But this place was actually targeted by a criminal. I didn't know how the situation was. When I got out of the car, I happened to run into Liu Yuning, who had just gotten out too. We exchanged a look and headed into the aquarium.
The scene of the crime was in the exhibition room of the central hall. The door was wide open, revealing countless fish tanks with schools of fish swimming within. However, one fish tank appeared to have been struck, a huge crack running across its glass. I saw a wrench on the ground. A detective informed me that the perpetrator was an administrator here, who had likely smashed the fish tank to create a flood and prevent anyone from getting close.
My uncle was already at the scene, negotiating with the perpetrator inside.
The criminal was holding a man in a suit hostage. I initially thought he was a high-ranking official from the aquarium, but a police officer told me, "The one being held hostage has nothing to do with the aquarium. He seems to be just a tourist."
"How could that be? Did he know the person would be here today?" I wondered, my attention drawn to the direction of the fish tank.
Dozens of tourists and several aquarium staff members were crouched near the fish tank. Many families were present, with children crying and trembling beside their parents.
The sound of sobbing echoed through every corner of the aquarium.
The parents were also incredibly anxious. Yet, with the perpetrator unarmed, why didn't these people flee?
I suddenly noticed the water on the ground and an electrical wire not far from the criminal, and then it dawned on me.
He must be using that to threaten anyone who tried to escape.
We maintained a distance from him while the SWAT team lay in ambush nearby, ready to move in on my uncle's command.
The administrator wasn't holding any weapons, but a controller of some sort. I wasn't sure what it was for. I initially suspected he might have a bomb, but I could tell his clothes were normal.
"Don't come any closer! If I press this switch, all the fish tanks will shatter. Don't you see? There are several man-eating sharks in here. If they get out, even for a few minutes, you'll be eaten!"
"What did you do to the glass tanks? They'll shatter with a switch?" my uncle asked, bewildered.
"Hmph, you don't need to know. This is a gift from God, meant to kill this scumbag in my hands!"
"Sir, please don't be rash. Even if you have grievances, don't involve others. Alright? Let go of the surrounding guests and the staff!"
"Let them go? That would only reduce my leverage. I won't do that. And you, officer, I didn't want you to come in, but you're quite fast!"
"I used to be part of the police force, and even though I'm not now, everyone respects me! Sir, have you heard the name 'Cold-Handed Detective'?"
"You mean the Cold-Handed Detective, who is as famous as Judge of Sin He Jianquan?"
"That's right, that person is me!"
"Haha, that someone like me can be in the same frame as a detective like you. If this became news, it would surely be a sensation!"
"Really? Judging by your tone, you seem to crave fame. But you're just a staff member here, why would you have such ambitions?"
"Just because I work here doesn't mean I can't have my own aspirations! Who doesn't have dreams!"
At this moment, the man in the suit he was holding hostage spoke up excitedly, "Brother, I don't think I know you. You can pursue your dreams, but why are you holding me hostage?"
"You don't know me? Haha, you son of a bitch, you've probably forgotten that I was your classmate. Actually, I never thought this plan would be used here. Perhaps it's luck. I happened to discover your name on a travel list and knew you'd be here. I thought I'd just gotten this plan ready, and you just happened to show up. I was quite surprised, but on second thought, this is probably a chance heaven has given me to get revenge on you!"
"Why do you want revenge on me? You say you were my classmate? Who exactly are you?"
"Qiao Yajiao, I see you've truly forgotten the past. Alright then, I'll tell you slowly."
At this moment, I felt the SWAT team slowly approaching the criminal, but they hadn't moved without my uncle's orders.
"You know my name? Who are you?"
"I'm Yong Xiuqi, remember now? In high school, didn't we promise to go to the same university? Who knew what you did to me that night? You secretly put something in my food. You probably thought I didn't know, but of course, all this was found out later. But what could I do? You're a rich second generation, and I wouldn't have gotten off easily if I tried to settle the score with you. As a result, you got into a good university, and I missed the entrance exam because I was hospitalized!"
"This... Yong Xiuqi, it's really you. It's been over a decade, how can you still remember this!"
Qiao Yajiao exclaimed, sweat beading on his forehead.
"How could I forget? You ruined everything for me. If I hadn't failed to get into university, my dreams would have been realized long ago!"
"Not necessarily. What I'm doing now has nothing to do with my major!"
"Shut up, or I'll let the sharks eat you!"
Mentioning the sharks, Qiao Yajiao was too scared to speak. The sharks in the nearby tanks were stirring. I noticed Qiao Yajiao's arm was injured and bleeding, likely stimulated by the smell of blood. If the tank broke now, the sharks would surely lunge at him first.
"Mr. Yong, is it? I'd really like to know what your dream is," my uncle said again.
Yong Xiuqi hesitated, then grudgingly said, "I don't want to tell you!"
"But if you don't tell me, how can I help you? We need to understand clearly now, what is the inherent connection between your university education and your dream," my uncle explained.
Yong Xiuqi seemed to accept this reasoning. He organized his thoughts and then said, "I originally wanted to apply to a fine arts college, and after graduation, I planned to become a writer!"
"Oh? A writer? That's a great aspiration. But do you know? The requirements for online writers nowadays are not that high. As long as you write well, even if you only have an elementary school education, it's fine. You must have been reading all these years, so does it still feel difficult?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. You should be sensible and understand many principles. But you find it difficult to get published when you actually start writing, and it's hard to get a contract. Perhaps you tried working full-time, but couldn't sustain it for more than a few months, and eventually came back to work."