A few seconds later, Shen Lang took a deep breath and said to Jiang Cheng, "Then as Young Master Jiang says—my brother's hurt badly, so I'll follow him to the hospital first."
The officers who'd come with Chen Qin were stunned.
While watching the footage earlier, they'd all thought tonight's case would be a nightmare.
Both sides had looked like lawless hot-heads.
They hadn't expected it to be wrapped up so fast.
Seeing Shen Lang pull out so cleanly, the team-leader Chen Qin finally greeted Jiang Cheng.
"Good evening, Young Master Jiang."
Jiang Cheng glanced at the battered Wang Jian, nodded, and said bluntly, "Good evening, Officer Chen. Oh, and that guy threatened us—said they're from West Hill. Kinda scary in the middle of the night, don't you think?"
Chen Qin grew serious at once.
Chen Tie's reputation for arrogance was well known.
He spoke gravely: "West Hill's always been rough—tied to their local industries and culture. A decade or two ago it could've rivalled old Shanghai's underworld."
Jiang Cheng feigned fear: "That bad? You know we're just ordinary college kids."
Chen Qin found the word "ordinary" hard to swallow.
He didn't know the students on scene.
But Jiang Cheng—where was he ordinary?
And judging by Jiang Cheng's performance, Chen Qin doubted he was truly afraid of Chen Tie.
If he wasn't scared of Wang Hao, why fear Chen Tie?
Then again, someone like Wang Hao, reckless as he was, would pull back a little because of his family's position.
Any mess would hurt his father's reputation.
So however arrogant, he wouldn't go too far.
Chen Tie and company were different.
Call them Second-generation rich, or—less politely—street punks with cash.
With money to burn and nothing to do, they stirred trouble everywhere.
Those were the real headaches.
Chen Qin's expression turned stern.
"West Hill used to be full of illegal kilns—people vanished for no reason. The past dozen years are better; policy shut most of them down."
The younger generation's had outside schooling, so they're calmer—only Chen Tie still acts old-school, probably raised—"
Realising he was slipping into subjective talk unfit for a cop, Chen Qin shut up.
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Now I'm scared. My classmate's injured—isn't a hospital run at night kind of dangerous?"
Taking the hint, Chen Qin offered, "How about we escort him?"
"Thanks, Officer Chen; that puts me at ease."
Jiang Cheng turned to Wang Jian and the others: "You heard—Officer Chen will be with you, so I can relax. My driver and Bodyguard will take you; the hospital's been briefed, just go."
As Jiang Cheng patted his shoulder, Chen Qin felt an odd mix of being played yet unable to prove it.
It frustrated him, but he couldn't protest.
Looks like another overtime shift.
He sighed, turned, and arranged a patrol car to lead.
"Thanks, Brother Cheng—sorry for the trouble," Wang Jian said, gratitude filling his eyes.
"Cut it—head still hurt? Go get stitched."
With everything settled, Wu Kun and Lu Chuan felt awkward staying with the two pretty Atmosphere Group Young Ladies.
They too said they'd accompany Wang Jian to hospital.
After seeing them off at the bar gate, Qin Fen told Jiang Cheng, "I'm off. Chen Tie's sneaky—watch yourself."
Jiang Cheng waved. "Got it. Later."
Seeing Jiang Cheng's hurry, Qin Fen grinned.
"All right, I won't bug the love-birds—bye!"
Teased, Lin Qingxue in the car felt both shy and delighted.
As Jiang Cheng climbed in, she leaned over at once.
"Hubby, everything okay?"
She'd had a few drinks; though sobered by the fuss, she was still tipsy.
Her blushing face looked like a ripe peach begging to be bitten.
Jiang Cheng felt a surge of heat.
He slipped a hand under the pneumatic seat, caught her smooth little hand, and raised the privacy partition.
"A bit of booze won't stop me—see? Still lively."
Looking at her hand, Qingxue pushed him playfully. "I didn't mean that—I meant Chen Tie..."
After copping a feel he released her and lounged back.
"Relax, I'll have people watch you in secret—nothing will happen."
At those words her paused hand began moving again.
"You're so sweet... but I worry about you too—be careful..."
The moment she finished, Jiang Cheng's Danger Perception Skill blared in his head.
He checked the alert at once.
It said Chen Tie had woken, his mind set on taking Jiang Cheng out, and was already preparing.
No concrete plan showed yet, but the warning meant the intent posed real danger.
Yet this time Jiang Cheng didn't feel the old tension.
Maybe because his security was tight, or because Great-Grandfather's people were around—he felt almost relaxed.
Looking at Qingxue's pure, lovely face, he realised that kind of confidence was deadly.
The higher his status, the more he should stay wary.
He'd been reborn with difficulty; he couldn't let these Young Ladies worry.
Accidents happen.
Caution keeps the ship afloat.
He glanced at Wang Sheng. "Pull Chen Tie's file."
Wang Sheng, driving, met his eyes in the mirror and caught the meaning.
"On it."
Next morning Jiang Cheng woke not from hunger but to Lin Qingxue icing him down.
Seeing her pert bottom aimed at him, he smacked it with a grin.
The crisp slap made her cheeks jiggle; she rubbed her backside and turned with a pout. "That hurt!"
Enjoying the feel, he said, "Hurt? Want me to rub it better—pants off?"
Qingxue smiled teasingly. "No."
"Sure?"
"Positive—pants are already off and you expect a rub? I don't think so..."