Chapter 294 Jiang Hongbin

Ring!

Xiao Nuo answered the phone and her expression immediately darkened. “Got it; I’ll come back immediately.”

“What’s wrong?”

Ding Ning saw Xiao Nuo’s expression change and he lost interest in playing with Pals. He reached out and patted Pals a few times and also unlocked his handcuffs.

All the pain and itchiness retreated like the tide under Ding Ning’s touch. Pals felt that he was returned to heaven from hell as he took in big gasping breaths of air. All the energy in his body seemed to have been sucked away and he lay limply on the ground. His gaze on Ding Ning was filled with terror.

“There was a fight outside the Academy of Arts that’s resulted in a death. The impact has been very negative. The mayor has set a time limit to solve the case. I need to get back for a meeting.”

Xiao Nuo looked at Ding Ning, unwilling to let him go. She hated this damn Pals even more for wasting her time with Ding Ning.

Ding Ning’s heart jumped. “I’ll take you there.”

“Ah… alright!”

Although Xiao Nuo felt that this was inappropriate, she could not bring herself to leave Ding Ning so she pressed her lips together and agreed.

“Mr. Zhu, we’re going to leave first.”

Ding Ning politely took his leave of Zhu Ancheng.

Zhu Ancheng warmly handed him a business card. “Come to have tea when you have time.”

“Alright, I’ll definitely come for tea when I have time. The matter is urgent so I’m going to leave now. See you next time.”

Ding Ning accepted the business card with a smile but did not leave his number with him. After all, he did not think he and Zhu Ancheng would have a chance to meet again.

Zhu Ancheng was slightly disappointed but it did not show on his face. Politely, he saw them off.

With his acumen, naturally, he would not treat a Phaeton like a Passat. Quietly, he mumbled to himself. “So low-key.”

“Mr. Zhu, what’s that Ding Ning’s background?”

Pals asked courteously; he had recovered some of his strength.

Zhu Ancheng frowned. “What? Are you still planning to make trouble for him?”

“No, no, no… I would not dare. Someone who carried one and a half billion around with him is not someone I can offend. I was just curious about his identity.”

Pals waved his hand in terror as he explained. Remembering those few short minutes of nightmarish pain, his face turned deathly pale.

“As long as you know that. Never mind you, even the chairman of your corporation picked a fight with him, it would not end well. You best behave.”

Zhu Ancheng knew nothing about Ding Ning’s identity. He deduced he was someone powerful based on Xiao Nuo’s background, in addition, he did not like Pals so after making this alarming statement, he shook his sleeves and left.

“What? Even the chairman of my corporations shouldn’t both him? Ah, my god, I’m lucky to be alive.”

Pals sucked in a cold breath and felt that he had just narrowly avoided death. He did not even have the interest left to attend the exhibition. Without wasting another moment, he quickly left.

On the way to the Municipal Police Bureau, Ding Ning honestly explained the details of the deaths of the Gu father and son.

Xiao Nuo’s expression became very strange. “You say that you have two younger twin sisters?”

“Uh, adopted sisters.” Ding Ning rubbed his nose guiltily.

“Adopted sisters? Or…?”

Xiao Nuo left her sentence hanging. (EDITOR: the pun doesn’t work in Chinese, so I’ve adjusted this part.)

Ding Ning’s face was filled with guilt. “Don’t spout such nonsense. I truly consider them younger sisters.”

Immediately, he explained what he knew about their backgrounds. Xiao Nuo had a kind heart and was filled with sympathy for the Ye and Huan sisters.

But thinking of how well Ding Ning got along with him, she huffed coldly and said sourly.

“You consider them younger sisters, but do they consider you as an older brother? Besides, there are all those people with pitiful backgrounds, how come you just happened to help them? Isn’t it just because you think they’re pretty?”

Ding Ning was speechless. “Can you not think of me in such a vile way? There are so many pitiful people in this world, but I can’t help all of them even if I wanted to. I just happened to run into the sisters and so gave them a helping hand. It has nothing to do with them being pretty.”

“Really?” Xiao Nuo looked at him with suspicious eyes.

Ding Ning smiled and pinched her cheeks. “Who would have thought that the big butt was a vinegar pot?”

“You’re a vinegar pot, stupid pervert.” Xiao Nuo immediately blushed and rebuked him teasingly.

“Hehe. Oh, right, I will definitely cooperate in the Gu father and son matter. However, I think you should investigate them a little, for they must have done a lot of bad things.”

Ding Ning noticed that the atmosphere was becoming too intimate and he quickly changed the subject.

“Bad things? Gu Fangran started his career in the underworld, how could he not have done bad things? But this kind of person is very cunning and tricky, and he wouldn’t have left evidence of his guilt in his home.”

Xiao Nuo understood very well how cunning these people were and shook her head hopelessly.

“I was saying you should investigate Gu Tianqi. This guy was arrogant and overbearing and did a lot of bad things, counting on his father to spoil him. He must have done something bad that can be dug up. The turnip always brings up dirt when it’s dug up, so following the clues might lead to evidence against Gu Fangran.”

Ding Ning suggested.

Xiao Nuo looked at him oddly. “They’re already dead, what can we do even if we do find evidence of their guilt?”

Ding Ning paused. “It was not an accident Gu Tianqi was crushed to death, he was purposely crushed to death by Li Xiaoman and Liu Shasha so I suspect Gu Tianqi had leverage over them.”

“Li Xiaoman and Li Shasha?”

Xiao Nuo furrowed her brows. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Gu Tianqi has done many vile things that not even death can wipe away. It looked as if Li Xiaoman and Liu Shasha were on his side but in the end, they killed him. This means they must really hate Gu Tianqi. Unfortunately, they are lacking experience. Killing Gu Tianqi must have left behind evidence that could easily be found by the police. I feel that although they are fallen very low, they must also have their own troubles. Otherwise, how could two girls in the prime of their youth dare to kill someone?”

