Chapter 575: Chapter 575: Meeting the Survivor

Sure, here is the translation:

City’s Best Kindergarten.

When Lu Chuan and the others arrived at the kindergarten, they coincidentally caught the children doing exercises.

"That tall one, the leading dance teacher, is the female student who survived the 116 case."

Lu Chuan followed the direction pointed by Qin Hui and saw a particularly tall teacher leading the children in the exercises.

The girl’s smile was beautiful, her gaze bright, revealing her affection for the children.

The first impression this teacher gave was one of sunshine, brimming with youthful energy.

Perhaps due to long-term interaction with children, her face was full of sunshine and an innocent smile.

She gave the impression that seeing her is like seeing all the world’s beauty.

Hmm...

It’s like describing... the feeling of first love.

Lu Chuan found it hard to imagine that such a sunny and lively girl had undergone the devastation of the 116 case.

The three of them stood at the kindergarten gate, waiting for the children’s exercises to end.

"Teacher Zhang, why don’t you take the children back? I have some business here."

Xi Mengyao pointed at the three at the gate, Teacher Zhang nodded: "Children, follow me back to the classroom."

"Potato, don’t touch Strawberry’s hair."

"Rice Cake, don’t lift your shirt, your belly might catch cold..."

Xi Mengyao was evidently familiar with all the children, calling them by their nicknames.

On the way over, Lu Chuan noticed the children stuck their tongues out at Xi Mengyao’s words.

Clearly, this teacher was not that authoritative, but was very approachable to the children.

"Hello, Captain Qin."

Xi Mengyao had recognized Qin Hui, even while dancing with the children.

Her case had passed three years ago, when she was still in vocational college, she had already known Qin Hui.

And her current job was arranged through Qin Hui’s introduction.

Over the years, Xi Mengyao knew Qin Hui and his team were tirelessly trying to solve the case, occasionally asking her about the past situation.

But...

She was a victim too.

Confusedly, she only vaguely saw a blurred shadow on another bed.

After that, she remembered nothing.

"Teacher Xi, I’m sorry to bother you again."

Evidently, Wang Ruiqing also knew Xi Mengyao, speaking with an apologetic look.

Even though Wang Ruiqing could not fully understand or empathize with the harm Xi Mengyao endured, he knew every visit inevitably led her back to that painful memory.

Three years already...

Sigh.

"Teacher Wang, it’s okay, helping you is my duty, isn’t it for solving the case?"

Xi Mengyao’s demeanor didn’t change much; instead, she comforted Wang Ruiqing.

"Mengyao, this is Officer Lu Chuan, an expert from the Provincial Task Force, he wants to ask you some questions."

Qin Hui and Xi Mengyao were chatting casually, their relationship obviously familiar.

Lu Chuan wasn’t really surprised, as they had briefed him about Xi Mengyao’s situation en route.

Xi Mengyao’s background, well, can’t exactly be called perfect.

When she was around ten, her father died in a car accident.

Her mother remarried, moving from the countryside to the city.

Unfortunately, at sixteen, just starting vocational school, her mother passed away in another car accident.

She was young, having lost both parents...

Yet, the hardships didn’t break Xi Mengyao.

Even after experiencing the nightmare three years ago, she remains cheerful and bright, thriving as a preschool teacher.

Just last year, she was named an Outstanding Teacher citywide.

The work Qin Hui arranged for her was not just any ordinary kindergarten job.

City’s Best Kindergarten is one of the top kindergartens in the city.

The teachers there are officially appointed.

If you talk about teachers sought after the most in the city, those at City’s Kindergarten, City Experimental Primary School, and City’s Third Experimental High School are definitely at the top.

Xi Mengyao was somewhat surprised as she looked at Lu Chuan; so young, yet an expert from the Provincial Task Force?

What’s more, he’s quite handsome.

Most surprising to Xi Mengyao was Lu Chuan’s belt.

Though her salary at City’s Kindergarten isn’t high, among those pursuing her were wealthy heirs or officials’ kids.

Hermes gold belt...

It shouldn’t be fake.

A belt worth tens of thousands...

Of course, there are plenty of wealthy people, but few as dashing as Lu Chuan.

Xi Mengyao extended her hand voluntarily.

"Hello, Officer Lu, I’m Xi Mengyao."

"Hello."

Lu Chuan calmly shook hands and responded simply.

But Xi Mengyao didn’t seem content to end it there: "Officer Lu, so young and an expert at the Provincial Task Force, quite unexpected."

"Officer Lu seems... about my age."

"Not really," Lu Chuan shook his head: "On the way, I heard Elder Ruiqing say Teacher Xi was the city’s outstanding preschool teacher last year, far better than me the so-called expert."

Hehe.

Xi Mengyao’s laughter sounded like silver bells: "I love children; being with them makes me feel like a child too."

"No, Teacher Xi is far smarter than ordinary children."

Lu Chuan smiled: "Might take some time of yours, pardon me."

"No problem, I’m used to it."

Xi Mengyao pointed to a nearby café: "That café’s not busy, let’s go there."

This was just questioning, not an interrogation, no need to go to the Criminal Investigation Team.

Lu Chuan naturally had no objections.

His questions simply needed Xi Mengyao to confirm.

No matter the answer, the next phase would proceed.

Lu Chuan ordered four coffees.

Qin Hui and Wang Ruiqing sat at another table, while Lu Chuan and Xi Mengyao sat at a coffee table.

Lu Chuan went straight to the point: "Teacher Xi, on the day of the incident, you said you saw two shadows on the opposite bed, can you describe their size?"

Xi Mengyao shook her head: "My head was dizzy then, couldn’t clearly see them, just that there seemed to be two shadows."

This response...

Couldn’t clearly see, seemed to have two shadows...

This kind of ambiguous answer can’t be used as judicial evidence.

She said her head was dizzy, only vaguely aware of two shadows, without any clear understanding of their appearance or physique.

Whether there were people on the other side, Xi Mengyao didn’t give a definite answer.

"Then... about the person near you... do you have any memory?"