"Don't... move...?!"
Passerby A had just drawn his gun, not yet having time to aim, when a gunshot rang out through the alley. A dazzling spark burst from the right side of his hand. The sudden, overwhelming force jolted his entire arm, and his palm naturally released the gun he was holding.
"Boom——!"
It fell to the ground with a crisp metallic clatter, a bullet hole still wisping with faint green smoke.
...
"Although shooting is my talent, close combat is my favorite pastime." Ye Qingfeng released the hand he had placed over Anby's eyes, his other hand resting on his neck, cracking it. He provocatively crooked a finger at Passerby A. "Wanna go?"
Ye Qingfeng had instantly drawn the gun from his spatial backpack, fired, and then quickly returned it. Clearly, he didn't want anyone to know it was him who had fired the shot.
As for the reason — it was simple!
If it were just a matter of demanding Dennies, that might be one thing. But one of them had wanted to lay hands on Anby, and the other had drawn a firearm.
Letting them off so easily was absolutely out of the question! Besides, he could conveniently use this as a nice piece of credit to report to Zhu Yuan!
Passerby A's body trembled uncontrollably. He slowly raised his head to look at Ye Qingfeng, but to his bewilderment, there was no trace of a gun in his hand.
His first instinct was to turn and run immediately. But on second thought, wouldn't escaping be even more dangerous?!
If it wasn't him who had fired the shot, didn't that mean there was another sharpshooter nearby? Or was there a sniper watching him?!
Either he was the son of someone powerful, with a sharpshooter bodyguard nearby, or he was a figure from the upper echelons of authority, with a cold sniper providing cover!
Whichever it was, he couldn't afford to provoke them! Though he leaned more towards the second option.
Although he was just a small-time thug, he had a sharp read on situations like this. Otherwise, he wouldn't be the de facto leader of the two.
Without a moment's hesitation, Passerby A dropped to his knees with a thud. "Boss! I was wrong!"
Anby: "..."
"Alright, bring your accomplice and follow me!"
Ye Qingfeng pulled Anby towards the alley entrance. Passerby A wisely moved out of the way, practically pressing himself against the wall.
After Ye Qingfeng passed him, he immediately jogged over, grabbed Passerby B by the leg, and dragged him along.
In this situation, if he ran, they would definitely silence him. Between getting a bullet to the head and eating prison food, he resolutely chose the latter.
Ye Qingfeng led Anby out of the alley and into the sunlight. Turning his head, he saw the medical clinic right beside the alley exit. He immediately pulled her inside.
A man nearing sixty looked up as the two entered and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Her hand is injured! Doctor, please take a look quickly!"
Ye Qingfeng pulled Anby over to the doctor's desk, sat her down in the chair, grabbed her wrist, placed her hand on the table, and said urgently.
"Let me see... young man, don't rush." The elder put on his reading glasses and examined the back of Anby's hand.
Ye Qingfeng appeared extremely anxious, while the injured Anby maintained a completely indifferent attitude.
"How is it?"
Seeing that the elder hadn't spoken for a while, he couldn't help but ask again impatiently.
"Good thing you came in time."
!!!
Ye Qingfeng's heart instantly leapt to his throat. How could it be... Could it?! Could it actually be serious?!
"Otherwise, the wound would have healed completely on its own."
The elder continued after a long pause.
Ye Qingfeng: ...
Anby: ⊙ω⊙
The elder sighed faintly, took out a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, and applied it to the back of Anby's hand, where the wound was now almost invisible.
After finishing, he simply waved his hand, shooing them away, and murmured faintly, "Young people these days!"
Ye Qingfeng took a bag of tea leaves from the shopping bag, placed it on the table as thanks, and left the clinic with Anby, a complicated expression on his face.
So awkward...
Just as they walked out the door, they saw Passerby A standing at the entrance with someone lying at his feet. Without a doubt, it was Passerby B. That head of blonde hair was really conspicuous.
"Anby, please take the stuff back. I'll call the Public Security Bureau." Ye Qingfeng completely ignored the two and handed both bags to Anby. "Wait here for the Public Security Bureau officers to arrive. You and Nicole handle lunch yourselves."
When she had insisted on bringing the bags to the clinic, he had already stored as much as possible into his spatial backpack. The two bags were now at least a third lighter than before, containing only vegetables, fruits, and meat.
"Mm."
Anby took the two bags of groceries and left without looking back.
Ye Qingfeng dialed Zhu Yuan's number. Compared to contacting the Public Security Bureau directly, it was better to go through someone he knew. Besides, he had to attend the exercise in the afternoon anyway, so it was convenient to head over together.
"No objections, right?" While waiting for the call to connect, Ye Qingfeng flashed a playful smile at Passerby A. "Or do you want to try running?"
"N-no... wouldn't dare..."
Passerby A, whose head was already lowered, bowed it even further, his voice trembling slightly.
He knew full well the difference between turning himself in and being caught. Besides, there was still that unseen shooter lurking somewhere, a constant threat to his life.
He now just wanted to get inside the Public Security Bureau as fast as possible. At least there he would be safe.
"Heh heh..."
Ye Qingfeng chuckled softly, about to say something more, when the call connected.
Inside the Public Security Bureau at this time——
Zhu Yuan, with the afternoon meeting with Ye Qingfeng in mind, had found her work enthusiasm noticeably boosted. Not only that, a faint smile had been lingering on her face all morning.
Unlike Qingyi, whose smiles came frequently and easily, Zhu Yuan's usual smiles were the measured, professional kind she offered to citizens and colleagues.
Even so, Zhu Yuan was extremely well-liked, both within the Public Security Bureau and among the citizens she served.
Her smiles in the past had been more representative of polite, formal expressions. But now, one lingered on her face constantly, like a lily in bloom. The irrepressible joy overflowed from her eyes, filling the surrounding air with warmth.
At this moment, Qingyi, sitting across from Zhu Yuan's desk, was leisurely drinking tea. How fortunate to have such a capable and proactive colleague!
Thinking this, Qingyi squinted her eyes contentedly and leaned back in her chair. Sunlight streamed in through the window, warming her as she enjoyed the peaceful noon hour.
If it weren't for being an android, Qingyi would have long since put her head down on the desk and drifted off to sleep!
"Zhu Yuan?"
Qingyi called out lazily.
"What is it, Senior Qingyi? I don't have time to make tea for you right now."
Zhu Yuan continued typing on her keyboard without looking up. For tomorrow's safety exercise, she needed to finish the next two days' worth of work in advance, along with speeches and other materials.
In the afternoon she also needed to run a preliminary rehearsal for tomorrow's exercise, which meant she had to complete everything in just one morning!
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