Return to the City: The Strongest King

23: Chapter 23 Miao Qingqing’s Appointment 23: Chapter 23 Miao Qingqing’s Appointment One uneventful night passed, and on Monday, Song Xiaoru went to work early.

Song Xiaodong, however, didn’t get out of bed until after eight.

The breakfast Song Xiaoru had prepared for him was still warm in the pot, simple as it was, it tasted even better than anything from a five-star hotel.

No matter how luxurious it might be living outside, nothing compares to this little “doghouse” they called home.

For the next two days, he just stayed at home, didn’t go anywhere, lying in bed all day, reading novels—it was its own kind of bliss.

But he was never someone who could stay put for long.

The first couple of days felt alright, but by the third day, he couldn’t stand being at home anymore.

His phone rang—it was Miao Qingqing calling.

“Hey, can you take out that needle now?”

“Oh, it’s been three days, so yes, I can.”

“But I’m scared to do it myself.”

“Scared?

Why not just hire someone?

Your family is loaded.

Wouldn’t it be easy to find a nurse to come over and do it for you?”

“No way, you put it in, you have to be the one to take it out.”

“I see, well, that’s fine.

I guess I’ll come and get the needle then.”

After jotting down the address, Song Xiaodong left the shantytown.

But he hadn’t gotten far when a police car suddenly sped over and blocked his path.

“Hey…acting all high and mighty just because it’s a police car…” Song Xiaodong just started to glare, and then he saw a beautiful woman in a police uniform jump out, it was none other than the cop from the other night.

Qiao Yutong rushed up to Song Xiaodong, grabbed him by the collar with excitement gleaming in her eyes, and gritted her teeth, “You bastard, I’ve been staking out for three days, and I finally caught you.”

“Officer?

What are you doing?

I haven’t broken any laws,” Song Xiaodong said, looking bewilderedly at Qiao Yutong.

Qiao Yutong yanked his collar, bringing his face closer to hers, and hissed, “Don’t play dumb with me.

Don’t think just because you changed your clothes and it was dark that night, I wouldn’t recognize you.

Even if you went into a crematorium and turned to ashes, I’d still recognize you.”

Song Xiaodong grinned and said, “So you can’t stop thinking about me, huh?

Alright, alright, I admit it, I was the one you saw the other night.”

“Good that you admit it, get in the car.”

“You want me to get in, but there better be a reason, right?

Even if you are a cop, you can’t just arrest people willy-nilly, right?

That night was a misunderstanding, okay?”

Qiao Yutong suddenly froze.

She had been so focused on catching Song Xiaodong that she hadn’t actually thought about whether he had committed any crime.

That night had turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, clearly not grounds for arrest now.

Song Xiaodong rolled his eyes at Qiao Yutong and said, “See, you admit it was a misunderstanding.

So why are you still trying to arrest me?” He then patted the back of Qiao Yutong’s hand, signaling her to let go.

Qiao Yutong’s eyes widened as she barked, “I suspect you are involved in several cases; now, will you cooperate with the investigation?”

Song Xiaodong furrowed his brow, his gaze suddenly becoming piercing as he said in a low voice, “Cooperate with the investigation?

This is clearly personal revenge, is this really okay?”

“I…”

Song Xiaodong straightened up, staring at Qiao Yutong and said, “What ‘I’?

As a police officer, your duty is to protect the safety of people’s lives and property.

You’re supposed to be catching criminals, yet you block me here for three days because of some personal grievance with me.

Are you living up to the national emblem on your hat, the uniform you wear?”

“I…” Qiao Yutong suddenly fell silent, her gaze locked with Song Xiaodong’s for about a dozen seconds before she let go of Song Xiaodong’s collar, clenched her fists and said, “You’re right.

I really shouldn’t use work time to apprehend you without having found any evidence.

But you wait for me, after I get off work, I will definitely come looking for you again.”

The sharp light in Song Xiaodong’s eyes faded, and a smile appeared on his face as he said, “I didn’t expect that.

You can actually admit your mistakes.

If you want to meet for dinner or a movie after work, I have no objections.

But if it’s anything else, I’m not interested.”

After speaking, Song Xiaodong waved his hand and swaggered past Qiao Yutong’s car, walking forward.

Qiao Yutong watched as Song Xiaodong left, grinding her teeth angrily.

Only after Song Xiaodong had walked a good distance did she mutter bitterly to herself, “You bastard, just you wait.

You’d better not let me catch any wrongdoing on your part, otherwise I will definitely make you pay.”

When Qiao Yutong mentioned that she had blocked him for three days, Song Xiaodong really didn’t have a high opinion of her.

At that time, the words he said to Qiao Yutong were his genuine thoughts.

Song Xiaodong hadn’t expected this police officer to let him off just like that, which suddenly shifted his opinion of her.

Although she was a bit impulsive, at least she knew how to correct her mistakes and wasn’t the kind of brute without any sense.

After hailing a cab, some twenty minutes later, he arrived at the address given by Miao Qingqing.

Miao Qingqing’s home was also in a residential area, but it was composed entirely of connected villas, each three stories tall.

Although they were quite upscale, they didn’t quite reach the same level of luxury as individual villas.

The door was opened by a woman in her fifties, likely a domestic helper.

After confirming Song Xiaodong’s identity, she let him in, saying, “The young miss is on the second floor, please follow me, sir.”

The helper led Song Xiaodong to Miao Qingqing’s room then left.

Seated on the bed, Miao Qingqing wore a loose T-shirt with a thin towel draped over her legs, smiling at Song Xiaodong, “Sorry for the trouble.”

Song Xiaodong rolled his eyes, saying, “Hey, you’re being pretty hypocritical with that smile, aren’t you?”

Miao Qingqing’s smile immediately disappeared, giving Song Xiaodong a big roll of her eyes, “Hypocritical?

Humph, then I need not be polite with you.”

Song Xiaodong pulled a chair and sat down unceremoniously, saying, “I am, after all, your life saver.

Is this really the right attitude?”

Recalling how blatantly Song Xiaodong had taken advantage of her that day, Miao Qingqing felt a surge of anger and glared at him, saying, “Saving a life is one thing, and I will thank you handsomely for that, but as for your character, I utterly despise it.

Being this polite is already being nice to you.”

“So you’re drawing a clear line, huh,” Song Xiaodong rubbed his nose and said, “Alright then, I’ll remove your stitches.”

“Of course, business is business.

I just don’t understand how that girl Xuanxuan could be so naive to actually be with you…” Miao Qingqing shook her head, her face scornful.

“Really?

It wasn’t you?” Song Xiaodong looked at Miao Qingqing puzzledly, observing her tone and demeanor which seemed too natural.

Could it be that the person from two years ago really wasn’t her, but Miao Xuanxuan?