You sure have a way with women,” the policeman said again. “There are quite a few pretty girls standing outside. They’re probably here for you, right? I just don’t get it. Why do girls these days like punks like you?” He spat on the floor, making it clear he held me in utter contempt.

It’s understandable. A punk like me—or rather, the kind of punk I used to be—was always beneath the notice of these policemen.

“So, what if I confess everything? What kind of punishment will I face?”

The policeman laughed. “I knew you weren’t talking because you were worried about that. Let me tell you, it’s hard to say right now. It depends on the condition of the student you stabbed and on your attitude. Plus, your prior record will be taken into account. But I checked, and it seems you don’t have any prior record. So, it shouldn’t be too severe—about a month in detention, I’d say.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t thought that far ahead. When I discussed this with Yu Chengfei, I never imagined I’d end up in the police station. My plan was simple: if Ear-Slap King tried to expel me for stabbing Maizi, I’d just deny it. But now that I’m in the police station, things are more complicated. I’m worried about implicating Yuan Shao. If I turn him in, he’ll have to…

In that case, I really can’t do it. It would be better to take the fall myself. I can’t let Yuan Shao bear this responsibility just to avoid being expelled. That’s why I haven’t confessed yet. Besides waiting for Ear-Slap King, I’m also concerned about this issue.

“Sooner or later, you’ll have to confess,” the policeman snorted. “Do you think staying silent will help you escape punishment?”

Since it was my first time here, I was scared of saying something wrong that might make things worse. Without anyone to guide me, I chose to stay silent, unsure of what to say.

Seeing that I still wasn’t talking, the policeman said, “This afternoon, your teachers and parents will be here. Why don’t you talk to them? You kids nowadays can’t be hit or scolded. One slap and you’ll crumble.”

With that, the policeman left the room, leaving me alone again. That’s when I started to feel real fear. My parents were coming? They’d be devastated to see me in this place!

For a moment, I wanted to call the policeman back and tell him everything. But then I squashed that thought. Could I really let Yuan Shao take the fall for me? How could I do that?

Time started to drag. I was handcuffed to the radiator, feeling the pressure mount. I went to the bathroom again and ate two buns, but I remained silent, hoping for a turn of events. The policeman said the teachers would come, and Ear-Slap King should be among them. I wanted to see if he would speak up for me.

Afternoon came quickly. The policeman uncuffed me and told me to sit down. After a while, my parents walked in, both looking deeply worried. My usually composed father looked anxious. “Haohan, what’s going on?” My mom rushed to my side, her hands checking me for injuries.

“Nothing,” I said softly. “Just got into a fight. It’s nothing.”

My dad came over, trying to stay calm. “Haohan, just tell the police what happened. Were you being bullied at school? Did you stab someone out of desperation? Don’t worry, just tell the truth.”

I was touched. In my parents’ eyes, I was still their obedient, sensible child. If I got into a fight, it must have been someone else’s fault, and I must have been bullied first. They were right; I wouldn’t have fought Maizi if I hadn’t been pushed to the edge.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

But I still didn’t know what to say. A sixteen-year-old kid in a police station, hiding so many secrets, maybe staying silent was the best option.

“Your kid is stubborn, won’t say a word,” the policeman said, shaking his head with a hint of a sneer. “He’s afraid of taking responsibility. But he has to, whether he likes it or not. Besides the criminal charges, there’s civil liability—medical bills and compensation for the other student. You’ll have to pay for all that.”

“We’ll pay, we’ll pay,” my dad said, shaking his head. “He’s just a child. How can he bear criminal responsibility? Think about his future. He worked so hard to get into Chenggao High School. What will happen to him if he’s detained?”

“That’s up to the school, not us,” the policeman replied. “The school reported the case. If they want to handle it themselves, we can look the other way.”

As he spoke, a few teachers from my school came in. I looked closely but didn’t see Ear-Slap King, feeling a chill in my heart. It seemed pointless to hope for his help anymore.

My parents quickly approached the teachers, pleading my case. They emphasized how well-behaved and sensible I was, how I must have been pushed to the brink to use a knife. They hoped the school would speak on my behalf to save me.

Among the teachers were two infamous figures known as South Fist and North Kick, both notorious for their harsh methods. South Fist, tall and thin with a sharp voice, said, “No way. This incident is too severe. A student used a knife. The school will not tolerate this. We must expel such a troublemaker and urge the police to deal with him strictly.”

My mom kept pleading, but my dad stopped talking and silently smoked by the window.

I now understood the school’s stance. Ear-Slap King wasn’t going to help me. My mind was in turmoil. Should I tell the truth? Would they believe me without evidence? Should I confess to the stabbing and risk implicating Yuan Shao? It was a precarious situation.

The sound of my mom arguing with the teachers gave me a headache, and I instinctively lay down on the table.

The policeman stood up and said, “You all discuss it with the school and parents. I’ll take Wang Hao to another room.” He grabbed my arm and led me to another empty office.

“Ready to talk now?” the policeman asked, opening a notebook to record my statement. “Tell me what happened. If you don’t speak up now, you won’t get another chance. We have witnesses and evidence. If you stay silent, it’ll be seen as obstructing justice, which will lead to a harsher sentence.”

I cursed Ear-Slap King in my mind but remained silent.

“Damn it, you’re really pushing me, aren’t you?” The policeman suddenly stood up, his temper flaring.

At that moment, the door swung open, and a sexy young woman walked in. She was around sixteen or seventeen but dressed in a mature, provocative way that accentuated her curves. She was the kind of girl who could make any guy’s nose bleed at the sight of her.

“Hey, Li, busy?” she said with a sweet smile.

“Oh, what brings you here?” The furious policeman’s face instantly softened into a warm smile.

“He’s my brother,” she said, pointing at me. “I need to talk to him for a bit. Is now a good time, Li?”

“He’s your brother?!” The policeman looked at me in surprise, seemingly unable to believe it. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it either. Where did this sexy sister of mine come from?

“Li, is it convenient or not?” she asked again.

“Of course, of course.” The policeman stood up, pulled out a chair for her, and then left the room.

As soon as the door closed, the smile vanished from her face. She glared at me and snapped, “What are you trying to pull here?”

“Huh?” I stared at her, utterly confused. “What did I do?” I had no idea what she was talking about. This girl definitely wasn’t from Chenggao High. With her looks, her figure, and her style, she was unforgettable. I’d never seen her at Chenggao before.

“What are you trying to pull?” she repeated, rapid-fire. “Why are you being so stubborn? Didn’t Yu Chengfei tell you what to do? You’ve been here all night and haven’t said a word. What’s your deal? Don’t you know how many people are worried about you out there?”

Her words came out like bullets from a machine gun, each one sharp and stinging. She glared at me with a look of frustration and disappointment, like she was scolding me for not living up to expectations.

“W-who are you?” I stammered. Her presence was overwhelming. I didn’t feel this flustered even facing Maizi. Just a few words from her, and I felt completely overpowered.

“You don’t know who I am?!” She pointed at herself, visibly angry. “You’re Yu Chengfei’s sworn brother, and you don’t know who I am? Has he never mentioned me?”

Looking at this sexy woman, a name immediately came to mind. I’d never seen her before, but my intuition told me it had to be her.

“Could you be…” I said, starting to piece it together.

“Could be what?” she said, her anger palpable. “I’m Yu Chengfei’s girlfriend, Nan Nan!”