Cherish You as My Life - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Xiao Yu’s case of jumping off the building caused a huge storm of public opinion on the Internet, and it had not completely subsided.

She sat on the balcony for nearly an hour before jumping down, and many people gathered downstairs to watch the excitement without helping the poor woman.

Some took photos and videos and posted them online. There was also a person who live-streamed the whole incident, and thousands of fans had watched it.

Xiao Zhou recalled that scene and still felt cold all over his body. It was the first time he encountered such an inhuman incident.

 *****

“Jump! I’ve been waiting for this for so long. Why don’t you jump?”

“I heard that she was fooling around with someone, and she was caught by her husband in bed. So she doesn’t have a face to live.”

“It’s really good.”

“Why don’t you jump? I have to go home and cook fish soup.”

When Zhang Xiang watched these videos again after having already seen them multiple times while looking into Xiao Yu’s jumping case, he was filled with anger and a deep sense of helplessness.

When Ji Yao heard “I have to go home and cook fish soup,” he already knew it was Zhou Tong’s voice, despite not seeing his image on the video. 

After Xiao Yu jumped off, several people applauded, and the one who led the way was the one who shouted to go home and cook the fish soup. It was he who said the jumping case gave some tonic to nourish their boring lives. 

Ji Yao asked Zhang Xiang to pause the video and zoom in on the picture to see clearly. But he could only see the arm of the person carrying the fish, let alone the face, not even a complete back could be seen.

Zhang Xiang watched the video and was very angry. “Are these people all beasts? That’s a life. How do you still applaud with such a commotion? Some people live broadcasted this. Do they have a conscience?”

The person who did the live broadcast held up his mobile phone to the upper floor, and while facing the screen, he explained, “The live broadcast of suicide is exciting enough. You must have never watched it; you have to remember it.” The man’s face was full of laughter, and his eyes shone with excitement and strangeness. “Death is with you.”

Ji Yao: “Zhang Xiang, tell me, what about these videos makes you the most angry?”

Zhang Xiang pointed to the computer screen and said with a cold tone, “This person who is going home to cook fish soup is the one who led the heckling, and there is also this live broadcaster.” After he finished speaking, he looked at Ji Yao and continued. “This person who is clamouring to go home and cook fish soup can’t be Zhou Tong, right? 

Meanwhile, Zhou Li had found the shirt that Ji Yao was looking for in the cupboard of Zhou Tong’s house, and she informed Ji Yao. 

Ji Yao’s doubt was cleared. ‘It seemed that the killer of Zhou Tong had no deep animosity against him. It is highly likely that Zhou Tong was killed because of his shitty personality.’ Thinking that, he pulled a chair and sat next to Zhang Xiang and said, “Take a screenshot of the mobile phone screen of this person who is broadcasting live and see if you can find his identity.”

Zhang Xiang found dozens of photos and discovered multiple recordings. However, he couldn’t find the ID of the broadcasting channel.

“Zhou Li enjoys watching live broadcasts. Let her recognise the live broadcast platform when she returns.”

Ji Yao dug out the information on Xiao Yu’s jumping case and looked at the transcript of Zhuyuan community security guard Xiao Zhou.

After reading that, he called Xiao Zhou and informed him to come to the City Bureau to cooperate with the investigation.

Xiao Zhou was off-duty today, and he was taking care of his mother, who had gone through kidney transplant surgery. And when he got the call, he agreed to come as soon as possible.

After bringing Xiao Zhou into the small conference room, Ji Yao instructed someone to make him a cup of tea and said, “Those citizens who assist with the investigation and are not under suspicion of committing crimes are not required to join the interrogation room. Don’t be anxious.”

Xiao Zhou, who was busy running around as he was taking care of his mother, was very thirsty, but he was too shy to take a sip in front of Ji Yao.

Seeing that, Ji Yao shoved the cup to Xiao Zhou and said, “Drink.’

After receiving the command, Xiao Zhou drank some tea and set the tea cup carefully down on the table. He sat straight on the chair and looked at Ji Yao seriously. 

Zhang Xiang, who was taking notes on the side, was almost infected by his serious mood.

Ji Yao, unexpectedly, asked no questions. After a while, he suddenly stood up, smiled, and said, “I’m going out to handle some things, and I’ll be back soon.”

He then led Zhang Xiang outside.

“Captain Ji, is there something wrong with this Xiao Zhou?” enquired Zhang Xiang.

At the door, Ji Yao crossed his long legs and leaned against the wall, saying, “There’s nothing wrong with him, but he’s too nervous to be asked questions.”

Zhang Xiang thought for several reasons but didn’t utter a word.

“The focus of our inquiry this time is on the emotional level. When a person is nervous, his emotions will become tense, and it will not be easy to talk.” After finishing speaking, he suddenly remembered something. “Go and ask Han Xi to come over.”

After a brief period of silence, Zhang Xiang patted his head and muttered, almost ashamed, “I can go back to the office and ask someone to call her.”

With a solemn yet light-hearted smile, Ji Yao folded his arms and said, “What, are you shy?” His tone had a tinge of hostility.

