Chapter 15: Chaos at the Warehouse

Noise erupted outside the warehouse.

The rest of the thugs had already rushed over and blocked the warehouse door.

Li Rui led his men and barged in, shouting:

“Xie, these two!”

Everyone was about to move in when Xu Chen intervened:

“Just restrain them. The police are almost here!”

Li Rui gritted his teeth, weighed the situation, and reluctantly followed Xu Chen’s orders.

He and six or seven of his men closed in on the two middle-aged men on the ground.

Both were injured, surrounded by half a dozen attackers with no chance to fight back.

The tattooed man’s ankle was clearly broken; bruises and swelling already marred his face.

Bing Ge’s crew hauled them against the wall and pinned them down.

Li Rui, fury boiling over, roared at them in a thunderous voice.

……

Xu Chen helped Xie Bingran sit on an old wooden crate.

In the dim twilight, her once-tidy short hair looked tousled and chaotic.

She tilted her head up to look at Xu Chen, her lips barely parting.

Xie Bingran’s gaze darted away like a scolded child caught in the act.

Xu Chen spoke softly:

“It’s fine. We’ll talk outside.

The police are coming—there’s nothing to worry about…”

Xie Bingran lowered her head and gave a small, muffled “Mm.”

Xu Chen took both her hands in his.

The bandages on the backs of her hands had come loose, revealing fresh and old cuts stained with grime and blood.

“Promise me you won’t fight again.”

Xie Bingran remained silent, head bowed.

She pulled her hands back, clenched them into fists, and stuffed them into her pockets.

At last, a hint of irritation crossed Xu Chen’s face as he said:

“Don’t lie to me again. Whatever happens, you can tell me.”

Xie Bingran didn’t speak but nodded slightly.

She frowned, then suddenly stood and walked over to the corner.

The tattooed man was half-reclining there, clutching his leg in pain.

Xie Bingran looked down at him:

“Where is he?”

The tattooed man lifted his face but dared not meet her gaze.

Li Rui barked from the side:

“Bing Ge’s asking—open your mouth!”

Shrinking back, the tattooed man replied:

“We were looking for him too…

We lured you out to use you as bait…”

……

Suddenly two flashlights swept inside, followed by a sharp command.

“Freeze!”

Two police officers had arrived, tracking the noise to the warehouse.

Li Rui and the others looked panicked when they saw the police.

Although today’s trouble had nothing to do with them, they were still young street thugs—and the stern officers intimidated them.

The flashlights shook. Xu Chen raised a hand to shield his eyes and said:

“I called them. These two are already restrained.”

The officers glanced around, matched it to the earlier report, and drew conclusions.

The two middle-aged men were handcuffed. The officers pulled Xu Chen aside to get the full story.

Xu Chen had nothing to hide and told them everything truthfully.

Whether Xie Bingran had come with the two men and why the conflict erupted would have to be asked directly.

After hearing the details, an officer spoke into his radio:

“Send an ambulance and two patrol cars. There’s also a high school girl here—send a female officer too.”

The officers then turned to Xu Chen and the others:

“If you’re minors, we can’t question you without a guardian. Call your parents.”

Li Rui and the others looked unhappy at the mention of parents.

Xu Chen glanced at Xie Bingran—she stayed silent, head down.

He knew she lived with her elderly grandmother in the countryside; her grandmother couldn’t make it in time.

He thought for a moment and said:

“Officer, I just turned eighteen two months ago. I think I don’t need a guardian.”

The officer paused, then replied:

“Technically, yes.”

Two students nearby chimed in: “I’ve also just turned eighteen…”

Xu Chen continued:

“We’re all in the third year at No. 1 High School and at least sixteen.

As far as I know, those sixteen to eighteen can be questioned without a guardian—our teachers would do.”

He added:

“None of our parents could get here from home late at night. It’s complicated.”

Xu Chen knew that calling teachers was less pressure for Li Rui’s group than parents.

They’d long been branded troublemakers at school; they weren’t worried about another headache.

Besides, tonight they didn’t do anything wrong—they helped save a classmate and caught two fugitives.

But involving parents would only complicate matters.

Just coming to the station at midnight would terrify any parent…

Having a school teacher come would resolve things much faster.

The officers sized up Xu Chen, a bit surprised.

“How do you know all that? Do you have family in the force?”

Xu Chen smiled and replied casually:

“My cousin’s in police academy. He tells me things now and then.”

The officer nodded: “Alright, arrange for your teacher to come. Then head straight to the station.”

Xu Chen said, “Got it—thanks, officer!”

Seeing they didn’t need parents, Li Rui’s group visibly relaxed.

Xie Bingran stayed quiet but breathed a sigh of relief.

Without consulting anyone, Xu Chen called the school and briefly reported the situation.

Which teacher came would be up to the school’s decision.

Within minutes, patrol cars and an ambulance arrived.

A young female officer took Xie Bingran aside, questioned her, and had an on-scene doctor examine her.

In such cases, the first concern is whether a female student suffered any assault.

Xie Bingran was mostly unharmed—Xu Chen had already checked.

The doctor simply cleaned and bandaged the wounds on her hands.

As alcohol swabbed her cuts, Xie Bingran’s expression remained cold, as if she felt no pain.

Watching from a distance, Xu Chen couldn’t help remembering the small, shy girl who once went hungry.

Under police supervision, the students climbed into patrol cars to be taken in for questioning.

The two middle-aged men were loaded into the ambulance first.

……

At the police station.

Three teachers were already waiting, including Xu Chen’s homeroom teacher, Zhang Liqun.

Under the station’s harsh lights, Zhang Liqun’s bald forehead gleamed even more.

Li Rui’s group entered the station visibly nervous and guilty.

Xu Chen couldn’t help murmuring:

“You didn’t do anything wrong—why are you so nervous?”

Li Rui thought for a moment, then forced a sheepish smile and straightened his chest.

Seeing Xu Chen step off the patrol car, Zhang Liqun adjusted his brown glasses, scowling.

“Xu Chen, I’ve warned you—

Why won’t you listen and run off with these kids?”

The officer at the door stopped and said to Zhang Liqun:

“Sir, please hold off on the criticism.

These kids did well tonight—they not only saved someone but helped us catch two fugitives we’ve hunted for a long time.

Xu Chen especially deserves praise!”