56: Do you have a car?

In the branch office's reception hall, the tense atmosphere slowly dissipated as the sound of sirens faded into the distance.

The wall clock ticked away; it was already nearly midnight.

"Hey, Lin Chuan."

She was in an exceptionally good mood at the moment, her beautiful eyes sparkling as if they held two pools of spring water.

"Are you busy tonight?"

Lin Chuan smiled. "What else would I be doing? Just going home to sleep."

In this era, you couldn't even play Honor of Kings, and there weren't many other forms of entertainment.

"Sleep? Forget that!"

Officer Su Qingyi winked playfully. Her cold demeanor was gone, replaced by the straightforwardness unique to a top-tier Northeast beauty.

"Since we're both free, let's not wait until tomorrow."

"I'm happy today. Now that we have a lead on this case, I won't be able to sleep anyway."

"Come on! Big sister will take you to a great place!"

"It's over in Daowai, an old-fashioned iron pot stewed goose place hidden in an alley!"

"I'm telling you, their potatoes are incredible! With that flavor, plus cornmeal pancakes and small flower rolls, then simmered with wide noodles and corn."

"Oh man, dipped in the sauce, it's absolutely fantastic!"

"It'll definitely make you want to swallow your tongue!"

Lin Chuan's appetite was whetted by her description.

After a long day of work, his stomach was indeed a bit empty.

"Sure, I'll follow Officer Su's lead."

"Then wait for me a second! Don't you dare leave!"

Officer Su Qingyi clapped her hands and turned around, running toward the backyard like a graceful swallow.

"I'm going back to the dormitory to change! This uniform smells like sweat; it'll ruin the appetite!"

...Branch office backyard, female police dormitory.

The small room had two single beds and was kept very clean.

Officer Su Qingyi rushed in like a gust of wind, slammed the door shut, and leaned against it, panting heavily.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her heart was beating a bit fast.

She was a bit puzzled by her own reaction.

Officer Su Qingyi, oh Officer Su Qingyi, isn't it just having a meal with an old classmate?

Is there any need to be this excited?

She walked to the half-length mirror in front of the wardrobe and frowned at her reflection—valiant and heroic, yet her good figure was hidden by the bulky police uniform.

"This is too dowdy."

This uniform is fine for catching thieves, but for a date, not so much!

She opened the wardrobe; there weren't many civilian clothes inside, and most were plain colors.

"This white shirt? No, looks like a salesperson."

"These jeans? They show off my long legs, but they're a bit too casual."

Officer Su Qingyi took out clothes one by one to compare them against herself, muttering under her breath, a completely different person from the usually decisive and capable detective.

Finally, her gaze landed on a sky-blue dress hanging in the corner.

Her aunt, who was in the performing arts troupe, had sent it to her from Shanghai for her birthday last year.

It was the latest style on the market, with a cinched waist and a hemline just above the knee; it wasn't frivolous but perfectly showcased her leg lines.

"This is the one!"

Officer Su Qingyi bit her lip, quickly shed her police uniform, and changed into the dress.

She also found a pair of beige mid-heel sandals to put on.

She spun around in front of the mirror.

Under the dim yellow light, that touch of sky blue seemed to light up the entire room.

Her slender neck, her waist that could be held in one hand, and those straight, fair, and lean long legs below the hemline were almost dazzlingly white.

She let down her ponytail, which she usually kept tied up.

Her smooth black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, carrying the faint jasmine scent of shampoo.

She pursed her lips and smiled at the mirror; she was only in her early twenties.

Caught between being a girl and a young woman, she appeared pure and shy, yet charming.

That exquisite charm was enough to make any man's eyes go wide.

"Hmm, not bad!"

Officer Su Qingyi patted her fair cheeks, hummed a little tune, grabbed a delicate clutch, and walked out quickly... Branch office entrance.

In the middle of the night, the wind was a bit chilly.

That nuisance Meng Fei still hadn't left!

He was leaning against the door of his Santana, smoking gloomily, with a floor full of cigarette butts at his feet.

After being driven away in anger earlier, the more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt.

Why?

He, the dignified young master of the Meng Family, lost to a country bumpkin?

He wouldn't accept it!

He stayed there to block them, refusing to believe Officer Su Qingyi would actually go to dinner with that kid.

Just then, the sound of light footsteps approached.

Meng Fei looked up, the cigarette in his hand dropped to the ground, and his mouth fell open wide enough to fit a duck egg.

"Holy... shit..."

He saw Officer Su Qingyi walking out of the hall.

The dim yellow light of the streetlamp hit her, her blue dress swaying in the wind, her black hair fluttering.

Beautiful!

So damn beautiful!

Like a Hong Kong or Taiwan star walking straight off a calendar!

Meng Fei stared blankly, almost drooling.

He had chased Officer Su Qingyi for so long, seeing her in uniform every day; he had never seen anything like this!

