Chapter 143: Do you take me for a fool?

Inside the interrogation room at the Central Police Department, after Le Fangyun’s departure, Lin Xiao turned to Su Mengjia and asked, “Mengjia, may I leave now?”

“Leave? Of course, you’re free to go whenever you wish.” Su Mengjia promptly replied, “Would you like me to accompany you out?”

“No need.” Lin Xiao shook his head. However, in light of today’s events, his perception of Su Mengjia had shifted somewhat.

Even if Su Mengjia hadn’t intervened, he could have handled the situation just fine on his own. Yet, her actions today revealed her genuine concern. As a result, Lin Xiao’s opinion of her improved substantially. To him, Su Mengjia was once merely a stranger, but she now held a place as a friend.

“By the way, did you ever apprehend those from the Hundred Seat Society?” Lin Xiao probed.

Shaking her head, Su Mengjia replied, “The Hundred Seat Society is a dominant force in Jiangnan Province’s underworld. They’re a tough lot. We haven’t unearthed any substantial evidence against them. And whenever we do nab someone, it’s always the small fry. These culprits quickly confess and always make sure that the Hundred Seat Society remains untarnished. Even the group that targeted me confessed but never admitted any affiliation with the Hundred Seat Society, leaving the investigation at a standstill.”

“Really?” Lin Xiao remarked thoughtfully, surprised by the vast influence of the Hundred Seat Society.

However, he wasn’t overly concerned. Regardless of the society’s extensive connections, it held no sway over him. Should they overstep and provoke him, he wouldn’t hesitate to obliterate them.

As their conversation wound down, the pair soon reached the police station’s exit. “I should get going,” Lin Xiao announced.

“Alright,” Su Mengjia acknowledged. But as Lin Xiao started to leave, she watched his retreating back and abruptly called out, “Wait, Lin Xiao.”

He turned back, a look of puzzlement on his face. “What’s the matter?”

Blushing slightly, Su Mengjia expressed, “I’m truly sorry about the misunderstanding before. Also, thank you for coming to my aid the other day.”

It was fortunate that they were relatively alone. Had others from the police department witnessed the always poised and efficient Su Mengjia, the pride of Jinghai City, in such a state, they’d likely be in utter disbelief.

“It’s all in the past. Don’t trouble yourself over it,” Lin Xiao responded with a reassuring smile.

He suddenly realized that this spirited, fiery-tempered policewoman looked rather adorable at that moment.

“That’s good to hear. Do you have any free time in the next few days? I’d like to invite you to dinner.” Upon hearing Lin Xiao’s response, Su Mengjia exhaled in relief. With a hint of hope in her voice, she lifted her gaze to Lin Xiao and asked.

“Of course, no problem at all. Just let me know when you’re free, and I’ll make sure to be there,” Lin Xiao affirmed with a nod.

“Really? That’s fantastic.” A surge of excitement lit up Su Mengjia’s face as her eyes remained intently on Lin Xiao.

Feeling slightly uneasy under her intense stare, Lin Xiao ventured, “Is there anything else? If not, I should be on my way.”

“Ah… No, nothing else. You can leave.” Su Mengjia quickly regained her composure and waved him off.

Once Lin Xiao departed, Su Mengjia gently touched her faintly flushed cheek, silently chiding herself for her emotional display.

Oddly enough, ever since that night when Lin Xiao had rescued her, he had prominently featured in several of her dreams. She recalled how, during her darkest and most vulnerable moments, he had stood forthrightly by her side. He might not have had an imposing stature, but to Su Mengjia, his presence was a bastion of security.

As Su Mengjia was lost in her thoughts, Lin Xiao was already outside the police station. He initially intended to hail a taxi to the Brilliant Tower. However, the appearance of a familiar Rolls-Royce changed his plans.

The car halted in front of him, and as the window descended, it revealed the stunning Wan Caixuan.

“Ah, you’re out of the police station already?”

“Yes.”

“I was on my way to bail you out, but it seems that’s no longer necessary,” Wan Caixuan remarked with a hint of surprise. “However, I’m genuinely curious. How did you manage to leave the police station? You didn’t escape, did you?”

“No,” Lin Xiao quickly replied, intuitively deciding against mentioning Su Mengjia. Seeking to divert the topic, he opened the car door, settling into the passenger seat. “President, would you like me to drive?”

Hoping to steer the conversation away, Lin Xiao’s attempt to sidetrack Wan Caixuan proved unsuccessful this time.

“Don’t evade the question, and don’t think of brushing me off. I want the entire truth,” Wan Caixuan insisted, her gaze unwavering as she fixed her eyes on him. “You’re my close bodyguard. I’ve never hidden anything from you, yet to me, you are full of secrets. It doesn’t feel right.”

“President, it’s simple. The police station stands for justice. Since I wasn’t at fault in the previous incident, they released me after clarifying matters,” Lin Xiao explained with a mix of resignation and amusement.

“Just released after a brief questioning?” A surge of anger welled up in Wan Caixuan, her chest rising and falling with emotion. “Do you think I’m a fool? It was clear those officers were in league with Le Fangyun.”

She bit her lip before continuing, “I simply wanted to get to know you better. Is that so wrong? Moreover, just a few days ago, you saw me in my entirety. I haven’t confronted you about that yet.”

Mention of the past made Lin Xiao visibly uncomfortable, his confidence slightly faltering, “President, that incident was a mere misunderstanding. Haven’t I already explained? Besides, how is that related to this matter?”

“Misunderstanding or not, you saw, didn’t you?” Wan Caixuan’s anger intensified, and she voiced thoughts she had long held back, “Who says they’re unrelated? My body, since childhood, has never been exposed to any man. You’ve glimpsed my most precious places, and I haven’t taken action against you. Now, when I wish to know more about you, is it too unreasonable to ask?”

Wan Caixuan spoke with biting precision, putting the usually reticent Lin Xiao at a loss for words.

“Fine, what do you wish to know?”

Seeing Lin Xiao relent, Wan Caixuan kept a poker face, but inside, she was elated.

This was her first ‘victory’ in their verbal exchanges, a significant triumph worth remembering.

Feigning casualness with a light cough, Wan Caixuan’s clear eyes met Lin Xiao’s, “I have many questions. First, how did you manage to leave the police station?”

This was the burning question in Wan Caixuan’s heart.

She had exerted considerable effort to get Lin Xiao released. Not only had she made a personal call to the city police, but she also dispatched someone to the hospital to secure a statement from Chen Xiao.

Fully prepared, she had planned an entry into the station, picturing a dramatic rescue of her personal bodyguard. Yet, to her surprise, Lin Xiao had emerged from the station before she could act.

The feeling was like having a meticulously rehearsed show canceled before its debut, leaving Wan Caixuan both exasperated and helpless, with no outlet for her frustration.

This peculiar mood made Wan Caixuan act out of character. She not only voiced thoughts she typically kept to herself, but her curiosity about Lin Xiao was also unmistakably evident.