Chen Yang, Xu Haoran, and Liu Zhengyi exchanged a glance, a sense of absurdity rising within them.
Su Jun's face showed panic as he said,
"Brother Fang, the police suddenly showing up at this hour, could they be after us...?"
The facts quickly confirmed Su Jun's guess. After the door opened, a series of hurried footsteps came from the stairs, and a large group of people soon appeared at Su Jun's door.
Leading the group was a tall, burly policeman with the rank of Second-Class Inspector. Behind him, besides several officers with the rank of Superintendent, was Zheng Laoxi, the man who had just extorted money from Su Jun.
Zheng Laoxi's face was swollen like a pig's head, glistening oily under the dim hallway lights, looking quite comical. Upon seeing Chen Yang and his group, he immediately shouted:
"Captain Du, these are the men! They were beating us up in the street just now!"
Captain Du, hearing this, glared and roared:
"This is outrageous! How dare they openly beat innocent civilians in my jurisdiction! Take them all back!"
The police officers behind Captain Du responded and stepped forward to arrest Chen Yang and his group. "Wait!" Xu Haoran called out calmly, walking up to Captain Du. He squinted at him, looking him up and down, and asked with a sneer, "Who are you? Acting all high and mighty in front of me!"
"Oh ho!" Captain Du chuckled instead of getting angry. "You really have a cocky one here!"
After saying that, Captain Du's expression turned serious, and he said with considerable authority:
"I am Du Changsheng, Captain of the Public Security Brigade of the Changjie Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau. We just received a report from the public about an assault case on Heqian Street. The victim has identified you as the perpetrators. Please come with me to the branch to assist in the investigation!"
"What if we don't go?" Xu Haoran stared into Du Changsheng's eyes, asking each word slowly and deliberately.
"That's simple, I have no objection..." Du Changsheng said with a smile, then suddenly drew his service pistol, casually toying with it in his hand as he said, "But you'd better ask it if it has any objections!"
With that, Du Changsheng pointed the gun at Xu Haoran. A glint flashed in Xu Haoran's eyes, his muscles tensing like a cheetah poised to pounce. Just as he was about to strike, Chen Yang gently pressed down on his shoulder, gave him a wink, and then calmly said to Du Changsheng:
"Assisting with an investigation, right? Fine, let's go! We also need to file a report!"
Du Changsheng didn't care whether they were assisting with an investigation or filing a report! As long as they were brought to the police station, they could do whatever they wanted with them. Therefore, a smile appeared on his face as he said:
"Let's go then!"
Zheng Laoxi immediately showed delight, a ruthless glint in his eyes as he stared intently at Chen Yang and the others, plotting how he would vent his anger at the police station later.
The police made way in the narrow corridor, with Chen Yang leading the way. Xu Haoran followed behind Chen Yang, and as he passed Du Changsheng, he suddenly grabbed Du Changsheng's wrist with lightning speed.
Du Changsheng felt a sharp pain, his hand went limp, and his sidearm was already in Xu Haoran's grasp. Du Changsheng was instantly terrified. Before he could even cry out, Xu Haoran had already turned the gun around, cleanly and efficiently returning it to its holster at Du Changsheng's waist, and then said calmly:
"I hate it when people point guns at me! I hope it doesn't happen again!"
Xu Haoran's eyes were gentle, but Du Changsheng couldn't help but shudder. He knew this young man was definitely a master, and he was no match for him. If Xu Haoran had wanted to harm Du Changsheng just now, he would have lost all ten lives.
The other police officers hadn't expected Du Changsheng's sidearm to be taken away at all. Only after Xu Haoran returned the gun did they react, instinctively reaching to draw their weapons. But at that moment, Xu Haoran uttered those words, and everyone's movements to draw their weapons stopped simultaneously. Du Changsheng's face flushed red and then paled. He suppressed the urge to draw his gun, glanced at Xu Haoran, and snorted coldly, tacitly accepting Xu Haoran's earlier humiliation.
"I'll settle this score with you at the branch office!" Du Changsheng thought bitterly.
Chen Yang watched this scene with amusement, shook his head slightly, and walked outside. He felt no unease. With two young masters from wealthy families with him, what trouble could these junior police officers possibly cause?
Su Jun, however, seemed somewhat at a loss. Everything that had happened tonight had put his heart to the test, and seeing these fully armed and menacing police officers made him even weaker-kneed.
Chen Yang gently patted Su Jun's shoulder to comfort him, smiling as he said,
"Jun, it's alright! Just tell the truth about how those two old thugs tried to extort you at the police station. The people's police serve the people!"
Su Jun glanced at Zheng Laoxi, who was chatting intimately with the police officers, practically putting his arm around their shoulders. He felt a chill run down his spine, completely lacking confidence.
The police car, sirens blaring, arrived at the Changjie branch station quickly and without hindrance. Du Changsheng arranged for the police to take Chen Yang and the others directly to the interrogation room, ready to question them separately. Xu Haoran, seeing this, became indignant. He coldly asked,
"Captain Du, didn't you just say you were assisting with the investigation? What do you mean by this?"