Lin Chuan's eyes also lit up slightly.

Although he had seen countless beauties in his past life, he hadn't been 'functional' back then.

He rarely felt any impulses toward women.

But in this life, seeing such a natural, unenhanced beauty with the unique pure aura of the 90s, his male hormones started to kick in.

Truly a sight for sore eyes!

Lin Chuan thought to himself.

"Lin Chuan, sorry for the wait!"

Officer Su Qingyi shyly tucked a strand of wind-blown hair behind her ear and gave Lin Chuan a radiant smile.

"Let's go! I'm starving!"

"Su... Officer Su Qingyi?!"

Only then did Meng Fei snap out of it, buzzing around like a fly and completely ignoring Lin Chuan.

"Qingyi! You're so beautiful!"

"This outfit was practically made for you!"

Meng Fei shamelessly blocked their path, a repulsive smile plastered on his face.

"Uh, didn't you two say you'd eat tomorrow?"

"Why are you coming out now?"

"Perfect timing! My car is already warmed up!"

"Qingyi, eat with him tomorrow. Tonight, it's on me! Let's eat together!"

"I'll take you for Western food! Steaks! I know a restaurant that's still open at this hour!"

As he spoke, he shot a provocative look at Lin Chuan, as if to say, "Can a poor kid like you afford Western food?"

The smile on Officer Su Qingyi's face vanished instantly, her brow furrowing like she was looking at a pile of bird droppings that had suddenly landed on her foot.

"Meng Fei, are you done yet?"

"Was I not clear enough earlier?"

"I don't want to be with you! Please move aside!"

"Oh, Qingyi, don't be so heartless. Fine, if it comes down to it, I'll let you bring this kid along. It's just one more pair of chopsticks."

As Meng Fei spoke, he tried to grab Officer Su Qingyi's arm.

Just as his hand was about to touch her.

A large hand suddenly reached out.

Like a pair of iron pliers, it grabbed Meng Fei's collar.

"You motherf—"

Before Meng Fei could finish his curse, he felt his body lighten.

Whoosh—

A grown man weighing over 140 pounds was lifted by Lin Chuan with one hand like a trash bag.

And tossed aside.

"Go play somewhere else."

Stumble, stumble, stumble!

Meng Fei was thrown several meters away, nearly landing on his butt, looking as pathetic as a drunkard.

"Fuck!!"

Meng Fei steadied himself, straightened his tie, his face red with rage.

"Lin Chuan! You fucking dare touch me?!"

"Someone, get him!"

With that shout, four or five of his lackeys immediately jumped out of a nearby parked van. They all had long hair and held steel pipes, shouting as they prepared to charge.

Officer Su Qingyi frowned. "Meng Fei, this is the entrance to the Public Security Bureau. Do you believe I'll arrest you?"

"Who dares to move?"

At the same time, a low voice, sounding as if it came from hell, rang out.

Long Wu, who had been standing silently in the shadows, took a step forward.

He didn't make a move.

He just shrugged off his jacket, revealing gnarled, bulging muscles.

Then his dead-fish eyes coldly swept over the group of lackeys.

With just that one look.

The lackeys with the steel pipes felt as if they were being stared at by a wild beast. They shuddered, nearly dropping their pipes.

That was the gaze of a killer!

And one who had taken at least a hundred lives, maybe even a thousand!

He was a creature from a completely different dimension compared to these little thugs who only knew how to brawl!

The group skidded to a halt, looking at each other, none daring to take the first step.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

Meng Fei stomped his feet and cursed, but he knew he wouldn't get the upper hand by force tonight.

His eyes darted around, and seeing Lin Chuan and Officer Su Qingyi heading toward the roadside, he immediately found a sense of superiority again.

"Fine! Lin! You're tough because you have a bodyguard!"

"But do you have a car?!"

Meng Fei rushed over to his polished Santana. In '92, this was a status symbol!

He slapped the hood loudly.

"It's the middle of the night; the buses stopped running long ago!"

"This isn't the city center; you won't see a taxi for half an hour!"

"What? You want a delicate beauty like Qingyi to walk the streets in high heels?"

"Do you have the heart for that?!"

Meng Fei got more excited as he spoke, thinking he had found Lin Chuan's weakness.

He opened the car door and even honked the horn twice ostentatiously. "Beep beep!"

Then he looked at Officer Su Qingyi with an expression of deep affection.

"Qingyi! Don't suffer with him!"

"Get in! A Santana! My car is fast and steady!"

"I'll take you home!"

"The cold wind is blowing; it would break my heart if you caught a cold!"

A few police officers coming off the night shift saw this and couldn't help but shake their heads.

Though they disliked Meng Fei's arrogance, he wasn't wrong.

Private cars were very rare in this era.

At this hour, it was indeed difficult to get anywhere without a car.

And they could only ride their bicycles home.

