Chapter 173 — Genuine, No Substitutions

"Huh? Go to your place this weekend?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. "What for?"

"I don't know!" Tang Yun blurted out without thinking. But no sooner had she said it than, afraid Wei Zhao would come to her classroom to press her for details, she added, "My mom wants you two to come over for a barbecue."

With that, Tang Yun jogged off toward the school without a backward glance, leaving a stunned Wei Zhao standing there: Where do you even live?

Wei Zhao knew roughly where Tang Yun's home was — somewhere in the shantytown — but the shantytown was vast. Who knew where her house actually was?

As for Tang Yun's claim that her mother had invited him and Kang Xiaobo to a barbecue, it was probably because of yesterday's recipe. She must have tried it out, found that it worked, and wanted to thank them by letting the two of them taste it first.

"Heh..." Wei Zhao shook his head, reached out and shut the car door, and waited for Qiu Lingshan.

After waiting about half an hour or so, Wei Zhao received another call from Qiu Lingshan: "Wei Zhao, that Director Wang at your school is quite accommodating — he gave you leave just like that? Where are you? I'll come find you."

"The snack street behind the school," Wei Zhao said. He had Wang Zhifeng's weakness in his grip — how could the man refuse him leave? Besides, Qiu Lingshan had probably told him she was coming on official business, and Wang Zhifeng would hardly stand in the way of that.

"Then wait for me, I'll be right over." Qiu Lingshan hung up. About ten minutes later, Wei Zhao saw in his rearview mirror a civilian-plated Liebao SUV with a plate beginning with Song G drive up. Song G was a civilian plate series the police department had created for the convenience of its investigations, but by now the public knew that series well, so it was no different from a police car — some powerful people even pulled strings to get one of those plates for their own cars, the better to enjoy privileges on the road.

When Qiu Lingshan reached the snack street, she did not see Wei Zhao — only a yellow Beetle parked by the roadside. Puzzled, she was about to call him when the Beetle's door opened and Wei Zhao got out and walked toward her.

"Your car?" Qiu Lingshan looked at the Beetle in surprise. Her investigation showed that Wei Zhao had been hired by Gu Pengzhan to protect Gu Mengyao. They might well have assigned him a car, but surely not a car like this? It hardly fit the image of a close-protection bodyguard.

"Shen Yushu's. She lent it to me for a few days." Wei Zhao made no secret of it; the car had plates, after all, and if Qiu Lingshan wanted to check, she need only look up the owner.

"I see. Get in, then." Qiu Lingshan pointed to the passenger seat.

Wei Zhao opened the door and got in. Qiu Lingshan started the car and drove off toward the police station.

After they had driven a while, Qiu Lingshan saw that Wei Zhao said nothing, and frowned. "Aren't you going to say something?"

"Say what?" Wei Zhao turned and glanced at Qiu Lingshan, sizing her up from head to toe. "You're the one who came looking for me, aren't you? So why should I be the one to talk? Oh — what I wanted to say is, the wound on my leg has healed. I'm not afraid of you this time. You can pinch it all you like."

"You—!" Qiu Lingshan was choked with anger. She truly could not see what Captain Yang saw in Wei Zhao, or why he had recommended such a man to her. Hearing Wei Zhao say something so shameless, she immediately recalled that scene in the hospital, and cursed through her teeth, "Scoundrel!"

"Genuine, no substitutions," Wei Zhao said mildly, leaning back leisurely against the seat and closing his eyes.

"..." Qiu Lingshan did not know what to say. Wei Zhao's one remark had left her speechless, and it was a long moment before she said, "Can you help me find the bank robbers from that day?"

"You called me here, and now you ask whether I can?" Wei Zhao curled his lip. "I really don't know how you ever got promoted. Reckless as you are, have you no brains at all?"

Qiu Lingshan nearly drove the car into a wall to kill them both. Wei Zhao's words were far too cutting. What did he mean, reckless and brainless? True, she was a bit impulsive, and she always charged to the very front whenever they moved to arrest a suspect — but that could hardly be called reckless. It only meant she was a little brave... Though Captain Yang had pointed out the same flaw in her: she led the team, yet every time she rushed ahead without regard for her teammates. Was that not plain individual heroism? In truth, Qiu Lingshan had never thought about it that much.

It was like two armies clashing on a battlefield: if the commander charged first, and he was brave enough, fine — it could lift the morale of the whole army. But if he was caught off guard by the enemy, wounded, or even killed, the entire army would fall into chaos.

Afterward Qiu Lingshan naturally understood this too, and fortunately nothing serious had ever happened, which gave her time to correct herself slowly.

In fact, Qiu Lingshan had gotten it wrong. When Wei Zhao called her reckless, he did not mean the bravery she showed on every mission. In Wei Zhao's view, if he had the ability and enough certainty to take out an enemy, then he would act himself, rather than dragging his teammates in with him — after all, if he was sure of himself, there was no need for the pointless sacrifices that might otherwise occur.

What Wei Zhao meant by calling Qiu Lingshan reckless was really her carelessness — for instance, his injured leg... she had not noticed it; or again, knowing full well his leg was hurt, she had still gone and pinched it. If that was not recklessness, what was?

"Fine. Then let's hope that with your help, Young Master Lin, we can catch those bank robbers who got away that day!" Qiu Lingshan gritted her teeth and said resentfully. Inwardly, though, she thought: if we don't catch them, we'll settle accounts then!

"Heh. We'll try." Wei Zhao nodded. "No guarantees."

"..." Qiu Lingshan really wanted to kick Wei Zhao out of the car. No guarantees? Then what were you acting so capable for just now?

"Where are you driving to?" Wei Zhao asked when they were halfway there.

"To the police station, to discuss how to catch the suspect," Qiu Lingshan explained.

"No need. Let's go straight to the area you've been searching." Wei Zhao shook his head. He knew his own abilities best; talking things over would not make any difference. If those men really were within that area, he would sense them.

And if they were not, then talking would be useless anyway.

"Huh?!" Qiu Lingshan was startled. "Just the two of us?"

"You don't dare?" Wei Zhao looked at Qiu Lingshan with a half-smile. Naturally, Wei Zhao did not want too many people to know about his particular gifts. He was helping Qiu Lingshan partly because of Yang Huaijun — there was no need to elaborate on his relationship with Yang Huaijun. Since Yang Huaijun trusted Qiu Lingshan and had introduced him to her, Wei Zhao would not make a fuss, nor would he refuse. But on the other hand, Wei Zhao himself wanted to drag those men out into the open. Since he had already crossed Li Cihua, there was no need to spare anyone's face or leave any room.

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