Chapter 15 Waiting for You Tonight?

When Zheng Ruzhi received the painting brought to her by Zhuang Zi, she was almost moved to tears.

“Do you know? Mr. Zou is my idol. Nowadays, even if you offer a high price, you can’t buy his genuine works.” She carefully put the scroll painting back into the box. “This gift is absolutely priceless to me.”

Shen Jianbai laughed, “Is it really that exciting?”

Zheng Ruzhi retorted, “Do you, an old-fashioned guy, understand how to appreciate art?”

Shen Jianbai smiled without saying a word.

“This girl is really likable. Yesterday, I offered to pay her, but she insisted on giving it to me as a gift.” Zheng Ruzhi looked at the two men in the room with a face full of admiration. “She is expressing her gratitude for our hospitality last night. Such a small favor is repaid with great kindness!”

Si Hang leisurely leaned on the sofa, scrolling through work reports on his phone, without expressing any opinion.

Shen Jianbai nodded in agreement, “She is a good kid.”

“Son,” Zheng Ruzhi said, smiling at Si Hang, “do you have her phone number? I want to thank her personally.”

Si Hang’s finger paused slightly while scrolling the screen. “No.”

Before yesterday, it was Xie Kui who was handling her case, and he didn’t have it.

“Then make sure to thank her for me tomorrow, okay?”

Si Hang frowned slightly and responded vaguely, “Hmm.”

…

When leaving the villa, Si Hang explained the reason to his parents and decided to leave Xiaomi with them for two days until Xiao Meng returned to take her.

The elderly couple had no objections. Their house was big, and having a child around would make it lively. Moreover, helping someone in need was a good deed. The couple often participated in charity events, and their daughter-in-law was the owner of a charity website, always kind and helpful. Taking care of a little girl for a while was no problem at all.

Si Hang opened the car door and had just gotten in when Zheng Ruzhi hurried over. “Son, I have something to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I thought about it. Receiving such a big gift from Zhuang Zi and just saying thank you is not enough. So, I want you to invite her to dinner at our house this Saturday.”

Si Hang fastened his seatbelt and, recalling the woman’s figure when leaving the police station, casually replied, “She may not come.”

“Give me her phone number when you go to the office tomorrow, and I’ll invite her personally.”

Si Hang did not respond, started the engine, and said, “I’m leaving.”

“Drive safely.”

…

Only Xie Kui had Zhuang Zi’s contact information.

The next day at lunch in the cafeteria, Si Hang asked him for her phone number.

Xie Kui suddenly felt something and smiled, “I heard from Xiao Meng that you brought her back the day before yesterday?”

Si Hang’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at him indifferently, not saying a word. Xie Kui looked back at him, smiling.

“What do you think of her?”

Si Hang looked down and forwarded the number to his mother, without speaking.

“Boss.”

“What do you want to hear from me?”

“I think you two are quite fated. Xiao Meng said the same thing.” Having been a detective for so many years, he believed that there were many things they had an extraordinary intuition about. “First, you saved her, then took her in, and there were some entanglements before. Such coincidences make me feel that something might happen between you two in the future.”

Si Hang put away his phone and gave him a half-smile. “What will happen?”

Xie Kui smiled mysteriously. “How would I know? Isn’t it all in your heart?”

“I have nothing to do with her. If you have the energy, focus more on the cases.”

Xie Kui felt wronged, “I’m considering work too. Zhuang Zi needs protection now. If you continue to take her in, we can spare two officers for other cases. We are short-staffed lately.”

Si Hang frowned. “You think my place is a shelter?”

“No.” Xie Kui hurriedly smiled, “I just thought you took her in last time, so I wanted to ask your opinion.”

“Last time, there was no choice.” Everyone was on duty, and he couldn’t leave her on the street.

Xie Kui said, “This time, it’s also about saving someone in danger. She doesn’t even dare to stay in hotels now, spending nights in her car. Don’t you think a woman encountering this is quite pitiful?”

Si Hang paused, emotionless, “It’s her own choice.”

Xie Kui was momentarily speechless, thinking he was really heartless. But then he realized this statement might have a double meaning.

He said it was her choice, implying that if she actively asked him to take her in, he wouldn’t refuse either?

…

When Zhuang Zi received Zheng Ruzhi’s call, she had just finished lunch and returned to her office.

She was quite surprised, “How did you get my phone number?”

“Of course, I got it from Si Hang,” Zheng Ruzhi replied. “Thank you so much for that painting yesterday.”

“As long as you like it.”

Zheng Ruzhi laughed, “What are you talking about? I absolutely love it. So, Auntie would like to invite you to dinner at our house this weekend. What do you like to eat? Auntie will cook for you.”

Zhuang Zi sat down in her office chair. “You’re too kind. The calligraphy piece wouldn’t mean much to me if I kept it. It’s better to give it to someone who appreciates it.”

“Let me tell you, Auntie is a very stubborn person. You either accept my payment for the calligraphy as if I bought it from you, or you accept Auntie’s thanks and come to our house for a meal.”

Zhuang Zi couldn’t help but laugh. Zheng Ruzhi was indeed very enthusiastic. If she declined any further, it would seem pretentious.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

On the phone, Zheng Ruzhi’s voice was full of sincerity and joy, “Let Si Hang bring you over. He visits us every Saturday.”

Zhuang Zi replied, “I can drive over myself.”

