"It's fine. You didn't really cause any harm, but next time something comes up, think it through first."
Xia Xu didn't blame Yang Bowen. He simply said, "Of course, there's one more thing, and it's the most important: never question your wise and magnificent boss."
"Hehe, got it, got it. Next time you tell me to go east, boss, I won't go west. Tell me to catch a dog, and I won't chase a chicken."
Yang Bowen grinned sheepishly as he made his promise.
"There's no need to go that far."
Xia Xu couldn't help laughing, then glanced at Qian Chenghe. "But there actually is something I need you to do right now..."
"Understood."
Yang Bowen caught on at once. Grinning, he walked over to Qian Chenghe, planted his huge hands on his shoulders and back, and twisted both of Qian Chenghe's arms behind him.
Once he had done that, Xia Xu took out his phone and dialed a three-digit number.
"Hello, is this Uncle Policeman? I'd like to report someone. I've found a wanted fugitive..."
"A wanted fugitive? Where... wait, why does your voice sound so familiar?"
"You must be mistaken. The fugitive might run, so please hurry over. We're at..."
Hearing the suddenly sweet, youthful voice and the call reporting him, even Qian Chenghe, who had been letting Yang Bowen hold him down in utter despair, couldn't help forcing his head up in astonishment. "You're not a cop?"
"I told you that you got one thing wrong. The outcome's the same, so don't worry about it."
Xia Xu shrugged.
Before long, a police car came racing over, and several officers got out.
"You again?"
The moment he got out and spotted Xia Xu and the others, one square-faced officer looked at Xia Xu in surprise and exasperation. "Young man, what's going on here? Have you decided to keep milking our station for reward money?"
His reaction was understandable. This square-faced officer was one of those who had handled Xia Xu's gambling tip last time.
Most people preferred to mind their own business when it came to things like this. Even if they saw something, they were rarely willing to report it, and fewer still dared to.
Yet Xia Xu had reported it last time, and the tipster was a high school student to boot. He had explained the case with mature, efficient composure, then deftly asked for his reward. It had certainly left an impression.
Reporting gambling was one thing; all he had needed to do was make a discreet phone call. But this time he had gone straight after a wanted fugitive? And even caught him himself?
Were high school students these days all this ridiculously badass?
"Ahem, pure coincidence. Pure coincidence. As a law-abiding member of our nation's next generation, it's only natural that I uphold justice and bravely step forward when I see evil."
Xia Xu felt a little awkward after hearing the square-faced officer's remarks.
This place and Era Scenic Gardens were in the same jurisdiction, so naturally the responding officers came from the same station. Still, he hadn't expected to see a familiar face from last time.
"Since you're upholding justice, does that mean we can skip the reward?"
The square-faced officer teased him.
"Absolutely not. Uncle Policeman, haven't you heard the stories of Zigong ransoming captives and Zilu saving a drowning man? Although taking government reward money weighs heavily on my conscience, I'm willing to endure that inner torment to preserve public trust in our rules and laws. You can't make an exception just for me."
Xia Xu spoke with righteous conviction.
"If I hadn't checked last time, I'd honestly be wondering whether you really were a high school student."
The square-faced officer was a little speechless. Then he said, "Still, try not to do this sort of thing again. It's too dangerous, especially this time... right, is this the Qian Chenghe you mentioned? His appearance and age don't quite match. Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
As he spoke, he looked at Qian Chenghe. The colleagues who had come with him had already taken custody of him from Yang Bowen.
"It's probably makeup or some kind of lifelike mask, but he's definitely Qian Chenghe. I confirmed it just now."
When it came to the actual case, Xia Xu didn't mess around. His expression promptly turned serious.
Still, the square-faced officer had only asked in passing. No matter how sophisticated a disguise was, it could only help someone while they were on the run. Once they were arrested, the police had plenty of ways to verify their identity. They would know after taking him back and checking.
Soon, the police car sped away. Xia Xu and Yang Bowen should have gone along to give statements, but there wasn't enough room in the car, so the officers simply told them to stop by sometime in the next couple of days.
"Boss, why did the people from the station say you were milking them for money? Have you done this more than once?"
After the police car left, Yang Bowen sidled over, his face full of curiosity.
"No, I just reported a group of gamblers a couple of weeks ago. One of them was Zhang Jianmin, the man I asked you to follow. The station gave me a sixty-thousand-yuan reward for it. Where else do you think I got the money to open the office and pay your salary?"
Xia Xu smiled and gave him a brief account of what had happened last time.
Yang Bowen froze for a moment, then said, "I thought your family gave it to you, boss."
"My family? Both your boss's parents are dead. I started with nothing but a rundown house."
Xia Xu spread his hands.
"So rewards were your way, and you got rich in a fortnight and a day?"
After hearing that, Yang Bowen somehow blurted out the line.
"Hey, you even made it rhyme. You've got some talent, Yang. Society really missed out when you didn't stay in school longer."
Xia Xu was amused.
"Just luck, just luck. Hehe."
Yang Bowen waved his hands repeatedly.
After going to complete the transaction and bank transfer with Lin Zhengping, Xia Xu also entrusted him with selling more than a dozen Angong Niuhuang Pills, keeping only five for himself just in case.
He then went straight to the police station with Yang Bowen to finish giving their statements. At noon, they grabbed a quick bite and returned to the consulting firm.
Once back at the office, Xia Xu took a quick inventory of his gains. First was the bank card he had extorted from Qian Chenghe, which held more than five hundred and twenty thousand yuan.
Originally, he had only made the demand offhandedly, intending to give the man a taste of his own medicine. It was therefore an unexpected windfall, and had actually become the largest part of his haul.
As for the rest, the five Angong Niuhuang Pills he had sold to Lin Zhengping at thirty thousand yuan each had brought in a hundred and fifty thousand. He had also entrusted him with selling the remaining fourteen, though those would have to go at normal market prices. They should still bring in another hundred or two hundred thousand yuan.
Then there was the reward for reporting Qian Chenghe. Only a tiny minority of such rewards reached astronomical sums, and most of those were for financial criminals. Qian Chenghe wasn't worth much-just fifty thousand yuan.
Altogether, the various sums came to over nine hundred thousand yuan. Adding the money he still had left, he had now officially joined the ranks of millionaires.
A high school boy who had truly started from nothing had become a millionaire in just over two weeks. Never mind Yang Bowen-even Xia Xu himself felt as though he were dreaming.
"Yang, we're celebrating tonight. And there'll be a bonus."
With a grand wave of his hand, Xia Xu immediately started booking a hotel.
"Boss, forget the bonus. I didn't really help. But could I ask a favor? Would it be okay to bring my wife and son?"
"No problem. It's just a meal. You could bring your entire extended family if you wanted."
Before you continue