Dean Deng Caixia was a plump auntie in her forties, while Wang Zhuo's form teacher, Zheng Zhixiu, was short and slender, possessing the air of an intellectual woman. Three police officers were present—two men and one woman. The leader was in his early thirties, radiating authority, while the other male officer wore rimless glasses and appeared refined. The female officer was athletic with a slightly darker complexion.

"Wang Zhuo, sit down. These officers need to ask you a few things; cooperate with them fully."

Dean Deng's opening sentence set the tone for the discussion: cooperate with the police inquiry, rather than being treated as a suspect under investigation.

But the police did not follow her lead. The leading officer cut straight to the chase: "Wang Zhuo, do you know why we are looking for you?"

Am I being interrogated like a criminal? Wang Zhuo glanced at him, picked up a disposable cup from the desk, and filled it with water from the dispenser.

Wang Zhuo deeply resented the judge who had wrongfully imprisoned his father, and by extension, he held a poor impression of everyone in uniform within the public security and judicial systems. Given the officer's abrasive attitude, Wang Zhuo certainly wasn't inclined to show him any deference.

The officer immediately bristled: "Hey? What kind of attitude is that?!"

Wang Zhuo didn't even lift his eyelids. He took a slow sip of water and said deliberately, "It's hot. Let me drink some water first."

The officer flared up: "Kid, you better cooperate!"

Wang Zhuo looked utterly bewildered and addressed Dean Deng: "Director Deng, is he threatening me? Are these really police officers? Have you checked their credentials?"

Deng Caixia coughed lightly and said, "Officer Li here is the Deputy Squadron Leader of the District Criminal Investigation Brigade. Whatever he asks, you answer."

Wang Zhuo glanced at Deputy Squadron Leader Li's badge: Li Jinjun, Second Grade Police Inspector.

Although Deng Caixia's words seemed impartial, everyone understood the underlying implication. For a student to speak to a police officer in such a manner, and for the Dean not to reprimand him, was clearly a subtle signal to Deputy Squadron Leader Li that his demeanor was inappropriate.

"Oh," Wang Zhuo responded, then smiled at Deputy Squadron Leader Li. "Captain Li, what would you like to ask?"

This case had been flagged by city leadership, who demanded immediate action. The short video clip had gone viral, spreading explosively online, leaving relevant officials scrambling for damage control. To prevent severe repercussions, leadership had even set a deadline, requiring the police to provide a satisfactory explanation within forty-eight hours.

Li Jinjun's original intent was to take both students back to the station for questioning, which necessitated informing the school first. However, the school had immediately adopted a firm stance, adamantly refusing this action.

On one hand, Liu Donghao was a top student, with the college entrance exams just days away; the school did not want this incident to affect his performance. On the other hand, Deng Caixia vehemently opposed their plan to take Wang Zhuo to the Criminal Investigation Team.

Involving firearms meant it was a major case, and Li Jinjun initially intended to insist. However, Liu Donghao, who had been called to the Dean's Office, was astute enough to mention his uncle who held a leadership position at the Criminal Investigation Team. This caused Deputy Squadron Leader Li to back down, agreeing instead to conduct brief questioning in the school office.

Yet, what Liu Donghao said next deeply annoyed Li Jinjun. He had expected that finding Wang Zhuo would mean finding the gun, effectively solving half the problem. To learn that Wang Zhuo had simply discarded the weapon was infuriating—it felt like an intentional obstacle.

Therefore, upon seeing Wang Zhuo, Li Jinjun intended to make a show of force, a necessary introduction to his authority—a professional habit among police officers. Unexpectedly, he met with a subtle but firm rebuff.

Li Jinjun suppressed his anger and asked, "Wang Zhuo, the afternoon three days ago, after your exam, where did you go?"

Wang Zhuo was thoroughly impatient with this leading line of questioning. He replied languidly, "Liu Donghao and I were looking for a place to eat when we were forced at gunpoint by a few people, including one of his junior high classmates, into a secluded spot, and we had a fight."

The female officer interjected, correcting him, "It was an elementary school classmate."

Wang Zhuo glanced at her, murmured "Oh," and thought that the woman had an impressive figure, and that the police uniform certainly carried a distinct appeal—no wonder many people were drawn to uniform fetishes.

Her badge identified the female officer as An Qi, a Third Grade Police Inspector. In her photo, she appeared significantly fairer-skinned than she was in person.

Li Jinjun continued, "Why were those people looking to cause trouble for you?"

"Revenge," Wang Zhuo stated. "They tried to rob Liu Donghao at noon, I stopped them, so they held a grudge and came back that afternoon for retaliation."

"Any other reason?" Li Jinjun stared intently into Wang Zhuo’s eyes.

"What other reason do you expect?" Wang Zhuo met his gaze unflinchingly: "The public safety here is terrible. People are holding up students right outside the school gates in broad daylight, armed with guns. If I hadn't been somewhat capable and managed to drive them off by chance, you wouldn't be investigating a case about a missing gun right now, but rather a case of armed kidnapping!"

