Zhou Tuoxing's right hand was hit by the iron rod. After the initial pain subsided, he claimed he was fine,
but his arm was visibly swollen. He Chuan Zhou was worried and, after failing to persuade him otherwise,
called Xiao Chen to handle the situation.
Chen Weiran, once again showcasing his brotherly dedication, reluctantly dragged Zhou Tuoxing to the
hospital. As they left, he muttered that even his 90-year-old grandmother didn't need this much attention.
At the police station, the four disheveled young men stood silently against the wall. Without their masks,
they were revealed to be a group of 20-something hoodlums. Despite being caught, they remained defiant,
clearly unaccustomed to facing the consequences of their actions.
He Chuan Zhou pulled up a chair and sat opposite them, her eyes coldly scanning each one before focusing on
a blond-haired youth. The surrounding officers, trusting their captain's judgment, began scrutinizing him as
well, suspecting they might have unwittingly caught a bigger fish.
The blond youth, feeling the weight of their stares, began to lose his bravado. Initially defiant, his
demeanor shifted to discomfort under the relentless gaze.
He Chuan Zhou laughed softly and said, "Quite bold, aren't you? Do you know who I am?"
The four maintained their silence, determined not to speak.
He Chuan Zhou continued, "Notify their families, schools, and workplaces."
The young men remained unperturbed, whether out of ignorance or confidence.
He Chuan Zhou mused aloud, "Not worried, huh? Are you all orphans or part of some 'rebellious youth'
alliance? No relatives to care about you?"
One of them scoffed and turned away, his response laced with resentment.
A police officer warned, "Behave yourself!"
He Chuan Zhou added, "If you're so eager to spend time in jail, there's no need for all this fuss."
The youth on the far right retorted, "You can't scare us. We're not idiots. We didn't hit you hard. At most,
we'll get 15 days in detention and a small fine. Plus, we didn't know you were a cop!"
"Oh, you didn't?" He Chuan Zhou’s smile turned icy. "So, why were you lying in wait for me at my home? Were
you planning a robbery?"
The young men feigned ignorance, claiming, "We weren't going to hit you. We must have mistaken you for
someone else."
He Chuan Zhou, her tone almost conversational, asked, "So, who were you planning to hit?"
The youth exaggeratedly shrugged and said, "Just a friendly brawl among ourselves."
The officers chuckled, having encountered such brazen attitudes before.
Checking her phone, He Chuan Zhou casually mentioned, "You all hang out at Ruiming Bar, right? Seems like
that place has some issues. With the recent security crackdowns, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on it."
Leaning back, she added, "If the police announce that four bar staff members ambushed an officer at night, I
wonder how many customers would still visit."
The youths, sensing the gravity of the situation, began to panic. One nervously justified, "This has nothing
to do with the bar. You can't misuse your authority like that!"
He Chuan Zhou, smiling but stern, replied, "Do you think just because you’re young, I’ll let this slide?
You're mistaken. I hold grudges, especially against those who target police."
The young men exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to continue their act.
He Chuan Zhou twirled her phone and, her expression growing colder, commanded, "Call him."
The blond youth, feeling a chill, finally relented and called, "Brother Ming, we've been caught!"
His fear was palpable as he explained their situation over the phone, regaining some confidence from the
encouragement he received.
An officer, puzzled, asked, "How old is this 'Brother Ming'?"
He Chuan Zhou replied, "Around 20."
The officer was taken aback, expecting a more seasoned criminal.
He Chuan Zhou then messaged Jiang Zhaolin, who quickly responded despite the late hour, followed by a
message to Xiao Chen for an update on their end.
The officers, now hungry, prepared instant noodles and offered some to He Chuan Zhou, who declined. The
detained youths, trying their luck, asked for takeout, only to be harshly rebuffed.
After completing the paperwork, the bar’s owner, Tao Ruiming, arrived. Still in his pajamas, he stormed in
with an angry, youthful face, demanding, "How much to pay their fines?"
He Chuan Zhou remained seated, glancing at him dismissively. "You'll pay the fines, but they didn’t just
attack me. They also hurt my friend."
Tao Ruiming, impatient and loud, insisted, "How much?"
He Chuan Zhou ignored him and continued, "You'd better pray my friend is fine. If the hospital issues a
certificate of serious injury, that would be considered intentional assault. And since you guys attacked as
a group, you might as well save your money for yourselves. You'll need it, considering you won't be eating
out for a long time."
The four of them were genuinely scared now.
They had only graduated high school two years ago and had been riding on Tao Ruiming's coattails, enjoying
respect wherever they went. They had never imagined they could end up in jail.
A police officer, his face darkened, chimed in, "Do you understand the situation you're in? This isn't
something money alone can fix."
