My aunt called me on the phone and said, "Aze, your cousin Xinling has passed away. Please come back quickly. I can't bear it anymore."

Xinling is my aunt's daughter. I haven't seen her for several years since she got married. I didn't expect such an accident to happen.

She jumped into the river with her daughter and committed suicide.

It was discovered many days later.

I immediately asked for leave from my company and my boss, being understanding, approved three days off for me.

When I was rushing to the airport, I suddenly remembered that I should inform Officer Ding.

In case he needed to reach me urgently and couldn't find me, he might suspect that I had fled in fear of the crime.

I had to report my whereabouts to him and prove that I had nothing to do with the case.

"Um, Officer Ding, I need to go back to my hometown. My cousin passed away, which is my aunt's daughter. My aunt insists that I go back. She's my only aunt, and I have to go back."

I stood at the boarding gate and anxiously called Officer Ding.

"Where are you now?"

Officer Ding's voice sounded urgent.

"At the airport!"

I stood up straight and answered like an elementary school student.

"Okay!"

Officer Ding hung up the phone.

I was a bit confused.

Was he allowing me to leave or not?

I was contemplating whether to call him again to clarify, but then I saw him running towards me.

Oh no!

Why is he coming to the airport? Is he going to arrest me? Detain me?

My mind was full of question marks.

He looked at me, dumbfounded, and explained with a smile, "I have an emergency business trip. It happens to be the same destination as yours."

"Oh!"

I thought it was just a coincidence.

But after getting off the plane, I realized that Officer Ding had been following me all along and had no intention of going to his own destination.

"Is the destination you mentioned my aunt's house?"

Why else would he keep following me?

And he's a criminal detective, and my aunt's daughter just passed away.

Isn't he on a business trip to investigate the case?

Maybe my cousin's death is suspicious, so the city bureau sent him to investigate.

I think my brain is pretty sharp, so I came up with this connection.

"Yes!" Officer Ding took a big sip of Dongpeng energy drink and pointed to a certain place. Then he said, "Dazhuang Village is over there! The local police officer is waiting for me to go there."

I organized my thoughts and cautiously asked, "Is my cousin's case related to yesterday's case?"

Officer Ding chuckled and praised me, "You're very smart."

"Uh!"

At this moment, I would rather be dumb.

Not only is it involved in a major case, now I'm stuck in another case within the case.

I have to clear my suspicion, which will probably take a lot of time.

In other words, I won't be free until the case is closed.

Ah! The unlucky fate!

I haven't been in my high-paying job for long, and now I've encountered a troublesome situation.

So annoying.

"We've arrived."

Officer Ding opened the car door for me.

I snapped back to reality and quickly got out of the car.

As soon as my aunt saw me, she burst into tears.

She said her life was too bitter, her beloved youngest daughter was gone, and her granddaughter was gone too.

I comforted her softly while supporting her.

I felt uneasy in my heart.

Many years ago, my mother committed suicide by burning charcoal due to a mental breakdown, and my aunt was so upset that she was hospitalized. I don't know if she can endure this time.

I saw Officer Ding entering my aunt's house to see the bodies of my cousin and her daughter.

I asked my cousin-in-law to support my aunt and went to take a look as well.

The bodies had been soaked inthe river for many days, and the scene was gruesome. The stench filled the room, and I had to cover my nose with a handkerchief.

Officer Ding was meticulously examining the scene, taking photographs and notes. He looked serious and focused, like a true professional.

"Aze, I need to ask you some questions about your cousin," Officer Ding said, looking up from his work.

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I wanted to cooperate fully to clear any suspicion. On the other hand, the pain of losing my cousin and the shock of the circumstances made it difficult for me to focus.

"How would you describe your cousin Xinling's state of mind before this incident? Did she show any signs of distress or depression?" Officer Ding asked.

I took a deep breath, trying to recall the last time I saw her. "I haven't seen Xinling for a few years since she got married, so I can't say for sure about her recent state of mind. But when we were younger, she was always cheerful and full of life. I never noticed any signs of distress."

Officer Ding scribbled down my response in his notebook. "Did she have any conflicts or disputes with her husband or anyone else that you know of?"

I hesitated for a moment. "I don't have much information about her personal life after she got married. We lost touch over the years. But as far as I know, she had a seemingly happy marriage."

Officer Ding nodded and continued with his questions, probing into any possible motive or leads that could shed light on the tragic incident.

After the questioning, Officer Ding assured me that they would conduct a thorough investigation and keep me informed of any developments.

Days turned into weeks, and the investigation continued. Officer Ding and his team interviewed family members, friends, neighbors, and anyone who might have had contact with Xinling or any knowledge of her state of mind leading up to the incident.

As time passed, it became clear that Xinling had indeed been facing some personal struggles. Her husband revealed that they had been having marital problems, and she had been feeling overwhelmed and trapped.

However, the investigation also uncovered another shocking revelation. Xinling had been a victim of online harassment and cyberbullying. Anonymous messages filled with hate and threats had been tormenting her for months.

Officer Ding's team traced the source of the messages and identified a group of individuals responsible for the cyberbullying. They were promptly arrested and charged.

The discovery of the cyberbullying added a new dimension to the case. It seemed that Xinling had been subjected to relentless psychological torment, which could have contributed to her deteriorating mental state.

As the investigation progressed, more evidence was gathered, including Xinling's online activities and interactions. It became evident that the cyberbullying had taken a toll on her mental health, pushing her to the brink.

Eventually, the investigation concluded that Xinling's death was a tragic result of a combination of factors, including marital problems, personal struggles, and the devastating impact of cyberbullying on her mental well-being.

The case served as a wake-up call for society to address the issue of cyberbullying and its consequences. It also highlighted the importance of mental health support and intervention for individuals facing such challenges.

Although the investigation provided some answers, the pain of losing Xinling and her daughter still weighed heavily on our hearts. We mourned their loss and vowed to remember them with love and cherish their memories.

As for Officer Ding, he had done an exceptional job in uncovering the truth behind the tragedy. His dedication and professionalism stood out throughout the investigation, and I developed a newfound respect for his work.

Life moved on, but the scars of the incident remained. We learned to cope with the pain and find solace in the memories we shared with Xinling and her daughter.

The experience reminded me of the importance of reaching out to loved ones, offering support, and being aware of the struggles they might be facing. It taught me to be vigilant about the impact of cyberbullying and to be proactive in promoting mental well-being.

Ultimately, the investigation helped bring closure to the case and shed light on the complex circumstances surrounding Xinling's tragic passing.