Chapter 22

"Since we are all friends, let's skip the forceful measures." Although the policewoman's tone was still tinged with dissatisfaction, it clearly softened.

Chu Tianshu sat down on the sofa, patted the spot beside him, and said with a smile, "Comrade Police Officer, let's sit down and talk. How should we handle this matter?"

The policewoman stood still, her expression still very serious. She said, "We indeed received a call reporting that there was prostitution in this room. We must respond to every call; it's our duty. I hope you and your girlfriend can understand."

"Understand, of course we understand," Chu Tianshu said with a grin. "In the middle of the night, we were just sleeping, and you police officers even came to stand guard. You are truly the people's good police."

"Cut the crap, what do you want?" The policewoman, having been teased by Chu Tianshu several times, was already a bit impatient.

Chu Tianshu said, "You've invaded our privacy, so you should at least apologize to us."

"Apologize? No problem." The policewoman glanced at Liu Chunna and said, "I can apologize to this lady, but I won't apologize to you."

"Hey, what did you call her?" Chu Tianshu seized on the policewoman's words.

"Lady, of course." The policewoman said casually.

Chu Tianshu flew into a rage, "You're the lady."

"You, watch your mouth." The policewoman's face was also red with anger, but she quickly realized her slip of the tongue and nodded slightly to Liu Chunna, saying, "I'm sorry, it was a slip of the tongue. I apologize to you."

Liu Chunna smiled, accepting the apology. She grabbed the corner of Chu Tianshu's clothes and pleaded in a weak, pitiful voice, "Xiao Chu, let it go, let them leave."

"Mine?" Chu Tianshu pouted and looked at the policewoman.

"You? It's not me who should apologize to you, but you who should apologize to me." On principle, the policewoman was unyielding and spoke with righteous indignation.

"Hehe, no apology is fine, but you should at least give us some compensation for mental distress," Chu Tianshu put on a rascally look.

"You, daring to extort the police, you're really bold," the policewoman sneered. "With just that sentence, I can take you in and detain you for twenty-four hours."

"I'm so scared, no, no. How about this," Chu Tianshu pretended to think, and seeing the policewoman waiting seriously, he said slowly, "For fairness, how about you let me look at you the way you looked at me?"

The policewoman was taken aback, her face turning red, and she spat, "You, you scoundrel!"

The two junior police officers couldn't stand it anymore. One of them came over and shouted, "That's too much! If you dare to be so disrespectful, I'll really take you in."

"Don't, little brother, the policewoman said we are all friends, can't we joke around a bit?" Chu Tianshu still had a carefree attitude.

The policewoman sneered in disdain, her face turning cold, and said, "A big man, whining like a woman. We don't have time to waste here. If you have any demands, come to the station tomorrow. Dismissed!"

"Wait." Chu Tianshu stood up and asked with a smile, "Officer, you haven't told me your name and which station you're from. How will I find you tomorrow?"

The policewoman didn't hesitate and said crisply, "Du Yufei, police officer at the Square Police Station."

"Good, very straightforward!" Chu Tianshu clapped his hands and said, "Officer Du, I have one question. If Hao Shuang speaks up for us tomorrow, will it be difficult to talk?"

Du Yufei's face turned grim, and she stopped, saying helplessly, "What do you really want?"

"You've already apologized to my girlfriend, so I don't need one from you." Hearing Du Yufei's somewhat conciliatory tone, Chu Tianshu put on a magnanimous look and said, "How about this, tell me the name and phone number of the person who reported us, and we'll call it even."

Du Yufei flatly refused, "No, the police have an obligation to protect the identity of the reporter."

"Then I'll have to ask Mr. Hao to speak to your chief," Chu Tianshu pretended to make a call.

"Sir, please don't make things difficult. The police have their own rules," Du Yufei looked at the junior police officers and said, "I can only tell you that the call was from the hotel's duty phone, and the reporter didn't leave a name."

"Unbelievable." Chu Tianshu put away his phone and said, "We are hotel guests, and we were reported for prostitution. Officer Du, this isn't your fault, but I need to talk to the hotel. Please bring the duty manager to testify for me."

The two junior police officers ran out and quickly brought the duty manager of the Kai Xuan Grand Hotel.

The duty manager was a well-groomed man, about thirty-five years old. He stood at the door of the guest room, hands crossed over his lower abdomen, slightly bowed, and said with a professional smile, "May I ask if there is anything you need?"

Du Yufei showed her police badge and said, "I am a police officer from the Square Police Station. We received a call reporting prostitution in your hotel. After investigation, the report was false. Since the call came from your hotel, these two guests need an explanation from the hotel."

