Han Ruobing was completely baffled by Yan Xiaobao. What the heck is this guy even about…
Joining Han Ruobing in her confusion were two patrol officers under Shi Jianzhong's command, who stood dumbfounded, staring at Yan Xiaobao, unable to snap out of their shock.
Being a patrol officer is a high-risk profession. Out in the field during assignments, getting beaten or even killed is not uncommon. But, Nima—who dares slap an arrest officer across the face in the interrogation room of the Patrol Office?
Nobody would even believe it if they heard about this…
"What are you all standing around for?!" Shi Jianzhong scrambled to his feet, roaring furiously, "Hurry up and arrest this criminal who violently resisted law enforcement and assaulted an officer!"
The two patrol officers jolted awake and immediately advanced to apprehend Yan Xiaobao.
Like lightning, Yan Xiaobao shot both arms out, grabbing each patrol officer's pulse gate in his hands.
"Ah! Ah!" The two patrol officers simultaneously cried out in pain, collapsing limply to the ground.
"Let them go!" Han Ruobing was utterly distressed. The situation had already spiraled out of her control. If things continued like this, Yan Xiaobao could forget about ever seeing daylight again.
"Alright." Yan Xiaobao obediently released his grip.
The two patrol officers stepped back instantly, their minds shaken. This seemingly harmless, young man—who didn't look like much—was unexpectedly so formidable. With just a casual motion, he subdued them. Truly a dangerous individual.
"You fight well, and you're cocky, but you're done for now." Shi Jianzhong sneered maliciously as he pulled out his gun and aimed it at Yan Xiaobao, shouting loudly, "Hands on your head! Get on your knees!"
"Shi Jianzhong, what are you doing? Put that gun down!" Han Ruobing stepped forward, blocking Yan Xiaobao.
Yan Xiaobao had violently assaulted an officer, and Shi Jianzhong had every right to fire his gun. She had to stop him. Otherwise, if Yan Xiaobao were killed on the spot by Shi Jianzhong, her conscience would torment her forever.
Shi Jianzhong gritted his teeth and lashed out, "Han Ruobing, you're abusing your authority, colluding with a suspect—you have no shame! Binhai Goddess Catcher, you call yourself? You're a disgrace to the Binhai Patrol!"
Han Ruobing retorted coldly, "My business is not yours to judge. Right and wrong will have their verdict in due time. First, put your gun down. My suspect, I'll handle him myself!"
"You'll handle him? Ha..." Shi Jianzhong laughed briefly, ending with tears of pain streaming down his face before his expression hardened again, "The two of you being lovey-dovey, sharing a pair of handcuffs—how sickening! Han Ruobing, I'm officially detaining you now! Hands on your head! Kneel down!"
"My dear, step aside." Yan Xiaobao stepped forward from behind Han Ruobing, his playful grin fading as his eyes sharpened dangerously, "Pointing a gun at me, ordering me to kneel. Insulting my wife, demanding she kneel too. You really want to die, huh, you idiot?"
"Idiot! Let's see who's dying here!" Shi Jianzhong cocked his gun with a sharp "click," sneering, "I don't care how strong you are. Can your fists beat my gun? Stop! Take one more step forward, and I'll shoot!"
Yan Xiaobao pointed a finger ahead, walking straight toward Shi Jianzhong without stopping, "If you want to die, then go ahead—shoot!"
"Stop right there!" Han Ruobing reached out to pull Yan Xiaobao but failed to stop him.
"You're looking for death, huh?!" Shi Jianzhong screamed furiously, pulling the trigger—only to discover, to his horror, that his finger wouldn't budge at all.
"Now you understand who's really looking for death?" Yan Xiaobao said as he effortlessly seized Shi Jianzhong's gun, pointing it at his forehead.
"Don't… don't shoot…" For the first time in his life, Shi Jianzhong found himself staring down the barrel of a loaded gun pressed against his skull. His legs gave out instantly, dropping him to his knees as fear nearly made him lose control.
"Stop!" Han Ruobing turned pale with fright and shouted desperately to stop Yan Xiaobao, "You absolutely cannot shoot! Yan Xiaobao, if you fire that shot, it's all over!"
"Don't worry, wife, I'll be fine." Yan Xiaobao remained completely nonchalant, looking as though this was no big deal.
In her panic, Han Ruobing had a sudden flash of inspiration and continued, "You'll be fine, but I won't! If I take you back to the Government Office and you shoot an arrest officer there, I'll be held accountable for dereliction of duty. At best, I'll be dismissed; at worst, I'll face prison!"
"Oh, I see…" Only then did Yan Xiaobao consider giving up the idea of shooting Shi Jianzhong.
He wasn't afraid of anything himself—but he absolutely couldn't drag his wife down with him.
"Hand over the gun." Han Ruobing extended her hand toward Yan Xiaobao. Seeing his slight hesitation, she added softly, "Be good…"
Yan Xiaobao instantly burst into a grin and handed the gun to Han Ruobing, "Bingbing wife, look how obedient I am—reward me with a kiss, will you?"
Knowing Yan Xiaobao's capabilities, Han Ruobing didn't dare to overpower him, so she continued coaxing him, "You've stirred up big trouble this time. Sit tight here, and I'll think about how to settle it."
A still-shaken Shi Jianzhong bolted out of the interrogation room, yelling as he ran, "Suspect assaulted an officer and seized a weapon! Get reinforcements—immediately!"
That's bad!
Han Ruobing's heart sank. With Shi Jianzhong making such a commotion, there was little room left for negotiation.
What now?
Should she watch helplessly as Yan Xiaobao gets taken away for "assaulting an officer and seizing a weapon"? Or…
No! Yan Xiaobao would never quietly surrender. That would inevitably lead to him being shot dead on the spot!
To be honest, Han Ruobing wasn't even that familiar with Yan Xiaobao—they'd only met twice before. Besides, this strange guy kept calling her wife from the moment they met, brazenly taking liberties with her. It was infuriating.
But Han Ruobing knew Yan Xiaobao wasn't a bad person—in fact, he could even be considered kind-hearted. His thinking, however, was wildly unconventional, and his words and actions utterly reckless, never considering the consequences.
If she hadn't personally brought him in today, things wouldn't have escalated to this level. If Yan Xiaobao ended up getting shot dead by the patrol officers, she'd never find peace within herself for the rest of her life.
As Han Ruobing wrestled with her indecision and inner turmoil, more than a dozen armed patrol officers arrived to surround the interrogation room, shouting toward those inside, "You're surrounded! Put down your weapon and surrender immediately—resistance is futile!"
"Quick!" Han Ruobing suddenly shoved the gun into Yan Xiaobao's hands, "Take me hostage and get out of here first!"
In Han Ruobing's mind, Yan Xiaobao's charges of "violent resistance" and "assaulting an officer" were already hard to dispute. Seizing one more patrol officer wouldn't make much difference at this point.
The priority now was ensuring Yan Xiaobao stayed alive. As long as they gained some time, the whole story could be explained later. Even if he ended up sentenced to ten or so years, it was far better than being shot dead on the spot.
As for her decision to bend the rules and let a suspect escape… in the face of life-and-death matters, Han Ruobing couldn't dwell on that. Her principle was clear: Never let a bad person escape justice, but also never let a good person suffer wrongful punishment.
...
But Yan Xiaobao, grinning cheekily, tossed the pistol to the side. "Bingbing, my darling wife, what are you talking about? You're my wife, how could I possibly hurt you?"
"I didn't ask you to hurt me, I just want you to put on a show." Han Ruobing turned her back to him, leaning into Yan Xiaobao's embrace. "Put your arm around my neck."
As Han Ruobing took the initiative to "throw herself into his arms," Yan Xiaobao was overjoyed. He grabbed her tightly, turned his head, and planted a kiss on her cheek...
*Smack!*
Han Ruobing spun around and slapped Yan Xiaobao square across the face.
For any man daring enough to try and kiss her, Han Ruobing always dealt with them this way. But after hitting Yan Xiaobao, she suddenly felt a twinge of unease and involuntarily took a step back.
She had seen firsthand how terrifying Yan Xiaobao could be. Would this slap provoke him into flying into a rage out of humiliation...
Though Han Ruobing's slap was quick, it was definitely one that Yan Xiaobao could have dodged. Yet he neither avoided it nor tried to block; he took the slap fully. However, despite Han Ruobing putting her all into it, her slap did not leave the slightest mark on his face.
