The dark-faced officer hesitated for a moment before retracting the handcuffs.
Watching the car’s taillights fade into the distance, the security guard spat on the ground and muttered indignantly, "Little punk, you wanted me to call you 'Daddy,' didn't you? Look who's getting his comeuppance now."
At the police station, as the dark-faced officer led Chu He toward the interrogation room, a female officer walked toward them.
She looked to be in her early twenties, stunningly beautiful with a touch of baby fat. Her skin was as fair and delicate as if it would break at a touch, her nose was exquisite, her lips were like cherries, and her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. Most striking of all, however, was the "proud" pair of assets on her chest—a "femme fatale" that every man dreamed of.
"Captain Han!" the dark-faced officer greeted with a smile upon seeing her.
"Hmm," the female officer replied coldly. The dark-faced officer seemed accustomed to her demeanor and didn't take offense.
"She’s quite a beauty. It’s a waste for her to be a cop," Chu He muttered under his breath.
"Stop right there!"
The female officer, having passed him, suddenly barked a command. She turned around, walked up to Chu He, and stared at him with a cold, gloomy expression. "Was that you speaking just now?"
"Oh, sharp ears, I see," Chu He smiled slightly, sniffing the air. A faint scent of orchids drifted toward him—it smelled lovely.
"Old Zhang, what did this man do?"
Seeing Chu He’s nonchalant attitude, the female officer became even more furious and turned to the dark-faced officer.
"His name is Chu He. He’s suspected of fighting and disturbing the peace. Bureau Chief Zhang specifically ordered his arrest," Old Zhang explained.
"Chu He?"
Hearing the name, the female officer’s eyebrows knit together as she scrutinized him carefully.
"Beauty, I know I’m handsome, but you don't have to stare at me like that," Chu He grinned at her.
"Pfft! Who said you were handsome?"
The female officer was mortified and snapped at the dark-faced officer, "Hand him over to me. I’m going to interrogate him alone."
"Captain Han, is that really a good idea?" The dark-faced officer looked troubled, emphasizing again, "Bureau Chief Zhang gave specific instructions for this one."
"If Luo Yong wants him, tell him I took him!"
Han Tong snorted disdainfully, then led Chu He directly to a nearby interrogation room.
"Sigh, it pays to have connections," the dark-faced officer sighed helplessly. It was said that Han Tong had a powerful backer in the Capital, so much so that even the Bureau Chief had to tread carefully. He certainly couldn't afford to offend her.
Inside the dimly lit interrogation room, Chu He sat in the suspect's chair, looking at Han Tong with an amused expression. "Beauty, you brought me into this dark little room—what are you planning?"
"Shut your mouth! Behave yourself and stop that smirking," Han Tong glared at him.
"Why so hostile? Have I offended you before?"
Chu He felt helpless. This woman’s temper was far too fiery; it didn’t match her cute, doll-like face at all.
"Is your name really Chu He?" Han Tong stared at him with wide eyes, as if she had discovered a new continent.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"ID card!"
"..."
Chu He suspiciously produced his ID. He wanted to see what kind of medicine this female officer was selling in her gourd.
"Chu He, you are absolutely not worthy of me." After checking the ID, Han Tong said something utterly baffling.
"I'm not worthy of you?" Chu He was stunned.
"That's right!" Han Tong pouted her cherry lips and sneered, "You are a criminal, and I am the officer interrogating you. Do you think you’re worthy of me?"
"Big sister, have you lost your mind? Why would I even need to be worthy of you?"
"Who are you calling 'big sister'!" Han Tong barked.
"I can help you resolve your current trouble and give you a million, but you must voluntarily dissolve the engagement and promise not to pester me in the future!"
"Otherwise, just for the fight you were involved in, I can send you to prison to eat jail food!"
"Wait!"
Chu He finally understood. So, this female officer was his fiancée?
"Talk about a small world," Chu He chuckled, reaching into his jacket.
"What are you doing!" Assuming he was up to no good, Han Tong shouted, "Put that away! Are you trying to assault an officer?!"
"Don't be nervous. I’m just giving the marriage contract back to you," Chu He said calmly.
"You carry the marriage contract on you?"
Han Tong’s eyebrows furrowed as she waited for Chu He to pull out a wooden box. When she opened it and saw the contents, she turned green with rage.
