Chapter 15 Sweetness in Bitterness

Looking at the suspicious gazes, the girl explained, "I used to be a believer of the Self-Help Society. They initially deceived me, saying it was just a mutual aid association where I could buy cheap food... But a few days ago, I discovered their true colors and wanted to leave... so they locked me up."

"Before that, I had seen those accounts."

The golden lotus woman's brow twitched violently as she screamed, "If you dare reveal those accounts, you will suffer a revenge more painful than death!"

The golden lotus woman's idea was simple.

She had dealings with some big shots. If the accounts weren't discovered, she could just keep her mouth shut. If the military police couldn't find evidence, they couldn't arrest those big shots.

And those big shots would naturally find a way to rescue her.

But if the accounts were discovered by the military police, then everything would be over.

She and those big shots would be wiped out, uprooted!

The desperate golden lotus woman cursed furiously.

The dark-faced military policeman slapped her hard across the face, venting his anger as he cursed, "You're already a prisoner, and you're still acting so arrogant? You really don't know what the word 'death' means!"

Yuan Wen glanced at the dark-faced military policeman. She pretended not to see his violation of the rules and asked the girl gently, "Can you tell me the location of the accounts?"

"It's in..." the girl said softly, telling Yuan Wen everything she knew.

Soon, Yuan Wen, following the location she mentioned, found a paper ledger and a small USB drive.

"Big brother... when are we going home?"

Han Han rubbed her tired eyes, sat in Li Tianran's arms, and said weakly, "So sleepy..."

Li Tianran glanced at the current situation, then stood up, walked towards Yuan Wen, and said softly, "If there's nothing else, I'll go home first."

Hearing this, Yuan Wen's face showed a very strange expression. She said helplessly, "Big brother... you've caused such a big case, and now you're nonchalantly saying you want to go home and sleep. Do you think that's possible?"

"No need to thank me." Li Tianran smiled. He patted Yuan Wen's shoulder and laughed heartily, "Although I've given you such a great achievement, enough to get you promoted and raise your salary, and reach the peak of your life, I've always been the kind of person who doesn't want others to be grateful when I do good deeds. That's just how noble I am!"

Listening to Li Tianran's narcissistic words, Yuan Wen couldn't help but roll her eyes and said in despair, "Big brother, your thought process is really unique! The credit you gave me is too big, I'm afraid I can't handle it! It's already difficult for me to record the statements of these people! How am I supposed to explain your identity to the higher-ups and the public?"

"A chivalrous hero who helps those in need?"

"A superhero who protects the city?"

"Or a dark knight who punishes evil?"

After all, many victims and members of the Self-Help Society had seen Li Tianran breaking into this place and going on a killing spree. If Yuan Wen wanted to hide Li Tianran's identity from the public and the higher-ups, then she needed to create a perfect lie to satisfy everyone and make everything logically sound.

This was a huge project.

Just thinking about it made Yuan Wen's head ache.

"I think they're all good!" Li Tianran grinned, revealing a mouth full of white teeth.

Yuan Wen looked at Li Tianran, her emotions very complicated.

Which side of this man was the real him?

The violent and crazy side, killing people in a fit of anger, was him; the gentle and loving side, with a cheerful personality, was also him.

But no matter which side... in short, he was still quite charming...

Perhaps even Yuan Wen herself didn't realize it, but she had developed a very complex emotion towards Li Tianran.

No girl doesn't admire superheroes.

Although superheroes may violate the law, they are, after all... very cool!

"Can we talk about anything... tomorrow morning? I'm really tired." Li Tianran straightened his expression and asked seriously.

Yuan Wen sighed helplessly, glanced at the listless Han Han, and then at Li Tianran, who looked tired, and said, "I can take the liberty of agreeing, but tomorrow morning, you must come to the military police station so we can discuss how to write the case report."

"Thank you." Li Tianran smiled.

"I should be thanking you." Yuan Wen said seriously, "You gave me a lot of face just now."

Yuan Wen was very clear that if Li Tianran insisted on killing people, she wouldn't be able to stop him.

And she couldn't possibly shoot Li Tianran either.

But the consequence of all this was that she would be in a dilemma, choosing between Li Tianran and her duty.

Fortunately, Li Tianran didn't make things difficult for her.

"Then as a thank you... Sister Yuan should go on a date with big brother!" Han Han suddenly blurted out in a clear voice.

Whoosh!

Li Tianran's face changed drastically. He covered Han Han's mouth and explained awkwardly, "Children's words! Children's words!"

Yuan Wen's body also froze in place, her cheeks flushing red.

"I'm leaving first!" Li Tianran picked up Han Han and strode out of the church, fleeing as if escaping.

Yuan Wen's heart was pounding. At this moment, she even felt a little dizzy.

She, who had been handling the chaos in an orderly manner just now, was now as flustered as a little girl.

"You... are not right."

