Hearing Zhang Jing's name mentioned by Su Ding, the four male students were stunned.
Clearly, Jin Ye had told Su Ding everything they had said, without any concealment.
"Mr. Jin asked us to recall the events of that night carefully. We all agreed that Zhang Jing's behavior that night was somewhat strange, and the wine that was given to us all passed through her hands," one of the boys said.
"That's right. Zhang Jing also handed me wine that night. My glass was empty, and I was about to get it myself, but she said she would pour it for us as an apology."
Su Ding asked, "Apology for what?"
The boy thought for a moment and said, "She seemed to have spoken up for you that night. Jin Miaomiao was angry, so she took the initiative to apologize."
"Spoke up for me?"
Su Ding recalled the girl from her memory, whose image was already blurred. That girl had indeed said a few words for her. She seemed like a quiet girl, making her seem a little out of place in the crowd.
The four boys nodded.
Su Ding frowned and asked, "What's Zhang Jing's usual relationship with Jin Miaomiao? Are they close?"
One of the boys said, "Not really. Jin Miaomiao and Miss Tang, Tang Yiyi, are best friends. If you're talking about closeness, she's not as close to Tang Yiyi."
This made sense!
This incident was orchestrated by Tang Yiyi, but why did everyone think it was Su Ding?
Zhang Jing must be involved!
Su Ding looked up at the four of them and asked in a low voice, "How much more do you know about Zhang Jing?"
"We don't know much. We only know that she comes from a single-parent family and her family's conditions are not very good. She's quite good at navigating things at school and is Miss Tang's follower."
Su Ding asked some other questions but didn't get any crucial information.
However, she realized that these four people themselves were confused about the matter. They drank the drugged wine, entered the room, and did that to Jin Miaomiao...
They didn't have very clear memories of the entire process.
"Forget it, let's go."
Su Ding held Jin Ye's hand and they left the cell.
Outside, seeing Su Ding's furrowed brow, Jin Ye said, "Zhang Jing is not in the Southern Territory. I've already sent people to look for her. As long as we find her, we'll be one step closer to the truth."
"Mm."
Su Ding pushed her hair back, let out a breath, and looked into the distance, her mind racing through many things.
She looked up and said, "Zhang Jing is guilty and afraid, but she can't run forever. Let's go to her house."
The car sped all the way and stopped under a residential building in the East District.
This was an old neighborhood, and the surrounding facilities and environment clearly showed its age. A group of elderly people were playing cards downstairs, and they looked curiously at Jin Ye and Su Ding, two strangers.
"Hello, excuse me, does Zhang Xiuping live here?" Su Ding went forward and asked.
"Yes, what do you need her for?"
An old woman, while touching her cards, glanced at Su Ding.
Su Ding said, "We're here to see her daughter, and we need to understand some things."
The old woman sized her up and thought she didn't look like a bad person, so she casually said, "402. Are you her relatives? I haven't seen her come out for several days, you should go up and take a look."
"Mm, thank you."
Su Ding went up to the fourth floor and knocked on the door.
There was no response from inside. She knocked again. After a long time, a haggard woman opened the door.
"Who are you looking for..."
Before the woman could finish speaking, she lost her voice the moment she saw Jin Ye, and her face changed drastically!
She grabbed the door to close it, but Su Ding stopped it with her foot.
"May I ask if you are Zhang Xiuping?" Su Ding asked directly, narrowing her eyes and staring at the woman's expression.
"No, I'm not!"
Seeing that she couldn't close the door, the woman's terrified face turned even paler, and she gasped angrily, "What more do you want to do! I told your people a few days ago that Jingjing has returned to her hometown! I don't know anything, don't come to me again!"
Su Ding looked at Jin Ye with confusion: Have you been here?
Jin Ye shook his head, "I sent people to ask."
"Jingjing is such a good child, how could she get involved with rich people like you, woo woo..."
Zhang Xiuping covered her face and cried bitterly. These days, she didn't dare to go out because Jingjing had instructed her to keep a low profile before leaving.
But within a few days, some men came to inquire.
The neighbors saw it and gossiped about her. From what they said, she also learned that Jingjing seemed to have done something wrong. How was this possible? Someone must be slandering her daughter!
