Ma Wenbiao stood up, looking confused. He asked, “What’s going on? How did I end up here?”

Miao Jia cried, “Director Ma, you got drunk, insisted on dragging me to this guesthouse, and forced me. I refused, but you hit me! You’ve ruined my innocence…”

Ma Wenbiao’s face went pale with shock. His last memory was Miao Jia persuading him to drink; everything after that was a blank.

But he had indeed harbored impure thoughts about Miao Jia. Thinking this, Ma Wenbiao showed a guilty expression. Huang Yuan seized the moment. “So, you did force my wife!”

Ma Wenbiao groaned in pain. “Stop! This is all a misunderstanding!”

“Misunderstanding? I saw it with my own eyes! Come on, we’re going to the police station. I’m filing charges for rape! You’re going to be executed! Move!”

As Huang Yuan dragged Ma Wenbiao toward the door, the latter panicked. A charge of indecency was life-ruining, and even his brother-in-law couldn’t save him.

“No, no, no! We can’t go to the police station! Brother, let’s talk this out!”

The more Ma Wenbiao pleaded, the more insistent Huang Yuan became, scaring him into clinging to the bedpost, begging incessantly. “Brother, name your conditions. I’ll agree to anything!”

Huang Yuan and Miao Jia exchanged glances. They had succeeded.

“Anything?”

“Anything you say, just don’t take me to the police.”

“Alright, I have two conditions. First, I hear the bath scrubbers your Dong’an County Textile Factory produces are selling well. You need to hand over the manufacturing process to me. Second, I hear you’ve made quite a bit of money off these scrubbers. I’m short on cash- hand it over.”

Hearing this, Ma Wenbiao suddenly realized. These two knew his situation inside out. They had come prepared! He now suspected that the accusations about the assault might not even be true.

“You set me up, didn’t you?” Ma Wenbiao said indignantly. “I won’t agree to your demands! I didn’t assault Miao Jia. You’re blackmailing me!”

“So what if I set you up? What can you do about it? Hand over what I want, or I’ll make a scene at the police station. Let’s see if the police believe you or me!”

The pair alternated between threats and persuasion. In less than a few minutes, Ma Wenbiao gave in. After all, the scrubbers design wasn’t his idea, and the money wasn’t truly his either. He figured, “Fine, let them have it.”

In the adjacent Room 202, Lin Ning and Xu Wang had been listening the entire time. Once they’d gathered enough evidence, Xu Wang jumped off the desk. “Comrade Lin Ning, I’m going to arrest them now. Can you run to the Dong’an County police station and notify my colleagues to assist?”

“Comrade Xu, the station is too far. They won’t make it in time. Let me help you.”

“You’re a woman. It’s dangerous. What if you get hurt?”

Lin Ning picked up the metal tray on the table and effortlessly bent it into a crescent shape. “How’s my strength?”

Xu Wang gave her a thumbs-up.

“Impressive! Alright, follow me, but stay safe!”

“Got it.”

The two headed to Room 203. Xu Wang knocked on the door. Inside, the conversation halted abruptly. “Who is it?”

“Room service. I’m here with hot water.”

“…We don’t need hot water.”

Xu Wang said no more and kicked the door open with a single blow. The already shaky door collapsed to the floor with a crash. Xu Wang strode inside. “Police! Hands up!”

Miao Jia and Huang Yuan exchanged a panicked look. How had the police shown up?

Ma Wenbiao was also conflicted. Should he confess to the police about the extortion attempt?

Miao Jia stepped forward, blocking Ma Wenbiao’s view. “Officer, what law have we broken?”

“We received a report of prostitution happening here. You’re coming with me to the station for investigation!”

“No one here is involved in prostitution! We’re just friends having a gathering.”

Huang Yuan kicked Ma Wenbiao from behind. Ma Wenbiao hurriedly added, “Yes, Officer. We were just chatting, nothing illegal.”

Xu Wang sneered. “Chatting? Naked? Highly suspicious. Get dressed and come to the station!”

Miao Jia and Huang Yuan exchanged a determined look. They couldn’t go to the station. Their activities wouldn’t withstand scrutiny. Resolving to eliminate the obstacle, they decided to attack.

Huang Yuan moved first, picking up a chair and swinging it at Xu Wang. At the same time, Miao Jia tossed a bedsheet, aiming to entangle him.

“Hey, what are you doing? Attacking a police officer?!” cried Ma Wenbiao.

The two ignored him and went all out against Xu Wang. But Xu Wang had anticipated this. He kicked the chair aside and landed another kick squarely on Huang Yuan’s chest, sending him reeling. Huang Yuan, realizing he was no match, bolted toward the window.

Miao Jia seized the moment and dashed toward the door. However, she was intercepted by Lin Ning. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Upon seeing Lin Ning, Miao Jia’s anger surged. This detestable woman had humiliated her before and now again!

She lunged forward to shove Lin Ning aside. “Move!”

“You move!” Lin Ning retorted, delivering a kick to Miao Jia’s abdomen.

The force sent Miao Jia flying back into the room, crashing against the wall. She crumpled to the floor, clutching her stomach and coughing blood.

Meanwhile, Xu Wang had grabbed Huang Yuan as he attempted to escape through the window. Huang Yuan pulled out a switchblade, aiming for Xu Wang, but Xu Wang deftly dodged and slammed Huang Yuan’s head against the wall. Blood trickled down as Huang Yuan slumped unconscious.

“Officer, I surrender! I’ll come quietly!” Ma Wenbiao stammered, petrified.

Miao Jia, too, gave up. “Officer, I confess. We weren’t involved in prostitution. We were just drunk and got carried away. Nothing actually happened.”

Hearing this, Ma Wenbiao erupted. “You liar! Nothing happened, but you accused me of rape? Officer, they were extorting me!”

Xu Wang cuffed the trio to the table legs. With Lin Ning’s help, he called reinforcements from the Dong’an County police station, who arrived shortly to escort the suspects away.

As they parted ways, Lin Ning updated Xu Wang with critical information she’d overheard about someone named Morita, who appeared to be orchestrating criminal activities involving Ma Wenbiao.

Xu Wang’s expression turned serious.

“Comrade Lin Ning, this information is crucial. Thank you.”

“It’s my duty.”

Even as they split ways, Lin Ning couldn’t shake her unease. How did Morita learn about her bracelet? Could Jiang Chacha have leaked it? She decided to confront her directly.