Teacher Song stood up, sizing me up from head to toe before speaking. “Teacher Xiao, I heard you’ve worked here for almost two years and never once walked a child home. What’s gotten into you today?”
“That just shows my attitude…” I said with a bitter smile. “I’ll turn over a new leaf.”
In the end, the two idiots agreed.
After all, they weren’t as clever as me.
Tonight, it would just be me and Shan-Shan.
When the teachers and children had all left the kindergarten, I found Shan-Shan.
The little girl I’d slapped dozens of times and pinched countless more.
“Shan-Shan, I’ll take you home,” I said with a smile.
At the sight of me, she froze as if she’d seen a ghost.
“T-Teacher Xiao…” Shan-Shan lowered her head deeply. “I want Teacher Song or Teacher Chen to take me home…”
I leaned in close with a smile. “Little brat, don’t push your luck. If you refuse, I’ll have to pinch your thighs again.”
Shan-Shan trembled all over, tears welling in her eyes, too scared to cry.
“Be good. Teacher will take you home.” I grabbed her hand.
I practically dragged her the whole way—the girl didn’t cooperate at all.
This is why I hate kids.
After leaving the kindergarten, I turned into a few alleys, heading toward the spot I’d agreed to meet Brother Qu.
“T-Teacher Xiao… this isn’t the way home…” Shan-Shan said fearfully.
“Relax. I’m your teacher—I wouldn’t hurt you.” I gripped her hand tightly, pulling her deeper into the alley.
Brother Qu was waiting in a van, surrounded by a few rough-looking men.
When they saw me, they got out.
“Brother Qu, this the one you mentioned?” a scar-faced man asked.
“Yeah,” Brother Qu nodded.
“Damn, it’s just a little girl.”
Hearing this, Brother Qu’s expression darkened.
“Xiao Ran, are you an idiot?” Brother Qu said viciously. “What the hell are we supposed to do with a girl?”
“*I’m* the idiot?” I blinked. “You never said whether you wanted a boy or a girl! How is that my fault?”
“Enough arguing,” Brother Qu said. “A girl’s still worth something. This is our first job since getting out—we gotta be careful.” He pulled Shan-Shan into the van, then took out his wallet and counted out three thousand for me.
“Three thousand?” I stiffened. “Brother Qu, you joking? It was supposed to be thirty!”
“Thirty’s for a boy. A girl’s worth three.”
He turned to leave, but I grabbed him.
“No way!” I snapped. “You didn’t say that! You said thirty! Give me the rest!”
“Let go!” He tried shaking me off.
“No!” I shouted. “If you don’t pay up, I’ll scream—I’ll make sure the whole neighborhood hears!”
“Rot in hell!”
Brother Qu slapped me across the face, sending me to the ground.
Then they drove off in that beat-up van.
I lay there stunned until neighbors started gathering around.
“Girl, what happened?” an old woman asked.
“Who was shouting just now? What’s going on?”
As the crowd buzzed, a plan suddenly came to me.
“Call the police! Someone kidnapped a child!”
The words sent shock through everyone.
…
I was taken to the police station, where they took my statement.
Chen Ting and Teacher Song, who’d already gone home, rushed over when they heard Shan-Shan had been taken. Their faces were full of concern.
Fake. Still acting.
What’s there to worry about? She’s not even related to you.
“Xiao Ran, what did you do to Shan-Shan?!” Chen Ting grabbed my collar the moment she saw me. “She’s suffered enough—can’t you leave her alone?”
Officers quickly pulled her back. “Ma’am, calm down.”
“I don’t *need* to calm down!” She pointed at me, addressing the police. “Officers, whatever happened to Shan-Shan, this woman’s behind it—I swear!”
“Chen Ting, that’s enough,” I said, standing up angrily. “I already told you—the child was kidnapped. The whole neighborhood saw it! They took her and hit me!”
“You’re lying!”
Chen Ting was furious, but Teacher Song seemed deep in thought.
After a moment, Teacher Song turned to an officer. “Where was Shan-Shan taken?”
“East end of Old South Street,” an officer replied.
“Old South Street?” Teacher Song frowned at me. “Shan-Shan’s house is along Yangjiang Road. Why were you on Old South Street?”
“Yangjiang Road? It’s my first time walking her home—I must’ve taken a wrong turn.”
An officer rapped his knuckles on the table. “Ms. Xiao, we need full honesty. Everyone wants the child found, and lies will only slow the search.”
“I’m not lying,” I insisted. “Those men took her and hit me. There were too many—I couldn’t fight back.”
I smirked inwardly. They’d never find evidence.
I’d deleted all calls to Brother Qu. I was untouchable.
Teacher Song turned back to the officers. “Don’t you find it suspicious? Xiao Ran got lost, ended up exactly where kidnappers were waiting?”
“We’ve considered that,” an officer said, sliding forward a file. “But witnesses heard Ms. Xiao shout, *‘If you don’t give it to me, I’ll scream!’*—proof she resisted. Others saw her get hit.”
Teacher Song fell silent, then spoke slowly. “What if Xiao Ran was working with them? What if she was just arguing over money?”
I’d underestimated this woman.
“Just arrest her. I bet she’d crack under questioning,” Teacher Song said.
The officer shook his head. “We need evidence to make arrests. Right now, there’s no surveillance in that alley, and Ms. Xiao’s involvement is still unclear. For now, we’ll focus on roadblocks and finding the child.”
After more pointless questions, they let me go.
Chen Ting, Teacher Song, and I stepped outside just as a frail old woman hobbled toward the station.
She reeked of that sour, old-people smell.
Disgusting.
“Teachers… are you Shan-Shan’s teachers?” the old woman asked, tears in her eyes.
“Ah…” Chen Ting suddenly looked guilty. “You’re Shan-Shan’s grandmother?”
“I’m sorry…” The old woman swallowed her grief, bowing as she clutched Chen Ting’s hands. “My granddaughter’s caused you so much trouble… I’m truly sorry… my poor girl…”
“No trouble at all!” Chen Ting quickly helped her up. “We’ll find her—it’s our responsibility.”
“Which one of you is Teacher Xiao?” the old woman asked.
The other two women turned to me.
“Teacher Xiao…” The old woman grabbed my hands. “Shan-Shan told me she always makes you angry… Please don’t blame her… Now she’s caused this mess… I’m so sorry…”
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