I returned to the task force when most people had smiles on their faces. The lead to check the famous painting at Zhang Ying's place came from the task force. Unexpectedly, they got lucky and directly found the lost famous painting. The other party was Interpol, which was a good show for the country.
At this moment, I saw Yu Xiaoluo. Yu Xiaoluo looked a bit confused. She saw me and sprang up, pulling… dragging me into the interrogation room. As soon as we entered, she threw a barrage of questions at me: "What's going on between you and that woman, Zhang Ying?"
"I don't know her well. I've told you everything I should."
"You don't know her well, but she framed you. Don't tell me she's a member of 'Logical Paradox'; you can forget that reason."
"Why can't I use it? That's exactly what I suspect."
"Captain Luo told you not to say it."
Having Captain Luo there made me feel a bit more at ease. "Where is Captain Luo?"
"He's back in Beijing. The experts brought by Interpol said the painting is real. Captain Luo is returning to Beijing to get our country's experts to authenticate it."
I listened, somewhat confused. "They found the painting, so the case is closed, right? Where did this idea of her framing me come from?"
"Zhang Ying said those paintings were from a classmate named Jiang He, who gave them to her daily because he was infatuated with her. There are witnesses. Everyone in the office can prove that those paintings were given to him by Jiang He."
"I know about this too. What does that prove?"
"Zhang Ying finally said she doesn't know where Jiang He is. When asked about Jiang He, she said you look exactly like him. Now Interpol suspects you."
"Just because of that one sentence?"
"No, there are your fingerprints on that painting."
…
It seems my worst fears are coming true. I already sensed someone wanted to turn me into Jiang He, and sure enough, the evidence is starting to point to me.
Seeing my silence, Yu Xiaoluo pressed me further: "Why are your fingerprints on the painting?"
"I've seen that painting before, that's true. It was on the wall behind the sofa. I'm not interested in such famous paintings, and I never touched it. Why are my fingerprints on it?"
Ironically, when Yu Xiaoluo asked me, I started questioning her. I'm not familiar with forensic investigation, and I've only seen fingerprints in movies. But at least the basic logic is clear; I must have touched it for my fingerprints to be there.
"What did you do when you were at Zhang Ying's house?"
"At that time, I showed interest in Jiang He, and Zhang Ying invited me to her home. We didn't do much. We drank some wine and chatted. When I realized that painting was 'Woman 3,' I immediately sensed something was wrong. I told you!"
"You didn't tell me you drank wine with that woman."
"Weren't those minor details?"
"They are not minor details at all."
I was very confused and quickly explained, "Sister, I'm really not someone who flirts around. I..."
Yu Xiaoluo waved her hand to interrupt me. "Whether you flirt around or not is none of my business. Do you know that fingerprints can remain on wine glasses?"
I was stunned. This was premeditated.
Just then, someone knocked. A foreigner entered. He looked a bit like Leo DiCaprio, quite handsome, with a hooked nose and blue eyes. He greeted Yu Xiaoluo politely, and Yu Xiaoluo responded fluently.
Then, Yu Xiaoluo turned to me and asked, "Can you understand him?"
I shook my head.
"How did you get into university?"
"I have an English make-up exam this time. I don't know if I can pass."
My answer made Yu Xiaoluo seem a bit helpless. She told me, "Then I'll be your translator. Officer John here wants to ask you a few questions."
"Ask away!"
They sat opposite me. Before Officer John could speak, Yu Xiaoluo gestured for him to stop. She moved a stool and sat on my side.
"He's asking if you've been abroad."
I shook my head.
John frowned. From the documents he brought, he pulled out a fax and handed it to Yu Xiaoluo. I couldn't understand the English, but there was a photo of me on it.
"This is information they just obtained from customs. You have been abroad. A few days before the famous painting was stolen, you stayed in the United States for only three days, and then returned to China."
I gave a wry smile. "With my English proficiency, what do you think I could do abroad?"
Yu Xiaoluo nodded, holding the fax, and explained to John. I couldn't understand what John was saying, but the foreigner's expression was very animated, as if he had the words "bullshit" written all over his face.
"Sister, what did you say to him?"
"I told him that's not you at all, that's Jiang He. The name on the passport is also Jiang He. Maybe we were all wrong; Jiang He might indeed look very much like you."
"Is that possible?"
"Looking at the time Jiang He went abroad, you were still preparing for exams. At that time, you hadn't even come to Hohhot, nor did you know Zhang Ying."
What Yu Xiaoluo said seemed plausible, but I didn't think so. I didn't believe in coincidences in this world. All coincidences were arranged.
