When Zheng Ruzhi received the painting brought to her by Zhuang Zi, she was almost moved to tears.

“Do you know? Mr. Zou is my idol. Nowadays, even if you offer a high price, you can’t buy his genuine works.” She carefully put the scroll painting back into the box. “This gift is absolutely priceless to me.”

Shen Jianbai laughed, “Is it really that exciting?”

Zheng Ruzhi retorted, “Do you, an old-fashioned guy, understand how to appreciate art?”

Shen Jianbai smiled without saying a word.

“This girl is really likable. Yesterday, I offered to pay her, but she insisted on giving it to me as a gift.” Zheng Ruzhi looked at the two men in the room with a face full of admiration. “She is expressing her gratitude for our hospitality last night. Such a small favor is repaid with great kindness!”

Si Hang leisurely leaned on the sofa, scrolling through work reports on his phone, without expressing any opinion.

Shen Jianbai nodded in agreement, “She is a good kid.”

“Son,” Zheng Ruzhi said, smiling at Si Hang, “do you have her phone number? I want to thank her personally.”

Si Hang’s finger paused slightly while scrolling the screen. “No.”

Before yesterday, it was Xie Kui who was handling her case, and he didn’t have it.

“Then make sure to thank her for me tomorrow, okay?”

Si Hang frowned slightly and responded vaguely, “Hmm.”

…

When leaving the villa, Si Hang explained the reason to his parents and decided to leave Xiaomi with them for two days until Xiao Meng returned to take her.

The elderly couple had no objections. Their house was big, and having a child around would make it lively. Moreover, helping someone in need was a good deed. The couple often participated in charity events, and their daughter-in-law was the owner of a charity website, always kind and helpful. Taking care of a little girl for a while was no problem at all.

Si Hang opened the car door and had just gotten in when Zheng Ruzhi hurried over. “Son, I have something to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I thought about it. Receiving such a big gift from Zhuang Zi and just saying thank you is not enough. So, I want you to invite her to dinner at our house this Saturday.”

Si Hang fastened his seatbelt and, recalling the woman’s figure when leaving the police station, casually replied, “She may not come.”

“Give me her phone number when you go to the office tomorrow, and I’ll invite her personally.”

Si Hang did not respond, started the engine, and said, “I’m leaving.”

“Drive safely.”

…

Only Xie Kui had Zhuang Zi’s contact information.

The next day at lunch in the cafeteria, Si Hang asked him for her phone number.

Xie Kui suddenly felt something and smiled, “I heard from Xiao Meng that you brought her back the day before yesterday?”

Si Hang’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at him indifferently, not saying a word. Xie Kui looked back at him, smiling.

“What do you think of her?”

Si Hang looked down and forwarded the number to his mother, without speaking.

“Boss.”

“What do you want to hear from me?”

“I think you two are quite fated. Xiao Meng said the same thing.” Having been a detective for so many years, he believed that there were many things they had an extraordinary intuition about. “First, you saved her, then took her in, and there were some entanglements before. Such coincidences make me feel that something might happen between you two in the future.”

Si Hang put away his phone and gave him a half-smile. “What will happen?”

Xie Kui smiled mysteriously. “How would I know? Isn’t it all in your heart?”

“I have nothing to do with her. If you have the energy, focus more on the cases.”

Xie Kui felt wronged, “I’m considering work too. Zhuang Zi needs protection now. If you continue to take her in, we can spare two officers for other cases. We are short-staffed lately.”

Si Hang frowned. “You think my place is a shelter?”

“No.” Xie Kui hurriedly smiled, “I just thought you took her in last time, so I wanted to ask your opinion.”

“Last time, there was no choice.” Everyone was on duty, and he couldn’t leave her on the street.

Xie Kui said, “This time, it’s also about saving someone in danger. She doesn’t even dare to stay in hotels now, spending nights in her car. Don’t you think a woman encountering this is quite pitiful?”

Si Hang paused, emotionless, “It’s her own choice.”

Xie Kui was momentarily speechless, thinking he was really heartless. But then he realized this statement might have a double meaning.

He said it was her choice, implying that if she actively asked him to take her in, he wouldn’t refuse either?

…

When Zhuang Zi received Zheng Ruzhi’s call, she had just finished lunch and returned to her office.

She was quite surprised, “How did you get my phone number?”

“Of course, I got it from Si Hang,” Zheng Ruzhi replied. “Thank you so much for that painting yesterday.”

“As long as you like it.”

Zheng Ruzhi laughed, “What are you talking about? I absolutely love it. So, Auntie would like to invite you to dinner at our house this weekend. What do you like to eat? Auntie will cook for you.”

Zhuang Zi sat down in her office chair. “You’re too kind. The calligraphy piece wouldn’t mean much to me if I kept it. It’s better to give it to someone who appreciates it.”

“Let me tell you, Auntie is a very stubborn person. You either accept my payment for the calligraphy as if I bought it from you, or you accept Auntie’s thanks and come to our house for a meal.”

Zhuang Zi couldn’t help but laugh. Zheng Ruzhi was indeed very enthusiastic. If she declined any further, it would seem pretentious.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

On the phone, Zheng Ruzhi’s voice was full of sincerity and joy, “Let Si Hang bring you over. He visits us every Saturday.”

Zhuang Zi replied, “I can drive over myself.”

Zheng Ruzhi smiled and didn’t insist. They chatted a bit more, with Zheng Ruzhi asking about her injury and where she was staying these days.