Sirens sounded at the mouth of the alley. Several officers got out of their cars and hurried inside. The officer in charge glanced at Wen Ning.
"Who called the police?"
Wen Ning raised his hand.
"Officer, sir, I did."
The lead officer looked exasperated.
"We're about the same age, you know. What's with calling me sir?"
Wen Ning gave an embarrassed smile.
"Force of habit."
The officer let it go and surveyed the alley. His gaze settled on the man Feng Dema had pinned against the car door, and he frowned.
"What happened?"
"We caught him kidnapping a girl."
Wen Ning spoke.
The officer took two steps closer. When he got a clear look at the man's face, he stopped short.
"Lin Feng?"
The man pinned against the car raised his head and glanced at the officer. Without a word, he lowered his head again.
The officer watched him in silence for two seconds before speaking, his voice much heavier than before.
"Lin Feng, why couldn't you give us a little more time? You have to trust the law. Your daughter will get justice."
At those words, Lin Feng jerked his head up. His bloodshot eyes fixed on the officer, and his whole body began trembling again.
"Justice? Will justice bring my daughter back to life?"
His voice rose again, his throat already hoarse.
"They spread rumors about my daughter online, and she's dead. Dead! Do you understand? Those people are still posting, still laughing, still turning what happened to my little girl into jokes! And you're talking to me about justice?"
Two officers escorted Lin Feng toward the police car, one on either side.
He no longer struggled. His feet dragged along the ground, his head hung low, and he looked utterly hollowed out. As he passed Wen Ning,