Rui Xiaodan's call had profound implications, and Ding Yuan Ying understood its meaning all too well. Throughout her month-long mission, this was the first time she had called him. As time ticked by, Ding Yuan Ying experienced each moment as an eternity. His mental state was fraught with anxiety, his heart teetering on the edge of an abyss. He contemplated various scenarios—perhaps she was in pursuit, negotiating, or interrogating. He was a man who believed in the principle of observing things as they are, never engaging in prayer, only judging situations and accepting outcomes. But today, he found himself unable to adhere to that principle. He prayed incessantly.
Despite his emotional drive to entertain hopeful possibilities, his rational mind told him otherwise: Xiaodan was in danger. Two hours had passed, and given the critical nature of the situation, if she had escaped, she would have contacted him immediately to assure him of her safety.
As expected, around 8 PM, there was a knock at the door. Two police officers in uniform stood outside, shattering the last vestiges of hope he had held onto. The officers introduced themselves as Wang Futian and Zhao Guoqiang from the Ancient City Criminal Police Team. They were there to investigate Rui Xiaodan's phone call and to inform him of her condition.
Ding Yuan Ying invited them in and asked directly, "Is Xiaodan still alive?"
Wang Futian and Zhao Guoqiang, both seasoned detectives, did not immediately answer his question. Zhao Guoqiang took out an ink pad, a pen, and a stack of paper from his briefcase and placed them on the coffee table, saying politely, "Mr. Ding, we will discuss Xiaodan's condition shortly. According to our information, Xiaodan made a phone call to you at 5:30 this afternoon, lasting 36 seconds. We need to take a statement detailing the content of that call. Please recall the exact words spoken."
Ding Yuan Ying did his best to repeat Rui Xiaodan's words verbatim, "Xiaodan's exact words were as follows. Even if there are minor discrepancies, the overall meaning remains unchanged."
Zhao Guoqiang transcribed his statement meticulously.
Wang Futian asked, "And then? What did you say?"
Ding Yuan Ying replied, "I said nothing. Xiaodan hung up after a few seconds of silence."
Wang Futian, puzzled, asked, "How could you have said nothing? Surely you would have given some advice or caution?"
Ding Yuan Ying said, "Xiaodan has six years of experience as a police officer. She doesn't need advice."
Wang Futian's tone changed slightly, "Needing advice is one thing, but giving it is another."
Ding Yuan Ying remained silent, unable to answer.
Wang Futian gave Ding Yuan Ying a dissatisfied look, then asked, "Are you certain Xiaodan said nothing else? Please think carefully."
Ding Yuan Ying confirmed, "I'm certain. Xiaodan said nothing else."
Wang Futian pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you think Xiaodan meant by telling you those things? Was she hoping you would say something? According to protocol, she shouldn't have disclosed case details to a relative, yet she did."
In the minds of most people, Rui Xiaodan's call could only be interpreted in two ways: 1. A farewell. This would be a natural action for a competent police officer. 2. Rui Xiaodan, caught between professional duty and a survival instinct, made the call hoping he would provide her with some psychologically impactful advice.
Ding Yuan Ying knew that Wang Futian and Zhao Guoqiang, as Rui Xiaodan's colleagues, would lean towards the first interpretation to emphasize her bravery as a police officer facing danger without fear. He also knew that either interpretation would inevitably touch upon his feelings for Rui Xiaodan. If it was a farewell, people would question why he didn't stop her, given their relationship. If it was the latter, people would lament that when Rui Xiaodan hoped for his guidance, he gave her noble but harsh silence. Both interpretations would lead to the conclusion that he was indifferent to Rui Xiaodan's peril.
If the second interpretation held, then he bore some responsibility for her death.
However, Rui Xiaodan's competence as a police officer needed no validation—"proving" it would be disrespectful. His feelings for her required no external validation—"seeking understanding" would desecrate their relationship.
Ding Yuan Ying stated, "I only speak the facts. I have no further interpretation."
Wang Futian and Zhao Guoqiang exchanged a glance, indicating they had no choice but to accept his statement. Zhao Guoqiang handed the statement to Ding Yuan Ying, saying, "Please review this. If it's accurate, sign and date it, and affix your fingerprints."
