Unexpectedly, after hearing his words, He Yingzi didn't feel guilty at all. Instead, she put on an "it's not my fault" expression as she looked at Hao Jian, raised her eyebrows, crossed her arms, and said, "Who asked you to bump into a thief, otherwise I wouldn't have mistaken you as his accomplice and brought you in."Hao Jian's temper flared immediately, and he said, "Me and a thief together?"
His tone had a hint of self-mockery as he took a few steps forward, walked right up to He Yingzi, who was on guard, saying, "What are you doing, stay away from me."
By now, Hao Jian was genuinely angry. How could she say it wasn't her fault? If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be stuck in this damn place wasting time. For the first time, he tried to do a good deed but was mistaken for a villain and hauled into a police station, staying in a holding cell.
This place, for the first time, made him not want to return. It was dark and malodorous, filled with a stench indescribable, utterly suffocating, making his whole scalp tingle—not only was it mentally distressing, but physically uncomfortable too.
He Yingzi told him to stay away, but he got even closer to her. He was taller, looking down at her in an overbearing manner, saying angrily: "I told you I was just out buying groceries. On the way, I saw you catching a thief. Out of goodwill, I did a good deed, tripped the thief, but you just came over without a word and cuffed me as his accomplice. Are you blind? Can't you see I was the one who tripped the thief?"
"Besides, you're a police officer, a servant of the people, with authority in your hands. But to me, you seem so arrogant and savage. Is it because your princess attitude at home has seeped into your work, believing whatever a thief says? I tripped him, and you cuffed him. Of course, he would call me his accomplice to drag me under, you're totally brainless."
Upon hearing this, He Yingzi's delicate eyebrows frowned slightly. Her greatest fear and hatred were being called brainless; she worked tirelessly to prove herself, wanting to show she was capable and strong.
Unexpectedly, Hao Jian accused her of having no brains. She wanted to rebuke him, but realizing his words held some truth, she found no argument to counter Hao Jian, just angrily glaring at him, speechless.
"You..." She hesitated.
"You what!" Hao Jian, not backing down, said forcefully, "Did I hit your sore spot so now you're upset, unable to find words to refute me, right? If that's the case, you're an arrogant wild miss, taking out your princess temper at work. If I were your superior, I'd fire you right now!"
Listening to Hao Jian's disrespectful remarks, He Yingzi grew more enraged, but Hao Jian was infuriated by her actions, caring nothing for how her pretty face contorted with anger, growing more furious, wanting to vent all his dissatisfaction and rage.
He pointed at He Yingzi's nose, saying, "You misjudged, brainless, mistaking me—who did a good deed—for a villain and brought me in. An apology afterward would be okay, I'd forgive you, but you walked right in arrogantly, making no acknowledgment of your mistake, being all smug. You're totally unfit to be a police officer, should just go home and be your Overbearing Princess."
"Moreover, haven't you noticed how your colleagues look at you strangely? Do you know what they call you after you leave? Mother Tiger, do you know that? Behind your back, they use this term, and it's really fitting," Hao Jian said.
Pausing, he appraised her, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, you don't have any admirers now, right?"
"Exactly!" He confirmed his thought, "Given your attitude, how could you possibly have admirers? It's not that you're unattractive, I'll admit you look good, by rights there should be many admirers, but have you thought about why there aren't? With that personality, how could there be? Arrogant! Savage! Acting subjectively, never considering others! Making mistakes while still acting like God...well...how could there be admirers?"
Having said that, Hao Jian let out a long sigh to vent his speech.
Before Hao Jian spoke, He Yingzi wasn't having much thought, feeling she made a mistake arresting the wrong person, intending to release him. But after Hao Jian's remarks, she was beyond angry—his earlier words affected her deeply, while the latter infuriated her further.
The first part negated her work, angering her since an outsider had no right to speak about her; he had no understanding, just talking nonsense. As for the latter, it was a denunciation of her whole self.
If it were inaccurate, it would be better, but the problem was Hao Jian hit her mark—no partner, no admirers; she was confused. Her looks and temperament weren't inferior to any colleague, she was pretty, had great presence, was highly educated...not conceited, just people's perception of her. Yet, despite this excellence, she had no admirers. Why did the neighboring department's Zhang Xueyi have a boyfriend, but she had not even one admirer? She was puzzled, especially since Zhang Xueyi couldn't compare to her, yet she had a boyfriend while she had none.
She was bewildered, and being seen through by Hao Jian like this, then spoken aloud, certainly made her displeased. This feeling was like someone revealing her uncomfortable feelings, mocking and humiliating her; her anger manifested in a blush.
Originally, having arrested the wrong person and brought Hao Jian in, she felt guilty, but she wasn't one to express her feelings, so spoke straightforwardly, never expecting Hao Jian to speak without saving any face.
Suddenly, the anger welled up within her.
"Enough!" she said.
Hao Jian chuckled coldly, stepping closer until nearly touching her, looming over intimidatingly, with a cold tone: "Enough? I'm too lazy to argue with you, alright, get out of the way, I'm leaving."
Yet He Yingzi still stood there, unwavering, saying, "What if I don't let you? You need to apologize for your words and actions, or don't think about leaving here today."
Apology? Not leave? Hao Jian was dumbfounded; shouldn't she be the one to apologize to him for arresting the wrong person, yet she arrogantly refused to apologize, and now demanded he apologize instead? What's the logic? She acted so overbearingly, saying if he didn't apologize, he couldn't leave as if she were a Jianghu rogue.
Checking the time, it was nearly one, and Liang Yuwei was still waiting at home for him to return with groceries to cook fried prawns and Kung Pao chicken. Yet here he was wasting time, unsure how much criticism awaited him when he returned. He found it tiresome to squabble with this crazy woman, shrugged, and prepared to leave.
"You can't leave!" He Yingzi shouted sharply.
As soon as he turned past He Yingzi, she reached out, grabbing him, sharply stopping him, refusing to let him go. He wouldn't let her succeed, directly shaking her grip off, then striding forward.
Unbeknownst to him, He Yingzi's face showed anger, refusing to accept a man speaking rudely without apology, attempting to leave so easily. After being shaken off, she aimed a side kick, intending to floor Hao Jian, who escaped her attack range.
But Hao Jian sensed her leg's attack and ducked nimbly, evading her side kick effortlessly. Her face showed surprise, not expecting Hao Jian to dodge her kick with ease, somewhat bewildered.
But before she could react, Hao Jian smiled, reached out, caught her leg, then pulled, drawing her swiftly toward him, pulling her right in front of him.
Suddenly, their proximity was dangerously close, their bodies nearly touching, Hao Jian's hand still gripping her leg, unchecked, and he began stroking her leg. Her face flashed with anger, wishing to retrieve her leg, but surprised by Hao Jian's strength, unable to pull away.
Though through a layer of pants, Hao Jian still felt it pleasing, his unconventional revenge against He Yingzi. If you're going to be unreasonable and arrogant, then I'll be unreasonable right back.
"Nice feel!" Hao Jian mused.
"Get lost!" He Yingzi shouted angrily.
Hao Jian merely laughed, anger—being angry was good—it's meant to make you angry.