Chapter 017: This Isn’t Concern—It’s Reconnaissance!

A piercing pain shot through his head as Rogue 1 finally snapped out of it and reached out to push Tian Xiang away.

At that moment, the group of ruffians and hooligans from behind also hurried over.

The two men flanked Tian Xiang from left and right, trying to grab hold of her.

Tian Xiang fought back with all she had learned in self-defense over the past few days, putting every technique into practice.

For a time, the three of them couldn’t get close to her.

But after all, Tian Xiang was a woman with limited strength; gradually, her force began to wane.

She knew very well that continuing like this was no solution. While fighting, she shouted, “Help! Catch these hooligans!”

This place was remote, but not deserted.

Hearing Tian Xiang’s loud cries for help, the three thugs grew anxious. Risking being caught on camera, they forced their way closer.

It looked like they were about to seize her.

Suddenly, barking rang out from the alley entrance. A large black dog charged in from outside, followed by a flashlight beam shining in their direction.

“Security team! Who’s there? What’s going on?”

The security team!

Upon hearing this, the three ruffians quickly covered their heads and fled.

Still fuming, Tian Xiang chased after the black dog a few steps, taunting, “Chicken out? If you’ve got guts, don’t run!”

“Security comrade, three filthy hooligans—please…”

Tian Xiang wanted to say, “Go after them!” but when she looked back, there was no security team after all—just Officer Meng holding a flashlight, a background character in this world.

Uh…

“Why is it you?”

Tian Xiang was stunned. One hand on her bike, the other pulling Meng, she hurried to run outside.

Hurry, hurry! If those three scoundrels come back to kill, the two of them won’t stand a chance.

They quickened their pace until they stopped outside a large courtyard.

Panting, Tian Xiang suddenly asked, “Where’s your black dog?”

One dog against three hooligans!

She hoped it hadn’t been gloriously sacrificed as dog meat stew.

Meng Cheng’an rolled his eyes and whistled sharply with his thumb and forefinger.

From afar, the black dog barked once and, in less than two minutes, returned, wagging its tail excitedly around its owner.

“This dog’s impressive! You’ve trained it well,” Tian Xiang sincerely praised.

Meng Cheng’an’s voice turned serious: “What are you doing here? Don’t you realize this whole area is unsafe at night?”

If he hadn’t arrived just now, who knows what would have happened to her…

Meng Cheng’an was at a loss for words, his heart heavy with frustration.

Mentioning this, Tian Xiang’s expression turned grave as she gripped Meng’s arm tightly. “Officer Meng, I’m undertaking a great mission to rescue the countless women here. You must help me!”

Meng looked at her, confused.

Tian Xiang shoved her bicycle toward him. “Now, ride to the workers’ housing compound at the machinery factory and find Zeng Qingwen. Tell her to come immediately to Jiang Peiqin’s home at No. 11, Lane 7 of the resettlement area. I’ll wait there. Tell her immediately—this is about our bet concerning Lu Feng.”

Tian Xiang was asking for his help.

At first, Meng frowned, listening. But when Lu Feng’s name came up, his face darkened instantly.

“I’ve told you before, he’s trash. Can you stop paying attention to him?”

Tian Xiang was baffled. “I’m not paying attention to him!”

Meng scoffed. “Waiting at the factory gate during shift changes, volunteering at the neighborhood committee to gather news about his family, showing up at the dance tonight to watch him host—if that’s not paying attention, what is?”

So he had been watching all these things she did.

Tian Xiang said, “That’s not paying attention. It’s gathering intelligence!”

Meng was puzzled.

She smiled mysteriously. “You’ll understand once you come with Zeng Qingwen.”

“Go quickly! If you help me this time, I owe you a favor. If you ever need anything, just say the word—I’ll help!”

Meng looked at her.

In his gaze, the whole world was black, white, and gray—only she was different.

He knew that difference was called color.

Meng Cheng’an said, “A favor…”

Tian Xiang nodded. “Exactly! Hurry, if you’re late, my plan fails and all this effort goes to waste.”

She pushed the bicycle toward him.

Meng shook his head. “I have a car.”

“Where?”

“I live around here. I’ll go get it.”

So that’s why he had rushed to save her earlier—his home was nearby.

“Fine, a bike is more convenient anyway. Go quickly. Remember what I said—Zeng Qingwen will come with you.”

At a fork in the road ahead, the two parted ways—one turning left, the other going straight.

Leaving the abandoned factory area, Tian Xiang arrived outside Widow Jiang’s courtyard.

She pulled her old watch with a broken strap from her pocket and checked the time.

It was already past nine; some households were starting to prepare for bed.

If Lu Feng was at Widow Jiang’s place at this hour…

Tian Xiang parked the bike and peered over the wall into the yard.

Good, the lights were off!

She looked around cautiously, approached the gate, and pulled a thin wire from her small purse, inserting it into the door to carefully manipulate the latch.

After about two minutes, the door unlatched.

Tian Xiang gently pushed the door open and slipped inside like a shadow, crawling to the wall’s base to listen quietly.

There was noise coming from the living room…

Hearing the repeated calls of “Little Lu,” Tian Xiang knew for sure Lu Feng was inside.

He really had come to Widow Jiang for comfort.

Scoundrel!

Not long ago, he had been squabbling with Zeng Qingwen, number two, and now he was cozying up to another woman—without a shred of shame.

Tian Xiang retreated silently as she had come.

She didn’t shout or call to catch him in the act, only slipped out and thoughtfully closed the gate behind her.

Outside, she went to a nearby alley and knocked on a door.

The household wasn’t asleep yet; soon an elderly woman came out and asked, “Who is it?”

Tian Xiang had removed her hat, her face full of panic. “Auntie, there’s a thief—a thief broke in here!”

A thief!!!

The woman was shocked and quickly called out to her husband and two sons.

All of them grabbed whatever weapons they could find.

“Where’s the thief?”

Tian Xiang pointed toward Widow Jiang’s house. “I saw a shadow slip into that family’s courtyard.”

“You mean a black figure went into No. 11?”

“Absolutely.”

So hurry up and catch the thief.

The old man chuckled twice but didn’t move.

His wife scoffed, “That’s no thief. Forget it, young lady, you better go home.”

Tian Xiang was bewildered.

What was going on? Everyone knew about Widow Jiang’s loose morals around here.

But today was different; she had a plan. If these people didn’t cooperate, she’d miss a rare chance to expose Lu Feng as the scoundrel he was.

A sudden thought struck Tian Xiang. She said to the elderly woman, “Auntie, this isn’t a small matter. It seemed like two people went in! One had dark skin, small eyes, and thick lips—looking just like a ruffian. If they were just stealing, that’d be one thing, but what if they cause trouble, hurt someone…”

She made a slitting motion across her neck.