“Are you still looking for accommodation, or was that a lie?”

Zhuo Weiping had no intention of speaking privately. She could already guess what Zhang Wei wanted to say.

Zhang Wei desperately tried to move away from Xu Jing, lowering his voice to explain:

“Officer, it’s like this – I’m just trying to help, wanting two friends to resolve a misunderstanding. That’s why I mentioned not having a place to stay, it was just an excuse. You’re being too… helpful…”

Zhang Wei was frustrated. How could they encounter a female police officer on the street this late?

The officer was certainly doing her duty, but wasn’t she being too nosy? Even after hearing their conversation, couldn’t she read the situation?

Zhuo Weiping maintained a stern expression, “So you deliberately deceived people to gain sympathy, and now you’re complaining about my interference? You’re being quite unreasonable, only blaming me for well-intentioned meddling while ignoring your faults. Whether others reconcile or not is none of your business!”

As a police officer, helping two “stranded” out-of-towners might be considered meddling, but Zhang Wei’s enthusiasm was equally out of place.

The crow shouldn’t mock the pig’s blackness.

Zhuo Weiping wanted Zhang Wei to experience how it felt when others interfered!

Zhang Wei hadn’t expected such sharp words from the female officer.

However, Xu Jing recognized Zhuo Weiping.

Wasn’t she one of the first customers to try the shopping card system at the Asia Department Store?

Back then, she had come with her sister. When the Zhuo sisters went shopping together, most people’s attention would naturally fall on Zhuo Na, who was lively and stylish, a fine arts student with a keen sense of fashion – naturally youthful and beautiful.

Zhuo Weiping had a completely different personality. Her police profession had left her unaccustomed to wearing makeup, with neat ear-length short hair. Even in casual clothes, she maintained a rigid, serious demeanor… lacking feminine softness.

Yet Xu Jing hadn’t paid attention to Zhuo Na, remembering Zhuo Weiping instead.

While not striking, Zhuo Weiping gave off a reliable, composed impression!

So it was her!

And she was a police officer?

He wondered how much she had heard.

Xu Jing felt somewhat embarrassed.

Zhang Wei had been rendered speechless by Zhuo Weiping’s retorts, stammering and seemingly wanting to retreat.

“Officer, I was just trying to help…”

“What kind of help? Haven’t you heard of good intentions leading to bad outcomes? You’re lucky you’re helping a woman. If you were helping a man harass his ex, forcing them to reconcile, I could arrest you all for harassment. Don’t you believe me?”

Zhuo Weiping’s righteousness left Zhang Wei no choice but to believe her.

Xiang Li looked between Xu Jing and Zhuo Weiping.

Where had this brash female officer come from?

“Xu Jing, did you arrange for her to be here? You—”

“Enough!”

Xu Jing cut her off, “I didn’t want to be so harsh, but you forced me. Zhang Wei says we have a misunderstanding but haven’t I seen clearly what kind of person you are? Not many people here know what you did in America, and I don’t mind spreading the word. You dumped me because you thought I had no future, got together with Li Yong, and when he fell from grace, you quickly took up with an American. Then Li Yong caught you two in bed and hit you, right? A man shouldn’t hit a woman, but you bear at least half the responsibility. Xiang Li, you’re not back in China looking for me because of lingering feelings – it’s because you couldn’t make it in America and remembered you had me as a backup!”

Did she think he didn’t know about all this?

He had simply chosen not to speak ill of her.

Zhang Wei listened in shock.

Xu Jing added: “We weren’t the only ones who studied in America. Zhang Wei, if you don’t believe me, ask anyone who studied in New York! I’m sorry, but I want to be a man, not a cuckold, so I’ll never reconcile with a serial cheater.”

With that, Xu Jing left.

He wanted to thank the righteous female officer but feared that speaking with her might cause Xiang Li to harass her like a mad dog, so he simply turned and walked away.

Xiang Li’s face alternated between pale and flushed.

Zhang Wei was completely at a loss for words.

…Was Xiang Li such a person?

Since Xu Jing had suggested asking about Xiang Li’s reputation during her studies in America, there must have been many witnesses.

Xiang Li had taken advantage of the difficult communication between America and China, telling only half-truths, saying she wanted to reconcile with Xu Jing and having them take turns persuading him… Zhang Wei’s face burned with shame, and Zhuo Weiping wouldn’t let him off:

“Do you still need help finding accommodation?”

“No… no need, thank you—”

While both were meddling, the female officer’s actions were beyond reproach, leaving Zhang Wei mortified.

Zhuo Weiping didn’t pursue the matter further.

Xia Xiaolan was working hard, still in meetings at almost midnight. Zhuo Weiping turned back to drive home in the car Xia Xiaolan had arranged for her.

At Asia’s entrance, only Xiang Li and Zhang Wei remained.

It had been difficult enough for Xiang Li to find out where Xu Jing worked in Shangdu, but she didn’t know where he lived. Now, after the interruption by the female officer, she looked around helplessly, unsure of her next move.

But she couldn’t give up on Xu Jing.

She had wandered from China to abroad and back, never achieving her dream life.

If she had known better, she would have stayed with Xu Jing, and endured a few more months of hardship until he found an “investor.” Now Xu Jing and Ma Hai were successful young entrepreneurs, with Wenquxing electronic dictionary advertisements all over China and their large factory in Pengcheng… No matter how harshly Xu Jing spoke, she had to endure it. As long as he remained unmarried, she still had a chance.

With Xu Jing busy at work and not the type to actively pursue women, finding a partner seemed unlikely for him. As long as she didn’t give up, there was hope!

Xiang Li composed her grieving heart and explained tearfully to Zhang Wei:

“Senior Zhang, I can’t deny what Xu Jing said. There are many misunderstandings, but he won’t listen to my explanations. You even took leave from work to come to Shangdu for our sake. You can’t keep delaying your work – why don’t you head back tomorrow?”

Zhang Wei, having been scolded by both Xu Jing and Zhuo Weiping, was already embarrassed. With Xiang Li still insisting there were misunderstandings, he dared not interfere rashly – he needed to ask around about what had happened with Xiang Li in America!

While he wouldn’t stay in Shangdu, they were still friends, and he couldn’t leave a woman alone on the street in the middle of the night.

Zhang Wei sighed:

“…The more we outsiders meddle in your affairs, the worse things get. Junior Sister Xiang, let’s find a place to stay first. No matter how important something is, people need to rest properly.”