"Wife, it's not right for a wife to hit her husband. I might just have to enforce some household discipline," Yan Xiaobao said with a mischievous grin as he slowly approached Han Ruobing.
"What are you planning to do?" Han Ruobing's voice trembled slightly.
"In our household, discipline means—" Yan Xiaobao's gaze shifted downward, locking onto her lower waist. "Spanking!"
"No!" Han Ruobing, flustered and furious, backed away repeatedly. "What does your so-called household discipline have to do with me? I'm not your wife!"
"Well..." Yan Xiaobao paused, thought for a moment, and then nodded. "You're right. You're not my wife yet."
Han Ruobing immediately followed up. "Exactly. I'm not your wife. So sneaking a kiss from me is harassment. I slapped you as punishment, which is completely justified."
Yan Xiaobao thought it over again and suddenly pushed his face closer to hers, grinning wide. "Alright then, how about you slap me one more time?"
Han Ruobing stared at him, baffled. "Why would I slap you again? As long as you behave, I won't hit you, okay?"
"Nope." Yan Xiaobao shook his head repeatedly. "One kiss equals one slap—it's only fair. So if you slap me again, I get to kiss you again."
"..." Han Ruobing was completely speechless.
This guy was driving her absolutely insane!
At that moment, a commanding male voice echoed from outside. "Listen up inside: I'm going to count to three. Surrender immediately, or we'll take aggressive action!"
Han Ruobing instantly recognized the voice and shouted loudly, "Chief Zhang, the suspect is armed and holding me hostage!"
After shouting, she didn't worry about anything else and dove back into Yan Xiaobao's arms, letting him "take her hostage" again.
The person outside was none other than Chief Zhang, head of the Baofeng District Patrol Office. Upon hearing about someone assaulting officers and seizing a firearm under his jurisdiction, he wasted no time in rushing over to personally take charge of the situation.
"Chief Zhang, don't listen to what Han Ruobing says. Her relationship with the suspect is suspicious—I saw with my own eyes how they were holding hands affectionately in the interrogation room," Shi Jianzhong reported in a calculated tone. "She's clearly abusing her position to assist the suspect in escaping!"
"That's a serious allegation." Chief Zhang frowned.
He didn't believe Shi Jianzhong's accusations. On one hand, Han Ruobing was known for her integrity and impeccable conduct. The idea that she would engage in such inappropriate behavior in the interrogation room was absurd. On the other hand, he was well aware of the grudge Shi Jianzhong held against her for having his ego publicly bruised.
Spreading malicious rumors against Han Ruobing was clearly Shi Jianzhong's way of getting back at her. Not only did Chief Zhang find it implausible, he found it frankly disgusting.
"Chief Zhang, I swear on my honor it's the truth. Xiao Sun and Xiao Zhao were both witnesses. If you don't believe me, ask them yourself," Shi Jianzhong quickly pulled two of his subordinates into the fray as witnesses.
Chief Zhang scrutinized the two patrol officers with a sharp gaze and asked sternly, "Speak with precise detail—explain the situation at that time and recount everything that happened without omission or fabrication."
"Here's what happened..." Xiao Sun and Xiao Zhao began recounting everything, from Yan Xiaobao assaulting someone, to Zhao Erhu calling the police, to Han Ruobing interrogating Yan Xiaobao, Shi Jianzhong getting slapped, and finally the theft of the firearm.
"Yan Xiaobao? Could it be him?" Chief Zhang muttered, his mind racing.
Unfortunately, since Han Ruobing had initially treated Yan Xiaobao's case as a routine public disturbance, she hadn't placed him in a criminal investigation room. The interview room she was currently in lacked one-way mirror walls, so they couldn't see what was happening inside.
After mulling it over for a moment, Chief Zhang called out toward the room, "Yan Xiaobao, this is Zhang Zhixue. I'd like to have a word with you. Can I come in? Rest assured, I'll come alone and unarmed."
"Don't come in," Yan Xiaobao immediately rejected.
He was happily holding onto Han Ruobing, basking in her warmth and enjoying her scent. Why would he let someone interrupt such a pleasant moment?
After an extended period of hesitation, with repeated gestures from Han Ruobing, Yan Xiaobao reluctantly agreed to let Chief Zhang come in to negotiate.
Ignoring the protests of his subordinates, Chief Zhang resolutely entered the interview room alone.
...
Previously, Xia Rou had stubbornly refused to prepare lunch for Yan Xiaobao, but she soon regretted it.
No matter what, Yan Xiaobao was someone she personally brought in, intending to take back to her hometown to help treat her younger sister. Moreover, Yan Xiaobao had caused this whole mess trying to help her with her issues. How could she neglect him and not even bring him a meal?
So, after hastily preparing lunch and grabbing a few bites herself, Xia Rou hurried to the patrol office.
Chen Long, wanting to make a show of friendliness in front of the man newly recognized as his brother-in-law, decided to tag along.
When Xia Rou and Chen Long arrived at the patrol office carrying thermal containers, they found two to three dozen armed patrol officers nervously surrounding the interview room as if preparing for a major encounter.
"Excuse me, what's going on here?"
Upon hearing about Yan Xiaobao's alleged crimes of "violent resistance," "assaulting officers," "stealing a firearm," and "taking a female officer hostage," Xia Rou and Chen Long were completely taken aback, their faces losing all color.
What on earth had happened?
Wasn't this all supposed to be about investigating Zhao Erhu's report?
How did it escalate into a standoff with patrol officers?
Xia Rou collapsed weakly into a chair in the lobby's lounge area, her mind blank and utterly at a loss. Chen Long, too, wore a pained expression, with no idea what to do.
This was it. It was over. Committing such grave offenses in the patrol office left no room for negotiation—Yan Xiaobao wasn't facing cell bars; he was looking at bullets...
...
Time ticked by, minute after minute. Chief Constable Zhang Zhixue had already been inside for nearly a quarter of an hour, and still, there was no sign of movement.
Xia Rou's heart had sunk to rock bottom, her eyes filled with despair as she constantly blamed herself, "It's all my fault. I knew he was impulsive and prone to using force, but I should have stopped him this morning, stopped him from using violence. He's been captured by the patrol, and I was still sulking... If I'd come here earlier to explain the situation, things wouldn't have escalated to such a state..."
"Sister Xia Rou, don't beat yourself up too much. No one could have anticipated that things would turn out this way..." Chen Long sighed, "Who knew Brother Bao would be so unrelenting, remaining defiant even at the Patrol Office..."
Unlike the despairing Xia Rou and Chen Long, Shi Jianzhong's expression grew increasingly fervent and excited.
This kid, the damned brat, he dared to lay hands on me—today won't end well for him! I won't let him leave without stripping off a layer of his skin!
Arrogant, aren't you? Full of swagger, aren't you? Think you're capable, don't you? Let's see if you're brave enough to strike Chief Zhang too!
And Han Ruobing, you think you're so above it all, don't you? So much like a "goddess," aren't you? This time, I'm going to ruin you! You think you can keep putting on an act with your fake propriety with me?
...
As everyone waited with varied expressions, the door to the interrogation room finally opened.
Chief Zhang Zhixue's hearty laughter resonated, "Xiao Han, let's handle this matter as discussed. Xiao Yang, go get the red box from my office."
The patrol officer outside, who had been worried about Chief Zhang's safety, left confused but promptly headed for the stairs.
What's going on?
The patrol officers standing at the doorway exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the situation.
Then, accompanied by Zhang Zhixue, Yan Xiaobao swaggered out.
"Arrest him!" Shi Jianzhong shouted loudly.
Seven or eight patrol officers simultaneously raised their guns and aimed at Yan Xiaobao.
"What are you doing?" Zhang Zhixue's face darkened as he scolded, "Shi Jianzhong, did I tell you to arrest him? Who's the Chief Constable here—you or me?"
"Well…" Shi Jianzhong stammered nervously, "Chief Constable, he is a major offender for assaulting police officers and stealing a firearm..."
"Don't I know better whether he's an offender or not?" Zhang Zhixue responded displeased, "I've thoroughly investigated this matter today. Han Ruobing will handle all follow-up affairs."
"But..." Shi Jianzhong was still unwilling to give up, trying to argue again.
"No buts!" Zhang Zhixue raised his voice, fixing Shi Jianzhong with a stern gaze, "Do you understand why this situation has escalated into such a chaotic mess? As an enforcer of the law, your primary duty is to uphold social order and harmony—not to chase after glory and stir up trouble!"
