Truly moved to tears

The screams from Han Juyou's home quickly drew the attention of the neighbors. Knowing that Han Tianming's family was often harassed by debt collectors, the concerned neighbors assumed it was another such incident and called the police.

By the time the officers arrived, Liu Muye had already subdued the debt collectors.

"...Wait, let me get this straight," one officer said, scratching his head. "You're saying that while the two of you were eating, this man Han Tianming and these debt collectors barged in, and then he fought them all single-handedly in a bloody brawl? And you didn’t even have time to intervene before both sides collapsed?"

"Exactly. Every word is true," Liu Muye replied calmly.

The officer glanced at the groaning debt collectors sprawled on the floor, then at the terrified Han Tianming, before turning back to Liu Muye, who was recounting the absurd "crime scene" with an unshakable poker face. The officer looked utterly unconvinced.

"That’s right, Officer! I can vouch for it!" Han Juyou chimed in, raising her hand earnestly. "The fight was intense! My dad was winning at first, but then someone hit him with a bowl from behind, and that’s how he lost. The whole thing lasted less than two minutes. Liu Muye and I were still sitting at the table—we didn’t even have time to stand up before it was over."

"..."

The officer looked back and forth between Liu Muye and Han Juyou, then down at the dazed Han Tianming, before finally eyeing the bruised and battered debt collectors. "Is what they’re saying true?" he asked.

The thugs immediately clamored in agreement:

"Yeah!"

"Absolutely!"

"Officer, please just take us away!"

"We surrender! We confess!"

The four officers huddled together to discuss the bizarre situation.

"Uh… what do we do now?"

"This is way too weird."

"Should we just take everyone to the station first?"

"Sounds good."

After a brief deliberation, they decided to bring everyone in for questioning.

"Alright, everyone, you’re all coming with us," the lead officer announced.

"Hey, hey," Liu Muye tugged at one officer’s sleeve. "Officer, my friend Han Juyou and I didn’t even lift a finger. Do we really have to go to the station?"

"Rules are rules. Whether you fought or not, you’re coming with us."

"I’m Liu Muye, the young master of the Liu Group. I know your director—why don’t you give him a call…"

"I don’t care if you’re some young master or—wait, what? You know our director?"

"Yep. Call him if you don’t believe me."

"...Hold on."

The officer stepped outside, phone in hand, skepticism written all over his face.

A minute later, he returned and said to his colleagues, "Everyone except these two—take the rest in." He pointed at Liu Muye and Han Juyou.

Soon after, the officers escorted Han Tianming and the debt collectors out of the house.

"What did you say to them?" Han Juyou asked, wide-eyed. "Why did they let us go?"

Liu Muye smirked confidently. "Who do you think I am? I’m Young Master Liu. Of course I’ve got some pull."

"Color me impressed," Han Juyou said, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Alright, let’s finish eating," Liu Muye suggested.

"You’re such a weirdo. How can you still have an appetite after all that?" Han Juyou shook her head in amused disbelief. "You go ahead. I’ll clean up first."

"I’ll help."

"No need. You’re Young Master Liu, after all," she teased. "A big shot like you shouldn’t dirty his hands with chores. I’ll handle it."

With that, she pushed him back into his seat and swiftly tidied up the room, humming a cheerful tune as she worked. She couldn’t help but feel happy—Liu Muye had not only taught her deadbeat father a lesson but also avenged her mother by beating up the thugs who’d hurt her.

Once the cleaning was done, they resumed their meal. The earlier chaos hadn’t dampened Liu Muye’s appetite—he hadn’t eaten all day, after all.

"Should I heat up the food?" Han Juyou asked.

Liu Muye waved her off. "Nah, it’s fine. It’s hot enough outside—cold food won’t kill me. I eat it like this all the time anyway."

"Pfft—" Han Juyou covered her mouth, giggling.

"What’s so funny?"

"You’re the most down-to-earth rich kid I’ve ever met."

"Damn right," Liu Muye said, thumping his chest. "I’ll have you know, you won’t find another heir in Shangjing City as chill as me."

"How are you so good at fighting?" Han Juyou sat back down.

Liu Muye pretended to think. "As a rich kid, isn’t it reasonable for me to learn some self-defense?"

"Not even a little!" Han Juyou rolled her eyes. "Liu Muye, what other secrets are you hiding from me?"

"What secrets? I’m just your average, run-of-the-mill young master."

Han Juyou narrowed her eyes. "I don’t believe you. You’re definitely keeping something from me!"

Seeing her persistence, Liu Muye quickly changed the subject. "Stop overthinking it and eat before the food gets cold!"

Fine, if you won’t tell me, I’ll find out myself… Han Juyou thought, filing away her curiosity for later.

"The rib soup’s gone cold. Want me to warm it up?"

"Seriously, it’s fine. Just eat."

Liu Muye dug back into his meal with gusto while Han Juyou watched him, a small smile tugging at her lips.

She hadn’t even realized it herself, but ever since meeting Liu Muye, she’d been smiling a lot more.

After dinner, Han Juyou walked Liu Muye downstairs to retrieve her notebook.

"Why didn’t you bring your fancy car today?"

"What, you got a problem with my van?"

"Pfft." Han Juyou laughed. "I wouldn’t care if you rode a bicycle here."

"Glad to hear it. At least my all-night notebook repair wasn’t for nothing."

Liu Muye pulled a paper bag from the van and handed it to her.

"You… you…"

Han Juyou pulled out the notebook, now meticulously patched with transparent tape, and her eyes instantly welled up.

"Did… did you fix this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Yep. Stayed up all night taping it back together. Pretty touching, huh?" Liu Muye puffed out his chest proudly.

"Waaah—"

"Wow, you’re crying? That moved?"

"Touched my foot! Who told you to tape my novel so ugly?! Waaah—"

"Damn, you actually think the way I taped it looks ugly?" Liu Muye widened his eyes. "I shouldn’t have helped you in the first place. No good deed goes unpunished."

"Waaah… come closer…"

Han Juyou covered her eyes, sobbing, while gesturing for Liu Muye to approach.

"You—what do you want?"

Liu Muye thought she was furious and about to hit him. A little scared but still cautious, he inched closer.

"Whoosh—"

In the dim, rundown hallway, right by the beat-up minivan, the tearful girl suddenly threw her arms around the boy in front of her...

...

"Director Luo, what should we do with these people?"

"I’ll handle the interrogation later."

"Understood."

After the door closed, Luo Ji muttered under his breath, "That Liu Muye… really knows how to make trouble for me."

...