Chapter Forty-Two: Elimination

Chapter 42: Elimination

You Zhou and Lan Xinli listened in a daze, seemingly not fully grasping Qin Ruonan’s intent. Nevertheless, they agreed solemnly. At this moment, they would likely agree to and do anything that might help them find their son without a second thought.

"Why tell them not to touch anything in You Xiaoyang’s room?" After leaving the building and heading toward the parking lot, An Changpu asked about Qin Ruonan’s reasoning.

"I can’t say for sure yet. The main issue is that we can't determine if there is an inevitable connection between the two cases," Qin Ruonan replied, her tone lacking certainty. "But a fourteen-year-old boy, described by his parents as a well-behaved child who excels in both academics and character... and given the nature of the You couple’s work—they have no power or influence, nor any reason to have enemies—unless You Xiaoyang ran away on his own accord, there might be more to this. Keeping his room intact might prove useful later."

"Right, laying the groundwork for the investigation is the correct move. Didn't You Zhou just say that You Xiaoyang didn't have enough money on him? That’s similar to Fang Wan. Running away requires funds for travel, food, and lodging. In this day and age, you wouldn't dare run away from home without a few thousand yuan in your pocket!" An Changpu said, half-joking. His tone sounded relaxed, but his expression was slightly heavy. At that moment, he and Qin Ruonan likely shared the same worry.

If You Xiaoyang’s disappearance was indeed linked to Fang Wan’s, the nature of the case would change significantly, and the safety of the children would become increasingly precarious.

With this unsettling anxiety, they drove to the junior high school You Xiaoyang attended—C City Chongzhi Middle School.

Chongzhi Middle School was quite well-known in C City. Setting aside the affiliated schools that were merely attached for prestige, the number of students from Chongzhi who advanced to key high schools each year was quite impressive.

The fact that You Xiaoyang had been able to get into Chongzhi Middle School was evidence of his academic performance during elementary school.

The school was neither too far nor too close to You Xiaoyang’s home—about a half-hour walk, or ten minutes by car. The distance made it perfectly reasonable for him to either board at the school or commute, so there was nothing suspicious there.

When the two arrived, a group of students was having a physical education class on the playground. Several boys were playing soccer intensely. As Qin Ruonan walked past, her mind was preoccupied with the case, and she paid no attention to her surroundings. On the other end of the field, a boy took a powerful shot. The ball flew out like a cannonball, but his aim was poor. The ball veered off course and headed straight toward Qin Ruonan. As it was about to strike her, the boys on the field shouted warnings, but they couldn't stop the wayward ball.

Qin Ruonan turned at the sound of the shouting and realized a soccer ball was flying toward her. She might have been able to dodge it, but in that moment of hesitation, the ball flew closer. She had no choice but to brace herself, squinting and preparing to take the heavy blow.

Unexpectedly, the pain she anticipated never came. She heard cheers in her ears. She quickly opened her eyes to see that An Changpu had stepped in front of her just as she had squinted in fear. He was significantly taller than her; had the ball hit her, it would have struck her directly in the head. For him, it hit his upper chest. He jumped slightly, cushioned the ball with his chest, and kicked it back to the boys on the field.

This move both showed off his athletic skill and served as a heroic rescue. It was no wonder the pubescent boys were hooting and hollering, cheering him on with playful, suggestive winks.

An Changpu brushed the dust off his chest and turned to Qin Ruonan with a grin. "See? I arrived just in time to save you from having your face ruined. Remember to treat me to a big meal as a thank you, benefactor!"

Qin Ruonan stared at him in a daze, lost in thought. She didn't react to his words immediately, nodding instinctively while her eyes remained vacant.

In all her years, this was the first time someone had taken the initiative to protect her. She watched the back of An Changpu as he continued walking ahead as if nothing had happened. Growing up as the eldest daughter in a family with deep-seated patriarchal biases, if her younger brother was bullied, her father would scold her for failing to protect him. If her younger sister was bullied, she had to stand up for her as well. As she grew older, to prove she was no less capable than the boys—despite being viewed by her father as a "worthless girl"—she forced herself to become strong and aggressive. Her edge grew sharper, and her innate feminine gentleness was buried deep within her soul.

