Chapter 31: The Police Have Arrived-A coadjuvante descartável desperta, e o príncipe do círculo de Pequim se ajoelha chorando de arrependimento.(dez mil grãos)

The image of Song Xixi’s resolute departure kept flickering in his mind, intertwined with memories of the sweet moments they once shared. His inherent pride, always a source of turmoil, whispered incessantly in his ear:
No, you cannot do this!
Qin Ze, don't be a sycophant!

Suddenly, a bright beam of light flashed outside the taxi window, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Song Xixi’s heart trembled violently; she widened her eyes, staring fixedly at the car door.
Could it be… Qin Ze?

The driver was also startled by the sudden light, his composure wavering for a split second. But then, driven by malice, he shoved Song Xixi’s head down, pressing her face hard against the seat. Song Xixi struggled to breathe, her hands clawing frantically at the upholstery, desperate to lift her head and draw attention. Her fingernails left deep scratches in the leather.

Nearby, Chang Zaisheng held his phone, anxiously dialing Song Xixi’s voice call once again. Seeing the taxi parked in a secluded corner, his sense of unease grew stronger. The ringing tone echoed in the silent night, but there was no answer. This only confirmed his suspicion that something was wrong.

Seeing Chang Zaisheng standing outside the car and refusing to leave, the driver’s expression turned grim. He rolled down the window and snapped, "What are you doing? Haven't you ever seen a car rocking?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Zaisheng’s face flushed with anger. Just as he was about to walk away, his gaze accidentally swept over the driver’s rearview mirror. He caught sight of a pair of fair, slender hands struggling wildly. His eyes darkened, and alarm bells rang in his heart. Without hesitation, he turned, grabbed a fire extinguisher from the roadside, and charged at the taxi.

The driver assumed he had scared Chang Zaisheng away. He was just about to bite down on Song Xixi’s fair neck to vent his twisted desires when, at that critical moment, a loud "bang" erupted. The window was shattered by the fire extinguisher in Chang Zaisheng’s grip. Glass shards flew everywhere, causing the driver to recoil instinctively.

"You bastard, let her go!" Chang Zaisheng roared. He thrust the extinguisher through the broken window and slammed it hard against the driver’s shoulder. The driver let out a pained shriek and loosened his grip. Song Xixi finally broke free, gasping for air, greedily inhaling the fresh night air.

Her hair was disheveled, and her face was a mask of terror.
"You... how dare you meddle in my business!" The driver, fueled by a mix of shame and rage, ignored the pain in his shoulder and reached out to snatch the fire extinguisher.

Chang Zaisheng dodged him with a nimble side-step, then kicked the driver squarely in the chest. The driver fell backward, his head slamming heavily against the back of the driver's seat.
"I’m telling you, there’s no way you’re getting away today!" Chang Zaisheng glared, raising the extinguisher again as if to strike.

Terrified by his ferocity, the driver turned pale and began to tremble involuntarily, his earlier arrogance completely vanished. "Don't... don't hit me, I won't do it again..."

Chang Zaisheng gave a cold snort, keeping a vigilant eye on the man. He then turned to Song Xixi: "Are you alright? Don't be afraid, I’m here."
Song Xixi looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "I... I’m okay. Thank you..."
"Let’s get out of here first."

With that, Chang Zaisheng opened the car door and carefully helped Song Xixi out. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed the police. Once connected, he spoke clearly: "Hello, 110? This is Changhu Road... A taxi driver attempted to assault a passenger. I have him under control. Please get here as soon as possible!"

After concisely explaining the situation, he hung up and kept a sharp watch on the groggy, perverse driver slumped in the seat. The driver’s head hung low, and he groaned in pain; the heavy blows had temporarily incapacitated him. Not daring to let his guard down, Chang Zaisheng kept a close eye on him to prevent any rash actions. While keeping watch, he retrieved a rope from his trunk and swiftly tied the driver’s hands behind his back.

"You’d better behave," Chang Zaisheng barked at him. "The police are on their way. You won't escape the law for what you did today!" The driver could only offer a weak, pained grunt in response.

Meanwhile, Song Xixi sat in Chang Zaisheng’s car, shivering. Her eyes were vacant, her spirit still trapped in the nightmare she had just escaped. She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

After securing the driver, Chang Zaisheng hurried back to his car. Seeing her condition, his heart ached. "Don't be afraid. It’s over now; you’re safe." He took off his jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders. Song Xixi looked up, wanting to say something, but her throat was choked with tears.

"Don't talk. Just take a moment to recover," Chang Zaisheng said softly.

A while later, the sound of sirens echoed in the distance. Song Xixi shuddered slightly. "The police are here. The bad guy will get what he deserves," Chang Zaisheng murmured.

The police car pulled up, and several officers stepped out. Chang Zaisheng opened the door and briefly explained the situation. The officers pulled the perpetrator from the taxi and handcuffed him. "You two will need to come back to the station to give a statement."

Chang Zaisheng nodded, then looked at Song Xixi: "Can you walk?"
Song Xixi nodded slightly. With his support, she stepped out of the car and headed toward the police cruiser.

At the station, the serious and orderly environment, combined with the methodical questioning of the officers, gradually helped Song Xixi emerge from her state of shock. She struggled to recall the sequence of events, cooperating with the police to give as detailed and accurate a statement as possible.

As she walked out of the interview room, she saw Chang Zaisheng sitting in the waiting area, focused on his phone. Hearing her approach, he looked up. Their eyes met; he stiffened slightly, then offered a gentle smile.

Song Xixi pursed her lips, walked over, and bowed deeply to him. "Mr. Chang, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you..."
Chang Zaisheng waved his hand dismissively. "Don't be so formal. Anyone would have stepped in. I’m just glad you’re safe."
That voice call had been so timely!
He paused, then asked, "Now that you’ve finished your statement, shall I drive you home?"
Song Xixi hesitated. Thinking of the ordeal she had just been through, she couldn't bear the thought of being alone, so she nodded softly.

The two walked out of the station to the car. The atmosphere was quiet on the way, with neither of them speaking first. Chang Zaisheng drove with focus, while Song Xixi stared out the window, her mind racing. Every so often, she looked down at her WeChat.

She hadn't intended to reach out to him, yet it was this man, whom she had only met a few times, who had saved her. The whole situation felt almost surreal.

Just then—