73: Chapter 73 Jiang Yu's Counterattack, Finding a Place to Stay

The Sub-bureau rarely handled cases like this family dispute; from the kidnapping on the street to now, the Sub-bureau couldn't shake this off.

These kinds of family disputes were the hardest to handle; both sides had their own arguments, and it was often a tangled mess.

The behavior of Jiang Yu's family—illegal detention (restricting Jiang Yu's freedom) and violent interference with the freedom of marriage—was indeed suspected of being illegal, but the circumstances were minor, and since it was an internal family conflict, it was usually handled primarily through mediation and education.

The police officers began explaining policies and regulations to Jiang Yu, but the subtext of their words was to urge reconciliation.

The pressure was on Jiang Yu.

Lin Ning frowned. He really hated the behavior of always advising the "good person" to take a step back in every situation, but through Officer Li Feng, he also knew that there wasn't much the police could do—at least, the law-abiding police.

All eyes fell on Jiang Yu. She was the victim, and also the daughter; her attitude largely determined the direction of the matter.

Jiang Yu slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with an inescapable exhaustion and numbness. She looked at the two familiar, yet now incredibly strange faces opposite her, her voice as dry as sandpaper friction:

"I agree... to the settlement."

A flash of triumph instantly crossed the faces of Jiang Yu's father and mother.

But Jiang Yu's next words made that triumph freeze.

"This is the last time." She said, word by word, not as a discussion, but as a statement, "I will sign this mediation agreement. But after I sign it, this family and I will be square. In the future, do not come looking for me again."

"What did you say, you wretched girl?! You unfilial beast!" Jiang Yu's mother shrieked.

Jiang Yu acted as if she hadn't heard. For so many years, she had long known that what they wanted wasn't her explanation or defense, but actual obedience and benefits.

She continued in a low voice, yet it was like cold nails hammering into the ears of everyone present: "I know you won't listen. It doesn't matter. When you are old and need my support, you can sue me in court. I won't pay a penny less of the alimony that is due."

She even twitched the corner of her mouth, an arc uglier than crying: "But before that, if you force me, block me, or harass me like you are doing now, I will go borrow—borrow usury, borrow online loans, borrow every bank loan I can get. Then, I will spend all the money and not pay back a single cent."

The Jiang family and the police were all stunned.

"By then, since I have no money, who will the debt collectors go to?" Jiang Yu asked softly, her gaze sweeping over her parents' instantly pale faces, "Even if you can prove it has nothing to do with you and won't pay my debts, you can imagine in advance what it feels like to have your door blocked, paint splashed on it, and be bombarded with phone calls every day."

"Of course, by that point, do you think anyone would still be willing to pay the bride price to 'buy' a woman like me who is covered in bad debts?"

She picked up a pen and signed her name on the mediation agreement. The tip of the pen scratched the paper, making a rustling sound.

"Want money? None. Want to trade me for money?" Jiang Yu put down the pen and, for the first time, truly looked her parents in the eye. The last faint light in her eyes extinguished. "Dream on."

She stood up, no longer looking at the curses and wailing erupting behind her, and walked straight out of the mediation room.

Lin Ning also stood up, watched the farce before him, waved at the bewildered police officers, and followed her out.

At the entrance of the Sub-bureau, the early summer sun was a bit blinding.

Jiang Yu stood on the steps, her back thin and slightly trembling.

Lin Ning stood with her for a little while, then suddenly laughed in a low voice, "Hey, even the police were stunned by you, hahaha..."

She turned around and looked at Lin Ning, trying hard to squeeze out a smile, but the corners of her mouth uncontrollably turned downward, and her eyes quickly reddened.

"That was your idea, too!" She sniffled, her voice choked with sobs, "Thank you. I've caused you trouble."

Lin Ning watched her trying to hold back tears, and a certain part of his heart was gently poked. He sighed, stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and patted her shoulder very lightly.

"We're friends, don't say that. You should thank yourself; you did very well, really."

Jiang Yu's tears finally fell. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand and nodded vigorously.

"The tragedies of life," Lin Ning gazed at the bustling traffic on the street, his voice somewhat drifting, "the most terrifying ones often come from places that were supposed to be harbors. That's why when they stab you, it hurts especially much. You have been very... very strong."

He thought of himself; in both his past and present lives, fortunately, he still had the unreserved love of his sister and mother. Compared to Jiang Yu, he was indeed lucky.

Jiang Yu heard the resonance in his words; it was a deeper understanding than mere comfort. The ice in her heart seemed to have melted a little bit because of this understanding.

"I... I would like to treat you to a meal to properly thank you," she said softly.

Lin Ning checked the time and shook his head, "Not today. I... still have some things to deal with." He paused, "I've been quite busy lately. Let's wait until this period passes, and we'll get in touch then. Take care of yourself, and call me if anything happens."

Jiang Yu didn't insist anymore; she could tell that Lin Ning really had things to do. After thanking him again, she turned and walked towards the bus stop, her back still thin, but her steps no longer unsteady.

Lin Ning watched her get on the bus, and the bit of sentimentality in his heart was quickly suppressed. He still had serious business to attend to.

Evening rush hour, traffic like a weave.

Lin Ning was staking out an intersection at the far east end of Huatong Road—this was the new location inferred based on the daytime trajectory.

At 18:23, the white BMW appeared on time.

Lin Ning couldn't help but sigh; even criminals can't escape the routine of clocking in for work.

This time, it didn't continue straight; instead, it turned right at the intersection and drove into a side road lined with ginkgo trees.

Lin Ning's heart skipped a beat, and he followed carefully.

At the end of the road was a mid-range residential complex called "Wutong Court." The white BMW slowed down and drove into the complex.

Lin Ning didn't get close; he parked his e-scooter in front of a convenience store across the street. He watched the BMW disappear around the corner of the complex, and the corners of his mouth curled up slowly.

A phased victory!

This kind of residential complex is good; it's much easier to sneak into than high-end apartments or villa areas.

He didn't leave immediately, but wandered around the vicinity until dark, confirming that the car didn't come out again.

Over the next two days, he followed the same method, confirming the entry and exit patterns of Sofiani's vehicle at different times, and finally determined that this was one of her fixed bases.

The difficulty followed. A foreigner, living alone (suspected), highly vigilant. Ask directly? Too easy to attract attention. Conventional surveillance? Time-consuming and labor-intensive.

After dinner on the third night, Lin Ning changed into an inconspicuous tracksuit, put on a hat, and strolled to Wutong Court. After sneaking into the complex, he pretended to go for a night run; before he had figured out what to do next, he could only continue to use the clumsy method.

They say the night is the medium of sin. Little lady, why don't you move? You come home every day and don't go out; do you really think you're a virtuous woman?!

After eight o'clock in the evening, a black Audi A6 drove up slowly and stopped at the entrance of the unit building where Sofiani lived.