Chapter 72: Behind Bars

The news that Liu Siyen had sent people to gather from the police station yielded nothing, as if thrown into the sea without a trace. Even by the following day, Xu Mingkun had not been released. Liu Siyen was concerned that a prolonged detention would damage Xu Mingkun’s reputation—and the longer things dragged on, the greater the risk that something unexpected might happen. So she took a lawyer straight to the police station, intent on bailing Xu Mingkun out herself.

She never expected that the moment she entered, she would be handcuffed.

“What are you doing?” she shouted. “I’m Liu Siyen from Huitai Capital! I came here to bail out my artist! Who’s in charge here? I demand to see your superior!”

At that moment, Liu Lei appeared before her.

“Hello, I’m the director of this precinct. Liu Siyen, you and Xu Mingkun are now formally under arrest for your involvement in a kidnapping case.”

What?

The news struck Liu Siyen like a bolt from the blue.

Kidnapping? Did Su Bai really have evidence? But if he had proof, why had he let all that slander against him spread online, instead of releasing it? Why had he waited until she came to retrieve Xu Mingkun before making his move?

“On what grounds are you accusing me of kidnapping?” she demanded. “Where’s your evidence? This is just Su Bai making baseless accusations!”

She roared, clinging to a desperate hope that they were bluffing. Unless confronted with irrefutable proof, Liu Siyen would never admit to any wrongdoing.

Expressionless, Liu Lei said, “Still trying to talk your way out? Take her to the interrogation room. Show her the evidence!”

“I want to see what so-called evidence you have!” Liu Siyen shouted. “If you’ve made a mistake, expect a letter from my lawyers!”

But before she could finish, she was silenced by the incriminating sound of her own voice from a video. As the footage played, her face flushed crimson; she felt as if a hand were tightening around her throat, making it hard to breathe.

How had they gotten this video? Even she hadn’t known such a recording existed. Had Xu Mingkun secretly recorded it, intending to use it against her one day? Had everything come out after just one night in custody?

At that thought, Liu Siyen was filled with murderous rage toward Xu Mingkun. Who else could it be? No one but he could possibly have known where she would meet him for their illicit affair. She had chosen that place at random—it wasn’t her usual residence. Only Xu Mingkun could have recorded that video!

As the realization dawned, all the strength drained from her body and she collapsed weakly onto the chair. All her life, she had schemed and plotted, but in the end, she had been outmaneuvered by a man she’d thought to toy with at her whim.

Suddenly, Liu Siyen shot upright. A more pressing fear had struck her: Xu Mingkun knew too much. If she was only charged as the mastermind behind the kidnapping, it might be two or three years at most, maybe less with the right maneuvering. But if Xu Mingkun revealed everything he knew, she would be utterly finished—she would spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Liu Lei watched Liu Siyen’s spirit collapse, then saw her jolt up, her mind clearly racing through the possibilities. She must have remembered something crucial—something that meant everything.

Was the key to all this in Xu Mingkun’s hands?

“Let’s hear it,” Liu Lei said. “I advise you to start from the beginning. If your statement doesn’t match Xu Mingkun’s, you’ll be in real trouble. If you confess truthfully, you might get a reduced sentence.”

At these words, Liu Siyen’s face went deathly pale. So it really was Xu Mingkun who had betrayed her.

But Liu Siyen was no novice; she had been in the game for years. In her heart, she made up her mind to admit only to what they already knew.

“All right, fine. I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything. Yes, the kidnapping of Yang Mengke was my idea. I only did it to make sure Xu Mingkun would win the talent competition.”

Liu Lei’s face remained impassive. “Why?”

Liu Siyen gave a cold laugh. “Why? Don’t you already know the answer? Must I repeat myself? So that Xu Mingkun could become the cultural ambassador for the Palace Museum’s 600th anniversary. His main rival was Su Bai. If Su Bai was out of the picture, Xu Mingkun’s chances would be much higher.”

Liu Lei continued, “Also explain the events that started the online rumors.”

Liu Siyen sneered. “Those pathetic attempts at stirring public opinion? Are those even crimes? Yes, I orchestrated all of it. Even today’s assault was arranged by me—I hired that so-called ‘Brother Feng’s Fan Meeting.’ Su Bai’s so-called die-hard fan? Nonsense. I paid Brother Feng fifty thousand, and the others ten thousand each. All told, I spent less than a hundred thousand yuan to ruin Su Bai’s reputation—those declarations of loyalty were all for show! But, Officer, you shouldn’t just arrest me! Shouldn’t Su Bai be detained for ten days or so as well? Was it me who made his fan club behave like that? No, that was his own doing! If he hadn’t kept rallying people online, things wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand. Arrest him! Lock him up for a while!”

Liu Lei waved her away. “Take her away. Next, interrogate Xu Mingkun.”

As Liu Siyen, who had been storming out like a madwoman, was dragged away by the officers, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“You bastard, you tricked me! Xu Mingkun didn’t confess, did he? Bastard! Damn you—!” She shrieked and clawed at Liu Lei, but was promptly hauled off.

When Liu Lei brought Xu Mingkun into the interrogation room, the man who had once been so handsome and confident now looked haggard and drained, his eyes bloodshot. The moment he entered, he shouted, “On what grounds are you detaining and interrogating me? I’m the victim here, do you understand? Just wait until my lawyer sends you a letter! Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ll be in for detaining a public figure without cause?”

Liu Lei ignored his outburst. “Liu Siyen has already confessed. You and Liu Siyen are suspected of kidnapping Yang Mengke and another underage girl. Do you need to see the video of Liu Siyen’s confession? Whether you confess now or after seeing the video—they’re two very different things. It will also affect your sentence. If you confess, you’ll receive leniency. If you resist, you’ll be punished more severely. I don’t need to explain that, do I?”

Xu Mingkun’s face shifted through a spectrum of emotions. Liu Siyen had confessed? When had they arrested her? No—it couldn’t be. They’re trying to trick me. I must not confess.