Chapter 47: Responsibility

When Zhang Wuping heard the word “media,” his entire being shuddered, body and soul. His reaction was no different from hearing that an invading army was at the gates or that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

It wasn’t that he disliked the media. Everyone worked in different sectors of society, and their ultimate goals were all for social harmony and development. It was just that because of their different professional demands, cooperation between the two often resulted in unpleasant experiences, making him instinctively resistant.

Zhang Wuping asked, “Which media outlet?”

“Several of them!” the officer said. “A few are media companies that have been quite popular online in recent years. They’ve reported on Ning Dongdong before… the negative kind of coverage.”

Zhang Wuping said, on high alert, “Set up the cordon, pull the curtains, and don’t let the reporters take photos of the crime scene. Is there anyone nearby with a background in public relations? Have them go out and explain things to the media. Remember, absolutely nothing related to the case that hasn’t been verified can be disclosed!”

The officer said, “But they seem to already know about Ning Dongdong.”

Zhang Wuping’s vision went dark. He barked, “Who told them?!”

The officer said with a miserable expression, “The kidnapped hostage told them. The media interviewed her, and she said Ning Dongdong is the Murderer, that she saw Ning Dongdong killing people with a knife. She also said she was threatened and kidnapped by Ning Dongdong at knifepoint, and that she almost died. The media filmed the whole thing, and we couldn’t stop them. What do we do now?”

A sharp pain shot through Zhang Wuping’s chest, and he nearly suffocated.

As if that wasn’t enough, the officer twisted the knife, practically taking half his life.

“They’re livestreaming.”

He Jueyun: “…” This was truly like making a bed in a public restroom¹ – not far from deep shit.

The channel fell into a long silence.

At this moment, all the Players began to realize the immense pressure public opinion could exert on this case.

When they were just ordinary citizens, they wanted the absolute right to know, so they enjoyed using public opinion to force the authorities to enforce the law transparently.

Of course, this wasn’t wrong. But once they stood in the shoes of the law enforcement department, they realized that some things were not as they had imagined.

The so-called right to know did not guarantee the facts, and what the public gathered from limited information was not necessarily the truth. Yet, people always liked to extrapolate the whole picture using limited clues, taking it as gospel, and ultimately denying official authority with conspiracy theories, causing things to spiral out of control.

The Players could already foresee how the public would react once the media released the interview. Now, they had to face a dilemma. No matter how they handled it, the credibility of the authorities would be called into question.

“If we go out and clarify things now, neither the media nor the public will believe us, right?” a Player whispered. “The victim was so certain on camera that Ning Dongdong is the Murderer. If we try to clear his name now, won’t the public think the police are shirking responsibility or maliciously covering for him?”

“Don’t even doubt it, that’s a given.”

“But Ning Tingting is his sister!”

“Doesn’t that just make it more dramatic?”

Someone said in annoyance, “Why is that auntie downstairs talking nonsense? Her dramatic embellishments are way over the top. I told her not to leak the details of the case to the public, but she just wouldn’t listen. Does she have any idea that a single sentence from her could cost Ning Dongdong his life?”

How many people were willing to take responsibility for their own careless words? Even when they knew their testimony would be amplified by the internet and affect countless people.

Just then, Zhang Wuping’s phone vibrated. Several people in the room took out their phones one after another to check.

A highly popular social media app pushed a notification for today’s news, with a sensational headline staring back at them: “Ning Dongdong Kills Two More! When Will the Police…”

“This… isn’t this just causing trouble? Did they even verify this with the police before publishing? Are they crazy?”

He Jueyun watched Zhang Wuping, trying to read his next move from the man’s grim expression. He said meaningfully, “If Ning Dongdong sees this news, what will he think? Will he think the police are too incompetent to properly investigate the scene, or will he think we’re selling him out for our own convenience, driving him to do something extreme? Honestly, we’re on the back foot right now.”

Zhang Wuping weighed his options and made a decision. He wiped his face hard, shaking off his weariness, and reasserted his strong leadership style to stabilize the situation.

