Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 302 - 196. I’m just a little tsundere, that’s all... (Second update)
"Yes."
Shi Nian raised her head in the sunlight, smiling calmly at Huangfu Huazhang.
Needless to say, the detective described as cool with a hint of arrogance by the foreman could be none other than Tang Yanqing.
To be honest, there was a moment when she hesitated about calling Tang Yanqing. Even if Huangfu Huazhang was by her side, neither of them were police officers. What could they do even if they found the suspect Wang Chuan? Even as a journalist, if she could interview Wang Chuan, what right did they have to bring a suspect to justice? When she heard that Tang Yanqing had already been here and had taken Wang Chuan back to the police station for questioning ahead of them, she felt no regret, but rather a sense of relief.
"Sir, I need to go along and try to see if I can interview Wang Chuan. The clown’s riddle has troubled me for a long time, and the answer is right in front of me. I can’t let it slip away."
Her face unknowingly lit up with a dazzling glow. Huangfu Huazhang gazed at her, hoping that the glow came from the anticipation of getting closer to the truth, and not—because of wanting to see Tang Yanqing.
He couldn’t help but frown, yearning to reach out and hold her back; his heart churned with unceasing self-blame and regret: Why didn’t he confirm it with her when they first arrived at the "Rainbow"?
"How about I accompany you? I’m also quite curious about Wang Chuan’s statement, and I want to verify if we have reasoned out the wrong person."
He smiled, not wanting her to see through his calculations. At 35 years old, he was older than both Tang Yanqing and her, so he ought to be more open-minded in her presence than Tang Yanqing.
Shi Nian, however, shook her head: "No need, you’ve already helped me a lot today. Besides, there won’t be any danger going to the police station." She smiled and pointed to the black Rolls-Royce at the entrance, "Moreover, if you and that car show up at the police station entrance, the target would be too large."
This person and this car, wherever they appeared, would stir up a small sensation. And sometimes in a journalist’s work, the more low-key and flexible, the better.
Shi Nian reminded herself not to let him go for work reasons, not because she didn’t want him to meet Tang Yanqing.
Having made up her mind, she waved goodbye: "Goodbye, sir."
She called a taxi and left right away. Only then did Huangfu Huazhang slowly walk back to his car from the auto repair shop entrance. Though the distance wasn’t long, it was a challenging walk. At some steps, he almost couldn’t hold his weight, his body leaning to one side.
Even so, he stubbornly refused to use a cane for assistance, insisting on using only his legs.
Xia Zuo saw him from the car, hurriedly opened the car door, rushed over, and supported him, whispering in alarm, "Sir, are you okay?"
Moments ago, when the sir walked towards the auto repair shop gate with Shi Nian, his steps were so brisk, almost described as "walking as usual"; but why as soon as Shi Nian left, did the sir become like this?
However, facing Xia Zuo’s concern, Huangfu Huazhang didn’t feel comforted, but instead lost his temper, even pushing Xia Zuo to the side with his arms, saying coldly: "Didn’t I say this was time for me and her; I don’t need anyone to interfere!"
Xia Zuo was stunned before lowering his head. He understood that the sir wasn’t really angry at him; the sir’s anger was provoked by others.
He could only take a deep breath and gently persuade, "Sir, let’s get in the car. She has already gone far."
Huangfu Huazhang sat back in the car, and although his face seemed calm, both Xia Zuo and the driver could see from his tense posture that he was still simmering with unresolved anger.
The driver carefully started the car, and as it glided through the intersection, they passed a newsstand by the roadside. The prominently displayed article was still Xiong Jie’s piece from that day. Huangfu Huazhang turned his head to look, his eyes squinting.
Xia Zuo saw the sir’s expression through the rearview mirror and turned his head as well to gaze out of the window.
.
Shi Nian entered the police station, and everyone inside recognized her. Usually, when she came, everyone would greet her, but today she was stopped at the door.
"Sorry, Mr. Shi, this is a police station; journalists cannot go in freely. If you need to interview someone, please first contact the police station’s public affairs officer."
Shi Nian felt a bit embarrassed, trying hard to explain, "I’m not here for an interview; I’m here to find a suspect. Didn’t Mr. Tang just bring a suspect back?"
The officer shrugged, not denying it: "That’s right, currently in the interrogation room."
Shi Nian quickly folded her hands in a pleading gesture: "Please, just let me have a quick look."
The officer refused matter-of-factly.
Shi Nian had no choice but to walk to the entrance to call Tang Yanqing’s cellphone.
No one answered the phone.
