CSGM - Chapter 53
Chapter 53: Return to the Show
Thirteen hours had passed since Chu Xi first sat down at the computer to compare suspect photos.
Finally, with a result in hand, her mind could relax.
She borrowed a relatively clean break room at the police station and lay down for a short rest.
After such a long period of intense mental exertion, Chu Xi unknowingly fell into a deep sleep. When she blinked awake, two hours had gone by.
She rubbed her eyes and plugged in her dead phone to charge. Only then did she see several unread messages asking what had happened to her.
There were messages from Yu Yixue, the Director of Our Restaurant, Ren Zhi…
Just then, she heard a flurry of footsteps in the hallway outside the door. It sounded like several people were rushing past, their panting and indistinct discussion audible.
Chu Xi put down her phone and walked out of the break room.
The squadron leader was taking off his hat, running a hand through his hair as sweat dripped down his cheek. "Damn it, he got away…"
The next second, he caught sight of Chu Xi and quickly turned to her. "Teacher Chu, you were right about that person! We found some of the victim's stolen jewelry in his house. We asked his wife, and she said Wu Youming had recently brought home a lot of money from an unknown source. She thought he'd earned it from some odd jobs. But the guy knew we were coming and ran off ahead of time!"
Chu Xi nodded.
The squadron leader took a deep breath and began directing his team members. "I've already had people secure the checkpoints at the village entrance. Now, let's split into groups and search for Wu Youming's whereabouts separately."
A police officer looked at Chu Xi and said, "Teacher Chu, thank you, thank you so much. You've really helped us out this time. We appreciate your hard work."
In a flash, the group of officers had geared up and were ready to head out and make the arrest.
Chu Xi said to the squadron leader, "I still have work to do. Since you don't need me here anymore, I'll be heading back."
"Right, right, Teacher Chu. I'll have Xiao Wei see you out and arrange a flight for you immediately."
The squadron leader was busy with the arrest and couldn't handle these things personally, so he immediately assigned another officer to the task while he led his team out, racing against time to apprehend the suspect.
In the car on the way to the airport, Chu Xi sent a message to the Director: "I'll probably be back around six this afternoon, but I need to rest today, so I won't be on today's show."
This sudden reply gave the Director quite a shock.
The Director's eyes widened as he stared at his phone, his expression one of utter surprise.
Chu Xi was coming back?!
Chu Xi was fine!??
What… what was going on? She leaves just like that, and now she's coming back just like that?
He scrolled through the news online, but there were no new reports about what Chu Xi had been doing.
It seemed like she was taken in for questioning, the police didn't find anything, and she was released without charge?
That was a close call…
Seeing his expression, other staff members quietly and curiously asked about the situation.
When they learned Chu Xi was coming back, everyone wore the same look of astonishment.
"It's only been a short while. Can an investigation be that fast?"
Not even a full day had passed, and Teacher Chu's matter was already resolved?
"The police station hasn't issued any statements, right? Does that mean Teacher Chu is okay?"
"Let's hope it was just a false alarm. Does that mean she can continue with the show tomorrow…?"
"I'm sorry, I really thought she might… you know… be done for…"
"Holy crap, so this means she's fine?!"
The production team discussed eagerly in a spot where the live broadcast microphones couldn't pick up their voices.
For an artist to return in less than a day without any official announcements, it must have just been routine cooperation with an investigation. She wasn't in trouble, right…?
Everyone hoped so. As long as she wasn't in trouble, the storm of public opinion would gradually die down.
The fact that Chu Xi said she was coming back and the police had remained silent was a good sign.
The entire post-production department breathed a collective half-sigh of relief.
But they still didn't know the details. As for the Director, he absolutely had to ask Chu Xi when she returned. He couldn't risk having a potentially problematic artist on his show every day. He wouldn't be at ease until he got a clear answer.
At six in the afternoon, Chu Xi returned to the filming location, politely escorted back in a local police car.
But she gave the Director no opportunity to ask questions. As soon as she arrived, she went to her room in the lodging house to catch up on sleep.
The Director's heart had been in his throat, but after the local police officers shook his hand with warm friendliness and expressed a few words of gratitude to him as well, his anxiety seemed to slowly settle.
The officer had said "Thanks for your help this time" to him. That attitude… it didn't seem like Chu Xi had been summoned for an investigation. It was more like… Chu Xi had helped the police with something? Did she provide the station with some evidence or a clue?
The Director mulled over the officers' attitudes and tones. He slowly sat back down on his stool and shared his thoughts with his colleagues, who were waiting with bated breath.
"I think… Chu Xi is fine."
The live broadcast ended at nine that night.
The second group to learn of Chu Xi's return was the four cast members.
After a long day of work, the news instantly revived their weary spirits.
At first, they thought they were hearing things! They all stood stunned for a moment before it sank in.
