Then let's call it provocation and disturbance

Over the next few days, a rather subtle atmosphere spread throughout the Dongji County Public Security Bureau.

That very afternoon, after Zhou Yi explicitly told Executive Deputy Director Song Chengquan and Office Director Li Wenli that the victim, Shen Mo, would not accept their so-called apology, the Dongji County Public Security Bureau decided not to open a case into the school violence against a female student at Dongji Second Middle School, citing "no criminal facts."

"No criminal facts" meant two things here. First, Tao Manru, Zhu Lili, and Meng Yao's actions had not risen to the level of a crime-in other words, they had not broken the law. Second, there was no direct evidence proving that the three had used violence against Shen Mo.

This was despite the fact that Gangzi and the other accomplices had already been arrested, relevant photographs had been found at Gangzi's residence as evidence, and Gangzi had confessed that he had acted on Tao Manru's instructions.

Yet the Criminal Investigation Brigade still insisted that a single confession was insufficient to establish any connection between Tao Manru and her two friends and the case involving Gangzi's coercion and molestation of a female high school student.

Simply put, the Criminal Investigation Brigade intended to file and close the latter case separately, thereby completely absolving Tao Manru, Zhu Lili, and Meng Yao of criminal responsibility.

Song Chengquan had made his position clear through his actions: opening a criminal case was absolutely out of the question!

Zhou Yi seemed to have no good way of dealing with this either.

He was only a brigade commander. In terms of rank, he was not yet in a position to challenge Song Chengquan to his face.

Meanwhile, the investigation and evidence collection led by Deputy Brigade Commander Cai Xiaobo had also hit a dead end.

Teachers and students alike kept their mouths firmly shut, refusing to reveal anything.

Clearly, the network of connections woven by three section-level leaders from important departments was continuing to exert its considerable influence.

The leadership of Dongji Second Middle School had likewise adopted an indifferent attitude. The three-day deadline had passed, yet they still had not taken any action.

Zhou Yi's remark-"Does our Public Security Management Brigade have no dignity to uphold?"-had long since been spread by people with ulterior motives.

Now, eyes throughout not only the County Public Security Bureau but also the County Party Committee and County Government departments were closely following developments.

They badly wanted to know whether Zhou Yi could save face!

They wanted even more to know whether Zhou Yi had any real backing!

Several more days passed. Apart from having Shen Mo submit a Criminal Case Filing Refusal Reconsideration Application, Captain Zhou made no further moves.

Deputy Brigade Commanders Cai Xiaobo and Shao Mingbao had recently begun looking at Zhou Yi rather strangely.

Both were thinking, Commander, can you actually pull this off or not? Could you just give us a straight answer?

If you really can't, the two of us are going to switch sides!

Word had already spread through the bureau that Deputy Director Song, Director Li, and other bureau leaders had issues with Brigade Commander Zhou-and serious ones at that.

Everyone said Brigade Commander Zhou was formidable, that he did not even take Xie Zhaolong seriously. If he really had some clout, why not show it?

Saturday, July 23. Clear skies.

Outside the gates of the Dongji County Detention Center, firecrackers crackled in unison, leaving shredded red paper all over the ground.

Bentleys, Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, and other luxury cars lined both sides of the road.

Under Xie Yongming's direction, underlings dressed uniformly in white shirts and black trousers formed two lines. They bowed deeply to Brother Long as he stepped out of the detention center and shouted together, "Hello, Brother Long! You've had a hard time, Brother Long!"

Watching from a third-floor window, Detention Center Director Wu Shicong could not stop his eye from twitching.

What fucking arrogance!

But what could he do?

During Xie Zhaolong's stay, they had not only supplied him with good food and drink, but had even had to bring his girlfriend in to keep him company.

Ten days. Ten whole days.

He had racked his brains, and every day had felt like a year. Thankfully, he had finally managed to send this walking disaster away without incident.

Wearing an undershirt, baggy shorts, flip-flops, and oversized sunglasses, Brother Long strode majestically through his underlings' cheers, surveying his surroundings with disdain.

This is the empire I conquered!

This side, that side.

And right down the middle...

Suddenly, his gaze froze.

He saw a young man wearing a T-shirt with "like" printed on it strolling toward him.

