Morning sunlight streamed through the grimy glass window, casting a warm glow on Đinh Trường Sinh’s backside. Just as he began to enjoy the comfort, a sudden jolt of pain made him bolt upright.
“Phượng Ni chị! W-what are you doing in here?! Get out! I’m not even dressed!” Đinh Trường Sinh yelped, clutching a shirt to his chest like a flustered maiden.
“Well done, Đinh Trường Sinh! Real classy! Now tell me—what the hell did you do last night?!” Lý Phượng Ni barked, fury in her eyes, brandishing a screwdriver pointed straight at him.
The sharp sting in his rear made it painfully clear—that screwdriver was the culprit.
“Phượng Ni chị, please, calm down! Let me explain! If you still want to stab me after, I won’t even complain!”
“Speak! If it doesn’t sound good, you better guard that butt of yours!” she warned, eyes burning.
Word had spread fast in the village. Everyone knew by morning: Vương Lão Hổ had gambled away everything—including his wife. The whole thing was treated like a property transfer.
Lý Kiến Thiết had stormed back after hearing the gossip and immediately told Lý Phượng Ni. The more she listened, the more bitterness welled up. But when she confronted Vương Lão Hổ, the man kept repeating only one word: “Divorce.”
Whatever kind of man he was, he'd once been her husband. Seeing him in such a pitiful state stirred a shred of sympathy in her. But the thought of him wagering her like a livestock sale rekindled her fury. She grabbed a screwdriver and stormed into the police dormitory.
“Phượng Ni chị, I only did this because I couldn’t stand watching you suffer. But first, let’s be clear—I didn’t gamble you away! It was Vương Lão Hổ who bet you!”
“You still have the nerve to argue?! Want me to stab you for real?!”
As she lunged, she tripped over the blanket Đinh Trường Sinh had yanked up defensively, falling directly onto the bed.
In a blink, Đinh Trường Sinh was on top of her, only her face visible from under him.
At first, neither realized the awkwardness. But with every squirm from Lý Phượng Ni, the situation got more… compromising.
Bare-chested and muscled, Đinh Trường Sinh’s frame loomed over her, radiating youthful energy.
“Get off me! If you don’t, I’ll scream! Is this how a police officer treats women?!”
“Phượng Ni chị… I like you!”
Those four words stunned her.
“From the first time I saw you, I liked you. But I didn’t dare say it. I hated seeing you with a scumbag like him! I wanted to destroy him—for you! He gave you to me himself. Now that you’re getting divorced, no one can say a word. You’ve done your duty. No one can call you disloyal.”
“…Can you get off me first? I can’t breathe…” she muttered, stiff as a board.
But Đinh Trường Sinh wasn’t done. He realized: no amount of talking could match action.
So, he leaned in slowly.
The gap between them was only a fist wide.
Then—it vanished.
Lý Phượng Ni’s eyes went wide, stunned speechless.
She couldn’t believe this kid actually dared...
But he did.
His lips pressed down onto hers. One hand snaked down, while his leg kicked the door shut… or tried to. A noise from outside made him panic and release her.
“Happy now? Let me go,” Lý Phượng Ni snapped, cheeks flushed.
“Phượng Ni chị, I didn’t mean it—I just… couldn’t help myself,” Đinh Trường Sinh stammered, but clearly knew better than to push his luck in broad daylight.
She got up, dusted herself off, and left without a word. But Đinh Trường Sinh caught a flash of bashful uncertainty in her eyes. His heart leapt—maybe he still had a chance!
Grinning, he bounced back onto the bed—only for the ancient frame to collapse under him with a dramatic CRACK.
Meanwhile, the entire village was abuzz with the biggest gossip in Lô Gia Lĩnh: Vương Lão Hổ had gambled away his wife—and Đinh Trường Sinh had won.
Even the Lâm Sơn police substation caught wind of it.
“Hey Trường Sinh, I heard you won yourself a wife over in Lô Gia Lĩnh. When’s the wedding? We’re ready to party!” teased Vương Hổ Nha.
“Yeah, bring the missus by! We need to see if she’s your type!” added Trương Cường.
“Stop spreading rumors! I’m officially declaring this fake news! Someone’s clearly jealous of my recent good deeds and trying to tarnish my name. And haven’t you guys learned anything? As officers, we don’t listen to, spread, or fabricate rumors. I’m disappointed in all of you!” Đinh Trường Sinh declared with righteous indignation.
“Oh, so now you’re disappointed for the chief?” came a voice behind him—Hoắc Lữ Mậu.
“Chief! I was just about to report in!”
“Save it. Get in here and explain to me—what’s this about gambling and winning a wife?”
“Who said that? I never gambled!”
“I don’t care who said it. Just answer me—did you, or did you not, gamble using your police status?”
“No.”
“I’ll ask again—yes or no?”
“Absolutely not! If I did, you can fire me right now!”
“Hmph. I know you wouldn’t dare. But this story is spreading fast. It’s not a good look. Figure out a way to fix this.”
“Chief, I have an idea. Just fire me. Tell everyone I was a temp and got sacked. Easy.”
“You trying to be funny? Have I ever treated you unfairly?”
“No sir, just joking. I haven’t had enough fun here yet.”
“Alright then. Don’t go back to Lô Gia Lĩnh for now. Lay low. I’ll assign someone else.”
“Fine by me. That bed was broken anyway.”
“What did you just say?”
“Nothing! I said it’s a good time for a break. I’m exhausted.”
“Go on. I’ll sort out the replacement.”
As he left Hoắc Lữ Mậu’s office, Đinh Trường Sinh spotted Điền Ngạc Như outside the main hall. He tried to duck away, but she made sure he didn’t slip past.
“Đinh Trường Sinh, come here. I need a word.”
She was dressed in a sharp uniform, cap tilted just right—commanding and confident. No wonder Khấu Đại Bằng had been so smitten with her.
“Điền tỷ, what is it? I’m under orders from the chief, you know,” he hinted—not too subtly—that her husband was watching.
“Nothing serious. I’m visiting my parents tonight. You’ll wait for me on the road. If you don’t show… I’ll skin you alive.”
Điền Ngạc Như smiled sweetly, but her eyes glinted like a snake’s—tongue flicking, fangs ready.