"Yes, yes…" Shi Jianzhong blushed under Zhang Zhixue's severe gaze, lowering his head, no longer daring to speak.
Seeing that Yan Xiaobao seemed to have been released without charges, Xia Rou rushed forward, overjoyed, and asked, "Does this mean everything's fine now? Can he leave?"
Witnessing Xia Rou's deeply concerned expression, as radiant as her beautiful face, Han Ruobing couldn't help feeling a flicker of unexplained hostility. She maintained her icy and professional demeanor, replying flatly, "He can't leave yet. You two also need to provide statements to detail this morning's altercation."
"Don't worry, it's nothing major, just a bit of follow-up work." Zhang Zhixue reassured Xia Rou with warmth.
Only now did Xia Rou recognize that Chief Zhang was the son of the man she and Yan Xiaobao had saved on MH737--a patient with a brain hemorrhage.
Good deeds truly are rewarded!
Xia Rou nodded gratefully at Zhang Zhixue, but refrained from mentioning the earlier connection. She didn't want the information to fall into ill-intending ears.
At that moment, Xiao Yang returned from the upstairs office with the box and handed it to Zhang Zhixue.
After opening the box, Zhang Zhixue ceremoniously held up a roll of red silk and handed it to Yan Xiaobao, while issuing a commanding order, "Salute!"
"Snap!"
The surrounding twenty-odd patrol officers stood upright and saluted in unison.
"What's this thing?" Yan Xiaobao curiously received the pole attached to the red silk.
Zhang Zhixue unrolled the silk, revealing a banner bearing four large characters: "People's Hero."
The patrol officers exchanged confused looks. This "violent resistance," "assaulting police," "seizing firearms," "hostage-taking arrest officer" suspect had suddenly transformed into a People's Hero? The stark contrast had them utterly bewildered, leaving their minds spinning...
Even Han Ruobing's eyes betrayed a hint of envious admiration.
As the Goddess Catcher—the arrest officer with the highest case-solving score—she typically received multiple banners each year, labeled "Pacesetter" or "Model Officer," among others, but none could rival the prestige of Yan Xiaobao's "People's Hero."
Hero—a title that carried exceptional honor. And with the term "People's" preceding it, the weight of this distinction grew exponentially. Anything bestowed in the name of the People seemed to acquire instant nobility.
Attaining the title of People's Hero required accomplishments as extraordinary as Yan Xiaobao's—a single person defeating four armed hijackers and saving over two hundred lives. Such feats weren't something an average person could achieve.
Shi Jianzhong, however, felt like swallowing bitterness. He had exerted every effort to paint Yan Xiaobao as a dangerous criminal, virtually putting the kid on the verge of ruin.
But in the blink of an eye, the sacred banner of "People's Hero" erased all charges against Yan Xiaobao.
Shi Jianzhong's actions, in the name of the People, now seemed pathetically weak and downright laughable.
The bright red banner was like an audible, resounding slap across Shi Jianzhong's face, leaving no room for resistance.
At long last, Xia Rou and Chen Long could breathe deeply in relief. If the Chief Constable had publicly awarded Yan Xiaobao the banner, it undoubtedly meant he was guiltless and had earned credit.
"To commend Yan Xiaobao for his courageous actions in capturing the hijackers, we hereby award him with this banner, a medal, and a certificate of merit as recognition for his achievements." Zhang Zhixue retrieved a medal and certificate from the box and handed them to Yan Xiaobao, "These just arrived from the province—it seems fate brought you here just in time for their presentation."
"What's the use of these things…" Yan Xiaobao nonchalantly accepted the medal and certificate, then, finding them cumbersome, glanced around to see if there was anyone to take them off his hands.
Catching the envious glint in Han Ruobing's eye, Yan Xiaobao eagerly handed the items over to her like a treasure, "Bingbing, looks like you really like these. They're yours then."
"These commendations are awarded to you. Please take them home and cherish them. If I wish to earn recognition myself, I'll strive through my own achievements." Han Ruobing replied coldly, her voice devoid of emotion, "And I am not your wife. Please stop talking nonsense. If you tarnish my reputation, I'll sue you for defamation."
Yan Xiaobao noticed that Han Ruobing didn't seem to like his gift. Immediately, he became even more disdainful, "Since you don't like it, Bingbing my wife, then just throw it away."
After saying that, Yan Xiaobao swung his hand, and the banner, medal, and certificate of merits flew over the crowd with a "whoosh" and landed directly in the trash bin by the walkway.
From Chief Zhang Zhixue to the patrol officers below, everyone simultaneously yelled in their hearts: "Holy crap!"
"The 'People's Hero' title! This is an honor every patrol officer dreams of, yet even the patrol martyrs who sacrificed themselves may not necessarily achieve it! And he… he just threw it away…"
"How can such a precious banner be discarded?" The somewhat perceptive Chen Long eagerly ran over, picked up the banner, medal, and certificate, patted off the dust, and said, "Take it back and hang it in the shop; it'll absolutely add a flair of coolness, maybe even ward off evil spirits."
The patrol officers: "..."
"Ahem ahem," Zhang Zhixue lightly coughed twice to ease the awkwardness, then addressed Yan Xiaobao, "Originally, we should've held a press conference to announce the award publicly, but the hijacking incident is not suitable for wide publicity to avoid causing public panic. So we have to handle things discreetly; it's a bit unfair to you."
Yan Xiaobao waved his hand nonchalantly. Honestly, if you asked him to attend a press conference, he wouldn't bother showing up anyway.
Zhang Zhixue continued, "The airline, to express their gratitude and make up for this regret, has specially prepared a two-million-yuan reward, which will be transferred in a couple of days. I'll notify you when it's time to receive it."
Faced with the huge sum of two million yuan, Yan Xiaobao merely let out a casual "Oh," displaying a calm demeanor that made Zhang Zhixue secretly admire him even more.
What Zhang Zhixue didn't know was that Yan Xiaobao had grown up hearing his fellow disciples talk about money in "billions," so "millions" to Yan Xiaobao was as trivial as how normal people perceive "hundreds."
If someone handed you two hundred yuan as a reward, how excited could you possibly get?
...
"Alright, this case is officially concluded. The specific follow-up tasks will be handled by Han Ruobing. Everyone else, return to your posts. Dismissed." After speaking, Zhang Zhixue dragged a defeated Shi Jianzhong back to the office for some reprimanding.
"You two, take Xia Rou and Chen Long's statements, and record in detail the causes and consequences of this morning's brawl at Dexi Hall Clinic." Han Ruobing gave instructions to her subordinate officers before turning to head to her office. "You, come with me."
Yan Xiaobao cheerfully followed behind Han Ruobing, lowering his gaze to her peach-shaped figure bouncing lightly with each step. He almost couldn't resist giving it a slap.
"Sit down and wait," Han Ruobing said as she seated herself at her desk, lowering her head to deal with the case files.
Yan Xiaobao indeed quietly sat there, not causing trouble for Han Ruobing, his eyes fixated on her without blinking.
Han Ruobing felt faintly uneasy under Yan Xiaobao's tangible gaze but forced herself to ignore him. Having learned a bit about his personality now, she understood he was best left alone; saying just one word to him might lead to an endless string of troubles.
Soon, the plaintiff in the case, Zhao Erhu, was brought in by the patrol officers and entered Han Ruobing's office.
At the same time, Xia Rou, an important person involved in this case, was also led inside by the officers.
"Sit." Han Ruobing gestured toward the empty chair next to Yan Xiaobao.
Xia Rou obediently took the seat to Yan Xiaobao's left.
Zhao Erhu, however, was visibly wary of Yan Xiaobao, as if afraid of being ambushed. He dragged the chair a full meter away and sat at a safe distance.
"We've already investigated the causes and consequences of this case," Han Ruobing said, looking at the three of them. "Are you willing to accept a mediation?"
"I'm willing," Xia Rou nodded in agreement.
As the plaintiff, Zhao Erhu felt he had the upper hand, so he hesitated for a moment.
At this point, Yan Xiaobao grinned and said, "Bingbing my wife, I'll listen to whatever you decide. Whatever you say goes."
Han Ruobing ignored Yan Xiaobao and stared seriously at Zhao Erhu, waiting for his response.
But Zhao Erhu was now filled with overwhelming shock.
He heard Yan Xiaobao call Han Ruobing "Bingbing wife," and Han Ruobing didn't refute him—what did that imply?