"You scoundrel, you actually have two marriage contracts?" Han Tong snapped.
"Sorry, there were originally three. I already returned one today." Chu He grinned. "By the way, what was your name again?"
"Han Tong!"
An nameless fire ignited in Han Tong’s heart. She had no idea what her father was thinking, letting her marry such a womanizing scoundrel and even going so far as to transfer her from the Capital to Jiangzhou. It was infuriating!
Chu He took out Han Tong’s marriage contract and handed it to her. "Beauty, keep this safe. We’re square now."
"Square your head, you scoundrel!"
Seeing Chu He’s relieved expression, Han Tong was even more incensed. Was he not even a little sad to have the engagement ended? Or was she really that unattractive to him?
Women were like that—unappreciative when kept close, resentful when kept at a distance.
"Beauty, I haven't been a 'scoundrel' to you, have I?" Chu He grinned and shrugged. "The contract is returned. Can I leave now?"
"Leave?"
Han Tong’s eyes darted as she scoffed, "Your statement isn't finished yet. You think you can just walk out? No way! Tell me honestly—why did you start a fight!"
"As expected, women’s tongues are full of deceit!" Chu He rolled his eyes, feeling like he’d been "played" by a woman.
"Don't give me that! Tell me why you hit those people!"
Han Tong gritted her teeth. The more she looked at Chu He, the angrier she became, though she couldn't explain why.
"Because they deserved to be hit!"
Chu He patiently recounted the entire incident in detail, then retorted, "Officer Han, may I ask, is loan sharking against the law? Is bullying ordinary citizens considered a crime?"
"This..."
Han Tong realized then that the other party were gangsters, but she felt defiant looking at Chu He’s arrogant expression. She retorted angrily, "Couldn't you have called the police?"
"If calling the police worked, would Uncle An have had his legs broken? Would these thugs still dare to show up at people's doors to assault them?"
"..."
"Han Tong, instead of giving me a 'Citizen’s Bravery Award,' you want to send me to jail? Is that what they teach you at the police academy?" Chu He looked at her teasingly.
***
"Don't you get cocky!" Han Tong’s face turned bright red as she huffed, "I’ll handle Chang Hu and his gang, but you were still wrong to hit them!"
"Oh, so you’re saying I should have just taken the beating without fighting back, and let them break my legs just like Uncle An’s?"
"You—you are just twisting words!"
Han Tong was so frustrated she could scream; this guy was impossible to argue with.
Just then, a knock came at the door, and someone shouted from outside, "Captain Han, are you in there?"
"Come in!"
Han Tong, already in a foul mood, couldn't even be bothered to look back.
The door was pushed open. It was the police station Political Commissar, Zhang Wen. Upon entering and seeing Han Tong’s grim face, he knew immediately that things had gone wrong—this young lady was angry again.
"Bureau Chief Zhang, I'm questioning a suspect. Do you need something?" Han Tong frowned at him.
"Ahem, Captain Han, could you step outside for a moment? I need to have a word with you." Zhang Wen, knowing Han Tong's background, kept a forced smile on his face.
"Whatever you have to say, say it here. I’m interrogating him first!"
Han Tong pointed at Chu He, only to discover that at some point, he had rested his feet on the interrogation table. She exploded, "You scoundrel, get your feet down!"
"Beauty, have I ever been a scoundrel to you?" Chu He asked with an innocent expression.
"You jerk, you..."
"Captain Han, come outside!"
Sensing disaster, Zhang Wen quickly grabbed Han Tong and forcibly dragged her out of the room.
"Commissar, you heard him! The nerve of that guy, molesting an officer!" Han Tong raged outside.
"Ahem, just now, Zhong Ling'er, the daughter of the wealthiest man in North City, got in touch with Secretary Luo from the provincial government. They’re hoping we can release Chu He," Zhang Wen lowered his voice.
"Zhong Ling'er?"
"Yes. Since Secretary Luo has already inquired about it, perhaps..."
"Don't even think about it!"
To Zhang Wen’s surprise, the mention of Zhong Ling'er only made Han Tong angrier. "I am going to handle Chu He today. No one’s pleading for him will change that!"
With that, Han Tong turned on her heel and stormed back into the interrogation room, slamming the door behind her without giving him a second thought.
Zhang Wen could only manage a bitter smile. Han Tong was known as the "Police Force’s Queen Bee," and with her powerful background, there was nothing he could do. He retreated to his office, disheartened.
