After lunch, Sun Dingyi wanted to play cards, but Ren Yi didn’t go. He went back to the dormitory to take a nap instead. Even when he slept, he couldn’t behave himself. He took out his phone and scrolled to the photos he’d secretly taken of Gong Yingxian before, staring at them and grinning foolishly to himself for a long while.
Actually, he really wanted to take a picture together with Gong Yingxian, but two grown men taking a selfie together was just too girly. What kind of opportunity could he find to do it…
As he thought about it, he gradually became sleepy. Just as Ren Yi was drifting off, the station alarm rang. He abruptly opened his eyes, rolled out of bed, and ran downstairs.
“Captain, someone is threatening to jump from Zhixin Building.”
“Go take a look.” Ren Yi thought that Zhixin Building was right across from Hongwu Branch Bureau. Jumping from the entrance of the Public Security Bureau was most likely a way of making a demand. Usually, they didn’t actually want to die.
Although he had made that assumption, Ren Yi still didn’t dare to take it lightly. They dispatched the truck at top speed and headed for the scene.
On the way, Ren Yi had just wanted to call Gong Yingxian to ask about the situation when Qiu Yan called first.
“Hello, Captain Qiu.”
“Captain Ren, you’re the ones responding, right?”
“Yeah. What’s going on?”
Qiu Yan gave a bitter smile. “Please, you have to get here as quickly as possible. This is particularly bad for us. The leadership is furious.”
“Don’t panic. Tell me what’s going on first.”
“I can’t explain it clearly over the phone. I still have to call the leadership back. We’ll talk at the scene.” With that, she hurriedly hung up.
Ren Yi asked Ding Qing, “What did the person who called the police say?”
“An old man wants to jump. His son is downstairs, and a whole bunch of reporters have shown up.”
“What’s the reason?”
“No idea.”
They soon arrived at the scene. A large crowd had already gathered beneath Zhixin Building, and the media vans had blocked half the road. Sure enough, an old man was standing outside the rooftop railing, loudly shouting things like, “The police are bullying ordinary people!” Downstairs, a middle-aged man was giving an agitated interview to the media.
Ren Yi said, “Have the media vehicles move over and clear a path.”
Sun Dingyi got out of the truck and coordinated with the media vehicles to make room for the fire truck.
After getting out, they first inflated the air cushion and placed it below. However, the old man was on the fifth-floor rooftop, and at that height, considering his age, even if he landed on the air cushion, he would probably either die or be severely injured.
Gong Yingxian and Qiu Yan walked toward Ren Yi. The moment Ren Yi saw Gong Yingxian, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “Come upstairs with me. We’ll talk while we go.” Sun Dingyi and the others followed them as well.
Qiu Yan’s face was full of anger. “There’s a police officer in our branch, a young woman who only passed the exam and joined this year. The old man upstairs is her paternal uncle, and the man downstairs is her cousin.”
“What are they trying to do?” Sun Dingyi asked in confusion.
“This young woman’s father died in a car accident last month. She’s an only daughter. Her father left behind two properties and several hundred thousand yuan in cash. Now her uncle is claiming that because their family has no son, all of her father’s property should belong to the eldest grandson—that is, her male cousin.”
Sun Dingyi’s eyes widened. “Are they out of their minds?”
Cui Yisheng shook his head. “Don’t laugh. There are still plenty of places where people actually hold onto this kind of feudal thinking.”
“Don’t they know the inheritance laws?”
“It’s not necessarily that they really don’t know.” Ren Yi said disdainfully, “They’re just bullying a widow and an orphan and trying to take everything for themselves.”
Gong Yingxian said, “I heard they already caused a scene in their hometown. My colleague didn’t want to keep arguing with them, so she brought her mother to live in Tianqi. Then they came all the way to the branch bureau to make trouble. After we drove them out, they came here and threatened to jump.”
“Why haven’t they been arrested and locked up for a few days?” Sun Dingyi shouted.
“Because they’re relatives, we showed them some leniency.” Qiu Yan said angrily. “There won’t be any leniency this time.”
As they talked, the group had already reached the rooftop. Three police officers were surrounding the old man, trying to persuade him while remaining on high alert.
The moment the old man saw Qiu Yan, he pointed at her. “You’re Xiao Gao’s superior, aren’t you? Tell Xiao Gao to come here! Does she dare come and face her uncle?”
Qiu Yan looked at him coldly. “Xiao Gao is working. Mr. Gao, please come down from there. Don’t do something that endangers your own safety and has absolutely no meaning.”