"Who the fuck are you..."

One underling spotted the uninvited guest and immediately charged over, swearing.

Xie Yongming's eyes widened in horror. He was about to speak, but he was a step too late.

Smack!

With a backhanded slap, the young man sent the blond-haired punk who had dared block his path spinning like a top.

The other underlings froze, then flew into a rage and swarmed around him.

The young man did not even spare them a glance. He walked straight up to Brother Long and reached out to remove his sunglasses.

At that moment, a deathly silence suddenly fell over everyone.

Was this guy trying to get himself killed?

How dare he challenge someone so untouchable?

Didn't he know that when Brother Long got angry, blood would flow?

Wait, this guy looks familiar!

"Nice sunglasses." The young man spoke with complete casualness, as though chatting with an old friend.

"If you like them, Commander Zhou, please take them." Brother Long forced a trace of a smile onto his face.

He did not know what the other man wanted, but he knew that his appearance at this time and place could not possibly be about admiring his sunglasses.

"Then don't mind if I do." Zhou Yi put on the sunglasses, the corners of his mouth rising as he gave Brother Long a seemingly friendly smile. "To thank you, I'll send a car especially to pick you up when you come out of the detention center next week."

Next week?

Haven't I already come out?

Xie Zhaolong stared at him in bewilderment.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand something. His expression shifted several times before he finally let out a long, quiet sigh.

"There has to be a charge, at least, right?" Brother Long asked helplessly.

"Then let's call it provocation and disturbance," Zhou Yi replied offhandedly.

Yes, provocation and disturbance was a catchall. You could stuff anything into it.

With that, Captain Zhou clapped his hands and strode away under gazes filled with shock and fear.

Shortly after Captain Zhou left, Brother Long slapped Xie Yongming across the face.

That was right. If this dumbass had not made such a spectacle with firecrackers and all this useless pomp, why would he have to spend another week in detention?

Then, in full view of everyone, he walked back and pounded loudly on the detention center gates.

"Wu, hurry up and open the fucking door. I've got to stay a few more days."

Wu Shicong felt his head buzzing.

Was he hallucinating?

He had to be hallucinating.

This was too fucking much to take in. He couldn't process it at all.

By that afternoon, every chicken, duck, goose, dog, and cat in the county knew one thing.

Brother Long, who had recently been given ten days of administrative detention, had barely stepped out of the detention center that morning before Captain Zhou's casual "Then let's call it provocation and disturbance" sent him back for another seven days.

And so, the atmosphere throughout the County Public Security Bureau grew subtle once again.

And so, the leadership of Dongji Second Middle School began to panic.

And so, the deputy head of the County Party Committee Organization Department, the director of the Government Office, and the director of the Culture Bureau sat together with increasingly grim faces.

They had practically investigated three generations of Zhou Yi's family without finding anything unusual.

So where exactly was the problem?

What on earth did Zhou Yi possess that made Xie Zhaolong swallow his anger and meekly submit time after time?

"Let's wait a little longer. With Song Chengquan keeping him down at the County Public Security Bureau, Zhou can't stir up much trouble for now. In any case, the longer this drags on, the better it is for us."

Tao Guozheng, Jin Min, and Zhu Xiangmin quickly reached a consensus. To keep their daughters' lives free of any stain, they were willing to take a gamble and bet that Zhou Yi was bluffing.

Zhou Yi also decided to wait another two days.

If there was still no movement from the city by Monday, he would handle the matter using the simplest, most direct, and most heavy-handed method.

On the morning of July 25, at the Anping City Party Committee Publicity Department.

Ding Zhenqian, a member of the municipal Party committee's standing committee and head of the Publicity Department, personally came to the conference room to review the publicity materials submitted by the Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Anping Daily News Agency.

Executive Deputy Head Lin Shuo sat beside Executive Deputy Director Du Jiang of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Although their ranks differed by half a level, both held executive deputy posts and knew each other well, so there was nothing inappropriate about them sitting together.

Behind them sat Publicity Department Office Director Li Xiaowei, Municipal Public Security Bureau Political Department Director Jing Mingcheng, Deputy Director Kong Qinghua, and Anping Daily News Agency Deputy Editor-in-Chief Cao Wenxing.

