My online dating circle has millions of followers, why would she put a collar on me?

Gu Qinghan's fingers tightened suddenly around the phone, his knuckles turning white and making a soft clicking sound.

"What did you say?"

Her voice was very soft, so soft that it seemed as if a breath could dissipate it.

But that lightness is not calmness; rather, it is the suffocating, oppressive stillness before a storm.

The butler's voice trembled on the other end of the phone, filled with a lingering fear and dread of surviving a close call.

"Miss Gu, Miss... she cut her wrists in the bathroom."

I heard the sound of water running continuously, and when I knocked on the door and no one answered, I... I broke down the door and went inside.

Blood was everywhere... The water in the bathtub was all red...

Gu Qinghan swayed, her back hitting the corridor wall with a dull thud.

She took a deep breath and bit her tongue hard, using the pain to suppress the fear that was about to engulf her.

"Where is she?" Her voice was still very soft, but each word seemed to be forced out from her throat. "Where is she now?"

"At Kyoto City First Hospital, in the emergency room. The doctor said... that since they were found in time, there is no danger to their life, but they have lost a lot of blood and need to be hospitalized for observation."

Not life threatening.

These four words were like a pair of hands, holding back the string on Gu Qinghan's neck that was about to break, preventing it from snapping completely.

Her knees buckled, and she slid down the wall by half an inch before suddenly standing up straight again.

"I'll be right there."

She hung up the phone, clutched it in her hand, stood in the corridor, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

The motion-sensor lights in the corridor dimmed slightly because she was still, then turned on again, casting a pale white light that made her face look bloodless.

She opened her eyes, turned around, and pushed open the door to the interrogation room behind her.

The door hinges made a dull creaking sound. Jiang Miaomiao was still sitting in that fixed plastic chair, her head down, her swollen half of her face covered with tears and dried blood.

Hearing the door open, she suddenly looked up, her bloodshot eyes filled with fear, like a trapped beast cornered with nowhere to escape.

Gu Qinghan did not look at her.

Her gaze passed over Jiang Miaomiao and landed on Captain Zhou sitting to the side.

"Captain Zhou." Her voice regained its usual sharp calm, "I have to go now. This person—"

Her gaze finally fell on Jiang Miaomiao, lingering for less than half a second.

There was no anger, no contempt, and not even any emotion in that gaze that lasted less than half a second.

It's empty, like looking at a dying person.

"It's up to you. Handle it as you see fit, don't let her get away with it."

Captain Zhou stood up and nodded: "Ms. Gu, rest assured, we will handle the case in accordance with the law."

Gu Qinghan didn't say another word and turned to walk out of the interrogation room.

At the end of the corridor, Director Zhao stood there, holding a folder in his hand, whispering something to his assistant beside him.

Seeing Gu Qinghan approach, he closed the folder and put on a perfectly timed, respectful smile.

"Miss Gu, it's so late—"

"Director Zhao."

Gu Qinghan interrupted him, without stopping, but slightly tilted her head, her gaze sweeping across his face.

"Jiang Miaomiao, you mustn't let her go."

This was the first time Gu Qinghan had given someone a hint.

Director Zhao paused for a moment, then nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Miss Gu, rest assured, we have already—"

"I have something to do, I'll be going now."

Gu Qinghan didn't let him finish speaking. He had already walked to the corner of the corridor, and with a flash, he disappeared at the top of the stairs.

Director Zhao stood there, still holding the folder in his hand, his mouth slightly open, his smile frozen on his face, like a mask glued shut.

He slowly wiped the smile from his face, frowned slightly, turned around, looked at the closed door at the end of the corridor, and remained silent for a moment.

"Director Zhao?" the assistant beside him called out cautiously.

Director Zhao did not respond to him, but instead looked down and opened the folder in his hand, his gaze lingering on the case summary section for a few seconds.

The notice stated: Suspect Jiang Miaomiao is suspected of committing fraud through an online dating platform, involving approximately 2.9 million yuan. Victims include Su Xiaoyue, Gu Qinghan, and others.

He closed the folder, tapped the cover lightly with his finger twice, then looked up at the interrogation room at the other end of the corridor, a shrewd, calculating glint in his eyes.

"Is Jiang Yi still in the hands of the Chaoyang branch?" he asked.

The assistant paused for a moment, then quickly nodded:

"Yes, Director Zhao. The Chaoyang branch arrested Jiang Yi, supposedly on suspicion of fraud, but he was actually taking the blame for Jiang Miaomiao. He's still in the interrogation room at the Chaoyang branch and hasn't been transferred yet."

Director Zhao's lips curved slightly, but it wasn't a smile; it was more like a calculated, smug look, as if an opportunity had presented itself.

"Call Director Liu of the Chaoyang Branch."

He said it with a lighthearted tone that he tried to hide but couldn't suppress.

"Tell him that the Zhongshan branch has obtained all the evidence in this case, and the suspect Jiang Miaomiao has confessed. There's no need to detain Jiang Yi any longer; send him over so we can close the case together."

The assistant hesitated for a moment: "Director Zhao, will Director Liu listen to us?"

"Whether he listens or not is not up to him," Director Zhao said with a sly smile. "After all, this matter is related to the Gu family. Since Gu Qinghan asked me to take care of them, this is giving me an opportunity..."

"I have to seize this opportunity, do you understand?"

The assistant dared not say anything more, took out his phone, walked to the side, and dialed the Chaoyang branch of the Public Security Bureau.