Chapter 79

Before Zhou Xing had the chance to rejoice, someone suddenly hoisted him off the ground using the back of his collar and threw him to one side.

“Ah!” he screamed miserably. Not one of his long-awaited friends had come to his rescue.

Gu Jing Yuan stepped over the obstructing Zhou Xing and approached Tao Yi Xi.

Her body was tense, and she trembled uncontrollably. She stared unblinkingly at Zhou Xing, tears streaming down relentlessly her face like water from an opened faucet.

His heart clenched painfully.

He had been confident that she would not be truly harmed, but seeing this scene, an overwhelming wave of regret washed over him.

As his fingertips lightly touched her shoulder, Tao Yi Xi flinched violently.

At that moment, he could not bother with his usual mask of indifference. He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.

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Fvkzz dlpvzle kd Qw Kkdt Zwyd’p yaxp, Mys Zk Dk pzsozu aykple bla byde, “Rv oyp xl.”

“Hello, we’re officers from Guanxin Street Police Station,” One of the officers presented his badge before continuing. “Could you tell us who the perpetrator is?”

Tao Yi Xi pointed straight at Zhou Xing with a slender but resolute finger.

Zhou Xing’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Who the hell are you pointing at?!”

One of the officers, exuding authority, stepped toward Zhou Xing. Zhou Xing flinched like a cowardly shrimp, jumping away nervously at the approaching figure.

“Why aren’t you arresting them?” Zhou Xing demanded, voice cracking with anger.

“Your actions are suspected to be in violation of the law. We’ll need you to come with us,” the officer stated resolutely.

“What’s wrong with you? Can’t you see I’m the one who’s hurt?! I’m the victim here!” Zhou Xing yelled, his tone growing more hysterical. “Damn it, are you blind? Useless cops!”

“Please cooperate with our investigation,” the other officer said firmly. “Without evidence, we wouldn’t make random arrests. Just so you know, your entire conversation with this lady has been recorded.”

Zhou Xing, used to acting lawlessly and getting away with worse, glared defiantly. Clinging to his last shred of arrogance, he spat out a threat, “Do you even know who I am?”

The officer cut him off sharply; his voice filled with authority. “It doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re involved in illegal activities, you’ll have to come with us. If you don’t cooperate, we will be obliged to use force.”

Zhou Xing swallowed hard as the officer pulled a pair of handcuffs from his side. His bravado evaporated, and he dared not utter another word.

The more senior officer, with a kinder demeanour, turned to Tao Yi Xi and said, “We’ll need the reporter to provide a statement. So please come with us as well.” 

Tao Yi Xi nodded, “Okay.”

As she stepped out of Gu Jing Yuan’s embrace, he immediately moved closer, switching from a hug to holding her hand.

“I’m coming with you.”

“And you are?” the officer asked.

“I’m her boyfriend,” Gu Jing Yuan replied so smoothly and naturally as if it were a line he had rehearsed countless times.

Tao Yi Xi turned to him in surprise, only to meet Gu Jing Yuan’s calm and steady gaze. His grip tightened around her hand, firm and reassuring.

“Boyfriends are allowed to accompany the victim,” the officer consented. “Try to comfort your girlfriend. After all, she had just experienced such a harrowing incident.”

“I will,” Gu Jing Yuan replied, his tone serious. “Please give us a moment.”

He reached for her long coat from the coat rack and carefully draped it over her shoulders. His hand settled gently on her shoulder, his broad chest radiating warmth and strength, grounding her.

“Let’s go.”

**

At the police station.

Gu Jing Yuan stayed by her side the entire time. When Tao Yi Xi recounted how Zhou Xing had broken into her room and attempted to assault her, her words faltered, and residual fear was evident in her eyes.

“I don’t know how he got my room key card,” Tao Yi Xi narrated, her eyelashes trembling slightly. She squeezed her eyes shut in self-reproach. “I should’ve latched the safety chain. How could I have been so careless? If I had done that, he wouldn’t have been able to force his way in.”

Noticing her distress, the officer hesitated and glanced at Gu Jing Yuan, unsure if he should proceed further.

