Return to the City: The Strongest King

Upon hearing the sounds of fighting, Qiao Yutong's first impression was that Song Xiaodong had arrived.

In such a situation, besides Song Xiaodong, no one else would come to save her.

Held in Song Xiaodong's arms, Qiao Yutong forgot about her disheveled state. She stared blankly at Song Xiaodong, tears cascading like water from a faucet, though her mouth was still covered and could make no sound.

Qiao Yutong wrapped her arms around Song Xiaodong's neck, holding him tightly. She squeezed so hard that Song Xiaodong struggled to breathe, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Turning his head, Song Xiaodong saw under the weak flashlight light from his phone, Qiao Yutong's white lace panties...

Song Xiaodong carefully helped Qiao Yutong pull up her pants and removed the towel from her mouth.

"Why did it take you so long..." After saying this, Qiao Yutong pressed her face tightly against Song Xiaodong's chest. Soon, Song Xiaodong felt the warmth of her tears spreading on his clothes.

"Sorry, I got delayed on the way."

Song Xiaodong recalled the two lookouts he had knocked to the ground on his way.

"I'm here now, let's go." Song Xiaodong picked up Qiao Yutong and carried her to his car.

On the way, he called to report the incident to the police.

Throughout the journey, Qiao Yutong said nothing and did not cry. She just sat silently, tears streaming down her face, her two hands persistently clinging to Song Xiaodong's arm, resting her head on his shoulder, making it difficult for him to drive.

Song Xiaodong drove Qiao Yutong home.

Qiao Yutong's home was large but sparsely furnished, lacking any signs of life. Usually too busy with work, Qiao Yutong treated her home merely as a place to sleep, and hadn't taken the time to decorate it carefully.

Qiao Yutong seemed dazed, unable to move, speak, or respond, so Song Xiaodong carried her straight to the bed, took off her dress's coat, and covered her with a blanket.

Finally, Qiao Yutong stopped crying, her eyes dry with tear stains covering her face.

"Xiaodong..." Qiao Yutong finally spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse.

"Hmm?"

"Please don't leave!"

"Alright." After pondering for a moment, Song Xiaodong sat down on the sofa beside Qiao Yutong's bed.

Qiao Yutong reached out from under the blanket to grasp Song Xiaodong's hand.

"Alright, it's okay now. You can sleep, I'll watch over you," Song Xiaodong said.

"Hmm." Qiao Yutong nodded.

"Shall I turn off the light?"

"No."

"Okay."

Qiao Yutong held Song Xiaodong's hand so tightly that her palms were sweating.

"Xiaodong?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you hold me?"

"Okay." Song Xiaodong climbed onto the bed, the two leaned back against the cushions, Qiao Yutong nestled her head into Song Xiaodong's chest.

Song Xiaodong held one hand around Qiao Yutong's back, the other gently caressing her head, both under the blanket.

Qiao Yutong's body was cold, still trembling slightly, her breathing rapid.

"Sleep for a while, we have to get up early tomorrow," Song Xiaodong comforted her.

Qiao Yutong didn't respond. Song Xiaodong softly patted her back, gently resting his chin on her head, holding her tighter.

Song Xiaodong's chest felt as vast as the ocean.

Song Xiaodong's breath rose and fell like the tides.

Deliberately, Song Xiaodong made his breathing sound rough.

Listening to Song Xiaodong's slow and powerful breaths, Qiao Yutong gradually calmed down, her breathing eased until she fell asleep.

Song Xiaodong quietly turned off the light and, after a while, laid Qiao Yutong down, covered her snugly with the blanket, and settled onto the nearby sofa for a light nap.

"Let go of me!" Qiao Yutong suddenly shouted in her sleep, jolting awake.

Song Xiaodong, sleeping on the sofa, awoke as well.

"You're awake!" Song Xiaodong said.

"Hmm." Qiao Yutong's face was swollen, with a bump on her forehead. Although she felt slightly better after resting.

"How did you come to be here?" Qiao Yutong asked weakly.

"I had a suspicion something wasn't right, so I followed," Song Xiaodong replied.

"What was off?" Qiao Yutong touched the swelling on her forehead, grimacing in pain.

"Zhou Tiannan doesn't trust Chen Yong, so the hiring of a hitman was surely done without Chen Yong's knowledge, meaning Zhou Tiannan's influence isn't limited to Chen Yong."

"We've been focused on Chen Yong, but overlooked Zhou Tiannan's other connections."

"Plus, not long after Zhou Tiannan was released from prison, Zhang Fengyang returned. Don't you think that's suspicious?" Song Xiaodong said.

"I... never considered that angle. Zhou Tiannan is just a murderer, it's been 15 years, what connections could he still have, especially within the police department?"

"Zhang Fengyang's identity must be more complex," Song Xiaodong stated firmly.

"He just got transferred over a few days ago, how is that possible? Although the timing of his transfer is indeed odd."

"I've studied investigation and counter-investigation; someone as alert as Zhang Fengyang might be a traitor or an undercover agent."

"You need evidence for that!"

"So, I need you to endure some inconvenience," Song Xiaodong chuckled with a hint of mischief.

"Hmm?"

"Let's play along with their plan. Wear the clothes from yesterday."

"I won't!" Qiao Yutong pouted exaggeratedly. On any normal day, Song Xiaodong would have received a beating.

"Hurry, don't you want to solve the case?"

With a pout, Qiao Yutong put on the clothes from the previous day.

"No, it doesn't look right!" Song Xiaodong scrutinized and then reached out towards Qiao Yutong's chest.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't move!"

"Creak—" Song Xiaodong tore open a part of Qiao Yutong's beige dress at the chest, revealing her white bra.