Sometimes, Qin Ruonan couldn't help but wonder if she had long ago lost the feminine nature of vulnerability and dependence, turning into a total tomboy. For so many years, she had relied on herself for everything, and she didn't know how to lean on others—nor had anyone ever offered her a shoulder to lean on.

In that brief moment, a strange sensation she had never experienced before flooded her heart. An Changpu’s action made her realize the helplessness she had felt for a split second when the ball flew toward her, and in the moment he shielded her, she understood a truth:

When there is someone to rely on, helplessness is not so terrifying. It turned out she could also be the weak one protected by others, rather than always having to be everyone else’s guardian.

Though An Changpu had only blocked a soccer ball—not a bullet or a shell—it still warmed Qin Ruonan’s heart. She hadn't realized she was someone so easily moved.

Of course, An Changpu was unaware of this inner turmoil; he had simply done a small, instinctive favor and forgotten about it immediately.

It wasn't until they found You Xiaoyang’s homeroom teacher that Qin Ruonan adjusted her emotions, pulling her mind away from the chaotic thoughts and returning to the case.

The homeroom teacher was a woman in her early forties. She looked surprised when the two police officers arrived at her office.

"What? Did something happen to You Xiaoyang?" She didn't hide her shock. Perhaps every homeroom teacher felt immense pressure and anxiety whenever the police came to inquire about a student.

"We don't know yet. He didn't come to school, and he didn't return home. His family decided to report him missing and asked the police to assist in finding his whereabouts. We just came from his home, and this is just a routine check to understand his daily life and studies here. Please don't be nervous. May I ask your name?" An Changpu didn't escalate the tension; instead, he kept things simple, trying to ease the teacher’s anxiety.

If the other party didn't take the investigation seriously, a bit of pressure might be needed, but with this teacher—who turned pale the moment she heard "police"—adding more pressure might just make her snap.

Flexibility and balance were key to getting things done.

"Oh, my name is Zhao! Please, sit down, both of you. Let’s talk." The teacher introduced herself and hurriedly invited them to sit.

The office was large, but there weren't many teachers inside; most were likely out teaching. Even so, the sight of the two officers standing in the middle of the room drew curious, speculative gazes. It was no surprise that Teacher Zhao quickly offered them seats.

Her desk was in a corner, relatively quiet. As they sat down, Teacher Zhao leaned in and whispered, "I’m sorry, if something has happened to You Xiaoyang, I will certainly do everything in my power to cooperate with your investigation. But if, as you say, we don't know the specifics yet and this is just a routine inquiry, could I ask you to keep your voices down?"

Seeing their confused expressions, she explained apologetically, "You see, our school is currently holding an 'Excellent Homeroom Teacher' selection... The woman in the dark green top over there is my main competitor. If You Xiaoyang is fine, but she overhears even a fragment of this, there’s no telling what kind of rumors might spread through the school in a few days. That would affect both me and your work, wouldn't it?"

An Changpu nodded in understanding, lowered his voice, and asked, "Teacher Zhao, I heard you are the homeroom teacher for the key class of this grade?"

Teacher Zhao was stunned. "Who said that? I’ve never taught a key class."

Qin Ruonan was also taken aback. "Aren't you You Xiaoyang’s homeroom teacher?"

"Yes, I am, but I don't teach a key class..." Realizing something, Teacher Zhao tapped her forehead and laughed. "Oh, I think you’ve made a mistake! You Xiaoyang was indeed in a key class when he first enrolled, but when he advanced to the second year of junior high, his grades dropped, and he was eliminated from the key class. That’s when he came to my class. I’ve only been his homeroom teacher for a little over a semester. You must have confused me with the class he was in during his first year."