Seeing that the troublemaker wasn't Qi Yuan but Jiang Cheng, Chen Qin relaxed.
After all, when gods fight, it's the little people like them who get crushed.
If you handle a case like this well, the credit isn't yours; if you handle it badly, your iron rice bowl can be shattered at any time.
A thankless task—yet today's shift had fallen to these unlucky souls.
They could only brace themselves and step forward.
Jiang Cheng nodded calmly. "It's me."
"You're suspected of maliciously assaulting another person. Please come with us," Chen Qin said, feigning impartiality.
After speaking, several officers began photographing and documenting the scene.
Hearing Chen Qin take the lead, Qi Yuan's face instantly darkened.
"Is this how you handle a case?? Did you even find out what happened? Huh? You're dragging him away without a single question—who gave you that right?" Qi Yuan barked.
Faced with Qi Yuan's grilling, Chen Qin looked even more helpless. "Young Master Qi, we'll interrogate him properly back at the station; once we understand, we'll mediate if appropriate."
"Stop talking crap. Don't think I don't know—once you're inside, it's easier to play your games," Qi Yuan said coldly.
"No, no, we'll follow regulations to the letter, rest assured, we won't act improperly," Chen Qin replied with a bitter smile.
Just as Qi Yuan was about to say more, another group hurried over.
The man at their head broke into a jog the moment he spotted Wang Hao.
Seeing Wang Hao's battered face, his expression changed drastically.
"Young Master Wang, are you all right? How did you end up like this?" He glanced at the others as he spoke.
Two men immediately stepped forward with first-aid kits and began carefully cleaning Wang Hao's wounds.
Wang Hao snorted coldly. "Today, make sure he gets locked up."
In Wang Hao's eyes, Jiang Cheng was merely a lackey following Qi Yuan around.
If today's clash had been between him and someone of Qi Yuan's caliber, Wang Hao wouldn't hesitate to call his family.
After all, the forces Wang Hao could mobilize were about equal to Qi Yuan's—the two were evenly matched.
But if it was anyone else, he feared nothing; even if those rich kids had more money, so what?
In this country, money isn't the top factor.
If Jiang Cheng had any connections, Wang Hao would have known him long ago.
Thinking this, Wang Hao's gaze at Jiang Cheng grew even more disdainful.
Jiang Cheng's earlier arrogant, overbearing behavior only deepened Wang Hao's malice.
Once Jiang Cheng was inside, even if he escaped intact, Wang Hao would still skin a layer off him.
Rich kids like Jiang Cheng simply don't know the immensity of heaven and earth—probably just finished the college-entrance exam, family loosened the leash, and he got carried away.
And this puny rich kid actually beat him up like this.
After his men briefed him on Jiang Cheng's background, Wang Hao was speechless.
"So you're just a little punk from Chengdu. I see. Kneel at my feet, apologize properly, and let me return the slaps twofold—then I might let you off. But… you'll have to leave one of your hands here," Wang Hao snarled.
Now that his people had arrived and he knew Jiang Cheng's roots, Wang Hao regained his usual swagger as Shanghai's little tyrant.
An outsider—taking one of his hands isn't asking too much, right? Qi Yuan and Wang Congcong watched as both Chen Qin's and Wang Hao's men arrived while Jiang Cheng's side remained silent, their brows knitting tightly.
"Brother Jiang… what now? If you really get taken in, it'll be hard to fix. Though my family has some pull there, the Wang family has people inside too. Best to settle this now," Qi Yuan said worriedly.
He knew Jiang Cheng's family background might not be simple, but this was Shanghai—money alone couldn't solve everything here.
Besides, this matter partly involved him, so Qi Yuan couldn't stand idly by.
Frustrating as it was, he couldn't turn a blind eye.
After all, once targeted by scum like Wang Hao, trouble was inevitable—might even lose an organ.
Wang Congcong also nodded. "Qi Yuan's right. This isn't the time to worry about face. If you need help, I can reach out to some contacts."
As China's richest family, the Wangs had plenty of connections.
Wang Congcong figured Jiang Cheng's refusal of Qi Yuan's help was probably just youthful pride.
After all, Jiang Cheng was only eighteen—the height of youthful arrogance.
Jiang Cheng shook his head. "No need. My dad will handle it."
Why beg favors for something he could settle himself?
Though Jiang Cheng didn't know exactly what his father could do, since the system had prompted him, Jiang Jianming must be able to fix this—so Jiang Cheng wasn't worried.
Seeing Jiang Cheng refuse again, the two said no more.
By now they couldn't tell whether Jiang Cheng's calm came from powerful backing or mere youthful ignorance of the stakes.
Yet both were silently curious to see what Jiang Cheng was truly capable of.
If he could resolve this, they'd remain friends; but if it was just reckless bravado, Wang Congcong and Qi Yuan would cut ties with Jiang Cheng.
After all, they all understood the importance of the families behind them.
No one wanted to hang around an immature kid.
Seeing Jiang Cheng still unconcerned, Wang Hao sneered again.
At this moment Jiang Cheng was no more than an ant on the ground—Wang Hao could crush him whenever he wished.
With Jiang Cheng's paltry background, Wang Hao could ruin him with a flick of influence.
He'd plunge the rest of Jiang Cheng's life into a downward spiral.
From then on, whenever Jiang Cheng thought of Wang Hao, he'd be filled with endless regret.
Just imagining it made Wang Hao feel exhilarated.
In his eyes, Jiang Cheng posed no threat whatsoever.
And Jiang Cheng's composure merely showed he hadn't yet witnessed Wang Hao's true power.
"Today I'll let you see what absolute authority means—take him back and make sure he suffers," Wang Hao ordered.
After that, Officer Chen Qin stepped forward again. "Please come with us for questioning. Cooperate."
Jiang Cheng replied calmly, "And if I refuse?"
Hearing this, Chen Qin felt cornered; he wasn't stupid.
If he dragged Jiang Cheng into the station without cause,
and Jiang Cheng turned out to have backing, he'd be in trouble.
The feud between Qi Yuan and Wang Hao was long-standing and well known.
The two families were evenly matched; he couldn't afford to offend either.
Qi Yuan patted Chen Qin's shoulder. "Officer, I know your job's tough, but if you can't handle it, report it—don't decide alone. You can't bear the fallout."
Meeting Qi Yuan's sharp gaze, Chen Qin gave an awkward smile.
He repeated the empty line: "Young Master Qi, rest assured, we'll follow regulations."
He really didn't want this dispatch duty.
He was just a small fry following orders from above.
He actually hated getting mixed up in the squabbles of rich kids and power brokers.
If it went well, no credit; if it went badly, he'd take the blame.
With that in mind, Chen Qin could only say, "Young Master Wang, Young Master Qi, how about we all go to the station to talk?"
Wang Hao balked. "Damn it, your Chief told you to take me in? Screw that—I'm injured, I'm going to the hospital for an injury assessment. If I don't lock that bastard up for life, I won't be named Wang!"
"Wang Hao, do you think Shanghai belongs to your family?" Qi Yuan snapped.
Seeing the two start quarreling again, Chen Qin helplessly took out his phone and stepped aside.