Volume 1 Chapter 28: I Have Been Captured

"What is wrong? Do you not trust me?" Yu Qingman pouted her red lips, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness.

"This doesn't feel right!" I was extremely hesitant. After all, this involved a girl's reputation, and Yu Qingman was sacrificing too much for me.

"I don't mind. Don't you want to be with me?" Yu Qingman lowered her head, looking bashful.

"I like you, of course I do!" I summoned my courage and spoke from the heart. If it weren't for Qin Shao-hu meddling, I would certainly have attended the same university as Yu Qingman and become her real boyfriend.

Yu Qingman stirred her coffee with a spoon, her pretty face slightly flushed, and whispered so softly I could barely hear her, "Let's go to a hotel in a while."

I couldn't believe my ears! It wasn't until she said it a second time that I realized I wasn't dreaming and had heard her correctly. Yu Qingman was asking me to get a room!

I was overwhelmed with excitement and longing, yet I hesitated. "Manman, you have a bright future ahead of you. Won't you regret being with me?"

"Never!" Yu Qingman shook her head gently and added, "The police will definitely ask for details about what happened between us last night. You need to understand me deeply so you won't say the wrong thing."

I was deeply moved, gripping her hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

At nine o'clock, we left the coffee shop, walking down the street hand in hand. I felt as if I had rediscovered love; my heart was filled with happiness, and the dim evening light seemed so beautiful. Yu Qingman kept her head down the whole time, shyly avoiding the gaze of passersby.

We arrived at the Xiangyang Hotel. I had stayed here before and had even accidentally invited Fu Xiaoya here. Yu Qingman pulled me into the lobby and calmly asked for a room. The last time, the landlady had charged me a hundred, but this time it was only fifty.

We entered the room. Looking at the large bed with its white sheets, my heart began to pound violently, my blood surged, and my throat went dry. Tonight, I was going to share an important life moment with Yu Qingman. I had already begun to imagine how delicate and alluring her body would be.

"Be gentle," Yu Qingman whispered into my burning ear before heading into the bathroom and locking the door. The sound of water splashing inside was incredibly enchanting.

I lay on the bed waiting, feeling intensely nervous. I had no experience at all; would I perform poorly?

Just then, my phone rang. It was Fu Xiaoya, the first time she had ever called me.

I hurriedly answered, calling out, "Sister."

"Where are you?" Fu Xiaoya asked coldly.

"I... I'm out for a walk on the street." I lied. Fu Xiaoya hated Yu Qingman and tried her best to stop us from being together. If she knew I was getting a room with her, she would surely turn on me and scold me endlessly.

"Haha, that son of a bitch Qin Shao-hu has been beaten and hospitalized," Fu Xiaoya laughed.

"I heard. He deserved it."

"Xiao Yan, remember this clearly: no matter how the police pressure you, insist that you were sleeping at home last night and didn't go out," Fu Xiaoya commanded.

"I..." I hesitated. Yu Qingman had told me to say we were out together at a hotel and that she would vouch for me.

"Did you hear me, you brainless idiot? You must not get involved in this!" Fu Xiaoya shouted, making my ears ring.

"Sister, I've got it!" I quickly agreed.

"Delete our call history and stop messing around out there. Get home early." With that, Fu Xiaoya hung up.

I obediently deleted the call record, my mind in turmoil. I didn't know whether to believe Fu Xiaoya or Yu Qingman; they were two entirely different answers.

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped. I waited eagerly for Yu Qingman to emerge, my whole body restless. Suddenly, there was a violent knocking at the door.

"Police, room check! Open up!" A cold voice echoed into the room. I was startled, lamenting how terrible my luck was. The first time I ever got a room with a girl, I ran into a police raid.

I went to open the door. Two uniformed police officers stood outside, eyeing me up and down. One asked, "Are you Zhou Yan?"

"Yes!" I tried to stay calm, but my legs were shaking uncontrollably.

Yu Qingman rushed out of the bathroom, her hair wet but her clothes already on. "What do you want?" she asked in alarm.

The officer ignored her and said to me, "Zhou Yan, you are suspected of involvement in an intentional assault that occurred last night. Come with us to the police station for questioning."

"I didn't do it!" I felt that things were going wrong and panicked, wanting to retreat back into the room.

One officer suddenly grabbed my wrist and twisted it behind my back. I struggled hard, shouting that I was being framed. The two officers rushed forward, forced me to the ground, pinned my hands behind me, and with two sharp clicks, locked cold handcuffs on my wrists.

"You've got the wrong person! Zhou Yan was with me last night!" Yu Qingman rushed over and shouted.

"Is that so?" The officer stared into my face, questioning me coldly.

"I..." Yu Qingman's bravery moved me, but recalling Fu Xiaoya's call, I hesitated.

"Speak up!"

"No. I was sleeping at home last night. Someone can vouch for me." In the end, I chose to trust Fu Xiaoya and told the truth.

Yu Qingman covered her face in regret, leaning against the door in utter despair. The two officers forcibly led me away from the Xiangyang Hotel, pushed me into a police car, and drove toward the New District Police Station.

I was taken to the station chief's office. Chief Qin was smoking, his face as dark as a storm about to break. He ordered the two officers out, walked around his desk, and slowly approached me. He grabbed my collar with such force that he nearly lifted me off my feet.

"Kid, you're really vicious. My son almost died." Chief Qin’s face was twisted in rage, and spittle sprayed onto my face.

"It has nothing to do with me! I was sleeping at home last night; I didn't even step out the door!" I argued loudly, my face flushing red. "He’s always the one hitting me; I’ve never laid a hand on him, nor would I dare."

Chief Qin raised his hand in anger, but after holding back repeatedly, he didn't slap me. He sneered, "I’ve seen plenty of tough guys. Don't think you'll escape this. Prepare yourself for prison!"

Chief Qin opened the door and shouted, and the two officers from before entered. They dragged me away and threw me into a dark cell, leaving my handcuffs on but confiscating my phone.

I curled up in a corner of the small, dark room, gazing at a tiny window above. A sliver of light filtered in, but it could not brighten my heart. I felt miserable, hopeless, and full of self-pity. I felt as though I should never have been born. Why was I always dogged by such bad luck? What had I done wrong?

The night deepened. I couldn't hear a sound from outside; the room was terrifyingly quiet. My wrists throbbed with pain, and even worse, I had a desperate urge to urinate.

I struggled to my feet, bumped my elbows against the door, and shouted, "Let me out! I need to use the bathroom!"