Zhao Erhu, whose usual activities were within Han Ruobing's jurisdiction, naturally knew of her legendary reputation. In all of Binhai City, no one had ever dared to tease the Cold Ice Goddess Constable. Anyone who physically harassed or verbally disrespected her had always ended up in the hospital.
Yan Xiaobao publicly called her "Bingbing wife" but didn't get beaten—this… this must mean there's something fishy going on here!
Having guessed the ambiguous relationship between Yan Xiaobao and Han Ruobing, Zhao Erhu no longer dared to push back and obediently agreed to Han Ruobing's mediation.
"Good." Han Ruobing was very satisfied with this progress and promptly said to Yan Xiaobao, "You go ahead and cure his illness."
"Normally, treating you would cost a million, but since Bingbing my wife asked, I'll give you a discount," Yan Xiaobao said as he extended his index finger and tapped Zhao Erhu's waistline.
Although more than a meter away, Zhao Erhu had no chance to dodge; before he could react, Yan Xiaobao's finger had already struck him.
"Alright." Yan Xiaobao retracted his finger and warned Zhao Erhu, "I'll let you off this time, but if you try to help someone else fight with me over a wife, I won't go easy on you again."
"That's it? It's cured?" Zhao Erhu hesitantly glanced down at his afflicted area. Just like in the morning, Yan Xiaobao had tapped him once without leaving any noticeable sensation.
Han Ruobing also scrutinized Yan Xiaobao, puzzled. One tap of his finger caused Zhao Erhu's "functional disorder," and now another tap had supposedly healed him? This was completely unscientific…
Yan Xiaobao impatiently gave Zhao Erhu a look. "Believe it or not, do you think I'd lie to my Bingbing wife?"
Zhao Erhu fell silent. He wasn't so easily convinced and decided to immediately test his condition with his wife Sun Mei as soon as he left the Patrol Office.
Han Ruobing, however, felt reassured. Earlier, Yan Xiaobao preferred admitting guilt over lying to her, and now there was no reason for him to deceive her anymore. This guy, albeit chaotic in word and deed, was genuinely sincere to her.
Not only was his martial ability ridiculously high, but his medical skills were also extraordinarily eccentric. Truly, he was a rare talent—but his mind seemed somewhat abnormal, calling every pretty woman "wife," and resorting to violence at the drop of a hat. In the morning, he had knocked down a group of hoodlums, then soon stirred up trouble at the Patrol Office…. Truly, he was a bizarre piece of work…
Next, Han Ruobing brought out the mediation plan.
Zhao Erhu would drop the charges of intentional assault against Yan Xiaobao, and Yan Xiaobao would compensate Zhao Erhu and others ten thousand yuan for medical expenses. Xia Rou owed the Sunx Family ten thousand yuan previously. Calculated at the bank loan interest rate of 5.6%, the annual interest is 5,600 yuan. After eleven years, the principal and interest would total 161,600 yuan. Subtracting the 70,000 yuan Xia Rou has already repaid, she still needs to repay 91,600 yuan by the end of the year.
Regarding the mediation plan proposed by Han Ruobing, Xia Rou had no objections, and naturally, neither did Yan Xiaobao.
Although ten thousand yuan for medical expenses seemed like a lot, it was far from enough. These days, implanting a single tooth costs several thousand yuan. The teeth Yan Xiaobao knocked out today numbered around forty to fifty; ten thousand yuan wouldn't even cover the dental repairs.
The debt Xia Rou owed also dropped from 276,400 yuan to 91,600 yuan— a sudden reduction of over 180,000 yuan.
Zhao Erhu was absolutely unwilling in his heart, but he didn't dare object. Usually, Chief Han was busy handling major and serious cases and wouldn't have time to deal with Zhao Erhu and his small-time gang. But to offend her and get on her bad side? That would surely lead to an endless stream of bad days.
"Since no one has any objections, let's sign the agreement." Han Ruobing pushed the mediation document towards Yan Xiaobao and Zhao Erhu, instructing them to sign.
Yan Xiaobao swiftly signed his name and grinned cheekily at Han Ruobing, "Bingbing, my darling wife, I'm hungry. Come have a meal with me and Rourou, my darling wife."
"Squeak—"
Zhao Erhu's hand trembled, leaving a long ink mark on the paper.
Good grief! Is this guy named Yan really this audacious…? He just called both Han Ruobing and Xia Rou 'wife' right to their faces!
Sure, I've seen people who cheat, but I've never seen someone cheat so openly and unapologetically… This guy is begging Han Ruobing to beat him to death...
But once again, Zhao Erhu was surprised. Han Ruobing didn't actually look like she was about to lash out at Yan Xiaobao. Instead, she merely waved him off with a stern face and said, "I'm not going. You go by yourself, hurry up and leave!"
Han Ruobing knew there was no reasoning with someone like Yan Xiaobao. Talking more would be pointless, and she wasn't about to accuse him of slander either—she just wanted to shoo him away and deal with matters quickly.
"It's almost one o'clock now. Not eating on time will give you stomach problems, you know? I reckon your stomach already has issues, Bingbing my darling wife. Let me check it for you." As Yan Xiaobao spoke, he reached for Han Ruobing's hand like he was about to diagnose her pulse.
Yan Xiaobao moved fast and precisely, giving Han Ruobing no chance to dodge. He grabbed her delicate wrist, and she began to struggle frantically, "Let go of me! This is an office, not a hospital…"
Before she could finish speaking, Han Ruobing felt a warm current emanating from Yan Xiaobao's hand, traveling up her arm and spreading to her stomach—cozy and surprisingly comforting.
As a patrol officer, she often worked long hours on assignments, skipping meals here and there. Stomach problems were, unfortunately, common among people in her line of work.
Right now, it was past lunch hour, and Han Ruobing was feeling a bit of gastric pain. With a mere touch, Yan Xiaobao's treatment brought instant relief, as though her stomach was surrounded by a soothing warmth. She stopped struggling and let him treat her.
"Bingbing, my darling wife, your stomach issue is quite serious. But don't worry, I'll bring you a pill later—once you take it, you'll be cured completely." Yan Xiaobao kept holding onto Han Ruobing's hand while enthusiastically adding, "Bingbing darling, since I've healed your stomach, will you join me for a meal now?"
Han Ruobing knew that if she refused, he'd keep pestering her endlessly. In the end, she had no choice but to brush him off, saying, "Some other day. I've got too much work today and can't go out for lunch. I've already asked someone to bring food to the cafeteria, so you should head back."
"Fine then, Bingbing darling, but you better not trick me. Otherwise, I'll spank your butt!"
"You!" Han Ruobing was both embarrassed and furious, yet unable to let out her anger. She had no choice but to hold it all in, feeling miserable.
"Bingbing darling, focus on your work. I'll come find you next time for a meal." Yan Xiaobao, having achieved his goal, wisely decided to back off and swaggered out of Han Ruobing's office.
Zhao Erhu stared after Yan Xiaobao's receding figure with a stunned expression.
Although Han Ruobing was undeniably drop-dead gorgeous, to him, she was like a Siberian tigress—dangerous, ferocious, and absolutely untouchable.
A tiger's butt is not to be patted, but this Yan Xiaobao dared to pat even the tigress's butt. The guy's on another level…
"You've signed the document, so you can leave now. What are you still doing here? Waiting for me to invite you to lunch?" Han Ruobing glared coldly at Zhao Erhu, venting her pent-up frustration on him.
"Ah… No, no, no… Chief Han, you're busy; I wouldn't dare interrupt…" Zhao Erhu quickly fled the scene. To a petty gang leader like him, an officer inviting him to lunch basically meant prison food.
...
As soon as they walked out of the Patrol Office, Yan Xiaobao glanced down both ends of the street and asked, "Rourou darling, where should we go to eat?"
When it came to the term "darling wife," even Han Ruobing couldn't get him to stop. Xia Rou had long given up correcting him. No matter how many times she said, "I'm not your wife," Yan Xiaobao would continue to call her "darling wife" like clockwork.
"I've already eaten. Tell me what you want, and I'll take you there."
Today, Yan Xiaobao had driven away Zhao Erhu and Sunx Peng and helped Xia Rou eliminate massive interest fees. She felt grateful and treated him a little more kindly, even contemplating asking him for another favor.
"Alright then…" With neither Bingbing nor Rourou willing to join him for a meal, Yan Xiaobao lost most of his enthusiasm. He casually chose a nearby restaurant and went inside to fill his stomach.
