"Name?"
"Xiang Kui."
"Age?"
"Nineteen."
"What crime have you committed?"
"Uh... I taught a lesson to someone who deserved it."
"Please cooperate with the police!" The young officer across from him in the interrogation room was slightly displeased.
"Am I not cooperating?" Xiang Ri, as usual, touched his nose, but with his hands shackled, both hands rose together in the motion.
"Then be more detailed. Why were you brought here by Captain Xu...?" The young officer's tone became laced with disdain when mentioning a certain name.
Xiang Ri noticed this and remarked, "It seems you don't think much of the one surnamed Xu?"
The young officer snorted, "A sycophant..." He suddenly realized his words were inappropriate, quickly shifting the topic. "Let's get back to the point. What exactly did you do? That Xu guy says you hit someone, and drew blood?"
"That's true," Xiang Ri admitted.
The young officer stopped writing and fixed him with a stare. "So you're confessing? Though assault isn't a severe crime, it will leave a record... Don't you have anything else to say? Like who started it?"
"It seems you don't want me to have a criminal record?" Xiang Ri raised an eyebrow, sensing the officer's obvious inclination to help him. That last comment, in particular, was an attempt to shift the blame.
"Correct... but don't look at me like that. To be honest, people brought in by that Xu guy aren't usually bad. I suspect the person you hit has some standing?"
Hearing this, Xiang Ri looked at the young officer with newfound respect. He hadn't witnessed the incident firsthand, but had inferred much. This also indirectly spoke volumes about the character of the person surnamed Xu. Deciding to twist the facts a bit, Xiang Ri explained, "Actually, a young heir was harassing a woman, and I couldn't stand it, so I taught him a lesson. Then, that Captain Xu showed up and without a word, brought me here."
"Just as I thought," the young officer said with indignation, "Don't worry, you're safe now. Since you're my brother, I'll make sure nothing happens. You did the right thing—those bastards only rely on their family wealth. Damn it, if it were me..." He trailed off, realizing that as a police officer, it wasn't appropriate to continue discussing violence.
"Haha," Xiang Ri could tell the officer was straightforward, though a little concerned for him. "But aren't you worried they'll come after you for letting me go?"
"What's there to fear? The sky could fall..." The young officer paused, his expression suddenly filled with admiration. "With our Director Tie backing us."
Xiang Ri broke into a sweat, thinking the officer was about to deliver some profound statement. But instead, it was merely a lot of noise with little substance. As he was about to subtly inquire whether a certain female officer was present in the station, there was a knock at the door.
The young officer's tone grew tense. "Brother, that might be our Director Tie. Be careful what you say—she's known for being incorruptible. Um, when she comes in, just say they made the first move. It'll make things easier for you."
"Thanks!" Xiang Ri was moved, surprised to find such a righteous person in the police force.
The young officer opened the door, and a stern, beautiful female officer walked in.
"Director Tie, you've arrived?" The young officer spoke cautiously.
"Mm." Tie Wan nodded expressionlessly. She was about to ask how the interrogation had gone but was taken aback when she saw Xiang Ri sitting in the chair. "It's you!"
"Uh... yes, it's me..." Xiang Ri felt a slight unease in his heart.
"Do you know each other?" The young officer was stunned.
Tie Wan ignored his question and fixed her gaze on Xiang Ri. "Tell me, what have you been up to now?"
"Do I look like the kind of person who would do such things?" Xiang Ri replied, relieved to see no apparent change in Tie Wan's expression.
Tie Wan snorted, turning to the young officer. "Xiao Wu, you were the one interrogating him, right? What did he do?"
"Well, Director, he hit a wealthy young man who was harassing a woman, but it was the other guy who started it." The young officer was determined to help Xiang Ri, and he had noticed that while Tie Wan appeared upset, her anger seemed to stem from disappointment rather than genuine fury.
Tie Wan's expression softened slightly as she looked at Xiang Ri. "So, it seems you did something good, but why were you brought here?"
"Captain Xu brought me here," Xiao Wu added.
"What!" Tie Wan's face immediately darkened. She was somewhat familiar with Xu Tian's character, and the fact that he had once pursued her only brought back unpleasant memories. Noticing Xiao Wu standing frozen in shock, Tie Wan's tone turned slightly impatient. "Why are you standing there? Let him go."
"Yes... yes..." Xiao Wu hurriedly nodded and unlocked Xiang Ri's handcuffs. He couldn't help but think how terrifying it was when Director Tie was angry—like facing an enraged mother dragon.
"By the way, did you notice anything unusual when I was asleep yesterday?" Tie Wan asked with a strange expression after Xiang Ri was freed.
Xiang Ri's heart skipped a beat. Had she discovered what had happened?
Maintaining a perfectly normal demeanor, he responded, "No, you were sleeping in the bedroom yesterday afternoon, and I was in the living room watching TV. I didn't notice anything strange."
In truth, he hadn't told the whole story. Yesterday afternoon, he had found something strange while aimlessly wandering around the house. For some reason, the homeowner's personal item, a pure white, semi-transparent triangle thong, had been left out in the living room.