Just then, a faint voice sounded. Yuan Yi, with a poker face, stood silently beside Yuan Wen. His eyes, like nails, fell on Yuan Wen's face as he said, "Your breathing is disordered, your heart is beating fast, and the skin on your face is abnormally flushed, proving that your emotions are undergoing major fluctuations. You... like that Li Tianran, don't you?"

"Crazy." Yuan Wen pushed Yuan Yi away, trying to keep her tone calm.

"No one can lie in front of me." Yuan Yi's face revealed a mocking, contemptuous, and condescending expression. He stared coldly at Yuan Wen and said, "According to criminal psychology theory, if a person suddenly experiences the above conditions, it's either a sudden illness, or... highly active sex hormones, stimulating a surge in hormones!"

"Do you have a sudden illness?"

Yuan Yi's gaze was like a nail, condescendingly scrutinizing Yuan Wen.

"If you don't shut your dog mouth, I don't know if I have a sudden illness, but you're definitely going to have a sudden emergency!" Yuan Wen looked at Yuan Yi, grinding her teeth inwardly.

"?" Yuan Yi raised his eyebrows. "Dare to threaten me? It seems I need to talk to Uncle Hong..."

Bang!

"Ah!"

A muffled sound was followed by a scream.

An hour later, Yuan Yi sat in the emergency room of the hospital, expressionless, his temperament still cold and aloof, except... there was a large bruise on his right eye.

"Acute soft tissue muscle contusion... isn't this just getting beaten up?" A doctor looked strange, holding the medical report in his hand and looking at Yuan Yi's injury. He couldn't help but mutter, "Who has such a big feud with you? They hit pretty hard, almost knocking your eyeball out..."

...

Time returned to when Li Tianran had just left the church hall.

He was about to drive home when he heard someone calling softly from behind.

"Please wait a moment."

It was a girl's soft,糯糯 voice. (nuonuo - glutinous, sticky, implying softness)

Li Tianran turned around.

It turned out to be the girl who had just pointed out the location of the accounts. At this time, she was wearing a police uniform coat and ran out of the church hall, panting as she followed behind Li Tianran.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Li Tianran asked curiously.

"I want to say thank you." The girl crossed her hands in front of her and bowed deeply to Li Tianran. "Without you, we really might have suffered something worse than death."

Only then did Li Tianran notice that the girl's temperament looked very gentle. The dirt on her face had been wiped away, revealing a face full of youthful beauty.

She probably wasn't even twenty years old, the most beautiful time of her life.

"It was just a matter of lifting a finger." Li Tianran smiled.

"I really thought I was going to die when I was trapped in the warehouse those few days..." A look of fear appeared on the girl's face, and then she looked at Li Tianran again, "That was a dark time, but compared to those girls who were taken away, I'm already lucky."

Li Tianran was very clear that since these girls were being sold as commodities by the Self-Help Society, then some of them must have already been sold. Their fate might be even more miserable than those girls who stayed in the warehouse.

"I don't have anything to express my gratitude..." the girl said softly, taking out a few candies from her close-fitting clothes and handing them to Li Tianran, "Please accept these."

These were a few candies with some stains on the wrappers, looking very unsightly.

But these candies were the only sweetness she could feel in the dark warehouse, in despair, and in endless suffering.

"I know it's a little dirty..." The girl saw that Li Tianran didn't move, her cheeks flushed, and she timidly wanted to take them back.

Snap!

Li Tianran grabbed the candies, peeled off the wrappers, and put one in his and Han Han's mouths, smiling as he said, "Thank you, it's very sweet!"

"Yes, it's really sweet!" Han Han peeled one open and handed it to the girl's mouth, "Sister, eat one too!"

The girl was stunned.

"Life is like these candies, it may be stained with some dirt, but as long as the heart is not polluted, it is still the sweetest." Li Tianran's mouth curved up slightly. "Those unforgettable shadows and darkness are like these stained candy wrappers, just peel them off and throw them away!"

The girl stood there, stunned. After a few seconds, she suddenly cried, crying loudly, almost out of control.

She hadn't cried so sadly during her imprisoned time, nor had she collapsed after being rescued, but after hearing Li Tianran's words, she couldn't control her emotions any longer, and tears kept falling.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" The girl thanked Li Tianran while crying.

"I have to go." Li Tianran said, sighing, "Go back, your parents will be here soon. Forget about this and be with your family."

"I still don't know your name." The girl asked with tears in her eyes.

"Li Tianran."

"My name is Li Ruya." The girl asked as if she had made up her mind, "Can we meet again?"

"Sister looks good when she smiles. If sister is willing to smile, my big brother will definitely be willing to see you again..." Han Han said mischievously, "Big brother likes pretty girls the most!"

"Pfft!" The girl couldn't help but smile.

She wiped the tears from her face, then took a deep breath and gave Li Tianran a bright smile.

Her eyebrows and eyes were like the moon, and her eyes were like water.

In the faint starlight, she... was really beautiful.