novelraw Chapter 12 The Storm Returns!
Chapter 12 The Storm Returns!
The Singapore police officer leading the team was a dark-skinned man in his thirties with a messy beard.
He ignored the astonishment of the audience and walked straight to the front of the stage.
The badge he displayed bore the insignia and title of Iskandar bin Osman, Detective of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Singapore Police Force.
"CID, this is Detective Iskandar."
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly.
"Based on intelligence and identification by arrested criminals, there is a Chinese student suspected of possessing and selling contraband. He needs to cooperate with the investigation immediately."
Suspected of selling contraband? Chinese students?!
In Singapore, where the law is strict, ordinary concealment is already a serious crime, but if it involves "trafficking," the nature of the offense is completely different.
Moreover, the police officer was referring to Chinese students, but the only Chinese students at this school are...
Countless eyes once again focused on Li Shuo on the stage.
This time, however, horror completely replaced the previous admiration, and the atmosphere froze.
Lin Junjie instinctively wanted to speak,
He usually had the most contact with this junior brother, and he never realized that this junior brother was the kind of person who could access contraband.
But seeing that Li Shuo's aunt had already stood up, he held back. Fortunately, Li Shuo's parents were present today and should be able to mediate.
Sun Yanzi also frowned slightly. She had a gut feeling that the boy didn't seem like the kind of person who would come into contact with contraband, except when he was in school and practicing.
So when she asked her parents in a low voice, she was unconsciously acting out of instinct to protect them.
Zheng Xiuwen and Zhou Jianhui whispered to each other.
"I've seen young people involved in those things before, but this handsome young man's eyes and demeanor are completely different. Is he trafficking? But judging from his family's financial situation, it shouldn't be that bad."
Zhou Jianhui nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Let's see how things go first."
Xu Huanliang's expression and mood were most conflicted at the moment. He was annoyed that his favorite song, "It's Getting Dark," had been interrupted, and at the same time, he felt regretful.
If this young man really goes astray, then... that would be such a pity.
…Such a talented musician, we should consider the situation and give him a helping hand if possible.
Li Weisong, who was in charge of the school, and his brother Li Sisong, already knew the purpose of the police's visit, and were not sure how to handle the situation.
After all, given how sensitive the matter is involving drugs, if this incident gets out and the news gets out, it would be a devastating blow to their music school.
Iskandar glanced at the crowd, then checked with the local gangster who was being held down by the uniformed policeman, before fixing his gaze on Li Shuo sitting on the stage.
He had seen far too many suspects, especially juvenile offenders, break down in the face of sudden accusations... They would panic, make excuses, and become angry...
If Li Shuo knew what he was thinking at that moment, he would agree.
That was indeed his reaction in his previous life.
But now, this Singaporean detective couldn't detect any of the expected reactions on the face of the Chinese teenager in front of him.
This unusual calm? There's even a strange sense of mockery hidden within that calm!
In fact, Li Shuo was just remembering that in his previous life, it was this Malay detective who took advantage of him being alone and flustered to exert various forms of pressure and inducement!
Although it's unclear whether he was driven by a strong sense of justice or had connections to those behind the scenes who wanted to harm him, his enforcement procedures were certainly irregular.
Hehe~ This time, you can get close to me first before we talk...
Iskandar instinctively sensed that something was wrong, but he still signaled his men to go forward and subdue the Chinese boy.
Then Li Shuo's second aunt, Li Dongli, got up.
He raised his hand to stop his assistant who was about to speak, then walked steadily over with him and a well-dressed woman who had been quietly watching the performance, and stood precisely between the stage and the police.
Li Dongli first glanced at her nephew on the stage, and when their eyes met, she gave Li Shuo a reassuring look. Then she turned to the group of Singapore police officers, exuding an imposing aura.
She knows her nephew all too well.
Whether it's rebellion or impulsiveness, it's just the spirit of youth.
But some things are the bottom line etched into Chinese education!
Contraband? Li Shuo wouldn't even dare to think about it, let alone touch it! This was a matter of principle, and even more so, a matter of family upbringing.
As for what if... that's none of the business of outsiders, much less of this inexplicable accusation!
