The most clear answer came through Jinling’s next response.

"I can’t keep it," she declared. "I can’t...I can’t..."

Liwu had no idea how to respond. She just patted Jinling’s back slowly. In the back of her mind, she wondered if the people that had brought this poor young woman to this condition had been punished enough. Especially her sister, that orchestrated the whole thing.

But no punishment in the world would ever be enough to quell the trauma.

This pregnancy was like another violation of Jinling’s body. Whatever decision she made, the memory would forever haunt her.

Thirty minutes passed, and a knock came on the door.

"Come in," The chief said.

The door pushed open, a middle aged woman in a purple suit walked in. Her thick dark hair was held back in a large bun by three pins with pearls. She had one of her hands in her pocket, and the other carried an envelope.

"Chief Ruoning!" Linlin exclaimed loudly, jumping to her feet.

The woman smiled and Linlin and looked at Liwu. "Hello detectives. Looks like we will be working together more often going forward. I have been transferred here as the head of the Systems Special Victims Department. Your chief called me in to take on Miss Jinling’s case going forward. I read the file. I have updated myself on every detail intimately. I even met and talked with some of the people involved in the case. I am confident that my department will help Miss Jinling recover from this tragedy."

Liwu rose, pulling Jinling up with her. She walked the woman to Chief Ruoning, placing her hands in those of the female chief. "You can trust Chief Ruoning. She was one of the pioneers of the Systems Special Victims Department. They handle all crime involving systems and sexual assaults, domestic violence and the like. They don’t stop when the file is closed, they continue to provide emotional and financial support. They have dealt with situations like yours before and are more equipped to handle this than me."

Jinling gripped Liwu’s arm. "I don’t want them, I want you."

Chief Ruoning suddenly stabbed a needle into Jinling neck and the young woman fell backwards, instantly unconscious. The chief lifted her with ease, as if she was carrying a light pillow.

"You didn’t have to do that." Liwu said, making her displeasure obvious.

Chief Ruoning turned her head, looked at Liwu and said solemnly, "The last thing you need is a sexual assault victim making you her anchor. Besides, what help can you offer her? Right now, she is torn between having this baby or keeping it. Every choice makes will result in her hating herself." She put Jinling in a chair and straightened herself with a sigh. Looking at Liwu, she said firmly, "Stay away from Jinling going forward."

Liwu stood her ground. "If she needs a listening ear, I cannot turn her away. I was the one..."

"I don’t care what kind of help you gave her before," Chief Ruoning interrupted, voice heavy, "I will pose a question for you to understand where we are at right now. If you were in her shoes, what decision would you make? Because right now, that is her biggest problem."

Liwu opened her mouth, then closed it. Her system buzzed, but there was no bad luck or update, or chime. She thought of the pain in Jinling’s eyes, her cold trembling hands, the weight of mothering a child who was a product of violence. The face of an innocent baby with no knowledge about how it came to be. A little life hoping for love. The simple answer in her heart seemed much more complicated. And she could not answer.

"I...don’t know," she whispered.

Chief Ruoning’s gaze softened, but her words were firm. "Exactly. That is why you cannot help anymore. Because you do not know. Because this is not a matter of handcuffs, evidence or testimony. It is a matter of her life. A matter of her soul. You cannot be the one to whisper idea into her mind or you will be blamed for everything in her life that goes bad as a decision of your advise. Only she can decide what to do for herself."

Liwu’s chest tightened. She wanted to argue and insist that she could just provide a shoulder to lean on without offering any advice. But the chief’s words pierced through her mind. She was uncertain of everything. And uncertainty was dangerous.

Ruoning sighed. "You are a detective Tai Liwu, you chase the truth, you catch criminals. But this--this is beyond you. If you stay, you risk imposing your own confusion on her. She need clarity, not your turmoil. She needs to find a way to rebuild her life. Her new life. Not be indulged in hatred for what befell her. If she comes to you and says I hate him, you will say I know and give her a hug. Or you will say something equally awful. You will keep her trapped in darkness which she doesn’t need. My division has seen many women like her and we have helped as many as we could. You don’t have the time to be an anchor, detective Liwu. Don’t force yourself. I know I will sleep much better knowing that you are out there catching killers, not spitting with Jinling for 2 hours in the office of a psychologist."

Liwu lowered her eyes. For once, her sharp tongue failed her. She felt powerless, as though stripped of her badge.

"What a cruel life." Linlin muttered, looking at Jinling. If she kept the pregnancy, she would be a single mother. If she chose to marry the father of the child!! She shuddered, her shaking her head. Technically, he didn’t mean to assault her. He was set up. But, the emotional damage to Jinling could not be erased. And if she chose to terminate, maybe she would hate herself. Or maybe she would go on to live a fulfilled life and forget everything. The bureau offered such options. Such bad memories were wiped out completely.

Silence filled the room. Liwu’s system buzzed louder, bad luck pressing down. She thought of Jinling, alone, carrying a burden heavier than a case file. If she took that burden from the woman, who was to say that she would be doing her a favor.

Ruoning was right. She sighed. Some battles were not hers to fight. Jinling had to wade these waters on her own in order to find a shore and heal.

Finally, Liwu surrendered. "I understand," she said slowly. But her heart burned with frustration. To walk away felt like betrayal. Yet to stay might be worse.