It was early morning, the sun still sets to rise however came without warmth for Li Heng
He woke up to the sounds of his phone vibrations, like a nightmare he can't wake up. For a brief second, he thought to himself that he would wake up from this nightmare… It did not
As he looked at his phone, he immediately sees the hundreds of notifications stacked together, calls from unfamiliar numbers, threats messages to him and his ancestors. His chest tightened as he continued scrolling to a news comments section.
[Why did he run?]
[Guilty people always disappear.]
[Look at his eyes—classic psychopath.]
[Release the footage!]
[It's heartbreaking to see an innocent died because of one's action]
His fingers trembled, he locked the screen again. His heart pulse began slightly increasing the more he remembers until Aurielle voice suddenly appeared
Aurielle: "Calm down, they're steering you to where they want" She calmly said before disappearing again
After that brief scene, a soft knock was on his door. Then a louder knock, Li Heng got up and saw his father standing outside with a worried expression
Wu Shao Ning: "Li Heng, the college called us this morning...They want you to have a mental health checkup at college…"
He paused for a moment before continuing
Wu Shao Ning: "You know we never doubt that you did it and we'll continue to believe that is true"
Before he leave, he turned around and said
Wu Shao Ning: "Also dress nicely for the day. We may have lots of eyes on us later" After that, he began walking to the living room as Li Heng slowly gets prepared for the day ahead
Meanwhile at the lobby of the apartment of their house, an angry civilian was shouting angrily at the security guard working there while holding a metal pipe on his hand
Angry civilian: "I know that Li Heng is in this block, tell me which room it is!" He shouted
Security Guard: "Sir, I can't tell you. This is a invasion of privacy!"
Angry civilian: "Who cares about a murderer's privacy! Does the victim have no rights?!" He shouted before a hand threw his metal pipe out of his hand and onto the street
The angry civilian turned around but was met with a singular punch which knocked him out.
'Bodyguard 1': "How many is it today? I lost count"
'Bodyguard 2': "The tenth? I lost count too"
The security guard however was pale looking at the unconscious civilian as he looked back onto the two men
'Bodyguard 1': "Alright, like before. Threw him onto the streets" He looked at the guard and he panickly dragged the civilian out of the lobby
As the two men watches the guard doing his thing, they saw Li Heng and his parents came out of the elevator and was shocked to see the scene.
Li An: "I'm sorry, did something happened?" She asked
'Bodyguard 1': "Nothing, miss. Just a old drunk man roaming around. I'm Smith by the way, nice to meet you and that is Ethan" He smiled while Ethan waves at Li Heng
(…Why have we never see them before) Li Heng thought to himself while his parents briefly greeted them before getting into the car
Ethan: "You think it's a good idea that we said our names to him?"
Smith: "…It's better that way, we're gonna be in much contact now. C'mon, they're heading to the college now" The both of them quickly entered their black sedan and followed Li Heng from a distance
At the college, the once peaceful gate was now crowded with reporters, passer-by and angry civilians on both sides of the police perimeters.
Some were shouting, pointing and throwing objects at their car when they pass by. That only intensify when they saw Li Heng, now nearly breaking the perimeter before being putted down violently by the riot police
As they hastily walked to the college's adminstration block, they saw Yong Sheng alongside several basketball members waving at them before being pushed away by several teachers, Ren Yen who ignored them completely and Cheng Xian who looked away upon seeing them.
Li An: "Don't worry about them, son. They can handle themselves" She said however Li Heng expression says otherwise as he silently carrying the increasing burden on his back
However they stopped when Feng Yi and Jing Yi who was insecured standing in front of the entrance of the block.
Feng Yi: "Hello Li Heng, Mr Wu and Ms Li. Can we have a brief interview before you see the therapists?" He smirked
Wu Shao Ning: "I'm sorry, we're not having an interview at the moment" He said calmly
Feng Yi: "We can help clearing your name…If you let us interview you"
They paused and looked at each other before Li Heng stepped forward unexpectedly and immediately accepted the interview despite their protests, with him walking in front of Feng Yi and Yu Ting's camera
Li Heng: "Feng Yi right? I'm ready" He calmly said
Feng Yi: "Of course, however before we began, I want to say that I respect you and this isn't personal."
Li Heng said nothing while Yu Ting uncomfortably started the live recording on Li Heng as they began the interview
Feng Yi: "First. You were the final person to see Cheng Xi. Where were you during this time?"
Li Heng: "I was at the storage room and was packing the meat that we needed"
Feng Yi: "Second. A bowling ball was used. Do you think people would think that he lifted it alone?"
Li Heng: "…I don't know"
Feng Yi: "Ok…If it was suicide, why didn't you report it?"
Li Heng: "I panicked and I don't know what to do…"
Feng Yi: "Then Li Heng, tell me…Do you know how many suicide cases involved this method?"
Li Heng: "I-"
Feng Yi: "None, not one documented case"
Li Heng paused for a moment, his knuckles becoming pale and red
Feng Yi: "Alright, final question before we end this interview"
Feng Yi then leans closer to Li Heng.
Feng Yi: "If Cheng Xi is still alive, would you say you helped him or…watched him die?"
Li Heng froze while Yu Ting shifts uncomfortably at the final question. Feng Yi, seeing Li Heng late response, leans even closer until Li Heng punched him in the face, blood spilling over his nose and the corner of his mouth
Silence
For a moment, everyone freezes until a random civilian shouted 'Fuck you, you murderer!' that implodes in a riot. Reporters flashing their cameras at the scene, phones filming at them, riot police putting down the chaos.
Aurielle: "Boy…What have you done?"
Li Heng turned around and looked onto the scene.
Chen Xian looked away at the scene disappointed
Yong Sheng and the basketball team members were arguing with the teachers
Yu Ting was horrified and guilty, her hands on her face
Feng Yi was laying on the ground, cursing at Li Heng however his eyes says otherwise
Finally, his parents who were resisting their restraints from the police and several teachers
As the last thing he felt was a silent tranquillizer shot onto his back as he slowly drifts into sleep. After a while, several therapists with a 'Zhong Family health hospital' carried him onto an ambulance and drove off despite his family protest.
Meanwhile Ethan and Smith were in the middle of the crowd, watching the scene unfolds.
Smith: "Centre, the VIP is being carried away, requesting intervention, over"
Centre: "Negative, do not intervene. Proceed to follow him to his designated location, out"
Ethan: "This is madness" He cursed to himself as the crowd attempts to block the ambulance however was put down by the riot police
In this midst of chaos, Feng Yi slowly gets up and wipes the blood off his face. He looks at the views count of the livestream. 100000 and counting
Feng Yi: "Checkmate" He muttered to himself as he walked by Yu Ting who was still traumatized of her actions