41: save4 Lu Yanyan's Decision
The police of Tangerine City weren't slacking off. The city's low crime rate wasn't just a number on paper.
Even though the villa area where Lu Lele's house was located indeed had few surveillance cameras, the major main roads next to the villa area still had them.
By reviewing the surveillance footage from those areas and screening the people entering and exiting during that time, it was easy to determine that Liu Lili hadn't left the vicinity of the villa area.
Then, narrowing the scope, conducting more detailed screening.
In the end, the most likely place for Liu Lili to be was Lu Lele's villa.
According to an unwritten rule of the Tangerine City Police Department, searching houses in the villa area required clear evidence that there were important clues inside the house. A search warrant could only be issued if it was certain the search would yield results.
This was because many upper class individuals lived in the villa area, including Lu Lele's sister Lu Yanyan. And they held significant influence in this world's society.
If they entered the villa area to search and found nothing, the consequences would be severe.
In the White Lily Republic, the foundation and meaning of the police's existence were different from Blue Star's China. They existed more to protect capital and those who possessed it. Although Tangerine City, as a model city, had a very low crime rate and a relatively high case solving rate, this essence hadn't changed.
Therefore, unless they had absolute certainty, or had ruled out all other options, the police wouldn't use the weapon of search when dealing with villa area residents.
This was why Lu Lele had three peaceful days. The diligent officers hadn't forgotten about Liu Lili's disappearance; they were just tirelessly reviewing surveillance footage for screening day and night.
When all other options were ruled out, the search warrant was delivered into Lu Yanyan's hands.
Lu Yanyan, having her research project interrupted again, seemed very unhappy. But she had no choice but to agree to cooperate. She immediately pulled Lu Lele, who was eating lunch at school, into the car at noon, wanting her to accompany her back to witness the house search.
Lu Yanyan originally just wanted to use this opportunity to make Lu Lele remember the consequences of her misdeeds, so she wouldn't cause such trouble again in the future.
But when Lu Yanyan in the car saw Lu Lele's utterly shocked eyes and trembling lips, she seemed to realize something. Expressionlessly, she asked:
"Hey, Lele... are you still hiding something from me?"
"..."
This time, Lu Lele truly had no way out. Although Lu Yanyan herself had not found the basement when searching the house, Lu Lele had every reason to believe the police would find it. This was not something to be counted on.
If they couldn't find a hidden basement with a search warrant, then these police really shouldn't be doing their jobs.
If she remained stubborn now, Liu Lili would most likely be found by the police, and Lu Lele's current attempt would turn to nothing.
She could no longer hide this matter.
In just a few seconds, Lu Lele finally made a choice.
Rather than just sitting and waiting for the save load, she might as well gamble.
Gamble that her biological older sister Lu Yanyan would choose to help her.
Even though she had done those outrageous things and committed serious crimes, she would still help her.
Although Lu Lele currently had no way to deal with the house search and could only wait for doom, that didn't mean Lu Yanyan was absolutely helpless.
At least, there was a sliver of hope. Even if the probability was low, it was better than nothing.
Lu Lele had no choice. She could only use a girl's weapon, tears. Her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall, plop plop:
"I'm sorry, sister. I, I lied to you before..."
Crying, Lu Lele recounted what she had done, including her deep love and feelings for Liu Lili, the planned and successful kidnapping, and also the matter of the basement.
Lu Yanyan silently listened to Lu Lele's account, then sighed.
Then, without another word, she gave Lu Lele a personality correcting slap.
Smack!
The slap landed on Lu Lele's tender cheek with a crisp sound. Lu Yanyan used her full strength this time. Lu Lele was momentarily stunned, tears streaming down as she held her cheek, looking at her sister at a loss.
In her memory, Lu Yanyan had never hit Lu Lele. This was the first time in history.
"Why didn't you tell the truth earlier?"
Lu Yanyan seemed truly angry this time. Her voice was as cold as ice in an ice cellar:
"This slap is punishment for lying and for doing those things without permission. After this matter is over, there will be other punishments waiting for you, Lele."
Lu Lele hadn't forgotten the most important thing at this moment. She cautiously asked:
"Sister, are you... are you going to tell the officer about these things?"
Lu Yanyan fell silent.
She seemed very irritated. She took out an exquisite cigarette case and an old fashioned lighter from her bag. Without regard for Lu Lele beside her, she lit a cigarette and began puffing away.
This was also the first time Lu Lele had seen her sister smoke, and right in front of her too.
Lu Lele hadn't expected to be tormented by secondhand smoke in this other world, but in this situation, she didn't dare speak up and could only endure silently.
Only when Lu Lele was choked into coughing did Lu Yanyan stub out the cigarette and return to her usual demeanor.
"I'd like to do that, but you're my only family left, stupid little sister."
Lu Yanyan's voice sounded very helpless. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and casually tossed it to Lu Lele:
"Take it and wipe your face. Stop crying."
"Yes..." Lu Lele obediently complied.
Lu Yanyan sighed again, looking as if she was exasperated by Lu Lele's lack of progress:
"I'll clean up after you, my idiot little sister. Later, you just watch obediently from the side. Don't say anything. Unless the police directly ask you, I'll answer all their questions. And for the questions they can directly ask you, I believe you know how to answer, right?"
Lu Lele continued nodding, becoming an emotionless nodding machine.
Lu Yanyan then took out her phone and dialed a number.
Immediately after, Lu Yanyan adopted an extremely serious expression:
"Hello?... Yes, it's me.... No other meaning, just want to ask you for a favor. That's why I'm calling you.... I know. Name your price this time. It's urgent.... Not making someone disappear. Help me deal with the cops. I know you know their superior and can make him listen to you, right?... My little sister caused some trouble at home. Those annoying cops are about to search my house. I have some things that can't be found by them. You know what I mean.... What are you thinking? Would I keep a beauty hidden away at home?... Two million? You really know how to ask for the moon. Fine, you win this time.... Stall for a while, right? Okay, I'm hanging up."
Lu Yanyan hung up the phone and lit another cigarette. She didn't smoke it, just let it burn. The smell of tobacco filled the cabin of Lu Yanyan's luxury business car, so thick Lu Lele could barely breathe.
Then, she stubbed out the cigarette.
"One phone call, two million Lily Coins, Lu Lele. That's the price of your mischief this time. Enough for you to have fun in a yuri themed establishment for three or four years."
Lu Yanyan's eyes weren't looking at the trembling Lu Lele beside her. She simply started the car calmly and said:
"My dear little sister, this time, you've really been a bit too naughty."
There was no anger or rage in Lu Yanyan's voice, as if she was just stating a simple fact.
But Lu Lele's body trembled involuntarily.
A vague sixth sense kept warning her that the expressionless block of ice beside her had actually turned into a powder keg, only one step away from exploding.
'After this matter is over, there will be other punishments waiting for you, Lele.'
Lu Lele remembered her sister's words from earlier and couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
For some reason, she had a particularly ominous feeling.
When the time comes, she will definitely be in a very bad state.