Eating Melons in the Police Station-Chapter 95

Today’s events left Qiu Chen fuming with frustration. He was tempted to drop everything in Jing City and leave with Zhong Jin and the others. But after Qiu Sheng and Zhong Jin talked him down, reason gradually prevailed.

After all, he was now the head of the company. During the Spring Festival, all the social engagements, business dealings, and media invitations required his presence. Moreover, Qiu Chen had already invested too much in inheriting the Qiu Group—he was now just one step away. He had to secure the majority of the shares to become the true controlling stakeholder. Only with real power could he fully pursue what he truly wanted.

So, for now, Qiu Chen couldn’t leave Jing City. But he had no intention of celebrating the New Year with family either. Whoever wanted a reunion could have it—he wasn’t participating.

After driving Zhong Jin and the others to the airport, Qiu Chen called Tao Siyuan, who had already arranged for a driver to take her back to her parents’ home. He then turned the car toward his uncle’s place.

As soon as Zhong Jin’s group arrived at the airport, the boarding announcement for their flight blared over the speakers. A ground crew member sped them to the gate in a festively decorated shuttle, barely making it before the doors closed.

Last night, Zhong Jin and Qiu Chen had drunk too much, leaving Qiu Sheng and Little Tong sleep-deprived. Not long after takeoff, Little Tong dozed off in Zhong Jin’s arms.

Qiu Sheng pulled two Hermès blankets from her carry-on, draping one over Little Tong and covering herself with the other, retreating into her usual cocoon. Whenever she was upset, she liked to hide under something—sometimes even inside a closet. She called it "healing."

Back when she and Zhong Jin fought, he would always find snacks to coax her out. A little treat was usually enough to lift her mood.

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Seeing her withdraw again, Zhong Jin cradled Little Tong with one arm and reached into her tiny bag with the other, retrieving a handful of jelly cups, hawthorn cakes, and milk candies. He stretched across the spacious business-class seats—thankful for his long arms—and slipped the snacks under the edge of Qiu Sheng’s blanket.

Soon, the rustling of wrappers sounded from beneath the fabric.

A while later, Qiu Sheng lowered the blanket, letting it pool around her chin as her delicate face emerged. She glared at Zhong Jin before typing on her phone:

[So, you asked for a divorce because of what he said?]

She thrust the screen toward him. Zhong Jin read it, took the phone, and adjusted Little Tong against his chest to free both hands for his reply:

[I’d actually been considering it even before he spoke. Drug traffickers are ruthless—cutting off their supply chain meant they’d fight to the death. I was afraid you’d get caught in the crossfire.]

Qiu Sheng typed back:

[But you should’ve asked me first. If I were the type to fear danger, I wouldn’t have chosen you in the first place. And after all the awful things he said, you never told me. I kept thinking of him as family, even hoping he’d change after Little Tong was born...]

Her fingers flew across the screen, then stilled. She stared at the words before deleting them all.

She knew the pressure Zhong Jin had been under. She couldn’t expect someone drowning in a storm to handle everything perfectly.

In the end, she only sent one line:

[I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you back then.]

Zhong Jin stared at the message, his expression as cool and detached as ever. After a long pause, he pushed the phone back without replying.

Assuming he didn’t want to discuss it further, Qiu Sheng let it go. She burrowed into the blanket and turned to gaze out the window at the darkening sky.

Exhausted from the emotional turmoil and sleepless night, her eyes soon grew heavy and sore.

Then, from behind her, Zhong Jin asked softly, "When I brought up divorce, why didn’t you try to stop me?"

Qiu Sheng didn’t answer. Through the window’s reflection, Zhong Jin saw her snap her eyes shut, pretending to sleep.

"Asleep?" he asked.

Qiu Sheng: "Mhm."

Zhong Jin chuckled but didn’t call her out. He smoothed Little Tong’s tousled bangs, earning a disgruntled frown as the child nuzzled into his chest like an annoyed calf.

So much had happened in just two days. Though they’d only left Haishan recently, it felt like an eternity. And after adjusting to Jing City’s cold, the heat here was overwhelming.

Their first move after the taxi dropped them home was to change into lighter clothes.

Little Tong refused to part with her new outfit, so Qiu Sheng simply stripped off the woolen layers beneath, then rebraided her hair, mussed from sleep.

Freed from the bulky sweater, the girl zipped around on her tricycle before gasping, "Sang Biao’s gone!"

Zhong Jin glanced down. "Sang Biao’s at Aunt Liang’s. Did you forget?"

