CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: PICKING SOMEONE UP

The den of human traffickers was cordoned off, but many people still watched from afar. They had all just witnessed Xia Liang’s miraculous skills.

Due to the surveillance cameras at the entrance, the Protectors were extremely cautious. Finally, after an hour, they cracked the massive Qingyun City trafficking case involving women and children.

As the victims were rescued one by one, the crowd of onlookers who had initially been skeptical finally believed Xia Liang’s words. They were also shocked by his extraordinary hypnotism. The mockery and doubts previously directed at Xia Liang instantly turned into guilt, which then transformed into raging anger.

When the group of criminals was led out, a chorus of curses echoed from the crowd. Some of the more hot-tempered onlookers even took matters into their own hands. Even though the Protectors tried to intervene, some people slipped through. By the time the criminals were loaded into the vehicles, none of them were in good shape. They were all battered and swollen, and some even had their faces permanently disfigured.

This scene was once again broadcast online.

"SHOCKING! This isn’t a movie! The most handsome guy online cracks Qingyun’s major trafficking case!"

In just an hour, the comments surpassed ten thousand.

"He’s so handsome!"

"Handsome and so capable! I was there, and he took down three burly guys all by himself! Too bad I didn’t get his contact info!"

"Is no one going to talk about his hypnotism?"

"Right? If it’s real, his hypnotism is unbelievably powerful! There wouldn’t be any case that couldn’t be solved."

"Curious +1. That hypnotism seems too fake. Could it just be a publicity stunt?"

...

Combined with the previous video, Xia Liang completely went viral. However, because the officials had not made a statement, the group of skeptics and Xia Liang’s supporters argued incessantly online.

Yet, as the man at the center of it all, Xia Liang simply drove to the Qingyun Hotel. The purpose of his trip was, of course, to pick up Xi Yiqian and take her home. He leaned against his car and waited for five minutes, right up until seven in the evening.

He then saw Xi Yiqian walking out with her head down, accompanied by Shi Yan, who was dressed in professional attire.

"Hey, gorgeous. Up for a date?"

Hearing the playful tone, Shi Yan initially thought it was just another overconfident pickup artist. But when she turned her head, she found it was her boss. She immediately adjusted the black-rimmed glasses on her nose and bowed to Xia Liang.

"Hello, Boss!"

As if the fabric could no longer bear the strain, a button on her blouse popped right off, giving Xia Liang quite the view.

Meanwhile, Xi Yiqian, walking beside him, was oblivious to this. She was just surprised by Xia Liang’s appearance, and even more so, pleased.

"You... what are you doing here?"

Under Xi Yiqian’s delighted gaze, Xia Liang raised an eyebrow and couldn’t resist teasing her. He pinched her cheek and said, "I just finished a delivery nearby, so I swung by to pick you up. What do you think, disappointed?"

Xia Liang expected to see at least a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. Unfortunately for his joke, her expression didn’t waver at all.

Blushing, she said, "No. For you to come... pick me up... I’m... I’m already very happy. Even if it was... just on your way."

Ah, this silly girl. She’s as naive as ever.

Xia Liang couldn’t help but pat her on the head. "Let’s go. I’ll take you home."

Hearing this, Shi Yan, standing to the side, casually flicked a strand of hair from her face. She looked at Xia Liang with a smile.

"I wonder if I might have the honor of the boss taking me home as well?"

Xia Liang gave Shi Yan an unexpected look.

The nerve on this one. Can’t she see I’m with someone? Xi Yiqian would definitely feel uncomfortable if I agreed.

He raised an eyebrow. "Don’t you have a car? Why would you need me to take you home?"

"Uh..."

The smile on Shi Yan’s face froze. This boss of mine is really something else. With a beautiful woman like me here, shouldn’t he display some gentlemanly grace? Even if he was going to refuse, couldn’t he be a bit more tactful?

She could only force another smile. "My apologies, that was forward of me."

"Don’t worry about it," Xia Liang said with a wave of his hand, preparing to leave with Xi Yiqian.

However, Xi Yiqian clearly felt bad about leaving Shi Yan by herself. After all, Shi Yan had been driving her home the past two days. She whispered, "Maybe... we could give Shi Yan a ride?"

"No need for that," Shi Yan quickly said, waving her hands. Since Xia Liang refused, he clearly doesn’t want me tagging along. If I insist, it will only make him dislike me.

"I won’t intrude on your time with the boss. Goodbye, Boss. See you tomorrow, Yiqian." With those words, she turned and left.

Seeing how perceptive Shi Yan was, Xia Liang nodded in satisfaction.

"Get in the car."

"Okay," Xi Yiqian nodded obediently.

Shi Yan, who had just walked away, watched as Xia Liang and Xi Yiqian left. An unnatural flush appeared on her face as she muttered to herself.

A straight man of steel and an innocent young maiden... a perfect match! How intriguing!

The more Shi Yan thought about it, the brighter her eyes shone. Thinking back to her playful teasing, which Xia Liang had completely ignored... I’ve never met a man who could disregard my charms, who could look at me and see nothing.

This instantly sparked her competitive spirit.

So what if he’s a straight man of steel? So what if he has a girlfriend prettier than me? Whatever I set my sights on, I must obtain. If I can’t win him over, I’ll just drug him! In short, I must have him!

Shi Yan clenched her delicate fists tightly.

At that moment, Xia Liang had no idea he had already been targeted.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xi Yiqian kept her head down, though her eyes kept stealing glances at Xia Liang, her mind lost in thought. After a long silence, she finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.

"Are... are we going home?"

"Yes, why?" Xia Liang glanced back at her.

Xi Yiqian then asked timidly, "Aren’t we going to pick up Xiao Qi?"

Hearing this, Xia Liang’s body tensed. She doesn’t even ask about the new car, but she asks this... Luu Qi? Go now? That girl is still with Qin Shiya. Wouldn’t that create chaos if we went now?

He immediately replied, "She hasn’t finished work yet. I’ll drop you off at home first. We’ll go grocery shopping together, you can cook, and then I’ll go pick her up. We can all have dinner together."

"Okay," Xi Yiqian nodded, agreeing instantly. A smile even graced her lips, as if being able to cook for Xia Liang was a source of great happiness.

Before long, they arrived at a department store. Xi Yiqian focused intently on picking out vegetables while Xia Liang watched from the side. Soon, their shopping cart was filled.

As Xia Liang was getting ready to pay, he happened to see Xi Yiqian glance over at the snack aisle. But she quickly looked away when she saw Xia Liang watching her.