"I met Yueyue when she was in junior high school," Baili Qing began slowly, recounting how their connection began.
Chen Ziming sat opposite her, listening attentively.
"Yueyue has already told you about her biological father's story, so I won't go into detail."
"Precisely because of such a terrible biological father, Su Minghua's appearance was like a god descending to earth, saving them and bringing them light."
"He was very good to Yueyue at first, and Yueyue depended on him greatly. But at some point, everything seemed to change."
"He started picking Yueyue up from school on time, monitoring her every move, and even informed her teachers to keep a close watch on their daughter, preventing any other boys from getting close."
"He began taking Yueyue to banquets, making Yueyue learn to persuade a table of middle-aged men to drink like he did. Those men, after drinking too much, would start speaking crudely, calling Yueyue his 'little mistress.' He, however, would laugh instead of getting angry."
"He would also take Yueyue to movies, to restaurants with romantic atmospheres... In short, he used every opportunity to fabricate a facade... I don't want to say it, but you should understand."
"Yueyue soon noticed the discrepancies and began finding excuses to avoid going out with Su Minghua."
"But Su Minghua was not one to let her go. Seeing Yueyue's wariness towards him, he sent her mother on a trip, then locked her at home, preventing her from going to school."
"From then on, Yueyue compromised. She started being obedient and compliant towards him, even learning to please him and coax him into paving the way for her future."
"During this time, I was also constantly chatting with Yueyue. She wouldn't explain things clearly, but I guessed everything."
"I realized that Su Minghua was extremely concerned about status and his personal image, and wouldn't dare to do anything extreme. Therefore, I didn't expose him, but could only constantly advise Yueyue from the sidelines to be vigilant and protect herself."
"Yueyue and I thought we could maintain this cautious balance, but then something happened during her winter break of her second year of high school."
"That night, Su Minghua, drunk, went into her bedroom. The pepper spray worked, and Su Minghua fled in a hurry. The next day, after sobering up, he admitted his fault and actually agreed to her request to live at the school dormitory."
"From then on, Yueyue gained much more freedom. She stayed at friends' houses during holidays and never went home."
"But from that point on, I lost contact with her."
A look of suppressed pain flashed across Baili Qing's face. After a moment of apparent struggle, she finally continued.
"The reason I was transferred away back then was because of those girls' cases. I had crossed a powerful figure."
"After finding ways to return, I wanted to meet Yueyue, but I was threatened by Su Minghua."
"At that time, his position wasn't very high, but he wielded great power. He colluded with the leaders in our department and used my career and my family to blackmail me into cutting off contact with Yueyue."
"I... eventually agreed. You can blame me, Officer Chen, but I had to consider my husband and children."
"Moreover... Yueyue was relatively safe at that time, so I was more at ease."
Saying this, her eyes welled up, and she managed a smile, her gaze bright and sincere as she looked directly at Chen Ziming.
"Officer Chen, you have no idea how happy and excited I was to see Yueyue by your side. I believe you can protect her well."
"Her past was truly difficult. Heaven gave her exceptional beauty but burdened her with such a tumultuous life. A slight misstep could have sent her to hell."
"But she didn't. Instead, like a climbing vine on a sheer cliff, she grew with effort and resilience, becoming the outstanding person she is today."
Her eyes could no longer hold back the tears, and they streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the tabletop.
Her voice and body trembled slightly, as if pleading, she said to the man before her:
"Please, do protect her. Don't let her experience any more suffering."
"She deserves the happiest life."