Chapter 215: Come Prepared!
"Call the police! Let the Jing Fang handle this!" Qin Luoli told Lady Su with a commanding air.
"Luo Li, do we really have to call the police?" Lady Su was still somewhat apprehensive.
Qin Luoli sneered, "Since they suspect our restaurant is the problem, then let them call the police."
The burly man’s eyes darted away, but emboldened by the crowd, he immediately blurted out, "Go ahead and call them! This place is a crooked shop, and I refuse to believe they won’t find something!"
"Right, call the police! I’ve long suspected there was something wrong with this restaurant," a sleazy-looking young man yelled, waving his hands frantically from behind the crowd.
"Everyone, step aside! What happened here?"
The crowd parted as two police officers walked through. Their eyes met the burly man’s for a moment before their gazes settled on Qin Luoli, narrowing slightly.
Qin Luoli was no ordinary person. Though their gazes only met for an instant, she had already pieced together the situation.
"Officer, here’s what happened..."
Lady Su’s face paled when she saw the police. Just as she was about to explain, an officer cut her off.
"I didn’t ask you. You speak!" the officer snapped, looking at the burly man and motioning for him to go first.
The burly man chuckled, then immediately put on a look of pain and anguish. "Officer, you have to get justice for us," he lamented.
The officer stood with his hands behind his back, looking all business. "Describe the situation. What exactly happened?"
The burly man nodded and pointed to a man lying on the ground, covered in blood. "It’s like this," he began. "My brother and I are businessmen who travel around River City year-round. We came here this time because we heard about a good project. A friend recommended the newly opened Suqin Restaurant, so we decided to try it. But we never expected..."
He wiped away a tear, his grief seemingly overwhelming. "Just as we were leaving, my brother started vomiting blood uncontrollably! He fell into a coma, and... just a few minutes later, he was gone."
"Officer, you must get justice for us!"
The burly man clung to the officer, a blubbering mess of snot and tears that stirred immense sympathy among the onlookers.
"What a black-hearted establishment, treating human life like dirt!"
"They’re completely ruthless! Business owners these days will do anything for money!"
Hearing the crowd’s chatter, Qin Luoli’s lovely face turned cold.
Lady Su’s complexion was ashen and her lips trembled, though whether from fear or distress, it was hard to tell.
As for Liu Zijian’s mother, Ye’s, she was hiding behind them in fear.
After hearing the burly man’s story, the police officer’s expression darkened. "This is heinous," he said angrily. "To commit such an act in broad daylight, in a society ruled by law."
"Come on, cuff her!"
The officer gestured with a sweep of his hand, signaling his companion. They headed straight for Qin Luoli, their target clear and their movements unhesitating.
A cold smile played on Qin Luoli’s lips.
"Is this how you police operate?" Qin Luoli’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "If word of this gets out, the public won’t stand for it."
The officer raised an eyebrow and retorted coldly, "Are you teaching me how to do my job? The evidence is conclusive. Are you still trying to argue?"
Qin Luoli stood her ground. "First, you haven’t shown your police badges. Second, in a situation like this, shouldn’t you be calling an ambulance? And third, you’re about to arrest someone based on a one-sided story. Is that what you call ’conclusive evidence’?"
Her logical, well-reasoned words left the officer speechless.
"But... isn’t this what everyone saw? Whatever you say now is useless," the officer said, growing flustered and angry.
"What everyone saw?" Qin Luoli scoffed. "So, you’re telling me that police don’t rely on evidence to solve cases, just what they see with their own eyes?"
"You..." The officer’s face turned red with anger. "Audacious! You’re challenging the authority of the police and resisting law enforcement. I am authorized to use force!"
"Yes, use force! I’d like to see what she has to say then!"
"A woman like her, thinks she’s somebody just because she’s a little educated."
The crowd buzzed with discussion. The sleazy man from before yelled for them to cuff her and take her away, drawing loud cheers from the onlookers.
"If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come with us," the policeman said expressionlessly.
"Is that so?"
Just then, a quiet voice cut through the noise.
"I’d like to see who dares take her away today."
The crowd subconsciously parted as a tall, handsome young man slowly made his way forward.
"Xiao Mu!" Lady Su’s face lit up with joy. She grabbed the hand of Ye’s, saying, "It’s alright now, it’s alright."
A small smile appeared on Qin Luoli’s face. "You’re here."
Lin Mu nodded. "Are you okay?"
Qin Luoli shook her head and whispered, "Be careful. I’m sure these people came prepared."
"Don’t worry," he assured her. "Leave everything to me."
Patting Qin Luoli’s hand, Lin Mu didn’t even glance at the policemen. Instead, he walked toward the burly man.
"So you’re saying you were dining at the restaurant, and then he vomited blood and fell into a coma?"
Though Lin Mu’s tone was calm and his demeanor casual, the burly man felt a surge of panic. It was as if he were facing an Ancient Fierce Beast; one wrong move and he’d be devoured whole.
But then he remembered he held all the cards. So what if this guy showed up?
At that thought, the burly man puffed out his chest. "That’s right! The problem started in your restaurant. And he’s not in a coma—he’s dead!"
Lin Mu said quietly, "Instead of rushing to a hospital after an incident, your first thought is to gather a mob and cause a scene. To do so with such composure... I must say, it’s a first for me."
His tone was laced with sarcasm, and the burly man’s expression changed.
"Hey, kid, who do you think you are?" The burly man rolled up his sleeves and said menacingly, "I suggest you mind your own business, or you might just bring trouble upon yourself!"
"Are you threatening me?" Lin Mu shook his head. "Your methods are too primitive."
With that, he crouched down and examined the man on the ground.
The man’s complexion was cyanotic and his chest was covered in blood, the clear signs of poisoning. His eyes were tightly shut and he wasn’t breathing. He looked for all the world like he was dead.
However, a cold smile curled Lin Mu’s lips.
"To think a fake-death drug actually exists. Aren’t you afraid it could actually take your life?"
Lin Mu’s voice was very low, but the burly man still heard him.
The man’s face faltered for a second before he feigned outrage. "Kid, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Nonsense?" Lin Mu gave him a half-smile. "I can prove to all of you, right now, that he isn’t dead."
Everyone gasped. He wasn’t dead? Were they really frauds?
The officer’s expression changed as well. He took two steps forward and said, "Hey, don’t cause trouble here."
Glancing at the two policemen, Lin Mu raised an eyebrow. "Causing trouble?" he asked, his tone indifferent. "I think you’re the ones causing trouble."
The officer grew flustered. "You... what do you mean by that?"
"You’ll find out soon enough."