Watching Yan Xiaobao dine alone, Xia Rou hesitated for a moment before tentatively speaking up, "Yan Xiaobao, I'd like to ask you for a favor… Is that okay?"
"Rourou darling, how can you just call me by my name?" Yan Xiaobao corrected her solemnly, "You should be calling me hubby instead."
Xia Rou hung her head and said, "I'm not your wife yet…"
Yan Xiaobao tilted his head in thought before replying, "Well then, take me to your patient already! Once I've cured your patient, you'll officially be my wife!"
"…" Xia Rou fell into renewed uncertainty.
At first, she'd made that promise as a bargaining chip to get Yan Xiaobao to save someone mid-flight, never expecting him to actually be capable of curing her younger sister, who had been comatose for ten years.
But now, after witnessing his miraculous abilities time and time again, Xia Rou couldn't help feeling anxious.
What if he really cured her sister? Would she really have to become his wife?
Admittedly, Yan Xiaobao was young, good-looking, and remarkably skilled. If something were to happen between them, it wasn't entirely unacceptable.
The problem was that this guy acted like such an oddball, calling every pretty girl he met his "wife." No woman would agree to that...
Maybe it was best to wait and see a bit longer.
...
Thinking of this, Xia Rou excused herself, saying, "About the treatment, I'm working it out. Once it's arranged, I'll take you there."
"Oh." Yan Xiaobao took a few bites of food and suddenly remembered, "Eh? Rourou, you just said you needed my help—it's not about the treatment, right?"
"No... Forget it... It's nothing..." Xia Rou hesitated and stumbled over her words, reluctant to speak.
She had initially planned to ask Yan Xiaobao to lend her money to repay her debt. Before the end of the year, she still had to pay back 91,600. With less than half a year remaining, there was no way she could scrape together that much money.
Coincidentally, the airline was planning to give Yan Xiaobao a two-million-yuan bonus. So Xia Rou intended to borrow some money from him to pay off the Sunx Family, just to avoid their constant harassment.
Owing Yan Xiaobao money was certainly better than owing it to a scoundrel like Sunx Peng. But the way Yan Xiaobao insisted on calling her "wife" made Xia Rou retreat, unwilling to get entangled with him too deeply.
Though Xia Rou said "forget it," Yan Xiaobao wasn't about to let this go. He pressed on, "Rourou, you clearly have something to say. Why suddenly say forget it? You can't hide things from your husband! Or else I'll spank your PIPI for sure."
"Really, it's nothing…" Xia Rou definitely wasn't ready to discuss borrowing money with him now.
"Slap!"
A crisp sound echoed, resembling the noise of a slap.
Yan Xiaobao smacked Xia Rou, but not on her face—on her "second face."
Xia Rou looked stunned and gaped silently, suppressing a scream. She had absolutely no idea how Yan Xiaobao managed to lift her out of her seat, place her over his leg, and deliver a firm smack to her PIPI.
"Rourou, I already warned you—if you're hiding something from me, I'll spank your PIPI!" Yan Xiaobao said while raising his hand again.
Even though it was past peak dining hours and the restaurant wasn't busy, Xia Rou was still mortified. Her cheeks burned as she stammered, "Alright, alright, I'll talk! Just let me go!"
"Slap!" Another smack landed.
"You!" Xia Rou was both furious and embarrassed. "Why did you hit me again?"
Yan Xiaobao glanced at his hand and then at Xia Rou's smacked area, grinning widely, "Wife, your PIPI is so soft and bouncy. It feels so good to slap—I couldn't help but do it again."
"You scoundrel!" Xia Rou stormed to her feet, her face hot as a tomato. Under the curious gazes of the restaurant staff, she darted out the door.
She had never been in a relationship before, much less flirted playfully in public. She felt so mortified she could've dug a hole and buried herself on the spot.
"Rourou, wait for me."
Yan Xiaobao had barely taken a step when the waiter blocked his path, "Excuse me, sir, you haven't paid the bill yet."
"Oh…" Yan Xiaobao patted his pockets, "I don't have any money on me. Hold on—I'll catch up to my wife and have her pay."
"That's not happening. If you run off, where would I find you again?"
The waiter barred his way, but Yan Xiaobao didn't get upset. He was reasonable enough to understand that meals had to be paid for.
Yan Xiaobao pulled out his phone and made two calls to Xia Rou, but both were declined.
"Refusing to take my calls? Tonight, when we get home, I'll definitely spank your PIPI hard!"
As he muttered, Yan Xiaobao flipped through his contacts looking for someone to foot the bill.
He'd previously asked for Han Ruobing's number at the airport when they filled out reports, so he had it saved. Now, it was finally useful—especially since the Patrol Office was just a few dozen meters away from the restaurant.
"Hello? Bingbing, it's your hubby here. I'm eating near your office and don't have money…"
The nearby waiter had a stunned expression.
This guy? Just ran off one "wife," and now he's calling another one? How many wives does he have? Could he be a gigolo?
But when Han Ruobing walked into the restaurant moments later, the waiter was even more astonished.
This restaurant happened to be next to the Patrol Office, so officers often stopped by to dine or order takeout. Naturally, the waiter recognized the famous Cold Ice Goddess Constable, Han Ruobing.
Yet what shocked her to no end was that the dignified and renowned Han Ruobing seemed to indeed be this pretty-boy's "Bingbing." And she really showed up to settle the bill…
Being a gigolo at this level? Truly, a piece of art…
The reason Han Ruobing helped pay was simple—she didn't want Yan Xiaobao causing a bigger scene.
"Bingbing, since you're already here, why don't we have another meal together?" Yan Xiaobao, having dined alone earlier, wasn't satisfied.
"I've already eaten, and it's work hours. I've got no time," Han Ruobing replied curtly, quickly turning to leave to avoid getting tangled up with him. "Go do whatever you need to, and don't cling to me."
"Oh, alright then. Anyway, the food here wasn't great. Next time, I'll take you for lobster, Bingbing." Yan Xiaobao stared at Han Ruobing's curvy silhouette as she left, mentally noting, "Bingbing's PIPI is even perkier than Rourou's—must feel even better to slap…"
The restaurant waiter glared at Yan Xiaobao with disdain as he walked away, absolutely fuming.
Polished off three dishes and a soup all by himself but still complained about the food? Couldn't even pay for a meal that costs a few dozen bucks yet talks about treating someone to lobster? This guy was obviously lying. How did Han Ruobing even end up with a guy like this? Such a bright flower stuck in manure!
However, the waiter's anger that day was destined to escalate due to Yan Xiaobao.
Because the woman who'd fled earlier—Xia Rou—came back.
Having stormed almost half a street away, Xia Rou realized he hadn't caught up with her and remembered he had no money for the bill. Though furious at being teased and slapped twice, she couldn't just leave him to wash dishes. Thus, she returned to clear his bill and "free" him.
The waiter, seeing two stunningly beautiful "wives" pay one after the other, completely ran out of energy to be mad.
Such an elite pretty-boy—nothing but admiration now.
Apparently, he had a certain "hidden talent" that others didn't know of…
"Rourou, I knew you wouldn't leave me behind." Yan Xiaobao said cheerfully as he wrapped an arm around Xia Rou and left the restaurant. "But next time, if you leave me alone and refuse my calls, I'll spank your butt hard!"
Xia Rou unconsciously blushed again, then immediately frowned. "Didn't someone else take your calls and pay your bill? Why does it matter if I don't answer?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Xia Rou regretted them. Her tone was tinged with jealousy, sour but subtle. Despite not having a close relationship with him, why did his actions make her feel a little uneasy?
Yan Xiaobao didn't even notice the sour tone in Xia Rou's words and replied earnestly, "Bingbing listened obediently when she answered my call, so I didn't spank her butt. Rourou, if you don't behave, of course, I'll spank your butt. Alright, now can you tell me what's going on?"
If she were spanked by Yan Xiaobao right in the street, she'd never show her face again.
So Xia Rou simply stopped fussing and shared her idea of borrowing money to pay off the debt.
Yan Xiaobao's eyes widened the moment he heard her. "Rourou, did you hit your head or something?"
"What's wrong with me?"
"Your issues are my issues. Isn't that obvious?" Yan Xiaobao declared matter-of-factly. "I'll take care of all of it for you. If you dare not trust me as your husband, I'm going to spank your butt again!"
