Chapter 41

"Director Qin, Dawei has been spoiled by his mother since he was young, which is why he acts so recklessly. You see, I’ve already beaten him and scolded him. Of course, you can rest assured that I will give him a proper lesson when I get home. Cough, cough, as a parent, I must also formally apologize to Comrade Xia Yunjie and the three ladies, Ms. Wu Yuxi. I will also provide them with appropriate compensation for the harm they have suffered. What do you think, shall we...?" As Luo Dawei bowed and apologized to Xia Yunjie and the others with a mournful expression, Luo Zhigang also stepped forward at the right moment, putting on a thick face to plead for his son.

Qin Lan, who had been acting very coldly, found herself in a difficult position when she saw Luo Zhigang lowering himself so much. Although she could insist on following legal procedures to punish Luo Dawei and the others, since Xia Yunjie and the others had not suffered any real harm—apart from the three girls, Wu Yuxi, who were frightened—the ones who actually suffered were Luo Dawei and his group. Even if they went through legal procedures, the most Luo Dawei and the others would receive would be some administrative detention. But if she did that, Qin Lan would likely make a mortal enemy of Luo Zhigang. Luo Zhigang, after all, was a member of the Yulong District Party Committee and the director of the district public security bureau, with a vast network of connections and a strong foundation in Yulong District and even Jiangzhou City. If it came to that, Qin Lan’s life might not be easy either.

"Sister Lan, actually, we didn’t suffer much. How about we just let it go?" Xia Yunjie could see that Qin Lan was in a difficult position. Besides, he hadn’t really suffered much in this incident; instead, he had given Luo Dawei and the others a good lesson. He said this to Qin Lan.

When Xia Yunjie said he hadn’t suffered much, Luo Dawei and the others wanted to burst into tears. "You didn’t suffer at all? We were the ones who really suffered, okay?" Qin Lan, on the other hand, secretly breathed a sigh of relief and found it somewhat amusing. This guy had beaten others to a pulp and still said he hadn’t suffered much!

Luo Zhigang, seeing Xia Yunjie call Qin Lan "Sister Lan," realized that Xia Yunjie and Qin Lan had a close relationship, which made him inwardly startled.

He knew that Qin Lan was from Beijing and had some background, with high standards and a strict approach to work, making her almost friendless in Jiangzhou City, hence her nickname "Cold-Faced Demoness." He never expected her to be on such familiar terms with a bar worker.

Does this guy have some background? Luo Zhigang’s heart skipped a beat.

"What about you three?" Qin Lan, being a conscientious director, had already decided to let it go but still asked for the opinions of Wu Yuxi and the others.

"We will follow Director Qin and Brother Jie." Since Xia Yunjie had agreed to settle the matter privately, Wu Yuxi and the others had no objections and quickly said so, even changing their address to "Brother Jie."

"Director Luo, fortunately, no one was seriously injured, and the parties involved do not intend to pursue the matter. Let’s leave it at that. However, young people really need to be better disciplined, or they might cause serious trouble, and then it will be too late to do anything about it." Qin Lan nodded at Luo Zhigang.

"Director Qin is right. I will certainly discipline this boy when I get home. I wonder if Director Qin, Comrade Xia Yunjie, and your colleagues have time tomorrow evening. I would like to invite you to a simple dinner at Huazhongcheng Hotel on Civil Aviation Road to express my apologies." Luo Zhigang, seeing that Qin Lan had finally relented, breathed a sigh of relief. Remembering that Xia Yunjie might have some background, he spoke even more politely and humbly.

Although Qin Lan didn’t like attending such dinners, the ones who should receive the apology were Xia Yunjie and the others, so she couldn’t make the decision on her own. She turned her gaze to Xia Yunjie.

A father’s failure to educate his son is the father’s fault. Despite Luo Zhigang’s continued politeness and humility, Xia Yunjie still had no good feelings towards him and didn’t want to attend any dinner. Seeing Qin Lan look at him, he said without hesitation, "We are just workers, very busy. We appreciate Director Luo’s kindness."

Everyone in the office was stunned by Xia Yunjie’s words. Was a worker really busier than the director of the public security bureau? Luo Zhigang, in particular, had never been refused with such an excuse before, feeling both embarrassed and angry but also wary, so he couldn’t react.

Qin Lan hadn’t expected Xia Yunjie to be so bold, refusing the dinner invitation from the director of the Yulong District Public Security Bureau with such a ridiculous excuse. This was a direct slap in the face, and she was momentarily at a loss for how to smooth things over. Wu Yuxi and the others were even more frightened, thinking that Brother Jie was really daring, not even giving the director of the district public security bureau any face!

Only Xia Yunjie himself felt there was nothing wrong with his response. For him, earning money by working was the most important thing. He worked the night shift and had no time to accompany Luo Zhigang to dinner. Even if he had the time, he wouldn’t bother.