“Those who were just assigned tasks, go and execute them. Remember, the ground-level investigation must be thorough, meticulous, and patient! Coordinate with each other and make sure to find Ning Dongdong as soon as possible. Also, the media will likely release Ning Dongdong’s photo soon. Since Players are currently in the most crowded areas, this is actually an advantage for our manhunt. Each team should actively gather clues from the public and seek their cooperation.”

“Yes, sir.”

Zhang Wuping said, “Also, who is managing our official social media accounts? Before this situation escalates further, release a public statement immediately as a response to the media.”

“What should we say?”

Zhang Wuping said firmly, “Tell the truth. Don’t release too many details of the case, but we must clarify the connection between Ning Dongdong and these two homicides. State that there is relatively clear evidence proving Ning Dongdong is not the Murderer, and urge everyone to stop speculating wildly or spreading false information, and to wait patiently for further official announcements. Say exactly that.”

“Huh?” the Player managing the account hesitated. “The media’s narrative is completely on the other side right now. If we clarify things now, aren’t we just walking right into the line of fire? The public might not believe us, and it could even trigger a backlash. I don’t think this is the right way to handle public relations.”

“Otherwise, what? Shift all the pressure and responsibility onto Ning Dongdong? Make him bear baseless charges and public condemnation? And then, after the dust settles, we come out with a clarifying statement? Or should we just go with the flow, arrest Ning Dongdong, and put on a show of interrogating him? With the situation Ning Dongdong is in, he can’t wait!” Zhang Wuping’s voice rose. He was clearly anxious, but his lack of eloquence made him struggle to express it. “It would be much easier that way… but comrades, that is not what we should be doing!”

Few people cared about what happened to Ning Dongdong, or rather, no one cared anymore about what he was thinking at this moment.

Covered in infamy, his future ruined, he was entirely alone in the world. Even if the public misunderstood him, he would only receive a biased “he deserved it” in the end. From a utilitarian perspective, his sacrifice could at least contribute a little to social stability, seemingly adding a sliver of value to his bleak life.

But Zhang Wuping was a police officer. His profession, his duty, and his pursuits never allowed him to look at things from a purely utilitarian perspective. This was not a job where one could cut corners. To him, truth and justice were far more important than temporary peace and comfort.

He Jueyun’s lips curved up. He walked over, clapped Zhang Wuping hard on the shoulder, and said, “I’ll handle the media. I’ll make the statement.”

This was exactly the kind of thing Zhang Wuping was worst at. He Jueyun’s consistent performance put him at ease. He placed his hand over He Jueyun’s and nodded. “Thank you.”

“Let’s all get to work,” He Jueyun said. “Time is very tight right now.”

·

Qiong Cang stood in the lobby, looking up at the LCD TV on the wall, which was broadcasting today’s news.

The shaky camera pointed at the entrance of the residential building. Yellow police tape formed a large perimeter, and several officers stood guard in front of the security door, barring the media from entering to film. Journalists held their microphones high, competing to ask for details about the case, while the police carefully raised their hands to block the cameras, remaining silent.

The background audio was filled with noisy clamor, hinting at the chaos on the scene. Then, the camera panned to focus on the reporter conducting the live broadcast.

The reporter explained the case with a solemn expression. He was supposed to remain objective, but he could hardly suppress his righteous indignation.

“We just interviewed the victim of this case. She was tied up on the second floor by Ning Dongdong, who threatened and harmed her. It was only after the police sneaked in through the balcony that she was successfully rescued. The suspect has now fled, and still, no representative from the police has stepped forward to address our questions…”

“If we look back at Ning Dongdong’s past… it is clear that even before today’s tragedy, he was already a prime suspect in multiple murder cases. I do not understand why the police allowed such a dangerous individual to roam free in society. What kind of considerations led them to leave him unsupervised? How can the safety of the public be guaranteed?”

The reporter then showed a pixelated photo of Ning Dongdong’s face. However, unpixelated photos had already spread all over the internet and were still circulating. Everyone already knew what Ning Dongdong looked like.

That photo had been snapped shortly after Ning Dongdong was released from prison. At the time, he was unshaven and disheveled, his hair a tangled mess, his face wearing a look of exhaustion and melancholy. He hunched his back, his gaze wandering, wanting nothing more than to blend into the crowd and live like an ordinary nobody. Unfortunately, even so, the dark camera lens had followed him like a ghost.

