However, it was to no avail. Li Chonglou’s expression returned to calm as he looked at her with extremely composed eyes, "You should say that to your senior brother."
Li Chonglou placed his hand on Lin Qianqian’s shoulder and gently pushed her away. She instinctively tried to resist, but soon realized that this man, who was tall and slender but not particularly muscular, possessed a strength far exceeding her own.
Thinking of Li Chonglou’s words, Lin Qianqian recalled last night’s events and couldn’t help but frown, "Did my senior brother really come to find trouble with you last night?"
Li Chonglou didn't want to elaborate on such an obvious matter. He tidied Lin Qianqian’s disheveled clothes and got straight to the point, "What do I need to do now? Or can I just sit in your office?"
Upon hearing the latter sentence, Lin Qianqian's expression changed slightly. That was her initial plan, but having started with such an ambiguous tone with Li Chonglou, if they were to be alone in a room again, she feared what her senior brother might…
As if reading her mind, Li Chonglou expressed his thoughts, "If you are worried about my safety, there’s no need. I’m not here primarily for your so-called senior brother, but for the three major cases you mentioned earlier."
Lin Qianqian paused, feeling that Li Chonglou was a bit too overconfident in his abilities. "Do you really think you’re invincible? I wasn’t serious. If I were, you wouldn’t even be able to defeat me." Lin Qianqian thought to temper his arrogance, but these words sounded completely amateurish to Li Chonglou.
He glanced at her lightly and said calmly, "Not recognizing the gap between yourself and others is also a form of disparity."
After speaking, Li Chonglou walked out of Lin Qianqian's office.
"Where are you going? Don’t just wander off!"
"Does going to the restroom count as wandering off?"
"..."
With a bang, the door closed automatically. Lin Qianqian frowned, feeling that Li Chonglou’s last sentence was a taunt, but she couldn't quite figure it out. She began to recall the scene in her mind.
Not recognizing the gap between oneself and others—Lin Qianqian could basically confirm this was a sarcastic remark, but "also a form of disparity"? After a long period of thought, Lin Qianqian suddenly had an epiphany. Damn it, he was mocking me!
Lin Qianqian was immediately furious, grinding her teeth, yet at the same time, she displayed a sense of helplessness.
She didn't know why. If it were anyone else, she would have already started a fight. But towards Li Chonglou, she always felt an inexplicable sense of fear.
This feeling was something even her master had never instilled in her. "Could it be because of that day?" Lin Qianqian remembered the scene from that day when Li Chonglou had directly snapped Chi Biao's neck in front of her and several other police officers.
At that time, Li Chonglou's speed, decisiveness, and ruthlessness had completely exceeded her expectations. To this day, Lin Qianqian couldn't recall how Li Chonglou had managed to get past them and reach Chi Biao.
"No, as a police officer, how can I be timid because of one person!"
Such timidity towards another person had, in Lin Qianqian's memory, become a thing of the past, just like her diapers. Now, it was even more impossible for it to reappear.
"Whatever, it’s you, Yuanjing Group!"
Lin Qianqian immediately made a decision. The person who made the decision was currently chatting with a male police officer in the pantry.
"I didn't expect you to be into antiques too, brother. We should study some at your place sometime." The one being so enthusiastic was not Li Chonglou, but the male police officer. To be honest, compared to his surprise, Li Chonglou was even more astonished.
He had merely noticed a piece of jewelry with some history on the man's hand and had casually struck up a conversation. He hadn't expected that this seemingly refined male police officer would actually be a member of the Shangjing Antiquities Association, and his attitude was far better than that of the man with the Mediterranean hairstyle he had encountered earlier.
As they chatted, they quickly became familiar. Li Chonglou also learned that the male police officer was named Lin Qing.
"Brother Chonglou, I heard you offended He Banlian?" Lin Qing leaned in and whispered. Li Chonglou was stunned, not knowing who He Banlian was. Seeing his confusion, Lin Qing added, "It’s Lin Qianqian's senior brother. His name is He Wei, but because he always likes to put on a stern face and lecture others, we privately call him He Banlian."
Li Chonglou raised an eyebrow, "If I remember correctly, this person only arrived yesterday? And today he already has a nickname?" Lin Qing waved his hand dismissively, "What does it matter how long they've been here? Nicknames are given on the same day they arrive; that's the unwritten rule."
Li Chonglou, who was drinking water, nearly spat it out. This sort of thing actually had unwritten rules? He quickly asked, "What about me? Do I have a nickname too?"
Lin Qing nodded without hesitation, "Of course, it's the unwritten rule. But Brother Chonglou, you don't need to worry too much; I think your nickname is quite good." Li Chonglou became intensely curious and kept asking. Lin Qing then said, "If I tell you, you absolutely cannot tell anyone else that I said it."
Li Chonglou nodded like a pecking chicken. Lin Qing glanced around and then uttered six words.
"Harvester of Old Maids."
*Slam!*
The paper cup in his hand was slammed down, bouncing up.
"Damn it! Who came up with that! Tell me, tell me quickly!"
Li Chonglou glared with bloodshot eyes, shaking Lin Qing's shoulder menacingly.
Lin Qing, being a refined clerk, couldn't withstand Li Chonglou's force and quickly said, "Brother Chonglou, this nickname hasn't been universally agreed upon yet, and there's still a chance to change it."
Li Chonglou then released Lin Qing. "Brother Lin, do you mean there are other nickname options?"
He then frowned again as he thought about it, "So, that means there must be someone specifically in charge of giving nicknames to others?"
Lin Qing, perhaps due to the excessive force, suddenly began to cough repeatedly. Li Chonglou immediately said apologetically, "Brother Lin, I'm sorry. I got too excited just now and didn't control my strength."
However, while saying this, Li Chonglou actually felt wronged. For any married man to be given such a nickname would be an absolute insult.
It was an insult not only to himself but also to his beloved.
Subsequently, Li Chonglou solemnly said to Lin Qing, "Brother Lin, you must help me with this. Otherwise, if I’m given such a nickname, I’m afraid I might lose control of my emotions at any time."
Lin Qing felt the lingering heat on his shoulder and swallowed nervously. He said, "Brother Chonglou, I have experienced your strength. Don't worry. For the safety of our colleagues, I cannot let this nickname spread."
Li Chonglou nodded and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Qing then had to return to his post due to work, and Li Chonglou returned to Lin Qianqian's office.
Strangely, he no longer saw Lin Qianqian's senior brother. Li Chonglou felt that this guy, nicknamed He Banlian, was extremely annoying.
However, for now, there was still a gap in their status, so Li Chonglou planned to climb up a bit first, and then beat him up!