"Zhang Xiuping, the hometown address you provided did not find Zhang Jing. How long do you plan to hide it?"
Jin Ye's words interrupted her crying.
Zhang Xiuping's crying stopped abruptly, and her eyes darted away slightly. "What did you say, Jingjing isn't in her hometown? Then... where did she go?"
"You don't know?" Jin Ye asked with a cold face, his voice icy, carrying an invisible pressure.
"Don't know!"
Zhang Xiuping answered without thinking.
Su Ding had been observing Zhang Xiuping's expression from beginning to end. Her initial despair and anger were genuine, but when asked about Zhang Jing's address, she clearly showed an intention to conceal.
"You don't know, then has she not contacted you for a few days?" Su Ding asked indifferently.
"...Two, two days."
"Two days without contact, and she's not in her hometown... Where do you think your daughter would go?"
Su Ding's eyes were fixed on her, as if she could see through all her disguises. Zhang Xiuping's expression kept changing.
Then, she covered her face and started crying mournfully again.
"I don't know where my daughter has gone either. What exactly do you want to do... It's all because of you, otherwise my daughter wouldn't have left, and now I don't even know where she is..."
Su Ding seized on her words directly, "Because of us, Zhang Jing left. Then she must have done something, otherwise why would she leave?"
This sentence made Zhang Xiuping's heart sink.
"No, it's not that. Your people are slandering my daughter. My daughter hasn't done anything!"
Zhang Xiuping pointed at Jin Ye, her eyes filled with hostility. "I still want to ask why you're holding onto my daughter!"
"Heh, we're holding onto your daughter?"
Su Ding let out a cold laugh. "We want to protect your daughter, that's why we're asking about her whereabouts. Otherwise, do you know if she's alive or dead?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Zhang Xiuping pointed at Su Ding angrily. "Why are you cursing my daughter! Why..."
"Zhang Xiuping, you can choose not to say anything, but your daughter might be close to death. As her mother, think carefully. If she hadn't done anything wrong, would she have run away? Also, that money is likely your daughter's life-saving money!"
After saying that, Su Ding pulled Jin Ye away.
When they reached the downstairs, Jin Ye asked, "Why didn't you continue to question her?"
Actually, Zhang Xiuping was already showing signs of breaking. A woman who had never seen anything major like this wouldn't have much courage. If the consequences were made clear, she wouldn't be able to hold on for long.
"Her guard is still very strong. Instead of forcing out information that may or may not be true, it's better to let her think for herself."
Su Ding walked slowly with Jin Ye's arm through the residential area. "Originally, I didn't plan to get anything out of her, just to further confirm that this matter is related to Zhang Jing."
As the two were talking, they happened to pass by the community's garbage recycling station.
Auntie from the recycling station took out a dress from the trash and said regretfully to a woman next to her, "Such a good dress is just thrown away. Zhang Xiuping's family doesn't have much money, but she doesn't even blink an eye when throwing things away."
Hearing Zhang Xiuping's name, Su Ding instinctively looked over, and her eyes widened instantly!
Was that the dress?!
She let go of Jin Ye's hand and quickly walked forward, snatching the dress. "Auntie, let me see."
Although the auntie from the recycling station was displeased, she didn't snatch it back.
After all, Su Ding looked like she wasn't someone who lacked money and would wear discarded clothes!
"Look, look, don't tear it, this is mine." The auntie still declared her ownership.
Su Ding took the dress, and a strong smell of alcohol wafted towards her.
This dress was placed in a bag separately, so it didn't pick up the smell of garbage. It was relatively new overall.
This dress was exactly the same as the one Jin Miaomiao wore on the night she was violated!
If this was the case, then the truth was clear.
Zhang Jing was impersonating her by wearing this outfit. Everyone who was drunk would think that she was the one who helped them into the room, but the real culprit was Zhang Jing!
"Auntie, is this from Zhang Xiuping's family? Are you sure?" Su Ding's voice was a little excited, her heart pounding.
"What does this have to do with you?"
The auntie glanced at Su Ding and reached out to snatch the dress. Why did this girl want to snatch the clothes?
Just as she was about to snatch it, a stack of red bills appeared before her!
Looking up, she saw a young man in a black suit.