Chapter 109: Rescue
Fu Junyao's rise to Minhe District Police Chief wasn't just due to her father's influence. She'd earned it—graduating top of her class from the police academy, mastering close-quarters combat and firearms training with near-perfect scores. She was a force to be reckoned with, her skills honed in rigorous drills.
Wu Yifan, for all his street smarts and occasional flashes of brilliance, was a security guard at heart. His hand-to-hand combat skills were passable, but his real-world experience paled next to Fu Junyao's. Without his smart enhancement device, he'd be no match for her—ten of him wouldn't stand a chance.
Watching Fu Junyao launch into action, Wu Yifan couldn't help but wince. She was clearly fired up, her patience frayed by the day's chaos. Her moves teetered on the edge of what was permissible for a cop, but with the Fu family's clout, even if she sent A Long to the hospital, few would dare criticize her. He recalled the time she'd stolen a sports car and fired shots at him and Song Mingjie—an incident that would've ended any other officer's career. For her? A written apology, and life went on.
Fu Junyao moved like a tiger pouncing, her attacks sharp and unrelenting, dominance radiating off her. But A Long was no pushover. Even under her onslaught, he countered with grit, his face flushing as he shouted, "Who are you? Kang Shu, what's—"
Kang Shu, caught between them, waved his hands frantically. "Stop! Both of you, please!"
"Stop? She started it!" A Long shot back, blocking a kick to his ribs.
Kang Shu's heart raced. He didn't know what Aixin and A Long had done to incur Beitian's "female tyrant's" wrath, but if Fu Junyao lost control, someone would get hurt. He pleaded, "Chief Fu, whatever they did, let's talk it out first. Violence won't help!"
The commotion drew neighbors, doors creaking open as curious onlookers peeked out. They stared, wide-eyed, at the beautiful woman trading blows with A Long, murmurs rippling through the crowd.
"Who's she? She's good!"
"What's she doing here? Did A Long cross her?"
"Nah, A Long's too老实 (lǎoshi, honest) for that…"
"Honest? When I was young, I—"
"Husband! Get back here! Don't you dare finish that sentence!"
The bystanders ate up the drama, no one stepping in. But their whispers—suggesting A Long had wronged a young girl—hit Fu Junyao like a slap. Her cheeks burned, and she pointed at A Long, fury in her voice. "You shameless bastard! Where do you think you'll run today?"
To anyone listening, her words sounded like a scorned lover's tirade. The neighbors' smirks grew more暧昧的 (ài mèi de, suggestive).
A Long, confused, parried another punch. "Shameless? What did I do?"
"You really don't remember?" Fu Junyao snapped, swinging again.
"Who *are* you?!" A Long yelped, ducking.
Wu Yifan saw Fu Junyao had A Long occupied—no need for him to interfere. He slipped past them, heading into the courtyard.
"Hey! Intruder!" A Long shouted, spotting him. He tried to break free, but Fu Junyao's next strike forced him back, his focus locked on her.
Inside, Wu Yifan spotted a figure dashing toward the courtyard wall, a hooded person slung over their shoulder—undoubtedly Ding Shihan. "Where do you think you're going?!" he roared, leaping into action.
He sprang upward, soaring five or six meters, his body arcing like an eagle in flight. Even without using his enhancement device, the jump shocked him—had he grown stronger? He'd have to ask Xue'er later. For now, there was no time to wonder.
The figure was Aixin.
Aixin froze, staring up at Wu Yifan's mid-air leap. He and A Long had trained for years, but he'd never seen such raw power. Panic flickered in his eyes—with Ding Shihan in his arms, he couldn't fight at full strength. In a split second, he made his move: he hurled Ding Shihan toward Wu Yifan, then spun, vaulting for the wall.
Wu Yifan didn't expect the maneuver. He reached out, catching Ding Shihan, but the force of the throw sent him staggering back seven or eight steps, his chest slamming into a stone well. He gagged, barely swallowing a mouthful of blood.
*Aixin's strength is insane.*
Wu Yifan had underestimated him—he'd thought Aixin was the brains, A Long the brawn. But that single throw proved Aixin's skills dwarfed A Long's. Qian Baoqing had a true master in his ranks.
As Aixin perched on the wall, Wu Yifan called out, "Tonight, Qingliu Street. I'll be waiting."
Aixin paused, glancing back. No words—just a sharp nod before he dropped down and vanished into the alleyways.
Wu Yifan gently set Ding Shihan on the ground, yanking off her hood. It was her. Her face was thinner, her eyes tired, but there was a fragile beauty to her, like a flower weathered by rain. A rag gagged her, ropes binding her wrists. When she saw him, her eyes lit up, and she made muffled "mmph" sounds, straining against the bonds.
He tore the rag free and cut the ropes. "You're safe," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Though this cost me a day's work. You owe me."
A strange warmth bloomed in his chest—sweet, like honey. He'd never felt this way before, not even with Ye Xiwen.
Ding Shihan rubbed her wrists, grinning. "I'll pay your wages. And treat you to dinner. Deal?"
"Dinner? That's not enough. Ten, maybe twenty meals. Big star." He emphasized the last words, teasing.
Her smile faltered, then returned, awkward. "You… you know who I am?" She'd hoped to keep her identity quiet—if word got out that a celebrity had been kidnapped and nearly forced into prostitution, her career could crumble. "I just arrived in Beitian. Bad luck, huh? Scary, but… kind of exciting?" She laughed nervously, steering the conversation away.
Wu Yifan shrugged. "Whether you're Ding Shihan or not doesn't matter. But the meals? Non-negotiable."
She nodded, relieved. "Any restaurant. Your pick."
Fu Junyao burst in, A Long handcuffed behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw Ding Shihan. "Wait—you *are* Ding Shihan? Did I get that right?"
Ding Shihan sighed, giving a small, sheepish wave. "Guilty."
Wu Yifan clapped Fu Junyao on the shoulder. "Told you. Now, let's get her somewhere safe. Qian Baoqing and Zhou Penglin won't rest until they find her."
Fu Junyao nodded, her earlier fury fading into resolve. "Back to the station. We'll get her statement, then put her under protection." She glanced at A Long, who glowered, and added, "And we've got a prisoner to interrogate."
As they led A Long out, Ding Shihan squeezed Wu Yifan's arm. "Thank you. Really."
He met her gaze, that honey-sweet warmth spreading again. "Save the thanks for the twenty meals. And maybe a raise—rescuing celebrities should pay overtime."
She laughed, a bright, clear sound that cut through the tension. For a moment, the chaos of the day melted away.
But Wu Yifan knew it wasn't over. Aixin would be on Qingliu Street tonight. Qian Baoqing and Zhou Penglin were still at large. And somewhere, Han Shishi's secret—and Ding Shihan's—hung in the balance.
He took a deep breath. Whatever came next, he was ready.
For now, though, he'd savor the win. A star rescued. A traitor exposed. And maybe, just maybe, a new friend.
Life, he decided, was never boring with Fu Junyao around.