When Xiang Ri returned to the private room, the atmosphere was already in uproar.
Lying on the floor, clutching his wrist and howling in pain, was Ma Tianhao. Xiang Ri's puzzled gaze instinctively shifted to his nervous apprentice standing nearby.
As expected, Shi Qing hastily explained as he looked over, "Teacher, he tried to grab me first, so I…"
"No worries." Ignoring the peculiar looks from the crowd, Xiang Ri walked over, gently tousling her hair. His scornful eyes fixed on the pitiful figure writhing on the floor like a beaten dog. "That trash? I've been itching to teach him a lesson. Good job!"
"Teacher…" Shi Qing looked at him, her eyes brimming with emotion. Moments ago, she had been frightened about the consequences of striking her teacher's classmate, but his "gentle" reassurance calmed her nerves.
Chu Chu chimed in from the side, defending Shi Qing: "Xiang Kui, this has nothing to do with Sister Qing. It's all that guy's fault…" She pointed to the writhing Ma Tianhao. "Not only did he say… disgusting things, but he also tried to grope me…"
"Bastard!" Xiang Ri's face darkened instantly at the mention of "groping." "Did he touch you?"
"No, Sister Qing stopped him," Chu Chu said, her voice tinged with grievance.
"Alright, I'll handle this." Xiang Ri reassured her with a soft tone before turning his attention to Ma Tianhao.
"Huahua!" He Xiu Xiu quickly grabbed his arm, seeing his expression grow ominous. "Ma Tianhao just drank too much. He didn't mean to…"
"What's your point?" Xiang Ri shot her a cold look, his tone icy.
Feeling a sudden chill from his glare, He Xiu Xiu stammered, "You don't understand—he's rich. We can't afford to offend him."
"Let's see how different money makes him," Xiang Ri sneered, stomping down on Ma Tianhao's leg. A sickening crack resounded through the room, sending shivers down everyone's spines. Fear replaced whatever disdain they previously held for Xiang Ri.
Ma Tianhao let out an agonized scream before passing out from the pain. Unmoved, Xiang Ri ground his foot into the broken limb, twisting it mercilessly.
"Huahua… Xiang Kui, stop this…" He Xiu Xiu's voice trembled with tears. If their first reunion had filled her with curiosity, it had now turned into dread. The timid, mild-mannered boy she had once known had become a ruthless and terrifying man.
Lan Xuan watched the scene, her expression complex. Was this truly the same Xiang Kui who used to shiver at the sight of a beetle?
The others in the room looked on with a mix of pity and horror. Even though they had little sympathy for Ma Tianhao, witnessing a man's wrist dislocated and leg broken was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
"What's going on here?" A cold voice interrupted the tense silence. A poised and striking woman stepped into the room.
Everyone turned to look at her and then back at Xiang Ri. No one spoke. After all, they had no idea who this woman was or why she was here.
Xiang Ri's pupils contracted as he withdrew his foot, instinctively rubbing his nose. It was none other than the person he most wanted to avoid—Inspector Tie Wan.
"You're here too?" Tie Wan's gaze locked onto him. She then noticed the two beautiful girls at his side, both warily eyeing her, and felt a pang of bitterness rise within. She had only accompanied an old acquaintance for dinner, but the cries from the neighboring room had drawn her attention. To her surprise, the culprit was this infuriating man.
"Ha… What a coincidence. Fancy meeting you here," Xiang Ri said with a strained laugh.
"Indeed, quite the coincidence," Tie Wan replied with a frosty hum. "Care to explain what's going on here? Have you been causing trouble again?"
"No, no! It's all a misunderstanding!" Xiang Ri denied immediately.
"A misunderstanding? Then why is that man lying on the floor like that?" Tie Wan's piercing gaze bore into him.
"He… tripped?" Xiang Ri offered a plausible excuse.
"Tripped so badly he passed out? I'd love to hear how that happened." Tie Wan wasn't buying it. The thick carpet in the room made it improbable for anyone to get injured from a simple fall.
"I wouldn't know. Perhaps we'll have to wait for him to wake up and ask."
"Hmph!" Tie Wan snorted coldly before crouching to examine Ma Tianhao's injuries. She quickly deduced the truth—his wrist had been forcibly dislocated, and his swollen leg bore the clear marks of a heavy stomp. Rising to her feet, she scanned the room with a sharp glare. "What happened here? I'm a police officer. Speak up."
Her commanding presence rendered the onlookers speechless. Sensing her gaze shifting towards him, Xiang Ri avoided eye contact. "I told you, he tripped. You…"
Tie Wan cut him off bluntly. "Xiang Kui, I suspect you of assaulting a citizen. Come with me to the station."
"Are you kidding me? There are so many people here, and you're singling me out?" Xiang Ri exclaimed dramatically, though he knew she was still holding a grudge from their last encounter.