Seeing that, Xiang Ri was so stunned he nearly had a nosebleed. He couldn't resist playing with it, even smelling it a couple of times. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to put it back, so he stuffed it into his pocket and took it home as a souvenir.
"Are you sure there's nothing?" Tie Wan pressed, though she wasn't sure whether he had taken it. This sort of thing was hard to bring up directly. She wondered if her mother had come and helped put it away, but unfortunately hadn't had a chance to ask her this morning.
Her gaze turned cold as she glared at Xiang Ri. "I want to know, what did you say to my mother when she came? Why did she suddenly scold me?"
"I didn't say anything." Xiang Ri shrugged, adamantly distancing himself from the issue.
"You didn't say anything! My mother even called this morning..." Suddenly, Tie Wan noticed Xiao Wu glancing at them with an ambiguous look. Her face flushed. "Fine, I have to leave now. Xiao Wu, finish the report and take him away." She hurriedly left the interrogation room.
"Hey, brother, you're not being honest. Tell me, what is your connection to Chief Tie's department?" Once the superior left, Xiao Wu reverted to his earlier, more familiar attitude.
"Well..." Xiang Ri pretended to hesitate, further fueling the other's suspicions.
"Go on, you know, even if you don't speak, I can already guess a few things." Xiao Wu's words were laced with self-assurance. From their conversation and his own deductions, he was now ninety percent certain.
"Alright, since you call me brother, I won't hide it from you. Actually, Tie Wan is my wife," Xiang Ri shamelessly continued his fabrication. "I hope, brother Xiao Wu, you can keep this secret."
Xiao Wu's expression shifted to one of knowing satisfaction: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. But I never expected Chief Tie to have a boyfriend; she's kept it well hidden. I must say, brother, I admire you. Having a girlfriend like her must be tough, right?"
"Not at all, actually, Xiao Wan is very gentle at home. Of course, when she's out, she has to maintain her authority as the chief, so sometimes she can seem a bit distant." Xiang Ri continued his lies.
"Really?" Xiao Wu stared at him in disbelief, as if this were more impossible than a pig climbing a tree.
Before Xiang Ri could respond, a knock at the door interrupted. Xiao Wu, thinking it was Chief Tie returning, hurried to open it.
"Captain Liu, what brings you here?" Outside stood a tall man in his mid-thirties, followed by two younger officers. When Xiang Ri saw it wasn't Tie Xiao Niu, he relaxed.
"Xiao Wu, let me handle the interrogation," the man, known as Captain Liu, sidestepped Xiao Wu and entered.
"Sorry, Captain Liu, I've already completed the interrogation," Xiao Wu subtly positioned himself in front of the door.
"Oh, is that so? This man is a violent criminal, reportedly having severely injured someone," Captain Liu feigned shock, though his eyes narrowed in a predatory gaze toward the relaxed Xiang Ri.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu realized this must be an associate of the victim, and his expression turned stern. "Captain Liu, I believe you're mistaken. He only acted in self-defense after the other party attacked him first."
"Is that so?" Captain Liu's face darkened instantly. "Xiao Wu, as police officers, we cannot be partial. Have you received something from him to speak in his favor?"
"Captain Liu, you can't accuse me of that. I, Xiao Wu, am not the kind of person who protects criminals. But you, Captain Liu..." At this point, Xiao Wu smirked. Normally, he would never dare challenge the imposing Captain Liu, but now, with such powerful backing from Chief Tie, who would dare touch him?
Unless they were looking for a death wish. Moreover, Captain Liu was hardly an angel—his under-the-table dealings were widely known, though without concrete proof, it was impossible to report him to Chief Tie without facing potential retaliation. With such powerful support, Xiao Wu had no need to show him any respect.
"What do you mean by that?" Captain Liu's expression turned icy as he realized the young officer was not backing down, and seemed to be aware of some of his own secrets. "Are you implying I'm being partial? Xiao Wu, you've already covered for a criminal, but now you're slandering your superior? Hmph, we cannot tolerate pests like you in this department. Write your resignation letter, or I'll have you expelled in disgrace."
"When did Captain Liu gain the authority to expel people from the department at will?" Xiao Wu sneered. "Do you have any evidence of me protecting a criminal? By the way, this was a direct order from Chief Tie. You wouldn't dare insinuate that she's protecting criminals too, would you?"
"Chief Tie?" Captain Liu appeared stunned, as though struck by a bolt of lightning. His mind seemed to explode in confusion as beads of sweat sprang to his forehead. "Are you telling me the truth?"
"Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare defy your orders, Captain Liu!" Xiao Wu's voice dripped with sarcasm. By this point, Captain Liu was no longer in the mood to argue, and he retreated from the room in defeat.
"Uncle Fang, I cannot agree to that."
"I know, it really puts you in a difficult position. If it's truly impossible, then forget it. I heard that the person who was beaten was covered in blood, how tragic!"
"Uncle Fang, there's nothing more to discuss, I'm hanging up now." A sense of irritation rose within Tie Wan.
"Oh, Wan'er, you're really not going to reconsider?" He wasn't ready to give up.
