Jun Meiyu stepped forward, eyes burning. "Rights? And what about hers? She saved me, Chief! Without her, I—" Her voice cracked, fury and shame colliding. "And now you treat her like a criminal?"
Jing Yongwei's expression hardened. "This is procedure. Order must stand."
Jun Meiyu bit back, trembling. "She's seventeen! A child! How can you demand this of her?"
The word hung in the air, brittle and fragile.
For a moment, silence pressed in again. The officers glanced between one another, unease creeping back.
Before Jun Meiyu could say more, Xi Jiayi stepped forward. Her expression was calm, her voice softer than before.
"It's fine. I'll cooperate."
Jun Meiyu spun toward her, panicked. "No—you don't have to. Don't let him treat you like—"
Xi Jiayi's hand touched her arm gently, steady as stone. "Teacher Jun. It's alright."
Jun Meiyu's face was pale, but her trembling hands still gripped Xi Jiayi's sleeve, refusing to let go.
"Teacher Jun, please!"
The softness in Xi Jiayi tone soothed Jin Meiyu, calming her down.
Still, her heart burned. Jun Meiyu turned back to Jing Yongwei, voice rising again.
"Then at least follow the law properly! She's seventeen. She can't stay here alone. A guardian must be present!"
Jing Yongwei's jaw clenched. He studied Xi Jiayi for a long moment before finally giving a short nod.
"Call your parents."
Silence.
Every eye turned to Xi Jiayi. But she stood unmoving, her expression unreadable, lips pressed tight.
Jun Meiyu's hand trembled as she touched her shoulder. "Miss Xi… don't be afraid. I'll help explain everything. Just call them. It'll be fine."
Xi Jiayi's eyes lifted, steady as ever. Her words were quiet, but they shattered the room.
"I have no parents. I'm an orphan."
The weight of it crushed the air.
Jun Meiyu's breath froze. Jing Yongwei's stern face cracked for the first time—his eyes flashing with something unreadable.
He cleared his throat. "Then your guardian. Give me their number."
Jiayi shook her head. "I don't have one."
The silence deepened.
Even the culprits in the cell, moments ago trembling in fear, stared with wide eyes.
Jing Yongwei's gaze lingered on her face. Strange. Measuring. As though he couldn't decide what kind of creature stood before him.
Cheng Wanru stepped forward, hesitant. "Chief… we can call for a public lawyer to escort her. It's standard procedure." Then she glanced at Jiayi, lowering her voice. "But… Miss Xi, if you have someone of your own… it might serve you better."
Jun Meiyu seized on it instantly. "Then I'll hire someone! Don't worry, Miss Xi—"
But Xi Jiayi shook her head. Her voice was calm, almost detached. "No. Let me handle it."
She turned to Jing Yongwei. "Can I make a call?"
He studied her for a long moment. Then, a smirk tugged faintly at his lips. "What? Lost your phone, kid?"
Xi Jiayi's reply was simple.
"I don't have a phone."
The smirk faded. Jing Yongwei looked at her strangely, but didn't press. He waved at an officer. "Give her the desk line."
The officer placed the receiver in her hand. After a thought, Xi Jiayi dialed a number, slow and deliberate.
The line clicked.
A voice answered, cold and sharp. "Who is this?"
Xi Jiayi's lips parted. "It's me."
For a breath, silence. Then the voice changed—suddenly warm, bright, almost playful.
"Senior Yiyi? …You finally called? After so long?" A laugh, light and teasing. "Did you miss me?"
Xi Jiayi's chest tightened. She didn't know how to answer. Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'm at the police station."
The brightness on the other end vanished.
Silence.
Then, low and urgent: "What happened? Which station? Where are you?"
Xi Jiayi hesitated, unsure how to explain. But before she could answer, the woman's voice cut again—firm, commanding.
"Hand the phone to the officer near you."
Xi Jiayi blinked, then silently offered the receiver.
The officer stiffened at the voice on the line. He spoke quickly, explaining the situation. When he finished, his eyes were wide, uncertain, as he passed the phone back.
Xi Jiayi pressed it to her ear again.
The woman chuckled softly, her tone shifting once more, playful as before. "Senior Yiyi. You are bad. Having fun without me, hm? Causing trouble on your own?"
Xi Jiayi said nothing.
The woman's tone changed again, laughter spilling through the line.
"So, you're having all the fun without me? Naughty girl."
Xi Jiayi stayed silent, ears burning.
"Never mind," the woman chuckled. "I've already sent someone. They'll be there within the hour. Wait for me, Yiyi—because I'm coming back."
"...Mn." Xi Jiayi's reply was barely a breath.
A soft kiss against the receiver, then—
"Don't miss me too much."
The line went dead.
Xi Jiayi set the phone down. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, though her expression stayed composed.
She turned back to Jun Meiyu.
"Everything's fine."
Jun Meiyu searched her face, uncertain, but nodded slowly.
Jing Yongwei's eyes narrowed. "So. Someone is coming?"
Xi Jiayi nodded once.
He turned to the officer nearby. "Take the culprits' statements." His voice was clipped, businesslike, but his gaze lingered on Xi Jiayi longer than necessary. "In the meantime—we wait."
The officer hurried to the cell. Pens scratched. Papers filled. When it was done, the file landed in Jing Yongwei's hands.
He was flipping through the pages when the door opened.
Bootsteps echoed across the floor.
A man entered—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a tailored black suit that gleamed under the harsh station lights. His hair was slicked back, his expression sharp as a blade.
Every head in the room turned. Even the culprits stiffened.
The man gave a curt nod, his voice deep, confident.
"I am here on behalf of Miss Xi Jiayi."
He held out a card, gold-embossed, his title clear for all to see.
Han Ruiming – Senior Legal Counsel, Qilin International Group
"Her lawyer."