"You were the closest to him" Tie Wan replied, her logic unassailable. In truth, she had seen his leg retract as she entered the room. However, she chose not to reveal this detail—driven by a mix of personal motives.
"Was the most recent one about hitting someone?" Shi Qing exclaimed, her face filled with agitation. "I was the one who hit him!"
"You?" Tie Wan turned her attention to Shi Qing. A gentle and graceful girl, she was clearly upset, yet her poise was still apparent. Tie Wan immediately misinterpreted her actions, thinking that she was defending someone, which only fueled her jealousy. "I hope you don't hinder my duties, or I'll arrest you too!"
"I was the one who hit him!" Shi Qing stubbornly confronted her.
Tie Wan stared at her for a moment before suddenly turning to Xiang Ri. "Let's go."
"Just like that? You have no evidence, and you're arresting people indiscriminately? I'll file a complaint against you," Chu Chu interjected, not one to back down, especially when her boyfriend was involved.
"You're always welcome!" Tie Wan pushed Xiang Ri gently. "Hurry up!"
"You'll regret this!" Chu Chu clenched her fists. Had Shi Qing not been holding her back, she would have struck by now.
Xiang Ri rubbed his temples in frustration, observing the tension between the women. Hoping for mutual tolerance was nothing but a fool's dream. When would he finally get what he wished for?
"Who's this guy?" As they stepped outside, a tall young man in casual attire approached. Xiang Ri nudged Tie Wan beside him.
"Mind your own business," Tie Wan shot him a cold glance.
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm…"
"I'm not 'yours'!" Tie Wan's voice was sharp. "It's too soon for you to claim that. And by the way, did you remember who I am when you brought your girlfriend here for some fun?" She emphasized the word "girlfriend," her displeasure unmistakable.
Xiang Ri was about to say something, but the tall young man had already stepped forward. At nearly six feet three inches, his imposing figure made an immediate impact. Seeing the female officer in close conversation with a stranger, a flicker of darkness passed through his eyes. "Xiao Wan, what's going on here?"
"I just apprehended a major criminal, and I'm taking him to the station," Tie Wan said flatly.
"Really? You could have just called anyone for that," the young man frowned.
"No, this one's dangerous. He's a serious criminal. I'm handling him personally."
"Then let me come with you."
"Do you want to be arrested too?" Xiang Ri had never liked him, especially not his overly familiar tone with the female officer.
"What did you say?" The young man's face darkened, but as he noticed Tie Wan's slightly furrowed brows, he quickly composed himself. "A criminal? I don't care to argue with you." He then turned to Tie Wan, his tone more conciliatory. "Xiao Wan, just take my car."
"No, I'll use my own car. You go on with whatever you need to do. I'm not delaying you." She swiftly grabbed Xiang Ri's arm and turned toward the hotel, leaving the tall man standing frozen.
"Let me ask you something," Xiang Ri settled more comfortably into the seat of the speeding car, observing the crowd outside the window as he changed positions to better gauge the officer's reactions.
"Go ahead," Tie Wan's gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.
"Who was that guy earlier? Why was he so friendly with you?" Xiang Ri asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"None of your business!"
"None of my business? I don't like him, and seeing you with him makes me jealous!" Xiang Ri's words were firm and decisive.
"Jealous? What about me? Why didn't you consider my feelings when you were with those two girls?" In truth, Tie Wan secretly felt a bit of satisfaction—this meant someone still cared about her. However, that fleeting happiness was dwarfed by her overwhelming jealousy.
Sensing her sharp tone, Xiang Ri quickly shifted the subject, eager to avoid her ire. "Wife, do you really intend to take me to the station?"
"Yes!" Tie Wan gritted her teeth.
"That's not fair! I'm innocent!"
"Innocent? Then why did you retract your leg when I entered?"
"You saw that?" Xiang Ri pushed his glasses up, frustrated. "We were already like that, can't you—"
"Whoever you are, if you break the law, I'll arrest you," Tie Wan said sternly, her expression cold and resolute.
"Not even a little bit of leniency?" Xiang Ri slowly reached for her waist as she drove.
"Leniency? What are you doing, you bastard!" Her face flushed, whether from anger or something else.
"It smells so good," Xiang Ri said, savoring the scent as he brought his hand closer to his nose.
"Go to hell!" Tie Wan snapped, her free hand seizing his arm with force.
"Ouch, wife, I promise I won't do it again!"
"You deserve it!" She pinched him even harder before letting go, but then her expression softened, and she asked, "Tell me, would you consider moving in with me?"
"What's in it for me?" Xiang Ri's eyes darted around.
"Nothing."
"Then no."
"Then what do you want?"
"Can we share a bed at night?"