Chapter 146: Zhong Qi’s Gratitude!

After picking up the call, a voice unfamiliar to Shen Fei came through the line.

“Is this Mr. Shen Fei?”

Hearing the polite tone, Shen Fei was a little puzzled. It clearly wasn’t one of the villagers from Lijiazhuang.

“Yes,” he responded lightly, “And you are?”

“It’s me! Zhong Qi!” Zhong Qi’s voice came cautiously from the other end. “I should have called to thank you earlier, but I got held up with that case recently!”

“Oh? Captain Zhong, so you’re calling specifically to thank me for this?” Shen Fei chuckled.

“Yes! Mr. Shen, back in Aowen Town, I wasn’t planning on wearing a bulletproof vest! But I remembered what you said, and I put it on. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be able to call you now!” Zhong Qi explained earnestly.

“You’re too kind, Captain Zhong,” Shen Fei replied.

“No, no, Mr. Shen! You’re my friend now, no matter what! Do you have time tonight? Let’s grab a drink and chat about life?” Zhong Qi asked tentatively.

Shen Fei thought for a moment, realizing he had no plans for the evening, so he agreed.

“Alright.”

“Great! Is this your WeChat number? I’ll send you the address!”

Once the call ended, Han Xinyan, who was holding Shen Jiayue, curiously asked, “Captain Zhong? Which Captain Zhong?”

“The one from Deep City Police Department, Zhong Qi.”

“You mean that Captain Zhong? The one who saved a pregnant woman in Aowen Town?” Han Xinyan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes, it’s him,” Shen Fei confirmed.

Seeing Han Xinyan’s excitement, Shen Fei couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

“But why is Captain Zhong looking for you? Wait, how do you even know someone like him?” Han Xinyan stared at Shen Fei with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

“Uh, it’s because of Jiang Tiancheng… and then I helped him with something righteous,” Shen Fei said vaguely, quickly changing the subject. “He invited me to chat tonight.”

Though skeptical of his explanation, Han Xinyan didn’t press further. To her, Zhong Qi was a positive role model. Shen Fei associating with such a figure was, in her view, a good thing.

“He invited you? Then hurry up and get ready! Building connections with people like him can only be good for you!” Han Xinyan urged.

“You’re kicking me out already?” Shen Fei teased.

“Yes, yes, hurry up!” she said firmly.

Soon after, Zhong Qi sent the meeting location—a cozy, hidden, and budget-friendly bar in Deep City.

When Shen Fei arrived, Zhong Qi was already waiting.

“Mr. Shen! Here!” Zhong Qi called out excitedly as soon as he spotted him. The recent events in Aowen Town had made Shen Fei seem almost miraculous to Zhong Qi.

Shen Fei remained expressionless as he walked over and sat down.

“Mr. Shen, my budget is tight, so I hope you don’t mind this modest place,” Zhong Qi said awkwardly.

“Captain Zhong, don’t be so formal,” Shen Fei replied calmly.

Relieved, Zhong Qi quickly raised his glass, changing the subject. “Thanks to you, Mr. Shen, I’m alive to drink this! Cheers!”

Shen Fei raised his glass lightly but set it down again. “I drove here, so no alcohol for me.”

“Fair enough, fair enough!” Zhong Qi nodded.

“I thought I was just a ‘fraud,’” Shen Fei said with a faint smile, referencing their earlier encounter.

“Don’t say that, Mr. Shen! You were spot on! If I hadn’t remembered your words, I might’ve taken the vest off! That hesitation saved my life, and it’s all thanks to you!” Zhong Qi said, smiling bitterly.

Seeing Zhong Qi’s sincerity, Shen Fei wasn’t surprised.

“Mr. Shen, if you ever need me for anything—so long as it’s legal—just ask!” Zhong Qi promised earnestly.

“Thank you, Captain Zhong,” Shen Fei said, raising his glass to signal appreciation.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhong Qi couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. He leaned in mysteriously.

“Mr. Shen, I’ve been meaning to ask—what caused such a drastic change in you?”

“What do you mean?” Shen Fei asked as he popped a peanut into his mouth.

“Well, I’ll just be blunt,” Zhong Qi said seriously. “We have access to everyone’s records. Two months ago, you were just a gambling addict who hung out at casinos, drank excessively, and even got locked up a few times for causing trouble while drunk. But now, you’re like a completely different person. What happened?”

Zhong Qi’s curiosity was palpable, but Shen Fei felt troubled by the question.

How could he explain that he had been reborn twenty years into the past? That would sound utterly insane.

After a moment of thought, Shen Fei spun a plausible story to satisfy Zhong Qi’s curiosity. Seeing Zhong Qi nod in understanding with a look of admiration, Shen Fei knew his explanation had worked.

The bar’s warm and quiet atmosphere seemed to loosen Zhong Qi’s tongue. He began sharing stories from his 35 years of life.

Despite it only being their second meeting—especially after a rough first encounter—the two spoke like old friends, sharing heartfelt stories.

Just then, noise erupted outside the bar. Through the window, they saw two groups of young men fighting.

“Damn it! Someone’s brawling in front of me?” Zhong Qi muttered under his breath.

“Mr. Shen, I’ll go sort this out!” Zhong Qi said, standing up.

Shen Fei nodded indifferently, uninterested in getting involved. But just as he glanced toward the crowd, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Suddenly, he stood up, his expression turning serious.