Chapter 57: Detained at the Police Station, Yuan Ling is Finally Sentenced

Mr. Guan stepped out of the car, holding a black umbrella. His leather shoes landed heavily on the wet stone pavement, splashing water onto them. As he entered the station, the damp chill of the rain still clung to his shoulders.

“Guan Xiansheng.” Yuan Wu greeted him calmly.

The man addressed as Mr. Guan was lean, with a bit of stubble on his chin. His attire was simple, but no matter how plain his clothes, the scholarly aura surrounding him was impossible to conceal.

After a quick glance at the tall, upright young man before him, Mr. Guan asked nonchalantly, “You’re here too?”

“My younger brother got himself into trouble,” Yuan Wu summarized briefly.

When it came to Yuan Ling, Mr. Guan’s eyes carried a trace of sympathy. That lunatic caused trouble every day, but it had always been minor mischief—who would have thought this time he’d end up in the police station? If Yuan Ling were his brother, he’d have lost his mind by now.

Then again, his own prized student had also been detained. Usually such a composed person—he really had no right to mock others now.

Both men entered the meeting room together. Soon, Yuan Ling and Xie Zhi were brought in to sit across from them. At a glance, it was clear what had happened, and their expressions became increasingly stern.

“Teacher, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night,” Xie Zhi said, his tone respectful.

Mr. Guan chuckled and stroked his short beard. “Not at all. In fact, I’m quite curious about what you’ve done.” Gossip was human nature, and few could resist it.

“Brother, you’re here!” Yuan Ling looked as pitiful as could be, his eyes reddened as if he’d been wronged.

Yuan Wu took in his younger brother’s sorry state, recalling how sickly and frail he’d been since childhood. Had someone bullied him? His gaze swept across the others, his expression turning colder.

Both young men bore visible injuries, but they were men—fights happened, and it was usually just a matter of settling disputes. Yuan Wu had come fully prepared to take his brother home that night.

“This case also involves a young woman,” the officer stated.

“A young woman?” Yuan Wu’s brows furrowed.

The officer summarized the case details, and as the story unfolded, everyone’s headache worsened. When they turned back to look at Yuan Ling—who still appeared so innocent—they were livid. Even Xie Zhi, who had already beaten him up, felt a renewed urge to punch him again.

Meanwhile, Xie Zhi’s thoughts were completely elsewhere—he was overwhelmed with worry for Jiao Jiao. Was she frightened? Was she crying? How was she managing without him?

To Xie Zhi, his wife was delicate and easily bullied. He couldn’t even bear to imagine what she’d gone through without him by her side. His heart ached just thinking about it.

“Brother, I really like Jiao Jiao. Can’t you just let me have her?” Yuan Ling suddenly blurted out.

“Ridiculous!” Yuan Wu snapped, finally hardening his heart. “You’ve been spoiled rotten at home. I think it’s best if you spend some time at the psychiatric hospital.”

Yuan Ling fell silent for a moment, seemingly considering the idea, but he showed no signs of resistance or anger.

If his younger brother remained unchecked, there was no telling what he’d do in the future. Better to send him away now and teach him a lesson while he still could.

“Mr. Yuan is quite the righteous man,” Mr. Guan sneered. “A fine young man like this, yet utterly shameless.”

After much discussion, Xie Zhi was finally released. The moment his handcuffs were removed, he bolted out of the station without even taking the time to bid his teacher farewell.

He rushed into the main hall and, by sheer luck, ran straight into Jiao Jiao. She stood alone, quietly holding a cup of hot water. For some reason, she looked even thinner than before.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xie Zhi pulled her into his arms.

Hot tears slipped from his eyes, landing on Jiao Jiao’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I keep putting you in danger every time.”

Jiao Jiao was also struggling to hold back her emotions. She had been absolutely terrified. The thought of being abducted to some remote mountain village had nearly broken her. Scenes from tragic movies and real-life cases had haunted her mind, making her shudder.

“Xie Zhi, please don’t ever leave me alone again, okay?” Her voice was choked with sobs.

“Okay,” he promised without hesitation.

Once Yuan Wu had completed the necessary paperwork, he glanced over at the couple. Xie Zhi held Jiao Jiao tightly in his arms, his possessiveness undeniable. His gaze then shifted to Jiao Jiao’s exposed legs—slender and beautiful.

For a brief moment, his throat went dry.

He was a little curious about what she looked like, but in the end, he decided it was best not to get involved.

Mr. Guan, being the kind-hearted person he was, offered to drive them home. Xie Zhi had already promised to help him organize some of his most difficult research materials, which pleased the old scholar immensely.

In these times, literate people were rare, and finding someone capable of handling complex research was even harder. Many students lacked patience, while those who were patient lacked the intelligence required.

But Xie Zhi was exceptional in every way. Mr. Guan liked him immensely—almost as if he were his own son.

As they arrived at their home, Xie Zhi spoke with gratitude. “Thank you for everything tonight, Teacher. I’ll bring Jiao Jiao to visit you soon.”

“No need,” Mr. Guan waved him off. “Just do more work for me.”

“Of course.”

After that, Xie Zhi carried Jiao Jiao on his back, his broad hands securely supporting her waist. The sound of rain filled the quiet night.

Jiao Jiao was too exhausted to speak. She simply leaned against him, finding an unexpected sense of comfort in the silence.

For the first time, she thought to herself—maybe this kind of life wasn’t so bad.

“What about our things?” she asked weakly.

“I paid the shop assistant. He promised to deliver them tomorrow.”

When they stepped inside, the house was eerily quiet. The relatives who had come for a visit were probably still busy entertaining themselves. Those people always demanded too much and wouldn’t leave until they got what they wanted.

Without pausing, Xie Zhi carried her straight upstairs. The first thing he did was set her down in the bathroom, gently checking her forehead. It was a little warm.

“I’ll go make you some ginger tea. Can you bathe by yourself?” he asked.

Now that she was back in a familiar place, Jiao Jiao’s nerves had finally settled. Her face flushed. “I’m not a child.”

“In my eyes, you are,” he replied, his voice full of warmth.