Thoughtfully, Ding Ning said, “I suggest you investigate Gu Tianqi as to give these two girls a chance of survival. If they really do have some secret trouble, it would be best to show leniency.”

“You stupid pervert really knows how to protect women. You’re not into them, are you?” Xiao Nuo’s tone was very sour.

“Can we have a proper conversation, vinegar pot?” Ding Ning rolled his eyes without good humor.

“Jealous of you? You wish.”

Xiao Nuo blushed and spoke empty words that did not come from the heart. Sulkily, she turned her head to look out the window.

“Feeling guilty?” Ding Ning smiled wickedly.

“You’re the one who feels guilty, stupid pervert!”

Xiao Nuo gritted her teeth and turned back with a huff, raising a fist to smack Ding Ning.

Ding Ning caught her fist. Xiao Nuo’s entire body froze. As if shocked by electricity, she tried to free herself but his grip remained firm.

Xiao Nuo’s face was red with embarrassment. She raised her eyes and stole a look at his faux serious profile that was wholly focused on the road. Unconsciously, she sat up straighter. Her eyes gazed forward unfocused while her heart jumped around like a fawn. A gentle aura filled the vehicle.

At some point, the little hand unclenched from a fist and clasped together with the larger hand. There appeared warm and harmonious.

“We’ve arrived!”

Ding Ning’s soft voice broke through this sweetness. Xiao Nuo felt a sudden sense of loss and pouted unhappily.

Even though they had had the most intimate contact, she had never felt as close to him as she did at that moment. This filled her with a powerful sense of regret.

“I’ll go in with you.”

Ding Ning said in a soft voice, looking at her still dazed expression.

“Ah… you… why are you going in?”

Xiao Nuo’s long lashes suddenly trembled, and she hid from his gaze in a panic, her heart pounding. He wouldn’t confess to her in front of all her colleagues, right?

“What should I do? So embarrassing. What if I accept?” “Or accept? Or accept?”

“Didn’t we agree that I would leave a statement?”

Ding Ning laughed mischievously. “What did you think I was going in to do?”

“I… stupid pervert, you’re so mean!”

It was only now that Xiao Nuo realized she had thought too much into this. She immediately felt ashamed and embarrassed. While she let out a sigh of relief in her heart, she also felt a faint disappointment.

“Women only love bad boys!”

Ding Ning leaped from the car with a wicked smile when he saw Xiao Nuo raise a fist to hit him again. “Alright, stop it. If your colleagues see this, your image as an icy beauty will be destroyed.”

“Humph, stupid pervert. So annoying!”

Xiao Nuo covered her burning face and wondered what was wrong with herself. Why could his every word and action easily trigger the truest emotion in her heart?

“Wait for me in my office; I’m going to the meeting first.”

After bringing Ding Ning to her office, Xiao Nuo once again recovered her aloof demeanor. She quickly grabbed her notebook and went to the meeting.

“Captain Xiao…”

As Ding Ning was playing minesweeper in his boredom, a knock came on the slightly closed door which was then immediately pushed open. A man, about thirty years old, dressed in a policeman’s uniform poked his head in.

When he saw Ding Ning, his face immediately darkened and he asked in a harsh voice, “Who are you? Why are you in Captain Xiao’s office?”

Ding Ning furrowed his brows. Looking at this handsome policeman, he lightly said, “I am Captain Xiao’s friend.”

“Friend? Impossible. No men are ever allowed in Captain Xiao’s office. Tell me, what do you plan on doing by sneaking into Captain Xiao’s office?”

The man’s face grew increasingly grim as he shouted harshly. His hand was already reaching toward his waist.

Ding Ning saw enmity and jealous hidden in his eyes and sighed silently. Beautiful women were truly a disaster. This man was clearly Xiao Nuo’s admirer and had purposely come to pick a fight with him.

At this time, he couldn’t be bothered wasting his breath with such people. He laughed coldly and bent his head back to minesweeper.

Seeing himself be ignored, Jiang Hongbin’s face turned ashen and he yelled loudly. “Come help, someone snuck into Captain Xiao’s office to steal secret files.”

Whoosh!

A dozen or so police heard and rushed over, completely sealing off the office. A glasses-wearing policeman looked at Ding Ning and asked with confusion, “Captain Jian, what’s wrong?”

“Mr. Li, as you know, other than for work-related matters, Captain Xiao never allows men into her office. Not only has this person snuck into Captain Xiao’s office while she’s not here, he has also gotten into her computer. I suspect he snuck in to steal secret files.”

A chill flashed through Jiang Hongbin’s eyes as he spoke in a clear voice.

Mr. Li was the deputy captain of the three police teams. Having heard what was said, he stared at Ding Ning with suspicion. “Who are you? Why are you in Captain Xiao’s office?”

Ding Ning glanced at him impatiently. “I’ll repeat myself one more time. I am Captain Xiao’s friend. She went to a meeting and asked me to wait for her in her office.”

“I knew you were lying. Captain Xiao is out on a mission and not in the Bureau at all. Come, take him in.”

As if he had caught Ding Ning’s weakness, Jiang Hongbin waved his hand regally.

A few policemen rushed in with great agility and were about to cuff Ding Ning.

“Wait!” Mr. Li suddenly yelled out.

“Wait for what? What do you mean by this, Mr. Li? The matter is clear. This person is lying, what is there to wait for?”

Jiang Hongbin said unhappily.

“Captain Jiang, Captain Xiao has already received Director Qi’s emergency notice and has returned for the meeting. It is very likely he is not lying.”

Mr. Li answered seriously as he pushed up his glasses.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep