“Next time, I’ll make him go out horizontally.” Yan Wangchuan’s tone was cold and harsh, and the chill seeped into people.

His attitude was very tough as he sat there with his back straight.

There was a brief silence in the police station’s office. The police officer in charge of this incident pointed at Yan Wangchuan and was so angry that he didn’t speak for a few minutes.

Even those wild and arrogant hooligans outside had to bow their heads obediently when they were here. No one dared to make a scene. But this person was the complete opposite.

He had beaten someone up, yet he was still so unreasonable.

What a f*cking wonder.

They had already investigated the whole situation. They could also guess why Yan Wangchuan had attacked. But he was still in the wrong for beating up the person after all. Couldn’t he give in slightly and let them close the case quickly?

Encountering such a tough person, the police felt depressed too.

Yan Wangchuan just continued looking at him. He was a person with a chilly temperament to begin with. And at this moment, as he was being pointed at, his expression became even darker and colder.

The police officer lowered his finger awkwardly. “Yan Wangchuan, you…”

“He bullied a woman and even laid his hands on his own daughter. He’s not worthy of being a husband, a father, or even a man.” Yan Wangchuan’s voice paused.

“We’ll take care of this, but weren’t your actions too extreme?”

“I won’t apologize.”

The police officer was fuming mad. This stubborn temper…

He slapped the table. “If you continue acting like this, I’ll lock you up for a few days!”

“…” Yan Wangchuan was about to speak when he was interrupted by a sudden voice.

“You better shut up!” Qiao Aiyun, who had been listening at the door for a long time, was so furious that she dashed in and cut off his words.

Seeing Qiao Aiyun arrive, Yan Wangchuan turned his head slightly and actually stopped talking.

Song Fengwan leaned against the door and looked inside. Uncle Yan was so domineering just now, but he’s really chickening out right now.

“Officer, it’s indeed wrong of him to hit someone. Don’t listen to his nonsense. He really knows his mistake.” Qiao Aiyun smiled apologetically.

Just as Yan Wangchuan was about to speak, Qiao Aiyun glared at him again.

The corners of his lips pursed into a thin line, as though he was very dissatisfied, but he didn’t dare to say anything.

He actually looked a little aggrieved.

“Yes, it’s good that you know your mistake. Actually, Song Jingren doesn’t intend to pursue the matter. You can just pay the medical expenses.” The police officer also knew that Yan Wangchuan would never admit his mistake even if he was beaten to death. Now that Qiao Aiyun had appeared to give them a way out, he didn’t want to be entangled with this stubborn bull either.

He was too troublesome.

“He still wants to pursue…” As soon as Yan Wangchuan spoke, Qiao Aiyun glared at him ferociously.

“Then, when can we leave?” Qiao Aiyun asked in a low voice.

The last time Yan Wangchuan had beaten up Song Jingren, he had been called in by the police for questioning too. But Qiao Aiyun had accompanied him back then. He hadn’t spoken much and was not as unyielding as he was now.

“My colleague will finish the statement later. Just sign it. Don’t be so impulsive next time.” The police officer sighed. They had a headache whenever they met someone like Yan Wangchuan.

“Then get him to stay away from them in the future.” Yan Wangchuan’s tone was cold.

The police officer pinched the space between his eyebrows.

Song Jingren was also an unlucky person.

Logically speaking, his injuries were enough to sue Yan Wangchuan for intentional harm. But he had forcefully swallowed this grievance. In the end, he was simply someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. He dared to cause trouble for his wife and daughter, but he didn’t dare to sue Yan Wangchuan.

It was nothing more than being afraid of the Yan family behind Yan Wangchuan. He deserved the beating too. He should suffer on his own.

Since Song Jingren had said that he wouldn’t pursue the matter, the police naturally wouldn’t pick at it. They let Yan Wangchuan sign the papers and leave.

***

Song Fengwan was currently sitting outside the police station corridor, sending a message to Fu Chen to tell him that the matter had been resolved.

When Qiao Aiyun came out, she still had a stern face.

“Mom.” Song Fengwan hurriedly chased after her, with Yan Wangchuan following closely behind.

When they left the police station, the north wind was raging. It was mixed with the unique moisture of the south wind, making it even colder and gloomier. Qiao Aiyun walked to the police station entrance and took a look around. She hailed a taxi and dragged Song Fengwan into it.

“Mister, let’s go.” Qiao Aiyun closed the car door.

“Mom, Uncle Yan hasn’t gotten in the car yet.” Song Fengwan was surprised.

Qiao Aiyun didn’t speak, so the driver could only drive away.

Standing at the police station entrance, Yan Wangchuan watched the taxi drive far away, and his pursed lips turned even colder. Is she angry again?

***

Tiansheng District…

When Qiao Aiyun arrived home, she took off her coat and sat on the sofa with her arms crossed. She was so angry that she was huffing away.

Song Fengwan poured a glass of water and passed it to her. “Mom, why are you angry?”

“What else can I be angry about? That Yan Wangchuan…” Qiao Aiyun tightened her grip on the glass of water and swallowed the words on her lips. It’s better not to say this in front of a child.

“Uncle Yan is a little hot-tempered, but he’s doing this for us. Everything’s fine now too, so why are you still angry?”

“He’s hot-tempered? He’s dim-witted!” Qiao Aiyun was exasperated.

Thankfully, Song Jingren hadn’t pursued the matter. If he had, Yan Wangchuan would have been imprisoned for a few days.

In the past, the two of them had nearly gotten married. Back then, her father and the Yan family had even paired their birth characters together. She had already felt sorry toward the Yan family. If she had caused him to be sued, she would have felt even more troubled.

Song Fengwan held back her laughter. “Yes, Uncle Yan is not only stupid, but he’s also stubborn. Otherwise, why would he travel thousands of miles from Nanjiang…”

“You…” Qiao Aiyun was so angry that she reached out to poke her head. “You’ve really become bolder after being away for two months. Are you teasing me? Who spoiled you?”

Song Fengwan stuck out her tongue and didn’t say anything.

Qiao Aiyun reached out to touch her face. “How is it? Does it still hurt?”

“No.”

“He’s really gone crazy…”

Song Fengwan pursed her lips and remained silent.

The mother and daughter remained silent for a long time. Only when the tea became cold did Song Fengwan get up to change it to hot water for her. “Mom, you just left Uncle Yan at the police station. Has he returned to the hotel yet?”

“How would I know?” Qiao Aiyun harrumphed coldly.

“He’s not a young man in his teens or early twenties. Why is he so insensible?”

“He was already at the police station, yet he was still speaking so arrogantly to the police. Does he think the police station belongs to his family?!”

Seeing her so angry, Song Fengwan took out her phone. “Then I’ll call Uncle Yan to ask…”

The call went through, but the phone’s ringtone sounded at the door.

The mother and daughter looked at each other.

“Mom, Uncle Yan…” Song Fengwan pointed at the closed door.

“Let him stay outside.” Qiao Aiyun was still angry, so she picked up her clothes and went back to her room.

“Mom, it’s negative five degrees in Yuncheng today,” Song Fengwan muttered softly.

***

Yuncheng was not like Beijing. As long as people were indoors, even the bathrooms were nice and warm.

Here, the upper floors of the residential building complex were full of biting cold winds. If the air conditioners weren’t turned on in the apartments, people would shiver from the cold.

Qiao Aiyun stayed in her room for a few minutes before coming out in the end and opening the door.

Yan Wangchuan was standing at the door. Normally, when he went out, he would either stay indoors or in a car, so he didn’t wear much clothes. At this moment, his lips were already a little purple from the cold.

“What are you waiting for? Come in.” Qiao Aiyun frowned and turned to let him in. “Wanwan, pour him a glass of water.”

Yan Wangchuan didn’t say anything and silently entered the apartment.

“Uncle Yan, have a seat.” Song Fengwan pointed at the sofa.

But Yan Wangchuan shot a look at Qiao Aiyun, appearing to wait for her instructions.

“Why are you looking at me? Sit.” Qiao Aiyun didn’t know what to say when she saw this expression of his.

Song Fengwan poured two glasses of water and retreated quietly. “You guys continue chatting. I’m going back to my room to study.”

She entered her room and pressed her ear against the door, listening to sounds outside quietly.

Ever since she returned, she had known that the soundproofing here was very poor. The slightest noise outside could be heard clearly in the room.

After a long silence, Yan Wangchuan spoke.

“Are you angry?” He enunciated each word clearly, as though saying this was too difficult for him.

“Do you know what you did wrong?” Qiao Aiyun looked at him seriously.

“If there’s a next time, I won’t go easy on him.” Yan Wangchuan’s expression was cold and hard, and he was unusually persistent about this matter.

Even though Song Fengwan couldn’t see anything, she could guess that her mother’s expression was very ugly at this moment.

