Chapter 96 Zhou Xiye is too heartless

While Jiang Zhizhi was whispering to Zhou Xiye, she glanced up and saw Bian Xiaoxiao.

Bian Xiaoxiao was also looking at her with eyes full of hatred.

Jiang Zhizhi was a very vengeful person. Thinking of Bian Xiaoxiao's threats to her before, and now that Bian Xiaoxiao was glaring at her, she immediately straightened up and moved closer to Zhou Xiye.

She whispered in his ear.

Zhou Xiye was taken aback when Jiang Zhizhi suddenly moved closer. As if he had sensed something, he stiffened and listened helplessly as she finished speaking.

His shallow breaths landed on his face, tickling him slightly, like a ball of yarn brushing across his face, scratching all the way to his heart.

After she finished speaking, Zhou Xiye smiled slightly and said, "Okay, I understand. Now you can eat properly?"

Jiang Zhizhi was satisfied and sat down happily, continuing to eat with her bowl in hand.

Zhou Xiye looked up at Bian Xiaoxiao, his eyes instantly turning cold and carrying a hint of warning.

This glance caught Bian Xiaoxiao completely off guard.

She had always known that Zhou Xiye was cold, taciturn, and distant.

But he had never looked at her with that kind of gaze.

Indifference, warning, and a hint of disgust.

Bian Xiaoxiao felt as if a stone was lodged in her heart. She put down her chopsticks and fled the restaurant as if escaping.

After the meal, Zhou Xiye took Jiang Zhizhi to the bookstore before rushing off to find Li Zhiguo.

The Xinhua Bookstore was even more rudimentary than Jiang Zhizhi had imagined; it contained many books on revolutionary history but very few other things.

Even fewer people came to read the books; a few squatted in front of the textbooks, carefully flipping through them.

Jiang Zhizhi found a few books that were relevant to the times, found an open space to sit down and read. She hadn't read for so long that she became engrossed in them without realizing it, and for a moment she forgot about the time.

...

Zhou Xiye sought out Li Zhiguo because of Bian Zhan's matter; the investigation into Bian Zhan was not yet public and was being conducted in secret.

After finishing their business in the office, Li Zhiguo asked Zhou Xiye with concern, "When are you going to get your marriage certificate? Are you still going to have a wedding here? You should at least treat us to some wedding candy."

Zhou Xiye hesitated for a moment: "No rush, let's wait until she agrees."

Li Zhiguo burst into laughter, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice: "What did I say back then? I told you to give it a try, but you stubbornly refused. Now look what happened! The young lady doesn't even want an old man like you."

Zhou Xiye frowned: "I'm twenty-eight this year."

Li Zhiguo chuckled: "That girl is only nineteen. What were you doing when she was eight or nine? You could have been a father by now."

"You should be thrilled to have such a young and beautiful wife, and you even refused. Now you deserve what you got."

Zhou Xiye didn't want to talk to Li Zhiguo anymore. He stood up, picked up his hat, put it on, straightened his posture, saluted Li Zhiguo, and turned to leave.

Li Zhiguo chased after him to the door: "Are you just leaving like that? Stay for dinner tonight, and I'll have your sister-in-law fry some peanuts for us to have some drinks."

Zhou Xiye declined: "No need, we can talk about it another time."

Li Zhiguo was about to speak when Bian's mother, Wang Qinglan, came out from the next office. She saw Zhou Xiye and Li Zhiguo in the corridor and was stunned for a moment: "Political Commissar Li, Xiye?"

Zhou Xiye simply nodded slightly to Wang Qinglan, without even calling her "Auntie".

Li Zhiguo called out "Sister-in-law," and sensing the strange atmosphere between Zhou Xiye and Wang Qinglan, he quickly said goodbye, then slipped away under the pretext of having something to do in the office.

Zhou Xiye stood still, his gaze towards Wang Qinglan calm and devoid of warmth.

