My online dating circle has millions of followers, why would she put a collar on me?

Zhao Hanting's finger hovered above the phone screen, hesitant to drop it.

He looked at the pure black profile picture, then at the densely packed "wife," "miss you," and "love you" messages in the chat history, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

"cousin."

He handed the phone back, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"For things like this, you have to follow the proper procedures. It's not in accordance with the rules for me, a police officer on duty, to investigate someone for you privately."

Gu Qinghan took the phone, his brows furrowing. "Cousin, just a small favor."

"This is no small favor!"

Zhao Hanting leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and adopted a businesslike demeanor.

"Are you a victim? Did you report it to the police? No, right? Then what you're doing is called 'private inquiry.' Our public security organs cannot arbitrarily disclose citizens' information; there are regulations governing this."

"cousin--"

"Calling him cousin isn't allowed either."

Zhao Hanting waved his hand, softening his tone, but his attitude remained unchanged.

"Qinghan, it's not that I don't want to help you, but this is really difficult to handle."

Think about it, what if this person is just an ordinary person who hasn't broken the law? Why would I need to investigate them?

Besides, you've been talking to him for over half a year and haven't even met him in person. How can you be so sure he's a scammer? Maybe he's just shy.

Gu Qinghan opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but swallowed the words back.

She couldn't say, "I suspect he's a fraud too," because saying that would mean admitting that she, like Su Xiaoyue, had been cheated of her feelings and money by a complete stranger.

She's unwilling to admit it. At least not now.

"Fine." She put her phone away, a hint of reluctance in her voice. "Let's not talk about this anymore."

Zhao Hanting secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He wasn't actually incapable of investigating; he was simply afraid to.

His father Zhao Zhiguo's instructions were still ringing in his ears.

If you can't get involved in Xia Anmian's affairs, then can you get involved in Gu Qinghan's affairs?

Who is behind Gu Qinghan?

She is a family-oriented person.

Their strength is only slightly inferior to that of the Xia family.

Besides, Gu Qinghan's name was clearly among the long list of victims he had just seen in the case file.

One million two hundred thousand.

His cousin transferred 1.2 million yuan to a boy named Jiang Yi.

If Gu Qinghan finds out about this, that man will probably die here.

"Cousin." Gu Qinghan's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Um?"

"Can I take Xiaoyue to see him?"

Zhao Hanting was taken aback: "Who? Looking at Jiang Yi?"

"Yes." Gu Qinghan nodded, glancing at the closed door behind him. "Xiaoyue wants to see him. There are some things she wants to ask him in person."

Zhao Hanting's first reaction was to refuse.

"no."

He sat up straight and his tone became serious.

"Qinghan, this is a police station, not a visiting room. Suspects are not allowed to see anyone except the investigating officers and their lawyers while in custody. That's the rule."

"Cousin, just for a little while—"

"Not even for a moment."

"She won't cause trouble—"

How do you know she can't?

Zhao Hanting lowered his voice and glanced over Gu Qinghan's shoulder at the door.

"Qinghan, tell me the truth, did she bring a knife? Did she intend to kill that boy?"

Gu Qinghan's expression froze for a moment.

Zhao Hanting got the answer from her instantaneous reaction, and a chill ran down his spine.

"Cousin, please don't get me into trouble."

His voice carried a pleading tone.

"My dad just left, and you want me to bring the victim in to see the suspect?"

If this gets out, will I still be able to keep wearing this police uniform?

Besides, given your best friend's condition just now, what if something happens to her after she goes in? Who will be responsible? You or me?

Gu Qinghan bit her lip and remained silent.

She knew Zhao Hanting was right.

Su Xiaoyue's current state is indeed unstable. No one can say for sure whether she will lose control of her emotions after going inside.

But she knew even more that what Su Xiaoyue needed now was not to be locked out, but to go in and find out the truth.

"cousin."

She paused for a few seconds, then spoke again, her voice very soft.

"She flew in from Shanghai today, originally to see him."

She waited for him for almost a year, transferred more than a million yuan to him, and called him "husband" hundreds of times.

Then today, her father called and told her that this person had been lying to her from the beginning.

"She didn't believe it. She insisted on seeing for herself and asking herself."

"She's crouching behind that door right now, she's cried all her tears out."

"Cousin, let her go in and take a look. Just one look. I'll stay with her; nothing will happen."

Zhao Hanting looked at Gu Qinghan, opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He wanted to say "no," but the words rolled around in his throat and he just couldn't get them out.

It wasn't because Gu Qinghan's words moved him.

Yes, it did touch me a little.

More importantly, Gu Qinghan was begging herself.

Based on his many years of experience.

If I don't agree, she'll definitely hold a grudge against me afterwards.

If they report me for something, I'll be in serious trouble, if not dead.

Who knows, next year my dad might send me to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to keep company with Tibetan bears.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with accompanying the Tibetan bear.

However, being a policeman in Beijing is also a contribution to China.

"Ugh."

Zhao Hanting sighed, buried his face in his hands, and rubbed them together vigorously.

Two little people were fighting in his head.

One of the children said: No, rules are rules. You are a police officer, you can't break the law.

Another little person said: She just went in for a quick look, she didn't do anything. Besides, aren't you also curious about what kind of person Jiang Yi is?

The voice of the second little man grew louder and louder until he couldn't suppress it anymore.

To be honest, he was genuinely curious.

A junior at Tsinghua or Peking University is simultaneously dating so many people online, including those with backgrounds like Xia Anmian, those with wealth like Su Xiaoyue, and those with personalities like Gu Qinghan.

What makes this guy so special?

"cousin--"

Gu Qinghan urged again.

"Alright, alright!"

Zhao Hanting stood up, and the chair slid backward, making a screeching sound on the tiled floor.

He walked to the door, opened it, and peeked into the hallway.

nobody.

He pulled back, closed the door, turned around and looked at Gu Qinghan with a serious expression, as if he were reading a verdict.

"Five minutes. Five minutes at most. I'll go in too."

Gu Qinghan's eyes lit up: "Okay!"

"And another one," Zhao Hanting pointed to her phone.

"Don't take photos, don't record videos, don't record audio. If this gets out, you can come find me on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau next year."

"Okay, okay!"

Gu Qinghan nodded repeatedly and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Zhao Hanting called out to her, glancing towards the door she was facing. "Is your best friend alright right now?"

As he spoke, he pointed to his head.

Gu Qinghan paused for a moment.

She thought for a moment, then nodded:

"It will work. She wants to see him, she's desperate. If we don't let her see him, something really bad will happen to her."

Zhao Hanting took a deep breath, as if he were making a major decision.

"Let's go," he said, "while no one's around."

"Yay, cousin, you're so great!"

Gu Qinghan jumped up excitedly.

"Hey, hey, remember to check her carefully when she goes in, make sure she doesn't bring any controlled knives in!"

Zhao Hanting followed behind Gu Qinghan and gave her instructions.

(Today's extra chapter is being released early)

(If you get more ratings, I'll add five more chapters.)

(QWQ)