Realising Ji Yao’s hostility behind his smile, Zhang Xiang swiftly waved his hand and said, “No, no, no, it’s not.” He didn’t dare to compete with his boss. “I’m just a little afraid of her; not much.” 

After glancing down at the time, Ji Yao remarked, “I’ll count to three.”

Zhang Xiang bolted from the scene. 

Ten minutes later, Ji Yao saw Han Xi coming out from the elevator, followed by Zhang Xiang.

“Thank you, forensic doctor Han, for taking time out of your busy schedule to come here,” Ji Yao waved to Han Xi.

In Han Xi’s hand was a box of beautifully packaged biscuits.

Ji Yao extended his hand, but Han Xi pushed it back.

With a slightly unpleasant and itchy sensation, he shook his hand and said, “Aren’t biscuits for eating?”

She whispered, “Xiao Yu made this.”

After pausing for a few seconds, Ji Yao unlocked the door.

After entering the room, Han Xi smiled at Xiao Zhou before placing the cookie box on the table.

Xiao Zhou focused his eyes on the box and refused to move away for a long time. After a while, he said, “Sister Yu likes bow decorations.”

Ji Yao and Han Xi sat side by side across from Xiao Zhou. Zhang Xiang sat far behind and opened his pink notebook to record.

Seeing that Xiao Zhou had become much more relaxed, Ji Yao said, “Then let’s get started. Describe in detail what happened on the day Xiao Yu jumped off the building.”

Han Xi gave Xiao Zhou a cup of water and said gently, “Speak slowly; don’t be anxious.” 

With the encouragement of Han Xi, Xiao Zhou nodded before saying, “I was on duty that day. Sister Yu left work early—about three o’clock in the afternoon—earlier than normal. An hour later, I heard someone in the neighbourhood yelling that someone was going to jump from the building.” He took a sip of water and continued, “I ran over and saw Sister Yu. I called the police first and then climbed to the rooftop. She was not in a good mental state. I have never seen Sister Yu like that. She cried and said that she didn’t want to live anymore. After the marriage, his husband’s true colours were revealed, her job was not going well, and she was isolated in the company.”

Realising the others didn’t want to interrupt his words, he started to talk again. 

“I said now if you leave, there will be no one to feed the stray dogs at the gate of the community. I said a lot of things. I almost tried to persuade her, but more and more people gathered downstairs. Instead of trying to persuade her, they started making noises. Sister Yu heard everything. She said that this society is too cold. She said she was tired. She asked me to help take care of the stray dogs, and then she just…just….”

Xiao Zhou was already crying and couldn’t talk anymore.

Han Xi passed a tissue to Xiao Zhou.

She had seen the footage captured by the bystanders. Bright as a sunflower, Xiao Yu was dressed in yellow. Like a ball of fire that flickered brightly for a few seconds before extinguishing, she sprang from the building.

The security guard on the rooftop let out a sad cry, and the onlookers downstairs applauded and jeered.

After Xiao Zhou calmed down, Ji Yao sent him away.

Han Xi watched the car go away, turned around, and asked Ji Yao, “Do you think Zhou Tong’s murderer was at the scene at the time?”

After giving it some thought, Ji Yao said, “It’s difficult to say, but there’s a good chance that he was there. If not, how could he kill someone with such hatred?”

“If that person was at the scene, why didn’t he go to the rooftop to stop Xiao Yu?” Han Xi persisted in her questioning. “Or, has something we don’t know happened there?”

Ji Yao said after pondering for a while, “It has to do with his character, I think. He has a depressing attitude, is emotionally withdrawn, and struggles to communicate with others.”

Han Xi turned to face the tall Ji Yao. She lifted her head a little to ask, “How do you know?” 

Ji Yao lifted the corners of his mouth, looked into those admiring and curious eyes, and said, “Confidential question, please come closer. I’ll tell you secretly.”

Han Xi moved forward by two steps.

With a bent head and lips pressed to her ear, Ji Yao said, “It’s based on criminal psychology.”

Hot breath touched Han Xi’s right ear, and it gave a tingling sensation. 

“Your ears are red; are they hot?” Ji Yao asked as he bent over and blew on it.

With a scowl, Han Xi lifted her feet to trample Ji Yao, then strode out of the hallway.

Ji Yao bent his head down to examine his toes. He didn’t feel pain, but it was a little itchy. 

After humming a little, Ji Yao went back to the workplace.

At that time, Zhou Li had already returned and was watching the video Zhang Xiang gave her.

Once seated, Ji Yao asked, “What do you think? Which live broadcast platform is it?”

Zhou Li pulled out her smartphone and began a regular live stream. The interface’s colour pattern matched that of the video. Wu Live platform was the name of the live broadcasting platform. 

Zhang Xiang asked, “Captain Ji, do you suspect that the anchor who broadcasted Xiao Yu’s jump from the building may be in danger, just like Zhou Tong?”

Ji Yao: “Find this anchor first, then get in touch with the person in charge of the live broadcast platform.”

When Zhang Xiang got in touch with Wu Live’s operations manager, he confirmed that there had previously been a suicide via jumping from building broadcast. Three days ago, they restricted the anchor’s ID due to the negative societal impact; and the anchor’s number was currently unavailable.

End of chapter 12