Chapter 33: Long-Legged Shen Ke

CREAK.

The door to the lounge was pushed open. Shen Ke, having already changed into her police uniform, walked in with a stern face.

She was tall and well-proportioned, with fair skin and beautiful features. Wearing the police uniform made her look even more extraordinary and heroic.

Lin Jian’s eyes lit up as he thought, "This woman is fierce."

"Lin Jian!"

Shen Ke glared at him with a straight face. Then, snapping her legs together, she raised her hand in a crisp salute and declared, "I apologize for my previous behavior. Please forgive me!"

"Uh..."

The sudden apology completely threw Lin Jian off guard. As the saying went, you don’t smack a smiling face. Besides, never in his life had he been saluted by a police officer. This was quite the honor!

"All right." He smacked his lips. "I accept your apology. Can I go home now? I still have to go to work today!"

"Yes, you may leave."

Shen Ke breathed a sigh of relief. She had acted impulsively last night. Moreover, Lin Jian had genuinely done them a massive favor. If they hadn’t caught Old Cat last night, there was no telling how much longer the case would have dragged on; Old Cat was far too cunning. Deep down, she was actually quite grateful to Lin Jian. It was just that whenever she remembered the time this kid beat up her younger brother, she couldn’t help but get angry.

Hearing her permission, Lin Jian stood up to leave. But at that moment, Shen Ke suddenly asked, "You’re no longer at the sports academy?"

"Yeah, not anymore. I’m working as a security guard at Fuxing now. Oh, right, where’s my car? And the teacup I bought last night?" Lin Jian asked, suddenly remembering.

"They’re both in my office. Come with me to get them. Is that your car?" Shen Ke asked curiously.

"I wish it was, but I can’t afford it. It’s the company’s."

"Oh? I heard from my brother that you’re a pretty good fighter at your academy. Let’s spar sometime when you’re free," Shen Ke suddenly challenged.

Lin Jian, who was walking, froze in his tracks. This woman was still holding a grudge over her brother from all those years ago.

"Not interested. I don’t hit women." Lin Jian flatly refused. You’ve got to be kidding. He couldn’t bring himself to hit such a delicate and fair young lady.

"Oh, so you’re saying I’m no match for you?" Hearing this, Shen Ke realized this kid was pretty arrogant.

Back then, she had wanted to teach this little punk a lesson, but her brother had pulled her away. Plus, the punk was still a student at the time, and beating up a student would have been hard to justify. But now that this kid had entered the workforce, she absolutely had to thrash him.

Lin Jian gave a noncommittal shrug, his eyes full of disdain.

Seeing his cocky attitude, Shen Ke immediately flared up. "Let’s go, let’s go. We’re going to the gym to spar right now." As she spoke, she reached out to grab him.

At a glance, it was obvious this woman had violent tendencies and loved to get physical.

However, just as she was about to grab him, Lin Jian suddenly dodged and said with a grin, "Second Sister, I’m in a rush to get to work. I’m almost late, and I haven’t even had breakfast yet. Let’s not mess around, all right?"

"Who’s your Second Sister?" Shen Ke was so angry she laughed. This kid actually knew she was Shen Jun’s second oldest sister; he had a surprisingly good memory.

"Shen Jun and I were classmates. You’re his second sister, so naturally, you’re my Second Sister too. What else am I supposed to call you? Second Aunt?"

PFFT.

Shen Ke almost spat blood. "Who’s your Second Aunt? I’m... If you dare spout nonsense again, I’ll lock you up for forty-eight hours!"

Fuming, she pushed open her office door and tossed him the car keys, the small box, and his phone. "Get the hell out of here. But I’ve saved your phone number. I’ll make time to find you in the next few days. We absolutely have to ’spar’!"

When she said the word "spar," she deliberately emphasized it, making it clear she meant to beat him up.

"Get out of here. Lin doesn’t have time to play with you." Lin Jian grinned and ran to the door, then turned around. "Bye, Second Sister."

"Get lost!" Shen Ke cursed with a smile, waving her fist. She only lowered it after Lin Jian had left the office. "Smooth-talking brat!"

After Lin Jian’s antics, her mood had improved significantly. Come to think of it, Lin Jian and her brother, Shen Jun, had fought back when they were students. Now, her brother was in the police academy and would be assigned to a post soon. One really shouldn’t hold grudges over schoolyard brawls. Perhaps her brother had even forgotten about it?

"Right, I should ask him." She dialed Shen Jun’s number.

The phone rang twice before it was picked up. "Second Sister, what’s up so early in the morning?"

"You’re still not out of bed?" Shen Ke asked, surprised.

"I’ve been up for ages. I’m just asking why you’re calling so early," Shen Jun retorted.

"I just wanted to ask you something," Shen Ke said. "Do you still remember Lin Jian, the guy you used to fight with at the sports academy?"

"What’s wrong? Did he commit a crime?" Over the phone, Shen Jun’s tone immediately turned serious.

"No, nothing like that. But do you two still keep in touch?"

"I have his number, but we don’t talk. It’s been a few years since I left the academy, after all. But I heard he was expelled half a month ago."

"Oh." Shen Ke nodded. No wonder he was working as a security guard. He had been kicked out.

"Honestly, Lin Jian is a pretty good guy. He just likes to fight, that’s all. His heart isn’t bad, and he’s loyal."

Shen Ke was perplexed. Since Shen Jun had taken a bad beating back then, she wondered if he really didn’t harbor any resentment. "Didn’t he beat you up? You don’t hate him?"

"Come on, Second Sister. Why would I hate him? We used to smoke and drink together all the time. If you don’t fight at a sports academy, you’re not a proper student.

"During my last year at the academy, the two of us were actually on really good terms. That bastard even gave me the nickname ’Scumbag’. It’s just a shame I could never beat him in a fight!

"Lin Jian was born for martial arts. In the words of the martial arts world, that son of a bitch has extraordinary innate talent. If he hadn’t screwed up, he could have easily gotten into the police academy."

"All right, all right, I’m not talking to you anymore," Shen Ke interrupted. "Why are we even talking about him? I have a case to work on. Make sure you get some rest."

Without waiting for Shen Jun to reply, Shen Ke hung up. Meanwhile, her other hand constantly twirled a gel pen. She really didn’t understand the world of men.

"Right, I forgot something!" Shen Ke suddenly slapped her forehead. Lin Jian had caught Old Cat with his own two hands; there was a reward for that.

Wanted suspects had bounties for anyone who provided clues, all clearly priced out. Since Lin Jian had apprehended the man directly, the reward would likely be doubled! She picked up the phone to call him. However, after dialing just two digits, she cleared it and dialed a different number instead.

"Li, find a copy of the reward form for catching Old Cat and bring it to my office."

"Understood, Captain Shen."