Mom smiled slightly, picked up the teacup on the table, her small, black-stockinged feet dangling gently in her slippers. "Captain Li, thank you for taking care of me and Xiaowei all this time."
Her tone was gentle and restrained, clearly creating distance.
Li Zheng understood perfectly well, yet he persisted, saying, "Sister Ling, I just want to protect you. No matter what happens, I will..."
"Captain Li..." Mom said softly, "Right now, I just want to take care of Xiaowei and the company. Being single is fine."
His words were tactful yet firm, both thanking Li Zheng for his concern and completely blocking any possibility of him confessing his feelings further.
A flicker of regret crossed Li Zheng's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute protectiveness: "Sister Ling, I know I haven't done enough. Whatever you need, I will do my best."
Mom nodded gently, her black nightgown peeking through the light, highlighting her slender yet resilient figure.
Seeing Xia Ling's attitude, Li Zheng tactfully stood up. "Well... Sister Ling, I'll get back to work. Xiaowei, Uncle's leaving now. Next time I come, I'll definitely bring you a gift, hehe."
After seeing Li Zheng off, Xia Ling stood by the French windows, gazing at the night view in the courtyard.
Her back looked so lonely, yet exuded a resilient strength. Her legs, encased in black stockings, were faintly visible in the moonlight, displaying both the elegance of a female CEO and a touch of heartbreaking vulnerability.
…
On the way out of my house, Li Zheng's heart was filled with complex emotions.
He took a deep breath and dialed the number: "Have you investigated Wang Datao's case?"
The voice on the other end of the line said, "Captain Li, we've investigated. Wang Datao owns many businesses: bars, KTVs, and several hotels. The largest entertainment club is called 'Nightmare of Passion.' It's said he's climbed the social ladder and has been frequently entertaining a VIP guest lately. That VIP guest was there tonight too, but we're still investigating his identity..."
Li Zheng took a deep breath and gave the order: "Move out immediately!"
In the darkness, Li Zheng led a team of elite officers, quietly heading towards "Nightmare of Passion."
The flashing neon lights outside the car window reflected his tense face. His worry for Xia Ling surged like a tide; if he closed his eyes, he could recall her beautiful, proud, yet vulnerable expression.
Upon arriving at the location, before getting out of the car, Li Zheng asked in a low voice, "Ready?"
"Ready to move out at any time!" his men responded in unison, the atmosphere tense yet filled with anticipation.
They approached the club silently. Li Zheng gestured for everyone to spread out, preparing for a raid. Upon getting close, he suddenly waved his hand, and the officers swiftly stormed into "Nighttime Passion."
"Whoosh—"
The security guards at the entrance were subdued before they could react. Li Zheng led the way into the lobby, ignoring the guests inside, and rushed straight to the stairs, going up to the second floor to the largest and most luxurious private room.
The guests and staff had never seen anything like it. Seeing the group of uniformed officers, they all retreated, avoiding them like the plague.
Some astute staff members picked up their walkie-talkies to warn others, but such a swift raid had been unknown even to Li Zheng himself half an hour earlier. No matter how powerful Wang Datao's connections were, how could he have known in advance?
Li Zheng stormed into the most luxurious private room of the Night's Allure Club. The scene before him shocked him: the dimly lit room was filled with smoke, and in the ambiguous atmosphere, a young man was reclining on a soft sofa. Two voluptuous, provocatively dressed women were nestled in his arms, their wine glasses swirling, spilling wine over the rim.
More women surrounded him, some singing, some drinking, their eyes darting furtively at the two women beside the young man, seemingly waiting for them to go to the restroom so they could fill the void.
"Police! Everyone, don't move!"
Leading his officers, Li Zheng roared, flashing his police badge as he rushed into the room.
"Who...who dares to harass me?"
The young man smashed his wine glass in Li Zheng's direction, shouting drunkenly.
Li Zheng's eyes flashed like lightning. He rushed forward, his mind focused on only one thought: I must protect Sister Ling. For Sister Ling, I would do anything!
"Take him away!" Li Zheng pointed at the young man and ordered his subordinates.
The young man's face instantly changed. He abruptly pushed away the woman in his arms and tried to stand up: "You...you're just a lowly cop, do you know who I am?"
"I don't care who you are!" Li Zheng replied coldly. "Organizing group sex, even if you're the King of Heaven, I'll arrest you today!"
A nearby officer whispered a reminder: "Captain Li, this is Zhang Yang, the son of Deputy Mayor Zhang Guoqiang. Perhaps...perhaps we should let it go, we can't afford to offend him..."
Li Zheng's eyes were firm and resolute: "Arrest him!"
He remembered Xia Ling's tired expression that evening. Although she had forced herself to be strong, a hint of vulnerability lingered beneath her noble and elegant aura.
Two officers grabbed him from either side. Zhang Yang panicked: "Do you know who my father is? One phone call from me and you're all finished! Wang Datao! Where's Wang Datao! What the hell are you doing?"
"Take him away!" Li Zheng gave him no chance whatsoever.
The scene was chaotic. Several intoxicated women screamed and tried to cover themselves. Police officers quickly brought the scene under control and searched the other rooms.
Although Zhang Yang was soon quietly released, the entire "Nightlife Erotica" establishment was completely shut down. A large number of people involved in prostitution and gambling were arrested on the spot. The scene was a mess, and it would have to close for at least a while.
This time, Wang Datao's losses were considerable. Closing his business for a few days was a minor matter; more importantly, he had offended Deputy Mayor Zhang Guoqiang…
Li Zheng stood in the lobby on the first floor, watching the suspects being arrested one by one. His gaze was piercing, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"Sister Ling, I will protect you."
…
The night was deep. The living room of Wang Datao's house was dimly lit, the atmosphere oppressive. He sat on the sofa, his obese body hunched forward, his fingers lightly tapping the coffee table, his gaze cold.
"Click—"
The sound of the door opening rang out. Wang Xiong changed his shoes and entered the living room.