Chapter 242: Too Valuable

Seeing that Cai Yan remained silent, thinking she wouldn't let Yang Chen off easily, Zheng Xiu turned her head with a look of dismay towards Yang Chen. "Uncle, it's my fault. I've caused trouble for you."

Yang Chen smiled wryly and reached out to twist Zheng Xiu's tender cheek. "Silly girl, what are you saying?"

Zheng Xiu felt at a loss again, her cheeks blushing slightly from Yang Chen's touch.

"Cai Yan, do me a favor. This girl's not really bad at heart. Let's forgive whatever she's done before. Let her go today. The main troublemakers were those three guys. Teach them a lesson so they won't bother Zheng Xiu again," Yang Chen said.

Cai Yan smiled knowingly. "So, now you need me to do you a favor?"

"Well, yeah. You're the bureau chief, and I'm just an ordinary guy. We're not exactly on the same level," Yang Chen replied.

"I can do you a favor, but you have to give me other reasons. Just because you're an ordinary guy doesn't mean I have to do you favors. There are ordinary people everywhere; should I do favors for all of them?" Cai Yan crossed her arms.

Yang Chen glanced instinctively and coughed twice. "Alright, we're friends after all, aren't we?"

At this point, Yang Chen could only reluctantly swallow his pride a bit.

Cai Yan seemed somewhat pleased and nodded. "Fine, because you have indeed helped me a lot and I understand you somewhat, I'll let this matter go today."

Upon hearing Cai Yan's decision to let things slide, Zheng Xiu, who had been looking despondent, seemed bewildered and couldn't believe it.

"Zheng Xiu," Cai Yan turned serious and addressed Zheng Xiu, "Xu Zheng Xiu, when you first came here, you were not yet eighteen. There was theft, joyriding, and a group brawl. I've kept records of it all. For a girl your age, these aren't exactly honorable deeds. Today, Yang Chen helped you, and I believe you have the determination to turn over a new leaf. I'm letting it go this time, but don't think things are that simple. If I catch you here again because of wrongdoing, I will punish you more severely."

Zheng Xiu bit her lip, her watery eyes filled with tears, stood up and bowed gratefully to Cai Yan three times in succession.

"Chief Cai, thank you. I will definitely behave well from now on and never do anything illegal again."

Cai Yan smiled and gently touched Zheng Xiu's hair. "If you want to thank someone, thank this trouble-making old uncle here. As you just heard, I'm giving him the credit."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiu burst into a smile through her tears and looked at Yang Chen with a warmth that was somewhat different.

With Cai Yan intervening, everything naturally went smoothly and the matter was settled. Yang Chen realized having a friend with high authority and influence wasn't bad after all, despite the trouble this friend had caused him before.

Once everything was settled, Cai Yan helped Zheng Xiu retrieve her small cart, which prompted another round of gratitude from Zheng Xiu.

With nothing else to do, Yang Chen asked Cai Yan about Zheng Xiu's past during the process. Cai Yan briefly recounted Zheng Xiu's background to Yang Chen, based on what she knew from handling Zheng Xiu's cases in the past.

Originally, Zheng Xiu's mother was Korean, and her father was a businessman from Yanxia. After their marriage, a failed investment led to bankruptcy, and they abandoned Zheng Xiu and her mother. Zheng Xiu's mother passed away from uterine cancer when she was very young. Zheng Xiu grew up in an orphanage, faced some bullying, and was forced onto the wrong path. She ended up in the police station multiple times for reprimands and education, gradually turning her life around.

As Cai Yan recounted Zheng Xiu's past, Zheng Xiu seemed indifferent, preoccupied with processing paperwork with several police officers.

After everything was settled, Cai Yan escorted the two out of the police station.

At this moment, Zheng Xiu blushed and hesitantly took Yang Chen's hand, wanting to say something.

Yang Chen found it amusing; the once fiery girl seemed to have transformed into a more reserved young woman who considered her words carefully. "What's on your mind, little miss?" Yang Chen asked.

Zheng Xiu bit her lip and pulled Yang Chen to a corner, away from Cai Yan and the other policemen's view. She took off a red string pendant from around her neck, a metal ornament shaped like a crescent moon that emitted a soft glow under the faint light.

Zheng Xiu handed the moon pendant to Yang Chen with shy yet determined and joyful eyes. "Uncle, this is for you."

"What's this?" Yang Chen smirked. "Isn't this a token of affection? Miss Zheng Xiu, I'm already married, you know. Are you trying to tempt me into an affair?"

Zheng Xiu made a cute face, sticking out her tongue. "What nonsense are you saying? Who said anything about affection? This was left to me by my mom. She said it's a protective charm. Now I'm giving it to you."

Yang Chen put away his playful expression and smiled. "It's such a precious item. How can I accept it?"

"You're the first one willing to stand up for me, making me feel like someone cares about me. I used to think this charm protected me, but now I feel as long as I have you, Uncle, I won't be afraid," Zheng Xiu said earnestly.

"Silly girl, I can't hang around your neck like a charm," Yang Chen ruffled Zheng Xiu's hair, surprised that his simple actions had touched Zheng Xiu so deeply.

