Zhao Tingxing’s bad taste only extends to his close lover. It’s a very private matter, and he’d be very resistant to getting someone to open the lock. He also didn’t want Han Li to feel even a bit embarrassed.
At this moment, he was dressed neatly and, under the glare of Han Li’s furious eyes, began trying to pick the lock himself.
But of course, it wouldn’t open. In the end, I had no choice but to call the fire department. I just said the lock was jammed and needed help.
“My brain just short-circuited.” Zhao Tingxing was also a little flustered. He wanted to call the firefighters and tell them not to come, but Han Li’s apartment complex was right next to the district fire station. He finished the call, and in less than five minutes, the firefighters were downstairs at her building.
When the fireman arrived, Zhao Tingxing went to open the door.
The moment the door opened, a chill ran down his spine. He took a step back. He had expected at most one or two firefighters to show up, but there were at least five or six of them standing outside the door.
One person is leading the way, another is filming beside them, and two more are carrying tools. The last person is standing on the outside, not wearing a firefighter’s uniform, but their demeanor is completely different from the other firefighters.
The motion sensor light outside flickered on and off, but he didn’t look back. He just said, “Thanks for your hard work, you don’t need to make such a big fuss just to open the lock.”
“It’s our duty to serve the people,” said the leader with a relaxed air.
“Where do you need to unlock?”
Zhao Tingxing pointed to the guest rooms not far away.
“Alright.” The captain nodded and led the team inside.
“Wait, no need for you guys, I can just use the tools.” Zhao Tingxing wanted to stop him, but it was too late. The reason was because, behind the firefighter, he finally saw who it was.
It turned out to be Song Jingye.
Song Jingye stood there, even in casual clothes, but his unique temperament was undeniable. He smiled at Zhao Tingxing: “Zhao Zong, long time no see.”
It just so happens.
The fire brigade’s captain, Zheng Ke, was his subordinate when he was in the northwest before. He was transferred back to Beijing later and worked in the fire brigade, gradually promoted to the captain of this fire brigade.
Song Jingye was supposed to rest today and had made an appointment with Zheng Ke to play basketball. However, when he arrived, he learned that their fire department was filming a public service announcement and collecting the last piece of footage for the day. Zheng Ke pulled him along, swearing up and down that once they finished shooting the last scene, his workday would be over.
Song Jingye didn’t want to come: “It’s your job to respond to police calls, I don’t want to get involved.”
Zheng Ke: “The operator said it’s just a simple case of a locked door that can’t be opened, no worries.”
“You even bother with such trivial matters?”
“We handle even trivial matters, and we don’t hesitate to face any challenge, big or small. This is our job.”
Just like that, Song Jingye came from behind, and unexpectedly, it was Zhao Tingxing.
Song Jingye was curious. With Zhao Tingxing’s violence, shouldn’t a mere lock have been kicked away? It should have been as easy as one kick.
Zhao Tingxing, upon seeing him, had no time for pleasantries because he needed to stop so many firefighters from entering the room.
But, it’s too late.
Zheng Ke stood at the door of the guest room with a camera and two firefighters, looking at the woman on the bed covered by the quilt but with her wrists locked. They all looked at each other in surprise.
Just then, Song Jingye happened to see Zhao Tingxing and followed him in: “What’s wrong?”
“Turn off the camera,” Zheng Ke instructed the cameraman beside him. The cameraman stepped aside, just giving Song Jingye some space.
Han Li wore a look of utter dejection, but the situation was as it was. He could only compose himself and raise his wrist with a slight gesture: “Please trouble yourselves.”
Two firefighters carrying tools went inside to open the lock.
At a glance, it’s obvious what’s going on.
Zheng Ke and Song Jingye, who was expressionless, also retreated outside.
Zheng Ke was alright. Having been a firefighter for so many years, he wasn’t unfamiliar with this kind of situation. He had even encountered more outrageous ones. So, he went out to the hallway and waited.
Song Jingye and Zhao Tingxing were completely opposed to each other in the past. Whether it was threatening Chen Ling’s return, kidnapping YaoYao, or later the incident with Senbing Group, they were irreconcilable enemies. Even though Zhao Tingxing had supposedly turned over a new leaf later, whether due to his twin brother’s influence or not, Song Jingye still couldn’t consider him a friend.
Zheng Ke asked, “Do you know him?”
“Let’s calculate.”
Zheng Ke chuckled and said, “You’re really playing around. Learn some skills from others, you wouldn’t be single now.”
Just as they were speaking, Zhao Tingxing brought out two firefighters.
Zheng Ke immediately resumed his authoritative and professional demeanor, criticizing and educating Zhao Tingxing: “Be more careful next time. Our firefighters’ time is precious too. Also, please use props in a civilized and orderly manner.”
After that, he led the way and left, and Song Jingye also left directly.
Zhao Tingxing had also returned to normal at this moment. In fact, he didn’t feel much about this embarrassing scene. He was mentally strong, and such a small thing wouldn’t make him too embarrassed. He was only worried about Han Li’s embarrassment.
Han Li had already stepped out of the guest room, walking towards the door while turning his wrist as he went.
Zhao Tingxing spread his hands and said that he was also caught off guard, not expecting so many people to come, nor did he expect to see acquaintances like Song Jingye, let alone being filmed.
“Rest assured, I’ve checked. They’re just filming a promotional video and collecting footage. This part won’t be included, and I just had them delete it.”
Han Li still twirled her wrist as she walked over. When she got to him, she outstretched her hands. He thought she was going to hug him, and he was about to pull her into his arms, but Han Li suddenly used all her strength to push him out the door. Zhao Tingxing had learned from past experience, so he reacted quickly, using his feet and shoulders to block the door.
“Want to sweep me out again?”
Han Li slightly closed the door with force, and he also pushed against it with all his might, but he maintained his balance without exerting himself too much.
“Does your hand hurt?” he asked her wrist, which was a little red from being squeezed by the tools.
As soon as he spoke, Han Li shut the door with even more force, this time putting a little more effort into it to wedge it open wider.
“Open the door and let me in, don’t wake Han Zhaoyi up.”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong. You don’t need to do that anymore.”
“Can you show me? Does it hurt? Would you like me to go downstairs and buy some medicine for you?”
He had the audacity to stand at the door and coax her, which wasn’t his forte, so his words came out stiff and awkward, but his attitude was good.
Seeing Han Li’s impassivity, he feigned acquiescence: “You sleep. You have a flight back to Senzhou tomorrow morning. If you don’t let me in, I’ll wait for you at the airport.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li inside suddenly let go of the door. The door lost all resistance, and he stumbled into the room. Once he was steady on his feet, he smiled and hugged her. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to bear to kick me out.”
“You’re really getting thicker and thicker skinned.”
“Don’t you like it?”
The two of them didn’t argue anymore and slept soundly and peacefully after that.
I woke up Han Zhao at dawn and took him to the airport.