Ding Yuan Ying reviewed the statement, signed, dated it, and pressed his fingerprints onto the document.
Zhao Guoqiang put away the statement and said, "Mr. Ding, you were Xiaodan's boyfriend. We were her colleagues and good friends. Though we haven't met before, everyone in the Criminal Police Team knows you and knows how much Xiaodan cared for you. Now, on behalf of the Ancient City Criminal Police Team, I must inform you that Xiaodan is no longer with us. She took her own life."
Wang Futian continued, explaining the details of the incident as they had been reported, then added, "If you know any other close friends or relatives of Xiaodan, please inform them as well. We must be going now."
As Zhao Guoqiang reached the door, he turned and said, "Mr. Ding, I didn't expect you to treat Xiaodan this way. As her comrade, I'm disappointed in you and feel she cared for you more than you deserved."
The two detectives left.
Ding Yuan Ying wiped the ink from his fingers with a tissue, contemplating whether to call Ouyang Xue. The court session was scheduled for August 5, and both Ouyang Xue and Xiao Yawen were in Beijing preparing. Telling them now would undoubtedly affect their state of mind. After some thought, he decided to call. They were Xiaodan's best friends, and not informing them of such a significant event would be a psychological burden he couldn't bear.
Ouyang Xue cried as soon as she heard the news.
After making the call, Ding Yuan Ying turned on his computer to research the geographical location of Qin Gu County, travel routes, and flight schedules from the Ancient City Airport. The nearest airport to Qin Gu was Yinchuan Hedong Airport in Ningxia. There were no direct flights from the Ancient City to Yinchuan, so he would need to transit through Xi'an. The earliest flight from the Ancient City to Xi'an was at 9:30 AM, and from Xi'an to Yinchuan at 12:50 PM, just in time to catch. From Yinchuan to Qin Gu was less than 300 kilometers, about four hours by car, meaning he could reach Qin Gu by the next evening.
Having determined the route and schedule, he began to prepare for the trip. There wasn't much to prepare, just some travel money. As he retrieved the money from his desk drawer, he noticed the oval jade pendant inscribed with the word "law," kept with the money. Holding it, he looked at the "law" inscription, the date on the back, and the framed photo of Rui Xiaodan on the desk, where she stood on a mountain peak, her long hair blown by the wind, her eyes filled with melancholy and hope.
He reached out and gently caressed her face and hair, murmuring, "Live when you should live, die when you should die, come and go freely. Xiaodan, you're extraordinary."
He turned on the stereo, filling the room with the melody of "Daughter of the Kingdom," Rui Xiaodan's favorite piece. As the music played, he paced the living room, eventually sitting on the sofa and slowly organizing his tea set. He meticulously wiped each cup, aroma cup, pitcher, and gaiwan with a tea towel, his concentration suggesting he was performing a delicate task.
However, no matter how he tried to fight, soothe, or disguise it, he couldn't escape the pain. It was a heart-wrenching, unbearable, uncontrollable pain. He had thought he was enlightened, capable of facing life with calm and detachment, but as he quietly drank a cup of tea, he found it stuck in his throat. At that moment, a surge of uncontrollable emotion erupted from his chest. He instinctively closed his mouth and rushed to the bathroom, spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood.
He had always thought that coughing up blood from sorrow was an exaggeration in literature. At this moment, he realized it was not an exaggeration but a reality. His rationality and strength collapsed.
Suddenly, he felt weak, his vision blurred with stars, and a thousand needles seemed to pierce his heart. The volcanic pain was excruciating, choking him so much he couldn't even cry. He turned on the tap to wash away the blood, wiped his mouth, turned off the stereo and the electric kettle, and lay down on his bed, utterly exhausted.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the bedside phone rang. In the dark, he groped for the receiver.
It was Wang Futian. "Mr. Ding, I apologize for disturbing you at this time. Xiaodan's father called the bureau with a message for you. He was quite upset."
Ding Yuan Ying replied, "It's okay, please tell me."
Wang Futian said, "Mr. Rui said they do not welcome you and do not want you to attend Xiaodan's funeral in Qin Gu. We must respect the family's wishes. Please don't go to Qin Gu to avoid