People's treatment? Could it be that the way she had been treated before was inhumane?

Zheng Xiu pouted. "As long as I think of you in my heart, Uncle can protect me. Take it, so Zheng Xiu feels like Uncle will remember me."

A warmth flowed through Yang Chen's heart as he accepted the moon pendant. "Alright, I'll keep it for you. But you have to leave me a way to contact you. I don't want to lose track of you. I'll check if you've been up to no good."

Zheng Xiu's eyes lit up, then she sighed softly. "I don't have a phone number, but how about this? I'll be selling breakfast and late-night snacks near the street where I set up today. If Uncle has time, you can come find me there. I promise to be good."

"Will you still haggle over prices with me then?" Yang Chen pretended to ask.

Zheng Xiu giggled. "If Uncle brings his wife to see me, I'll give Uncle a discount. But Uncle, do you really have a wife?"

"This can't be used to deceive people, can it?" Yang Chen chuckled.

Zheng Xiu responded softly with an "Oh," showing no particular expression. "Well, Uncle, if you come with your wife, I'll give you a discount. How about 5% off? I'm quite generous, right?!"

Yang Chen playfully tapped Zheng Xiu's forehead, earning a bashful pout from her.

Yang Chen felt comfortable inside, thinking it wasn't bad. Perhaps knowing Zheng Xiu was also an orphan with a dark past, he felt an unusually tender emotion, reluctant to think he might never see her again.

After Zheng Xiu reluctantly left, leaving behind her gift, Yang Chen could still sense that beneath her tough exterior, she was just an eighteen-year-old girl whose protective shell had melted away.

Examining the pendant in his hand, still faintly carrying Zheng Xiu's natural scent, Yang Chen was taken aback. He hadn't noticed earlier, but upon closer inspection, it was actually a platinum crescent moon. Knowing Zheng Xiu's parents were once merchants justified its quality.

At this point, only Cai Yan and Yang Chen remained at the police station entrance. Cai Yan cleared her throat awkwardly. "Uncle Yang, it seems another little sister has fallen for you. How do you feel?"

Yang Chen carefully put away the pendant and smiled helplessly. "Cai Yan, you shouldn't say things like that. I may not be a good person, but I really haven't thought of Zheng Xiu in that way."

"Don't tell me you only see her as a sister," Cai Yan squinted.

"Hmm," Yang Chen pondered. "It seems like that. If she were my sister, I think I'd like that."

"Who would believe you?" Cai Yan muttered to herself, then suddenly produced a black box from behind and placed it in front of Yang Chen. "Here, this is for you."

Surprised by Cai Yan's sudden appearance of a gift like Doraemon, Yang Chen was momentarily stunned. "What's this?"

"You'll know when you open it," Cai Yan's expression was somewhat unnatural, evading specifics.

Yang Chen cautiously took the box, feeling its weight. Upon opening it, he was left speechless. Inside the box, on a pale golden cloth, lay a meticulously crafted Rolex watch. While not an invaluable treasure, it was a fine piece with significant weight, crafted from gold and adorned with some diamonds, clearly expensive.

Seeing Yang Chen silent as he examined the watch, Cai Yan asked nervously, "Do you like it?"

Yang Chen looked up, inexplicably at Cai Yan. "Is this for me?"

"Would I buy this for myself? It's a men's watch," Cai Yan replied, hands in her jacket pockets, playing nervously with her toe, clearly unsettled.

Yang Chen closed the box and smiled. "Thank you, but I can't accept this. It's too valuable."

"Just a watch, what's so valuable about it? I bought it to thank you for saving me last time. I noticed you never wear a watch, so I thought of getting one for you," Cai Yan hurriedly explained.

Yang Chen shook his head. "You can't just give away a watch like that. If you give it to me, I'll have to wear it. And once I wear it, people will inevitably ask who gave it to me. We're just ordinary friends, and it might lead to misunderstandings."

Cai Yan's face turned pale. "Are you embarrassed? Do you feel embarrassed that I gave you the watch?"

Frowning, Yang Chen replied, "You know that's not what I mean. It's just not appropriate."

"I knew it," Cai Yan's eyes shimmered with moisture. "You say we're friends, but deep down, you still dislike me. You think I'm foolish, useless, unworthy of being your friend, let alone giving you gifts, right?"

Yang Chen sighed. This was getting out of hand.

"Cai Yan, I really didn't mean anything by it. I can't accept this watch. It's not a casual gift," Yang Chen tried to explain.

"Give it to me!" Cai Yan snatched the watch box back angrily, glaring at Yang Chen before turning and striding away.

Muttering curses under her breath as she walked, "Damn Yang Chen! The first time this young lady gives a gift to a man, you dare to refuse! Next time I see you, I'll grab you by the collar! Damn Yang Chen!"

Yang Chen sighed and rubbed his temples. Other women might be more forgiving, but not Cai Yan. She was Lin Ruoxi's best friend, and his situation with Mo Qianni was already complicated enough. If he involved Cai Yan as well, Lin Ruoxi would probably be infuriated. Besides, he and Cai Yan didn't have any romantic feelings for each other. It was better to cut ties decisively.