Little Tong smacked her forehead. "Haha, I’m so silly."

"At least you’re self-aware."

Qiu Sheng, unpacking nearby, hurled a silk-stuffed plush dog at his back. "You’re the silly one! My daughter’s a genius!"

Little Tong pedaled over in a panic, tugging Qiu Sheng’s skirt. "Mommy, don’t hit him! Don’t, okay?"

Thinking she’d scared the child, Qiu Sheng immediately stopped and knelt to reassure her. "Sweetheart, we’re just playing. The dog’s soft—it doesn’t hurt."

Little Tong snatched the plush and clutched it protectively. "Don’t break my doggy."

Zhong Jin: "..."

Qiu Sheng burst out laughing. "Oh! You were worried about the dog!"

Once settled, Zhong Jin took them out for a festive feast. After all, it was the New Year—time for good food and celebration.

Zhong Jin was being all mysterious, refusing to tell them in advance what they’d be eating later. Little Tong sat in her child seat, leaning close to Qiu Sheng’s ear to whisper, "It’s definitely fried chicken and ice cream."

Zhong Jin heard her from the front and glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "No imagination at all. No wonder your essays are so bad."

Little Tong raised a finger. "You write it for me."

Zhong Jin: "Do your own homework from now on."

Little Tong smoothly countered, "Zhong Yuntong’s homework is Zhong Jin’s job."

The two of them bickered over homework the entire ride, making Qiu Sheng laugh. What kind of police station chief was this childish? She really wanted to record him and play it on loop on the station’s big screen.

Amid the noise, no one noticed until the car had already pulled into the police station parking lot.

"Why are we at the station?" Qiu Sheng asked.

"The station’s lively during New Year’s, and Aunt Liang’s dumplings are amazing. You should try them."

Zhong Jin parked, got out, and opened the back door to lift Little Tong down.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Little Tong dashed toward the station. When she reached the entrance, she spotted her little Ferrari toy car parked neatly under the eaves. She ran over, opened the door, climbed in, and drove it out.

Zhong Jin stood on the other side of the lot and called, "Leave the car for later!"

Little Tong ignored him, happily cruising around the courtyard in her little car. Gu Le rushed out of the station holding a plate of dumplings. In the dark, he didn’t recognize them and shouted,

"Whose kid is this? You can’t play with that—that car has an owner!"

Little Tong turned the steering wheel and smoothly drove the car toward Gu Le, poking out her round little head.

"It’s Little Tong coming home!" The little pom-poms on her braids bounced cheerfully.

Gu Le gasped in delight. "Little Tong!"

She popped open the Ferrari’s electric door, held her hands out like airplane wings, and zoomed toward Gu Le with a playful "vroom," stopping only when her head bumped into his leg.

The chubby kid looked up. "What are you eating? Give me a bite."

Gu Le picked up an untouched dumpling with his chopsticks and popped it into her mouth, warning, "Chew slowly. Ten times before swallowing."

Little Tong spread her fingers, counting down with each chew until all ten fingers were folded. Only then did she swallow.

Like a hungry baby bird, she tilted her head back and opened her mouth again. "More."

Gu Le: "Eat inside. If you eat out here in the wind, your stomach will hurt tonight."

With that, he held the plate in one hand and took Little Tong’s hand in the other, leading her back inside. Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng followed behind.

When Gu Le saw Zhong Jin emerge from the shadows, he looked surprised. "Why are you here too?"

Zhong Jin: "Obviously. I’m the station chief."

Gu Le stood there for a moment, as if just remembering that Zhong Jin was, in fact, supposed to be with Little Tong, then gave him a perfunctory nod.

"Alright, come in then." His tone was like a boss dismissing a subordinate.

Qiu Sheng laughed behind them. "Why is he so funny?"

Zhong Jin strode up the steps with his hands in his pockets. "Oh, he’s even funnier than that. Once, he noticed Little Tong’s shoes were too small and marched into my office, ordering me to buy her new ones. Then he thanked me afterward like it was my idea."

Qiu Sheng: "..."

Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng trailed behind, quietly "complaining" about Gu Le’s ridiculous antics.

Up ahead, Gu Le suddenly stopped, pinched Little Tong’s padded jacket, and turned to yell at Zhong Jin, "Hey, isn’t this coat too thick for her?"

Zhong Jin quickly defended himself, "Not my fault—she insisted on wearing it."

Gu Le pinched Little Tong’s cheek instead. "Such a cute little coat."

Little Tong: "Hehe."