“What work does she have to do?” the old man shouted. “That heartless, shameless girl! When her father was in school, how much food did he eat at my family’s house? Has she ever shown any filial respect to me, her uncle? She’s just a girl—she can’t carry on the family line. Why should she work? Why should she have a house?”
“According to the inheritance law, the first-order heirs of a deceased person’s property are their spouse, children, and parents. All three of those categories are still—”
“What law?!” the old man roared. “The law’s only been around for a few years! Our ancestors’ traditions have lasted for thousands of years. If Gao Houde had so much as a son, I wouldn’t bother with this. A daughter will ultimately belong to another family after she marries. Who am I doing this for? I’m doing it for the Gao family’s lineage! My son is the eldest grandson of the main branch. Gao Houde doesn’t have a son, so after he dies, everything should belong to my son.”
Sun Dingyi rolled his eyes and muttered, “Let him fall to his death.”
Ren Yi told Sun Dingyi to stand on the left, while Cui Yisheng went to the right. Ren Yi slowly approached the old man, simultaneously securing himself to the railing with a rope.
The old man pointed at Ren Yi. “Don’t come any closer! I’ve only got one life. If I die, then I die.”
“Uncle, isn’t it uncomfortable standing up here in the cold wind?” Ren Yi looked at him calmly. “Come down.”
“Don’t come any closer!” the old man shouted. “Bring Xiao Gao here to see me!”
“Xiao Gao doesn’t want to see you.” Ren Yi moved closer to the railing and looked down. “It’s so high. If you fall, you’ll be gone. Uncle, we’re a society governed by the rule of law now. Even if you die ten thousand times, the law still won’t award your brother’s inheritance to your son. Oh, although your own inheritance can be passed to your son without any trouble.”
“Then I’ll make everyone—I’ll make the reporters, I’ll make the ordinary people—know that the police forced me to my death!” the old man shouted as though he were deranged.
Ren Yi cursed inwardly. The old man was certainly hateful, but if he really jumped, Qiu Yan and the others would inevitably bear responsibility. Although Ren Yi didn’t believe the old man would actually jump, it would still have a terrible social impact and could even affect Xiao Gao’s career.
This was probably exactly what the old man was counting on: forcing Xiao Gao to compromise a little. Either way, he couldn’t go home empty-handed.
Ren Yi came back and quietly discussed it with Qiu Yan and Gong Yingxian. “Do you have any good ideas?”
Gong Yingxian said, “He definitely doesn’t really want to jump. We also don’t want Xiao Gao to come here. If we satisfy his demand, he’ll only become more demanding.”
“Dragging this out isn’t a very good idea. It’s cold and windy up here. The old man’s health doesn’t look particularly good. If this goes on too long and he becomes physically exhausted, something could happen.”
“Then what are you suggesting…” Qiu Yan frowned at Ren Yi.
“My men are ready. We have quite a bit of experience dealing with people threatening to jump. You call Xiao Gao and negotiate with him, have her talk to him and keep his attention occupied. We’ll find an opportunity to get him down.”
“What should I have Xiao Gao say?”
“Don’t give him a single cent. Provoke him.”
Gong Yingxian said, “Be careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
Qiu Yan took out her phone. “Mr. Gao, I’m calling Xiao Gao now. You can talk to her.”
The old man shouted, “Tell her to come out! What’s she hiding in the police station for? She’s shameless enough to be this unfilial, but she doesn’t dare come see me?”
The call connected. Qiu Yan spoke a couple of words to the person on the other end, then turned on the speakerphone.
The old man shouted, “Gao Xiaoyue, get your ass out here!”
“What exactly do you want?” A crisp female voice came through the phone. “What you’re doing is illegal.”
“I’m the elder here, so I am the Gao family’s law! You shameless little wretch! When your father was in school, how much food did he eat at my family’s house? When I got married, my family only got me a sewing machine. By the time your father and mother got married, they had a television! If I hadn’t treated him leniently because he was my younger brother, what right would he have had? Your parents are both useless. They gave birth to a worthless girl like you, and you’re not even filial!”
Gao Xiaoyue’s voice trembled. “Did my dad not repay you for the few meals he ate at your house? How much money has he lent you over the years? Have you ever paid it back? How many jobs did my dad find for my cousin? Did he manage to keep even one of them? Uncle, my dad just died, and you’re already bullying my mother and me like this. What are people in the village going to think of our Gao family?”