Although Xia Rou felt a warmth in her heart, she still didn't want to owe Yan Xiaobao too much. She promptly took out a pen and paper to write him an IOU. "I'm not your wife yet, so consider this money as a loan. If…"
"There's no 'if.' You're absolutely going to be my wife." With a wave of Yan Xiaobao's hand, the IOU was instantly reduced to fine, tiny shreds, scattered in the wind.
...
No matter what happens in the future, at least the debt owed to the Sun Family for over ten years was finally resolved. Xia Rou hadn't felt this lighthearted in a long time. Her spirit lifted without her even realizing it, and the world seemed so much lovelier all of a sudden.
"Since we're already out, why don't we go to the supermarket to get you some daily essentials and a few changes of clothes?" Xia Rou suggested.
On the side, she also wanted to get herself a "safe and reliable, no-peek" nightgown.
"Sure thing," Yan Xiaobao agreed cheerfully.
Being with his gorgeous "wife," no matter where or doing what, made him happy.
To save money, Xia Rou decided to take the bus to the largest nearby supermarket—Carrefour. She kept thinking to herself about saving up enough money to pay Yan Xiaobao back as soon as possible. But of course, she didn't dare say it aloud, lest she provoke another spanking threat from Yan Xiaobao…
"Dear passengers, welcome aboard bus route 173. Please be careful as the doors close, and hold onto the handrails as the vehicle starts up. Passengers boarding, please deposit your fare. Next stop: Hefeng Building. Passengers preparing to disembark, please move toward the rear door."
Amid the bus announcement, Xia Rou squeezed onto the bus with Yan Xiaobao and immediately regretted it.
This bus was overcrowded; the interior was packed so tightly that it was almost impossible to even budge. Dozens of people were crammed together, and even though the air conditioner was on, the temperature remained high and unbearably stuffy. The air was thick with a mix of sweat stench, body odor, cheap perfume, and even the occasional sneaky fart... It was nauseating and made one feel carsick.
Xia Rou, being such a delicate beauty, instantly became the focus of attention for a group of "bus wolves."
Sure, there were occasionally pretty girls on the bus, but someone as stunning as Xia Rou was a rare sight. In today's "looks-are-everything" era, a woman this beautiful surely shouldn't have to rely on public transportation.
After depositing her fare, Xia Rou attempted to move further into the bus to grab a handrail. However, a few shady men nearby not only refused to give her space but even deliberately blocked her path, hoping to maneuver her close enough for some physical "contact" and take the opportunity to cop a feel.
Having grown thrift-conscious and used to taking the bus, Xia Rou was no stranger to these situations. She tried pushing through with her arm a couple of times but quickly realized the indecent intentions of these men. Not wanting to let them succeed, she simply stopped moving.
However, standing on a swaying bus without holding onto a handrail made it very difficult to keep one's balance. Just as Xia Rou was struggling to maintain her footing, the driver suddenly stepped on the gas, accelerating sharply to cut through traffic.
Xia Rou immediately lost her balance and toppled forward.
The person standing in front of her was a middle-aged man wearing a tank top. Seeing Xia Rou about to fall into his arms, he felt a surge of glee. He was already calculating how to "enjoy the moment" and take full advantage. Yet, to his dismay, Xia Rou didn't fall into his embrace but instead landed securely in the arms of the young man behind her.
Damn it, that kid got the drop on me. The tank-top man glared jealously at Yan Xiaobao, who was holding Xia Rou, his eyes filled with envy, resentment, and an overwhelming sense of injustice.
As the bus settled into a smoother rhythm, regaining its balance, Yan Xiaobao showed no intention of releasing his hold. He kept his hands firmly around Xia Rou's slender waist.
"You… You can let go of me now…" Xia Rou's cheeks flushed slightly.
Yesterday, being embraced by Yan Xiaobao at home was one thing—at least no one saw it. But now, being held tightly in his arms on a crowded bus made her incredibly self-conscious.
"No way. It's too dangerous. The bus is so jerky; you'll fall again," Yan Xiaobao said firmly, making it clear he had no intention of letting go.
Xia Rou's delicate back pressed snugly against him, soft and warm, giving off a faint fragrance that wafted into his nose. It felt so good he didn't want to let go, not even for a second. Only a fool would.
"I'll just grab hold of the handrail," Xia Rou tried to reason with him.
"That's even worse," Yan Xiaobao declared, casting his gaze over the men around them and openly adding, "There are tons of bad guys on this bus who'd take advantage of you."
Xia Rou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This way, no one else could take advantage of her—but only because Yan Xiaobao was hogging the opportunity all to himself. She resisted the urge to argue further because if she pushed the issue, he would no doubt flaunt his "husband" status as an excuse. Worse yet, he might even threaten to spank her in front of everyone… That would be the ultimate humiliation.
Meanwhile, the surrounding men also looked deeply dissatisfied. This guy was shamelessly monopolizing all the benefits while slandering them in the process. Truly infuriating!
Just then, someone pushed her way through the crowd from behind the men, forcing her way forward until she reached Yan Xiaobao. "You rascal! Let go of this young lady!" a voice called out.
Yan Xiaobao, thoroughly enjoying the delightful sensation of holding Xia Rou, was immediately annoyed by the interruption. "Hey! I'm holding my own wife. What's it to you? Back off and mind your own business. Don't think just because you're a girl I won't hit you."
The intruder, a tall girl with a ponytail, looked about the same age as Yan Xiaobao. Her fierce expression and sharp brows gave her an air of righteous determination.
Hearing Yan Xiaobao claim that Xia Rou was his wife, the ponytailed girl didn't buy it. Neither did the surrounding passengers.
The pair didn't seem like a married couple based on their ages, and Xia Rou's expressions and their conversation lacked the vibe of a husband-and-wife dynamic.
"You say she's your wife? Then show me your marriage certificate!" the ponytailed girl demanded stubbornly, her face brimming with a sense of justice. She peppered Yan Xiaobao with questions, "Don't have your marriage certificate on you? Fine, then just tell me: What year, month, and day did you get married? What's her birthday? Star sign? Blood type?"
Yan Xiaobao was taken aback by the ponytail girl's questions. He had only known Xia Rou for two days and didn't know her birthday, zodiac sign, or blood type at all.
Yan Xiaobao rolled his eyes and countered, "I don't even know you, so why should I tell you my wife's birthday, zodiac sign, blood type, or anything?"
"Hmph! I bet you can't even say it," the ponytail girl said proudly, as if she had caught Yan Xiaobao's fox tail. "If you can't say it, it means this sister is not your wife at all. Since she's not your wife, holding her like that is just hooliganism! If you keep holding her, I won't be polite to you!"
"Not polite to me? Oh really, go ahead and be impolite." Yan Xiaobao laughed. The novelty of the situation amused him; he had always been the one being impolite to others, and no one had ever dared to be impolite to him.
Xia Rou was afraid Yan Xiaobao might hit someone again and quickly tried to persuade, "Little sister, you've misunderstood. Although I'm not his wife, we are... we are friends, so..."
"Slap!" Before Xia Rou could finish her sentence, her PIPI received a solid slap, feeling a fiery sensation... quite stimulating...
"Rourou, you're being naughty again." Yan Xiaobao said sternly, "You're about to become my wife, so how can you tell others you're not my wife?"
Xia Rou personally denied the marital relationship, yet Yan Xiaobao still hit her in public, making the ponytail girl raise her brows, assuming a stance resembling Wing Chun, and angrily exclaimed, "Stinking hooligan, you're being outrageous in front of me, the Binhai Heroine Ye Shanshan! Watch out for my punches!"
"Stop!" Xia Rou was alarmed and quickly opened her arms, blocking Yan Xiaobao, "Miss Ye... please don't be upset. We do indeed... indeed have a marriage contract. Our business is none of your concern, but thank you."
At this point, Xia Rou had no choice but to admit the inexplicable marriage contract with Yan Xiaobao. Otherwise, not only would her own PIPI take another hit, but this girl named Ye Shanshan might also be in danger.
"Really?" Ye Shanshan scrutinized Xia Rou and Yan Xiaobao, still a bit skeptical.
"Dear passengers, Carrefour stop has arrived. Please exit from the back door if you need to get off. After exiting, please observe traffic rules and stay safe..."
The bus announcement came just in time to help Xia Rou out of the situation. As soon as the bus stopped, Xia Rou hurriedly dragged Yan Xiaobao off the bus.
