"Hello, Mr. Cao."
"Hello."
"Did you contact us because you can provide some clues about Qin Jie?"
"Well... I... I..."
"Mr. Cao, don't be nervous. Take your time. Anything you remember, any detail at all, is helpful."
"You already know... I was Qin Jie's classmate and deskmate. He... I remember he was... how should I put it... just someone who didn't stand out. We weren't close, and we didn't usually hang out together. But that day... I don't know. I don't know what got into him, but he suddenly asked me what he should do if his parents got divorced. I really didn't know what to say, and I didn't think much of it. At the time, there was a TV drama on. In it, a couple's relationship had fallen apart, and they were getting divorced. Their child was so heartbroken that they ran away from home. The parents searched for the child together and eventually made up. Really, that drama was on right then. My mom watched it every day, and I'd seen some of it, too. I really didn't think much of it..."
"Mr. Cao, please try to stay calm. It's okay. You can tell us."
"I... sob... I told him he could do the same thing—run away from home, and then his parents would come looking for him and make up. I said it would be just like in the TV drama, and his parents wouldn't split up... He... He disappeared that very day... He went missing, and his parents were frantic, searching everywhere. They called so many people, even my home. I... I was actually happy. I told my dad that his parents were going to make up, just like in the drama, and that it was all thanks to me. My dad beat me and