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"Knock, knock."

Inspector Madam from Team D rapped on the door, signaling that the time was up. Without concrete evidence linking the suspect to the crime, the police had no choice but to release him.

Reluctant as Team D might be, they had to abide by the law.

Looking at the silent Zhou Fengxu, Chu Yuening spoke with sincerity in her expression.

"I've said all that needs to be said. It's the responsibility of Hong Kong citizens to cooperate with police investigations. Inspector Zhou, if you have any further questions in the future, feel free to visit Mong Kok again."

Finishing her statement, Chu Yuening turned to Shi Boren, not forgetting to offer her well-intentioned advice. "Mr. Shi Boren, in an hour, you'll be heading to the hospital. If I were you, I wouldn't position your backside towards the entrance."

With that, Chu Yuening departed from the police station.

Seeing that she had left, Gan Yizu found it peculiar. He glanced at the still-absorbed Zhou Fengxu and decided not to disturb him. Instead, he nudged Shi Boren. "Brother Ren, why do you think the dessert stall owner knew your name?"

Shi Boren grumbled, "Need I ask? It's definitely because of my daily acts of righteousness, helping the weak, my chivalry, my dashing good looks, and my elegance that have left a deep impression on the citizens of Hong Kong."

"Ai," Shi Boren sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "Being too popular is also a trouble. People recognize me wherever I go. I really wish Heaven would send someone to share this burden with me."

Gan Yizu: ...

No sooner had he finished speaking...

Shi Pingzhi rushed in, interrupting, "That girl who just left the interrogation room, she's the one who helped catch the drug dealer through fortune-telling! Did you question her? Did you ask how she managed to do it?"

Shi Pingzhi was also skeptical about mysticism.

Therefore, he naturally sought an explanation.

Zhou Fengxu connected the dots, his expression thoughtful. "She's the one you said was very skilled at fortune-telling?"

Gan Yizu scratched his head. "From the looks of it, she really went to Li Zhirong just to break the ghostly love affair?"

"Such a simpleton," Shi Boren stood up, leaning against the door frame as he faced the corridor. "I'd believe in ghosts, but I don't buy into fortune-telling. At most, she's just trying to boost her fame by staging something eerie."

"Brother Ren, you were the one who mentioned the ghost killing in Uncle Jian's case before. You don't actually believe in that, do you?" Gan Yizu asked with doubt.

"As police officers, our faith lies primarily in science," Shi Boren replied, looking at Gan Yizu with a touch of affection, seeing his innocence.

"Would we just dismiss cases if we blindly believed in ghosts doing the killings?"

"If I have to go to the hospital today, I'll write my name, Shi Boren, in reverse."

In another interrogation room down the hall, a suspect burst out, wielding a broken chair leg with several protruding nails. With a menacing expression, he swung the makeshift weapon at the crowd.

"I didn't do anything wrong! Let me out!"

Suddenly, the suspect slipped on a banana peel that someone had carelessly discarded. As he stumbled, the wooden plank with the nails pierced forward.

With a sickening sound, the rusty nails punctured into his ample buttocks.

Next came Shi Boren's blood-curdling scream, resembling that of a slaughtered pig.

Chapter 16

The suspect, witnessing the pained shriek, trembled and unintentionally loosened the plank, which then hung precariously on Shi Boren's buttocks.

The pain was excruciating; beads of sweat formed on Shi Boren's forehead as he clenched his fists, pointing at the suspect before slowly extracting the plank.

"In the police station, you dare to assault an officer! Yizu, lock him up! Ten years minimum, no parole!"

Gan Yizu promptly stepped forward, giving the suspect a kick before pinning him against the wall with his arms behind his back.

With his face pressed against the wall, the suspect cried out, "Officer, is it really necessary to be so severe? It was just a plank."

"Just a plank?" Shi Boren picked up the plank, as if about to slap it across the suspect's face. The man quivered in fear and begged for mercy.

"Too bad this plank didn't hit your face." With a venomous glare, Shi Boren tossed the plank to the ground. A hint of fresh blood clung to the rusted nails.

Gan Yizu winced in sympathy and rushed to support Shi Boren, exclaiming, "Brother Ren, do you need to go to the hospital?"

The fortune teller at the sugar water stall was scarily accurate, wasn't he?

Once the suggestion of going to the hospital was made, it had to be done.

There was no other choice.

With a grimace, Shi Boren clutched his buttock, feeling a mix of pain and anxiety. The pain was from the damn sharp nail, while the anxiety stemmed from the thought of potentially changing his family name at the hospital.

Would the ancestors of the Shi family, resting in Jiangcheng Province, rise from their graves, traverse mountains, and cross oceans just to discipline him for altering the family name?

"It must be... just a coincidence."

"Indeed, life is full of coincidences and surprises."

Shi Boren forced a smile, clasped his hands together, and bowed towards the air, chanting, "No blame, no blame, no blame..."

Zhou Fengxu picked up the banana peel from the floor and threw it into the trash can being tended to by the cleaning auntie. Lowering his gaze, he examined Shi Boren's wound before patting his shoulder. "Go to the hospital, I'll cover the expenses."

Touched to tears, Shi Boren seized the opportunity to ask a question he'd been longing to bring up for a while.

"Brother Xu, you're so kind to me. Since I'm injured, how about treating us all to drinks at Joy Bar tonight?"

Zhou Fengxu gave him a glance and chuckled. "If you mention Joy Bar again, you'll be footing the bill for this incident."

"I got it."

Holding his buttocks, Shi Boren reluctantly fell silent, pouting.

The inspector's office door swung open.

A woman with short hair in military attire entered, her expression stern. She surveyed the people in the corridor and, spotting Shi Boren holding his bottom, looked at him with curiosity. "What happened?"

"Nothing, just a small scrape," Shi Boren lied without a hint of strain or flush on his face.

No way would he risk embarrassing himself in front of his colleagues.

One must always maintain gentlemanly conduct in front of ladies.

"Take extra care," Shi Yubing said, casting a glance at the silent man standing nearby and nodding at him.

"Inspector Zhou, if you would kindly step in."

The office was spacious, its walls adorned with photographs of a young Shi Yubing during his police days, as well as gold medals from various physical fitness competitions.