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

Zhao Jianmin put his police ID back into his inner pocket and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.

His gaze was like two blunt knives, not sharp, but heavy, making it hard to breathe.

He sat opposite Jiang Yi, his chair closer to the table than during a normal interrogation, so close that his knees were almost touching the edge of the table.

This is a deliberately shortened distance, not for intimacy, but for oppression.

"Jiang Yi."

He called out the name again, his voice a notch louder than before.

"Do you know how much money is involved in your case?"

Jiang Yi lowered his head, staring at his hands resting on his knees. "I know."

"How many?"

"Nearly three million."

"Nearly three million."

Zhao Jianmin repeated the number, a slight smile playing on his lips.

That curve wasn't a smile; it was a chilling expression that was more like "You're dead."

"The amounts are exceptionally large, starting with periods of over ten years. You know that, right?"

"Know."

"Good to know."

He stood up from his chair, walked to the corner, and unplugged the camera.

The red indicator light flashed twice and then went out.

Then he walked back, sat down in the chair again, crossed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and spoke in a tone that suggested, "Let's talk privately."

Zhao Jianmin leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and looked Jiang Yi up and down with the same scrutinizing gaze one would use to examine merchandise.

"Do you know how many years you'd be sentenced to if you admitted to manipulating your sister to do it?"

Jiang Yi's fingers tightened suddenly.

He looked up at Zhao Jianmin.

Those eyes were bloodshot, and the dark circles under them were so intense it looked like someone had punched them, but a glimmer of light still shone deep within their pupils.

That's unbelievable.

"Director Zhao, I don't understand what you mean."

"Didn't you understand?"

Zhao Jianmin leaned forward, his hands on the table, his face close to Jiang Yi's, so close that Jiang Yi could smell the strong smell of tobacco mixed with the smell of overnight tea on him.

"Let me be even clearer. Your sister has already admitted it: she took the money, she chatted with the people, and she spent the money on the games. She's taken all the blame. And you? Do you want her to take all the blame?"

Jiang Yi's lips were trembling.

"I didn't ask her to do this."

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping against glass, but he enunciated each word clearly.

"I was passive from beginning to end. By the time I found out, the money was already gone."

"Passive?" Zhao Jianmin's voice rose an octave. "Whether it's passive or not isn't up to you to decide, it's up to me."

Jiang Yi's pupils dilated.

Only then did he realize that something was wrong.

Zhao Jianmin sank down, as if he were rising from underground.

"Jiang Yi, let me tell you the truth."

"Your case isn't a huge one, but it's not insignificant either. Three million is enough for you to be sentenced to more than ten years, but your sister is the principal offender and you are an accomplice, and accomplices can be given a lighter sentence."

"but--"

His tone suddenly changed, becoming like a snake hissing, carrying a cold, chilling quality.

"Someone doesn't want you to be an accomplice."

"Who?"

His voice was so dry it sounded like there was a wad of cotton stuffed in his throat.

"How could I possibly tell you that?"

Zhao Jianmin tapped his fingers on the table twice more, the rhythm a little faster than before, with a hint of barely perceptible impatience.

"But you can rest assured that as long as you cooperate, I will try to get you lenient treatment in the sentencing recommendation. It's not impossible for ten years to be reduced to five, or five years to be reduced to three."

"If you don't cooperate..."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Jiang Yi's face for two seconds, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Then you can wait and work with your sister for at least ten years."

Jiang Yi clenched his fists on his knees, his knuckles turning white, his nails digging into his palms, leaving a row of deep marks.

He remembered what Gu Qinghan had said in the car.

"Anmian's family background is beyond your imagination."

"If her father or grandfather finds out about this, losing your lives will be the least of your worries."

He thought it was a threat, a bluff, something Gu Qinghan said to vent her anger for Xia Anmian.

But now, the director of a public security bureau personally sat in front of him and unplugged the camera.

Tell him that "someone above is watching," and tell him that "what she wants is for the two of you to share the burden."

Is it Xia Anmian?

He refused to believe it.

Having spent so much time together, he couldn't believe Xia Anmian was that kind of person.

Even if... even if I want to take revenge on myself.

I should also... listen to my own explanation.

However, the more he thought about it, the more uncertain he felt.

after all.

She had kept her true identity a secret from him.

What about the others?

Is the woman I know really the same woman I knew?

People change, and besides, is the person you know really the whole person they are?

I had been thinking about how to explain it to her.

But does she really want to hear her own explanation?

Maybe they don't listen at all and just want to get themselves arrested.

Jiang Yi was confused; his mind was in a complete mess.

However, he knew he absolutely could not admit it.

If this case is judged normally, even if it affects you, it will only take a few months.

But if you admit that you controlled it remotely.

Then my life is over.

"Director Zhao, I didn't do it! I can't admit it!"

Jiang Yi refused, warning, "Director Zhao, forcing a confession is illegal!"

Zhao Jianmin's expression changed for a moment.

That moment was so brief that if Jiang Yi hadn't been staring at him intently, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.

But in that instant, the "kind" and persuasive expression on his face vanished, replaced by a more direct and naked coldness.

"Jiang Yi." His voice deepened, as if it came from underground, "I think you're going to refuse a polite offer and then have to suffer the consequences."

He stood up, the chair slid backward, and hit the wall with a dull thud.

He walked to the door, opened it, and called out, "Xiao Chen, come in."

(The following content is just for your imagination and is not suitable for writing.)