Jiang Cheng sat in his car. He just needed a moment. Leaning back against the head rest, he took a few deep breaths.

He had slammed the car door on the fucking arrogant bitch. At least he had waited until she was completely in the car though that wasn't his first inclination. While seeing her jump was satisfying, he regretted the loss of control.

He sighed. The fatigue was bad enough it was a bone deep ache. There was still the search warrant at his home.

Home.

Would it ever feel the same?

He didn't think so.

That thought made him feel sad and lost.

He sighed again and started his car. The phone ringing brought his attention back. He didn't even bother to see who it was.

"Wei?"

"Inspector? You need to see this." It was Liu Tingyu's voice.

"Is anyone in danger?"

"No, sir, but... Inspector, I honestly think it would be best if you saw this yourself."

"I'm on my way."

"Thank you, sir."

Jiang Cheng hung up the phone.

'Now what the fuck is going on?' he thought to himself. 'What else has that bitch done?'

-----

Madame Yu sat in the back of the cruiser as they drove to the police station. The cuffs behind her back were digging into her wrists. The officers in the front were listening to some god awful KPop song called "Maniac".** Loudly. Both were obviously enjoying it.

Between being arrested, Jiang Cheng's betrayal and the music, she was so angry her head hurt.

'How dare he call me a bitch and slam the door at me!' she thought venomously. 'If my hands were free I would have slapped him hard enough to bruise! How dare he?'

Her thoughts went along the same vein all the way to the station.

What she didn't expect was the mass of reporters waiting her arrival. The police were holding them back but made no effort to disperse them. She was pulled awkwardly out of the vehicle and turned toward the reporters to be taken into the station itself. The reporters weren't about to let an opportunity like that go to waste.

Phones and cameras were held high hoping to get a good shot of the wealthy woman being arrested for human trafficking of all things.

"Did you like selling people?"

"How much did you make?"

"Did you sell kids?"

The scene was becoming a mad house.

Feng Mingjing took control of the situation. A few words and the police had formed up around Madame Yu. They were pushing their way into the precinct.

It took several minutes to get through the throng but they managed to get inside with only minor jostling. Madame Yu had stared ahead not acknowledging anyone.

Feng Mingjing had a firm grip on her arm as he pulled her to the left toward booking.

"This way, ma'am. Here you will be put into the police system. You will have your information taken, be fingerprinted, and have a mug shot taken. Your jewelry to be logged in and put into our safe. Otherwise, the department will make no guarantee that you will retain it when put into general holding. Do you understand?" He looked at her. He was fairly sure she would do it the hard way but the choice was hers.

She stiffly turned her head and stared at him.

"Good." His tone was cool, professional. "If you choose not to cooperate, the process becomes harder on you but will still be carried out regardless."

He lifted an eyebrow at her.

She lifted one back.

"Fuck off. I will not speak to anyone here. Call my attorney immediately." Her voice was cold. Imperious.

"Contacting your attorney comes after you have been entered into the system. How long that process is depends on you. You can be detained up to thirty-seven days before your arrest warrant is formalized**. During those thirty-seven days, you will be in general holding." his voice was calculating. He was fairly sure Madame Bitch didn't have a clue what general holding would be like for her.

Feng Mingjing gestured to a chair. "Be seated. Here you will give your information."

She ignored him.

He shook his head. Walking behind her, he pushed the back of her knee with his foot while simultaneously pulling her handcuffs toward the chair. She fell into the seat sideways, her mouth gaping.

"The choice is yours. Either way, easy or hard, this will happen." His voice was as unyielding as it was before he took her to the floor in her office.

She narrowed her eyes at him. 'Jin Guanshan will stop this and if he doesn't, the traffickers will. I'm an asset and they know it.' she thought. So sure of her superiority. Her money. Her station. Her power.

So blinded by her arrogance.

When she still refused to answer so much as what her name was, he smiled. "Well, this will take considerably longer and be considerably more miserable for you. Wu Bai? I need your assistance again."

After that, Madame Yu wasn't asked to do anything.

She was hauled into position and held for her mug shot. The pictures showed an angry woman with her hair and make up rather disheveled. Being thrown to the floor did nothing for her appearance.

At the property desk, she wasn't willing to unclench her hands so her diamond rings could be removed. Feng Mingjing put her in an arm bar. A firm grip but painless. She had given him a tight, defiant smile until he flexed his fingers. She gasped in pain.

