Chapter 45: The Alarm Sounds Again

The others explained the situation to Qingtian Feng. They had just moved in and had heard that the previous tenants had been arrested for breaking the law. However, the landlord had assured them that the police had visited, found nothing, and told them to move in without worry. It was also because the rent was cheap; they simply had no money and had to live here.

Upon hearing this, the viewers in the livestream were moved, many lamenting how difficult life was for those at the bottom of society.

【They say farmers have it hard, but farmers with families have it even harder. A farmer with a sick child is starting life at the absolute bottom.】

【That child the woman is carrying doesn't look right.】

【Look at their sallow complexions; they must be living in misery.】

【A sick child living in a polluted industrial zone?】

【Industrial zones are cheap. The cheapest urban villages in the city would cost them a whole year's rent for just one month.】

【In families like this, the child suffers, but the parents suffer even more.】

【This is how bottom-tier farmers get by.】

Qingtian Feng’s gaze fell upon Jiang Xiaoya.

He thought she would be unable to bear it, would feel pity, or at the very least, show a look of emotion.

To his surprise, she acted much like his colleagues who had been law enforcement for years. She raised her hand toward the crowd: "I know things aren't easy for everyone. First, I want to thank you all for your cooperation. Rest assured, we aren't here to take anything from you; this is just a routine inspection. As long as there are no issues, we're done. It's hot out, and it's not easy to come out like this, so let's all try to be understanding."

As she spoke, she took out the drinks she had bought from a small convenience store while they were arguing earlier.

This industrial zone was quite large. There weren't many tenants, but there were still a fair number. The convenience store didn't carry much—just a few packs of cigarettes and common beverages.

Jiang Xiaoya distributed drinks to everyone, even giving a bottle of milk to the little child who had been playing with the neighbors.

When the woman saw her approaching the child, she defensively blocked her, appearing somewhat nervous. Feeling her reaction might be inappropriate, she explained in a forced tone, "The child is sick; she can't have anything cold."

Holding the milk, Jiang Xiaoya smiled and looked toward the neighbor living a few bungalows away—a woman in her fifties.

Jiang Xiaoya greeted her sweetly, "Sister, how long have you lived here?"

Seemingly caught off guard by the approach, the woman paused before replying, "We just moved in this year."

"Oh, so are you acquainted with the people who lived in front of you before?" Jiang Xiaoya asked, skillfully fishing for information with a casual air.

The woman shook her head and added, "We're usually at work; when would we have time to chat? We aren't acquainted at all."

Jiang Xiaoya nodded understandingly.

She then glanced at the little girl sitting on a toy car.

【Ding! Valuable item detected, valuable item detected...】

Jiang Xiaoya: "..."

This damn thing really knows how to detect things.

【Ding! Valuable item detected, valuable item detected...】

...

【Ding! Valuable item detected, valuable item detected...】

Is this system freaking broken?! It's a child! Even if it detects something, is she supposed to just carry the kid away?

Jiang Xiaoya took a deep breath and looked up at the setting sun. The afterglow of the sunset was still blindingly bright.

Qingtian Feng walked toward her, signaling with his eyes that he was shaking his head.

They had already searched the house rented by the tomb-robbing gang. The layout was simple, and since they couldn't rummage through these people's personal belongings, it was difficult to find anything else.

Watching the interaction between the two, the viewers in the livestream could tell this trip would be fruitless, and they couldn't help but feel disappointed.

The anti-fans saw through it too and became momentarily triumphant.

【Hahaha, these poor people definitely aren't hired actors; they can't keep up the act anymore.】

【Captain Qingtian went inside just now, so why didn't Jiang Xiaoya go in? She probably knows she won't find anything and can't save face.】

【Captain Qingtian noticed it too. Look at that questioning look in his eyes; he just sees through it but won't say it out loud.】

【...】

Jiang Xiaoya withdrew her gaze from the distance and walked up to the child. The child immediately ran into her mother's arms.

"Don't be afraid, baby, don't be afraid. Mommy is here." The mother held the child, soothing her incessantly.

The father ran over from a distance, trying to play peacemaker between Jiang Xiaoya and Qingtian Feng. "The child has been sick for a long time; she's a bit introverted."

As he spoke, the child suddenly burst into loud wails.

The father waved his hand at his wife, telling her to soothe the child first.

The wife leaned down to patiently comfort the child while dragging the toy car to the side.

As the car slid past Jiang Xiaoya, a hand suddenly rested on it.

The husband, who had been talking to Qingtian Feng, and the woman both looked up simultaneously to see the owner of the hand.

Jiang Xiaoya came from a poor background; she had survived university on plain steamed buns. Her face was tanned and sallow, making her incomparable to those beautifully dressed, pure college girls. However, upon closer inspection, her features were not ugly at all—she had large double eyelids and a high nose bridge. Most notably, her eyes were bright and spirited, possessing a brilliance that made people hesitant to meet her gaze.

Qingtian Feng narrowed his eyes as he stared at her.

The other couple's pupils contracted, and their expressions shifted repeatedly.

The child suddenly began to wail loudly in the woman's arms.

The woman panicked while trying to soothe the child, while the husband lunged to snatch the toy car from Jiang Xiaoya's hand.

As a grown man, his strength was indeed considerable.

But he had run into a girl who appeared young on the surface, but in reality... was not as simple as she looked.

"Miss, why must you make things difficult for a little child? She's sick; how can you be so mean?" The man's eyes turned red with anger as he pointed a finger in accusation.

Jiang Xiaoya didn't use force; she merely gripped the toy car and smiled faintly. "Brother, why are you speaking like that? I just saw the baby crying so hard and wanted to help Sister hold something."

"..."

The air fell into a moment of dead silence.

Beads of sweat rolled down the man's forehead.

Qingtian Feng, constantly monitoring his surroundings, noticed a group of people staring from a distance. Instantly alert and wary, he stepped closer to Jiang Xiaoya.

"Brother, you... let go?" Jiang Xiaoya tilted her head toward the man, her smile relaxed.

The man's grip on the object tightened, and his eyes suddenly turned fierce. Just as the situation reached a breaking point, the older man who had stepped out earlier to mediate rushed forward to de-escalate.

"Hey, I say, you're at your age, why are you still bickering with a young girl? Even if you're worried about the child, you can't argue with the officers; it's too easy for people to misunderstand."

The older man stepped forward to pry the man's hand away and reached for the toy car in Jiang Xiaoya's hand.

"Little girl, give me the car. This little one is a bit shy; if you get too close, she'll just keep crying endlessly." He gestured with his hand in mid-air, signaling her to hand it over.

Jiang Xiaoya did not move.

She wasn't giving it.

His hand moved forward, intending to grab the toy car himself.

Jiang Xiaoya suddenly pulled her hand back, lifting the car up.

"Little girl, we can't be that unreasonable..." The older man gave her a disapproving look, attempting to use his gaze to pressure her into handing over the toy car.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Brother. I just thought this car was quite interesting. The little one has stopped crying for now, so there's no rush. Let me borrow it to admire it for a moment first."