I am the police, you are the thief (3)

Ji Jun watched as Zhao He’s expression shifted, knowing she had come up with an idea. After listening to Ji Jun’s utterly illogical recounting of events, Zhao He understood at last…

It was that young police officer from yesterday who had found out her identity!

“So, how did you manage to get out?” If you got caught, you got caught. It’s not like I’d bail you out anyway—I’m broke!

“It’s all thanks to my quick wits…” As soon as Ji Jun heard this, she sidled up to Zhao He and started whispering, “I’ll tell you how it went. The moment I heard the sirens, I knew something was off… so then I…” She rambled on for quite some time. “Are you even listening to me?”

“I’m going to change clothes. Go amuse yourself for a bit.” Zhao He eyed the video game checkpoint before her. It was impossible, all thanks to this chatterbox!

“Wait, you’re not going to break anyone out?” Ji Jun was surprised.

—

By the time Zhao He and Ji Jun arrived at the old house, the police had already left. The table was a mess, sunflower seed shells scattered across the floor; it wasn’t hard to imagine the chaos that had erupted when the anti-gang squad suddenly showed up.

“I thought you wouldn’t come—at least not today.”

“I didn’t expect you to be here, either.” Zhao He nudged a toppled chair with her foot, then glanced around. Well… at least most of the stuff had been handed over to the junk collector, so the loss wasn’t too bad.

“Gu Zhao He, twenty-two years old. The new boss of the eastern part of the city. Used to be a low-level hanger-on under Mo Fei until, for some reason, you suddenly rose to the top. Mo Fei hasn’t been seen in these parts since.” Wen Gu lifted the chair upright, brushed it off with his hand, and sat down.

“Wen Gu, twenty-six. Former leader of the second unit in the criminal investigation team. Transferred because of repeated assaults on suspects during the ‘Red Fish’ case. Now head of the anti-gang unit, currently investigating the Cui family smuggling case.” As she spoke, Zhao He fished a lollipop from her coat pocket, slowly tore open the pink wrapper, and popped it into her mouth. “Officer, did I get that right?” Zhao He mimicked the coy tone of a TV drama heroine she’d seen from Hong Kong.

“You know quite a lot.” Wen Gu studied the girl before him, watching her shuffle over to the sofa with an odd gait and collapse onto it, completely unguarded.

“Aren’t you worried about getting arrested?” Wen Gu couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I haven’t committed any crimes. Why would I be arrested?” Zhao He propped her head on her hand, glancing at him sideways.

“Since you know we’re investigating Cui Yu, and you suddenly showed up last night, I have reason to suspect you’re in cahoots with them.” Wen Gu’s voice grew louder, deeper, radiating a righteous intensity.

Ji Jun, hiding in a corner: Are you two just going to pretend I don’t exist?

Wild system: Father, that’s our master—we should help him…

“If you suspect me, just arrest me.” Zhao He looked at Wen Gu, quietly plotting in her head: how to throw a punch that comes across as super gentle.

“More than arresting you, I’d prefer if you became our informant.”

—

“Father, our master is all alone in this little world. Isn’t that pitiful? Let’s help him!” After Wen Gu left, the system kept nagging in Zhao He’s mind.

“What’s there to help with? He’s just a cannon-fodder character. The sooner he’s gone, the sooner I can collect his soul.” Zhao He stared at the bubbling hotpot before her, debating whether her first bite should be tomato-flavored or mushroom…

Ji Jun, across from her, had no such dilemmas. She picked up a thin slice of lamb and dunked it into the spicy red broth. “Boss, aren’t you going to eat?”

“That may be so, but it’s all my fault… If I’d been there, master wouldn’t have become cannon fodder… Boo hoo…” The system now morphed into a whiny crybaby, giving Zhao He a headache.

Forget it. The first bite must be tomato…

The rich aroma of tomato combined with the tender, juicy lamb—perfect!

Zhao He and Ji Jun instantly transformed into ravenous giants, devouring their food at an alarming rate…

Burp—“Jun, I’m going to the restroom to fix my makeup,” Zhao He said, rubbing her stomach to her equally stuffed companion.

“Okay, boss.” Ji Jun glanced at the wreckage on the table, patted her stomach, then picked up her chopsticks and fished out half an ear of corn from the pot. I can still eat…

By the time Zhao He had wandered all the way to the gates of Chenfeng Middle School, Ji Jun was still anxiously waiting alone in the hotpot restaurant…

How could Zhao He take so long in the restroom?

“Father, why are you here?” The bumbling system once again showed its clueless side.

“To watch the show, of course.” After walking a while, she felt a bit hungry again…

The skewers from the street cart next door smelled amazing…

Maybe just two… no more… Zhao He silently set this goal for herself.

Across the street, Cui Yu stood out like a hero from a different story—aloof, alone… Well, not exactly. He was, after all, the male lead of this little world. In a simple Gucci shirt, he stood out among the crowd of high school students.

Typical male lead aura! Zhao He marveled.

Not long after the end-of-school bell rang, Li Yun emerged, limping slightly. Cui Yu quickly strode over, took her white shoulder bag, and helped her into his most inconspicuous Porsche Panamera.

The plot was indeed powerful. Even though Zhao He had ruined their first encounter, fate had still brought the hero and heroine together, and they seemed to be getting along quite well.

“Miss, taxis aren’t allowed into this complex!” The driver turned to address Zhao He.

—

That’s right—Zhao He had convinced the driver, with a heartrending performance about her husband’s infidelity and her own hunt for the other woman, to use his twenty years of driving skills to tail the hero and heroine’s car.

Tanghe Garden, home of the female lead, Li Yun. Originally from City B, Li Yun had bought her first apartment here after being assigned to City A as a teacher, repaying her mortgage as she worked.

Zhao He circled the complex once, but didn’t climb over the wall.

Because…

She saw Wen Gu’s car again, that fool…

“Miss Gu, fate truly brings us together. We just met this morning, and here we are again this afternoon.” Wen Gu, opening his car door, quickly masked his surprise at seeing Zhao He.

“You said we could cooperate, didn’t you? When I saw your car, I thought I’d come say hello.” Zhao He peered into the car. Besides Wen Gu, there were two other young men, both looking quite startled.

“Before we talk about cooperation, shouldn’t you explain why you were tailing Cui Yu’s car, Miss Gu?”

“…Maybe… it’s just that he’s too handsome?” Zhao He hesitated.

“So, is there some romantic entanglement between you and Cui Yu?”

“That’s not the point. The point is I can help you find evidence of their crimes.” Zhao He was utterly serious, her attitude resolute and unwavering.

“Miss Gu, you seem very confident.” Wen Gu turned slightly and gestured invitingly to the seat inside.

Zhao He plopped down, shifting around as she sized up the seats. “Honestly, your surveillance skills are pretty amateur—I spotted you right away…”

Instantly, she became the object of attention from all three men in the car.

“Boss, where did you find this girl?” Qin Xing asked, his tone tinged with disbelief after hearing Zhao He’s words.

“I wasn’t found by him. It was his son who begged me to come.”

Qin Xing: Son???

Team Member A: Son???

Wen Gu: Why would my son beg you? Wait, when did I get a son???