Chapter 89

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"This matter requires investigation."

Guben's gaze darkened, his voice cold without any warmth: "Don't speak again before the police arrive; staying silent will be more advantageous to you."

"You don't believe me?"

Zhang Xiaoqian was stung by his icy gaze, showing a hint of despair.

"Watch her, don't let her speak again..."

Guben ignored her, casually pushing the person into Wang Fan's arms, then walked toward the drunkard said to be the injured person's younger brother.

Wang Fan looked extremely reluctant, but because of Zhang Xiaoqian's status, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.

"Are you his younger brother?"

Guben examined the wound, staring at the drunkard, his sword-like brows tightly furrowed.

"I, I am..."

The man had already been drinking and spoke with a slurred tongue; shaken by his powerful aura, he stammered even more.

"Does your brother have a hidden illness?"

Guben stared into his eyes, saying something shocking: "What is the true cause of his coma?"

"You, you're talking nonsense, my brother has no hidden illness."

The drunkard's eyes flickered slightly, and for a moment he felt guilty.

Guben sneered, analyzing precisely: "A stone only the size of a fist hitting the forehead—even if the skin broke, it wouldn't make an adult man faint on the spot unless he had a congenital illness, couldn't tolerate any stimulation, or was afraid of blood..."

"You..."

The drunkard looked at the boy before him, clever almost to the point of being uncanny, and broke out in cold sweat.

"Silence is an admission."

Guben unleashed his aura, shouting sternly: "You two brothers lusted after her beauty, failed to molest her, and threatened and intimidated her—an additional crime."

"I, I, didn't molest her."

Xue Qiang was stunned, sticking out his neck to argue stubbornly: "She ran over herself and bumped into us two brothers."

"He's talking nonsense..."

Zhang Xiaoqian was about to retort.

Wang Fan was quick-eyed and quick-handed, covering her mouth: "Silly girl, can't you tell? Guben is setting a trap for him."

"Molestation, intimidation, lying—add another charge."

Sure enough, the next second, Guben's gaze turned cold and sharp, delivering another fatal blow to the drunkard.

—

The situation took a dramatic turn, and the onlookers eating melon were in an uproar.

"So he's afraid of blood, I knew it—a grown man, knocked out by a little girl."

"Ptooey, you lecher, bleeding at my shop's doorstep, bad luck."

"This boy is too capable, spotting blood phobia at a glance—how does his brain grow, why is he so smart?"

"Such courage, such spirit, calm in the face of trouble, with the ability to analyze cases—it's a pity he's not a police officer."

Qu Peng felt ashamed.

He, who wanted to attend the police academy and inherit his elders' glory, was truly far behind compared to Guben.

—

Police cars and ambulances came rushing one after another with flashing lights.

The paramedics lifted the injured person into the vehicle; Guben had Wang Fan and Li Liang ride to the hospital, while he and Qu Peng accompanied Zhang Xiaoqian to the police station to give statements.

The injured person had blood phobia and woke up not long after arriving at the hospital. The doctor found nothing serious, conducted an injury assessment, and classified it as a minor injury.

The police officers at the station understood the situation and suggested private mediation.

Although both sides were at fault, the drunkard brothers caused trouble while drunk and molested a minor, a serious offense.

Zhang Xiaoqian acted in legitimate self-defense and only needed to compensate the corresponding medical expenses.

After the drunkard entered the police station, he was completely sober and dared not make a sound, acting all timid.

Zhang Xiaoqian looked at him, feeling as nauseated as if she had swallowed a fly.

Because the police were present, she reluctantly gave him 500 yuan to settle the matter.

—

The hospital assessment and police mediation took nearly an hour in total.

Zhang Xiaoqian's mother, Xu Wan Yue, received the news and also rushed over from JN City.

"Xiao Qian, you child, you scared Mom to death; I was worried sick all the way, afraid something would happen to you."

"Auntie, I'm sorry."

Before his mother could question her, Guben spoke up proactively to apologize: "This event was organized by me; since this happened, I also bear responsibility."

"Xiao Bin, tell me the truth..."

Xu Wan Yue was still unhappy: "What exactly happened between you and Xiao Qian that made her lose control of her emotions? I heard from the driver that she ran out of the noodle shop crying."

"Auntie, seeing isn't always believing."

Guben was neither humble nor overbearing: "Have you ever considered one possibility—that the person who was wronged might not be your daughter, but someone else?"

"You're saying......"

Xu Wan Yue's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom: "Not on good terms with Xiao Qian, that girl filming the documentary, Lin Xiyu?"

"It seems Auntie knows quite a lot......"

Guben did not answer directly; the veiled meaning had already revealed his attitude.

"Xiao Bin, your mother and I are good friends."

