Near the Hai State police headquarters, a temporary lockup has been established within the building. The facility is equipped with chip scanners, electronic card systems, internal fingerprint recognition, and multiple layers of protective measures, making it appear quite formidable. Anyone with any ill intentions towards this building would immediately lose their resolve upon stepping inside. Escaping from this temporary lockup is merely wishful thinking, and tonight, two young people have already fallen victim to its secure grasp.
"How did Young Master Shi Qinghai get caught?" The police officer in the patrol room finished his shift, tossed his key card on the table, made himself some tea, and turned to his colleague to inquire with a smile. The police station and the federal Bureau of Investigation field personnel office were not part of the same system, but being under the government's jurisdiction, they often had to coordinate in solving cases. Shi Qinghai, who gained fame as a hooligan official in the federal Bureau of Investigation, was equally notorious within the police station. There was an element of competition and rivalry between these two offices, so the police officers at the station were rather pleased to see Shi Qinghai locked up today.
"He opened fire on the street. I heard the other party has some powerful backing." The policeman sighed and said, "Offending such a person is asking for trouble. Even if the field personnel office steps in to mediate, they might not be able to avoid a trial. At the very least, he will have to hand over his gun and badge."
"What about the person Chief sent out just now? Where is she from?"
"I'm not sure, probably from one of the three military regions." The policeman shrugged and added, "But she's certainly a person of importance. I heard she was involved in the incident last night."
"Speaking of last night, it was quite something. Young Master Shi Qinghai is known for being a bit wild, especially after a few drinks, but I never thought he would be so brazen as to open fire in front of so many people."
"I heard from Hailin that he might have been influenced by his partner's temperament. Perhaps he couldn't control himself after drinking."
"I guess so. They were together in the same place, and that young woman seemed rather innocent. It was unexpected to see her throwing punches at those people."
"Punching someone in front of the police is unacceptable. That's pure violence." The policeman shook his head disapprovingly.
...
...
Inside the ice-cold iron fence, Xu Le leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling, feeling anxious. He and Shi Qinghai had been in police custody for four hours, and the faint light of dawn was visible outside the window. Worries started creeping in as he noticed the evidence being gathered against them, and his expression became somewhat blurred, perhaps from the alcohol consumed during the night.
Xu Le sighed, "After drinking 24 glasses of alcohol, I realize I've become too influenced by you. I talk too much, and my temper has become irritable." The situation in the lockup was getting to him, and he was becoming more and more concerned about the potential consequences.
Shi Qinghai, lying beside him, chuckled and said, "You seem quite crafty. You don't look like an honest gatekeeper at all. Are you scared now?"
"Missing the shot... in vain... Anyway, because of this mess, we've offended someone we can't afford to offend." Xu Le's expression turned bitter and thoughtful. He wondered if he could escape from the police station. However, he had just settled into life at Pear Flower University, a place he enjoyed with the subjects he loved. Here, he could explore things he hadn't encountered before and enjoy a stable life. Losing it all because of this incident would be a huge pity.
The anxiety on his face was partly due to the threat from the influential family's junior, but there were also mixed emotions. Xu Le gently caressed the metal bracelet on his left wrist, trying to calm himself. If the worst came to pass, he could always change his identity again. The federation was vast, and there were plenty of places where he could find refuge.
"Don't worry about anything. Trust me, by 8:00 a.m. today, we'll be swaggering out of the police station." Shi Qinghai tried to reassure Xu Le, who seemed worried. "Don't listen to that boy's boasting. Although the federal government can be a bit chaotic, it's still under the rule of law. The evidence is mostly in our favor. What can they do? The people in the three military regions won't find it that easy to interfere in Seaside's matters. They'll be more worried than us. After all, their status is different. Can you imagine a soldier drawing a pistol in the barracks? It's not very appealing, is it?"
Xu Le wasn't well-versed in political matters, but he believed Shi Qinghai's judgment subconsciously, though not without doubts. "So, are we just going to let this go? I can't believe someone with the last name Zou is a big deal. What's their background?"
"Don't doubt the power of these well-connected children. They might try to suppress us on the spot, but once they report to the authorities, they won't dare say anything. They wouldn't want to embarrass their parents in public. The chief of staff at the board of military operations of the three military regions, Zou You, is quite cunning. I refuse to believe he acts so recklessly just because his father has connections in the Ministry of Defense."
