Holographic Bodyguard Log

Chapter 9: The Suspect

Zhang Yi felt a bit irritated as two more officers joined the escort, making it seem like he had become a suspect. When they reached the outside of the hotel, many people’s eyes turned toward him, their gazes filled with shock and confusion.

“What’s going on?” A voice suddenly rang out. It was Xu Jiayun, who had been resting in a police car. She saw Zhang Yi being escorted out. Although Zhang Yi wasn’t wearing handcuffs, it was obvious he was being escorted.

Without hesitation, she jumped out of the car and asked, "What’s happening?"

As Xu Jiayun spoke, three plainclothes officers got out of another police car. Two men and one woman—one man in his forties with a slightly balding head, the other man in his thirties, quite handsome, and the woman carrying a handbag.

“It’s nothing. He found the bomb, we’re just taking a routine statement,” the balding man said as he spoke, pulling out a badge and attaching it to his chest.

The badge read, Deputy Captain Liu Jiang, Criminal Investigation Division.

The other officer’s name was Li Yong, which happened to be the same as a famous TV host.

The woman’s badge read Lu Xiaoyun.

“Hello, please get in the car to talk,” Liu Jiang said seriously and gestured for Zhang Yi to get in.

“Great, just great. Now they suspect me,” Zhang Yi muttered under his breath, then climbed into an armored police vehicle.

“Xiaoyun, take notes,” Deputy Captain Liu Jiang sat across from Zhang Yi and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Zhang Yi.”

“Where are you from?”

“Shandong.”

“Specific address, and your ID card, please.” Liu Jiang continued.

“I didn’t bring it,” Zhang Yi responded, a bit irritated. Although his ID was on him, he didn’t feel like pulling it out.

“Watch your tone. What’s with the attitude?” Lu Xiaoyun, the recorder, suddenly snapped.

“What attitude? Miss, are you trying to scare me? With that attitude, do whatever you want!” Zhang Yi shot her a playful glare. The policewoman was around his age and particularly attractive. If she were in uniform, she would definitely be a temptation.

“Take your eyes off my chest. What are you looking at?” Lu Xiaoyun was furious, almost ready to take action. This little security guard was acting like a complete rogue.

“Alright, relax. We mean no harm,” Liu Jiang suddenly smiled, signaling Zhang Yi to relax. “You should know your ID number, right? Just say it.”

Zhang Yi immediately recited his ID number, and just as he was doing so, the officer named Li Yong got out of the car, seeming to make a call to verify something.

“How long have you been at Fengdu?” Liu Jiang asked.

“Why do you want to know how long I’ve been here, old man? Why don’t you ask about the bomb? Are you suspecting me now? I found the bomb, sure, but it’s not like I’m a criminal. You’re interrogating me like I’m a thief,” Zhang Yi complained.

“Hmph, we’ve sent in over a hundred people and couldn’t find anything. How is it that you, out of nowhere, found it? You were in the lobby earlier, right? Even Captain Long saw you, and then, in less than two minutes, you’re the one who finds the bomb on the third floor. Don’t you think we have reason to suspect you? Was the bomb placed by you, so you could find it so easily?” Lu Xiaoyun couldn't hold back anymore and scolded him. This little pervert needed a scare to learn his place.

“Fine, fine, you can ask,” Zhang Yi felt an urge to curse. He had just done a good deed, so why did he become a suspect?

Liu Jiang continued with his previous question, “How long have you been in Fengdu?”

“Exactly one month. I just got paid today!” Zhang Yi replied, not in the best mood.

“Oh, what did you do before? What was your profession? When did you come to the capital?”

“Before? I worked as a plumber, drove a taxi…”

“You also worked as a thug, right?” Suddenly, Li Yong, the officer who had been on the phone, returned. He sneered and said, “Twice administrative detention, once criminal detention, a total of three times. All for assault, right?”