“Are you angry because you think I shouldn’t have beaten him up? Do you feel sorry for him?” Yan Wangchuan was a straightforward man who had the brains for business, but he was very slow and took a long time to warm up when it came to relationships. He had never wooed anyone before, so he didn’t know what women thought. He could only guess that the two of them might still have feelings for each other.

“Feel sorry?” Qiao Aiyun sneered. “Then my brain might have been crushed by a door.”

Yan Wangchuan’s clenched fingers suddenly loosened. It’s good that she has no feelings for him.

“I meant that you were wrong to hit someone in the first place…”

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Yan Wangchuan argued strongly.

Qiao Aiyun gripped the glass in her hand tightly, wishing she could splash the water on his face.

She suppressed her anger. “Yes, you’re not wrong. But since you were at the police station, shouldn’t your attitude have changed a little?

“Why were you still acting like that in front of the police? What were you thinking?

“Do you really want to get locked up for a few days? You’re not young anymore. Can’t you act appropriately?”

Normally, Qiao Aiyun wouldn’t have dared to speak to Yan Wangchuan in such a manner. This fear had formed a habit since she was young. Today, she had been pushed too far. Who knew how anxious she had been on the way to the police station and afraid that things would blow up.

“Song Jingren is currently engaged in a divorce lawsuit with you. At this time, he doesn’t want to openly fall out with me and make an enemy out of me.” If Yan Wangchuan wasn’t sure about this, he wouldn’t have dared to make a move.

“I’ve never seen someone who insists on acting so unreasonably at the police station.”

“I usually behave appropriately. You don’t have to worry about this,” Yan Wangchuan said seriously.

Qiao Aiyun smiled gently. “Behave appropriately? Do you have such a thing? You’re getting more ruthless each time. Those who don’t know might think you fight frequently.”

“No.”

“No?” Qiao Aiyun sneered.

“I’ve only beaten someone up twice in my life.” Yan Wangchuan’s expression was cold, and his voice was firm.

Qiao Aiyun, who was full of anger at first, completely lost her temper after hearing this.

The only person he’s fought with in his life is all because of me.

What else can I say?

But her eyes stung, and her nose was sore. If I could have sat down and chatted with him like this back then, our relationship might have been different.

Out of the corner of her eye, Qiao Aiyun suddenly saw that his knuckles were all bruised. “Are you injured?”

“I didn’t control my strength just now.”

“I’ll get the first aid kit to treat you.” Qiao Aiyun got up and rummaged for the first aid kit.

Qiao Aiyun disinfected the wound on his knuckles, applied some ointment, and pasted band-aids on them. “You still have to deal with it yourself when you get back.”

Yan Wangchuan lowered his head to watch her treat his wound carefully. His palm was large and broad, and she was holding it with both hands. Her fingertips were slightly calloused, but the other parts of her fingers were very soft. She had applied hand cream in winter, so there was a faint fragrance of peony.

His ears felt a little hot, but he kept staring at her. Is she worried about me?

“Since you were at the door just now, why didn’t you knock?” Qiao Aiyun lowered her head and packed the first aid kit.

“You’re angry.” I didn’t dare.

Qiao Aiyun’s fingers paused, and her heart warmed a little. She nodded lightly in response and didn’t speak.

Back then…

He kept staring at me but rarely spoke to me. Could it be that he hadn’t dared to?

How can there be such a person in this world? Cold on the outside but passionate on the inside.

He’s already in his forties. Qiao Aiyun didn’t know how to describe him.

***

Yan Wangchuan stayed for dinner. He didn’t say much as per usual, but Qiao Aiyun picked up some food for him. Song Fengwan clearly noticed that he seemed a little embarrassed.

He’s still so innocent despite his age. There’s an inexplicable sense of cuteness from the contrast.

He usually acts so aloof, but in front of Mom, he’s only outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

Qiao Aiyun passed him the car key. “Your car is still at the gates of Yuncheng University. When you have the time, go get it.”

“Okay.” Yan Wangchuan nodded and took the key, his face still ice-cold.

When he left the building complex, his assistant’s car was already waiting.

The band-aids had a strong smell, so the assistant noticed the abnormality on his hand immediately.

“President Yan, are you injured? Do you want to go to the hospital?”

“No need.” Yan Wangchuan lowered his head to look at his fingers and suddenly thought of Qiao Aiyun repeatedly applying medicine on him.

He suddenly smiled…

The assistant was nearly scared out of his wits.

Damn. I’ve been with him for more than six years, but I’ve never seen him smile like this.

It’s like seeing a ghost in the middle of the night.