Ye Chen drove Lin Rouxi and her mother back to the hotel. During the ride, Sui Xi's attitude toward him began to shift. She asked Ye Chen a lot of questions, her tone far gentler than before.
Eight minutes later, they arrived at the hotel entrance. Lin Rouxi and her mother stepped out of the car.
"Thank you for the ride, Ye Chen," Sui Xi said with a polite smile.
"It's no trouble, Auntie. It's my duty to make sure you both get home safely," Ye Chen replied warmly.
Sui Xi walked toward the hotel lobby, but before Ye Chen could leave, Lin Rouxi leaned into the car window and whispered, "Thanks again, Ye Chen. You really helped me out tonight. I owe you one."
Before he could respond, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried after her mother.
Ye Chen blinked, stunned. Was that her way of saying thank you? Even if it was just for show, he had to admit—it felt nice. He smiled as he watched her disappear into the hotel.
Meanwhile, Lin Rouxi's face was flushed red. She had no idea why she kissed him. It was just a cheek kiss, but it still made her heart race. How am I supposed to face him tomorrow in class? she thought, completely flustered.
Back in his car, Ye Chen pressed down on the gas and headed toward his villa. He was cruising at nearly 100 km/h, weaving effortlessly through traffic.
Suddenly, sirens blared behind him.
Wiu... Wiu... Wiu...
Ye Chen glanced at his rearview mirror. A police car was tailing him, lights flashing.
"Driver of the black vehicle, pull over immediately! You are exceeding the speed limit!" a voice ordered over the loudspeaker.
Damn... I didn't think there'd be patrols this late, Ye Chen thought. Dealing with the police is always a pain...
He stepped harder on the gas. He didn't want to be stopped now—not when he was so close to home.
The police gave chase, not letting up. Realizing he couldn't shake them easily, Ye Chen swerved into a denser part of the city. He maneuvered through traffic like a seasoned racecar driver, easily maintaining his lead.
Eventually, the flashing lights vanished behind him.
Still, Ye Chen didn't stop. Instead, he kept driving out toward the hills on the outskirts of the city. The area was known for its breathtaking night view and clear starry skies. When he reached the top, he parked and stepped out to take in the scenery.
Other people were there too, quietly enjoying the view. But one person, in particular, caught Ye Chen's attention.
A woman in a sleek black dress stood alone by the railing. She looked to be around 25 or 26, with long flowing hair and a flawless figure. What intrigued Ye Chen even more—she was a cultivator. And not just any cultivator, but someone at the 4th level of the Earth Realm.
That's rare, Ye Chen thought. Especially on Earth... she must be from an ancient sect or powerful family.
The woman turned and looked directly at him, a small, curious smile playing on her lips.
She walked toward him and stopped just a step away.
"Nice car," she said, nodding toward his vehicle. "Is it yours?"
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yeah, it is. Why?"
The woman ignored the suspicion in his tone. "Mind holding out your hand for a second?"
Caught off guard, Ye Chen complied out of curiosity. He extended his hand.
Clank!
He looked down to see cold metal locking around his wrist. He stared in disbelief. "What the hell...?"
The woman held up the other end of the handcuffs with a slight smirk. "Ye Chen, you're under arrest for reckless driving and evading police. You're coming with me."
She pulled out a police badge and flashed it in front of his stunned face.
Ye Chen's jaw dropped. "Wait... you're a cop?!"
"Bingo."
"But... I thought you were—never mind. Seriously though, can't we talk this out? I'm a good citizen!"
She rolled her eyes. "Nice try. Your license plate was caught during the chase. There's no mistake. Now, get in the car."
Ye Chen sighed in defeat. "I should've just kept driving..."
"You should've just pulled over like a normal person," she snapped, dragging him toward the car.
The beautiful officer slid into the driver's seat of Ye Chen's car, surprisingly familiar with the controls. Without another word, she started the engine and drove them both toward the police station.
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