Chapter 29: 260,000—I simply cannot bring myself to let it go.

The police officers couldn't help but laugh after hearing her out. This young girl was truly something; no matter what, she always had a logical argument ready. With such stable and formidable composure, they found it hard to believe she would ever be driven to self-harm.

Xiang Yu continued, detailing how Ye Nuanxin had incited her parents and how she had exploited her name at school to solicit money. She added, "You can investigate this at the school. My homeroom teacher, the principal, and the dean are all aware of it."

The officers winced as they listened, taking a keen interest in the name "Ye Nuanxin." To be so greedy and malicious at only fifteen—she was exactly the type of person their line of work encountered all too often. They made a mental note to keep an eye on anyone from Kapok Village.

Xiang Yu then spoke with righteous indignation, "I want to file a formal complaint against her for repeated defamation, causing me significant psychological distress, and fraud. The total amount exceeds two thousand yuan. I demand that a case be opened."

She wasn't entirely sure if it exceeded two thousand, but the point was to keep the pressure on. Since Ye Nuanxin had been tripping her up, she wasn't about to let her off the hook either; she was determined to make her miserable.

Xiang Fuqiang and his wife broke into a cold sweat. Things were spiraling out of control, and they were on the verge of thoroughly offending the Ye family. They looked at their daughter with a flicker of fear, as if she had suddenly become a completely different person.

The police did not fully indulge Xiang Yu. While the matter was not grave, it did involve illegal conduct, yet it was minor enough that it would be better handled by the school.

"Leave your homeroom teacher's name and phone number with me. I will look into the situation with them shortly. If your claims are substantiated, we will consult with your teacher and consider opening a file, at which point your teacher can act as an intermediary."

Xiang Yu caught the implication behind the officer's words and cooperated fully, writing down the information. She only wanted the police involved to escalate the situation and obstruct Ye Nuanxin; whether an official case could actually be opened was not her primary concern. After all, the matter was indeed minor, and if she pushed too hard, it would harm the school's reputation, which would likely displease the teachers.

The officer turned to look at Xiang Fuqiang and his wife, who were anxious and stammering. "If you continue to pressure your eldest daughter or abuse your youngest, I will have to open a case against you as well. If anything happens to either of your daughters, you will be held legally responsible."

The couple turned pale, but they still refused to yield. Twenty-six thousand yuan—they simply couldn't bring themselves to let it go.

The officer sneered. They truly cared more about money than their own daughters; no wonder the young girl had rushed here to report her own parents. Every effect has a cause, and the pitiable often have their detestable side.

He pulled out a notebook and a pen. "Let's start by filing a record of this now."

Xiang Fuqiang immediately panicked. "Officer, please, don't! This... this is truly a family matter."

The officer replied sternly, "Your actions have already endangered the safety of both your daughters and could very well drive them to a desperate end. This is no longer just a family matter."

Xiang Fuqiang opened his mouth, but it was as if he were choking on an egg; no sound came out. Li Meilan’s true colors as a shrew emerged. She plopped down onto the floor, slapping her thighs and wailing.

"Oh, you police officers are trying to drive us to our deaths! What family doesn't take a dowry when marrying off a daughter? What’s wrong with lightening the family's burden after raising them for so long?"

"You're killing us! You’re not letting us live!"

The officer, now incensed, turned to his colleague. "Arrest her. She dares to cause a scene here, showing no regard for the law. Put her in cuffs first."

The silver handcuffs flashed as they were produced. Li Meilan trembled in fear and scrambled up from the floor, hiding behind Xiang Fuqiang. "Officer, I’ll stop, I’ll stop!"

The officer let out a cold huff. "Now, your eldest daughter is missing. If anything happens to her, you will be held accountable. After all, it was you who forced her to run away."