“The people in the village are all cursing you, saying you’re a useless, unfilial girl who has turned against her own family!” the old man shouted. “My son is the only son of the Gao family. He’s the one who has to carry on the Gao family line. Sooner or later you’ll marry into another family. What does the Gao family’s property have to do with you and your mother?”
Gao Xiaoyue was so angry that her voice had taken on a sobbing edge. “This is a society governed by the rule of law now. The law isn’t going to indulge your rules. My mother and I are my father’s heirs. Our family’s property has nothing to do with you!”
Ren Yi gave Sun Dingyi a signal. The two of them silently climbed over the railing and slowly approached the old man.
The old man cursed, “Bullshit! You’re a member of the Gao family, so you have to follow the Gao family’s rules! I took pity on you and your mother, and I never said I wouldn’t leave you anything. I’ll leave you that old house. But you have to transfer the new house to your big brother!”
“Impossible, Uncle! Stop going crazy! You’re only embarrassing yourself!”
“You’re the one who’s embarrassing yourself! Your mother gave birth to a girl like you and brought enormous shame upon the Gao family!” the old man shouted at the top of his voice.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of someone approaching. He turned his head and discovered that Ren Yi had somehow already reached his side.
He shouted, “Don’t come any closer! I’ll jump!”
Ren Yi made a calming gesture. “Uncle, whatever demands you have, you have to stay alive to talk about them. Don’t make a scene. It’s dangerous up here. If you fall, you’ll die.”
“Don’t come any closer! I know what you’re trying to do. You want to arrest me. You’re the police, after all. You can arrest whoever you want.”
“First, I’m not a police officer. I’m a firefighter. Second, the police can’t just arrest whoever they want. But you and your son…” Ren Yi clicked his tongue twice.
The old man glared at him. “What about us?”
“Disturbing the peace, obstructing police duties, insulting state employees. Uncle, I’m advising you to stop making trouble. Otherwise, you really are going to end up behind bars.”
“Then let me go in! What can you do to me? I’m not even afraid of death!” The old man released one hand from the railing and made as though he was going to jump. “Unless Gao Xiaoyue agrees to transfer one of the houses to my son! Otherwise, I’m going to make trouble. As long as I’ve got one breath left, I’ll keep making trouble. I’ll make her lose her job! I’ll make her too ashamed to show her face!”
Sun Dingyi said, “Then jump and die. Captain Ren, let’s not save him.”
The old man continued cursing and swearing, while repeatedly glancing downward. His legs were trembling slightly.
Ren Yi said, “Uncle, it’s so cold. It’s not easy for us to come all the way out here. So tell us, are you going to jump or not? Whether you jump or not really has nothing to do with us. We’re kindly advising you not to make a fool of yourself. It’s useless.”
Seeing the two men getting closer, the old man roared, “Gao Xiaoyue! Will you transfer one of the houses to your big brother or not? If you agree, I’ll let this go. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you and your mother never have any peace!”
Gao Xiaoyue shouted, “In your dreams!”
The old man was trembling all over with rage. At that moment, a cold gust of wind happened to blow past. Sand carried in the wind got into his eyes. He shook his head, trying to avoid it, but after standing there for so long, his entire body was already weak. His hand lost its grip, and his whole body plunged downward.
“Ah—!” The old man let out a terrified scream.
Ren Yi lunged forward, grabbing the old man and wrapping his arms around him. The two of them fell together, and were finally suspended in midair by the safety rope.
“Ren Yi!”
Watching Ren Yi leap off the building, even with that safety rope attached, Gong Yingxian still felt as though all the blood had rushed backward through his body, leaving him cold all over. He hurried to the railing and anxiously looked down.
Ren Yi raised his head, grinned, and even teasingly blew him a kiss.
Gong Yingxian breathed a sigh of relief.
The old man had been scared unconscious, going limp in Ren Yi’s arms as though all the strength had been pulled from his body.
Several people worked together to haul them back up. Ren Yi suddenly felt something warm on his leg. He looked down and discovered that the old man had actually wet himself.
“Fuck!” Ren Yi jumped up.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Ren Yi angrily stripped off his rescue uniform. Fortunately, it was winter, so he was wearing clothes underneath the rescue uniform. If it had been summer and he’d been bare underneath, he wouldn’t even have been able to take it off. He kicked the rescue uniform over to Cui Yisheng. “It’s yours now.”
Cui Yisheng reluctantly said, “Oh.”