Li Jinjun glared, "Mind your attitude!"

Just as Wang Zhuo was about to snap back, Deng Caixia spoke coldly, "Officer Li, is this how your Criminal Investigation Team treats a high school student who acted heroically?"

Li Jinjun shot Deng Caixia a look tinged with impatience. Seeing his expression, Deng Caixia snorted, "If you don't know how to speak properly, I can call He Baoguo right now and have him send someone else to handle this matter."

Wang Zhuo didn't know who He Baoguo was, but the moment Li Jinjun heard that name, his aggressive posture immediately deflated. He exhaled heavily through his nose and said to the female officer, "Xiao An, you take over. I'm stepping out for a cigarette."

"Smoking is prohibited in the hallway; this is a school." This line came from Wang Zhuo's form teacher, Zheng Zhixiu. Her voice wasn't loud, but it thoroughly irritated Li Jinjun, who slammed the door shut upon exiting.

The sound of leather shoes descending the stairs could be heard from outside; it seemed Li Jinjun had no intention of returning.

Zheng Zhixiu frowned slightly and muttered quietly, "His manners are truly poor."

This remark caused the remaining two officers to lose face as well. However, what Zheng Zhixiu said was fact, and moreover, she had a husband who was a section chief in the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, so she held no apprehension regarding someone like Li Jinjun.

"Ahem," the female officer, An Qi, cleared her throat and spoke kindly to Wang Zhuo, "Wang Zhuo, recount everything that happened that day, from start to finish. We already know the general sequence of events; this is just taking a formal statement as procedure."

This was the attitude Wang Zhuo had been hoping for. So, he began detailing events starting from that noon, concluding with Liu Donghao mentioning that he would contact an uncle working at the Criminal Investigation Team to handle the aftermath after they parted ways.

The bespectacled male officer took notes nearby, while An Qi occasionally interjected with a question. Wang Zhuo had nothing to hide, answering everything asked.

When the narrative concluded, the male officer handed the statement to Wang Zhuo for his signature. Deng Caixia, still cautious, took it, read it over carefully, nodded, and passed it back to Wang Zhuo. Wang Zhuo had absolute trust in Director Deng, so he merely glanced at it and signed.

The official business concluded, An Qi smiled at Wang Zhuo. "Your trouble might not be over yet. You had better try to smooth things over; Li Jinjun might hold a grudge against you."

It seemed this 'police flower sister' was not aligned with Li Jinjun, and Wang Zhuo's favorable impression of her increased. He asked, slightly puzzled, "I didn't do anything illegal. What trouble could he cause me?"

"You don't understand, there's a lot of nuance here," An Qi explained. "There was a case in Beijing some time ago where a man found a diamond ring, and it was captured on surveillance video. Thinking it was fake, he casually tossed it away. Later, the female owner sued him, and the court ordered him to pay compensation of 46,000 yuan."

Wang Zhuo was stunned after hearing that. "Sister, are you telling me a story?"

Xiao An smiled, shook her head, bid farewell to Deng Caixia and Zheng Zhixiu, and walked to the door. Then, she turned back to Wang Zhuo and said, "Finding a diamond ring is a civil case; finding a gun is criminal. I don't know if you might end up as a defendant because of this, but I hope you can find that gun."

Once the police left, Wang Zhuo finally couldn't hold back an expletive: "Damn it all."

Zheng Zhixiu commented, "The case about the diamond ring resulting in a fine is true."

Deng Caixia snorted dismissively, "Corrupt officials make absurd rulings; I’ve seen things far more ridiculous than that."

"I refuse to believe it! Let them sue me then!" Wang Zhuo sneered.

Deng Caixia shook her head. "I'll call He Baoguo later and have him put Li Jinjun in check. If we let Li Jinjun act according to his temperament, he might actually cause such a ridiculous outcome."

"Wang Zhuo, there’s one more thing," Zheng Zhixiu asked. "Where did you get the answers for the English exam?"

Deng Caixia gave Wang Zhuo an exasperated look. "Do you realize you scored first in the entire school by cheating?"

"Huh?" Wang Zhuo was dumbfounded. Cheated and got first place? Even higher than Qian Xiaomeng?

Zheng Zhixiu pressed, "Confess honestly, where did you get the answers?"

Denying cheating was clearly impossible. Wang Zhuo scratched his head. "I didn't have the answers; I just peeked."

Zheng Zhixiu was left speechless, alternating between laughter and tears. "You peeked? You certainly have good eyesight."

Wang Zhuo smirked sheepishly, thinking to himself that there was no eyesight better than his in this world.

Zheng Zhixiu decided not to pursue the matter further. Since Wang Zhuo was a trailing student who could only afford to attend a self-funded vocational college, as long as his English score wasn't publicized, this issue would pass.

"You can go now," Deng Caixia waved him away, signaling him to leave. "Study hard, and... good luck cheating!"