"Whew..." Xia Rou finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This guy is truly a walking disaster; he almost got into a fight just by taking the bus. It's best to quickly finish shopping and hide him away at home to avoid causing more trouble.
Fortunately, once inside the supermarket, Yan Xiaobao behaved, pushing the shopping cart beside Xia Rou, not buying random things, not hitting anyone, and not randomly calling anyone his wife.
Because Yan Xiaobao didn't find any woman pretty enough to be his wife.
After buying toothbrushes, towels, and other daily necessities, Xia Rou also led Yan Xiaobao to buy two sets of clothes.
The clothes at the supermarket weren't of a high grade, but fortunately, Yan Xiaobao wasn't picky about clothes.
He was only picky about the clothes his future wife wore.
In less than an hour, Xia Rou had purchased everything she needed, and while Yan Xiaobao was trying on clothes, she secretly bought herself a long, thick, dark purple round-neck nightgown. Now she no longer had to worry about being stared at by Yan Xiaobao after showering.
After leaving the supermarket, to avoid causing trouble on the bus again, Xia Rou planned to take a taxi home.
While waiting for a taxi, Yan Xiaobao noticed a commotion at a store across the street and curiously said, "What's being sold over there that attracts so many people?"
From a distance, Xia Rou noticed a prominent banner that read: "Victoria's Secret New Concept Fashion Experience Store Grand Opening."
"Nothing special, just a clothing store opening," Xia Rou dared not take Yan Xiaobao to visit "Victoria's Secret." It is well-known as the world's most prestigious lingerie brand.
"Wife, let's go take a look." Yan Xiaobao didn't want to return home too early. Since he hadn't yet cured the patients at Xia Rou's home, she wouldn't do couples' things with him, and staying home was no fun.
"No need to see, the clothes from that brand are very expensive..."
"Really? I've never worn expensive clothes before." As Yan Xiaobao spoke, he took Xia Rou's hand and started crossing the street.
Xia Rou knew she couldn't go against Yan Xiaobao's wishes and was led across the street by him, secretly praying not to cause any trouble...
Once squeezed into the crowd, Xia Rou's face turned red.
She finally understood why there were so many people here.
This "Victoria's Secret" New Concept Fashion Experience Store was holding a lingerie show. In the trendy, dynamic music, models with heavy makeup and sizzling lingerie strutted confidently on the T-stage, showcasing various lingerie styles.
Three layers deep, the audience below the stage was mainly composed of men. Their wolf-like eyes devoured the models wearing scantily clad secret pieces, wishing they had X-ray vision.
People filming with their phones were holding them low to high, wanting to capture the live footage to enjoy later.
Xia Rou frowned, wondering how "Victoria's Secret," a top international brand, could hold such unsophisticated street performances.
Upon closer inspection, Xia Rou found the trick.
It turned out this store wasn't "Victoria's Secret" but "Vimi."
Although "Vimi" is commonly known as a short name for "Victoria's Secret," it's not their registered trademark. Hence, this lingerie store using the "Vimi" sign was hard to prosecute for infringement, yet it attracted many unsuspecting consumers to shop.
Xia Rou always disliked these fraudulent knock-off practices and immediately wanted to leave. But the little rascal probably wouldn't want to leave, considering all the exposed legs and exaggerated half-spheres...
Unexpectedly, Yan Xiaobao voluntarily grabbed Xia Rou's hand and headed outside the crowd, "What's this? All those faces are so unattractive, yet they're desperately showing off. They really have no self-awareness."
Xia Rou was greatly surprised, somewhat disbelievingly said, "Why the change today? Aren't you the one who loves to look at... at these exposed things..."
"Humph!" Yan Xiaobao said with arrogance, "I only appreciate beautiful women, and not just any woman is worth my time unless they're as pretty as you, Rourou, otherwise I wouldn't bother looking twice."
This guy... his eyes sure are selective...
But hearing Yan Xiaobao say that, Xia Rou felt a subtle hint of happiness in her heart.
Every woman surely likes being seen as "the standard of beauty," right?
Seeing the faint smile tugging at the corners of Xia Rou's lips, Yan Xiaobao immediately said, "Rourou, you're so beautiful. When we get home, can you wear it and show it to me?"
Xia Rou's expression shifted slightly, and then she gave a sly smile. "Sure, I bought a new nightgown today. Once I shower back home, you can look all you want."
The nightgown she just bought was thick, long, and deep purple with a round neckline, practically impenetrable. She could even wear it out to buy groceries — look all you want, hmph!
Yan Xiaobao, of course, didn't catch Xia Rou's little scheme and eagerly quickened his pace. "Great, great, then let's hurry home and take a shower!"
The men nearby overheard the conversation between Yan Xiaobao and Xia Rou, and a wave of bitterness swept through their hearts simultaneously.
This beauty is truly stunning, even better than the models on stage. Alas, the best cabbage has been taken by the pigs...
New nightgown... shower... look all you want... boohoo... this dose of public display of affection is too much to bear...
Yan Xiaobao pulled Xia Rou out of the crowd, but just a few steps away, an angry voice suddenly sounded behind them: "Xia Rou!"
Both of them turned their heads simultaneously and saw a tall young man quickly catching up to them.
"Xia Rou, I heard you returned yesterday. I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I didn't call you. I was planning to find you today, but I didn't expect to run into you here — what a coincidence!" The young man's burning gaze locked onto Xia Rou, completely treating the nearby Yan Xiaobao as if he were air.
Xia Rou asked politely, "Did you need something?"
"Not really, it's just... I missed..." The young man paused mid-sentence and amended, "Missed chatting over dinner with you."
"Thanks, but I'd rather skip dinner. I don't like eating out," Xia Rou replied indifferently. "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
Seeing Xia Rou turn to leave, the young man finally noticed that Xia Rou's hand was being held by Yan Xiaobao. His eyes instantly flared with rage as he asked in a deep voice, "Xia Rou, who is he?"
"Just a friend..." Xia Rou internally regretted things and hastily urged, "Don't ask so many questions, hurry up and go mind your business..."
This young man, named Luo Jianbi, was not only in the same field but also one of Xia Rou's suitors. Xia Rou had no feelings for him whatsoever, so she had always refused to agree to any dates with him.
"Just a friend?" Luo Jianbi, seeing the woman he had chased after endlessly holding another man's hand, refused to let it go and demanded, "Holding hands in public, and just a friend? What is your relationship exactly? Tell me clearly!"
Yan Xiaobao had already discerned that Luo Jianbi was up to something concerning Xia Rou, so he immediately got angry. "Hey! Is there something wrong with your brain? I'm holding my wife's hand — what business is it of yours? Keep rambling, and I'll give you a beating!"
"Your wife?" Luo Jianbi exclaimed in shock, asking Xia Rou in disbelief, "Xia Rou, you... you... since when did you get married? No... that's impossible! You've only been away for a few days, how could you have gotten married?"
To make Luo Jianbi give up and to avoid Yan Xiaobao beating people up, Xia Rou admitted, "That's right, I am married. Just while I was away these few days, I got engaged to him."
Luo Jianbi heard this and his anger exploded. He roared, "Xia Rou! How could you do this? I've chased you for so long, and you didn't even let me touch your hand. You leave town for a few days, and now you're... you're engaged to this young man? Are you blind? What does this young man have that I don't?"
"Hey!" Yan Xiaobao got upset as well. "You're the blind one! How can this young man be inferior to your grumpy old mug?"
Though there were alluring models in lingerie nearby, Luo Jianbi's yelling still drew a crowd of onlookers. Upon hearing Yan Xiaobao's reply, they all chuckled.
"Does this guy not realize 'young man' is an insult? He actually acknowledges himself as one."
"Bro, you don't get it, huh? Nowadays, everything revolves around appearances. 'Young men' and 'fresh faces' are both in high demand."
"Exactly. He's handsome, clearly capable of living off his looks — why rely on talent?"
"Uh... now that you mention it, it does seem to make some sense."
The earlier speaker glanced at Yan Xiaobao's fair skin, radiant like jade, then at Luo Jianbi's livid expression. They nodded, "Now that you point it out, that young man really does look more pleasing to the eye than the old, angry one."
"You little brat!" Luo Jianbi, furious, his face contorted with rage, pointed at Yan Xiaobao and yelled, "Dare to steal my woman? I'll beat you till you see how 'good' looking you really are!"
