Compared to the two men who had just left, Qin Yi’s voice was too calm and deep, making Su Tong’s heart flutter with unease.
Su Tong didn’t speak, merely lowering her head slightly as she silently waited for him to continue.
Qin Yi paused for a moment, then pulled over a chair and sat by her bedside, instantly closing the distance between them.
“Ma Liu has regained consciousness,” Qin Yi stated calmly.
Su Tong kept her head slightly bowed. A large bandage wrapped around her forehead covered nearly half her face. Her hair was disheveled, her complexion sallow, and her cheeks gaunt. With her nervous expression, she looked no different from any ordinary village girl.
His mind flashed to Ma Liu’s two massive black eyes and his exaggerated account:
“That woman is terrifying! She was quiet as a quail the whole time, then suddenly exploded into action. She disarmed my bomb and took my gun, then beat me up like this—it’s absolutely horrifying! I can’t believe it…”
Qin Yi also found it hard to believe, though based on the scene investigation, Ma Liu’s story was likely true.
Hearing that Su Tong had woken up, he had come immediately to verify the facts. Yet seeing this girl before him, he still felt it was somewhat incredible.
Noting Su Tong’s lack of response, Qin Yi didn’t beat around the bush but continued word by word: “Ma Liu said—it was you who pulled the handbrake and subdued them.”
Qin Yi’s eyes fixed intently on Su Tong’s face, not missing the slightest shift in her expression.
Inside, Su Tong’s thoughts were in complete disarray. She kept her head down to conceal the emotions in her eyes, wondering how to talk her way out of this situation. But when Qin Yi revealed that Ma Liu had already exposed her, her mind… suddenly grew calm.
Fine! The more you fear others finding out, the more they discover. Since they already know, there’s nothing left to fear.
After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong. She would face whatever came—soldiers with blocking tactics, floodwaters with earth embankments.
She was now the genuine Wu Tong, so she should just act accordingly!
With this realization, she felt at ease. She raised her head and met Qin Yi’s gaze directly. “So what?”
Qin Yi was stunned. She—she was admitting it!
This was the first time he had clearly seen this girl’s face. Though her appearance was somewhat disheveled, her eyes were composed—calm and steady, possessing a confidence and clarity that didn’t match her age.
This confidence created a stark contrast with her distressed exterior, making her seem like a walking contradiction.
“So, what Ma Liu said is… true?” Qin Yi verified once more.
“Yes. Everyone has sacrificed a lot to catch the criminals. I just did what I could,” Su Tong replied with composure.
After a moment’s thought, she added an explanation: “I might have acted impulsively at the time without considering the dangers, but fortunately, luck was on my side. Those two criminals were injured and sick, and they couldn’t hold on for long after driving off. I just mustered my courage and tied them up. I’m still feeling scared about it now.”
Su Tong had decided that no matter how others questioned her, this would be her answer—the only version she would give. If they didn’t believe it, there was nothing she could do.
But Qin Yi’s feelings were complicated.
He had already learned about what happened in her family.
She had grown up in a backward rural household, never receiving respect or affection since childhood.
He also knew the injury on her head came from being forced to smash into a pillar in desperation. He could even see old scars on her arm peeking out from the sleeves of her hospital gown.
But this very girl had suddenly single-handedly captured two fugitives who had fled across three provinces for nearly two thousand kilometers… Quite the “within one’s capabilities” indeed!
Qin Yi’s gaze was filled with scrutiny, but the girl no longer appeared timid. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and revealed a smile. “Comrade Qin, do you have any other questions?”
Questions?
Qin Yi was practically bursting with questions!
How did she know the location of the handbrake?
How did she know how to perform a takedown?
How did she know how to defuse a bomb?
Why did she use a binding method only employed by the military?
Why didn’t she resist when bullied by hooligans but showed such courage when catching thieves…
Her answer could only fool a three-year-old…
He looked at the girl before him. He knew she was only nineteen, but she was thin—the kind of sallow, malnourished thin.
Her skin was chapped, her cheeks flushed red—a result of long-term exposure to wind and sun. She lacked any of the vitality typical of girls her age, and anyone could see she had lived a hard life.
Driving, takedowns, bomb disposal… None of these skills seemed to fit her, yet she appeared to possess them all and had executed them exceptionally well in an extremely short time.
This was definitely not something achievable through mere luck or blind courage. This girl was full of mysteries…
She tilted her face up slightly and countered with a question before he could even speak. He was almost certain that if he asked directly, he wouldn’t get the answers he wanted.
Qin Yi hesitated for a moment, then asked an entirely unrelated question.
“What do you usually do in your free time, miss?”
Su Tong searched her memory and replied, “Read books, I suppose.”
“Read books?” This answer somewhat surprised Qin Yi. Education in rural areas was still severely lagging, especially in remote mountainous regions. There weren’t even many students in the villages, so the books she mentioned probably weren’t textbooks.
“Do you… have books to read?”
“If I want to read, there are ways.”
Su Tong’s mind flashed to the face of another man—the educated youth who loved lending books to the original host, and the source of Wu Dongling’s jealousy toward her.
Were her abilities due to loving books? Could self-study from books reach this level?
“So, you learned… the location of the handbrake from books? And also how to use shoelaces for binding?”
“Y-yes!” Su Tong eagerly agreed. This line of reasoning was good—she hadn’t thought of it earlier.
“The books… explained everything very clearly. I n-never expected it to be so practical!” Su Tong answered while forcing a smile.
Qin Yi fell silent for a long time, took a deep breath to suppress his growing questions, and brought up another matter.
“You’ve made a significant contribution this time. Outsiders only know about you swapping the child. Logically, we should report your capture of the fugitives to higher authorities and commend you. However, this case has other complexities, involves far-reaching implications, and the main perpetrators are still at large. For your personal safety, we may need to keep it confidential for now…”
Su Tong, who had been leaning against the hospital bed, slightly straightened up upon hearing this. “It hasn’t been reported yet?”
Qin Yi watched her expression closely. It wasn’t regret he saw—it was pleasant surprise.
He continued slowly, “Ma Liu just woke up not long ago. Currently, only Lin Li and I know about this matter.”
Su Tong’s eyes flickered.
Only two people knew? As long as those two didn’t talk, she could keep her capture of those two idiots under wraps.
Qin Yi watched as the girl’s expression finally showed some change, only then noticing she had a pair of beautiful eyes. Her pupils were clear and bright, as if reflecting a galaxy of stars, making her entire face come alive.
Su Tong leaned forward slightly. “Comrade Qin, I don’t want any commendation for this matter, nor do we need to report it to higher authorities. I only have one small wish, and I hope you can help me fulfill it.”
Qin Yi had already guessed part of it. He asked, “What is your wish?”