Zhang Shuwan was startled. What was going on?
Could something have happened to Jianing?
Zhang Shuwan felt a pang of regret. She shouldn’t have left Jianing alone outside, especially since Jianing was so pretty.
“Jianing?”
Zhang Shuwan hurriedly pulled on her pants while calling out to Gu Jianing.
“Yeah, Shuwan, I’m here.”
Hearing Gu Jianing’s response, Zhang Shuwan let out a sigh of relief. From the sound of her voice, Jianing seemed fine.
But then, what was that noise just now?
The loud *bang* had been so clear that Zhang Shuwan couldn’t possibly have imagined it.
Still, she quickly finished dressing and stepped out.
“Jianing, ah—what is this?!”
As soon as Zhang Shuwan saw Gu Jianing, she was startled by the sight of a man lying on the ground.
It was a tall, thin man in a gray padded jacket, sprawled motionless with his eyes closed and a handkerchief covering his face.
Beside him stood Gu Jianing, calm and composed.
“Oh, this is a human trafficker. He just tried to use this handkerchief to knock me out,” Gu Jianing explained.
Zhang Shuwan’s eyes widened. “What? A human trafficker?!”
“Yeah. He’s been following us since we left the state-run restaurant. I noticed him then—he tailed us for over an hour. Just now, when you went into the restroom, he probably thought it was his chance to strike.”
“He tried to cover my mouth with this handkerchief, which I’m guessing was drugged. Luckily, I was quick enough to snatch it from him and press it over his mouth instead. Then he passed out.”
Gu Jianing recounted the incident casually, but Zhang Shuwan’s heart raced with fear.
Good heavens, a human trafficker!
And Jianing had noticed him back at the state-run restaurant? He’d been following them for over an hour, and she hadn’t had a clue.
“Jianing, you should have told me.”
“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have left you alone outside while I went to the restroom. If something had happened to you, how could I ever face Battalion Commander Sheng?”
The thought of returning alone after their trip to the county, with Jianing kidnapped, made Zhang Shuwan’s blood run cold.
What would Battalion Commander Sheng say if she came back without Jianing?
If Jianing went missing, Battalion Commander Sheng would probably lose his mind.
Despite his usual calm and collected demeanor, Zhang Shuwan could tell from their interactions just how deeply Battalion Commander Sheng cared for Jianing.
Especially now that Jianing was pregnant.
Thank goodness Jianing was unharmed and had even managed to “counterattack” the trafficker.
Gu Jianing (thinking to herself): *I needed to give this guy the perfect opportunity to strike—of course I couldn’t tell you.*
Besides, Gu Jianing figured that if she had told Zhang Shuwan, the latter might have been too nervous and given herself away. She also doubted Zhang Shuwan would have let her stay outside alone to take the risk.
Then they’d have missed their chance to catch this guy.
“Ah, Shuwan, I just thought I could handle it myself.”
“See? He’s down for the count now.”
In truth, Gu Jianing had been fully confident.
She had already exchanged 10 points in the system for a “5-Second Freeze” skill.
With this ability, she could freeze anyone she focused on for five seconds.
Though brief, five seconds was more than enough time to act.
She had also previously exchanged points for a “Popeye” skill, which temporarily increased her strength tenfold.
Originally, she had planned to freeze the man first and then beat him up with her enhanced strength.
But when she saw the drugged handkerchief in his hand, she changed her mind.
So, after freezing him, she snatched the handkerchief and, to his utter shock, pressed it over his own mouth and nose.
The drug on the handkerchief must have been potent because, in no time, the man’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground with a loud *thud*.
Shortly after, Zhang Shuwan called out to her and emerged from the restroom.
Even though the man was already down and Gu Jianing had been confident in handling the situation, Zhang Shuwan was still shaken.
“Jianing, next time something like this happens, you *have* to tell me.”
“After all, two heads are better than one.”
“Seriously, if anything had happened to you while we were out together, I wouldn’t know what to do!”
“Your Battalion Commander Sheng would probably lose his mind!”
Gu Jianing looped her arm through Zhang Shuwan’s. “Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I should’ve told you. I’ll definitely be more careful next time.”
But then she remembered the promise she’d made to Sheng Zexi the day before and guiltily rubbed her nose. *Oh no, getting permission to go out next time is going to be tough.*
“Ugh, no—there *won’t* be a next time!” They’d better not run into any more human traffickers.
From now on, they had to stay safe.
“Jianing, what should we do now? Should we report this to the police?” Zhang Shuwan asked.
Gu Jianing nodded. “Yes, we’ll report it.”
Ten minutes later, Gu Jianing and Zhang Shuwan arrived at the police station. The unconscious man had also been carried there by officers and still hadn’t woken up.
While giving her statement, Gu Jianing mentioned they were military wives, and the officers’ attitudes immediately became much warmer.
“Do you know a Battalion Commander named Sheng Zexi?” a young officer asked.
Gu Jianing and Zhang Shuwan exchanged glances before Gu Jianing replied, “That’s my husband.”
Zhang Weidong’s eyes lit up. “So you’re Sister-in-Law! Nice to meet you! I’m Zhang Weidong, Brother Sheng’s sworn brother.”
From Zhang Weidong’s explanation, Gu Jianing learned that he and Sheng Zexi had been close friends for three or four years.
They’d met when Sheng Zexi had accidentally saved Zhang Weidong’s life, leading the latter to regard him as an older brother.
“I’d heard Brother Sheng got married and always wondered what kind of woman could win him over. Now that I’ve met you, Sister-in-Law, I totally get why he was so set on you.”
A stunning beauty who could stay cool-headed even when facing a human trafficker? No wonder someone as untamed as Brother Sheng had fallen for her.
Hearing that he was Sheng Zexi’s sworn brother, Gu Jianing relaxed and recounted the entire incident in detail.
“By the way, do you know about the Qin family case?” she asked Zhang Weidong.
He nodded. “I worked on that case.”
*Perfect.*
Gu Jianing: “Qin De was planning to sell Qin Tian to human traffickers, right? I was wondering if this guy might be connected.”
Zhang Weidong made a note, thoughtful. “That’s possible. We’ll definitely focus on that during interrogation.”
After finishing their statements, Gu Jianing stepped out of the police station—only to see Sheng Zexi striding toward her, his expression unreadable.
Gu Jianing: *?! How did he get here?*
Beside her, Zhang Weidong scratched his head. “Uh… I called Brother Sheng.”
Gu Jianing: *Well, great.*
The next second, Sheng Zexi pulled her into a tight embrace.
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