The blond-haired youth, panicking, pleaded, "Please don’t send us to jail!"
He Chuan Zhou, expressionless, retorted, "You were pretty arrogant when you were hitting people. That iron
rod didn't land lightly, did it?"
The four looked desperately at Tao Ruiming.
The blond-haired youth quickly explained, "We barely hit her! We got hurt more than she did!"
"That's right!" another chimed in, touching his nose lightly and wincing in pain. "My nose might be broken!"
"She kicked my arm. My bone might be broken too. I demand a medical examination!"
"Officer, we were just standing up for a friend! We had legitimate reasons!"
"Yeah, Ming's dad just died, and this cop was spreading rumors, causing their company's stock to plummet.
Who could tolerate that?"
As they recounted their motives, their indignation grew, their voices rising in a cacophony of complaints.
The officers, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, were momentarily stunned and forgot to take
notes.
Finally, Tao Ruiming, exasperated, shouted, "Enough!"
The four fell silent, the room returning to its former quiet.
A nearby officer instinctively scratched his ear, momentarily unaccustomed to the silence.
Tao Ruiming avoided looking at He Chuan Zhou, trying to figure out a way to resolve the situation.
He Chuan Zhou watched him with interest, waiting for him to speak. Unexpectedly, his first words were a
vague attempt at reconciliation, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
"Let's just call it even," he said.
He Chuan Zhou laughed at the absurdity. "Call it even?"
She stood up, dropping her crossed leg.
"Tao Xianyong made plenty of enemies in his business. Do you even know how he got his start? Now that he's
dead, Guangyi's days are numbered. Only someone as clueless as you would be picking fights at a time like
this." She smirked. "Even if your sister were here, she'd have to apologize to me properly."
At the mention of his sister, Tao Siyue, Tao Ruiming's face reddened with anger. His fleeting rationality
vanished, and he shouted, "What right do you have to mention my sister? Are all you He family members so
shameless?"
Tao Ruiming took a step forward. The officers moved to intervene, but He Chuan Zhou waved them off.
"If you think what I wrote are lies, ask your mother. You know the truth, but you’re too afraid to face it.
You won't even stand up for your mother, yet you're quick to lash out at others."
Tao Ruiming, enraged, yelled, "You’re talking nonsense!"
He Chuan Zhou stared him down, her feet planted firmly, and after a moment of silence, she laughed
mockingly, "Pathetic."
Tao Ruiming's face turned a mix of red and white, various emotions swirling. Normally, he would have
retorted loudly, but now an inexplicable panic silenced him.
As they stood off, Tao Siyue and Jiang Zhaolin hurried into the room.
They took up different positions in the room, creating an awkward standoff.
Tao Siyue, looking pale and frail, glanced at the youths by the wall, then closed her eyes in
disappointment.
Tao Ruiming, his bravado deflated, called softly, "Sis."
Tao Siyue, her voice weak, asked, "Did you order this?"
Tao Ruiming denied it, "No! They did it on their own!
Tao Siyue, her chest tight with frustration, ran a hand through her hair.
Jiang Zhaolin stepped forward and apologized softly, "I'm sorry."
Tao Siyue, head bowed, said weakly, "We'll pay compensation and it won't happen again."
Tao Ruiming, looking defiant, seemed ready to curse, but Jiang Zhaolin pushed him, and he held back.
He Chuan Zhou nodded to the officers. "Proceed with the charges. We won't settle. Please investigate whether
this attack was premeditated murder or just a so-called lesson. Contact me if you need any assistance."
She then headed for the door, pausing beside Tao Siyue to whisper, "Tao Siyue, I'm sparing you out of
respect for my father's wishes, but that doesn't mean I'll tolerate your brother's antics. If you can't
control him, don't blame me for being harsh."
Tao Siyue stood rigidly, her lips pressed together.
After He Chuan Zhou left, Jiang Zhaolin hesitated briefly before following her.
Tao Siyue asked the officer quietly, "Officer, is my brother in serious trouble? He didn't know about this."
The officer scratched his head, unsure how to respond firmly to her. "If it's proven he wasn't involved or
the mastermind, he should be fine."
Tao Siyue asked, "Can I take him home?"
Before the officer could answer, the four youths began to shout. Tao Ruiming also protested, "What about
them?"
Tao Siyue turned to him, her expression colder than ever. "If you want to look after them, I can't take care
of you. Choose one."
Tao Ruiming, shocked and uncomprehending, stammered, "Sis?"
"Sis!"
Jiang Zhaolin called from behind.
He Chuan Zhou had already walked into the night. The cool wind outside dissipated the heat from her skin.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she finally stopped and turned, greeting Jiang Zhaolin with, "Long time no
see."