"You're back?"
"Yep."
The man walked over and looked Susu up and down. "Did something happen?"
Susu admired the fact that he truly was a public security officer and recounted how she just got surrounded and robbed by local thugs, still feeling terrified as she mentioned it again.
"Right, this is Xiao Sun. It was him who called the police and scared those thugs away."
Lu Xiaoting immediately turned to Xiao Sun, expressing his sincere thanks, "Xiao Sun, is it? Thank you so much for today."
Seeing Xiao Sun slightly intimidated by the man's presence, Susu hurriedly explained, "It's ok, Xiao Sun. This is my man, my husband, he works at the Police Station in Provincial City."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Sun breathed a sigh of relief and was eager to head home.
"All right, take care and go slowly on your way back."
Susu had intended to invite Xiao Sun over for a meal to express her gratitude, but she just didn't have the energy right now, so she decided to pay him a visit another day instead.
Lu Xiaoting looked at his visibly shaken wife and spoke in a low voice, "Can you hold up? If you're okay with it, I'll take you to the Police Station to report the incident, to prevent those people from committing another crime."
"Okay."
After that, Lu Xiaoting went to fetch the bicycle and swiftly took Susu to the Police Station.
Mrs. Lu hadn't heard the commotion outside and came out of the bathroom to see her two cousins worrying, which left her puzzled.
"What's wrong? I vaguely heard some noise outside when I was in the bathroom."
Lu Xiaomei frowned, "Mom, my elder brother and sister-in-law have gone to the Police Station."
"Why would they go to the Police Station?" Mrs. Lu wondered.
"I don't know. Right after my sister-in-law finished talking to my brother at the front door, my brother rode off on his bicycle with her."
Lu Xiaomei's face showed distress as she spoke.
"Don't worry over nothing. Your brother is a police officer; perhaps he's just taking your sister-in-law to meet some old friends." Mrs. Lu said this, but her heart was also unsettled.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiaoting pedaled the bike swiftly, and Susu felt her backside getting bounced around.
Suddenly, a few kids dashed out in front of them, and Lu Xiaoting quickly swerved to avoid them.
But Susu, seated at the back, wasn't so lucky. She accidentally bumped into the man's sturdy back and felt her nose ache and tingle as tears gushed out.
Lu Xiaoting applied a sharp brake, dismounted gracefully, and turned to meet his little wife's tearful and resentful gaze, belatedly touching his nose with a twinge of guilt.
"Cough cough, darling, are you alright?"
Susu glared at him. Do I look alright to you?
"Wow, look who's here!"
A man in police uniform clapped Lu Xiaoting on the shoulder with a big smile, "Old Lu, when did you get back?"
Lu Xiaoting, usually so stern, also smiled, "Just got home today. Brother Liu, this is my wife."
After some brief pleasantries, they got down to business.
Listening to Susu's account, the young officer taking notes immediately responded.
"The three guys your sister-in-law mentioned, I know them. They're well-known local thugs, always loitering and causing trouble on the streets."
Lao Liu nodded, "Old Lu, leave your sister-in-law's matter with me, I will make sure to catch those thugs as soon as possible. We can't have this kind of robbery happening again on our streets."
"Alright, thank you, Brother Liu. Do come over to our place sometime."
Susu also expressed her thanks repeatedly, "Thank you so much, Brother Liu."
Brother Liu chuckled, "No trouble at all, we're here to serve the people. No need to be so polite, sister-in-law."
...
After bidding farewell to Lao Liu, they finally headed home.
Susu hadn't realized that he was acquainted with any local officers.
"Curious about how I know Brother Liu?"
Susu was shocked. Could it be that this person had eyes on the back of his head?
Lu Xiaoting chuckled softly, "You've been staring at me since we came out. I'd have to be blind not to notice."
Susu raised an eyebrow. Indeed, this man was very observant and detail-oriented. "So how do you know Brother Liu?"
"Brother Liu and I were classmates, as close as brothers who shared the same pair of trousers."
Listening to the man's deep and magnetic voice, Susu nodded in sudden enlightenment.
Just as her mind was wandering, she was suddenly jolted and screamed, immediately wrapping her arms tightly around the man's waist.
Susu wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt the ride was bumpier than on the way there.
Curious, Susu craned her neck to look out but was jostled so much her head nearly banged against the man's back.
Now she dared not move recklessly, hugging the man's lean waist sincerely and tightly.
Lu Xiaoting looked down at the pale hands wrapped around his waist and his thin lips twitched into a barely noticeable smile; his usually cold eyes lit up with a bright light.
Finally arriving home, Susu didn't linger for a second more and immediately jumped off the bicycle.
Lu Xiaoting: "…"
"Second brother, second sister-in-law, you're back at last." Lu Xiaomei, who was washing clothes in the yard, called out happily.
"Uncle, Aunt."
Xiao Yu dropped the broom and rushed straight into Susu's arms.
Susu staggered from the impact with the little guy and nearly lost her balance, falling backwards while holding onto him.
Just when she thought she was going to land flat on her backside, she felt herself being scooped up by a pair of strong and firm arms.
Opening her eyes, Susu saw herself being half-embraced by the man, his dark and deep eyes gazing at her, and her whole face flushed red instantly.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Xiao Yu, terrified that he almost knocked his aunt over, had his large eyes quickly fill with tears.
"I'm sorry, Aunt, it's all Xiao Yu's fault."
Seeing the little guy bow his head in guilt, Susu immediately hugged him and comforted softly, "It's okay, Xiao Yu didn't do it on purpose. And look, your aunt is fine, right?"
Mrs. Lu, who was busy in the kitchen, hurried out when she heard the noise, "Your sister said you went to the police station, what happened?"
Susu took Xiao Yu's small hand and briefly recounted the afternoon's events, startling both her in-laws and cousins.
"Mom and Dad, it's all right now, and the people at the police station know those thugs. They'll probably catch them soon."
Susu somewhat regretted mentioning the incident, seeing how it frightened everyone.
"Hmm, I suspect they'll have them arrested and the case closed by tomorrow without any mishap. It will also serve as a warning to others."
Lu Xiaoting finished, and the whole family finally relaxed.
As the three troublemakers were having dinner at home, they saw the police suddenly appear and reflexively took off running.
The next second, they were caught red-handed.
"Comrade officer, it's a misunderstanding, I didn't do anything, I really didn't."
"Comrade officer, I won't dare again, please don't arrest me."
"I didn't do a damn thing, why are you arresting me?"
…
The young police officer, hating evil as if it was his personal enemy, looked at the stubborn culprits and quickly kicked one of them.
"Daring to rob in broad daylight, you're asking for a stint in jail or reformation through labor."
The thugs looked at each other, abruptly remembering the afternoon's events, and regretted it so much their guts turned green.
Had they just hit a steel plate???