Tie Wan's anger flared. "Uncle Fang, to be honest, the one who beat him is my fiancé."
"What! You mean that person is your fiancé?"
"Yes."
"Ah, so that's how it is! I misunderstood... it's all my fault for not checking the details. I must've been deceived by that little brat from his family. I've heard of him; he's no good, always up to no good. Well done, well done. Don't worry, this conversation never happened. But Wan'er, why didn't you tell me you had a fiancé? That's not right. Next time you're free, bring him over to my place, will you?"
"Alright, I will."
"Then it's settled. I'll hang up now."
"Goodbye, Uncle Fang."
Tie Wan let out a long sigh of relief. But as she thought about how boldly she had admitted that someone was her fiancé just now, her face flushed again, her heart racing. Realizing that the person who had been beaten had connections with a figure like "Uncle Fang" made her feel the need to warn the seemingly carefree rogue.
Just as she reached the door of the interrogation room, she overheard a ruckus coming from inside, as if there were quite a few people. Seeing that the door was not fully closed, she pushed it open and walked in.
To her surprise, four people were gathered around the small table used for interrogations, playing cards. Among them was the very person she had just confessed, her "fiancé." Because she had entered through the door, she was directly opposite him, but he merely glanced at her briefly before lowering his head again to focus on the game. It was infuriating! Tie Wan was grinding her teeth in annoyance.
The others were engrossed in the game, oblivious to their superior standing right behind them. Though they sensed someone had entered, they thought it was just another colleague passing by.
When it was Xiao Wu's turn to play, he excitedly exclaimed, "Three big cards with a pair of small threes, do you want them? If not, I'm playing them."
The other two shook their heads, and Xiang Ri grinned, "I'll take them. Three big cards with a pair of small fours. Haha, looks like I've got you covered. Is everyone else ready to lose? I've only got a small three left, anyone want it?" He deliberately showed the last card in his hand.
The others shook their heads in regret, muttering that if there were four bombs, Xiang Ri would surely be the loser. Now, they could only watch as he finished playing his cards.
"Quite the lively game!" Tie Wan suddenly spoke up as the round ended.
"Ah, Director Tie!" Only then did the others notice their superior, quickly standing up with nervous looks on their faces, though Xiao Wu appeared somewhat unaffected.
"Xiang Kui, come here. I need to speak with you." Tie Wan's expression was cold, as if she hadn't noticed the playful subordinates behind her.
"Coming." Xiang Ri lazily walked over, leaving the other two officers stunned.
Tie Wan pulled Xiang Ri aside, almost biting his ear as she whispered angrily, "Do you realize you've made enemies? Just now, someone asked me to take care of you."
"Don't worry, you're here. What's there to fear?" Xiang Ri dismissed it, unconcerned.
"Hmph, I pushed them off for you. But what if they attack you behind your back? What will you do then?"
Xiang Ri shot her a strange glance. "You're really concerned about me? Don't tell me you've fallen for me?"
"Go to hell! I'm being serious here." Tie Wan glared at him, exasperated.
The three people nearby nearly fainted. Did they just witness their usually stern boss behaving so coquettishly? This was a miracle. Xiao Wu had previously scoffed at the "gentle at home" theory about Xiang Ri, but now, he was starting to believe it completely.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. But trying to take me down isn't that simple," Xiang Ri said with overwhelming confidence.
"I'm sure you know. But are you always this self-absorbed? And what exactly do you think the police station is, a playground?" Tie Wan clearly disapproved of Xiang Ri's card game in the office.
"Hey, sometimes letting the subordinates relax helps them work harder. You wouldn't understand this, would you?" Xiang Ri looked at her with exaggerated expression.
"Hmph! Do I need you to teach me that?"
"Then how about you join us?"
"Get lost, I can't be bothered with you." Tie Wan was secretly tempted, but there was no way she would act on it.
"What a shame!" Xiang Ri shook his head with a sigh, suddenly grinning mischievously. "You wouldn't mind if I give you a hug, would you?"
"You dare!" She had just spoken when Xiang Ri opened his arms and embraced her. Before she could react, she was already firmly held in his arms.
The others were completely frozen, staring in disbelief. The usually imposing and competent female superior was now being held in the arms of a man, without even a hint of resistance. It was clear she was willing.
Finally, Xiao Wu, ever the sharp one, pulled the other two out. These two were the young officers Liu had brought in earlier. At first, they thought the young man was just a friend of Xiao Wu, at most familiar with Director Tie.
But now, seeing Xiao Wu's mysterious expression, they began to suspect there was more to the relationship, something more ambiguous. They turned to Xiao Wu, who was still holding his mysterious air. "Xiao Wu, what's going on? Quickly tell us, what's the relationship between that guy and Director Tie?"
"If you promise me not to tell anyone, I'll tell you," Xiao Wu said, seemingly forgetting his role in keeping a secret.
The two immediately swore, raising their hands to the sky: they wouldn't breathe a word, or they'd be struck dead by a beautiful woman or hit by money on the road.
Clearing his throat, Xiao Wu finally spoke, "That guy playing cards with us... is actually Director Tie's boyfriend."