Xu Wan Yue used her status as an elder to pressure him: "She has mentioned to me many times that she hopes the two families can form a marriage alliance and grow closer. Before, you and Xiao Qian were young, so I didn't consider it too much. Now that you've grown up, some things should be put on the agenda."

"Mom, do you really think so?"

Zhang Xiaoqian was pleasantly surprised, overjoyed.

"Auntie, I'm sorry."

Guben's gaze was cold and sharp, giving her no chance for fantasy: "Zhang Xiaoqian and I are just classmates; there will be no other relationship. As for my mother, she is her, I am I. I control my own life and will not take orders from anyone."

Zhang Xiaoqian's gaze dimmed instantly, losing its previous luster.

"Xiao Bin, you've disappointed me too much."

Xu Wan Yue ached for her daughter, anger surging: "If it weren't for your mother's sake, do you think you're qualified to stand here and talk to me?"

"Since Auntie thinks I'm unworthy, then please leave."

Guben raised his hand, making a gesture of invitation: "By the way, take your daughter back too. Her emotions are unstable; she's not suitable for group activities."

"I'm not leaving......"

Zhang Xiaoqian was unwilling.

"Go back with Mom."

Xu Wan Yue was so blocked by him that her breath was unsteady. She darkened her face, gripped her daughter's wrist tightly, and forcibly took her away.

The mother and daughter argued all the way into the sedan. The moment the car window rose, Xu Wan Yue glanced outside, and her gloomy eyes flashed with resentful malice.

"Hiss, it's so cold."

Qu Peng was startled by her gaze, rubbed his arms a few times, and looked worried: "You're being so headstrong, offending that person—won't it bring trouble? Looking at her, she's not someone to be trifled with. You'd better be careful."

"Hmph."

How could Guben fail to see Xu Wan Yue's thoughts? He sneered coldly: "She wants revenge, but it depends on whether she has the opportunity."

"You're not afraid, but that doesn't mean others aren't afraid."

Qu Peng kindly reminded: "Don't forget Lin Xiyu is different from you. She's just a child from an ordinary family and doesn't have a powerful protector like your grandfather."

"My own woman, I'll protect her myself."

Guben allowed no questioning. After pondering for a moment, he walked toward a public telephone booth not far from the police station.

He took out a coin, dialed a number. In a moment, the call connected, and the voice of Antique Dealer Fan Wei came from inside.

"That antique bed can be sold now. Spread the word, just say it's......"

"Burning Gu, rest assured, I know what to do......"

Fan Wei was a businessman; how could he fail to understand his deep meaning?

The two quickly reached an agreement. Guben hung up the phone, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

—

Snack Street, noodle shop.

"Guben, you're back."

"How's the person who got hurt? Did he wake up?"

"What about Zhang Xiaoqian? Why didn't she come back with you?"

"She wasn't really detained, was she?"

Guben and his group returned to the noodle shop. The gloomy atmosphere instantly vanished. The classmates who had been waiting for a long time could no longer contain their excitement and gathered around the four of them.

"It's fine, it's been resolved."

Seeing Guben's poor complexion, Qu Peng answered for him: "Zhang Xiaoqian paid 500 yuan in medical expenses and went home with her mother."

"Good heavens, she paid that much money?"

"Her family is rich; what's that bit of money?"

"As long as the person is fine, losing money can ward off disaster."

"Fortunately she wasn't detained. Otherwise, having a criminal record would ruin her life."

"She's the Count Mayor's daughter; how could she have a criminal record?"

"Didn't you see her mother came? Once they heard it was a big shot, who would dare offend them? The police station would surely release her promptly."

"I'm envious. Why don't I have such good luck?"

"I want to be reborn into a good family and be a young lady for once."

"Next life."

"Amniotic fluid is the dividing line."

500 yuan is not a small sum. Hearing this, the girls let out another wave of sour envy and jealousy.

"Alright, stop talking."

Li Liang had a headache from the nonsensical clamor. With a vigorous lion's roar, he forcefully suppressed them.

Unlike Qu Peng, he wasn't of a gentle and agreeable temperament. He was already tall, giving people a strong sense of oppression. When he glared with both eyes, it made people feel fear.

The noodle shop instantly fell silent. The timid girls trembled, lowering their eyelids, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Are you all full?"

Qu Peng found it amusing and gave Li Bright a look of admiration.

"I'm full."

"I've had enough to drink."

The boys chimed in together.

"Let's go."

Qu Peng raised his arm and made a gesture of departure.

"Wow, we can finally go mountain climbing."

Xu Yi had long been impatiently waiting, happily jumping up from his chair and running out first.

"Run slowly, don't fall."

Qu Peng didn't want to cause any more trouble, striding out with his long legs and catching up in a few steps.

The classmates followed closely behind, swarming out of the noodle shop.

