"Let's take my car," Wan Yunting said with a smile, turning to Niu Qiuling as they walked out of the wetland park.
"Hmph."
Niu Qiuling shot him an arrogant glance with her almond eyes, then went to open the passenger door and get in. Wan Yunting smiled, got in too, fastened his seatbelt, and slowly turned the car around to leave, heading directly towards Guan Hongyu's house.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Niu Qiuling turned her head and cast a sidelong glance at Wan Yunting, who was driving. It made him turn to look at her, saying, "Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't do anything to you last night."
"You scoundrel, how dare you mention last night."
Niu Qiuling's little mouth pouted in anger, and she glared at him fiercely, saying, "Tell me, did you do anything dirty to me last night?"
Wan Yunting glanced at her and said, "I already told you, I really didn't. Am I the kind of person who would take advantage of you when you're drunk?"
"Then what about my clothes? Are you going to say I took them off myself?" Niu Qiuling glared at him angrily.
"You're right, you did take them off yourself," Wan Yunting chuckled.
"I don't believe you. You must have touched me inappropriately," Niu Qiuling said, crossing her arms and huffing indignantly.
Wan Yunting gave her a speechless look. As he slowly stopped the car for a red light, he suddenly leaned towards Niu Qiuling, startling her. She instinctively flinched, her heart inexplicably tightening at the man suddenly leaning in. Her voice unnaturally came out, "Wh-what are you doing?"
Wan Yunting's lips curled upwards as he looked at her flustered gaze with a playful glint in his eyes. He smirked, "If I really wanted to take advantage of you, I would have... last night!"
Niu Qiuling's pretty face froze. Faced with his playful, mischievous smirk, she instantly reacted and became annoyed. She raised her hand and slapped Wan Yunting, "What would you have done to me? Tell me, what..."
"I was just kidding, why are you getting so worked up..."
Wan Yunting glared at her speechlessly, having been suddenly slapped by her.
"So what if I hit you? You bullied me last night, and it's a mercy I didn't castrate you," Niu Qiuling raised her hand and hit Wan Yunting's arm a few more times, huffing angrily.
"Alright, alright, I can't afford to provoke you."
Seeing the green light turn on, Wan Yunting immediately drove off, no longer joking with her.
"You better provoke me less in the future, or I'll secretly castrate you," Niu Qiuling's almond eyes widened, and she made a chopping motion with her hands, fiercely threatening Wan Yunting.
This made Wan Yunting a little annoyed. He glanced at her and muttered under his breath, "I should have just forced myself on you last night..."
"What did you say? Do you think serving seven years in prison isn't enough? Do you want to go back inside? You dare to force yourself on me? Try it if you have the guts," Niu Qiuling instantly exploded, grabbing Wan Yunting's left arm and screaming at him.
"Alright, I was wrong, I was wrong! Don't move around, I'm driving. I don't want to die with you..."
They bickered all the way and soon arrived at the roadside outside the entrance of Guan Hongyu's old residential complex. Niu Qiuling said, "He left this morning."
"I'll call him."
Wan Yunting took out his phone and dialed Guan Hongyu's number. It rang twice before being answered. He said with a smile, "Old Guan, where are you?"
At that moment, Guan Hongyu was in the underground garage of a car dealership. He knew that Wan Yunting calling at this time must be about the police!
"I'm busy with renovations at the car dealership. Is there something you need?" Guan Hongyu replied calmly.
Wan Yunting smiled and said, "We signed the contract last time, but I haven't given you the funds yet, so I came to deliver them to you today. I'm at your place, should I come over to find you now?"
However, Guan Hongyu said, "No need, wait for me for a bit. I'll head back now."
Unexpectedly, he agreed so readily. Wan Yunting smiled, "Okay, I'll wait for you then."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Niu Qiuling, sitting in the passenger seat, widened her eyes and asked, "He's coming back?"
"Yes."
Wan Yunting put away his phone, opened the car door, and got out. He then looked at the apartment buildings in the complex and asked, "Which building does he live in?"
"This building right here."
Niu Qiuling also got out and pointed to building A, "The window on the fifth floor, that's his place."
Wan Yunting glanced at her and said, "How many days have you been watching him?"