"You really know a lot," Xu Le praised him sincerely.
"Of course. I'm a rising star in the federal Bureau of Investigation. What does the field personnel place do? They spy on outsiders and stare at the masters!" Shi Qinghai's eyes lit up mischievously, but then he felt something off and asked, "Wait, are you making fun of me?"
"No, I'm not making fun of you." Xu Le gazed at the ceiling and replied, "Isn't the government looking at the bigger picture? How could they make you the section chief of the federal Bureau of Investigation? Clearly, you know the opposite party is not to be trifled with, yet you pretended to be drunk and caused trouble."
"Well, let me explain. The federal Bureau of Investigation deals with the government's bigger picture, and it's not worse than your future work. As for pretending to be drunk, your words hurt my feelings." Shi Qinghai said earnestly, "I don't want to dig into your personal matters. Even if I were to investigate, I wouldn't pick such a pair of rascals like you as my target. I might want to tease you, but not hurt you."
"I have no secrets!" Xu Le finally got angry. After drinking for days and fighting for his life with a stranger, he felt that he and Shi Qinghai were familiar and had a good relationship. But every time he saw Shi Qinghai's mysterious gaze, it made him feel uneasy.
"Nonsense! An expert like you, who was squatting in the toilet pit in the military region's security office, can fight but can't control yourself... Don't forget, that person is my senior brother and the first graduate of the military academy." Shi Qinghai taunted him and looked at Xu Le, saying, "You can say you have no secrets, but I wouldn't believe you even if you killed me. But I don't want to pry into your affairs. Even if they test you, they won't find such a pair of assholes like you as their targets."
"I owe you nothing!" Xu Le felt irritated. He had saved Shi Qinghai from being fed excrement by a crazy woman, so how did he become indebted to him? Besides, Shi Qinghai was just unemployed, and it was difficult for him to think that Xu Le would introduce him to a menial job at the gate.
Shi Qinghai laughed and suddenly spoke sincerely, "I know you can fight, but the problem is Zou You now knows it too. Although this brother and sister duo isn't particularly remarkable, they have more than enough power to deal with us... That narrow-minded major will definitely press charges from last night. There's no way he'll let us off publicly, and I'll definitely be kicked out of the Bureau of Investigation. They won't spare you either. Especially... that crazy woman."
Shi Qinghai sat down and shook his head, saying, "This mess has implicated you, and from now on, you need to be more careful... Although that crazy woman doesn't seem to appreciate it, her beautiful legs do have a certain appeal."
Xu Le thought it was appropriate to say so. He sighed inwardly and heard Shi Qinghai's bored words, but they brought him joy. Xu Le shook his head and said, "I've had enough. I'm tired of talking. Don't we have the youth three of the Presidential Office to take care of these matters? Are you... really not going to share a story about an interesting encounter with me?"
"It's a deal." Shi Qinghai lay down, crossed his legs, and mocked, "Do you really think those characters from the Seven Great Families would go to that place? How could they let others see their fierceness? Only the nouveau riche Zou Family can give us trouble. They're not afraid to get dirty."
"I'm not a troublemaker, but you are," Xu Le replied. He found the conversation exhausting, so he turned and leaned against the wall, catching a whiff of a faint plastic scent. He closed his eyes and sat in silence, contemplating the future.
As Shi Qinghai gazed at Xu Le's back, a sincere sense of regret emerged, and a forced smile formed at the corner of his lips. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, beyond his initial plan. Perhaps subconsciously, he had wanted to test Xu Le, but he hadn't expected Xu Le to dare to confront these people head-on, even... at the risk of exposing secrets. At this moment, he still didn't know Xu Le's secret, but he knew that Xu Le's decision at that moment represented something important to Young Master Shi... Xu Le could truly be his friend.
"Thank you," Shi Qinghai said in a low voice.
"You're welcome. It's what I should do." Xu Le didn't turn around and said, "If innocent bystanders are dragged into this mess, I would also intervene. So, you don't need to thank me."
Shi Qinghai smiled and said, "Got it. Even if the president's office promotes three young people who sever ties with the citizens, it's you... Are you really not going to share an interesting encounter with me?"