Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Big Sister is Amazing

She jerked her head up to look at the mirror in front of her, her expression one of disbelief. "Little Li, are you back?"

’Big Sister,’ the familiar, childish voice in her memory said, sounding a little unhappy. ’You’re not eating properly again while I’m away. You’re not being a good girl.’

Jiang Li picked up the hairdryer, put it away, and turned to get back under the covers.

’Big Sister, Big Sister, are you angry?’

The voice chattered endlessly in her head. She rolled over, forcing herself to sleep.

In her dream, blurry scenes flashed by like a slideshow.

"Increase the bit rate."

"Is she still calling you?"

"Is Jiang Li still there?"

Jiang Li’s eyes flew open. She scanned the room, then cautiously spoke in a trembling voice.

"Little Li?"

When no response came, she lowered her head, her eyes red. Uncontrollable tears streamed down her face. She bit her hand, her whole body trembling as a venomous hatred blazed in her eyes.

’Sooner or later, I’ll send every last one of them to hell!’

RING RING RING...

The jarring ring of her phone shattered the silence. She picked it up and saw the two words on the screen: Lu Xingye. She stared blankly for a long moment as the phone rang, stopped, and then started ringing again.

On the other end of the line, Lu Xingye stared at his phone, which remained unanswered.

"Still no answer? How could you just let her go off on her own? What if—what if something happened?"

Huo Qing watched Lu Xingye make several consecutive calls, none of which were answered. He couldn’t help but grow anxious himself.

He’d been too busy to get directly involved with Qiao Siyuan’s case the previous night, but he knew the gist of it.

Qiao Siyuan was loose-lipped. Scared out of his wits, he had confessed everything overnight. He had initially targeted Jiang Li because he saw she was an orphan, all alone in the world.

He had pretended to be gentle with Jiang Li, wooing her, but once he grew bored, his true nature came out. He drugged her, took photos, and used them for blackmail.

He’d used the same tactics to trick at least seven or eight other girls, luring them to his den under the pretext of a relationship and then forcing them to earn money for him.

’The guy’s a fucking animal—no, he’s worse than an animal.’

As for the child trafficking, he’d pinned everything on Chen Xiufang.

"You’re so damn dense." Huo Qing wanted to crack open Lu Xingye’s skull and see what was inside.

"By the time I ran out after her, Jiang Li was already gone."

"What, did she grow wings and fly away? I bet you just didn’t look hard enough. Get someone on it, now. We need to find her before something really happens."

Lu Xingye immediately turned and went to find a colleague.

At noon, a breathless Lu Xingye ran to the large hotel next door. He showed his badge to the receptionist. "Hello, police. Did a woman named Jiang Li check in here last night?"

"One moment, let me check." Seeing he was a police officer, the receptionist quickly began typing on the computer.

"Yes, she’s in room 404."

Lu Xingye grabbed the key card and rushed upstairs with another officer.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. "Jiang Li! Jiang Li, are you in there?"

Lu Xingye knocked again, then pressed his ear to the door, listening. If there was no sound, he was going to open it himself.

The next second, the door was suddenly yanked open, causing him to stumble forward. His quick-thinking colleague grabbed him just in time.

"Jiang Li, you..."

Lu Xingye looked up, his words dying in his throat as he met her icy gaze. ’Something’s wrong with her,’ he thought.

"I’m fine. You can go."

Jiang Li stared at Lu Xingye, her face devoid of expression. ’The evidence against Qiao Siyuan is ironclad; they don’t need me for anything else. Why is he here?’

A lump formed in Lu Xingye’s throat as he looked at her. "I... I was worried about you."

"Nothing will happen to me."

With that, Jiang Li closed the door, clearly unwilling to talk further.

"Xingye, something’s off about Miss Jiang’s emotional state."

Lu Xingye frowned, replaying the scene in his mind. ’It’s more than just "off,"’ he thought. ’It’s like she’s a completely different person.’

Lu Xingye was still frantically analyzing the situation when, with a CLICK, the lock turned and Jiang Li reappeared at the door.

