Chapter 32 Not Very Cooperative
When Professor Ren saw Xia Lili getting out of the car, his eyes widened and he looked puzzled and alert.
Why did the little girl I met in the restaurant appear here?
Ren Wenxuan's expression grew serious. "Miss, could you explain why you followed me all the way from the hotel to Iron Crown Island, covering over a hundred kilometers?"
He pushed up his glasses, and the lenses reflected a cold light.
As soon as Xia Lili got out of the car, she was prepared to be questioned by Professor Ren.
She swallowed, looked at Professor Ren steadily, and said in a firm voice: "Hello, Professor Ren, I am a partner of the Iron Crown Island Police Station."
"We've received intelligence that a group of thirteen or fourteen-year-old hooligans on Tieguan Island have been taking advantage of the ongoing construction on Tieguan Island, with its lack of surveillance and street lighting, to rob pedestrians."
Xia Lili felt that her explanation was more reasonable and easier for Professor Ren to accept.
And if the other party has doubts, she can also call Han Rui, the station chief of Tieguan Island Police Station, to confirm.
Li Qihan and the police from Tieguan Island Police Station said that they were informants, and there was nothing wrong with her calling herself a partner.
Xia Lili said solemnly, "To ensure your safety, please wait here for the police station to send someone to escort you home."
"If you don't trust my identity, you can call Chief Han Rui of the Tieguan Road Police Station and ask."
When Professor Ren heard what Xia Lili said, his brows immediately frowned.
Xia Lili thought that the other party was doubting her identity, but she didn't expect to hear Ren Wenxuan say the next second:
"robbery?"
Professor Ren's voice suddenly rose, his brows furrowed, and his face was full of disbelief.
"How could a child from Iron Crown Island do such a thing?"
There was a slight tremor in his tone, as if he had heard some ridiculous joke but couldn't laugh.
Xia Lili looked at him and did not refute immediately.
She understood Professor Ren’s feelings at the moment - this island was his root, and the residents of the island would always be simple and kind in his memory.
They had given him a hot meal when he was young, pooled money to send him off the island when he was studying, and even sent prepared local specialties to the capital when he went abroad, using these specialties as a gift to him on behalf of his fellow villagers across the island.
These warm memories, coupled with the passage of time and the longing for family members in a foreign country, have long built a thick wall in Ren Wenxuan's heart to beautify the memories, making him instinctively resist any negative news.
"I know their parents and grandparents. They have all been good people who have lived peaceful lives for generations."
Professor Ren spoke in a low voice, as if trying to convince himself, or as if defending the hometown in his memory.
Xia Lili was silent for a moment, then finally spoke softly, "Professor Ren, people change...especially children."
She remembered the eyes of those thugs - fierce yet childish, as if they had shed the cloak of innocence too early, but had not yet learned to be truly ruthless.
They held sharp switchblades in their hands, their movements were clumsy, and their threats were spoken haltingly, but it was precisely this immaturity that made people even more frightened.
"Their parents are kind and honest people. How could they raise such children?"
Professor Ren's face was as cold as ice. After saying this, he turned around and walked towards his home.
The two taxis had already left while the two were talking. Now they were racing against time to get back to the city before it was too late.
The night was as dark as ink, the sea breeze carrying a damp, salty smell brushed across their cheeks, and the street lights cast dim circles of light in the fog.
"Professor Ren, you should wait until the police arrive before leaving."
Xia Lili looked towards the dim street lights on the side of the road, watching Ren Wenxuan's back almost melt into the darkness. She clutched her bag tightly, hurriedly followed him, and called Stationmaster Han back.
Her voice was filled with anxiety. "Those thugs only commit crimes at night. It's too dangerous for you to go alone."
"Dangerous?" Professor Ren sneered, clenching his briefcase. "When I was growing up on Iron Crown Island, the parents of these kids were still wearing crotchless pants!"
His lenses reflected the cold light of the street lamp, making his eyes, shining with anger, look particularly stubborn.
Xia Lili's call was connected, and she quickly said to Han Rui on the other end of the line, "Stationmaster Han, we got off the bus near the construction area!"
Xia Lili and Han Rui described the location where they got off the bus, including the buildings and features.
When Professor Ren heard what Xia Lili said, he turned around abruptly, the hem of his suit slashing in a sharp arc. "The police again! Ever since I returned to China, they've been watching me like a prisoner—and now I'm being escorted back even to my own home?"
Xia Lili wanted to persuade him again, but Professor Ren had already strode towards the dark alley.
His back was straight, as if he wanted to use this frail body of a scholar to fight against the police's suspicion that they were unfriendly towards his fellow countrymen.
"If I really run into those little bastards..."
Professor Ren's voice drifted back on the sea breeze, his pale, rough fingers unconsciously stroking the handle of his briefcase. "I'd like to ask them if they are worthy of the hands of their ancestors who dried salt and wove nets!"
The sound of cans rolling came from deep in the alley, and several wild cats suddenly ran across the trash can.
Ren Wenxuan's stubborn footsteps were gradually drowned out by the sound of the waves, leaving only the clattering sound of his shiny black leather shoes on the road.
All of this made Xia Lili extremely nervous.
In the eyes of most adults, how bad can a child be?
Because of their age and mentality, they do not think that children who are only thirteen or fourteen years old can pose any threat to them, and they do not realize the destructive power of these problem teenagers.
Xia Lili knew that it was unlikely that she could keep Ren Wenxuan by just talking.
Professor Ren has a filter for his hometown, and is very annoyed by the omnipresent police.
Xia Lili grabbed her bag tightly, gritted her teeth, and quickly caught up with Ren Wenxuan.
After Mi Wei'er was kidnapped last time, the pepper spray prepared by Xia Lili came in handy.
Xia Lili was saved by the self-defense equipment at the critical moment. She is so lucky.
She restocked her supplies as soon as she had free time, and prepared pepper spray, a high-intensity flashlight, smoke bombs, fireworks, and a fruit knife in her bag.
Xia Lili even wanted to put a small electric saw in her bag, but it was too heavy and a burden to carry.
I have to run around all afternoon, and if I encounter security checks somewhere, it would cause a big misunderstanding.
Xia Lili turned on the flashlight in her hand. This was a super-strong flashlight that she had bought at great expense. It was said that it could make it look like dawn in the middle of the night.
Xia Lili turned on the high-intensity flashlight in her hand with a "swish". At that moment, she was frightened by the dazzling light.
“Swish!”
A dazzling white light split the darkness like a sharp sword, and the entire alley was instantly as bright as day.
She was so startled by the sudden bright light that she squinted her eyes and almost dropped the flashlight.
Oh my god, this flashlight is really powerful!
The merchant's product matches the description. I will definitely give a good review tomorrow.
If nothing unexpected happens tonight.
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