A trainee officer who hadn't accompanied Du Changsheng to the arrest on Heqian Street, seeing Xu Haoran's arrogant demeanor, couldn't help but shout,
"Behave yourself! What are you arguing about…"
Du Changsheng waved his hand to stop the trainee officer, and said to Xu Haoran with a forced smile,
"This is our established procedure, please understand…"
Chen Yang said with a smile,
"Haoran, police officers have their own procedures for handling cases, just cooperate!"
Liu Zhengyi also stood aside with a grin, looking relaxed and carefree, showing no awareness of being a criminal suspect. Only Su Jun, due to nervousness, was somewhat pale.
Xu Haoran snorted coldly and said,
"Hurry up! I still have a late-night snack appointment with the girl I just picked up!"
"Thank you for your cooperation!" Du Changsheng nodded, but inwardly he sneered: Still thinking about late-night snacks! "I'll beat the crap out of you, Du!"
Chen Yang and the others were led to four different interrogation rooms. Du Changsheng stood in the corridor, pointed to interrogation room number one where Chen Yang was, and said to the trainee officer:
"Go report to Director Liao immediately. Tell him I brought the people back. The leader, please have Director Liao interrogate him personally!"
"Yes, sir!" the trainee officer replied, then asked, "Captain Du, what about you...?"
"Me?" A cold smile appeared on Du Changsheng's face. He glanced through the small window at Xu Haoran, who was sitting leisurely in a chair, and said through gritted teeth, "I'm going to stretch my legs!"
Chen Yang looked around the interrogation room. It was a small room of about ten square meters, without windows, only a small window in the iron door. The whole room felt dark and oppressive.
The room was simply furnished, with only a long table, two chairs side by side behind it, a computer, and a small desk lamp on the table. Opposite the interrogation table was a chair fixed to the floor, made of solid steel, specially designed with a partition to restrain the detainee, and handcuffs attached to the armrests.
A policeman stood in the doorway, watching Chen Yang with a tense expression. Chen Yang smiled wryly, slowly strolled to the interrogation chair, and sat down leisurely.
Chen Yang waited for a good ten minutes before the interrogation room door opened, and a first-level police inspector, a folder tucked under his arm, walked in with a dark expression. He glanced at Chen Yang, slammed the folder on the table, and asked with dissatisfaction:
"Xiao Song, what's going on? Instead of taking any coercive measures against the suspect, you're letting him sit there like a king! What are you doing?!"
The policeman Xiao Song, who was monitoring Chen Yang, quickly said:
"I'm sorry, Chief Liao!"
Then Xiao Song hurriedly went to Chen Yang, intending to lock the divider on the chair. Seeing this, Chen Yang stood up and looked at Chief Liao, saying:
"Officer, you've got the wrong person! I'm here to assist with your investigation, not as a suspect!"
Chief Liao chuckled, also stood up, placed his hands on the table, and looked down at Chen Yang, saying:
"You think you're not? Who here is a policeman?" "Who's in charge?"
"Police also have to follow procedures. They can't just do whatever they want, right? Otherwise, what's the difference between them and bandits?" Chen Yang asked with a slight smile, then said seriously, "Nobody's in charge here. The law is the one that decides! Taxpayers' money isn't meant to support a bunch of arrogant and domineering officials!"
"Ha! Giving me a lecture!" Director Liao's face showed a mocking smile, then his expression changed, and he slammed his hand on the table, roaring, "You better behave! Let me tell you, in this small area of the Changjie branch, I, Liao Yongchang, am the one in charge! If I say you're a criminal suspect, you're a criminal suspect!"
After saying that, Liao Yongchang unbuttoned two buttons on his police uniform and sat down, revealing his dark chest hair. Liao Yongchang put his feet on the table, glared at Xiao Song, and roared:
"What are you all standing there for! Cuff him!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Wait!" Chen Yang glanced at Xiao Song indifferently, but Xiao Song couldn't help but tremble and involuntarily stopped in his tracks. Chen Yang then looked at Liao Yongchang and said, "Director Liao, right? I'm now formally reporting a case to you. Tonight, Zheng Laoxi and his two accomplices extorted money from Su Jun on Heqian Street, and they were also illegally carrying controlled knives. After we stopped them, instead of stopping their criminal activities, they attacked us with knives. Out of self-defense, my companion and I injured them."
At this point, Chen Yang paused, took out his phone, and said:
"I filmed the entire process of Zheng Laoxi and his gang's extortion with my phone. This is the evidence!"
Liao Yongchang's expression shifted between anger and pleasure. He stared at Chen Yang for a long time before giving Xiao Song a meaningful look. Xiao Song, understanding the implication, stepped forward and handed Chen Yang's phone to Liao Yongchang.
Liao Yongchang carefully watched the entire staged accident they had secretly filmed that evening on Chen Yang's phone. Only after the video finished playing did Liao Yongchang look up at Chen Yang, a strange smile on his face, and say:
"Evidence? There's nothing left now, isn't there?"
With that, Liao Yongchang suddenly stood up without warning and violently slammed Chen Yang's phone onto the concrete floor…