Gu Jing Yuan gently wrapped an arm around her, his hand softly patting her arm in a soothing rhythm. His eyes reflected a mixture of guilt and heartache as he spoke, his voice low yet resolute. “It’s all over now. This will never happen again.”

His comforting presence made her instinctively lean closer, burying her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply as though grounding herself in his scent.

Gu Jing Yuan’s gaze softened as he held her. His expression was tender, full of affection, yet deeply pained.

He was beginning to understand why she had become so vulnerable.

That was her private space, the one place where she could let her guard down and feel safe. Yet, danger had burst in uninvited, violating that sanctuary. Unarmed and defenseless, she must have felt suffocated and utterly hopeless.

And him? He had always seen her hold the upper hand in confrontations, leading him to naively assume that she was unbreakable. He had foolishly believed that Zhou Xing would not really harm her, that he would not dare cross that line.

Now, self-recrimination and regret were consuming him, but he could not afford to falter now.

Gu Jing Yuan gently stroked her head, his voice soft and soothing. “If you don’t want to continue, you don’t have to.”

Tao Yi Xi shook her head, her voice muffled but resolute. “No, I can continue. He doesn’t deserve to get away with this.”

He gazed profoundly at her, “Okay.”

After calming herself, Tao Yi Xi finished recounting the events. Once that was done, she would finally be able to leave.

In a separate room, Zhou Xing was being detained. Due to the poor soundproofing, his agitated voice could still be heard, loudly demanding a lawyer and threatening to file charges against her for intentional harm, claiming he needed a medical examination for his injuries.

Tao Yi Xi paused in her tracks. She stared at the door, her expression faintly dazed, though her mind was remarkably clear. She turned to the officer and asked, “Since he didn’t succeed in his attempt, does that mean he’ll be released soon?”

It was not that she distrusted the law; wealthy people often knew how to manipulate and exploit loopholes.

“Well… we’ll conduct a thorough investigation,” the officer told them, clearly constrained by the circumstances.

Her gaze dimmed slightly, though she did not press him further.

Gu Jing Yuan adjusted her loosened coat collar, his actions calm and unhurried. He said, “Anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences, whether it’s today or someday in the future.”

She turned to look at him, now standing so close. His tone was light, yet it carried a flicker of reassurance.

“Yes, your boyfriend is right,” the officer chimed in, echoing Gu Jingyuan’s sentiment. “A person who regularly walks by the river cannot avoid getting their shoes wet.”

Tao Yi Xi’s mood seemed to lighten unexpectedly, “En.”

Outside the police station, Qi Yue and the chauffeur were waiting. Qi Yue waved at them, and bright red banknotes fluttered in the breeze under the streetlights, which was particularly eye-catching.

Tao Yi Xi was puzzled as to why Qi Yue was there.

“Zhou Xing and his gang were drunk driving and street racing. As a responsible citizen, I reported the whole lot of them. And this,” he said, holding up the cash, “is my reward. Turns out the current policy is pretty generous. It’s two thousand yuan per report! If I ever go broke, I might just hang around outside bars to get rich through reporting these people.”

Tao Yi Xi laughed softly, and Qi Yue joined in. His gaze flitted toward Gu Jing Yuan, who was not smiling. However, seeing Tao Yi Xi’s laughter, the cold sharpness in his eyes softened slightly.

Qi Yue let out a small sigh of relief and turned to instruct the driver. When he started to announce the destination, he froze, “Uh, so where are we going now?”

Gu Jing Yuan answered first, “To Yunmao Apartment.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Tao Yi Xi gave the hotel address instead.

Gu Jingyuan turned to her, his tone serious. “The Zhou family will likely get Zhou Xing out soon. For now, you should stay at Yunmao Apartment. The security in that community is excellent.”

Qi Yue nodded emphatically. “Exactly! Every time I go there, they require facial recognition registration. It’s super strict. Plus, Yunmao Apartment is in the city centre, so it’s convenient for you to get anywhere.”

Tao Yi Xi did not refuse immediately but asked instead, “What about you?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be staying there.”

Tao Yi Xi was silent for two seconds. 

“Oh,” she lowered her head and fiddled with her phone.