Particularly noteworthy was the presence of Duan Chunyu-a Mental Health Services Instructor with the Provincial Public Security Department, leader of the Anping Municipal Public Security Bureau's Crisis Intervention Group, and a renowned negotiation expert-as well as Qi Xiu, a well-known director who specialized in films promoting mainstream values.

The footage was only ten minutes long and had received no more than a rough edit.

Yet everyone who watched it was deeply shaken.

Especially when the young police officer stood in the wind and rain, pointing to the national emblem on his headgear, the rank insignia on his shoulders, and his own heart, and declared firmly, "In the Name of the People’s Police, and as Shen Mo's older brother, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to protect you. I will get you justice and make sure the bad people receive the punishment they deserve. So, Shen Mo, are you willing to trust me?" Everyone in the conference room, including Department Head Ding, felt a surge of emotion.

Director Qi Xiu's eyes positively shone as he stared fixedly at the young officer's figure on the projection screen.

What artistic embellishment did this need? He could put it straight into a film exactly as it was. Even the dialogue needed no changes! If possible, he would even cast this officer as the lead!

"Comrade Chunyu is the expert. Let's hear his professional perspective first." Department Head Ding turned to look at negotiation expert Duan Chunyu.

Duan Chunyu nodded and adjusted his glasses out of habit. In his usual gentle, measured voice, he said, "Without exaggeration, this was a textbook negotiation and rescue operation."

"Let's briefly analyze the entire rescue process."

"First, before Comrade Zhou Yi even arrived at the scene, he successfully secured ten crucial minutes for the rescue by having officers at the scene relay his message."

"Then, immediately upon arriving, he created an opportunity to approach the suicidal individual by offering to share a secret.

"On the rooftop, he first used self-disparagement to establish empathy with the suicidal individual, then gradually lowered his defenses through heartfelt words. Even when faced with a sudden emotional outburst, he handled it appropriately and defused the danger."

"And at the critical moment when insults from below provoked the suicidal individual into jumping, Comrade Zhou Yi demonstrated outstanding composure under pressure. He made an all-out rescue effort and ultimately saved him."

"To be honest, after watching this footage, I considered a hypothetical question: if I had been at the scene, could I have done better than Zhou Yi?"

"The answer is no!"

"Throughout the rescue, the qualities and abilities Comrade Zhou Yi displayed surpassed even mine as a professional negotiator."

"First, he possesses a cool head and meticulous reasoning. Second, he has exceptional adaptability under pressure. Third, he has excellent linguistic and literary skills. Fourth, he possesses courage in the face of danger and a powerful conviction that he can control the situation."

Without question, the renowned negotiation expert had given Zhou Yi exceptionally high praise. Everyone attending the meeting agreed with and endorsed his assessment.

"I'd like to add one more point about our bureau's Comrade Zhou Yi. Fifth, he also possesses handsome looks and a composed bearing, along with the natural sense of trust and security he inspires when wearing his police uniform." Executive Deputy Director Du Jiang raised his hand and spoke with a perfectly straight face.

Warm laughter immediately filled the conference room.

A smile also appeared on Ding Zhenqian's face.

He felt that Du Jiang's addition was entirely correct.

This young man named Zhou Yi really was handsome and carried himself well.

There was an undeniable fact of life: regardless of gender, attractive people often found it easier to gain support and recognition, and received preferential treatment.

"As everyone knows, Secretary Zhou attaches great importance to the publicity campaign highlighting exemplary police officers. Our Publicity Department must therefore make this our foremost priority. We must work with the Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Anping Daily, and other organizations to vigorously promote exemplary officers across various platforms, uphold the professional spirit of the people's police, and shape a new image for them."

"Also, we cannot overlook the school violence exposed by this student's jump at Dongji Second Middle School. The Municipal Public Security Bureau must pay particular attention to it..."

Pointing at the young officer on the projection screen, Department Head Ding emphasized solemnly to Du Jiang, "Do not forget that Comrade Zhou Yi made those promises and assurances In the Name of the People’s Police."

Du Jiang's expression turned serious, and he nodded earnestly. "Rest assured, sir. I'll immediately urge the Dongji County bureau to handle this matter properly."