"Great! I'd love to see what's worth looking at," Yan Xiaobao replied joyfully. Earlier on the bus, a random girl had wanted to mess with him, and now here was a random guy doing it. This day had been a lot of fun.
"Don't hit him!" Xia Rou was panicked.
Luo Jianbi mistakenly thought Xia Rou was protecting Yan Xiaobao and became even more hateful. While rolling up his sleeves, he growled, "The more you defend him, the harsher I'll be. Today, I'll turn this 'young man' into a 'flower-faced boy'!"
"I wasn't talking to you!" Xia Rou snapped at Luo Jianbi before tightly gripping Yan Xiaobao's hands, pleading urgently, "Can you stop hitting people? Isn't life troublesome enough as it is?"
Luo Jianbi froze, realizing that Xia Rou wasn't defending her young man, but rather pleading with the young man not to hit him instead...
Yan Xiaobao shook his head firmly, refusing. "He dares insult my Rourou, and even says he'll turn me into a flower-faced boy. Of course I have to teach him a lesson — this way, he'll never dare insult you again. Don't worry, Rourou; I'll knock him down with just two punches, easy peasy."
"No!" Xia Rou desperately hugged Yan Xiaobao's arm, blurting out in a panic, "If you hit him, I... I won't wear the nightgown for you to see!"
"Uh..." Yan Xiaobao could feel the wonderful, soft touch on his arm and wavered.
Watching Rourou wear the nightgown was obviously more entertaining than fighting with the angry old man over there.
Luo Jianbi froze upon hearing Xia Rou's words, nearly spitting blood in fury.
Xia Rou's beautiful face, her graceful and curvy figure, had always been the stuff of his daydreams, his deepest desires. He'd spent half a year pursuing her relentlessly, yet hadn't even managed so much as to hold her hand. And now, this young man had already gotten ahead of him.
Luo Jianbi was consumed with anger, hate, and jealousy. His resentment surged as he snapped, "Xia Rou! I must've been blind! I thought you were a decent, self-respecting woman, but turns out you're so shameless! So disgraceful! Forget the damn nightgown — why not just run naked and let the entire world see what an indecent tramp you are!"
"Rourou, his mouth is so foul, I really can't stand it anymore." Yan Xiaobao looked at Xia Rou, seeking her opinion.
Xia Rou said nothing and silently loosened her grip.
She was genuinely furious. She was a proper woman with high moral standards. Even when she showed Yan Xiaobao her nightgown, it was the most conservative and opaque one. For Luo Jianbi to shout such vile insults in the street, one might actually believe she was some flirtatious loose woman.
The bystanders also began criticizing Luo Jianbi.
"Feelings can't be forced. Not being able to win someone over and then behaving like a shrew and throwing mud at them—this man's character is disgusting."
"Exactly! What's his name? Luo Jianbi? What a perfect fit for such a despicable guy! Thank goodness this beautiful woman has sharp eyes and didn't get with this trash. Otherwise, it'd truly be a flower stuck in cow dung."
"Right! They're already engaged, and she wears nightgowns at home for her man to see. Isn't that perfectly normal? How's that shameless? My husband often asks me to do the same..."
Yan Xiaobao pulled his arm away from Xia Rou's embrace and prepared to teach Luo Jianbi a lesson, ensuring he wouldn't dare insult Xia Rou again.
"Wait a moment..." Xia Rou held him back again and advised, "Don't hit him too hard. It'll be troublesome if you injure him."
Yan Xiaobao thought for a moment and playfully bargained, "If I obediently listen to my wife now and don't injure him, will Rourou listen to me obediently when we get home?"
"I..." Xia Rou blushed, lowered her head, and murmured, "This... this is too soon. It's not good... We've only just known each other for two days..."
"No worries—I'm totally fine with it." Yan Xiaobao grinned ear to ear.
"..." Xia Rou was speechless. This guy's twisted logic left her with no words.
Yan Xiaobao, beaming with delight, turned toward Luo Jianbi, "Hey! You dark-faced guy, today's your lucky day. I've already promised Rourou not to injure you. Apologize to my wife quickly, and I'll let you off this time."
"Bragging, are we? I'm a member of an amateur boxing club. Why would I fear you, a pampered young man?" Luo Jianbi shouted as he stepped forward and launched a "Black Tiger Heart Stealing" move, aiming straight at Yan Xiaobao's chest.
To be fair, Luo Jianbi's punch did look decent. As an amateur boxer, at least he'd learned some fancy moves.
However, to Yan Xiaobao, this level of attack was no different than child's play. With hardly any effort, he caught Luo Jianbi's wrist and rendered him immobile.
"You!" Luo Jianbi was stunned to find his full-strength punch effortlessly caught by Yan Xiaobao. Shocked and wanting to retreat, he realized he couldn't move a single finger.
As the two clashed hands, the bystanders instantly got excited. Not only did they refrain from intervening, but they also started cheering loudly.
"This dark-faced fellow looks tall and sturdy, but who knew he'd be so useless? Did he miss breakfast or something?"
"His punch did seem fierce, definitely stronger than an average person's. But maybe this fair-skinned guy is an expert martial artist."
"Doesn't matter if he's skilled or not—come on, fight! Why stop after one punch?"
"Exactly! Beat him up! If you're a man, fight back!"
Yan Xiaobao ignored the crowd, firmly gripping Luo Jianbi's wrist. He scrutinized him from head to toe like examining an animal specimen, then curled his lip and said:
"I promised Rourou not to injure you, but you're so pathetically weak that even a casual strike from me would hurt you. Now what should I do?"
Xia Rou in the background couldn't help but laugh when she heard Yan Xiaobao's words.
This guy was always absurd and out of tune, but when it came to following the "wife's" wishes, he was pretty adorable...
Luo Jianbi, both terrified and angry, shouted in a blustering tone, "Let go of me! Or I'll call people over to kill you in seconds!"
"You idiot! Not only is your brain useless, but your mouth stinks too. Let me shut that mouth of yours first." Yan Xiaobao replied, poking Luo Jianbi with his finger.
Luo Jianbi opened his mouth but found himself unable to produce any sound.
"What did you do to me?" Judging from Luo Jianbi's lip movements, this was likely what he wanted to say.
Yan Xiaobao didn't bother responding to him. After thinking for a moment, he laughed out loud, "Got it! If I can't injure you, I'll make you stand here as punishment."
With that, Yan Xiaobao poked Luo Jianbi again and turned towards Xia Rou, boasting, "Rourou, how about letting him stand here for a day and a night?"
Xia Rou figured this was likely the most "gentle" punishment she could expect from this "violent" man, so she nodded.
"Listen up, you dark-faced guy. Out of respect for Rourou, I'll just make you mute and immobile, standing here for a day and a night. If you ever dare bother Rourou again, I'll make you mute and immobile for life!"
After saying this, Yan Xiaobao grabbed Xia Rou's hand and walked out of the crowd. "Rourou, let's hurry home and take a nice bath!"
As Yan Xiaobao left with Xia Rou, Luo Jianbi remained frozen in his "Black Tiger Heart Stealing" pose, completely immobile. The curious onlookers gathered around him, marveling as if observing an alien.
"This is amazing—he really can't speak or move."
"So cool! This must be the legendary pressure point technique, just like in martial arts movies!"
"I wouldn't have guessed it. That fair-skinned guy turned out to be a hidden master. Truly, masters live among the ordinary."
"Wait, do we need to call the police?"
"Why bother? This dark guy's heart is wicked, his mouth is foul, and he's a disgrace. Let him stand here for a day and night—it seems perfectly fair to me."
"Agreed. Let's move him to the shrubbery so the patrolling officers won't spot him."
"Sounds good. Come, help me lift him."
And so, like a living statue, Luo Jianbi was carried by two middle-aged men and hidden in the greenery by the roadside to avoid being discovered by the patrols.
"Alright, everyone, let's disperse. We'll come back tomorrow for the show."
"Wait, let me take a close-up photo. Maybe it'll go viral."
The crowd laughed, chatted, and eventually dispersed, leaving Luo Jianbi behind.
Furious, humiliated, and frustrated, Luo Jianbi almost felt like spewing blood. Yet he could only stand rigidly amidst the shrubs, trapped in his "Black Tiger Heart Stealing" stance for an entire day and night.
Meanwhile, Yan Xiaobao grabbed a cab in a rush and dashed home with Xia Rou, "Rourou, we've been out all day and sweated a lot. Hurry up and take a shower!"