No matter how big the problem is, the adults in the family will handle it first! They'll deal with it behind closed doors later.
However, the thought of "what if" only flashed through her mind for a moment before being crushed.
Anyway, now, no one can touch her nephew.
"I am the parent of the suspect you mentioned. My lawyer will discuss the rest with you."
The male assistant next to her stepped forward half a step and silently handed her a business card with a simple design but a solid feel.
Baiteng Real Estate
Li Dongli, Chief Investment Representative and Director of Strategic Development, Greater China Region
Iskandar's gaze swept over the business card, his pupils contracting almost imperceptibly.
Baiteng Real Estate!?
In Singapore, everyone knows this powerful conglomerate with deep-rooted connections and close ties to the government. It has participated in the development of countless landmark projects and large-scale public housing projects, and its influence is extraordinary.
The woman in front of us is clearly not an ordinary parent.
Watching his second aunt, Li Dongli, display an undeniable domineering aura in order to protect him, Li Shuo watched from afar, the corners of his mouth unable to suppress a slight upward curve.
Baiteng Real Estate is a real estate giant under Temasek Holdings, and is undoubtedly the "national team" of Singapore's real estate industry.
Even now, in 1998, facing huge losses due to the Asian financial crisis, its foundation and strength are by no means ordinary.
And the second aunt, Li Dongli, is the key figure in the group's future expansion into the Greater China market.
Two years later, Baiteng Real Estate will be restructured and renamed "CapitaLand Group".
That's right! It's the "CapitaLand Group" with a future asset management scale of over 3000 billion RMB.
When a certain company started out, it poached senior executives from here. Later, the asset-light management approach it used to save itself was something that CapitaLand had already done.
The woman standing in front of him at that moment, her unreserved protection, filled Li Shuo with a deep warmth, but also stirred up a deep-seated guilt.
He recalled his previous life, where his second aunt felt guilty towards his father for not taking good care of herself after this incident. Even though she laid a solid foundation for the group in China, she fell ill in the prime of her life due to years of overwork and this unresolved issue, and eventually left the CapitaLand Group...
But this time, it won't be like that.
Li Shuo suppressed his surging emotions.
Starting today, he will turn back the tide of his past regrets!
He wants to make sure that he and everyone he cares about are doing well.
Meanwhile, Iskandar was still figuring out how to adjust his response strategy in response to this unexpected situation.
But the woman in a sharp suit standing next to Li Dongli had already spoken. Her voice was clear and resonant, even more so than Iskandar's earlier announcement.
"Officer, I am Chen Jingwei, a senior partner at Ruixinde Law Firm. I have been formally appointed by Ms. Li Dongli to represent Mr. Li Shuo."
She took half a step forward, her posture professional and assertive.
"Any law enforcement questioning and investigation must be conducted with the full presence of the legal guardian and lawyer. We understand the police's duties and will fully cooperate with all legal and compliant investigative procedures. Now, please explain the situation and proceed according to the law, provided that my client's rights are fully protected."
Ruixinde Law Firm... is another well-known name in Singapore's legal community.
Iskandar's brow furrowed completely, and his temples tightened.
I originally thought it would be a simple task, just a thug who was caught on a tip and confessed. With the surprise attack, as long as we found the evidence and the witnesses identified, it would be easy.
It turns out that behind this were the parents of senior executives at Baiteng Real Estate and people from a top law firm.
This case... is getting a bit tricky.
He raised his hand, temporarily stopping his colleagues behind him, and his businesslike demeanor was now tinged with a more cautious consideration.
He knew that the difficulty of today's "surprise investigation" had suddenly increased several levels.
"Yes. A lawyer can accompany you. But the investigation must begin now, and everyone present must remain for the time being."
He conceded half a step in the procedure, but accelerated the process.
Let's find that evidence first! Then none of you will have anything to say about it!
My gaze returned to Li Shuo on the stage!
He wanted to see if this overly composed teenager could maintain his composure after being found with contraband under all these layers of "protection."
The Singaporean CID officer's gaze was like that of a hawk as he watched his subordinate follow the direction the secret society thug pointed.
The target was the Chinese boy named Li Shuo, and the black guitar case not far away.