Guben deliberately walked slower, going out with Lin Xiyu, the two holding hands at the back, enjoying a moment of peace.

——

Climbing Mount Taishan, ascending from Hongmen, the classic route on foot takes about 6-7 hours.

From the foot of the mountain to Zhongtian Gate the slope is relatively gentle; further up is the famous Eighteen Bends.

The Eighteen Bends has 1633 steps in total, divided into Slow, Not Fast Not Slow, and Tight sections.

Slow Eighteen Bends, from Kaimen to Long Gate, has 393 steps.

Not Fast Not Slow Eighteen Bends, from Long Gate to Shengxian Fang, has 767 steps.

Tight Eighteen Bends, from Shengxian Fang to Nantian Gate, has 473 steps.

The Eighteen Bends is less than one kilometer long overall, with a vertical drop of 400 meters, an average slope of about 70-80 degrees, and the steepest part nearly a right angle.

The ancients took "nine" as the ultimate yang number, and "eighteen" is a multiple of nine, implying many steps and steepness.

Tai'an locals have a catchy saying: "Tight eighteen, slow eighteen, not fast not slow again eighteen."

To describe the difficulty of climbing the heavenly ladder.

——

In the scorching summer heat, energetic young people mostly choose to climb at night, reaching Nantian Gate before sunrise.

The group arrived at the main gate of Mount Taishan, Qu Peng counting on his fingers to calculate the time: "Start climbing at 8 o'clock, if all goes well, reach Nantian Gate at 3 AM, rest for 2 hours, watch the sunrise at 5 o'clock, plenty of time..."

"The girls climb slowly, they definitely won't make it in 7 hours."

Wang Fan laughed jokingly and poured a basin of cold water on him: "Haven't you seen what shoes they're wearing? Those thin high heels could stab someone to death."

Qu Peng's handsome face darkened, following his gaze to look at the girls' feet, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.

After climbing for less than two hours, Wang Fan was proven right; the girls' speed clearly slowed down.

One girl's calf cramped, whimpering, unable to walk.

Qu Peng roared like a straight man: "Damn it, I really give up, what high heels are you wearing to climb a mountain?!"

The girls trembled and lowered their heads, not daring to look at him.

"Forget it, it's too late to say anything now."

Guben patted his shoulder, soothing his irritable mood: "In half an hour we'll reach Zhongtian Gate, where there are many shops; maybe there are cloth shoes for sale, let them buy and change."

"We can only do that."

Qu Peng looked at the girl whose calf was cramping, rubbed his brow with a headache, resignedly walked over, squatted down, and carried her on his back.

The girl wrapped her arms around his neck; under the hazy moonlight, her blushing earlobes were still clearly visible.

"Wuu wuu wuu, he actually carried someone else; my foot hurts too, I want him to carry me too..."

Wu Meng felt sour in her heart, tears almost bursting out.

"Mengmeng, does your foot hurt very much?"

Lin Xiyu took advantage of Guben and Qu Peng talking to quietly slip to her side: "Did you rub your skin raw?"

"It's not broken..."

Wu Meng felt wronged and wanted to cry: "But it really hurts."

"Let me see..."

Lin Xiyu squatted down and looked closely; her heel was indeed rubbed red and swollen, a miserable sight.

"Put on a Band-Aid; it'll be more comfortable."

She took a Band-Aid from her backpack and tore open the outer packaging.

"I don't want to put one on; I want someone to carry me."

Wu Meng whimpered, deliberately rubbing against her shoulder to act coquettish.

"Wanting someone to carry you isn't hard at all?"

Wang Fan's joking laughter came from behind the two of them: "Our class boys are overflowing with hormones, there are plenty who want to do this kind of good deed..."

"Where did you come from?"

"What's it to you?"

Lin Xiyu and Wu Meng were startled, simultaneously glaring at him with dissatisfaction.

"I'm being kind, wanting to help you."

Wang Fan grinned: "Don't believe me? Look behind you; there's a ready-made candidate waiting to serve the beauty."

"Who?"

The two best friends followed his gaze and met Li Liang's clear eyes.

"Get lost."

Li Liang was innocently hit, glaring angrily at Wang Fan, feeling the urge to kick him flying.

"I'll still put it on."

Wu Meng disappointedly withdrew her gaze and took the Band-Aid from Lin Xiyu's hand.

Li Liang's face grew even darker.

"Hahaha, she doesn't like you."

Wang Fan watched the show and made things worse, slapping his thigh and laughing until he bent forward and backward.

Li Liang could no longer bear it and kicked over.

"Ouch, I'm going......."

Wang Fan dodged, and unluckily bumped into Lin Xiyu, getting pricked squarely by the needles and thread she had placed on the outside of her backpack.