The duty manager bowed deeply and said, "I'm sorry for disturbing your rest."

Du Yufei, seeing the situation explained, said to Chu Tianshu, "Alright, about the compensation, you can discuss it. I'll take my leave."

Chu Tianshu extended his hand to shake hands with Du Yufei, who symbolically patted it and said in a low voice, "You're ruthless, remember, don't fall into my hands."

Chu Tianshu smiled and said softly, "Don't always be so fierce, or you might not find a husband."

Du Yufei's face turned red with anger, but she was helpless. As she stepped over the bed, she pretended to slip and stomped on Chu Tianshu's foot hard, then put on a fake apologetic face and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. A friendly reminder, be careful when you walk."

With that, she left, leaving Chu Tianshu in pain, and took the junior police officers away.

The duty manager stood outside the door, stepped aside to let Du Yufei pass, and said with a smile, "Officer, have a good walk." Then he watched the three police officers disappear down the corridor and turned to Chu Tianshu, saying, "Sir, to avoid disturbing other guests, can we talk in my office?"

The Kai Xuan Grand Hotel was one of the few five-star hotels in Qingyuan City, providing a full range of services including accommodation, dining, and entertainment. In the service industry, the big money wasn't in accommodation or dining, but in the gray areas. If the police raided frequently, guests would avoid the hotel, and no one would dare to come and spend money.

Chu Tianshu didn't intend to make a big deal out of it; he just wanted to find out who was trying to frame him.

After comforting Liu Chunna, Chu Tianshu followed the duty manager to the office.

The duty manager politely asked Chu Tianshu to sit down, served him tea, and bowed again, saying, "This is our fault. I apologize to you and your girlfriend on behalf of the hotel."

Chu Tianshu crossed his legs and said coldly, "Is an apology enough?"

The duty manager on duty tonight was the marketing vice president of the Kai Xuan Grand Hotel. He had seen many things and didn't take Chu Tianshu seriously despite his young age and smiling face.

In the guest room, he was a bit worried that Chu Tianshu might cause a scene in front of the police, disturbing the other guests on the floor, which would be embarrassing. Now, in the office, even if they argued, it wouldn't disturb the guests, and there were no witnesses or evidence. The duty manager wasn't worried.

He slowly said, "Oh, sir, what do you mean..."

Chu Tianshu, of course, saw through the duty manager's attitude and said straightforwardly, "Let's not talk about other things. I just want to know who reported us."

"This..." The marketing vice president looked difficult. "Sir, with so many guests in the hotel, it might take some time to find out. How about this, leave your contact information, and we'll call you when we find out."

This was clearly a敷衍 (敷衍 means敷衍, which can be translated as 'a敷衍' or 'a敷衍 response').

"Alright, since you can't find out, I'll have someone else do it." Chu Tianshu took out his phone.

To be the marketing vice president of the Kai Xuan Grand Hotel, he had dealt with all kinds of people and knew a lot about the hotel's inner workings. Even if Chu Tianshu found someone to help tonight, it wouldn't be resolved tonight.

As long as it was delayed until morning, not just in Qingyuan City, but even in the entire Dongnan Province, no matter how powerful the connections, the boss could handle it.

So, he smiled at Chu Tianshu, indifferent.

Chu Tianshu took out his phone and called the 24-hour duty number of Qingyuan TV, saying, "Qingyuan TV? I have a tip..."

What? He wasn't looking for connections but wanted to tip off the TV station.

The marketing vice president's face turned pale with fear.

Bringing in journalists would make the situation difficult to handle. The city and province were currently conducting a major inspection of entertainment and leisure venues. If it got on TV and caused a stir, even the boss might find it hard to resolve.

The marketing vice president couldn't sit still and hurriedly stood up, smiling and said, "Sir, let's talk calmly."

He grabbed Chu Tianshu's hand holding the phone.

"Hello, hello, is this the Kai Xuan Grand Hotel? Speak up, we're on our way." The duty female journalist on the phone was still shouting.

The marketing vice president leaned close to the phone and said, "Sorry, wrong number."

The duty female journalist, hearing the voice, persisted, "Hello, hello, let the caller speak."

"What to speak?" The duty manager, in a panic, pressed the hang-up button.

But the phone rang stubbornly, "Warm spring breeze blows, peach blossoms bloom..."

No need to look; it was the duty female journalist calling back.

This was a journalist with professional ethics, not only did she call back immediately, but she wouldn't let go of a news lead.

Chu Tianshu held the phone and looked coldly at the marketing vice president still holding his hand, saying slowly, "Manager, are you going to hang up again? No problem, I can call her back once I leave here."

The marketing vice president was stunned.

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