Director Liu sneered contemptuously. "Rong Yi not only assaulted a police officer but also suffers from severe mental illness. Gu Qiqi, I'm not trying to scold you, but why would you let a person with intermittent mental illness run loose instead of keeping a proper watch on him? What, can't afford the hospital bills? Now, on behalf of the government, I'm taking him into custody. Don't worry, he'll receive excellent care at the facility."
"Nonsense! My cousin isn't sick at all. Don't you dare do anything reckless—the consequences will be severe, and you won't be able to bear them!" Gu Qiqi screamed.
Remembering Rong Yi's last ordeal at the hospital, her heart ached as if pierced by needles.
Director Liu let out a cold laugh, pulled a piece of white paper from his pocket, and unfolded it in front of Gu Qiqi. "Rong Yi, male, 24 years old, intermittent mental illness—certified by the psychiatric department of Y City Hospital. Gu Qiqi, take a good look. This is your own signature from two months ago at that very hospital."
He thrust the certification into Gu Qiqi's arms, leaving her stunned.
It was indeed her signature. Back then, to get Rong Yi released, Senior Brother Lu had helped arrange the evaluation.
Had she been the one to harm him?
Qiqi stood frozen, dazed, as handcuffs were snapped onto her wrists and she was shoved into a police car.
She pressed against the rear window, peering through the steel bars, watching as Rong Yi was thrown into a white ambulance. The vehicle's roof flashed red, and with a wailing siren, it carried Rong Yi away until he vanished from sight.
Rong Yi—
She could no longer hold back; tears streamed down her face.
At the police station, she gave her statement, the ordeal dragging on until dawn.
The officer interrogating Qiqi was a female cop. Seeing that Qiqi was just a student brought in alongside the city management and demolition crew, she felt some sympathy and didn't give her a hard time.
She told Qiqi that Rong Yi's kick had broken four ribs of that city management officer, constituting bodily harm that could lead to a prison sentence. However, given his mental condition, he would be temporarily held at a psychiatric hospital pending evaluation results. As for Qiqi, while a single brick might not cause serious injury, assaulting a police officer was a grave offense. She needed to behave well and seek forgiveness from the victim.
But who was the real victim? Gu Qiqi felt a deep sense of sorrow. She had never even touched that brick from start to finish.
"Why don't you check for fingerprints?" Gu Qiqi countered the officer.
The female cop was left speechless, offered an awkward smile, and walked away.
Gu Qiqi was taken to a solitary cell in the detention center, where all her belongings were confiscated.
Unable to sleep, she curled up on the bed, hugging her knees.
By afternoon, Director Liu from the demolition office arrived, carrying a set of contracts.
"Sign the contract agreeing to move out, and I'll let you go," Director Liu said.
Gu Qiqi, who hadn't slept all night, looked haggard. She bit her lip and replied, "Fine. As long as you release my cousin, I'll agree to move."
Director Liu chuckled twice, as if watching a rabbit slowly fall into a trap. "Don't worry. Once the contract is signed, he'll be released. But he injured so many people, and the city management officers are pretty upset. So he can't be let go just yet. He'll need to stay in the hospital for a while until everyone cools down. Then he'll be free to go."
Gu Qiqi shook her head. "If you don't let him out, I won't sign the contract."
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