"What you mean to say is that, you saw a black bag under the river by the bridge and you think it is containing the dead body of someone who was murdered?" The attending policeman eyed the young boy sitting in front of him.
The story was cringe but it was the best he could do. Shen Yu nodded his head. "Yes. It smelt really bad, like something rotting. Officer whether there is a dead body or not, I saw the black bag tied to something in the water. Isn't that suspicious? Also this could count as water pollution, shouldn't you guys check it out?"
He continued to persuade.
"What is it?" Another police officer came from behind. He was tall, and looked to be in his mid twenties but with an undeniable deep eyes and strong presence.
"Brother Zhao!" The policeman attending to him called out with familiarity. He rubbed the middle of his temple with one hand as he explained. "This kid....he tried to jump off the bridge by the Chang'an road and he saw a bag and thinks it's holding a body."
The policeman who was called brother Zhao frowned. His eyes moved to Shen Yu, studying him. "When was that?"
Shen Yu had to answer a few more questions. Some in which he has already said before, missing truth and lies while making sure not to contradict himself.
It took about an hour before he was allowed to leave.
Shen Yu drew in a deep breath as he stepped out of the police station.
He had done the best that he could do. Hopefully the police can resolve the case and give justice to the water ghost.
"Do you think what he said is true?" There were two people standing by a window watching him leave. Old Li turned to his colleague who was next to him. He was the one who was attending to Shen Yu first. "They say at the point of death people tend to become delusional, he might just be seeing things."
"Whether it is true or false we will know after searching." Liang Zhao lowered his eyes, in deep thoughts.
****************
Shen Yu made a stop at the ATM machine on his way home.
He hesitated for some seconds before trying the card 23 gave to him.
For the password he inputed his birthday and it actually worked!
Staring at the string of numbers, Shen Yu paused momentarily.
10,000 yuan.
His parents left him a lot of money and Shen Yu had no financial problem at the moment, but there was nothing wrong in having more money.
He placed the card back into his pocket, his mood naturally lifted.
What was left was what to do with the key.
Today, it was a Saturday and there were lots of people on the street.
Shen Yu subconsciously lowered his head when he entered their neighborhood. Not wanting to draw any attention to himself, he walked quickly and soon arrived in front of his building.
In his haste, he almost ran into someone who was coming out of the building.
"Sorry...." Seeing who it was, he halted in his words.
The slim lady he bumped into looked up to see him, her eyes shifting from surprise to panic in seconds. "Shen Yu? I heard from your neighbor that you were admitted into the hospital and was just going to see you. Are you okay now?"
"Hmm...I was discharged today." Shen replied in a small voice before asking. "Teacher Zhang why did you come?"
"Of course I came to see you." Teacher Chen eyes scanned him worridely. "You haven't been to school recently and I heard...I heard....about what happened."
Shen Yu's heart dropped. His worst fear had come to pass.
It seems that the news about his failed suicide has already spread.
His homeroom teacher hit him on his arm harshly, but without much force. So it didn't hurt. "What were you thinking ehh...what were you thinking Shen Yu, throwing your life away just like that?"
"I am sorry." Shen Yu lowered his head, saying quietly.
"What would have happened if..if...?" The rim of her eyes were red. She feared that the mental state of the child wasn't too good and it didn't dare to scold him even if she wanted to.
God knows how scared she was when she learnt of it from the principal at school. After all she was his homeroom teacher.
Seeing they were starting to draw the attention of others, she fought to control her emotions. "See how things you look. Pack your things and come stay at my place for the now."
It wasn't the first time she was taking her students under her wings and her husband was already used to it.
Shen Yu shook his head. "I am okay now teacher Zhang."
"No. You are coming with me." She refused to believe him.
Shen Yu spent almost an hour convincing her and she only changed her mind after he promised to inform her if he had any troubles and not keep anything from her.
After seeing her off, he returned home.
The house looked exactly the way he left it, except for a thin layer of dust starting to settle on the flat surfaces. He looked across the living room, knowing the other rooms were like this too.
Huh. He had a lot of cleaning to do.