Upon reaching the entrance of Yunmao Apartment, Qi Yue rolled down the car window and waved to Tao Yi Xi. “Since Brother Yuan is here, I won’t tag along. Goodnight, Sister Yi Xi.”

“En, thank you for tonight.”

Qi Yue scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “Oh, it’s nothing—I didn’t do much. I was just following Brother Yuan’s instructions.”

“Hmm?”

“Uh… Haha, it’s really late. Sister Yi Xi, have a good rest tonight, alright?  I really have to go now!” If he stayed any longer, Brother Yuan might just kill him for his big mouth.

Qi Yue ducked back into the passenger seat, urging hurriedly, “Old Li, drive! Drive quickly!”

**

At the entrance of the complex, security cameras monitored the area 24/7, and a security guard had already stepped out of the booth to greet them.

“Good evening, Mr. Gu. Please have the accompanying lady register her entry.”

Tao Yi Xi was about to do as instructed when Gu Jing Yuan gently grabbed her arm and asked the guard, “Is someone from property management on duty?”

“There is.”

The security guard contacted the property management staff via the intercom, and it was not long before someone arrived.

The staff instantly recognized Gu Jing Yuan and greeted, “Mr. Gu, how can I assist you?”

“Grant her access privileges.”

The staff could not help but steal a couple more glances at Tao Yi Xi. Those working here had a strong impression of Mr. Gu, not only because of his strikingly handsome looks but also because of his impeccable reputation. 

He had stayed here for many years but was always spotted alone. This was the first time anyone had ever seen him bring someone back.

“Mr. Gu, please fill out this form here.”

Gu Jing Yuan quickly completed it.

The staff took the completed form from Gu Jing Yuan. When scanning through, she glanced briefly at the relationship section and looked up at him with a hint of surprise.

Gu Jing Yuan noticed and raised an eyebrow. “Is there an issue?”

The staff quickly shook her head, regaining her composure. “Not at all, it’s all good!”

The staff member then activated the device to assist Tao Yi Xi with the facial and fingerprint recognition process.

Tao Yi Xi was surprised by the number of procedures needed for just a few days’ stay and wondered if this level of service was expected of a high-end community.

The facial recognition was completed quickly. When it came to the fingerprint scan, Tao Yi Xi instinctively stretched out the hand that was free before suddenly pausing. After a moment, she put it down and raised the other hand, the one holding her phone

The staff, noticing her action, kindly added, “Either hand will work.”

Tao Yi Xi chose to put down her phone and insisted on using that hand for the scan.

Gu Jing Yuan frowned slightly, feeling that something was amiss.

“Beep—” The machine signalled that the process was complete.

“You’re all set, thank you. From now on, you can enter and exit the complex directly.”

“Thank you.”

The staff smiled as she saw them off. As soon as they were out of sight, she could not resist the burning urge to share this juicy piece of gossip with her colleagues, so she quickly opened their group chat.

Buzz Buzz: [Ahhh! OMG! Sisters, major news! I saw Mr. Gu with his fiancée tonight!]

[???] 

Strings of question marks followed her message.

[For real?! Don’t be spreading rumours.]

Buzz Buzz: [Attached Picture: {Relation: Fiancée}]

Buzz Buzz: [Mr. Gu wrote it himself!]

[Wow! So it’s true! So Mr. Gu likes women after all?]

Buzz Buzz: [??? Though I find your doubt quite reasonable.]

[It’s so shocking! Do you have any pictures?]

Buzz Buzz: [I didn’t dare take one, but trust my taste, ladies! Mr. Gu’s fiancée is absolutely celestial in appearance, so beautiful you can’t even feel jealous!!]

[Based on my years of dating experience, it is hard for most people to hold onto a man like Mr. Gu.]

Buzz Buzz: [Stop with your so-called expertise. You weren’t there, you didn’t see it! Mr. Gu didn’t take his eyes off his fiancée once! I’ll bet ten rounds of hotpot at HaidiLao that Mr. Gu definitely loves her more!]

[Impossible! Are you referring to the same cold and expressionless Mr. Gu?]

[I find it hard to imagine!]