Chu Lingyun's utterly shattering account drained the color from Gao Muyang's face. The core facts of the case – the details she knew with such unnerving precision – were the result of meticulous on-site investigation, details he had never disclosed.
Yet this girl before him knew it all. Knew more. In that moment, the staunch materialist, atheist beliefs he'd held for years quietly crumbled. Could such a thing as genuine spirit communication truly exist?
Reason warred with intuition; scientific conviction clashed violently with metaphysical possibility. After a torturous internal struggle, Gao Muyang clung to reason. It was simply too fantastical, too difficult to accept.
His expression grave, he fixed Chu Lingyun with an intense stare, searching for the slightest crack in her story, the faintest flicker of deceit. But all he found reflected in her eyes was a disarming clarity tinged with… sheer, unadulterated naivety. Nothing.
After a long pause, as if struck by a sudden thought, he abruptly stood and strode out of the coffee shop. Chu Lingyun watched him make several calls before returning. Confused and anxious, she glanced at her watch. It was getting late.
Hesitantly, she ventured, "Officer… I've told you everything I can. May I please go now? I have an early shift tomorrow."
Gao Muyang seemed momentarily taken aback. "It's fine. Just wait a little longer. If it's too late, I'll drive you back," he said quietly, offering no further explanation.
Chu Lingyun soon discovered what he was waiting for. As she sipped her coffee, trying to quell her rising anxiety, several people hurried into the cafe carrying professional-looking equipment and testing devices.
Realization dawned, cold and sharp. He still doesn't believe me. He brought them to test me… scientifically! A wave of profound hurt washed over her, freezing her in place. The fragile tendril of goodwill she'd felt towards him withered instantly. Misplaced trust.
He still doubts me… The bitter thought spread through her, thick and suffocating. The mouthful of rich latte she'd been savoring suddenly became a weapon. Before she could swallow, it erupted from her lips like celestial blossoms scattering, spraying directly onto Gao Muyang's face. He had no chance to dodge.
Just as Ye Tianzong and the others arrived, they were greeted by the spectacle: Gao Muyang, drenched in a constellation of coffee stains, frantically dabbing at his uniform with napkins, trying to maintain composure.
The sudden mishap flustered Chu Lingyun too. She opened her mouth to apologize, only for more liquid to escape down her chin. Gao Muyang, wary of another deluge, reacted swiftly, pushing her face firmly to the side.
The commotion drew stares from other patrons. Gao Muyang wished the floor would swallow him, mortified under the amused gazes of his friends. He buried himself in wiping the stains, but his ears, flushed crimson and burning hot, betrayed his true state.
Chu Lingyun was equally mortified, abandoning any thought of causing a bigger scene. But the injustice of it – his suspicion, his harshness, her effort met with distrust – fueled a fresh wave of overwhelming hurt. She took a deep, shuddering breath, but it was useless. Tears welled, then overflowed, cascading down her cheeks like broken strings of pearls. Right there, in front of everyone, she began to sob, her voice thick with accusation:
"I… I came all this way! I've wasted hours… explaining over and over… I proved I'm innocent! Why won't you let me go? What do you want from me?!"
Chu Lingyun was naturally cry-prone. Now, emotionally shattered, she swiped at her nose and tears, unleashing a torrent of words like rapid gunfire: "I can't take this anymore! You just don't believe me! You're bullying me!"
"I only came to help! To offer what I knew! And this is how you treat me? With suspicion and… and this? Hmph! I won't talk to you anymore! I want a different officer!" She whipped her head away, posture radiating absolute refusal.
Gao Muyang's personal kryptonite: crying women. A hopelessly clueless straight man, he froze, utterly paralyzed, just staring at the weeping girl.
Watching the little crybaby throw a tantrum and refuse to cooperate, while attracting more curious looks, Gao Muyang felt completely out of his depth. Was I really that harsh? But he didn't think so…
Seeing him stand there like a dumb statue only fueled Chu Lingyun's anger. Her crying intensified, her face flushed red and slick with tears. She buried her face in her hands, hiding from his gaze.
Ye Tianzong, Gao Muyang's friend, was a clinical psychologist at a top-tier city hospital, summoned to conduct psychological and psychiatric evaluations on Chu Lingyun.
