Chapter 44: I Want Him in Prison
He Fei and his men were all taken away.
Chen Xue Wen and Wu Li Hong were also brought back to record their statements.
As they left, doors along the narrow alleyway creaked open. Neighbors gathered, whispering among themselves, casting judgmental glances their way.
Most of the gossip centered around Wu Li Hong.
He Fei had caused a commotion, drawing the attention of the nearby residents. It was they who had called the authorities.
His furious shouts had echoed through the alley, ensuring everyone heard every word.
Now, the entire neighborhood knew that Wu Li Hong worked at a nightclub.
With her head lowered, her face burned with shame.
Even as she settled into the car, she did not dare lift her gaze. In a small, trembling voice, she muttered, “Xue Wen, I… I’m sorry.”
Chen Xue Wen’s response was calm. “It’s fine.”
“You’re my friend. Your problems are my problems.”
“That bastard He Fei pushed too far. I wasn’t going to just sit back and do nothing!”
Wu Li Hong shook her head. “I’m not talking about He Fei… I mean the neighbors.”
Chen Xue Wen frowned. “What about them?”
“They all heard what He Fei said about me working at the club. From now on, they’ll surely… they’ll surely make fun of you.”
Chen Xue Wen was momentarily stunned.
Wu Li Hong didn’t seem to care about her own reputation. Instead, she was worried about his.
That was unexpected.
“What would they mock me for?” he chuckled. “You’re being too sensitive. Don’t worry about it.”
Wu Li Hong shook her head. “They’ll say you keep company with a woman of ill repute.”
“I… I…”
Her voice wavered.
Chen Xue Wen smiled. “Forget it. Don’t dwell on it.”
“This is nothing.”
“When I was in prison, people said I was a rapist and a murderer.”
“Around here, do you think I have any face left to lose?”
Wu Li Hong let out a bitter laugh and fell silent.
At the Peaceful City Law Enforcement Squad, Captain Wang followed protocol, taking statements from both Chen Xue Wen and Wu Li Hong.
However, what Chen Xue Wen recounted differed slightly from the actual events.
He omitted the part where he cut off He Fei’s ear, claiming instead that the alley was too dark and chaotic. He had merely defended himself, not knowing how He Fei had lost his ear in the scuffle.
He Fei’s men, of course, told the truth—detailing how Chen Xue Wen had held He Fei hostage and sliced his ear off.
But Captain Wang ignored their testimonies entirely and accepted Chen Xue Wen’s version.
For one, he knew Chen Xue Wen was not someone to cross.
For another, He Fei and his gang were known thugs, and the Law Enforcement Squad rarely took the word of street rats.
So, after the statements were recorded, Chen Xue Wen and Wu Li Hong were promptly released.
As for He Fei and his men, they were locked up.
He Fei screamed in protest, but no one paid him any mind.
Upon leaving the Law Enforcement Squad, Chen Xue Wen didn’t head straight home. Instead, he made a call to Lawyer He.
Because of Fifth Master Hou, Lawyer He had always looked out for him.
After hearing the situation, Lawyer He chuckled. “You don’t need to worry about this.”
“Under normal circumstances, the squad will take your statement as the official version.”
“He Fei and his men will probably be locked up for a few days.”
“But if anything unexpected happens, I’ll handle it.”
Chen Xue Wen nodded. “Thanks, Lawyer He.”
“However, I have another request.”
Lawyer He raised an eyebrow. “What request?”
Chen Xue Wen’s voice dropped. “Is there a way to keep He Fei in for a longer sentence?”
“Maybe a few years?”
Lawyer He paused, then laughed. “Chen, you’re trying to crush He Fei completely, aren’t you?”
Chen Xue Wen smirked. “I just want to minimize future trouble.”
“People like him never change. If he gets out, he’ll come back looking for revenge.”
“Better to keep him locked up for a few years. Less trouble for me.”
Lawyer He chuckled. “I like your thinking.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you a way to make that happen.”
After listening to Lawyer He’s plan, Chen Xue Wen grinned. “Thanks.”
“I owe you dinner.”
Lawyer He smiled. “We’ll talk about that later.”
After hanging up, Lawyer He looked across the table at Fifth Master Hou.
With a smirk, he said, “Master Hou, Chen Xue Wen just called again.”
“You were right about him. He’s got real guts. A man built for bigger things.”
Fifth Master Hou took a slow drag from his pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke before speaking in his usual measured tone.
“It’s too early to say.”
“Let’s see how he handles this situation first!”
Fang Ru, dressed in a sleek, form-fitting gown, smiled faintly. “Snake is a madman. I’d love to see what happens when two lunatics collide. In the end, who will come out on top?”
Lawyer He chuckled. “Everything depends on Fifth Master’s decision.”
Fifth Master Hou continued to exhale smoke, his deep gaze unreadable, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
…
Chen Xue Wen finished his call and led Wu Li Hong home. As they reached the alley entrance, Wu Li Hong stopped in her tracks.
“Wen Zi, I… I won’t go in.”
She spoke softly, her voice tinged with hesitation.
Chen Xue Wen turned to look at her. “Why?”
Wu Li Hong lowered her gaze. “I… I’ve been looking for a place to rent these past few days. I don’t want to trouble you anymore.”
“This way, your neighbors won’t laugh at you either.”
Chen Xue Wen understood her concerns and chuckled. “You’re still worried about that?”
“I already told you, I don’t care about such things.”
“Besides, you haven’t found a place yet, have you?”
“If you don’t come in, where will you stay tonight?”
Wu Li Hong hesitated. “I… I can just spend the night at an internet café.”
Chen Xue Wen frowned. “How do you even sleep in an internet café?”
“Come on, just stay here for now. When you find a place, we’ll talk about it.”
Without giving her a chance to refuse, Chen Xue Wen grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the alley.
Wu Li Hong’s face flushed red as she trailed behind him, head lowered, feeling like a thief sneaking into someone’s house.
Chen Xue Wen, unfazed by her embarrassment, led her into the house and retrieved a medicine box.
“All the ointments for swelling and pain relief are in here. Apply them yourself.”
“I’ll boil an egg for you to use as a compress.”
Wu Li Hong stared at the medicine box, her eyes brimming with tears. A strong urge to break down and weep surged within her.
No one had ever treated her with such kindness before.
Chen Xue Wen didn’t notice her expression. He went into the kitchen, boiled a few eggs, and handed them to her.
Once everything was settled, he pulled out his phone and made some arrangements with Lai Hou.
After ending the call, he turned around and found Wu Li Hong standing right behind him, staring at him intently.
Chen Xue Wen was taken aback. “What’s wrong?”
Wu Li Hong didn’t speak. Instead, she suddenly lunged forward and hugged him tightly.
A soft fragrance filled his senses, and her warm, delicate body pressed against him, making Chen Xue Wen’s mind go blank. His heart pounded uncontrollably.
“You… you… what are you doing?!”
He flailed awkwardly, unsure where to put his hands, yet his body reacted instinctively to her warmth.
Wu Li Hong remained silent, holding onto him tightly.
Chen Xue Wen stiffened, arching his back to avoid direct contact, trying his best to maintain some distance.
After a long moment, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away.
“Alright, alright, no need to be so emotional.”
“We’re classmates, friends. Helping each other is natural, isn’t it?”
He gave her a light pat on the shoulder and smiled. “It’s late, get some rest.”
With that, he quickly retreated to his room, closing the door behind him.
Wu Li Hong stood frozen, staring at the shut door. Unable to hold back any longer, her tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation