How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

After quietly telling Zheng Peilan to make sure her older sister and mother stayed put, Guo Zixing got up to leave.

Zheng Peilan didn't know what had happened, but she saw Guo Zixing hurriedly leaving.

"what happened?"

"It's nothing. It's just that I've made progress on a case I was working on before. My informant just sent me a message, so I'm going to take a look."

"There's no need to be in such a hurry. Today is Madam Guo's birthday banquet. Aren't you going to stay until it's over?"

"It's too late. It's about human trafficking. Every delay means another person will be harmed. I can't just watch people suffer. Peilan, I'll apologize to you another day. I'll be going now." Guo Zixing patted her shoulder as a gesture of comfort. He then said goodbye to Madam Guo and quietly slipped away.

Watching his departing figure, Zheng Peilan frowned. She had never seen Guo Zixing so persistent about anything. Could this matter be extremely serious, even more important than his grandmother's birthday?

She sensed something was wrong, but didn't show it. She casually took a few sips of fruit wine to hide the coldness that flashed in her eyes, and started chatting with the women next to her.

Among the younger generation of the Guo family, apart from Guo Zixing, the rest are still studying. Even Guo Zixing's monthly salary is not much, so it's understandable that he is diligent.

Guo Zixing left the backyard, led out a horse, and headed straight for the Zhang family's house.

The Zhang family's house was located on a secluded street. Although it was not luxurious, it was kept very tidy and clean.

Zhang Yan was locked in her room when she heard the door open. She jumped up immediately and, seeing it was Officer Zhang, exclaimed in panic, "Brother, what are you doing here?"

Guo Zixing looked at her silently for a while, then asked, "Why didn't you come home all night and were still by the Second Young Master's side?"

“I…” Zhang Yan bit her lip, then suddenly knelt down, choking back tears, “Big brother, I am already the second young master’s woman.”

Guo Zixing frowned and helped her up. "What?! Don't cry, tell me what happened."

“I…” Zhang Yan lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible, “I met the second young master. He said he likes me. Last night, he even… asked me to sleep with him.”

"What?!" Guo Zixing's eyes widened, clearly incredulous.

"Are you really with him?"

"Mmm." Zhang Yan looked up at him, her expression shy.

Sergeant Zhang clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and roared, "You bastard, do you know what you're doing?"

Zhang Yan pursed her lips, tears welling up in her eyes.

Zhang Yan only has a grandmother and two older brothers. They usually dote on her and don't know how to educate her properly.

Who would have thought she would do such an absurd thing?

"So that's why you didn't report it?"

Zhang Yan felt guilty and clutched the hem of her clothes, saying, "No, I already sent a message."

Sergeant Zhang roared, "You bastard, why aren't you telling the truth? Do you know you almost killed someone? If your mistake caused the deaths of four people, how can you live with yourself for the rest of your life?"

Zhang Yan was indignant and shouted, "Why should I do such a dangerous thing? I'm not a member of the police force. If you know there are risks and still make me do it, then you should know that this matter may fail."

"You..." Chief Zhang was so angry that he lost his temper. He grabbed a feather duster and started hitting Zhang Yan. "Is this how I taught you? A promise is a promise. If you promise something, you must keep it. Otherwise, what integrity do you have? And you stayed out all night, losing your innocence. How are you going to face your ancestors for all these things?"

Zhang Yan was terrified, screaming repeatedly, too afraid to dodge, and screaming as she was whipped by the feather duster.

A crackling sound came from inside the room, mixed with Zhang Yan's screams.

Hearing the commotion, Qingru rushed over and pulled Zhang Yan into her arms, disapprovingly saying, "Chief Zhang, why can't we talk things out? Why resort to violence? She's not that old; she was probably just confused for a moment. She'll be fine once she's made up her mind."

Zhang Yan huddled in Qingru's arms, trembling, her eyes red as she looked at Chief Zhang. "Brother, I was wrong, please forgive me."

Qingru sighed, stroked her head, and said softly, "Quickly apologize to Chief Zhang."

"I, I..." Zhang Yan felt extremely wronged, but seeing that the person she almost killed was still protecting her and speaking up for her, she was too ashamed to face anyone, and tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry, Xiao Cui, I listened to the Second Young Master and stopped sending you messages, which almost killed you."

Qingru then realized what had happened, but she had already guessed it. "Never mind, it's all in the past. But why didn't you send me a message? Why did you tell me 'Meet me at the foot of Qingdai Mountain on the 18th of the twelfth lunar month'?"

Zhang Yan lowered her head and sobbed, choking out, "I didn't listen to you from the beginning. I just made it up based on what you said because I thought that since everything you wanted was ready, there was no need to delay any longer. I was originally going to inform the eldest young master, but... but I ran into the second young master, and I... I missed the deadline."

Her voice was broken and intermittent, filled with deep regret and remorse.

"And now?" Qingru asked.

"I don't know what happened, the second young master grabbed me, I, I was..." Zhang Yan lowered her head, tears streaming down her face, "I didn't know how to refuse him, and he pulled me into the house, he..."

"He forced you?!" Sergeant Zhang demanded angrily, "You beast!"

Zhang Yan shook her head frantically, "I... Waaah... I... It's not true..."

"Enough!" Guo Zixing shouted, his face ashen as he stared at her. "Zhang Yan, how could you do such a thing?! Have you no shame? You...you're really infuriating me." He then kicked the stool over violently.

"Big brother! You, you mustn't be angry," Zhang Yan cried, her face streaked with tears, looking pitiful. "He said he would marry me. He said it was the first time he had ever liked a girl so much, so I... I..." Zhang Yan couldn't finish her sentence, but a blush crept onto her face, clearly indicating that she had once again inappropriately fallen into her memories.

"I think you're bewitched. How could he really marry you?"

Guo Zixing happened to walk in and overheard the entire argument between the Zhang siblings.

"When did Guo Ziyou approach you?" Guo Zixing walked in with a livid face, and Zhang Xun, who followed him in, was equally furious.

When Zhang Yan saw that it was Guo Zixing who walked in, her face turned bright red, realizing that he had overheard her.

Now that her older brother and the others know, Zhang Yan decided to throw caution to the wind and lay everything out in the open, "Ten days ago, but I didn't do anything for him then, and I still don't now. It's just that the last message wasn't sent."

“It’s not just that you didn’t spread it, it’s that you created false information. Why?” Guo Zixing asked calmly.

Zhang Yan said, "There's no reason why. Anyway, I didn't mention your business. I didn't agree when the second young master asked me to spread false information. I just wanted Lü Xiaocui to leave the yarn factory as soon as possible."

Guo Zixing stared directly at her, trying to find a flaw in the eyes of this naive girl.

It's a pity that those eyes were filled with nothing but self-righteous foolishness and blindness.

Guo Zixing's face turned cold, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. He said to the Zhang family, "You deal with your family matters first. I'll hear the results tomorrow."

Qingru received his gaze, quickly said goodbye to Chief Zhang and the others, and followed closely behind Guo Zixing.

Sergeant Zhang took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and ordered in a suppressed voice to send Zhang Yan back to her room and lock her up.

"Big brother..." Zhang Yan cried out in panic, "What are you going to do? I've already admitted my mistake!"

Sergeant Zhang stopped trying to persuade him. "Shut up. You can come out again when the matter at the yarn factory is settled."

"Big brother, big brother... second brother, second brother, please try to persuade him..."

Ignoring Zhang Yan's knocking on the door, Chief Zhang turned and left. For the first time, Zhang Xun did not pamper his younger sister and walked away with a sigh.