Then, the group sat in the restaurant after the cameras were turned off, cornering the Director for a discussion.
Luo Yangtian's eyes shone with excitement. "Sister Xi is back? For real?!" he asked, pleasantly surprised.
Li Xiling clutched her chest and let out a breath, a look of relief on her face. "So Chu Xi is fine, right? She didn't break the law, right? I told you… those people online just love to spread alarmist rumors! Always wishing for the worst for this person, cursing that person…"
Xiao Han asked, "So does this mean our show can go back to having five people tomorrow?"
Ren Zhi asked in astonishment, "Did the police station not say what she was there for?"
Chu Xi had been taken to the police station by officers, yet she had returned in less than a day. The news was truly unexpected.
After all, quite a few celebrities had been taken away by the police, and almost every time it was exposed, they would disappear from the public eye for a period. Following standard procedure, an official police notice would soon be released, stating that "So-and-so is under investigation for suspected XXXX."
This was the basic script when a celebrity got into trouble. Never mind the gossip-loving netizens; even people in the industry had seen it happen time and again.
But a situation like Chu Xi's, where she returned so quickly and the police remained silent, was a first in Ren Zhi's experience.
It was… utterly baffling.
The Director couldn't give them a clear answer because he was just as shocked as they were.
He could only share what he knew. "Chu Xi went straight to her room to sleep as soon as she got back. She looked a bit tired. The police didn't say what she did, but they seemed… very grateful to her."
"Grateful?" Everyone was taken aback by that word.
"Uh, I can't be sure. I'll ask her when she wakes up. Sigh, I'm even more anxious to know what happened than you are!"
To be honest, he still hadn't made up his mind about whether to let Chu Xi continue on the show tomorrow.
Chu Xi was woken up by the alarm she had set.
She opened her eyes and checked the time. Nine o'clock. Today's live broadcast should be over.
She sat up and turned on the ceiling light in her room, thinking that Ren Zhi should be back from work by now.
She had seen Ren Zhi's message on WeChat at noon asking what was wrong. Now, she would go answer her in person.
She quickly washed her face and went next door to visit, not noticing that she had left her phone on the bed.
After she left, the phone screen lit up, buzzing lonesomely for a while.
Unanswered.
The squadron leader from the X City police station, who had wanted to be the first to share the great news that the suspect had been caught, had confessed, and the case was solved, hung up the call. He said to the team member beside him, "Teacher Chu didn't answer. She's probably resting."
Another officer said, "Yeah! Let's not disturb her then. Teacher Chu worked so hard yesterday. Let her get some good rest!"
Someone else added, "By the way, Captain, our case is finally solved, but those rumors are still online. What do you think…"
"Damn it, let's check the surveillance footage from the station entrance and find the paparazzi who leaked someone's privacy like that!" a young, hot-headed officer cursed.
It was supposed to be an anonymous matter, but the paparazzi had blatantly exposed it!
The squadron leader sighed, then said, "I've thought about it carefully. Since Chu Xi was helping us, the police, there's nothing shameful about it. On the contrary, now that the matter is public, if we're secretive about it, it might have an even worse impact on public opinion regarding Chu Xi."
"Right, right. At this point, letting netizens guess wildly probably won't work," a team member nodded in agreement.
"Sigh, this is the trouble with being a public figure. It seems like a whole crowd of people has to discuss everything you do."
The squadron leader said, "Exactly."
"It's time for us to clarify the situation to the public. Chu Xi is someone we should be thanking."
The moment Chu Xi walked into Ren Zhi's room, she inexplicably sneezed.
She rubbed her nose and said, "The air quality in here is terrible, isn't it? Is it dusty?"
"Hah, so delicate. I'm perfectly fine," Ren Zhi retorted before asking, "Did you get enough sleep?"
Chu Xi found a wall to lean against and looked at her. "Yep."
Ren Zhi seized the opportunity to probe, "What did you do that made you so tired?"
Chu Xi raised an eyebrow. "Very curious? Want to know?"
Ren Zhi looked at her. This nonchalant reaction, tinged with a hint of smugness, didn't seem like that of someone who had just been questioned as a suspect in a crime. At the very least, she showed no signs of guilt.
"The Director is the one who's very curious. He nearly had a heart attack when you were suddenly taken away. You'd better tell him what happened. He probably hasn't even decided whether to let you on the show tomorrow."
Chu Xi clicked her tongue. "He was that scared, huh."
Ren Zhi glanced at her, reminding her, "This is no small matter."
Celebrities involved with the law were a very sensitive topic in the entertainment industry.
"Oh-" Chu Xi said, then leaned her upper body onto the bed, propping her cheeks in her hands as she gazed at Ren Zhi. "What about you? Don't you want to know what I was doing? I can tell you."
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