Niu Qiuling also turned and glared at him, huffing, "He's our suspect now. We originally wanted you to avoid any suspicion in this case."
Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow and looked at Guan Hongyu's window on the fifth floor, saying, "Perhaps this is just a coincidence!"
"Coincidence."
Niu Qiuling's eyes widened as she scoffed, "That footprint, and the Tian Guofu family, even the deaths of your two classmates, are likely Guan Hongyu's doing."
Wan Yunting waved his hand, "There's no evidence. These are just your wild speculations."
"You don't believe me, right? Fine, when Captain Zhou finishes questioning the supervisor, we'll know what's going on," Niu Qiuling said angrily, seeing his disbelief in Guan Hongyu's potential involvement.
Wan Yunting saw her stubbornness and said with a smile, "Alright, no matter what, I'm on your side."
Niu Qiuling glanced at him and huffed, "It's good that you know that."
Wan Yunting smiled and said, "You go sit over there for a while. When Guan Hongyu comes back, don't let yourself, a police officer, be seen with him, or he'll become vigilant."
Niu Qiuling's almond eyes widened, and she pointed at him warningly, "Don't think you can cover for him just because he's your classmate!"
"What are you talking about? There's no evidence yet, and you're already accusing me of covering for him. Hurry up and go."
Wan Yunting tapped her forehead speechlessly. Annoyed, Niu Qiuling hit his arm back before heading to a breakfast shop across the street. They hadn't eaten breakfast, having been busy at the wetland park in the morning.
"Hey handsome, the beautiful lady bought the buns and soy milk."
A staff member from the breakfast shop ran over with two buns and a cup of soy milk. Wan Yunting took them with a smile, "She's thoughtful. Thank you."
Just as he finished one bun, he saw Guan Hongyu slowly approaching on his Harley motorcycle. Wan Yunting leaned against the car, eating his bun, and waved at him, "You're back."
"Yeah, eating breakfast so late," Guan Hongyu said with a smile.
"Something came up this morning and delayed me," Wan Yunting walked over and said with a smile, "Mind if I drop by your place?"
Guan Hongyu smiled and nodded, "Come on up."
Wan Yunting didn't stand on ceremony. Holding a bun in one hand and soy milk in the other, he got on Guan Hongyu's motorcycle and slowly entered the complex...
Sitting at the breakfast shop across the street, Niu Qiuling was on her phone, calling Zhou Dong, "Captain Zhou, Wan Yunting went back to his place with Guan Hongyu."
Zhou Dong, who was elsewhere, nodded, "Okay, notify me immediately if anything happens."
"Understood."
Niu Qiuling nodded and asked, "How are things on your end? Have you found anything out?"
Zhou Dong glanced at a middle-aged man sitting on a chair and said, "Haven't found any useful clues yet."
"I see. Alright," Niu Qiuling sighed helplessly and hung up with Zhou Dong.
Guan Hongyu brought Wan Yunting to the bottom of the apartment building, parked his motorcycle, and led him upstairs. Since it was an old residential complex, there were no elevators, so they had to walk up to the fifth floor.
Wan Yunting finished his bun and soy milk and followed Guan Hongyu to his door. Guan Hongyu took out his keys, opened the door, and turned to smile, "Come in."
"Mm..."
Wan Yunting nodded and walked in. In the living room, he saw the old-fashioned furniture and decorations. There was even a calendar from years ago hanging on the wall, exuding a sense of nostalgia. On the photo frame on the TV cabinet was a picture of Guan Hongyu and his parents.
Wan Yunting paused to look, then turned to Guan Hongyu and said with a smile, "You were really handsome back then, almost as handsome as me."
Guan Hongyu took off his helmet and placed it on the table beside him, flicking his hair. He chuckled, "It's clearly me who's handsome."
"Haha..."
Wan Yunting burst into laughter and continued to look around Guan Hongyu's living room, saying, "It's just like it used to be, unchanged."
"Mm."
Guan Hongyu poured him a glass of water and smiled, "Only the people have changed!"
As he handed him the glass of water, Wan Yunting's expression paused. Looking at Guan Hongyu, whose eyes were deep and profound, no longer the spirited youth of the past, he sighed, "Yes, we've all changed..."