"Little Zhong, I’m truly sorry. Captain Han won't release him. There's nothing I can do," Zhang Wen apologized.
"Uncle Zhang, what is this Captain Han’s background that she even dares ignore Secretary Luo’s request?" Zhong Ling'er’s eyes widened.
"That... it’s not really convenient to discuss, but I certainly can't handle this," Zhang Wen replied with a wry smile.
"Hmph! I don't believe it. How serious could a fight be? I’m going to go to my grandfather!"
Zhong Ling'er stood up angrily and stepped outside to call her grandfather, who was vacationing in Hainan. When the old man heard, he chuckled, "Fine, I’ll take care of it."
"Grandpa, please hurry!" Zhong Ling'er said anxiously, "That female officer seems to have violent tendencies. What if she hurts Chu He?"
"Girl, I heard you’ve only met Chu He once. You’ve fallen for him that fast?"
"Grandpa! Who told you that? I didn't!" Zhong Ling'er blushed.
"Silly girl, Chu He will be fine. Don't worry."
The old man meant that Chu He was perfectly capable of handling himself, but Zhong Ling'er misinterpreted it as her grandfather intervening with someone powerful. She thanked him and hung up.
Inside the interrogation room, Han Tong stormed up to Chu He and demanded, "Tell me, what is your relationship with Zhong Ling'er? How could she pull in Secretary Luo for you?"
"Zhong Ling'er?" Chu He paused, then blurted out, "She’s my fiancée, too. Is she at the station?"
"What a total scoundrel!"
Han Tong gritted her teeth. She wasn't even angry about the number of fiancées he had; she was furious that her family had picked such a scoundrel as her husband-to-be.
No, she had to send him to prison to prevent him from ruining other women!
"Beauty, are you trying to convict me?"
"How did you know?"
Han Tong frowned. Could this guy read minds?
"Look at the expression on your face—you look like you’re ready to eat someone. Even a fool could see what you're planning!" Chu He teased.
"You jerk!"
"Start confessing your crimes, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Han Tong gave a cold sneer and turned off the recording device.
"Fine, I’ll make a phone call. It looks like you're determined to force a confession," Chu He said. He pulled out his phone right in front of her, purposely goading her. "Officer Han, you're not afraid of me making a call, are you?"
"Call away. I guarantee that no one can save you!"
Han Tong scoffed. She would teach him a lesson today; the guy was simply too infuriating!
Chu He dialed calmly. The call connected quickly.
"I’ve been picked up by the Jiangzhou police. They won't let me out."
"What?" An exaggerated male voice came from the phone. "Young Master Chu, hold on. I’ll contact someone there immediately!"
"Hurry up. I have to get home for dinner," Chu He said flatly.
"Hmph, keep dreaming! You’ll be staying here in the station chewing on steamed buns tonight!" Han Tong scoffed.
"Wait, is that Han Tong’s voice?"
A voice of surprise came from the phone: "I wondered who would dare stop Young Master Ye from leaving. So it’s her!"
"You know her?" Chu He asked.
"Young Master Ye, don't worry. I’ll handle this immediately. I'll make her escort you out of the station herself. That spoiled girl is getting more and more out of line!"
"..."
Hanging up, Chu He looked at Han Tong, thinking it was a good thing he hadn't married her—she was a violent girl!
"Chu He, have you seen enough!" Han Tong was boiling over.
"Beauty, you're being so hostile toward me. Aren't you worried I might take back the marriage contract?"
Chu He dragged out his words, smiling wickedly. "Before you send me to jail, I’ll make sure we marry, and then you can become a widow!"
"You... you jerk!"
Han Tong was so mad she could see stars. She didn't expect him to be not only a scoundrel but a despicable villain too!
Just as she was about to strike him, her phone rang.
"Heh, you might want to answer that before you decide whether to hit me," Chu He smiled.
"You just wait!"
Han Tong was furious, but when she saw who was calling, her expression changed instantly.
"Dad? Do you need something?"
She hesitated, then answered.
"Girl, I’m asking you—did you arrest a young man named Chu He?" A stern male voice came through the phone.
"You... how did you know?"
Han Tong felt a sense of dread. She glanced at Chu He—could her father actually know this guy?
***
"Let him go. Chu He is your fiancé."