Qiu Yan looked disdainfully at the old man. “He passed out from fright?”
Ren Yi looked at Gong Yingxian with a bright smile. “Wasn’t that leap of mine just now incredibly cool? Like I had movie special effects built in.”
Gong Yingxian’s sword-like brows were tightly furrowed, his expression serious. “Let me see your injuries.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t hit anything.”
Gong Yingxian said sharply, “Don’t move.” He pulled open Ren Yi’s collar and examined the burn on him. Only after seeing that the skin was still completely intact did he finally relax.
Ren Yi couldn’t help feeling warm inside, unable to hide the sweet smile on his face. When he looked up, he noticed Qiu Yan watching him. He quickly composed himself. “C-Captain Qiu, how’s your colleague doing emotionally?”
“Oh, she’s fine. People like this shameless old bastard—we’ll find a way to deal with them. We can’t let someone bully the police like this.”
“That’s good.”
Qiu Yan said, “Yingxian, you still have suspects being interrogated over there. Go back first. I’ll handle things here.”
“Okay.” Gong Yingxian lowered his voice and said to Ren Yi, “Come to the branch bureau when you’re done.”
Ren Yi gave him an OK gesture.
Several police officers and firefighters carried the old man downstairs. Once only Ren Yi and Qiu Yan remained on the rooftop, Qiu Yan let out a soft sigh. “Thank you, Captain Ren. What a ridiculous mess. It’s enough to make someone laugh and cry at the same time.”
“You’ve got it rough.” Ren Yi smiled. “Family matters are always the hardest to deal with, especially when you’re dealing with unreasonable people. Have you figured out what to do?”
“First, scare them a little. Ideally, lock them up for a few days and make them understand that Xiao Gao isn’t going to compromise. Then give them a little benefit—ten or twenty thousand yuan. That should probably be enough to send them away.”
Ren Yi nodded. “That might work against people like this.”
Qiu Yan wearily rubbed her brow and took a cigarette from her pocket, first gesturing toward Ren Yi.
Ren Yi waved his hand. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
Qiu Yan pulled out a cigarette and lighter, but the flame was immediately scattered by the strong wind.
Seeing this, Ren Yi moved closer. “I’ll block the wind for you.”
Qiu Yan gave Ren Yi a faint smile, the smile alluring and full of feminine charm. She stepped closer, almost pressing herself against Ren Yi’s chest, clicked the lighter, and lit her cigarette.
Ren Yi sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.
Qiu Yan took a drag, then gently blew the smoke into Ren Yi’s face. With a faint smile, she said, “Captain Ren has helped us so much. Sometimes, I really don’t know how I should thank you.”
Ren Yi subtly took a step back. “You’re too kind. It’s what I should do.”
Qiu Yan looked at Ren Yi with bright, alluring eyes. “You should give me a chance to thank you.”
Ren Yi smiled. “Captain Qiu, you’re really too kind. Although our jobs are different, fundamentally, we’re both serving the people.”
Qiu Yan burst out laughing. “Was my hint not obvious enough, or are you pretending to be stupid?”
Ren Yi smiled awkwardly. “Captain Qiu…”
Qiu Yan looked up at Ren Yi, her eyes sparkling, her cherry-red lips slightly curved, her beauty breathtaking. “Do you want to ask me out?”
Ren Yi looked at Qiu Yan and said gently, “Captain Qiu, honestly, I’m flattered, but I…”
“You have a girlfriend?” Qiu Yan smiled. “You don’t, right? The female police officers at our branch have already found that out.”
“No, but there’s someone I like.”
“Really? What kind of girl is she?” Qiu Yan elegantly brushed her hair aside. “Is she prettier than me?”
“Captain Qiu, you’re the most outstanding and beautiful woman I’ve ever met, but there’s no way you can compare things like that, right?”
“That’s true. No matter how good I am, there will always be something I can’t compare with. For example…” Qiu Yan stared straight into Ren Yi’s eyes. Her gaze suddenly became sharp. She raised one eyebrow. “Gender?”
Ren Yi was startled, instantly at a loss for what to do.
She had figured it out. No wonder she was a criminal police captain—her eyes were far too perceptive.
Qiu Yan returned to her usual expression and shook her head helplessly. “Just as I thought.”
“I…”
Qiu Yan raised a hand to stop him. “You like Yingxian. Just answer yes or no.”
Ren Yi lowered his eyes. Without hesitation, he answered:
“Yes.”