This thought made Wang De feel balanced again. His protagonist halo was better than Ji Chunshan’s, a famous person, and he felt a bit smug about it.

“You’re thinking with a male-oriented novel mindset,” Xiao Xu said, opening the bureau’s novel database and searching the keyword “domineering CEO.” 

The search returned 999+ pages of results. “In romance-dominated CEO novels, the protagonist is usually the girl—in this case, Xu Xue.”

Wang De: “Even if it’s Xu Xue, what’s so interesting about it?”

Xiao Xu patiently explained, “If you were the protagonist, would you report this to the police?”

Wang De suddenly understood. As a protagonist destined for a dazzling, successful life, he would undoubtedly enjoy such a life and wouldn’t want anyone to interfere, let alone call the police. Xu Xue’s story was far more exciting than his—she started off with private jets and luxury yachts. Yet she actively sought out the police.

Jiang Nian, rarely emotional, spoke with a hint of delight. “Her will is strong. Resisting the novel’s influence is truly impressive.”

Duan Chunshui asked the station chief, “Did she report because she was locked in the dark room?”

The station chief replied, “She said even if she hadn’t been locked in the dark room, she would still have sought help. She couldn’t stand the CEO’s love—it was too overwhelming.”

They quickly realized why Xu Xue had said so.

The station chief received a phone call. His tone was complicated as he informed them, “Ji Chunshan has arrived to take her back.”

“……”

Duan Chunshui glanced at Jiang Nian, who nodded, and immediately went to find Xu Xue. The rest stayed in the meeting room, watching Ji Chunshan through surveillance.

In front of the simple police station were several luxury cars with flashy license plates and logos. A white-gloved man hurried out of a Rolls-Royce Phantom and ran to open the rear door.

A foot clad in custom crocodile leather shoes emerged from the car. As both feet landed, a man stepped out, dressed in a bespoke suit, wearing a watch worth eight figures and black designer sunglasses. Standing dozens of meters from the police station’s humble entrance, he made the station look even shabbier by comparison.

The CEO frowned deeply, staring disapprovingly at the dusty road. “Why isn’t there a red carpet?”

The secretary quickly bowed his head. “It’ll be here right away.”

With a wave of his hand, two bodyguards immediately ran out from a nearby car carrying a rolled-up red carpet. They swiftly unrolled the luxurious wool carpet and stood back behind the CEO.

Adjusting his sunglasses, the CEO, followed by two rows of black-suited bodyguards, stepped onto the lavish red carpet and began walking toward the police station in a runway-like stride.

“……”

The police station staff stared in shock, their mouths wide open.

[Duan Chunshui wanted to punch him.]

Duan Chunshui, for reasons unknown, pulled out a pair of sunglasses. He put them on, and said, “Let’s go take a look.”

When they went downstairs, the CEO was just reaching the entrance. Jiang Nian and Xu Xue were already there.

The CEO removed his sunglasses, spread his arms wide, and said to Xu Xue, “Woman, are you satisfied with what you see?”

“……”

Everyone glanced at Xu Xue. The envy in their eyes diminished, replaced by growing sympathy.

Xu Xue covered her forehead with her hand, as if she wanted to crouch on the ground.

The CEO extended his hand, and his secretary promptly presented him with a large bouquet of Blue Moonstones^[1]Blue Moonstones (藍月石): A rare and exotic flower symbolizing beauty and mystery.. The CEO handed the bouquet to Xu Xue and said, “You’re as mysterious and beautiful as these flowers. My lovely Xiao Xue, your runaway game is over. Come home with me now.”

Xu Xue’s face showed agony. “I’m not going back with you. We live in two different worlds. We’re not compatible.”

The CEO’s brows furrowed deeply. “Who says we live in two different worlds? Even if we do, we can still be compatible.”

Xu Xue asked, “Can you adapt to my life?”

The CEO stared at Xu Xue through his dark sunglasses for a moment before sighing. “Darling, what am I going to do with you?”

“……”

Not wanting to disturb the public servants’ work, Xu Xue, following Jiang Nian’s suggestion, led the domineering CEO out of the police station amidst the bewildered stares of the staff.

Duan Chunshui: “Follow them to confirm who the protagonist is.”

Jiang Nian: “Understood. To avoid Xu Xue attracting more domineering CEOs, I’ve advised her to make him adapt to her lifestyle and avoid situations where other CEOs might show up.”

Xu Xue was an ordinary office worker, perhaps even struggling financially. She usually hesitated to take taxis. Now, with others accompanying her, she gritted her teeth and decided to take the CEO on a bus back to her office.

Despite agreeing to adapt to Xu Xue’s lifestyle, the CEO’s brows furrowed as if forming mountain ranges. After some internal struggle, he tapped Xu Xue’s nose and said, “You…”

“……”

To avoid further trouble, Xu Xue numbly put a mask on the CEO and, with a swipe of a transit card, took him onto the bus.

The moment he boarded, all eyes on the bus turned to him. Duan Chunshui and his team quietly took seats at the back of the bus as everyone observed the CEO.

When the bus started moving, Xu Xue pulled her mask up a little higher and dragged the CEO to sit beside her.

“I can’t sit so close to other people,” the CEO grumbled, his eyebrows furrowing again as he scanned the bus. 

“If you really want to take the bus, I’ll buy it for you so we won’t have to deal with these people.”

The passengers, who had just turned their gazes away, all looked back at him again. Even the driver glanced through the rearview mirror.

The CEO seemed oblivious to the attention. He sighed, “You won’t use the private jet I bought you. You won’t drive the Ferrari I gave you. I brought a convoy of bodyguards to pick you up, and that’s also no good. Yet you insist on taking this bus. You… you’re really unique.”

The bus fell into an eerie silence.

A minute later, a college-aged boy pulled out his phone and said into it, “Butler Wang, what are you doing? Where’s my Maybach? Hurry up and bring it over. I’ve had enough of this ‘experiencing the hardships of the human world’ nonsense.”

A girl followed suit, speaking into her chat app, “You know how it is. I can’t stand regular cars. After you borrowed my private jet for your vacation, I can’t bring myself to sit in my Rolls-Royce or Lamborghini. Now, here I am, crammed into this odd thing called a bus.”

Someone let out a muffled laugh. That laugh seemed infectious, and soon the entire bus erupted into laughter—including Wang De, who slapped his leg while laughing. “He looks like such an idiot!”

[This fellow stud-horse here is really about to get punched by Duan Chunshui.]

“Wait, why would Duan Chunshui punch me? Shouldn’t the CEO be the one getting punched this time?”

Wang De suddenly noticed that Duan Chunshui, Jiang Nian, Xiao Xu, and Zhu Zhu weren’t laughing at all. He paused his laughter to ask Xiao Xu, “Why aren’t you laughing? Don’t you think it’s funny?”

The ever-honest Xiao Xu replied, “I don’t dare laugh.”

“Why not? Are you afraid Ji Chunshan will hold a grudge?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Because the CEO is Captain’s biological cousin.”

“……”

For the first time, Wang De realized how quickly his laughter could vanish. The tears he had laughed out earlier now fell down his cheeks in somber silence.