Shimamura Yoko forcefully pulled Sakurai Shinoka's hand away.
"You're the one who did something wrong, and now you're trying to turn the tables? I'm definitely calling the police!"
Sakurai stiffened her neck: "I've already apologized; do you have to push me this hard?"
"Sakurai, it's one thing for you to bully me, but you shouldn't have smashed my mother's stall!" Yoko's voice trembled, her eyes red, "She gets up before dawn every day to knead dough and prepare ingredients, sets up the stall by four in the morning, comes back at noon to prepare more, and is so busy at night she doesn't even have time to eat. How dare you bring people to smash it? I will never forgive you!"
"So what?" Sakurai waved her hand indifferently, "I'll pay whatever it costs."
"Compensation is what you should do, and punishment is what you should receive," Gu Jin said coldly, interrupting her.
Sakurai turned to Gu Jin, threatening fiercely: "You dare call the police? I'll come back to retaliate against you every day!"
Gu Jin slowly walked closer, leaned down to her ear, his voice as light as ice shards: "Then I will kill you. If you don't believe me, you can try."
"You wouldn't dare? My father will never let you off!" Sakurai, despite being scared, still stiffened her neck.
"When that time comes, it will be me who won't let him off."
Gu Jin had lived two lives.
In his previous life, despite boundless glory, he ended up alone—his ex-wife took all his savings, and his daughter treated him like a stranger.
In this life, his Uncle and Aunt, who treated him like their own child, had long passed away. Shimamura Konan and Yoko were the only warmth he had left.
He would never allow anyone to bully Konan, who loved him like her own son, and even less would he tolerate anyone harming Yoko, who had eyes only for him.
"Madman... You're a madman!" Sakurai was intimidated by the inhuman coldness in his eyes, her voice shaking uncontrollably, finally tasting the flavor of fear.
The sound of police sirens grew from distant to near, and officers from the Kanagawa Police Department quickly arrived at the scene... Sakurai Shinoka's father arrived shortly after, and Shimamura Konan, Yoko, and Gu Jin went to the police station together. What awaited them were written statements and unresolved entanglements.
Inside the police station.
"Chief Ono and I are friends!" Sakurai Takahiro's tone carried a hint of arrogance.
"Mr. Sakurai, this is not the time to pull strings," the officer said in a deep voice, "Please take this matter seriously—your daughter conspired with thugs to instigate trouble, which is already a suspected violation of the law. The best solution now is to actively compensate and gain the other party's understanding. You don't want your daughter to have a criminal record, do you?"
"I'll pay whatever it costs," Sakurai Takahiro said indifferently, "I asked my daughter; it's just a small friction between classmates."
"Mr. Sakurai, I must emphasize again, this is by no means an ordinary dispute between classmates," the officer's voice grew a few shades colder.
Shimamura Konan had been operating her stall here for over a decade, known for her humble and warm demeanor. It wasn't easy for her to raise a child alone, and neighbors often helped her out. Even this officer was a regular customer at her ramen stall.
Every day after work, he would always detour to her stall for a bowl of ramen. No matter how Konan tried to decline, he insisted on paying, so Konan could only increase the portion size without raising the price each time. In her words: "Being a police officer is too tough; this small gesture is the least I can do."
More importantly, Shimamura Konan was the widow of Shimamura Yuji, a police officer who died in the line of duty. Shimamura Yuji was the pride of the police department, a symbol in everyone's hearts.
Yet now, the family of a meritorious police officer was being bullied by a group of thugs.
This officer could still suppress his emotions, but those around him could no longer hold back, all gritting their teeth.
And Chief Ono, whom Sakurai Takahiro mentioned, was Shimamura Yuji's closest partner during his lifetime.
If this matter reached Chief Ono's ears, what would the consequences be?
"I've already talked to the other party; they are willing to accept compensation but are still reluctant to voluntarily withdraw the case. What kind of logic is that?" Sakurai Takahiro's tone grew a bit more impatient.
The officer's face was expressionless: "Since the other party is unwilling to reconcile, we can only proceed officially."
"If you insist on giving my daughter a criminal record, I will absolutely not pay any compensation!" Sakurai Takahiro threw down a harsh warning.
The officer scoffed: "You can certainly try. If you don't compensate, there will naturally be penalties for not compensating."
"What kind of attitude is this? It seems I really need to talk to your Chief Ono about this!" Sakurai Takahiro said loudly, feigning bravery.
The officer stared at him, enunciating each word: "Do you know whose stall your daughter smashed?"
Sakurai Takahiro scoffed: "Hmph, just a humble widow, what's so special about her? If my daughter is punished today, no one can guarantee that someone won't go bother them tomorrow."
As soon as these words fell, a higher-ranking officer nearby could no longer hold back, stepping forward abruptly: "You'd better watch your mouth! Do you know whose widow she is? She is Shimamura Yuji's! The meritorious police officer who cracked the gold heist case fourteen years ago, the hero who saved twelve hostages with his life—and he was my master!"
"Yamamoto, calm down, you're a police officer," an old police officer beside him quickly reached out and pulled back the agitated Yamamoto.
"How can I calm down?" Yamamoto turned sharply, his gaze piercing, "Can't you see that he has shown no remorse from beginning to end?"
He looked directly at Sakurai Takahiro, his words firm: "Sakurai Takahiro, I warn you, don't think we don't know your background—you're just a gang leader who gets by through crooked means! If you dare to harass the Shimamura family again in the future, I will personally arrest you and bring you to justice!"
"Are you threatening me?" Sakurai Takahiro's face darkened, "Do you know what kind of relationship Chief Ono and I have? Apologize to me immediately!"
"Apologize to you? You're not worthy!" Yamamoto sneered, "I advise you to think carefully and not provoke Chief Ono—otherwise, you'll be the only one who suffers in the end."