Chen Jie's face and froze, his smile also freezing, "Child, have you been having some worries lately?"

Chen Jie was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "No, it's nothing. I guess I haven't been sleeping well these past few days. Do you look a little unwell, Grandma?"

The old man nodded: "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright. You came to buy steamed buns, right? Here, it's free. We're family, we're family!" As he spoke, the old man had already packed the steamed buns and handed them to Chen Jie and Wen Xin.

After some polite refusals, Chen Jie and Wen Xin had no choice but to take back their money and keep the steamed buns.

Before leaving, Chen Jie told Xiao Chen to call the dormitory that night and ask her anything.

After watching Chen Jie and Wen Xin enter the school gate, little Chen turned to her and said, "Grandma, come to my house. How will you manage alone? You're so old..." Tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Our family has let your mother down!" The old woman began to choke up.

"That's between Mom and Dad, it has nothing to do with you! Grandma, come to my house, my mom misses you too!"

"I...I have no face to see your mother. I raised such a good-for-nothing son!!!" the old woman cried. "Your father is dead and you're still causing trouble for others!"

Xiao Chen hugged the old man and said, "He's dead. Don't blame him anymore. Let's go home, let's go to my house!"

Xiao Chen carried a heavy basket of steamed buns! How did Grandma usually manage to bring them here to sell with such difficulty? Tears streamed down her face again. Wiping them away, she helped the frail old woman walk home step by step.

Wenxin went to bed early that night. Liyan hadn't returned yet, and Chen Jie was sitting at the table talking to Chen Ya on the phone. She only now realized that Wang Hongbing and Zhu Zhi might be detained at the police station that night.

Outside the window, those eerie green eyes were still staring unblinkingly at Chen Jie.

Everything that had happened in the past few days, including Zeng Hai's death, had greatly affected Zhang Li's mood. It was already ten o'clock at night when he and Li Yan left the study room. All day, he had only spoken a few words to Li Yan; but whenever he had the chance, he would hold her hand tightly. She liked it when he did this, their palms overlapping, a warm and reassuring moment, a deep connection. She wanted to ask him where Wang Hongbing and Zeng Hai had gone? What had he talked about with Chen Jie at noon, so seriously? But Zhang Li's silence left all her questions stuck in her throat.

On the way back to the dormitory, Zhang Li remained silent, and Li Yan could clearly feel the strength of his grip on her hand. With her hand pressed firmly against his warm palm, a quiet happiness and contentment filled Li Yan's heart. She tilted her head slightly and took a deep look at the boy she loved. His thick, arched eyebrows, deep eyes, and the unique strength in his lips—he exuded a sunny disposition, and even his messy hair seemed so natural and carefree to her!

She knew Zhang Li must be troubled; too much had happened these past few days. But since he wouldn't bring it up, she shouldn't ask. Trust should be the foundation of any relationship.

When they arrived at the girls' dormitory, Zhang Li kissed Li Yan's forehead tenderly: "Yan baby, go to sleep early." Li Yan tilted her head, smoothed Zhang Li's hair with her hand, and then gently patted his face: "You pighead, you should rest early too."

Watching the familiar and ever-present figure disappear at the stairwell, Zhang Li let out a long sigh and turned to walk back to the dormitory. Since the dormitory lights were to go out at 10:30, Liu Li, Jiang Bing, and Chunlai were already there when Zhang Li arrived.

No one uttered a sound, and a heavy atmosphere filled the dormitory. The news of Zeng Hai's death was a huge shock to them. They had spent nearly two years together, and even if Zeng Hai had many faults, in the face of his death, any unpleasantness was diluted without a trace, leaving only a piercing pain.

After Zhang Li sat down, Chunlai slowly spoke up: "Boss, have you heard that there was a madman over by the old locust tree this morning? Some people say he looks a lot like Zeng Hai!"

Could it be what Zhu Zhi said, that Zeng Hai was possessed by a ghost? And in fact, he didn't die—? How could a living person…? Chunlai choked up.

Zhang Li felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, his eyes were stinging, and his throat felt blocked, leaving him speechless for a long time.

“Zhu Zhi and Wang Hongbing went to report the case, but why haven’t we heard anything from them yet? They haven’t come back. We can’t say he’s dead until we’ve figured out what happened to Zeng Hai.” Liu Li’s voice was also a bit hoarse.

“I didn’t see Zeng Hai today. I heard there were police officers on campus around noon,” Jiang Bing added.

Zhang Li glanced at his watch and said in a deep voice, "Wang Hongbing went to the police station, he should be fine. As for Zeng Hai, there's no point in saying anything more until the facts are clear. Everyone, go to sleep, lights out soon."

After the lights were turned off, the four of them lay on the bed, each lost in their own thoughts, and no one spoke.

Zhang Li lay awake in the darkness. He was a little worried that Wang Hongbing hadn't returned so late. He wanted to wait for Wang Hongbing to come back. Even if Wang Hongbing had something to do and couldn't come back to the dormitory, he should at least call back. But the phone lay quietly on the table without making a sound. Zhang Li anxiously speculated on all sorts of possible situations.

Just after the lights were turned off, there were still sounds of people returning home late stepping on the stairs and using water in the water room. Gradually, the surroundings became quiet. Chunlai and Jiang Bing fell asleep without realizing it, but Zhang Li and Liu Li were wide awake.

Chunlai and Jiang Bing's even breathing proved that they were fast asleep. Zhang Li did not hear Liu Li's snoring, so he knew that Liu Li must not be asleep either.

for a long time--

Zhang Li broke the silence: "Liu Li, do you believe in ghosts?"

Liu Li sighed, "Sigh—! I don't want to believe it either! But how do I explain the strange things that have happened these past few days? Especially that old locust tree?"

Thinking back on the events he had experienced, Zhang Li also sighed.

A breeze seemed to have picked up outside; the air rustled through the leaves, the sound echoing in the dormitory like waves crashing against a riverbank. Zhang Li found it increasingly difficult to sleep. Liu Li's snoring, however, gradually picked up. Zhang Li pulled out his flashlight and checked his watch; it was already 1:30 AM. Wang Hongbing still hadn't returned, and the phone remained silent.

Just then, a faint sound came from outside the door, like someone using a key to open the door, and it seemed to be right outside their dormitory.

"Wang Hongbing?" Zhang Li called out, but the sound stopped abruptly! He thought he had misheard, so he listened carefully again. Apart from the sound of the wind, there was indeed no other sound. Zhang Li chuckled inwardly at his own paranoia, and his eyelids grew heavy. He prepared to go to sleep, but after a while, a faint sound began to rise again. He listened carefully and heard a "zzzz" sound coming from outside the door, as if someone was trying to pry open the dormitory door!

"Thief!" The thought flashed through his mind, and Zhang Li suddenly perked up. This time, he made no sound. Grabbing a flashlight, he quietly got out of bed, tiptoed to the door, gripped the doorknob, and hesitated about how to open it. A faint "buzzing" sound continued—

Zhang Li flung open his dormitory door. The door creaked open, the hinges twisting sharply in the dead of night. But the door was empty; only the howling wind could be heard. Zhang Li looked down into the dark hallway, but couldn't see anything. He shone his flashlight around, but there wasn't a soul in sight.

Zhang Li felt a little uneasy. He closed the door, climbed back into bed, but was wide awake. About twenty minutes later, there was a rhythmic knocking at the door. Zhang Li called out alertly, "Who is it?"

"I—" The voice was unfamiliar and carried a hint of gloom.

As soon as Zhang Li's hand touched the door, he quickly withdrew it, but the knocking continued unabated.