A few days later, news of the attack on Xiao Yi, chairman of the Xiao Group, swept across Linhai’s major social media platforms and newspaper front pages. Everyone wanted to know who had been bold enough to attack the head of the Xiao family—and put him in the hospital.
Some blamed a notorious local criminal organization. Others suspected an internal power struggle within the Xiao family. There were even rumors that the attacker had coveted Xiao Yi’s looks and intended to force himself on him. The theories were endless, and online discussions were in full swing.
Yang Zhengwen, a junior police officer who had only recently transferred to the city, was following the gossip too. On his very first day at the Linhai Municipal Public Security Bureau, he had been briefed on the Xiao family’s standing: one of the city’s biggest taxpayers, an elite family even among the elite.
He had barely begun enjoying the spectacle when he learned that the case had been transferred from the Yalong Bay police station to the municipal bureau. A task force had been assembled, and he had the honor of joining it. Their assignment was to catch Xiao Yi’s attacker and recover his missing property.
Yang Zhengwen was stunned.
“They formed an entire task force over a coat?”
“And the man lying in there.”
In the corridor outside the hospital room, Zheng Xin leaned casually against the wall with her arms folded. Her gaze rested on the room at the far end, where bodyguards stood watch. Anyone entering or leaving had to pass repeated checks.
Yang Zhengwen was about to remark that the man was being treated like an emperor. Then he reconsidered. Given the Xiao family’s status and the Xiao Group’s assets, the man inside was hardly less powerful than the king of a small country.
Damn capitalists.
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long before someone invited them in. Just before entering, Yang Zhengwen took a deep breath and whispered, “Xin, I’m a little nervous.”
She glanced at him. “What about?”
He swallowed. “I’ve never met anyone this rich before.”
Would he have to kneel and pay his respects once they went in?
“…”
Zheng Xin rolled her eyes and pushed open the door.
The hospital room was more spacious and luxurious than a hotel suite. Between the doctors, nurses, and care attendants, there were more than a dozen people inside, yet everyone worked quietly and efficiently. There was scarcely a sound.
The two officers instinctively looked toward the bed, but it was empty. As they wondered where the patient was, the assistant who had escorted them in gestured toward the terrace.
They followed his gesture—and both caught their breath.
They had prepared themselves, but clearly not enough.
The man on the terrace wore pajamas in the natural beige of linen. He was tall and slender, with cool, pale skin, sharply defined features, and a high, straight nose. Beneath prominent brows, an unusual pair of dark green eyes caught the sunlight with a jewel-like gleam. His lips were slightly pale. Seated in a wheelchair with his gaze lowered, he was as handsome and elegant as a Western god in an oil painting.
The officers were astonished. They had expected a potbellied middle-aged man, or perhaps someone whose pleasant smile concealed a ruthless nature. They had never imagined meeting a man this handsome and refined. He looked like a movie star.
His beauty left them speechless for a long moment. Then those dark green eyes turned calmly toward them. Despite their vibrant color, they carried an unmistakable pressure.
It was like having cold water thrown over them. Both snapped back to their senses.
“Are you two here to check in for a photo?”
“…”
Clearly, the man was accustomed to people staring, dazzled by his looks. For two officers on official duty, however, it was rather embarrassing.
Zheng Xin cleared her throat and introduced them.
“Hello, Mr. Xiao. We’re the officers from the Linhai Municipal Public Security Bureau handling your case. I’m Zheng Xin, and this is Yang Zhengwen. We’d like to ask you about a few details relating to the incident, if now is a convenient time.”
Xiao Yi gestured toward the seats.
“Please, have a seat.”
Zheng Xin quietly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had refused to cooperate, there would have been little she could do.
They had barely sat down across the table when Assistant Yang Xuan brought over black tea and pastries. The tea service and plates formed a matching French-style set. The pastries were beautifully arranged, their delicate fragrance blending pleasantly with the aroma of the tea.
Holding a cup that looked expensive at first glance, Yang Zhengwen tasted the rich, fragrant tea. Then he looked out at the vast grove of golden plane trees beyond the terrace, as beautiful as an oil painting, and felt a thoroughly unprofessional pang of envy.
Being rich really was wonderful. Even a hospital stay looked like a vacation.
Zheng Xin was far more composed. Without even glancing at the refreshments, she got straight to the point.
“Mr. Xiao, your report states that there were eight people in the group that robbed you. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
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