"He's asking if you can prove you were in China during that period."
I saw the time Jiang He went abroad and my brow furrowed. Yu Xiaoluo noticed the change in my expression and said, displeased, "Weren't you studying at home? Your parents should be able to testify for you."
"My parents know I have money, and they think I don't need to go to college anymore. They weren't paying much attention to my exam preparations. My mother even wanted me to go on blind dates. So, during that period, I wasn't studying at home but in another apartment, studying alone. And I barely went out those few days. There was food made by my parents in the refrigerator, and instant noodles."
I had missed too many classes. If I didn't work hard, I wouldn't be able to get into college at all. I never imagined that someone would plot against me at that time. Back then, Lin Zhijun had sacrificed his life to sever our ties with 'Logical Paradox.' At that time, I didn't even know Tie Zhishan was in Hohhot.
If the opponent started planning from that time, it would be truly terrifying.
Yu Xiaoluo frowned upon hearing my explanation. She said a few words to John. John unhappily closed the documents and discussed something with Yu Xiaoluo. Yu Xiaoluo's attitude was also not good. They parted ways unhappily.
…
After John left, I asked Yu Xiaoluo, "Sister, what did you say to him?"
"He suspected I was covering for you and not telling him the truth. I didn't tell the truth, I told him that you were studying at home during that period, and your parents could prove it."
"Why did you lie?"
"We can't be led by the nose by the enemy. Someone behind the scenes wants to turn you into Jiang He and use Interpol and the stolen painting incident against you."
"What did he say at the end? Seeing his expression, he was about to bang the table."
"What could he say? I told him to go cool off. He said he was Interpol, but Interpol is nothing, this is within Chinese territory."
…
Yu Xiaoluo is quite stubborn. She felt I was in the right, so she protected me, not even respecting Interpol. There was nothing I could do. My sister has that heroic and spirited demeanor. However, I was still quite worried. The opponent had planned this so meticulously against me, and the entire scheme was already in place. The three conditions for the setup – heaven, earth, and man – were all perfectly arranged. I'm only realizing the trap now, and it's too late. I don't even have the ability to fight back yet; I can only be led by the nose.
Seeing my dejected expression, Yu Xiaoluo patted me. "What are you afraid of? With me here, no one can turn you into Jiang He."
"I'm afraid they have other tricks up their sleeves."
"Don't be afraid. A clear conscience fears no wrongdoing."
That's the principle, and I understand it, but the reality is different. The opponent must have me firmly in their grasp.
…
I returned to the dormitory. I skipped dinner and lay on the bed, pondering this scheme. I only fell asleep late at night. I woke up as soon as it was dawn. I couldn't sleep anyway, and the dormitory was open, so I went out for a run.
There weren't many people running. I heard a classmate on the phone, talking about account numbers. In that instant, a light seemed to ignite in my heart, and it illuminated everything.
Account, password, international…
I suddenly understood. This was the killer move the opponent was using against me. I quickly called Yu Xiaoluo: "Sister, I've figured it out..."
Yu Xiaoluo interrupted me. "I was just about to call you. Where are you?"
"Running on the sports field."
"Hide. I'll be there soon. Let's meet on the sports field."
"Hide? Why do I need to hide?"
"Interpol is coming to arrest you."
I saw two foreigners in suits, one black and one white, arrive at the sports field from a distance. I turned and ran. They pursued me relentlessly, catching me at the school gate.
John was a bit taller than me and a bit overweight. The black police officer with him was as tall as a basketball player, thin and lanky. The black officer, falling more than a hundred meters behind the white officer, caught up to me.
With the absolute physical advantage, my learned combat skills were of little use. I was quickly apprehended. Just then, a taxi stopped near me. Yu Xiaoluo got out of the car. She drew a gun and aimed it at the black officer, speaking loudly in a foreign language. The white officer rushed over and pointed his gun at Yu Xiaoluo. The scene descended into chaos.
Chinese people had never seen such a scene; it was like a Hollywood movie. The two international police officers, due to international relations, dared not fire their weapons on Chinese soil. Yu Xiaoluo seemed serious, and both sides engaged in a heated debate in English.
I couldn't understand, but I couldn't do nothing. I said to Yu Xiaoluo, "Sister, be mindful of the social impact. Let them take me."
"They will turn you into Jiang He."
"I believe in you, believe in Captain Luo, and even more in Team Leader Wang. They won't do anything to me. Also, this is China, isn't it? In our country, it's not their place to create wrongful convictions and cases for us."