Chapter Forty: Are You Even Worthy?

Just as Chen Hongxu was escorted into the police car, Xia Ruoke quickly arranged for her students to study on their own in the classroom, then anxiously began making phone calls to gather information on the situation. Meanwhile, as Chen Hongxu’s official girlfriend, Xue Xi’s reaction seemed strangely indifferent. She sat calmly at her desk, ignoring everything around her, and began drawing her eyebrows before a small mirror on her desk.

Hu Tianmiao seized a moment to approach Xue Xi and said, “Your boyfriend just got taken away by the police. Do you want me to find out what’s going on for you?”

Xue Xi put down her eyebrow pencil, lifted her head with a sweet smile, and answered with a question of her own, “Do I look pretty today?”

Hu Tianmiao studied her face intently, desire openly flickering in his eyes. He nodded and replied, “You look beautiful.” As if that weren’t enough, he added, “More beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen.”

Xue Xi kept smiling sweetly, but her chin gradually dipped. She shot a sidelong glance at Hu Tianmiao, who was still standing before her, and her smile twisted into a sneer. With disdain, she said, “I know I’m beautiful, but that has nothing to do with you. You’re like a fly—do you know how annoying you are? Get lost.”

Hu Tianmiao froze at her mockery, his face flushing from red to pale. He glared at Xue Xi and snorted coldly, “You’ll regret what you said today. When the time comes, I hope you’ll be able to stay strong.”

“Idiot…” Xue Xi’s cheerful expression didn’t falter, but the curse that slipped from her lips was jarring. Her composure wasn’t due to lack of concern; she had already done what needed to be done and was certain Chen Hongxu would come out of this unscathed. There was no reason to put on a show of false concern.

Of course, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t angry—after all, these troubles started because of her. She had been simmering with resentment for a while, and now Hu Tianmiao had the nerve to hit on her, making him a perfect target for her ire.

“Wait a second—” Xue Xi watched Hu Tianmiao’s departing figure, a trace of doubt flickering in her eyes.

...

By now, Chen Hongxu had stepped out of the police car. Glancing at the officers gathered warily outside the police station, he found it rather amusing.

Moments later, he was led into a windowless office. The burly officer who escorted him in had just invited him to sit when the door was pushed open again. A man in a leather jacket strode in and muttered something in a low voice to the fat officer, who shook his head and replied with displeasure, “Let’s stick to procedure. No shortcuts.”

“Oh? Wang, you’re getting bold, aren’t you?” The newcomer was unimpressed by the fat officer’s stance. He jabbed a finger at the man’s forehead and sneered, “This order comes straight from the chief. Are you really going to shoulder this yourself? You should know that weight and authority aren’t the same thing.”

The fat officer’s fists clenched tightly as he glared at the man in the leather jacket. After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and said, “I stand by my decision. We must follow protocol. I can’t just let you take him away. If my attitude is a problem, someone else can be assigned to this case. And, Li Tianpeng, you’re just an auxiliary officer. This case is highly confidential, so please leave. You’re not needed here. And remember, closing the door behind you is basic courtesy.”

Li Tianpeng jabbed a finger at the fat officer’s head, opened his mouth to curse, “Wang, you really must have had your brains squeezed in a door. Just wait, I hope you can keep this attitude up.” With that, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him.

Wang’s firmness was, of course, due to Chen Hongxu’s attitude. In these high-level power struggles, pawns are always sacrificed first. Wang didn’t want to get involved. If someone else could take over, that was ideal. If not, at least his stance was clear. If the chief’s side won, life might get harder for him, but if the student’s backers prevailed, this stand could yield unexpected rewards.

“You’re not so bad,” Chen Hongxu remarked with a smile after witnessing the exchange. He was only a high school student, and although he understood that the fat officer’s attitude was influenced by his own, he didn’t dwell on it.

The fat officer smiled kindly and flipped open the clipboard on his desk. “Shall I take your statement?”

Chen Hongxu rolled his neck, amused. Since the chief had already defined the nature of this incident, giving a statement was pointless. He chuckled, shook his head, and replied, “Let’s not waste anyone’s time. You seem like a decent guy—just stay out of this. I won’t say anything. If you have enough evidence to charge me, then go ahead.”

“So tough?” The fat officer blinked in surprise, inwardly congratulating himself on making the right call. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen such an unyielding suspect; only those with nothing to lose usually acted this way. Most people, knowing they’d been set up, would be shaking in their boots by now.

He sighed, closed the clipboard, and said lightly, “If that’s your decision, then there’s nothing I can do for you.” He gave Chen Hongxu an apologetic look, then stood and left the office.

Chen Hongxu remained seated, perfectly composed. Half an hour later, the door opened again, and in walked the man in the leather jacket—Li Tianpeng.

With a cold smirk, Li Tianpeng glanced at Chen Hongxu’s unconcerned expression and said arrogantly, “Well, well, whose little prince do we have here? So fearless you don’t even care? Come with me—planning to settle in here for good?”

Hearing the mockery in his tone, Chen Hongxu narrowed his eyes but did nothing out of line. He stood slowly and walked toward the door. As he crossed the threshold, Li Tianpeng suddenly grabbed his arm, clearly intending to teach him a lesson and forcefully escort him out.

But Chen Hongxu was not about to comply. With a small twist, he slipped free of the thick hand, then spun around, a glint of coldness in his eyes. He lashed out with a whiplike kick, striking Li Tianpeng square in the face and sending him flying sideways into the wall before he crumpled to the floor.

The shoe print on Li Tianpeng’s face stood out like a brand, the grooves in his skin now traced by blood trickling from his forehead and nostrils, drip by drip onto the floor, making him look positively grotesque.

“You dare assault an officer?” Li Tianpeng was incredulous. This was the police station, and a high school student had just attacked him without fear—and so ruthlessly, too?

“You call yourself a policeman? Not only will I hit you, I’ll strip you of that uniform.” Chen Hongxu’s voice was calm as he strode toward the fallen Li Tianpeng.

Stunned by the blow, Li Tianpeng seemed to forget the warning signs. If the boy was this unafraid, he must have some backing—no one who spoke and acted so confidently was a fool.

Still, having dared to challenge the fat officer and invoke the chief’s name, Li Tianpeng had his own supporters. Now, humiliated and enraged, he didn’t wait for Chen Hongxu to approach; instead, he leapt up, snatched up a chair from the office, and swung it furiously at Chen Hongxu’s head.

But Chen Hongxu merely stepped back, dodging the childish attack. As the chair whooshed past, he stepped forward and launched a straight punch into Li Tianpeng’s stomach.

It was an ordinary punch, nothing dramatic, like something from a schoolyard fight. But Li Tianpeng felt as if he’d been struck by a sledgehammer; his body seemed to float, then he crashed against the wall once more and slumped to the ground.

His stomach twisted in agony, his head rang as if a firecracker had exploded inside, and the pain was so intense he couldn’t even speak.

Chen Hongxu stood there, calm as ever, placing one foot on Li Tianpeng’s head and grinding it side to side as if crushing an ant. “If I can put you down once, I can do it a hundred times. Don’t overestimate yourself.”