Zheng Ruzhi smiled and didn’t insist. They chatted a bit more, with Zheng Ruzhi asking about her injury and where she was staying these days.

“Last time was really dangerous. It’s not safe for you to stay in a hotel alone. It’s best to stay at a friend’s place, okay?”

Zhuang Zi felt Zheng Ruzhi’s sincere concern and replied honestly, “I’ve been staying at the police station, so nothing will happen.”

“Staying at the police station?” Zheng Ruzhi was puzzled. If the police station had a place to stay, why would Si Hang send Xiaomi to the villa for them to take care of? “Is there really a place to stay at the police station?”

…

It wasn’t until Si Hang got home after work in the evening, while routinely checking the work group updates, that he saw his mother’s message on WeChat.

Knowing that he was usually busy with work and not wanting to disturb him, Zheng Ruzhi generally only called him directly for urgent matters.

He threw his keys onto the cabinet by the entrance, changed his shoes, and played Zheng Ruzhi’s voice message:

“I just called Zhuang Zi and found out she still hasn’t found a place to stay. I invited her to stay at our house for a couple of days, but she refused. Son, after work tomorrow, help me bring her over.”

Si Hang paused, replaying the message to make sure his mother wanted him to bring her over.

He stood there silently for a couple of seconds, put his phone back in his pocket, unsure of how to respond.

…

The next morning, Xie Kui, tired of the police station cafeteria, suggested having breakfast outside with Si Hang. They stopped by a porridge shop and happened to run into Zhuang Zi and Xiao Zhang as they were leaving.

The four of them walked back to the police station together.

Zhuang Zi greeted Xie Kui and then glanced at Si Hang, avoiding eye contact. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed his clean, long fingers holding a cigarette, the dark blue, knee-length coat’s edge neat and of fine quality. The coat’s zipper brushed past her hand as he walked between her and Xie Kui.

“……”

She moved slightly to the side, trying to quicken her pace to keep some distance, but Xie Kui suddenly asked her, “Miss Zhuang, is your brother-in-law returning to the country today?”

Zhuang Zi was momentarily puzzled, then nodded after a second, “Yes.”

Xie Kui subtly advised, “Even though he’s no longer a suspect, it’s best not to be alone with him.”

Zhuang Zi understood his implication and was about to thank him when she couldn’t hold back a yawn, covering her face.

Xie Kui laughed, “I think you should stay in a hotel. The night shift can keep an eye on you. Nothing more will happen.”

Zhuang Zi looked at him, her eyes slightly wet, exhaustion evident in her features. Although she usually suffered from insomnia, she could still sleep three to four hours a night, but it was impossible to sleep well in a car.

“I can manage.”

Xie Kui looked at her and asked, “You still have to work during the day. Won’t this affect your job?”

“Work isn’t busy right now,” she said. “It’ll be better once we catch the culprit.”

“Yes, your case is more complicated than expected. The boss is handling it now.”

Zhuang Zi glanced at the man beside her, who was leisurely smoking a cigarette, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.

She said nothing more.

Xie Kui thought of something else and was a bit puzzled. Considering her usual attire and the car she drove, she should be able to afford a better apartment with improved security facilities.

“Nanxin Community’s security facilities are not very good. Why does Miss Zhuang live there?”

“My own place hasn’t been handed over yet. I didn’t want to move, so I just settled there.”

Xie Kui nodded and advised, “After this case is over, it’s best if you move. Your windows don’t even have security bars. Last time, the boss saved you by climbing through the window.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhuang Zi stepped on a small stone, causing her high heel to wobble slightly. She leaned to the side, accidentally bumping into someone’s arm.

She quickly straightened up, glanced at him briefly, and then looked away immediately.

The group turned towards the police station entrance when Si Hang’s phone rang. He walked ahead, passing through the electronic gate first, with the others following.

Seeing the caller ID on the screen, he answered the call, already knowing why she was calling, but he still asked, “Mom, what’s up?”

Zheng Ruzhi laughed, “I knew you weren’t at work yet, so I dared to call. I just wanted to remind you about what I mentioned on WeChat last night. Don’t forget today.”

“……” Si Hang’s voice had a slight sarcastic tone, “It’s useless if you say it. How can I make it happen?”

“How do you know if you don’t try?”

Si Hang: “…….”

“Anyway, Mom doesn’t care. You must find a way to bring her to our house, or I will feel guilty.” She finished and then encouraged him, “I believe you won’t disappoint me.”

Si Hang opened his mouth to argue further, but the dial tone came through, indicating she had hung up.

“……….”

He stopped, looked down at his phone, and lightly bit his back teeth.

How did this become his problem?

The next second, someone passed by him, and he turned his eyes towards them. “Hey.”

Suddenly speaking up, he startled Zhuang Zi, who looked up at him quickly, hesitated for a second, then stopped, her eyes suspicious, “What?”

Given their current state, it seemed unlikely they could have a calm conversation. Unless it was about work, but this wasn’t the place for that.

He paused, put his phone back in his pocket, and said expressionlessly, “My mom wants you to stay at the old house.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Kui looked at him with a half-smile. Si Hang glanced at him knowingly but said nothing.

Xie Kui smiled, looked at Xiao Zhang, and gestured towards the door with his chin. Xiao Zhang instantly understood and walked away with him.

Si Hang nonchalantly looked back at the woman in front of him and reluctantly asked, “Should I wait for you tonight?”