"You're stalling, aren't you?" Qin Ningyi's voice was low, audible only to him and Shen Yuanshu.
Shen Yuanshu's eyes instantly cleared.
He put on a cheeky grin. "What are you talking about, Mr. Qin? I don't understand."
Qin Ningyi pushed the cup of water closer to him. "Drink the water and let's talk properly."
"The child is innocent, the back and forth on the plane..."
Shen Yuanshu's eyes widened, and he struggled to suppress his agitation.
Qin Ningyi watched him, satisfied with his current calm demeanor. He continued, "It's tiring."
"Talk properly," Qin Ningyi threatened in a low voice, a warning. "Don't tire her out."
After saying this, he walked out.
If not for Eleven Company's sudden appearance, and the people he had monitoring the situation secretly, he would have found it difficult to notice the abnormalities.
He had only made a few deductions based on minor details, and Shen Yuanshu's eyes had revealed the answer he sought.
Shen Yuanshu suppressed his emotions and watched Qin Ningyi's retreating back. He picked up the water in front of him and drank it down in one gulp.
The subsequent events proceeded relatively smoothly, with Shen Yuanshu showing much more cooperation.
"How old is he?" Huo Rou's mind flashed back to the file Qin Ningyi had shown her, where the ages of multiple Walkerbits varied.
If his age group could be confirmed, it might narrow down the search.
"An old guy, sixty? Hahaha, he likes young girls too."
Si Nian chimed in, "What about his appearance?"
"I don't know," Shen Yuanshu replied curtly.
Si Nian raised his voice. "You don't know?"
Shen Yuanshu lazily avoided answering, his gaze fixed on Huo Rou, his meaning clear.
Huo Rou repeated Si Nian's question. Only then did Shen Yuanshu smile. "He changes his face every other day, that guy."
"Who knows what he looks like now?"
Seeing Huo Rou listening intently, he added, "Junior classmate, I advise you not to think about finding him."
"It's for your own good," Shen Yuanshu said, his eyes full of feigned affection.
Huo Rou gritted her teeth and remained silent.
Si Nian then continued his questioning.
Shen Yuanshu was nowhere near as cooperative with Si Nian. He answered erratically, his eyes glued to Huo Rou.
"Junior classmate, do you think I'll get out this time?"
"If I get out, will you still come to catch me?"
...
He chattered on to Huo Rou, though it was more like talking to himself.
Huo Rou didn't respond at all, sitting perfectly still with a blank expression.
Qin Ningyi returned after taking a call and was just at the doorway when he heard Shen Yuanshu say, "Your waist is really so soft, how can you be agile but have a soft waist?"
Before he could get angry, he noticed Huo Rou's slightly unusual lip color.
It was very subtle, but he still noticed.
Qin Ningyi strode in quickly and went to Huo Rou's side. "What's wrong?"
Huo Rou turned her head slowly, looking at Qin Ningyi with surprise in her eyes.
Qin Ningyi understood immediately. He swept Huo Rou into his arms and walked out.
Shen Yuanshu whistled, a mixture of anger and madness in his eyes. "What? Can't take it? We had a very pleasant time with junior classmate Huo Rou these past few days you were gone!"
"I've held her like this too!" he roared viciously, completely unconcerned if Qin Ningyi could hear.
"Slap—"
Si Nian's slap sent Shen Yuanshu's face askew, blood instantly oozing from the corner of his mouth.
Shen Yuanshu spat, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
He slowly started to laugh, his blood-red lips parting. "What?"
"Disgusting," Si Nian said, word by word.
"You can't stand it?" Shen Yuanshu seemed to have discovered something hilarious. "Hahaha, you can't stand it, so why don't you kill me?"
Shen Yuanshu's hoarse shouts echoed from the interrogation room.
In the car outside the interrogation room.
Qin Ningyi found a pill from his bag and offered it to her.
"Why be stubborn?" he chided gently, his hands not stopping as he offered her water.
Huo Rou stared at him with tear-filled eyes. The medicine hadn't been taken yet, but the pain seemed to have already subsided.