Wang Qinglan could sense Zhou Xiye's coldness. After thinking for a moment, she still spoke up: "Xiye, I heard from your mother that the Jiang family's daughter and you have both passed the political review? And the marriage application form has already been filled out?"

Zhou Xiye nodded patiently: "That's right."

Wang Qinglan frowned: "Then what's going on between you and that village girl? You're making a mistake. As your elder, I still want to advise you: you have a bright future, so you can't make a mistake because of your conduct."

Zhou Xiye pursed his lips, his brow furrowed slightly, suppressing a hint of impatience, and spoke in a cold voice: "The Bian family is where it is today because of Grandpa Bian's outstanding achievements. But if we want to maintain this prosperity, the Bian family members must be self-disciplined and cautious, lest we lose this prosperity in the end."

"Moreover, among Grandpa Bian's sons, Uncle Bian was the weakest."

Wang Qinglan felt a lump in her throat from the retort, suppressing her anger: "Xiye, what do you mean?"

Zhou Xiye raised his eyes: "Auntie, you know what you've done. If there's a next time, I don't think we'll have any face left between our two families."

Wang Qinglan's face trembled with anger as she glared at Zhou Xiye: "I'm not afraid you'll make a mistake. Besides, if that village girl's identity is questionable, why would I be afraid of an investigation?"

Zhou Xiye replied indifferently, "Is that really true?"

Wang Qinglan was somewhat embarrassed and angry: "Zhou Xiye, I haven't even mentioned that Bian Zhan sacrificed his life because of you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Zhiguo suddenly rushed out of his office and shouted at Zhou Xiye, "Quick, there's a hostage situation at Xinhua Bookstore, come in here for a second."

Zhou Xiye was stunned. A kidnapping had occurred at Xinhua Bookstore?

Jiang Zhizhi is still at Xinhua Bookstore.

She strode into Li Zhiguo's office with lightning speed.

Li Zhiguo was communicating with the Municipal Public Security Bureau. After hanging up the phone, he looked at Zhou Xiye and said, "There are two kidnappers and two hostages. We don't know if there are any others inside."

Zhou Xiye quickly regained his composure: "How could a kidnapping have happened? What did the police say?"

Li Zhiguo quickly said, "We need two snipers to help us rescue the hostages. However, as you know, there are no suitable sniping positions near Xinhua Bookstore."

Zhou Xiye nodded calmly: "I'll think of a way. Who is the other sniper?"

Li Zhiguo checked the time: "I'll be there in three minutes. It's Li Zhuo, who used to work with you."

Zhou Xiye was relieved: "Fire the guns, we'll head over now."

When Li Zhuo arrived, Li Zhiguo also brought two rifles and several bullets.

Zhou Xiye grabbed the bed sheet from Li Zhiguo's office and quickly wrapped the gun with it.

Seeing this, Li Zhuo tore down the curtain in Li Zhiguo's office and wrapped it around his gun.

Li Zhiguo sighed, then, realizing that neither of the two were obedient, waved his hand and said, "Alright, be careful."

The distance used to be not very far.

Zhou Xiye drove, Li Zhuo got in, and Zhou Xiye floored the accelerator. The car drifted away from the compound, leaving everyone in the dust.

Li Zhiguo slapped his forehead: "The car is also public property, so you should take better care of it!"

Zhou Xiye arrived at the scene in less than three minutes, and with a neat tailspin, parked his car in the shadows opposite the bookstore.

Li Zhuo turned around in surprise: "You're in a bit of a hurry."

Zhou Xiye ignored him and got out of the car, heading towards the police station.

After the crowd of onlookers was dispersed, the police cordoned off the entrance to the bookstore. The criminal investigation captain in charge recognized Zhou Xiye and, without even exchanging greetings, quickly explained the situation inside: "Two kidnappers have abducted two female hostages."

"Right now, the kidnapper has detonators on him and is in a very unstable emotional state, making the rescue somewhat difficult."