It was night now. Though the sky hadn't fully darkened by seven, H City's night market was already bustling. It wasn't exactly a scene of debauchery, but the city came alive after dark—colorful neon lights, the vibrant views of the H River, and along both sides of Kongmu River lay the city's famous Wetland Park, where elderly folks and children strolled in the evening.
"Driver, H City just keeps getting better!" Li Hao looked at the beautiful city, sighing sincerely. "The world sure is a wonderful place!"
"You bet!" The driver, a lifelong local, nodded.
Before long, the car dropped Li Hao off in a red-light district—dim neon glowed, rows of scantily clad women stood in groups on both sides of the road, and most shops were hair salons or "recreation centers" with pink lights glowing inside.
Li Hao paid the fare, got out, and wandered along this "scenic street," eyeing the women with undisguised desire, nearly drooling.
"Handsome, wanna play?" A curvy woman in revealing clothes noticed his stare and approached. "It's not expensive—only two hundred."
Li Hao froze. *Holy crap, two hundred? How many cables or steel plates would I have to steal for that?* He channeled his inner market vendor, haggling: "Girl, do I look like a rich guy?"
She looked him up and down, pouting her red lips, then reached out and pinched his crotch, giggling into her hand. "Oh, you really are. Really...impressive figure. You must be rich."
"Does my outfit scream 'rich'?" Li Hao chuckled, eyeing the swell of her chest beneath the sheer fabric—pale as jade, curves in all the right places. That flicker of desire in him flared to life.
"Big brother, fate brought us here—you still think two hundred's too much?" She squeezed a little harder. Li Hao sucked in a breath, eyes rolling back. *She's good with her hands… wonder how she is in bed, or with her mouth?*
Li Hao grinned. "There are plenty of fish in the sea—fifty, deal?"
"Darling, that's impossible. Even spring breezes can't cross the Jade Gate Pass—lowest I'll go is one thirty."
"Rivers and mountains share a bond—seventy, please?"
"Fine, let's meet halfway. One hundred. What do you say?" She let go. He was cute, and that "asset" was impressive—cute guys like him were rare. Less money, but mutual pleasure.
"Deal!" Li Hao pulled out a hundred yuan, handed it over. "Let's go. You better take good care of me."
"Of course! Don't you know who I am? Taohong! I'm quite famous at Fengjing Street!" She happily pulled him into a small barber shop. The shop was bustling with bright lights, and a dozen half-naked women were chasing and laughing.
"Oh, Taohong, you bagged a hottie!" A revealing woman approached, suddenly squeezing Li Hao's crotch. She gasped, wide-eyed. "Wow, that's… impressive!"
"Heh, Sister Yan, don't underestimate me!" Taohong grinned, pulling Li Hao into a back room.
Li Hao had planned to "appreciate the art of the female form" then leave. After all, he was a "pure" man—twenty-five and still a virgin. A little visual education might help with future… endeavors. Those Japanese adult videos got old fast.
Just as things were about to escalate, the door *banged* open.
"Freeze! Police raid!" Several officers filed in, high-beam flashlights blinding.
"Get dressed and get down!" A sharp female voice barked. Li Hao thought it sounded familiar. The voice stared at him in shock. "I-it's you?!"
Li Hao followed the voice—there stood Officer Hao! His face flushed awkwardly. "Heh, Officer Hao, what a coincidence. You here to play too?"
"Bah!" Hao Xin's face burned. She held up her badge. "I'm police! Anything you say can and will be used against you in court!"
"Take him away!" Officer Hao, still bitter about being tricked earlier, clamped handcuffs on him tightly.
The anti-pornography raid was a success—over a hundred arrested, all hauled to the station for statements, confessions, and fines before release.
But Li Hao was different. He was thrown into an interrogation room. Suspected of theft. Confused, he watched Hao Xin enter with two officers.
"Name! Age! Hometown!" Hao Xin's tone was icy, as if they'd never met.
"Li Hao, 25 years old, from H City, G Province!" Li Hao sighed. "Officer Hao, I just... attempted rape. Why did you come to the interrogation room?"
*Slap!* Hao Xin slammed a hand on the table. "You're suspected of theft!"
"Pfft!" Li Hao froze. "Wait, clarify. What'd I steal? Your underwear? Can't pin that on me!"
"You!" Hao Xin stood, pointing a long finger at him. "Bastard, no shame? That Land Rover—we checked. Owner's Zhang Dahai, lives in Jintang Phase II. Not yours!"
"Could be a friend's!" Li Hao argued. "Which law in China says I can't drive a friend's car? Enlighten me!"
Hao Xin smiled coldly. "A stubborn one, huh? We called Zhang Dahai. He says his car was stolen this afternoon! What else do you have to say?"
Li Hao froze. *Crap. That bald guy's ruthless—using the police to frame me? Get his car back and send me to jail? Vicious.
"Nothing. But I want a lawyer." He slouched, legs crossed.
"You!" Hao Xin nearly hurled her notebook.
No one in the station dared act up—until Li Hao. She was determined to break him.
"Fine, get a lawyer. But we'll notify your employer!" She smirked. Most men caught soliciting hated public shame.
But Li Hao was unphased. "Go ahead. Better if they bail me out!"