Frustrated, Shi Nian knew that Tang Yanqing was probably starting the interrogation, so he likely didn’t bring his phone with him.
While feeling frustrated, she suddenly heard a voice.
"Am I seeing things? Who’s this Sleeping Beauty standing at the police station’s door?"
The voice was lazy, carrying a tone of irritatingly smugness; but it was spoken in Chinese, which the officer blocking the door couldn’t understand.
As soon as the voice reached her ears, Shi Nian felt both startled and thrilled, yet—embarrassed. Her scalp tingled, and all she could do was awkwardly turn back and look at him, awkwardly waving her hand: "Hi, Mr. Tang."
He held a cup of take-out coffee, dressed sharply in his police uniform, and walked up the steps from the sunlight outside the door. Though they were one step apart, he was already taller than her.
Sensitively, Shi Nian glanced at the take-out coffee in his hand, unable to help but ask, "Mr. Tang, haven’t you started questioning Wang Chuan yet?" She pointed at the officer blocking the door: "He said you’ve already entered the interrogation room. And, I called your phone, but you didn’t answer."
He shook his head, his gaze lazy yet seemingly indifferent: "Hmm, I should have started already, but I suddenly wanted coffee, so I came out to buy a cup."
He wouldn’t tell her that he was deliberately waiting for her outside.
Shi Nian couldn’t help but shrug: "...There’s a coffee machine at the police station. And Mr. Jia’s coffee-making skills are as good as a professional’s. Why did you have to come out just to buy a cup?"
He rolled his eyes: "No matter how good his coffee is, I’m tired of it. I just want to buy a cup from the shop across the street, is that not okay?"
Shi Nian was at a loss, so he nodded: "Of course it’s okay."
He seemed satisfied, didn’t say anything more, and even his gaze returned from her face. Then he took long strides, directly skipping over the steps that were between them, stepping onto the platform, and then headed straight for the door.
Ignored her!
"Mr. Tang!" Shi Nian suddenly panicked and hurriedly called after him. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
He stopped by the door, glanced back at her calmly: "Do you still have something to say to me?"
Shi Nian took a deep breath: "Besides coffee, you haven’t explained why you didn’t answer my call."
He seemed a bit taken aback, staring at her blankly: "...Uh, wasn’t it you who said that before you’ve calmed down, I shouldn’t call you or appear in front of you?"
So that’s what it was!
Shi Nian was also annoyed, gritting her teeth, she had forgotten her own words and now came looking for answers.
She bit her lip: "No, this time it’s about business. I wanted to interview, wanted to know what Wang Chuan said."
He tilted his head and looked at the officer at the door: "Hasn’t he informed you of the procedures required for a journalist to come for an interview?"
Shi Nian was truly upset, glaring at him with a red face, unable to speak.
Even though it was evening, and the autumn sun was no longer glaring, she still felt that the sunlight pierced her eyes.
For a moment, she was really worried she might cry in front of him.
It wasn’t because she couldn’t stand being refused; in all her days as a journalist, she’d faced plenty of cold rejections, impatient eye-rolls, and outright mockery, but none of it had made her want to cry.
—Perhaps it was just because the person she faced now was him.
After knowing him for so long, he had never treated her like this!
But thinking about it, she couldn’t help but frown—no, he used to treat her like this too. At the beginning of their acquaintance, when she chased him wanting to interview, he showed the same disdainful attitude.
Back then, she didn’t feel anything, but why today did she feel so sad, almost wanting to cry?
She quickly turned away, taking a deep breath, then turned back to stare at him: "Fine, pretend I haven’t said anything before. Mr. Tang, do as you please, I’m waiting outside for Wang Chuan!"
He squinted at her. The young girl—her nose clearly red, tears on the verge of falling—still stubbornly held them back, showing such an unyielding attitude.
He could only sigh.
He didn’t want anything else, just a tender word from her, coaxing him, admitting it was her fault for not answering his call, saying "Let’s make up"... then he’d forget about everything else.
But... it seemed like he had gone too far.
.
After yelling, Shi Nian turned around, grabbed her bag, and dashed down the stairs.
Annoyed, she was going to the coffee shop across the street as well, she’d sit there waiting for Wang Chuan to come out... or even if Wang Chuan didn’t come out tonight, she might wait for Jia Tianzi, or Guan Liang, just not ask him!
Just as Shi Nian hurried down the steps, her hand was suddenly grabbed from behind.
－
Thanks to Lan for the big red envelope + monthly ticket, sdi’s 588, Mu Zi Gezi’s two 188 + flowers, Xiao Meng’s red envelope
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