Daniu, another contact from the Traffic Police Department, had brought their portable breathalyzer. The others held various instruments, ready to test her. None expected this sudden meltdown, rendering their subject utterly uncooperative!
Being Gao Muyang's old, mischievous friends, they instantly grasped the situation. Embracing the chaos, they gleefully piled on:
"Quick, quick, you blockhead! Your girl's crying and you just stand there?!"
"Bro! Seriously, this is painful! Say something! Comfort her!" They jeered and prodded, deliberately putting him on the spot, making it impossible for him to retreat gracefully.
But their teasing only made him more awkward. As Chu Lingyun wept, gasping for breath, tears blurring her vision, he could only stare and silently offer her a fresh wad of tissues…
From Chu Lingyun's perspective, however, Gao Muyang was glaring at her ferociously, looking ready to devour her. The tissues he thrust at her felt like a demand she couldn't refuse, making her cry even harder.
The ruckus drew the attention of a cafe staff member carrying a tray. "Hey there, handsome," she said soothingly, "upset your girlfriend? A real man isn't afraid to apologize, you know. Don't be too hard on the little lady~"
Their relationship was now thoroughly, irrevocably misunderstood. Chu Lingyun wailed louder in frustration. Even Gao Muyang, the usually unflappable iceberg, felt cracked by the sheer awkwardness. These guys are the worst!
Gao Muyang believed he hadn't been wrong; his pride wouldn't allow a groveling apology. Yet, the situation was critical. If he didn't apologize for his baseless suspicion, this vital lead would vanish.
Torn, he raked his fingers through his hair, desperately searching his memory for a solution. What did I do when Mom cried?
His father had died on duty years ago. The loss shattered his mother. Her physical and mental health deteriorated, frequent bouts of weeping and collapse becoming her norm.
As a son, all Gao Muyang could offer was silent presence and careful tending, hoping to soothe her storms. Over time, the sound of his mother's damp sobs settled over his heart like a clinging, oppressive fog.
Now, faced with similar tears, that old, clawing helplessness and crushing despair surged back like a tidal wave, a severe, ingrained PTSD response…
With the situation at a critical breaking point, Gao Muyang's brow furrowed so deeply it could trap mosquitoes. Finally, as if steeling himself, he turned and marched purposefully out of the cafe.
Chu Lingyun's heart leapt. He's letting me go! But seeing his grim, silent departure, worry gnawed at her: Is he going to hit me?!
His intentions, however, were far from violent. He stepped outside to call his direct superior, Sister Hong. Explaining the case's extraordinary complexity, he requested temporary leave to continue questioning the person of interest out of uniform, within the cafe.
Sister Hong, understanding the situation, swiftly approved. Gao Muyang hung up, his fingertips brushing the coffee-stained fabric of his uniform. A strange, unidentifiable ripple of emotion stirred within him.
Moments later, he returned. Chu Lingyun looked up, stunned by what she saw:
Gao Muyang had removed his police uniform. He held it, neatly folded, in his hands. Dressed now only in plain clothes, he looked like any other young, open, and perhaps even sunny college student.
Before Chu Lingyun could voice her confusion, he preempted her. He gently pressed her shoulder, then spoke, his voice hesitant but sincere: "Miss Chu, I'm sorry. That was my mistake. I shouldn't have doubted you like that."
"I've taken off my uniform. I'm speaking to you now as an ordinary person, an equal. I hope this eases the pressure. If my conduct was inappropriate in any way, you have my badge number. Please feel free to file a complaint."
"Alright, let's be brief. Will you now consent to undergo the tests requested by our Criminal Investigation unit? Completing them sooner will clear your name faster. It's truly for your own benefit."
"This is standard procedure for us. My earlier approach was likely… clumsy, leading to your misunderstanding." Gao Muyang explained earnestly, hoping his actions would bridge the gap.
This gesture was tantamount to handing Chu Lingyun the power to judge him. His humility, his willingness to admit fault, made him seem like a large, contrite dog waiting for a forgiving pat.
The dark clouds over Chu Lingyun's mood began to part. Her anger subsided significantly. Once fully calm, she opened up to Gao Muyang, agreeing to undergo the battery of tests.