Qiong Cang opened her mouth, her throat bobbing.

She wore a white, traditional-style robe, and her face was heavily made up. Her tall, slender figure stood in place, exuding an otherworldly, ethereal aura.

A half-mask covered her face, softening her sharp, angular features. Her eyes were narrow and bright, completely different from Ning Dongdong’s image on the television. Even at close range, no one would suspect her identity.

If there was anyone who could openly wear heavy makeup and disguise themselves without raising suspicion, it was a cosplayer.

Qiong Cang had chosen a popular priest character from a recent game, rented a costume from a nearby photo studio, and was now watching the news in the shop.

Not far from her, two girls were also paying attention to the broadcast. After the reporter finished speaking, they condemned the situation with righteous indignation:

“Oh my god, he even killed his own sister. How can someone be so heartless?”

“The internet says it’s because he went to his sister for money after getting out of prison. She refused, so he killed her in cold blood. Who knew he’d be spotted by someone downstairs? He ran off immediately.”

“If you ask me, the laws in our country are too lenient. People who show no remorse like him should never be let out of prison. The entire society is paying the price for one person!”

Qiong Cang slowly turned her head and looked at the two speakers.

Under her gaze, the two girls’ voices gradually quieted down. Then, they asked sheepishly, “Is something wrong, handsome?”

“It’s nothing,” Qiong Cang smiled gently. “I was just surprised.”

The two agreed. “Exactly! How could this happen? The police are so irresponsible!”

“If Ning Dongdong gets away again this time, I’m going to start wondering if there’s a mole in the police force.”

Qiong Cang lowered her head, walked over to pick up her bag by the counter, and prepared to leave.

Just as she stepped one foot out the door, a calm, powerful voice came from the television behind her.

“The police cannot disclose the specific details of the case yet. We are mobilizing all our personnel to search for Ning Dongdong’s whereabouts. We hope he will come forward voluntarily to cooperate with our investigation. Members of the public with relevant clues are also requested to contact the police immediately.”

The reporter asked sharply, “Just cooperating with the investigation? Isn’t the police force being too irresponsible?”

Qiong Cang turned around and looked at the man in the police uniform standing straight on the screen.

His eyes were clear, and his tone was firm. “With all due respect, comments like yours are what is irresponsible. As a reporter for a major media outlet, you should know what kind of person can be explicitly labeled a criminal.”

He Jueyun carried the integrity of a young police officer, showing no hesitation or fear, which instinctively made people believe his words.

“Based on the timestamps from the residential area’s surveillance footage, it has been confirmed that the two victims were already dead when Ning Dongdong arrived at the scene. The forensic investigation of the scene also indicates that the likelihood of Ning Dongdong being the murderer is extremely low. Once the results of our colleagues’ evidence testing are out, we will make an official public announcement. Until then, we hope everyone can remain calm. If any citizen spots Ning Dongdong, please do not provoke him or harm him. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Reporter: “But…”

He Jueyun spoke first, replying, “The victim, Ms. Sun, whom the reporter just interviewed, did not actually witness Ning Dongdong committing the murder. She simply arrived at the scene a step behind him. What she told the reporter deviates somewhat from the statement she gave us. I can only assume this was an incorrect action on her part, brought on by emotional instability or the influence of her surroundings. I hope everyone can verify the authenticity of their information before ensuring the public’s right to know. Thank you, and thank you for your hard work.”

The girls who had just been attacking Ning Dongdong were left bewildered.

“Huh?”

“What is all this?”

“Could it be true? The police have no reason to speak up for Ning Dongdong, right?”

“But if that’s the case, why did he kidnap someone? Why did he run…”

Qiong Cang listened to He Jueyun’s statement, her lips pursing into an unreadable expression, somewhere between a smile and a grimace.

“What a pity…”

It was a pity that back then, no one was willing to withstand the pressure and speak a single word for Fan Huai. Once the right moment was missed, it became a mistake.

Qiong Cang pressed down on her bag and turned to leave resolutely.

【Author’s Note】

Ning Dongdong’s character is set as male, but Qiong Cang is female and is playing him. Therefore, the gender pronouns will change.

Translator’s Notes