Chapter Seventy-Three: Another Encounter with Soaring Rain

Chu Dong let out a sigh and immediately dialed the number from earlier.

"Hello, this is the Development Zone Sub-Bureau. How may I assist you?" A pleasant female voice answered.

Chu Dong bowed instinctively, "Hello, you called me just now about my car. I went downstairs and discovered it's really gone. So..."

"Oh. Please hold, I'll transfer your call." The operator's gentle, unassuming tone was soothing.

Soon, the call was transferred, and the same female voice spoke again, "Hello."

"Hi, hi, you called me earlier, right? My last name is Chu, and my car is missing," Chu Dong responded quickly.

"I see. Please come to the Development Zone, and remember to bring your identification," she replied, her calm voice as elegant as the scent of jasmine.

"Alright, I’ll be there soon." Hanging up, Chu Dong hailed a taxi and headed straight to the Development Zone.

Chu Dong had just been to the Development Zone Sub-Bureau recently and was familiar with the place. The bright-eyed, skilled young woman there had left a deep impression on him. If it hadn’t been for Gao Jun’s commotion, even without the car incident, Chu Dong would have found an excuse to drop by.

"Officer, my car’s been stolen. I was called to come over," Chu Dong said politely, stopping an officer in the hallway.

"Well, if it isn't the hero who took down Chief Gao's assailant! What’s this? Someone dared steal your car?" The officer clearly recognized him and chuckled.

"That's the way of the world—there’s always some fool who doesn’t know better," Chu Dong replied with a grin, sensing no malice.

"Go to Room 302. Officer Luo is handling your case. Just look for her." The officer, busy himself, pointed Chu Dong in the right direction and hurried off.

"Thanks! Let’s have tea sometime," Chu Dong called after him, then climbed the stairs.

At Room 302, Chu Dong caught his breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Hearing the invitation, Chu Dong entered. A slender policewoman in a deep blue uniform and peaked cap was bent over her desk, writing. She didn’t look up, but said, "Have a seat. I’ll be with you in a moment."

It really was Luo Feiyu. Chu Dong had found her voice familiar, and realized she was likely the only female officer he’d spoken with at the sub-bureau.

Clutching his briefcase, Chu Dong sat quietly, watching Luo Feiyu at work. Something about her in that moment made his heart skip a beat.

In just one day, her long hair had been replaced by a crisp bob, making her appear even more spirited. Under the brim of her cap, her small, straight nose glistened with tiny beads of sweat. If he weren’t afraid of disturbing her, Chu Dong would have found something to fan her with. He couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: why didn’t such a big police station have air conditioning?

Several minutes later, Luo Feiyu finally looked up, surprised to see Chu Dong sitting so obediently before her.

"What brings you here? Didn’t get your meal yesterday and came to collect today?" she teased, smiling as she put away her paperwork.

"I’m not even sure you’d do me the honor of dining with me, so how could I dare collect a debt? My car’s gone, and since you called, I thought I’d check if it’s the same one."

"Oh, that explains it. Otherwise, you’d have no reason to come by," Luo Feiyu laughed, her eyes crinkling. "We found a business card from Anju Real Estate in the car, and when I saw it was yours, I thought what a coincidence. You really are careless, leaving your car just anywhere."

"I’ll be sure to learn my lesson and not trouble the police again," Chu Dong said, relieved his car was safe. Noticing Luo Feiyu’s sidelong glance, he quickly corrected himself, "Not ‘uncle’—I mean police auntie, or sister, or even little sister—will that do?"

"Be serious—who’s joking with you?" Luo Feiyu shot him a glare. "Give me your ID and your vehicle registration or purchase invoice."

"I don’t have them." The car belonged to Qiangzi, so Chu Dong had none of the documents.

"You don’t? Then how are you here to claim the car?" Luo Feiyu thought he was joking.

"I really don’t have them," Chu Dong replied with a wry smile. "I borrowed the car from a friend, so I don’t have any of those things you mentioned."

"I see. You guys from shell companies are all like this—borrow a car if you can, rent one if you can’t, just to put on a show, right?" Luo Feiyu grinned, seeing Chu Dong in his security guard uniform, holding a clearly expensive briefcase, and assumed he worked for a shell company.

"Me?" Chu Dong pointed at his nose. "Have you ever seen a shell company boss carry a bag like this?"

"All for appearances—everyone in your trade is the same. Probably a high-quality knockoff, right? Call your friend and tell him to come over, quickly," Luo Feiyu urged, having no time for small talk.

"Hold on." Chu Dong pulled out his phone to call Qiangzi, but after several attempts, there was no answer; the phone eventually died.

"Can I just take the car for now? Otherwise, I came for nothing," Chu Dong tried to leverage his familiarity to retrieve the car.

"That won’t do. This is a criminal matter and there are strict protocols," Luo Feiyu replied, her tone turning official.

"So what now? My buddy’s out all night and who knows when he’ll wake up," Chu Dong said helplessly, knowing it’d be a miracle if Qiangzi called back before nightfall.

"There’s nothing I can do. Without proof the car is connected to you, you can’t have it," Luo Feiyu explained, not trying to make things difficult—those were the rules.

"Come on, last time I so bravely helped you—can’t you make an exception? I’ll have my friend bring the documents tomorrow," Chu Dong tried one last time, hoping to move her.

"And last time, if not for you showing up, I would have caught everyone involved, but one of the masterminds escaped. All I got was a beating for my trouble," she replied, her mood soured by the reminder.

"Alright, I was wrong, okay? I just didn’t want to trouble you, Officer," Chu Dong said, resigned, and sat down without another word.

"Is this silent protest, or are you fighting me with silence?" Luo Feiyu’s mood brightened seeing him deflate. "Tell me, how did you beat Gao Jun last time?"

"Oh, that? With my skills, it was nothing. I only went easy on him because I was worried you didn’t have enough people to catch the thieves, otherwise..." Chu Dong, even in a foul mood, couldn’t help but boast.

"Tell me properly—maybe if I’m satisfied, I’ll bend the rules for you..." Luo Feiyu was genuinely curious. This unassuming guy had managed to take down the bureau’s king of Sanda, yet even Gao Jun had refused to discuss what happened. She was dying to know the truth.