Chapter 242: I’ll Always Have Your Back

"Besides, I will always have your back."

With that said, he carried Gu Shengsheng into the car and drove off.

It took Gu Shengsheng a moment to come back to her senses. Inside the car, she looked around. She was finally safe.

To be honest, she was impressed with herself now—she had gone in alone and come out alone.

But she had to admit, after being on high alert for so long, the memory of it was actually a little scary.

Fortunately, she had been very successful.

Seeing Lu Shijing, who seemed to know everything that had happened, she asked, "Did you team up with Zhang Lianqing? Could you hear my recording too?"

"Yes. The men I mobilized were faster than his police force, and I was confident I could get you out of there."

Lu Shijing looked at her, surprised and impressed. "I never thought you’d be able to go in alone and come out completely unscathed. And you even managed to intimidate that whole group."

After all, Lu Shijing was a man who had always been a lone wolf, rarely admiring anyone. He was usually impossibly arrogant.

Initially, he had just found Gu Shengsheng refreshing, but after everything they’d been through, Lu Shijing felt that she was the real deal.

’Putting aside her powerful aura, how did she know so much about a criminal like Pei Zuo? And about the international tax investigation? How on earth did she know all these things?’

Though Lu Shijing was curious, he’d also had the thought that Gu Shengsheng seemed to know things in advance, as if she could predict the future.

There were too many inexplicable things about her, things that couldn’t be explained. But Lu Shijing didn’t want to pry. If she wanted to tell him, she would.

And the person he loved was this decisive, multifaceted Gu Shengsheng. That was enough.

After putting her in the car and driving for a while, Lu Shijing smoothed a stray lock of her hair. "Shengsheng, don’t put yourself in danger like this again."

Gu Shengsheng opened her mouth to ask, "Why?"

"Because... it would break my heart."

As he spoke, a tremor went through Gu Shengsheng’s heart.

Come to think of it, Lu Shijing rarely expressed his feelings like this. He usually kept everything bottled up.

Hearing it now, Gu Shengsheng was completely stunned. She had never imagined he would say something like that.

Then, before Gu Shengsheng could say anything, Lu Shijing pulled her into his arms, his well-defined fingers stroking her hair.

Gu Shengsheng tried to pull away, but he said, "Don’t talk. Just let me hold you."

God only knew how worried he had been on the way here from Beijing City.

By the time he found out something had happened, Grandma and Linnin had already been placed at the police station by Shengsheng.

He knew then that Shengsheng was planning to go to Rui City alone. And just as he’d expected, when he checked the flights, he found that Gu Shengsheng was already on a plane.

He had rushed to follow, but he was still a step too late. Gu Shengsheng had already gone to the Reflux Organization by herself.

The true strength of these people was unknown, and Lu Shijing had been worried to death. He had mobilized every person he could.

He had even joined forces with Zhang Lianqing at the police department. Lu Shijing had always looked down on such connections, but this time, he used every bit of influence he had.

Fortunately, she had returned safe and sound.

And listening to her recording, Lu Shijing even felt that with Shengsheng’s abilities, she didn’t need anyone’s protection.

’In that case, he, as her husband, would have to work even harder. Otherwise, he really wouldn’t be able to keep up with her.’

’As long as she’s safe, everything is fine.’

Gu Shengsheng was about to be crushed breathless by his embrace and shoved him away.

She scooted to the far side of the car, by the window. Panting, she said, "Calm down."

"When I came out just now, I saw that the men you brought still haven’t left. Are you planning to take them all down at once?"

’No wonder it was so easy to persuade Pei Zuo just now,’ Gu Shengsheng thought to herself. ’No wonder he looked so convinced. Lu Shijing must have had him surrounded.’

’If his stronghold could be found even within the country, he must be even more terrified of the Federation and the international tax investigators.’

’Thinking about it now, the two events had aligned through a strange coincidence.’

Gu Shengsheng continued, "If he follows my line of thinking, he should turn himself in. After all, surrendering here in the country is a million times better than being taken down abroad."

"My men will watch for now. If he’s willing to surrender, we’ll leave it at that. Otherwise, if we make a direct move, it will inevitably lead to mutual destruction."

Lu Shijing nodded. "Mm, I’ll listen to you."

Gu Shengsheng looked at his affectionate gaze, seemed to want to say something but held back, then looked away. Soon, they arrived at the police station.

Zhang Lianqing had also rushed over and was watching anxiously from the entrance. When he saw Gu Shengsheng get out of the car with Lu Shijing, who even draped a blanket over her, an almost imperceptible look of disappointment appeared in his eyes.

But then he put on a smile. "Miss Gu, you’ve returned safely."

Gu Shengsheng looked at Zhang Lianqing and also breathed a sigh of relief. "Seeing you puts my mind at ease. We were in contact so much before, I was afraid I would get you all involved."

"Now that I think about it, everything was interlinked. I’ve really troubled you and the police force."

Zhang Lianqing scratched his head. "We’re old friends. Don’t mention it."

"For this matter, we also have to thank Mr. Lu for his help."

Lu Shijing: "..."

’Am I an outsider? Are the two of them thanking me together?’

’This Zhang Lianqing... he’s certainly handsome, tall enough, and looks like a perfect gentleman... But, he’s also very ordinary.’

Lu Shijing stood beside Gu Shengsheng and, for once, smiled at a stranger. "Not at all. I was just picking up my wife. It’s what I should do."

His words were gentle and chivalrous, painting the very picture of a good man.

Gu Shengsheng didn’t say much, though. After all, there was no need to explain their relationship to a police officer.

The important business at hand was what mattered now.

After they went inside, Gu Shengsheng explained everything she knew.

Lu Shijing sat beside her without a word, but he kept inching closer to Gu Shengsheng and staring at Zhang Lianqing. He sat there with a dark expression, clutching a fountain pen in his hand, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

Zhang Lianqing was taking notes, but he paused and asked, "Miss Gu, I know I shouldn’t pry into your personal affairs, but how do you know so much about international matters? And how are you so knowledgeable about this Pei Zuo?"

"Our police force has been unaware of Pei Zuo for years. He’s always been excellent at hiding. We don’t have any of the specific information you mentioned."

"..." Gu Shengsheng paused. For a moment, she really didn’t know how to explain.

’She couldn’t just say she’d traveled here from another dimension, could she?’

It was hard to explain the various reasons, and if she said the wrong thing, she could be misunderstood as a spy or something.

Even now, several young police officers were watching Gu Shengsheng, their eyes filled with scrutiny. She had deceived Pei Zuo, and it was possible she had deceived these young people as well.

’Would these young officers also assume she was really part of the so-called international tax investigation organization?’