Chapter 110: Is There a Problem?

“How are you here too? Don’t you have any shame, following men around everywhere?” Tao Min was the first to lash out, turning the tables aggressively.

“You’re really strange. Isn’t it normal for us to come out together for group activities? But you—aren’t you afraid your boyfriend’s ghost will haunt you endlessly?”

Chen Xin hadn’t intended to say these things, but now that she knew Tao Min’s so-called friends were no good, she no longer cared about saving face.

“Your ex-boyfriend just died, and you’re already flirting around? You know Song Yi was the one who saved you back then, so how could he not know about your boyfriend’s death? Knowing that, do you really think someone like him would be interested in you?” After all, Song Yi was an elite, in an entirely different circle from these spoiled rich kids.

Tao Min’s face shifted through shades of blue, red, and white before she glared fiercely at Chen Xin, then grabbed her bag by the car and strode up the mountain. The others either watched the drama unfold, looked indifferent, or two of them cast sly, disgusted glances at Chen Xin, scanning her from head to toe with leering eyes.

Chen Xin didn’t fear them. Just then, the others returned and saw Song Yi standing next to Chen Xin. Across from them, some troublemakers appeared. Cheng Jie grabbed her husband and hurried over.

“What’s going on? What do they want?” Cheng Jie held her phone tightly, ready to call the police at the first sign of trouble.

At that moment, the owner arrived upon hearing the commotion and persuaded the two men to leave. Turning to Chen Xin’s group, he advised them to avoid crossing paths in the future.

“These are all rich kids, spoiled brats. They can easily make things difficult for you. Don’t provoke them.”

“My son is a police officer,” Yi Bai’s mother said proudly. “If they dare to cause any trouble, I’ll call him right away.” She then turned to Chen Xin, asking, “What did you say to them?”

“Nothing much. It’s just that the girl we rescued in the mountains has taken a liking to Song Yi and won’t let him go. She seems to have some personal issues, so I told her off a bit. Those guys are just her friends.”

“How long has it been since her boyfriend died?” Yi Bai’s mother raised her voice in shock, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. “That girl is really heartless. Her boyfriend just died less than two months ago, and she’s already out having fun like this?”

“Who knows if that was even her boyfriend,” Cheng Jie said with a sneer. “Anyway, they’ve left. Let’s finish our meal and go quickly before we run into them again.”

People like them couldn’t be reasoned with normally. Cheng Jie thought it best to avoid trouble; after eating, they would leave and pick up some Artemisia on the way back.

After the meal, as they were about to rest before leaving, Teacher Song exclaimed in surprise, “Hey, why are they coming down already?”

Looking up, they saw the group who had climbed the mountain earlier descending rapidly. The leader seemed to be dragging a girl by the hand.

“Are you the ones who rescued her over by Green Mountain?” The leader clearly wasn’t part of the previous group. Behind him were five or six others in matching outdoor gear—young men with crew cuts and stern faces, exuding an unmistakable aura of toughness.

“Yes, we found her unconscious while playing on the mountain and had her taken to the hospital. What’s the matter, young man? Is there a problem?”

Grandma Liu patted her daughter’s hand and stood to confront the young man. She refused to believe anyone would dare strike an elderly woman in public.

“So, you’re also the ones who found the body of the person who fell off the cliff?”

“Yes, that was us. Is there an issue?” Chen Xin stepped up beside Grandma Liu, unwilling to let the elders take the blame.

“Alright, I understand. Just asking.” The man glanced at Tao Min, then turned back to them. “Can you tell me how far the place where you found her is from where the body was found?”

Chen Xin frowned, sensing the man’s questions were pointed.

“That depends on your route.” She gently pressed Grandma Liu’s shoulder. “Let her rest first. There’s a big difference between the two locations. Only locals would know the exact path. If you want precise information, it’d be best to ask the police who responded.”

The man was silent for a moment, then looked at Chen Xin, scanning the group behind him. “I heard there was a police officer with your group. Do you know who?”

“Officer Yi isn’t here today. Are you looking for him?”

“There’s something I need to consult him about. Could you give me his contact information?”

Chen Xin couldn’t decide this herself. She turned to Yi Bai’s mother.

“I’ll ask my son. Wait here.” Yi Bai’s mother knew she couldn’t give out her son’s number lightly, but the man didn’t seem malicious. She would check with her son first.

After calling, Yi Bai seemed busy but agreed to speak with the man directly, letting his mother hand over the phone.

The man took the phone and moved to a secluded spot, speaking quietly with Yi Bai for about ten minutes. When he returned the phone, his eyes were red.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” he said briskly, gathering his men and leaving. Before departing, he warned Tao Min pointedly not to let him discover any connection between her and his brother’s death—or else she would regret it deeply.

This group was clearly more organized and seemed far from ordinary. Song Yi guessed they were either former soldiers or professional athletes—likely competitors in a physically demanding sport, given their fierce demeanor.

Having been publicly humiliated like that, Tao Min was furious. She climbed into her car, ready to drive away. Those who had come with her had no choice but to follow. Soon, they all left, leaving Chen Xin’s group staring at each other in bewilderment.

“Could that girl have something to do with her boyfriend’s death?” Liu Chunyan whispered. “You don’t think he didn’t just fall by accident?”

“That’s unlikely. If it weren’t an accident, why would the police have released her? Most likely, they both went up the mountain at night together. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gotten lost or had an accident on the cliff.”

After a few guesses, they got into the car and slowly drove away from the farmhouse. On the way, Chen Xin suddenly shuddered, remembering a murder case she had heard about from a classmate during her school days. The killer had murdered several people—men and women—on the mountain during a group camping game. It was speculated the dispute arose over tent assignments, but her classmate said the real motive was revenge: the murderer’s brother was deceived and killed by a certain woman in the group. Thinking about it now, it all seemed eerily similar.