Xia Zhi took a while to recover from her grief and emotion.
Wiping away her tears, she showed her resolute side, carefully put away her police ID, and returned the wooden bird that had saved her life to Yan Shouyi.
"Yan Shouyi, you helped me a lot this time. I can apply for a 'Warm-hearted Citizen Award' for you!" Xia Zhi said with a smile.
Yan Shouyi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "I don't need it. What if you ask me to come back for a statement later and I can't explain myself clearly? If you really want to help, then clear my record?"
From childhood, his grandfather had taught Yan Shouyi to avoid entanglements. Helping was fine, but after helping, one should withdraw as soon as possible, without lingering, or one would inevitably be implicated.
This was why Yan Shouyi left directly after helping Zhang Guodong and Huang Hai, with no intention of keeping in touch with them.
Seeing that Yan Shouyi did not want to expose himself, Xia Zhi nodded in understanding, but still said regretfully, "I'm sorry, but I don't have the authority to clear a record of 'prostitution' for you..."
"What???"
As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Zitong's expression changed drastically.
She let go of Yan Shouyi's hand and questioned him in disbelief, "You, you actually did that kind of thing?!"
Zhang Yingying, in the corner, suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope igniting in her eyes.
If Lin Zitong parted ways with Yan Shouyi over this matter, would it mean she still had that sliver of a chance?
However, Lin Zitong said in the next second, "If you want to sleep, I can accompany you, but you are not allowed to go to those disreputable women!"
Zhang Yingying: "..."
Xia Zhi: "..."
Yan Shouyi spread his hands helplessly. "What nonsense are you talking about? Can you be a little more reserved? Besides, I was framed. If you don't believe me, ask Officer Xia."
To prevent an emotional crisis between Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong, Xia Zhi quickly helped Yan Shouyi out. "I can testify that he was just feeling the bones for someone."
"Hmph, who else could he have felt the bones for but those disreputable women?!" Lin Zitong was even more annoyed.
Yan Shouyi found that the more he tried to explain, the worse it got. He decided to just lie down and say nothing. After all, he didn't care if Lin Zitong was angry or misunderstood.
At this moment, police sirens finally sounded outside the alley. Yan Shouyi knew that Xia Zhi's colleagues had arrived.
This meant he had to withdraw.
Xia Zhi returned Yan Shouyi's wooden bird to him. She had intended to ask for his contact information, but because Lin Zitong was there, Xia Zhi felt embarrassed to ask. Although she had no other intentions.
Her original intention was to seek Yan Shouyi's guidance if she encountered any difficult situations in the future.
Yan Shouyi took the wooden bird and walked towards Zhang Yingying.
"Afterwards, you'll go with the police to make a statement. I shouldn't have to teach you what to say, right? After all, you're a woman skilled at lying," Yan Shouyi said softly.
He wasn't targeting Zhang Yingying. In his opinion, he and Zhang Yingying were strangers now.
For strangers, there was no need to invest too much emotion.
Zhang Yingying nodded quickly. "I'll say Officer Xia saved me and won't mention anything about you two..."
"No, no, no, don't mention me. Mention Miss Lin instead," Yan Shouyi shook his head.
Lin Zitong suddenly had a bad premonition and quickly asked, "What do you mean?"
"Miss Lin from the Lin family encounters a murderer late at night and helps the police flower capture the culprit!" Yan Shouyi said with a smile. "This will be tomorrow's headline. I'll remember to buy a newspaper!"
After saying that, Yan Shouyi suddenly leaped up, stepped on the wall of the dead-end alley, and climbed over the ten-meter-high wall, disappearing in an instant!
Lin Zitong's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Yan Shouyi to escape right under her nose.
She quickly shouted at the high wall, "Big fool, even if you run to the ends of the earth, I will definitely find you! I've already latched onto you! You can't escape in this lifetime!!"
As soon as her voice fell, Xia Zhi's colleagues rushed into the alley and, finding Zhao Hu subdued, breathed a sigh of relief.
The captain asked with concern, "Xia Zhi, are you injured?"
"I'm fine. It's thanks to Miss Lin that we were able to catch Zhao Hu," Xia Zhi said, pointing to Lin Zitong.
The captain looked at Lin Zitong and was stunned, recognizing her. "The eldest daughter of the Lin family from Licheng?"
Lin Zitong composed herself, regained her powerful demeanor, and nodded calmly. "I just happened to be passing by and offered a little help to Officer Xia. The one who truly subdued the criminal was Officer Xia."
"That's great!" the captain said happily. "Miss Lin's actions are particularly exemplary. If you don't mind, we'll have someone interview you tonight and try to release a news headline tomorrow..."
Lin Zitong felt depressed listening to this.
Had that scoundrel, that big fool, predicted even this step?
He clearly knew he would encounter her but still chose to run away...
What was it about me that made him have to avoid me...
...
Two streets away, Yan Shouyi was squatting by the roadside, holding the wooden bird he had lent to Xia Zhi.
Because it had intercepted bullets, the wooden bird's beak was slightly damaged. Yan Shouyi looked at it with heartache and took out a handkerchief to wipe it.
"You were wronged this time. When I find a place to settle down in Rongcheng, I'll help you repair your beak."
"What? You're asking why I don't ask that brat for help? Sigh, that brat is good, but it's precisely because she's good that I can't implicate her."
"You say she likes me? Don't be ridiculous. She probably just sees me as a brother. Besides, I'm already engaged. I can't delay her."
"Bah, you're calling me an idiot? That's going too far. Just because you're my younger brother doesn't mean I'll spoil you!"
Passersby who saw Yan Shouyi talking to a wooden bird couldn't help but frown and keep their distance from him.
In this day and age, lunatics hitting people didn't break the law...
But Yan Shouyi didn't care.
The wooden bird could actually talk, but only he could hear it.
The soul of the most important person in Yan Shouyi's life was preserved within this wooden bird, which was why he cherished it so much.
After chatting with the wooden bird, Yan Shouyi put it into his satchel and muttered to himself:
"Alright, tonight's business isn't over yet. I just captured five wandering souls and need to find a place to send them away. And now I'm truly penniless. Where is my path!"
Yan Shouyi's tone seemed a bit bleak, but it also carried an indescribable sense of freedom.
Not knowing where the path led, not knowing where home was, yet able to stride forward with a clear conscience.
This was the principle of life that his grandfather had taught Yan Shouyi.
Serene and effortless.