"Dad, this guy is a total scoundrel!"
Bringing up the word "fiancé" only made her angrier.
"Silly girl, don't judge a book by its cover."
"Your grandfather said that Chu He is a rare talent—a dragon among men—which is why the engagement was set. You should cherish it," Han Qianshan said with a faint smile.
A dragon among men?
Her father gave this scoundrel such a high evaluation?
"Dad, I don't want to marry him! And I’ve already taken the contract back and ended the engagement!" She glared at Chu He, furious.
"Nonsense!"
To her surprise, Han Qianshan exploded. "Girl, apologize to Chu He immediately! And you are to escort him out of the station personally. Do you hear me?"
"I won't!"
Han Tong had a temper of her own. "I’m going to tell Grandfather. He wouldn't let me be bullied like this!"
"This is exactly what your grandfather wants," Han Qianshan sighed.
"What?"
Han Tong was completely dumbfounded. Her grandfather, who loved her most, was actually helping Chu He "bully" her?
"Dad, what kind of person is this guy? Why are both you and Grandfather helping him!"
She gritted her teeth and glared at Chu He, who was sitting there with his legs crossed, looking completely unbothered. It made her blood boil.
"Spend some time with him and you’ll understand."
Han Qianshan smiled. "Girl, your grandfather thinks highly of him. He said this young man is not destined for a small pond. He has already accepted him as his grandson-in-law!"
"How did you know I arrested him?"
Han Tong was anxious and angry, determined to ferret out the "snitch."
"Oh, Han Bin returned. He’s the one who called your grandfather."
"Han Bin is back?"
Han Tong’s eyes widened. Han Bin was her uncle’s son. He had been kidnapped years ago and disappeared without a trace. How did he know Chu He?
Wait!
Wasn't Han Bin kidnapped? Could it be... was Chu He the kidnapper?
"Girl, stop letting your imagination run wild. Just release Chu He and don't make your grandfather angry. Behave yourself!" Han Qianshan hung up.
"..."
Listening to the dial tone, Han Tong bit her lip and glared at Chu He. This guy was clearly hiding a lot of secrets.
"Beauty, why are you staring at me? Aren't you going to escort me out?" Chu He looked at her, amused.
"You jerk!"
Seeing his smarmy smile, Han Tong felt a headache coming on. She stared at him coldly. "Confess: what is your relationship with Han Bin? Did you kidnap him?"
"Oh, you mean 'Number Four'?"
Chu He shrugged. "I didn't kidnap him. As for our relationship... let’s just say he has to call me 'Big Brother'."
"Number Four?"
"Yeah. He’s responsible for chopping wood on the mountain. He’s done well over the last few years, and the Old Man even taught him a set of wood-chopping techniques," Chu He laughed.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Han Tong didn't believe a word of it. Han Bin was a notoriously spoiled brat in the Capital; even her uncle couldn't control him. Chopping wood on a mountain? What a joke!
"Beauty, can I go now?" Chu He asked.
"Hmph! Chu He, don't get too cocky!"
Han Tong opened the door and turned back, glaring at him. "I’ll be keeping a very close eye on you. You’d better hope you don't fall into my hands again, or you’ll see what happens!"
Chu He grinned, thinking to himself that this girl had quite the temper. Ending the engagement had been a wise choice.
"What are you smiling at? Stop smiling!" Han Tong was even more incensed.
"Beauty, I seem to remember someone on the phone telling you to apologize and escort me out. Is this your idea of an apology?" Chu He teased.
"You... you jerk!"
Han Tong’s face turned bright red. The nerve of this guy—he’d been eavesdropping on her call!
"I told you, you’d be escorting me out yourself," Chu He said with a faint smile, walking straight out of the interrogation room.
"Damn you, Han Bin! Just wait until I get my hands on you!" Han Tong stomped her foot and followed him.
Outside the station, Chu He met Zhong Ling'er, who had been waiting for him.
"Chu He, are you okay?" Zhong Ling'er rushed over to ask.
"I'm fine," Chu He said with a faint smile. "Miss Zhong, you’re very kind. I heard you came specifically for me. Regarding what happened last time..."
"As long as you're okay, don't mention anything else."
Zhong Ling'er blushed, the memory of Chu He spitting water all over her backside flashing through her mind. She hurriedly stopped him from continuing.
"Hmph, what a scoundrel!"