"Is there something important, Officer Lu?"

Lu Xingye stared at the woman before him. Her expression was now perfectly normal, a faint smile playing on her lips. He nearly choked, holding his breath in shock.

"Ahem, you... Qiao Siyuan is involved in too many cases. We’ll need you to testify in court when the time comes."

In fact, he wanted to ask Jiang Li what was wrong, but he was afraid of upsetting the delicate balance.

If he brought it up and she got angry, she would probably just leave for good.

"Oh, okay. Thank you, Officer Lu."

"Ahem, well, Miss Jiang, since the case is still ongoing, Captain Huo has ordered Xingye to stay with you to ensure your personal safety. You know, keep you company, help you take your mind off things."

Lu Xingye’s eyes widened. ’When did he...?’

"Oh, right, right!" Lu Xingye quickly added. "Wu Xueyan is still in the hospital, and Qiao Siyuan has other accomplices out there. It’s too dangerous for you to be alone."

Jiang Li nodded. "Thank you."

’So she didn’t refuse!’

Lu Xingye breathed an inward sigh of relief.

"Then please wait for me a moment, Officer Lu."

Lu Xingye nodded, and the door closed once more.

The other officer opened and closed his mouth a few times, but in the end, just clapped Lu Xingye on the shoulder. "Call me if anything happens. I’m heading back."

Lu Xingye nodded, staring at the closed door in contemplation.

A few minutes later, Jiang Li emerged. "Let’s go, Officer Lu."

Jiang Li led Lu Xingye downstairs.

After leaving the hotel, she bought breakfast. Lu Xingye watched, puzzled, as she held two cups of soy milk.

On the way, Jiang Li paused, staring blankly into a shop window.

Lu Xingye followed her gaze and saw a display of stuffed rabbits.

Just as he thought she was about to go inside and buy one, she turned and walked away.

Lu Xingye scratched his head and hurried to catch up.

Jiang Li arrived at the police station and found Huo Qing. "Officer Huo, can I see Qiao Siyuan?"

Huo Qing looked at her. For anyone else, it would be impossible, but for her... he didn’t mind.

"Fine. Just Qiao Siyuan?"

"I’ll see them both."

Huo Qing nodded and had an officer behind him make the arrangements. As Jiang Li was about to go in, Huo Qing cleared his throat. "Ahem, Jiang Li... just, you know, watch your strength."

Jiang Li turned back and looked at Huo Qing seriously. "Don’t worry, Officer Huo. I won’t."

As soon as Jiang Li entered, Qiao Siyuan and Chen Xiufang became agitated.

"Jiang Li, you little bitch!" Chen Xiufang shrieked. "We gave you food and shelter, and this is how you repay us? By sending us to prison!"

Chen Xiufang pointed a finger at Jiang Li and continued to curse. For so many years, everything had been fine. Everything changed the moment Jiang Li returned.

Qiao Siyuan cowered in the corner, trembling. "No, don’t come any closer."

Hearing Chen Xiufang’s curses, Qiao Siyuan finally looked up, grabbing the iron bars in front of him like a madman.

"Jiang Li, don’t forget! You’re carrying my child in your belly! You belong to me! How could you do this to me?"

"Do you want our child to be born without a father? Do you want your child to have a father who’s in prison?"

Jiang Li looked at the haggard Qiao Siyuan. "Qiao Siyuan, did you sleep well last night?"

Qiao Siyuan stared at Jiang Li in terror. "Jiang Li... it was you, wasn’t it? What did you do to me?"

The night before, whenever he closed his eyes, dozens of reeking infants would crawl all over him. Some even crawled onto his head and gnawed at his flesh.

He’d wake up with a start to find nothing there. It happened over and over again all night. He was going insane!

"Jiang Li! Jiang Li, you bitch! Are you mute?"

"JIANG LI!!!"

Jiang Li glanced at the pair, then turned to leave. Their hysterical screams followed her. As she reached the door, she whispered softly.

"Little Li, are you happy?"

’Big Sister is the best!’