"Straighten your fingers now." he had said. His voice was cold, grim, professional.

She had straightened her fingers.

Madame Yu ignored the tugging at her fingers as the rings were removed, catalogued and bagged. Her Rolex joined the rings. Two diamond bracelets. Earrings. Three necklaces.

She listened to them list off each piece but her eyes never left Feng Mingjing.

Malice cascaded off her as she stared at the police officer. He returned the stare. "You were given a choice. Now, you have none. Sign the sheet recognizing the list of belongings is accurate."

She set her jaw.

He flexed his fingers slightly more than the last time and the pain level rose.

She signed with a random scribble. He had the other officers in the room sign it as witnesses.

Finger printing was electronic otherwise she would have had ink everywhere. She had fought each print. Feng Mingjing had flexed the arm bar further ever so slightly. With out a doubt she would have bruises but the choice was always hers.

Comply or suffer the consequences.

"You may call your attorney and a family member. You will tell me the person you are contacting and give me the number. I will dial. If that person actually answers the call, you can talk to them. After your two calls, you will be placed in general holding."

Feng Mingjing was so tired of this arrogant, autocratic cunt he could scream. He wanted a cigarette so bad and, if he was honest, a cold beer. Gods, what a day and it wasn't even noon.

'Now of course, she can talk.' he thought as she gave him her attorney's name and number. After confirming it was indeed her lawyer, he passed her the phone. Her hands were now handcuffed in front of her to make it easier to hold a phone.

He pulled out his cell. It looked like he was checking his messages but he was listening carefully. It wasn't surprising she was demanding the poor bastard do something. She wanted to be bailed out and immediately. He glanced at the clock.

"Your five minutes is almost up. If you had been willing to talk earlier, you could have listed your attorney. That would have allowed him to visit you. Since you didn't, there will be additional paperwork. It may take as long as seventy two hours to process it. Your attorney is more than welcome to file it." he said calmly.

He did take an unprofessional pleasure watching the blood vessels bulge in her forehead and her face go red in rage.

She was grinding her teeth.

Half-choked by her own fury, she managed to finish her last instruction to her attorney. "Talk to Jin Guanshan. Tell him to get me out of here. NOW."

Feng Mingjing took the phone and disconnected the call. "Is there a family member you wish to contact?"

"My daughter, Jiang Yanli." She rattled off the number. Feng Mingjing dialed it and listened to it ring.

"Wei?"

"Is this Jiang Yanli?"

"Yes, it is. May I ask who this is?"

"Officer Feng Mingjing. I work for your brother."

"Is he okay?" The concern and worry was obvious.

"To my knowledge, he is just fine, ma'am. I am calling on behalf of Yu Ziyuan. She claims to be your mother. Is this true?"

There was a moment of silence.

"Officer? Can you put your phone on speaker, please?"

"Yes, ma'am." Feng Mingjing pressed a button. "You are now on speaker phone."

"Officer, my family consists of my two younger brothers, my nephew and my husband. My father passed away four years ago. I have no mother." Yanli's voice was firm. "I am sorry you were inconvenienced."

Madame Yu's mouth fell open.

Feng Mingjing cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you. I hope the rest of your day is pleasant, ma'am."

"Thank you. Good bye, officer."

"Good bye, ma'am." He discontinued the call.

And just like that, it was done.

Madame Yu stared at the phone. Her obedient daughter had turned on her just like her son had. Two brothers? She had chosen that sewer rat over her own mother? What nephew? Jiang Cheng had a son? Surely, she wouldn't call an offspring of that urchin nephew. Would she?

She was swamped by the mass of questions there was no way to get answers to. Stunned by her children choosing that gutter snipe over their own mother. She didn't even seem to notice when Feng Mingjing took her by the arm and marched her over to general holding.

=====

While "Maniac" by Stray Kids doesn't have anything to do with the situation, the title seems most appropriate and I like it so I put it in. 😁 The other plus is I'm positive is Madame Yu would loathe it. 😈😆

Just an FYI, this is accurate. (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories/china/criminal-law-system#context) I did fabricate and twist parts to fit my needs such as getting two calls specifically to an attorney and a family member.

Remember to be kind. To others and to yourself. 🥰

Love with hugs!

❤️🍫🫖❤️