Although Officer Su Qingyi didn't want to take Meng Fei's car, she was also a bit worried as she looked at the empty street.

"Lin Chuan, how about we go back to the station and borrow some bicycles?" she suggested quietly.

Lin Chuan smiled.

"Who said I don't have a car?"

"Huh?" Officer Su Qingyi was stunned.

Snap!

Lin Chuan snapped his fingers.

At the same time, as if by magic.

At the end of the dark street in the distance.

Two bright headlights suddenly lit up.

Those special xenon headlights had such strong penetration that they instantly illuminated the entrance of the police station like broad daylight!

Then.

The deep, pleasant roar of an engine, like a low growl of a beast, could be heard.

The sound was low, powerful, and full of luxury—a world of difference from the "putt-putt-putt" of the Santana!

Vroom—

A massive vehicle broke through the night.

The streamlined black body shimmered with a faint cold light under the streetlamps; it was significantly larger than the Santana!

The three-pointed star emblem standing on the hood was shining brightly!

"That's! Holy shit!"

An experienced officer who knew his cars dropped his cigarette.

"A Benz! A Benz?!"

"And it's a tiger head benz?!"

Meng Fei, who had been arrogantly slapping the hood of his Santana, froze as soon as he saw the approaching car.

It was as if he had been slapped hard across the face.

He watched as the black beast glided over elegantly yet dominantly.

Then, without missing a beat.

It came to a steady stop right in front of Lin Chuan and Officer Su Qingyi!

With this comparison, the previously impressive Santana instantly looked like a piece of junk.

The contrast was brutal!

One was land-based first class, the other was just an ordinary sedan.

They weren't even in the same league!

The car door opened.

Qiang Zi, dressed in a sharp suit, jumped out of the driver's seat and jogged over.

He looked professional and stylish.

First, he bowed respectfully to Lin Chuan.

"Boss!"

Then he opened the massive trunk and pointed to the items packed inside as he reported:

"Boss! Everything you ordered has been taken care of!"

"I just went on a shopping spree at the mall. The best silk duvets and latex pillows! Everything has been bought according to your requirements!"

"Also, I've got the keys to the villa."

"I'll take this bedding over in a bit and have someone set it up!"

Qiang Zi spoke at a volume that was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

Silence.

Only the rustling of the wind through the treetops could be heard.

The police officers' jaws were practically hitting the ground.

Buying duvets?

Silk ones at that?

Living in a villa?!

He even bought a villa in the city?!

In this era, even "ten-thousand-yuan households" were rare. What kind of net worth must someone have to buy a villa in the city?!

Officer Su Qingyi also covered her mouth, looking at Lin Chuan in surprise.

"You! You have a villa in the city?"

Lin Chuan smiled faintly. A villa didn't cost much, just a few hundred thousand.

He still had over six hundred billion in his system; he was worried because he couldn't spend it all even if he tried!

"Yeah, I just picked up a place for the convenience of doing business."

"Since my focus will be shifting to the city, I can't be commuting back and forth every day."

After saying that, he didn't even look at the petrified Meng Fei.

Instead, he very gentlemanly opened the rear door of the tiger head benz and made a gesture of invitation.

"Officer Su, after you?"

"This car might not be as bumpy as a Santana, but it's passable."

Pfft—

Officer Su Qingyi was amused by Lin Chuan's sarcastic remark and laughed heartily.

She rolled her eyes at Meng Fei, then lifted her skirt and elegantly slipped into the luxury car.

The feel of the leather seats, the faint fragrance inside, the spaciousness...

This was true enjoyment!

Lin Chuan followed her inside.

Long Wu, as the bodyguard, sat in the front.

"Where to, Boss?" Qiang Zi asked.

"Daowai, Old Man Xu's Iron Pot Stewed Goose!"

"You got it!"

Qiang Zi stepped on the gas.

The tiger head benz let out a low roar and sped away, leaving only a red trail of taillights in the night.

Leaving behind only a cloud of exhaust and a group of stunned people.

Meng Fei stood in the wind.

Looking at his Santana that he had been so proud of just moments ago.

Then looking at the tiger head benz, whose taillights were already out of sight.

This slap to the face was loud and clear!

It was like a repeated heel drop and a roundhouse kick!

He felt the police officers around him looking at him differently, full of mockery and pity.

"What are you looking at! Haven't you ever seen a car before!"

Meng Fei roared in shame and anger.

Then he slunk into his car, having to try three times before the engine finally caught.

Finally, amidst a cloud of black smoke, he fled the scene in disgrace.

However, as he left, he stared intently at the direction Lin Chuan had gone through the rearview mirror.

His eyes were filled with pure malice.

"Lin Chuan! You just have a little money, who do you think you're fooling? I know all the big shots in Harbin, and I've never heard of anyone named Lin. You just wait!"

"What use is your money?"

"I'm going to fucking kill you!!"