Li Yong continued, “Deputy Captain, the information’s out. This kid’s been in and out of trouble back in his hometown. He’s no saint.”

“Alright, cuff him. We’ll interrogate him properly when we get back,” Deputy Captain Liu Jiang already had his suspicions. A new security guard in Fengdu for only a month, who could find a bomb on the 28th floor in under two minutes, and with a history of being detained three times—it was too suspicious. He clearly needed to be cuffed and brought in for formal questioning.

“You, kid, put your hands out here. I’m telling you, don’t resist, or the charges will be worse,” Li Yong said, pulling out the handcuffs.

“That bomb wasn’t placed by me. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance footage,” Zhang Yi said urgently.

“Hmph, not placing the bomb doesn’t mean you’re not involved. You’d better not move!” Lu Xiaoyun coldly snorted.

“Are you crazy? I just found the bomb! Is it a crime to find a bomb?” Zhang Yi’s veins bulged on his neck. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. He had finally done something good, but now he was being treated like a criminal. He was more wronged than the ancient story of Dou E.

And subconsciously, he was afraid of being taken to the police station, so his reaction was a bit over the top. His fists clenched, as if he was about to throw a punch.

“Watch your mouth, put your hands out,” Li Yong said, eyes sharp as he stared at Zhang Yi, while Lu Xiaoyun had already moved her hand toward her waist, ready to draw her gun.

“Xu Zong, Xu Zong, save me!” Zhang Yi knew that only the beautiful boss could save him, and it had to be her. After all, he had found the bomb for her.

“Stop! What are you doing?” Xu Jiayun had been keeping an eye on the situation. As soon as she saw the officers trying to cuff Zhang Yi, she immediately ran over.

“Xu Zong, this security guard needs to be taken in for questioning. He has a criminal record, and we suspect he is involved in this bomb case.”

“Bullshit! What criminal record? That was for fighting, not planting bombs! Are you trying to set me up? Xu Zong, I’m telling you, I found the bomb, but now I’m being treated like a criminal for doing something good. If they suspect me of planting it, I’ll never be able to clear my name!”

“It’s impossible for him to have planted the bomb!” Xu Jiayun immediately shook her head.

“Maybe he has accomplices. They planted it, and he just knew where it was,” Lu Xiaoyun suggested.

“That’s still not possible!” Xu Jiayun shook her head again, her intuition telling her it wasn’t Zhang Yi.

“Even so, we still need to take him back for further investigation!” Lu Xiaoyun huffed.

Xu Jiayun gave Lu Xiaoyun a cold look and then turned to walk away.

“Hey, Xu Zong, don’t leave! Tell them to let me go!” Zhang Yi called out.

“Stay quiet and wait,” Xu Jiayun turned back and gave Zhang Yi a stern look.

“Hmph, even seeing Captain Long won’t help. You’re a suspect. We have to take you back for questioning,” Lu Xiaoyun sneered as she watched Xu Jiayun’s back.

“Beautiful officer, are you on your period?”

“Whoosh!” Just as Zhang Yi finished speaking, Lu Xiaoyun drew her gun, flipped off the safety, and pointed it at his forehead.

“Say that again and see what happens?” Lu Xiaoyun raised an eyebrow.

“You’re on your period, aren’t you? If you’ve got the guts, shoot me. If not, then you’re just a coward. I’ll deal with you later!” Zhang Yi was already in a stubborn mood and wasn’t afraid of Lu Xiaoyun’s threats.

“I’ll shoot you, you scum. I’ll shoot you…” Lu Xiaoyun was completely enraged by Zhang Yi’s words. Her eyes were red with fury. She was still young, and this little security guard had not only ogled her but also blatantly insulted her. With blood rushing to her head, she didn’t care about anything else. She swung the gun’s butt at him.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” She hit him repeatedly, without caring about the force or whether it was too harsh, while Zhang Yi didn’t move or dodge. He just let her hit him, even smiling with a cheeky grin.