He actually wanted to recall, but he didn't know how strong this woman was.
"When it comes to this thing, it's better to catch it by mistake than to let it go," Huo Rou said, her voice low, refusing to let go.
The fierceness in her eyes galvanized the young police officer; in that instant, she was just like their chief when he reprimanded someone.
"Miss Huo, are you sure this person has been taking that stuff?" Old Zhang asked softly in Huo Rou's ear, seeing the stalemate.
"Yes. Shen Feng won't make a mistake," Huo Rou replied firmly. This thing couldn't be let go. She glanced at the car, remembering her password-protected briefcase.
If there was no other way, she would have to use it.
Getting assurance, Old Zhang stood up and called Qin Ningyi to explain the situation.
Soon, the young police officer received a call from above, and they took the person back for questioning.
Huo Rou accompanied them to the county Public Security Bureau to give a statement. The bureau chief was waiting there. After checking Shen Feng's identity, his gaze towards Huo Rou changed instantly.
"We will definitely investigate thoroughly," he assured repeatedly. "Thank you, Miss Huo."
"It's my duty," Huo Rou said lightly and then left with Old Zhang to continue their journey.
This whole ordeal had already gone past mealtime. Old Zhang, afraid Huo Rou would go hungry, parked the car on the roadside, planning to eat first.
It was the hottest part of the day, and there were very few people on the street. The parking spot was some distance from the restaurant. After getting out of the car, they felt the intense heat. Old Zhang went back to get an umbrella.
Huo Rou walked down the empty street with Shen Feng when she suddenly felt someone watching her.
Her usual alertness made her slow down, and she glanced around from the corner of her eye.
A sound of air being torn came, and a man with a dusty face, wearing a dark blue work uniform, darted out from a nearby construction site.
He headed straight for Huo Rou.
"Woof!" Shen Feng stepped in front, barking a warning at the man.
The man paid no mind. Even though Shen Feng had already bitten his ankle, he didn't slow down. His hands made a gripping motion, intending to choke Huo Rou.
"Shen Feng, get back!" Huo Rou shouted, pushing Shen Feng away, and then stepped forward to engage the man.
In less than two moves, the man was subdued by Huo Rou in a peculiar stance.
"Who are you?" How could she encounter strange people right after getting out of the car to eat? Huo Rou was puzzled.
"You don't remember me after just a few days?!" the man yelled hoarsely, looking at Huo Rou with eyes that wished she were dead.
Huo Rou looked closely. On the face smudged with dust and bruises, she recognized the man's identity.
"Xu Mao," Huo Rou said his name.
"You still remember my name!" Xu Mao's expression was contorted, nothing like his fawning and scheming demeanor from before.
"Thanks to you, I was fired. And I've been blacklisted throughout Yuchang City," Xu Mao glared at Huo Rou fiercely, his eyes bloodshot.
"It's all your fault! My family is ruined, and I have to pay millions in compensation! You want me dead, but you won't have a good life either!" Xu Mao was in a frenzy, blaming Huo Rou for everything.
"If you hadn't had ulterior motives and it was just a work mistake, it wouldn't have come to this," Huo Rou interrupted his roar, speaking calmly.
"It's all because of you!" Xu Mao clearly didn't think it was his fault. "Your husband is so rich, what's a few million? If you had just paid it, none of this would have happened?"
"Do I look like a pushover?" Huo Rou didn't quite understand his logic.
"You're so rich, what's a little bit of it flowing out?!" Xu Mao shouted hysterically, unable to calm down.
After leaving the police station, the bank manager fired him. Not only was there no compensation, but he was also made to bear the losses of the orchids, three million yuan.
But when he returned home, his in-laws, who had learned of the matter, were waiting and severed ties with him.
The next day, he was kicked out with nothing. No one in Yuchang City dared to hire him, someone who had offended Qin Ningyi.
Having lost everything, he had no choice but to return to his hometown.
Unexpectedly, he encountered the culprit, Huo Rou, here. Xu Mao struggled to reach out and choke Huo Rou, but his strength was neutralized by Huo Rou in one move.
"You bitch!" Xu Mao's frenzied state was clearly abnormal. Fortunately, Old Zhang arrived in time and contacted someone to take him away.
While eating, Old Zhang reported all the day's events to Qin Ningyi.
"How did you run into Xu Mao?" Qin Ningyi was quite shaken upon hearing about Huo Rou's day.
"I asked his family. After being fired and blacklisted, he lost the support of his in-laws and returned to his hometown. It must have been an accident."
"Uncle Zhang, when you get to the city, find some people to escort you back," Qin Ningyi said, also a bit frightened. "Don't let her get hurt."
"Miss Huo is quite skilled; she won't get hurt," Old Zhang said, looking at Huo Rou's martial arts with great admiration.
Qin Ningyi recalled the injuries Huo Rou had on her when he first met her. Her composure even with a gunshot wound suggested she was no ordinary person.
And now, she had a police dog with great stamina by her side.
Could Huo Rou have been in the military?
As this thought emerged, Qin Ningyi suddenly felt everything clicked into place. He still arranged for Old Zhang to find more escorts before hanging up the phone.
"Hello, Uncle." Qin Ningyi dialed his uncle, who was serving in the military.
"What's this, my boy, calling me today?" Qin Nishui was somewhat surprised to receive a call from his nephew during work hours.
"I'd like to ask you to help me investigate someone," Qin Ningyi said directly without pleasantries.
"Who?" Qin Nishui, also not one for pleasantries, got straight to the point.
"Her name is Huo Rou. She might have served in the military."
"Hold on, I'll ask around for you."
A moment later, Qin Nishui picked up the phone again. "Ningyi, I just checked for you. There's no such person in the military."
"Then is there a police dog named 'Shen Feng'?" Not finding any information on Huo Rou, Qin Ningyi had to investigate through Shen Feng.
Qin Nishui's voice came through the phone as he inquired. Soon, he told Qin Ningyi, "Yes. And it's a rare, top-tier police dog."
"What's the status of this police dog now?"
"It's in service, but the record notes it's no longer with the unit due to special reasons." This news completely negated Qin Ningyi's guess. Shen Feng was indeed a police dog, but Huo Rou...
"What are you investigating this person for, boy? Isn't it more convenient through your grandfather?" Qin Nishui took the opportunity of this call to inquire about his nephew, as he had some free time.
"Grandfather probably wouldn't want to hear me mention another woman's name." Qin Ningyi said this with some helplessness; the old man was becoming stricter with age.
"The person you like?" Qin Nishui's voice suddenly grew louder.
Qin Ningyi, hearing his usually reserved uncle exclaim with such enthusiasm, was momentarily speechless.
Fortunately, Qin Nishui's momentary joy quickly subsided, and he returned to his serious and stern demeanor. "Let the old man know about this sooner rather than later, and don't keep that little niece waiting for you."