Chapter 6: The Weight of Silence.

The police car door shut with a dull finality, locking Jiang Zhiqing in a chilling silence. The hum of the engine vibrated faintly under her, but her pulse beat louder in her ears. Outside the tinted window, she caught a glimpse of her manager, Du Xiaoman, and assistant, Song Xi, hastily climbing into their vehicle and starting the engine to follow.

Back at the set, someone had already raised their phone—angles caught, lenses zoomed in, and within moments, a grainy video of Zhiqing being escorted into the police car was uploaded with a flaming caption:

"BREAKING: Jiang Zhiqing Taken Away by Police for Questioning—Connection to Chen Wei and Ling Yuhua's Deaths?"

The post exploded within seconds.

Reposts. Shares. Hashtags. Speculation.

By the time Zhiqing's car pulled up in front of the Beiyuan District Police Station, the media had already gathered like vultures. Lights flashed. Microphones surged forward like spears. Reporters elbowed each other for space, shouting her name over one another.

"Miss Jiang, are you involved in Chen Wei's death?"

"Is it true you had a falling out with Miss Ling before she died?"

"Do you have anything to say to Chen Wei's fans?!"

Zhiqing barely had time to inhale when the door opened.

The cameras clicked like gunfire.

And then—splat.

A foul, wet object burst against her coat, the stench of rot immediate and vile.

Zhiqing froze.

The world tilted.

A shriek rose from the crowd. "Give back my Xiao Wei!" a trembling voice cried. A middle-aged woman, face twisted in grief and rage, had broken through the barricade and hurled the rotten egg with trembling hands.

The reporters turned their attention on the scene, capturing every moment.

Du Xiaoman shoved forward, shielding Zhiqing while Song Xi grabbed tissues in a panic.

"Back off! She's not charged with anything!" Du Xiaoman snapped, her voice cutting through the chaos.

The officers moved swiftly, pushing the press back and forming a protective circle around Zhiqing as she stood, stunned, broken yolk dripping down her front like a cruel metaphor. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

She was shaking.

Not from fear.

From humiliation.

And from the bitter question crawling back up her throat:

Why me…?

The camera flashes continued.

The chaos outside the police station had turned into a media circus.

As Jiang Zhiqing disappeared behind the glass doors, shielded by the officers and her team, the camera zoomed in on the stained lapel of her coat. The rotten egg incident had already become headline material.

A news anchor stood just a few feet away, speaking directly to the camera, her expression grave, her tone laced with solemnity.

"As you can see behind me, actress Jiang Zhiqing has just been brought in for police questioning. While no official charges have been filed, sources indicate it may be connected to the tragic deaths of actor Chen Wei and his former manager, Miss Ling Yuhua, who reportedly took her own life three months ago."

The camera panned to the crowd—angry fans holding up signs with Chen Wei's name, eyes swollen from crying, voices hoarse from shouting.

"The emotional toll on Chen Wei's fanbase has been overwhelming," the reporter continued. "Many of them grew up watching his films, following his career. His sudden death came as a devastating blow, and the recent attention surrounding Jiang Zhiqing has only fueled public speculation."

Another screen split emerged on the live broadcast—one side replaying the viral clip of Zhiqing being taken away in the police car, the other showing a weeping fan outside the station clutching a handmade sign that read, "Justice for Xiao Wei."

"Some fans believe that Jiang Zhiqing holds crucial answers, if not responsibility," the reporter pressed on. "Though she and the late actor ended their relationship over a year ago, public sentiment remains intense and emotionally charged."

Back in the studio, another anchor added, "This story continues to develop, and for now, the public is demanding answers."

The footage cut back to the station doors—closed now, calm on the outside.

But inside, the storm was just beginning.

As the video of Jiang Zhiqing entering the police station trended on every major platform, the comment sections exploded with polarized emotions.

@DramaFiend101:"Why is she being questioned now after a year? Something fishy is going on…"

@FanOfTruths:"Wait. First Miss Ling and now Chen Wei… Zhiqing is connected to both. We deserve answers!"

@ZhiqingForever:"She did NOTHING wrong! They broke up peacefully! Why is everyone treating her like a criminal?!"

@XiaoWeiStan_93:"Justice for Chen Wei! 😭💔 He gave us everything! I can't rest until the truth is out!"

@CWei_ZQ_Soulmates:"They loved each other once… How did it come to this? My heart is broken."

@FairFanSpeak:"Can we wait for facts before jumping to conclusions? The media is treating her like she's already guilty…"

Hashtags like #ProtectJiangZhiqing, #JusticeForChenWei, #ZhiqingQuestioned, and #LingYuhuaMystery surged to the top of trending lists within minutes.

On a private fan forum for Chen Wei's most loyal followers, a post read:

"We cannot let her erase his legacy. First his heart, now his memory?"

Meanwhile, Zhiqing's fan club tried to defend her by digging up old interviews, posts, and statements from their past relationship, desperately piecing together a timeline that proved she was not present in Chen Wei's life when tragedy struck.

But nothing could stop the wildfire of public opinion—divided, passionate, and merciless.

And in the middle of it all… was Jiang Zhiqing.

Alone in the interrogation room, the world outside raged in hashtags and headlines.