Chapter 32:
People's perception, experience, and need for beauty rank just below their need for wealth and power.
In some societal strata where acquiring wealth and power is unattainable, the pursuit of beauty supersedes these two elements and becomes the primary goal.
Lin Qi's handsomeness was also a kind of beauty. When that police officer began to feel a fondness for Lin Qi and empathized with him due to his distress over losing the ring intended for his girlfriend, feeling a similar sense of frustration, everything started to change.
Of course, even without these changes, Lin Qi would have continued his plan. Just as he was about to call the police from a telephone booth near the antique shop to report a fencing deal, a car with police lights but no siren parked outside the shop.
Two police officers got out of the car, with one of them even pulling out a handgun. It appeared they were here for duty.
This left Lin Qi somewhat perplexed. He hung up the phone, hesitating. He had surveilled Michael's home from morning to noon, unsure if Michael Jr. had obtained the ring. It now appeared things were more complex than he anticipated.
Considering re-entering Michael's house to check if the gold ring was still there, Lin Qi saw Michael Jr. being escorted by two police officers, handcuffed. Witnessing this scene, Lin Qi sighed in relief, feeling his efforts were all worth it.
He had chased after Michael Jr.'s car on his bicycle. If not for the conspicuous Bull, he might have missed it at the last intersection. Thankfully, the orange base and crimson flame patterns made it strikingly visible along the entire street, enabling Lin Qi to find his target at a glance.
Michael Jr. would never have thought that this gold ring would lead him being arrested, let alone be arrested in a different police jurisdiction because he ran too far, ending up in another police district.
In each city of the Baylor Federation, there existed a municipal police station. These stations were usually near the city hall and mainly handled administrative work. In other words, municipal police stations managed rather than handled frontline duties.
The actual frontline work was managed by various precincts, such as the Sabin City xxx street precinct or specific district precincts, each with its jurisdiction. They would not cross jurisdictions or interfere with other precinct' operations.
Each precinct appeared independent, but some things were shared, like certain information.
Michael Jr.'s actions put himself in trouble. If he had sold the gold ring at an antique shop near his residence, the local precinct would have been responsible for the arrest. Ultimately, he would meet the police chief he encountered that morning. This could have allowed for some maneuvering or communication.
However, he did not do this. Being arrested after crossing more than one precinct, the police in this precinct knew nothing about him. Naturally, they wouldn't sit down for a friendly chat with a home intruder, nor would they listen to his nonsense - every criminal arrested by the police would claim innocence until all evidence was presented in court.
The next step involved waiting and strategizing. Lin Qi rode his bike back to the warehouse area, anticipating the police 'summons.' This time, it wasn't about being investigated but rather assisting in the investigation. He would surely comply with the police's requests, even taking the initiative to clear Michael's name. Yes, he was just a kind-hearted and upright individual; he would never falsely accuse others.
Just returning to the warehouse, he noticed Vera's mood seemed a bit off. As a considerate young man, he proactively inquired.
"You seem unwell," he said, approaching Vera with a cup of hot milk and placing it on the table in front of her. "Maybe you're not used to warm milk, but trust me, it's good for you."
After saying a 'thank you,' Vera took a sip of the warm milk. For her, this was quite a rare experience. In the Baylor Federation and even throughout the whole world, people didn't have the habit of consuming heated liquids. Even girls lying on the delivery bed would gulp down some cold drinks with ice cubes inside.
As the first sip of warm milk, accompanied by a strong milk fragrance, entered Vera's mouth, the warmth slightly above body temperature spread comfortingly throughout her body, surprising her.
She never thought warm milk would taste this goodricher and more comfortable than refrigerated or room-temperature milk.
"Thank you." Setting down the cup, she thanked him again. "I'm fine, thank you for your concern. I just... can I be alone for a while?"
Lin Qi shrugged and left her side. "Of course, but if you need anything, be sure to call me."
After exchanging glances, Lin Qi left straightaway, while an unnoticed sense of melancholy emanated from Vera's face.
Last night, upon returning home, she found her husband drunk again. These days he always came home inebriated. Vera understood that it was an opportunity for Gap. Once he received the management approval to become the company's partner, her family's status would change significantly.
She was understanding and caring towards her husband, feeling deeply concerned about him. Drinking so much alcohol every day wasn't good for his health, but she couldn't persuade him. Gap was a staunch traditionalist and the head of the household; she couldn't sway him.
Last night, while changing her husband into his pajamas as he lay on the bed asleep, she unexpectedly found several lipstick marks on his buttocks.
In that moment, her heart felt like it had been torn apart by lightning, and she almost couldn't breathe.
She never thought she would face such a day. She wasn't as naive as the child currently explaining things at the police station, thinking this was just a "joke" between his dad's colleagues.
When his pants were down, it was no longer a joke.
Dazedly, she changed Gap's clothes and nervously wiped away the evidence as if she had done something wrong. Though she tried to appear as usual, her heart was already in disarray.
She needed distance and somewhere she could think clearly. Today, she arrived especially early, feeling as if she was drowning in despair, her soul almost freezing.
Instinctively sipping the warn milk, the warmth it brought to her body slightly comforted her. However, she didn't know what to do, her mind in disarray.
Divorce?
Even if she managed to leave Gap, he wouldn't allow it. It was a hypocritical society, where people didn't actually care about family situations but used the harmony and happiness of the family as one of the measurements of a successful person.
From the company's management level to the president of this federation, they all continuously emphasize the value and role of family for themselves and for society.
Now was the period when Gap was trying to climb up the career ladder. He wouldn't agree, and even if he did, what about the kid?
Doubt is the cancer of trust. Once the seed of doubt is planted, all trust begins to collapse. Every time Gap worked late or went out before, in Vera's mind at this moment, they seemed to become pretexts for an affair.
She even felt her marriage was a deception!
She felt her whole world was falling apart and she was about to collapse.
The more pessimistic one was, the more likely they would imagine things as extremely bad. Vera quickly finished the warm milk in her hand. As the warmth dispersed within her body, gradually cooling without new heat, her breathing became sharp.
Every breath forced her to straighten her body, as if she were drowning, suffocating.
Her vision also grew dim. She wanted to cry for help, but her instinct gave her a signal that was, in reality, incorrect As soon as she speaks up, she would be engulfed by a flood.Please vote for this novel at /series/blackstone-code/Please do not delete thisHow to find a list of chaptersPlease find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
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