Xia Dongxue’s quick reaction caught Jiang Feng off guard. He’d deliberately provoked Lu Zhisen, hoping to goad him into making a move. Jiang Feng had sensed Lu Zhisen’s interest in Xia Dongxue and pegged him as impatient—perfect for manipulation. Of course, someone like Lu Zhisen couldn’t touch Jiang Feng, but the point was to establish a case of police coercion, paving the way for a bailout.
Jiang Feng wasn’t worried about his situation, but breaking Li Yuanjue’s leg meant trouble—not just from the furious Li family, but from the police, who wouldn’t let him walk easily. Coercion would shift the narrative. Yet Xia Dongxue saw through it instantly.
For a moment, Jiang Feng saw her differently. Beyond her fierce hatred of injustice, she had sharp wits. No wonder, despite her youth and striking beauty, she held the rank of captain.
Noticing Jiang Feng’s reaction, Xia Dongxue knew she’d read him right. But outsmarting him brought no joy. She thought she knew Jiang Feng—a spoiled, useless heir coasting on family privilege, someone she’d always despised. His antics tonight, though, were anything but. Such cunning wasn’t the work of a fool. She even wondered if he’d baited her with that flirtatious remark after spotting Lu Zhisen’s attitude, setting the stage. If so, it was chilling.
She recalled recent rumors about Jiang Feng—gossip she’d dismissed as exaggerated. Now, his actions forced her to reconsider. The man she thought she understood felt like a stranger.
Taking a deep breath, she studied Jiang Feng and said to Lu Zhisen, “Captain Lu, let’s continue.”
Lu Zhisen, seething with hatred for Jiang Feng, nodded reluctantly. Xia Dongxue resumed questioning, her mind preoccupied, avoiding further antagonism. “Jiang Feng, about tonight at Red Devil Bar—what do you have to say?”
“My legs are sore,” Jiang Feng replied, sidestepping.
“Jiang Feng, you’re asking for it!” Lu Zhisen exploded, standing.
Xia Dongxue’s face darkened, her glare sharp.
Jiang Feng ignored their reactions, saying calmly, “Either stand to question me or bring the chair back. Otherwise, I’m done talking.”
The room turned icy. Xia Dongxue hadn’t expected this defiance. Studying him cautiously, she said to Lu Zhisen, “Captain Lu, please.”
Lu Zhisen bristled—he’d just removed the chair, and now he had to fetch it? His pride stung. He was sure Jiang Feng was humiliating him. “Captain Xia, why indulge his spoiled act? He’s in our station—he’ll talk, like it or not.”
Xia Dongxue sighed. Lu Zhisen wasn’t wrong, but that approach worked on ordinary people, not Jiang Feng. He’d thrown out his own uncle and beaten Li Yuanjue without hesitation—small-fry cops like them barely registered.
Not wanting to embarrass Lu Zhisen further, she said softly, “It’s late. Let’s wrap this up.”
Grudgingly, Lu Zhisen nodded, grabbing the chair.
Jiang Feng grinned, sitting without ceremony. “If you knew, why bother?”
Lu Zhisen’s anger flared again, his glare burning. Xia Dongxue, fearing he’d lose control, pressed on. “Jiang Feng, answer my question.”
“You saw it,” Jiang Feng said.
“So you’re confessing?” Xia Dongxue followed up.
“Confessing?” Jiang Feng chuckled. “Why not ask why it happened?”
Xia Dongxue’s face hardened. “We’ll find out. You don’t need to tell me how to do my job.”
“Then come back when you do,” Jiang Feng said, waving dismissively.
Xia Dongxue snorted, knowing further questioning was pointless—Jiang Feng wouldn’t budge. She gathered her notebook and left. As she did, Jiang Feng stood to follow. She whirled, snapping, “Jiang Feng, what are you doing?”
“Going home to sleep. What, you got a midnight snack for me?” Jiang Feng said, unfazed.
“Snack?” Xia Dongxue sneered. “Jiang Feng, you don’t get it. Brawling, malicious injury—you’re facing criminal charges. You’re not walking out.”
Jiang Feng’s brow creased. “When can I leave?”
“When we’ve investigated fully, you’ll get answers. But brace yourself—they might not be what you want,” Xia Dongxue said, a hint of satisfaction creeping in.
Jiang Feng saw her gloating but shrugged it off. “I’ll wait for Captain Xia’s answers, then.”
Xia Dongxue smirked. “Take him to detention.”
Two young officers grabbed Jiang Feng’s arms, pulling him out. He flicked his arms, breaking free, and grinned. “No need—I’ll walk. But a word of advice, Captain Xia: justice is good, but too much can backfire.”
Her face flushed with anger. “What’re you waiting for? Move!”
Outside the room, Lu Zhisen hurried to whisper to one officer. Watching Jiang Feng go, a vicious glint crossed his face.
Jiang Feng’s smile vanished. The Li family should be reacting by now, he thought.
*****
Yanjing, Xishan District, Li Family Estate.
At midnight, the Li villa blazed with light, figures moving within.
A tall man hurried through the sprawling courtyard, entering the main villa’s living room, where many were already gathered. Wiping sweat from his brow, he said, “It’s clear.”
“Speak. What happened?” an old man in the main seat asked, his voice steady.
The elder—Li Botao—was gaunt, his skin like dried orange peel, hunched even in a wide chair, frail as a dying candle. Yet his murky eyes flashed with piercing sharpness.
The man quailed under Li Botao’s gaze, sweat pouring. Without embellishment or omission, he recounted the Red Devil Bar incident.
Li Botao listened silently, then gave a cold laugh. “Old Man Jiang raised quite a grandson.”
The Jiang and Li families had long been at odds, their political differences keeping them distant. With the Li family’s recent alliance with the Chen family, their influence was rising, faintly surpassing the Jiangs. Their rivalry had grown sharper, more open.
Li Botao’s remark about Jiang Feng wasn’t praise—everyone knew it.
The man stayed silent, unmoving. Li Botao waved him out. “Go.”
He left swiftly.
Li Botao turned to the room. “What should we do?”
“We demand justice. No one bullies the Li family,” a loud voice answered—Li Bo, Li Yuanjue’s father.
Voices erupted, opinions clashing.
Li Botao listened impassively, then asked a quiet young man, “Yuanbai, your thoughts?”
Li Yuanbai, Li Yuanjue’s brother, wasn’t like his reckless sibling, who lingered on the family’s fringes. A core heir, Li Yuanbai was calm and strategic. At twenty-seven, he held a key post in Yanjing, his career soaring. The family, including Li Botao, pinned high hopes on him.
Li Yuanbai smiled faintly. “I agree with Father. Jiang Feng attacking Yuanjue is, at its core, a spat between youngsters. But broadly, it’s about the Li and Jiang families’ honor. We must reclaim our face, or people will think we fear them.”
His words echoed Li Botao’s thoughts. Asking was a test of Li Yuanbai’s judgment, and the answer pleased him.
“How, specifically?” Li Botao asked.
Li Yuanbai didn’t hesitate. “Jiang Feng broke Yuanjue’s leg. We break his. Grandpa, I’ll handle it personally.”