"Since Comrade Xia Yunjie is busy, let’s reschedule for another day." Luo Zhigang, with remarkable composure, quickly forced a smile and said.

"Let’s reschedule for another day. Director Luo, it’s late, let’s take our leave." As the saying goes, even killing someone doesn’t require more than a nod of the head. Qin Lan, fearing that this bar worker might say something shocking, quickly took the lead in speaking when she saw Luo Zhigang’s continued tolerance.

"I’ll see you out." Luo Zhigang, seeing that the cold-faced demoness Qin Lan had finally said something human, felt his mood improve and quickly said politely.

"No need, I came by car." Qin Lan nodded to Xia Yunjie and the others and said, "Let’s go."

Seeing Qin Lan say they were leaving, Wu Yuxi and the others quickly bowed and smiled to Luo Zhigang, while Xia Yunjie just walked out boldly, even asking a police officer to bring out his bicycle.

After his son had treated him like this, was he supposed to be polite to his father?

Smiling, Luo Zhigang saw Qin Lan and the others out of the public security bureau building. But as soon as he turned around, his face turned grim.

"Dad!" Luo Dawei stood behind Luo Zhigang, calling out timidly.

Luo Zhigang just coldly snorted and nodded to Li Gengyu, saying, "Xiao Li, you will temporarily bear some委屈 (hardship)."

"Dad, is it really necessary to give Qin Lan such face? She’s just a deputy director of the municipal public security bureau, the same rank as you." Luo Dawei, seeing that his father was really going to take action against Li Gengyu, couldn’t help but grumble in dissatisfaction.

"You good-for-nothing, always up to no good. Do you think your father is the party secretary? Just a deputy director of the municipal public security bureau? You make it sound so easy! Do you know how much power a deputy director of the municipal public security bureau has? Do you know how many years it took me to get to this position? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because your father is the director of the district public security bureau? If I hadn’t lowered my stance today, you would have ended up in jail! You dared to provoke a friend of Qin Lan’s, do you think Qin Lan is someone to be trifled with?" Luo Zhigang, seeing that his son still didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, angrily scolded him.

"I didn’t know he was a friend of Qin Lan’s. I just thought he was a bar worker. Besides, I suffered the most in the end." Luo Dawei, cowed by his father’s scolding, spoke in a low, aggrieved voice.

Seeing his son speak this way, Luo Zhigang, though frustrated, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy when he saw his son’s bloodied chin and bruised head. He softened his tone and said, "Consider this a lesson. Go to the hospital with your friends. And don’t think about retaliating against Xia Yunjie and the others for now."

"Yes, Dad. But I was beaten up so badly, can we just let it go? And that Xia Yunjie is really arrogant, even refusing your dinner invitation. If he wasn’t a friend of Qin Lan’s, he’s just a bar worker, what’s the big deal?" Luo Dawei, seeing his father’s mood improve, breathed a sigh of relief and then boldly said in defiance.

"Are you trying to cause more trouble? I warn you, let this matter rest for now." Luo Zhigang sternly warned his son and then turned to Li Gengyu, saying, "Suspend your work in the bureau for a while. Use this time to investigate Xia Yunjie’s background."

"Yes, Director Luo." Li Gengyu stood at attention, his eyes suddenly bright with a hint of ruthlessness.

Luo Dawei, who had been dejected, also suddenly brightened at these words.

"Where do you live? I’ll drive you." After the Beijing Jeep left the Yulong District Public Security Bureau compound, Qin Lan turned to ask Wu Yuxi and the others in the back seat.

Wu Yuxi and the others, being bar workers, usually looked up to traffic police and police officers on the street, thinking they were government employees with high salaries, good benefits, and high social status. Mentioning them made them feel important and face-saving. For example, Wu Yuxi had a junior high school classmate who became a police officer last year and acted like a big shot at class reunions. So for people like them, knowing someone who was a regular government employee or had some money was already quite impressive. As for Qin Lan, they never imagined they would meet someone of her caliber, let alone ride in her car, much less have her personally drive them home.

After all, someone of Qin Lan’s rank would be a county-level leader in a county.

"Thank you, Director Qin, thank you, Director Qin. Just drop us off anywhere, we can take a taxi." Wu Yuxi and the others hurriedly said.

"It’s no problem, it’s a short drive." Qin Lan said.

"Then, then please take us to the Victory Community on Hedong Road." Seeing Qin Lan insist, Wu Yuxi and the others didn’t dare to argue and carefully said the name of their community.

"Going to the Deya Community also passes through the Victory Community." Qin Lan, though known as the "Cold-Faced Demoness" in Jiangzhou City, was actually quite gentle with Wu Yuxi and the others. She nodded and said.

With that, she stepped on the gas, and the Beijing Jeep sped towards the Victory Community.