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Madam instantly understood, "So you're a paparazzi journalist."

No sooner had she finished speaking when her beeper buzzed with a message. After reading it, Madam reached into the back pocket of her trousers and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

"Miss Chu, based on the leads you've provided, we have indeed found evidence that Mr. Du Shaoren previously had an adopted daughter who, at the age of eighteen, filed a complaint accusing him of rape. Unfortunately, the police department back then had corrupt officers, and the case was ultimately dismissed."

"Can the Old and New Cases be investigated concurrently?" Chu Yuening deduced from Du Shaoren's countenance that he had harmed more than one girl.

"Certainly." The lady passed the handcuffs to the attendant. "Arrest and bring him in."

Sir took the lady's handcuffs and fastened them on Du Shaoren, who lay motionless with his eyes wide open. Muttering to himself, he observed the scene.

"Odd, odd indeed. He passes out with his eyes open, and his trinkets even hinder our work."

As he spoke, Sir reached out to remove the yellow talisman.

Chapter 19

"Wait a moment."

Chu Yuening released the straw and held the milk tea cup instead, kindly asking with concern.

"Are you sure you want to remove it? I think it's best to turn on your stun baton first."

Li Huiwen, having witnessed the power of the immobilization charm, nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Sir, it would be best if you activate the baton first."

Du Miao, wrapped in a towel, shrank back, her expression clearly shifting from confusion to fear.

Seeing their anxiety, the officer was perplexed.

"Why turn it on? It's just an ordinary decoration, isn't it? Would it bite?"

The Madam beside him couldn't bear to see the girls suffer and patted the crouching officer on the shoulder, praising his consideration. "You really think of everything. You must be worried about the suspect waking up during the arrest."

As she spoke, Madam removed the stun baton from her waist and pushed the activation button.

"Don't worry, with us police officers around, there won't be any accidents."

Li Huiwen, seeing that the baton was now powered on, let out a slight sigh of relief.

Sir found the three girls utterly peculiar. He shook his head and, with a swift movement, tore off the yellow talisman.

Du Shaoren's rigid eyes rolled as he let out an enraged cry the moment the talisman was torn away. He raised the fruit knife, aiming it at Sir's neck vein.

Events unfolded too swiftly.

Madam was caught off guard. No amount of pondering could explain how a seemingly unconscious criminal had suddenly regained consciousness and lashed out at them.

Li Huiwen, quick as lightning, snatched the police baton and struck Du Shaoren on the head. With an electric jolt, the fruit knife fell to the ground, and Du Shaoren lost consciousness entirely.

Li Huiwen switched off the electrocution button, twirled the baton, and handed it back to Madam, saying, "Fortunately, nothing serious happened."

Had she not been nearby, at least one officer would have lost their life in that instant.

The other officers on the scene were stunned.

What had they just witnessed?

After the yellow talisman was removed, the unconscious prisoner had come to life and nearly killed one of their own?

Especially the officer who had nearly died; he was deeply shaken, no, terrified by the yellow talisman that had been torn apart.

His voice quivered, "Didn't you say... it was just a decoration?"

Chu Yuening placed her milk tea cup on the table, bent down to take the talisman away, and smiled. "That's right, it's just an ordinary decorative item."

"So, it wasn't a Paralyzing Talisman?" The officer was bewildered.

"Are you joking?" Chu Yuening smiled. "With your situation, Officer, you might want to get a psychological evaluation first."

The three officers, still in a daze, escorted the criminal away.

Li Huiwen consoled Du Miao. Chu Yuening reached out, her slender and fair fingers pressed against Du Miao's forehead, slowly tracing a symbol.

"What is it?" Li Huiwen asked curiously.

"It's a Calming Talisman," Chu Yuening replied after finishing the symbol and taking another sip of her milk tea. "It's for those who have been frightened."

Du Miao's fate of an early demise, as seen in her facial features, had already been altered.

Seeing how deeply affected Du Miao was, Chu Yuening deliberated and decided to offer some advice. After all, altering one's fate wasn't an easy feat.

"In your original destiny, after this incident occurred, you were unable to accept reality and chose to take your own life. Your limited existence would have ended in the early hours of tonight. Now that everything has changed, focus on the future instead of being fixated on the past."

Du Miao gradually regained her composure, realizing the gravity of what had transpired. Her face was streaked with tears. "Master Chu, thank you so much. Otherwise, my future would have been hopeless."

If the incident had truly taken place, Du Miao would have without a doubt chosen to end her life.

But now, everything was different.

"Master Chu is right. I need to be strong. Thankfully, I'm already eighteen and no longer require a guardian," she declared.

"Have you thought about what you'll do next?" Chu Yuening inquired.

"I suppose I'll continue my studies in art abroad," Du Miao replied, wiping away her tears, her only desire being to distance herself from this nauseating place.

The moment she decided to sit down, Du Miao's facial features transformed once more.

She was destined for great accomplishments in the world of art.

Chu Yuening offered a gentle smile. "First, I wish you boundless opportunities ahead."

"Look here." Li Huiwen's denim jacket had a large tear on the right sleeve, dangling loosely. Her hair was disheveled from the struggle, but she didn't mind. She lifted her camera.

"Can I take a picture of you two?"

Both girls turned to face the camera. Chu Yuening bent down, wrapping an arm around Du Miao's towel-clad shoulder. They raised their milk tea cups, Chu Yuening's lustrous, watery eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Great idea!"

Snap.

The moment was captured.

A white Toyota Corolla stood idle, all windows rolled down for ventilation. Mosquitoes buzzed by the villa entrance, and the driver swatted at them impatiently. Seeing the police take away the person they were waiting for but no sign of the dessert stall owner, he couldn't help but prod.

"Brother Zhong, why hasn't the dessert stall owner come out yet?"

Zhong Guoming, with his leg in a cast, sprawled across the backseat like a worm, his injured limb resting on a mat.

Sweat dripped from his brow as he swatted away mosquitoes attempting to feed on him. His lower back ached as if it were fractured, but he persevered through the discomfort. "What sugar cane juice stall owner? You should call him Master Chu. You've been driving for me for years; why are you still so naive?"