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墨書 Inktalez
“Ah!” Mei Tiantian broke free from Wang Zhe’s embrace. “What did you say? Are you saying that Xiao Xin...”
“Exactly. The place where the body was found is the same as where Wang Keyi had her incident. Moreover, both were victims of sexual assault followed by murder, and the methods used are strikingly similar to those of the killer who murdered Wang Keyi. It’s very likely that it’s the same perpetrator. That’s why we need your help,” I explained.
“The same killer?!” Both Mei Tiantian and Wang Zhe seemed a bit taken aback.
“Can you tell us how this Yu Xin died?” Wang Zhe asked.
“We can only share so much,” Hua Yin said. “There are some things that cannot be disclosed lightly. The purpose of reaching out to you today is to seek your assistance. This is not just a request from the Criminal Investigation Division yesterday; it’s also a personal wish from both of us.”
“But... we still don’t know anything about this Yu Xin...” Wang Zhe pressed on. “And we don’t even know your specific identities. You both seem to be around our age; why did the police ask us to meet with you two?”
I felt that continuing down this path might not yield much information, so I decided it would be better to call Mei Tiantian aside for a private conversation: “Hua Yin will answer that question for you. Mei Tiantian, could you step outside for a moment? I’d like to discuss something with you privately.”
Seeing the hesitation in Mei Tiantian’s eyes, I added, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen. Trust me.”
“How does it feel? Do you think your perspective has broadened, and your heart feels lighter?” I led Mei Tiantian to the corridor on the top floor of Fisherman's Song. Looking out, there was an endless view of the Fuhe River. The water flowed calmly into the distance, seemingly carrying away the city’s time and sorrow.
“Yeah, it does feel that way,” Mei Tiantian nodded, a hint of relief in her gaze.
“Can you talk now?” I asked softly.
“Um, but honestly, I don’t know where to start,” Mei Tiantian said, staring intently at the emerald river. “Ke Yi, Xiao Xin, and I were very close friends—at least we used to be. Our lives were quite ordinary until that summer last year when everything seemed to change. It became strange and terrifying.”
"I understand," I said, though I couldn't fully grasp the changes she had experienced. However, I could relate to that feeling of everything becoming unfamiliar; it resonated with me now.
"After that incident, everything around us seemed to change. Friends, classmates, and even teachers gradually distanced themselves from us. During that time, walking down the street, we could hear accusations directed at us from all sides. It felt as if there was no place for us in this city. Even when I repeated a year, I didn't dare mention my original school, fearing that just saying it would bring up that incident." Mei Tiantian's voice trembled slightly.
"I can imagine, but what exactly happened? If you don't tell me, with Yu Xin now dead, I can't guarantee what might happen next." I tried to keep my tone serious.
"I think you probably know about it. The specifics aren't much different from what the media reported at the time. The three of us were on our way to an exam when we encountered that person. At that moment, both Xiao Xin and I were terrified, but Ke Yi remained calm. She found a way to divert the person's attention, allowing us to escape. However, we never expected that in the end, Ke Yi wouldn't be able to get away. By the time we realized what had happened, it was too late..." Mei Tiantian's eyes glistened with tears.
"Then why didn't you report it to the police immediately upon arriving at school? Why wait until after the exam to tell someone?" I pressed on. I had always felt this question was central to the entire situation; people's blame and the distancing from family and friends stemmed not from what they experienced but from why they hadn't reported it in time.
"This... this was suggested by Xiao Xin. At the time, she thought she saw Ke Yi heading towards her exam room, so we both went to our own classrooms. But after the exam ended, we didn't see Ke Yi anywhere. Xiao Xin started to doubt whether she had seen correctly, and we decided it would be better to inform a teacher first. That’s when we learned about Ke Yi's fate." Mei Tiantian's voice grew quieter.
"Then why did you keep silent about this? I've read your statements left with the police, but this part wasn't mentioned." I pressed further.
"Because I was afraid it would implicate Xiao Xin... I know that ever since she found out about Ke Yi's death, she's been filled with guilt, feeling as if she was responsible for her demise. If I brought this up again, it would only add more pressure on her." Tears finally streamed down Mei Tiantian's face.
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