"You! Scum!" Hao Xin slammed the table—shaking it. The other officers jumped.
"Am I scum, or are you?" Li Hao feigned shock. "Officer Hao, you're misunderstanding. I'm a performance artist!"
"Huh?" Hao Xin stared. He *did* look the part—like a rogue.
"My actions are art!" Li Hao stood, profound. "This piece is called 'Mosan'—I needed to study the female anatomy in red-light districts to complete it!"
"Bah!" Hao Xin blushed. "Lock him up for investigation!"
She stormed out, fuming. If not for regulations against violence, she'd have hit him. Outside, she exhaled.
"Prude," Li Hao chuckled, grinning. He was tossed into a detention cell—steel bars. A man sat silently nearby.
"Hey, buddy, what're you in for?" Li Hao asked.
The man's unfocused eyes met his, then drifted. "Murder."
"..." Li Hao was about to hand over the cigarette, and almost dropped it on the ground. *Killing is no joke. *He handed over the cigarette. "Smoke?"
The man accepted, softening slightly.
"Strange. Murderers go to prison, not detention." Special treatment?
"Thank Officer Hao. She's helping me." The man sighed. "My wife was raped and killed. Perpetrators are H City gangsters. I fought back, killed some. But their boss got away."
Calm words, but Li Hao heard the bloodshed, the rage.
Li Hao softened. "Understandable. I'd do the same." He patted his shoulder. "You'll get out someday."
"Living means nothing now." The man hung his head, lifeless.
"Don't you want revenge on their boss?" Li Hao pressed.
"They are powerful. If it weren't for Officer Hao protecting me, they would have killed me long ago." He smiled bitterly, as if he was beyond life and death. He put out his cigarette and lay down.
"What if I can help?" Li Hao's mouth twisted.
"You?" The man froze, a spark in his eyes.
No one acts beyond their beliefs. Everyone craves survival. He was no exception. The spark faded. "You're just a prisoner."
"Heh." Li Hao smiled. "Trust me. Want to live? I'll help."
The man sat down solemnly. "Can you get me out?"
"At least get you out now." Li Hao shrugged.
The man trembled. Freedom = revenge. His wife waited in heaven.* He studied Li Hao, searching for lies. Found none.
"What's the catch?" He frowned.
"No catch." Li Hao stretched. "Just think you're brave. Felt like helping."
"Good. Get me out, and Yang Yong's yours. For life." He knelt.
Li Hao pulled him up. "After, go to Power Plant Community. Find Brother Bao and Yuan Li. They'll hide you."
Quietly, Li Hao picked the detention cell lock, led Yang Yong out. Yang Yong gaped—mechanical, electronic locks, all bypassed. Even surveillance was tampered with.
Outside, Li Hao said, "Tell Bao I'm in the station. Have him find the bald guy. He'll get it."
"Fourth Brother, thanks!" Yang Yong saluted, vanishing.
Yang Yong was useful—took down several men alone. Worth keeping. Li Hao stretched, returned to his cell. Surveillance reset to normal.
Next day, guards noticed. A murderer escaping? Big trouble.
The station mobilized. As Yang Yong's "cellmate," Li Hao was first questioned.
"Li Hao, saw Yang Yong escape?" Hao Xin, who'd fought to suppress the case, felt responsible.
"Officer Hao, I slept like a log. Saw nothing!" Li Hao denied.
"Think! Yang Yong's huge. Impossible to miss!" Hao Xin pleaded, barely holding her temper.
"Let me think…" Li Hao pretended to ponder.
A male officer entered. "Captain Hao, reviewed last night's footage. No one entered or left!"
"Odd." Hao Xin frowned, arms crossed.
Her pink arms squeezed her chest, forming tempting mounds. Li Hao's mouth watered.
"Bastard, where are you looking? Remember yet?!" Hao Xin noticed, slamming the table.
Her summer uniform—blue short-sleeves. Too hot to button the top two. A casual move had pushed her chest up.
"Uh… remember!" Li Hao yelped.
"Speak! Now!" Hao Xin grabbed a pen, ready to write.
"Around 2 AM…" Li Hao lied smoothly. "A glowing object—flat, circular—descended. Blinding light. Glowing figures took Yang Yong… Officer Hao, you look pale!"
*Slap!* Hao Xin snapped. *He's mocking me!*
"Unforgivable!" She stood, shouting. "Rot in jail!"
Just then, a bandaged bald guy burst in. "Officer! You got the wrong man! That's my brother! Borrowed my car—sorry, lied earlier!"
"You!" Hao Xin seethed. Bad luck piled up. She stormed out.
Simplified procedures. No stealing = misdemeanor. Selling? Pay a fine and go.
"Baldy, decent of you. Paid Bao?" Li Hao asked.
Bald Guy nodded frantically. "Yes! Dared not refuse—Bao came last night!"
"Here's your keys. Watch yourself." Li Hao tossed them. Bald Guy caught them—his million-yuan Land Rover. Ten grand was nothing.
The bald man drove Li Hao back to the power plant area and said respectfully."See ya, Baldy. Come again!" Li Hao waved.
Bald Guy swerved, nearly hitting a pole. "Crap! Come again? Can't afford it!"