It was already past eleven at night when Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Guifang walked out of the interrogation room, accompanied by Xu Qingxue. Xu Qingxue asked with concern, "Little Qiang, where are you guys staying right now?"

"At the Yijia Hotel near the Flower and Wood Market," Wang Xiaoqiang answered truthfully.

Xu Qingxue said, "Uh, that's quite far from here. How about this, I'll drive you back..."

Before Wang Xiaoqiang could say anything, Xia Guifang already started speaking with embarrassment, "Chief Xu, that's not necessary. You've helped us so much, we don't know how to thank you. We couldn't possibly ask you to go that far to drop us off..."

Xia Guifang didn't know how Wang Xiaoqiang had made a connection with this vice director of the District Public Security from the Provincial Capital, but she could tell that Wang Xiaoqiang and this female chief weren't very familiar with each other. It seemed that the chief's father had some relationship with Wang Xiaoqiang, though.

It was already more than courteous for such a dignitary to come and help out in the middle of the night; it would be impolite to take up more of her time.

But before she could finish, Xu Qingxue already gave her a gentle smile, then turned to Wang Xiaoqiang and said, "Little Qiang, your girlfriend is very pretty and considerate. You're really lucky!"

Xia Guifang didn't expect Xu Qingxue to suddenly say such a thing, and she immediately felt so shy she bowed her head.

"Haha, really?" Wang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but smile smugly, then said to Xu Qingxue, "But Chief Xu, it's so late, I really don't want to trouble you..."

Before Wang Xiaoqiang could finish, Xu Qingxue frowned and said, "Little Qiang, don't call me that in the future, it feels awkward... I'm a few years older than you, so how about this, I'll take the liberty to call you 'brother' and you can call me Sister Xu..."

"Uh..." A look of embarrassment appeared on Wang Xiaoqiang's face as he said, "Calling you that, I'm afraid Elder Xu wouldn't agree. He always refers to me as 'little brother'!"

"Oh..." Xu Qingxue let out a surprised exclamation, her face immediately flushed with embarrassment. Her originally cold beauty was now lit by the lights, adding a touch of shyness and Wumei.

Wang Xiaoqiang's words left her speechless and embarrassed. She didn't know any of this; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to speak in that manner. The Xu Family was known for its emphasis on customs and respect for elders. If her father knew what she said, he would certainly scold her harshly.

"Then, then... just call me Little Xu..." Xu Qingxue said somewhat helplessly, also feeling awkward and uncomfortable. She could see that Wang Xiaoqiang was not even twenty years old, while she was already twenty-seven. For a boy several years her junior to call her Little Xu, while she didn't know how to address him, would make anyone feel uneasy.

Wang Xiaoqiang: "Um, alright then, Sister Xu..."

Before Wang Xiaoqiang could finish, Xu Qingxue angrily retorted, "What? You really called me Sister Xu?"

"Uh... Sister Xu, how about this, in front of your father, I'll still call you Chief Xu or Little Xu, and in other places, we can address each other as siblings. It feels more friendly that way..."

Xu Qingxue was startled, her beautiful eyes turned toward Wang Xiaoqiang, giving him a deep stare. She hadn't realized this young farmer was quite skilled; he had not only solved the dilemma of how to address each other but also eased the discomfort in her heart, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Xu Qingxue and Wang Xiaoqiang calling each other siblings, Xia Guifang noticed the way Xu Qingxue was fixating on Wang Xiaoqiang with a certain look in her eyes. A hint of jealousy immediately surfaced in her heart. She took hold of Wang Xiaoqiang's hand and said to Xu Qingxue, "Chief Xu, thank you so much for today. You don't need to bother sending us back..."

As she spoke, she was about to lead Wang Xiaoqiang away, but at that moment, Xu Qingxue's mobile phone rang. Pulling out her phone, Xu Qingxue saw that it was her father calling, so she gestured to the two of them, "Don't go yet, wait until I finish this call..."

After completing the phone call with her father, Xu Qingxue said to Wang Xiaoqiang, "Little Qiang, my father just gave me two orders. First, I must drive you back to the hotel, and second, I have to invite you to our house for a visit tomorrow."

Wang Xiaoqiang said, "Sister Xu, that's not necessary, it's too much trouble!"

Xu Qingxue spread her hands and said, "My father's instructions are commands and assignments for me, and I have no choice but to follow them. Furthermore, if I fail to do so, it means I haven't completed my task, and I'll be scolded for it. Little Qiang, Gui Fang, do you want to see me get scolded?"

Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Guifang both shook their heads. In fact, deep down, they were willing to accept Xu Qingxue's offer to drive them because it was so late that there were no buses, and taking a taxi would cost several dozen yuan. Since someone was willing to give them a ride, why not accept the kindness?

As Xu Qingxue was driving Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Guifang back home, Chen Kai had no choice but to ride home under his father's watchful eye, and listen to his father's scolding and admonitions, "Boy, if you ever see that Wang Xiaoqiang again, steer clear of him.

He must be someone important; otherwise, why would Xu Qingxue have rushed to the police station in the middle of the night to bail him out?"

"Dad, that, that guy is just a peasant…" Chen Kai grumbled resentfully.

"It doesn't matter whether he's a peasant or a worker, just don't mess with him. And another thing, don't get too close to Cui Wei and his crowd. What a bunch of riff-raff…"

As Chen Tianpeng was criticizing Cui Wei and others, Cui Wei was answering a call from his uncle, Cui Shoujing:

"Little Wei, how did it go? Did you get the medical compensation money? Did that bumpkin get locked up?"

Cui Wei yelled into the phone, fuming, "Got nothing, you've ruined me. That Human King Xiaoqiang is part of the Xu family, you made me go rob him, you're sending me to my death... you old bastard!"

Cui Wei cursed bitterly and hung up the phone.

Cui Shoujing took a while to react to being cursed by his nephew. Cui Wei, though a small-time thug fond of swearing, usually showed respect towards his elders. To curse his own uncle as an "old bastard" must mean that he was extremely resentful.

Without getting angry, Cui Shoujing felt only confusion, panic, and regret.

Xu Qingxue dropped Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Guifang off at the front door of Yijia Hotel. Before they got out of the car, she instructed them, "Go rest well, I'll come to pick you up at nine tomorrow."

Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Guifang acknowledged and got out of the car. When they returned to the hotel it was already midnight. After bathing, they lay in bed; the events of the night had left them both too excited to sleep. As they tossed and turned, they both understood that the main reason for their restlessness was because they had never slept alone with a member of the opposite sex before.

Xia Guifang was at an enchanting age, and Wang Xiaoqiang was full of vigor. With mutual affection between them, sharing a room inevitably led to certain thoughts. However, their feelings about intimacy were a mix of desire and fear; they yearned to try, yet were afraid of the attempt. These complicated feelings tormented them.

"Little Fang, are you asleep?"

"Asleep…"

"How can you answer if you're asleep?"

"I'm dreaming!"

"Then do you sleepwalk?"

"You're the one sleepwalking."

"Hey, no kidding, I do have a habit of sleepwalking at night. Little Fang, better be careful, I might wander over to your bed... heh heh!"

"You're bad!"

With a playful rebuke, Xia Guifang turned over, ignoring Wang Xiaoqiang. After a while, she turned back and asked sourly, "Little Qiang, how did you meet Chief Xu?"

"Want to know? Come over to my bed, and I'll tell you... heh heh..."

"As if I would." Xia Guifang turned away again. "Little Qiang, why'd you have to become so naughty!"

Xia Guifang's coquettish scolding didn't sound angry at all; it even carried a hint of praise, which only made Wang Xiaoqiang more restless.

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