C15 Do You Have the Heart to Reject Me?

Officer Liu Gaang, who had previously encountered Zhang Xiaolong, nudged the door open slightly and announced, "Officer Yeh, there's a call for you."

Zhang Xiaolong reached out to take the slip of paper, but the other man quickly withdrew his hand and pocketed it again, then turned and left the room without uttering another word to Zhang Xiaolong.

So her last name was 'Yeh,' Zhang Xiaolong mused.

He had often heard people address her as 'Yeh' and had assumed it was 'Yeh' as in the leaf of a tree, never realizing it referred to the darkness of night.

Yeh Mei—did it signify a bewitching presence in the night? The name certainly suited her well.

After Yeh Mei departed, Liu Gaang stealthily eyed her retreating figure before slipping into the room with a secretive air.

"Sorry about this, kid. Reporter Yang has already clarified the whole situation. Truth be told, we're all aware that you're not involved in this incident. Moreover, we owe you our gratitude for stepping in to help," Liu Gaang said, a hint of sheepishness crossing his face. "However, Officer Yeh insisted on interrogating you herself. We're powerless in this situation. It's not just us—even our chief seems unable to cross her. We're really putting you out here."

"It's alright. Officer Yeh Mei didn't really give me a hard time," Zhang Xiaolong replied, feeling somewhat abashed by the officer's courteous demeanor, especially since no one else could fully grasp the extent of the misunderstanding except for him.

"Here, let me unlock those handcuffs for you," Liu Gaang said with a smile, giving Zhang Xiaolong's shoulder a friendly pat before producing the handcuff key.

Zhang Xiaolong lifted his hands to inspect them and couldn't help feeling even more embarrassed.

He had indeed been handcuffed earlier, but when Yeh Mei had unexpectedly tested him, he somehow managed to break free in the heat of the moment. Now, not even the broken pieces of the handcuffs could be found in the room.

"Huh, it looks like Officer Yeh already unlocked them for you," Liu Gaang remarked with surprise. As he turned around, he caught sight of the two smashed tables in the interrogation room and his astonishment morphed into shock. It took him a moment to find his words, and when he did, he said incredulously, "Buddy, you're something else. I thought I heard a woman scream earlier and figured I was mistaken, but you... Wow, no wonder Officer Yeh made sure to turn off the surveillance!"

Zhang Xiaolong was left bewildered by what he'd heard, but catching the shift in the other's gaze from shock to an odd sort of admiration, he began to piece things together. Linking the broken tables with the sound of a woman's voice, he suddenly burst into a fit of coughing, "That... Officer Liu, it's not what you're thinking."

"Got it, got it," Liu Gaang said with a chuckle, clapping Zhang Xiaolong on the arm. "No need to explain. From now on, drop the formalities—just call me Mr. Liu if you're comfortable with that. If you ever run into trouble around here, come find me. Though, with Officer Yeh looking out for you, I doubt you'll have much to worry about."

With that, Liu Gaang turned and made his way out, still muttering under his breath, "Destroyed two tables, huh? Impressive. That's the guy who tamed the Ice Queen..."

Zhang Xiaolong nearly choked. This brother sure had a wild imagination, casting him in a role without a second thought. He wondered how Yeh Mei would react if she heard this. But recalling the accidental touch from before, his heart skipped a beat.

"What's happening to me? Why am I having these thoughts?" Zhang Xiaolong shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the distractions. Then, something occurred to him, and he quickly called out, "Officer Liu, am I free to go now?"

Shortly thereafter, Liu Gaang re-entered the interrogation room, accompanied by Yang Jingjing, who had come back to the station with him.

"Thank you, Officer Liu," Yang Jingjing expressed her gratitude repeatedly. "I've always known you to be the most approachable and just officer in the whole station."

"Heh, just doing my duty," Liu Gaang replied, then hesitated before asking in a low voice, "There's no issue with Officer Yeh, right?"

"You have my word, Officer Liu. I wouldn't deceive you," Yang Jingjing assured him.

"That's a relief," Liu Gaang responded, visibly eased by her words.

"Now, my Number One Scholar, we can go," Yang Jingjing said, turning to Zhang Xiaolong with a slight pause of surprise. She noticed something different about him, a subtle change that lent him an air of comfort and charisma that the straightforward young man she remembered didn't possess. He seemed more handsome than before.

"Are we free to go now?" Zhang Xiaolong inquired of Liu Gaang.

He was indeed in a hurry; this wasn't a leisure trip. He had many tasks to attend to and had already lost half a day, making it challenging to return the same day.

"Absolutely, there's really nothing holding us back. Since Officer Yeh has no objections, you're clear to leave," Liu Gaang replied with a smile.

Yang Jingjing gave Zhang Xiaolong a sidelong glance. "Still don't trust me? Remember, it's because I vouched for you that you're able to leave."

"Right, right, you're the one I should be thanking," Zhang Xiaolong acknowledged, then paused, sensing something amiss. "But wait, wasn't it because someone was trying to harass you that I ended up here?"

Yang Jingjing playfully stuck out her tongue. "Exactly, so I should be thanking you too. But let's not dwell on that now; we need to hurry, or we'll be too late."

Confused about what she meant by 'too late,' Zhang Xiaolong nonetheless was eager to leave. He allowed Yang Jingjing to hustle him out of the police station in a rush.

"Tsk tsk, from an icy standoff to dealing with a female reporter, this young man sure has his hands full," Liu Gaang mused to himself. "The campaign against vice is no easy feat!"

...

"Hey, where are you dragging me off to?" Zhang Xiaolong asked Yang Jingjing, who had just pulled him into a taxi, somewhat exasperated.

"We're heading back to Clear River Village, of course. I haven't finished interviewing you yet. Tell me, why did you take a break from school when you're clearly in better shape than an ox?" Yang Jingjing pressed, earnestly starting her recorder.

"Cough, cough... that comparison..." Zhang Xiaolong was torn between amusement and embarrassment.

Yang Jingjing laughed. "I'm just teasing you. But seriously, I am here for an interview. Considering the big favor I've done for you, could you give me an exclusive scoop?"

"Are you serious?" At first, Zhang Xiaolong thought she was kidding, but it turned out she was genuinely intent on interviewing him.

The status of being the College Entrance Examination Top Scorer certainly makes for a conversation starter, but timing is everything. Several months have passed, and the buzz has faded. Bringing it up now wouldn't garner much interest.

Zhang Xiaolong might not be fully versed in these matters, but he had enough common sense to know that Clear River Village, despite its poverty, wasn't completely out of touch with the world.

"What do you mean, 'don't know'? I've already told you everything. So, are you going to agree to my interview or not?" Yang Jingjing pressed.

Before Zhang Xiaolong could respond, she tilted her head up, her face the picture of innocence and charm, and made a heart-wrenching plea, "After I've come all this way, how could you possibly have the heart to turn me down?"

Her large, luminous eyes blinked up at him, seemingly so close that he could hear her eyelashes flutter together, stirring an odd sensation within Zhang Xiaolong.

Creak...

The taxi screeched to an abrupt stop, causing both Zhang Xiaolong and Yang Jingjing, locked in their gaze, to lurch forward in unison.