Urban System: Beautiful lady, I really didn't steal your black stockings!

"I suddenly remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to at the gallery; I have to go there now!"

Lin Weiwei spoke rapidly, her eyes darting away, avoiding Cheng Zhe's gaze.

"Sorry, I can't eat this meal now. I'll treat you next time!"

As she spoke, she turned to leave, her hurried movements nearly knocking over the water glass on the corner of the table.

Cheng Zhe also stood up, his tone full of worry: "Did Old Chen say you have accomplices? What if... I'll take you?"

Lin Weiwei, like a startled rabbit, suddenly took two steps back, instinctively putting her hands in front of her, her eyes filled with resistance and fear.

Her eyes reddened slightly, as if she had been driven to the brink: "Don't follow me, I can walk by myself!"

"Weiwei, let me explain. This is definitely Old Chen talking nonsense. How could I possibly be his accomplice?" Cheng Zhe tried to soften his tone, not wanting to frighten her further.

"I have no idea......"

"I'm so scared." Lin Weiwei shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Weiwei, I admit it!" He took half a step forward.

"I admit I have feelings for you. The reason I secretly looked at you when we bumped into each other in the neighborhood was because you're so beautiful."

He raised his hand, but afraid of startling her, he only made a slight swearing gesture, his tone extremely solemn: "I swear I will never do anything like Old Chen, such despicable things as secretly taking photos or stealing!"

"Although I, Cheng Zhe, don't have any great abilities, I have principles. If I like someone, I'll say it openly and honestly. I would never use such dirty methods to pester them."

Lin Weiwei was a little stunned, and her excitement was calmed down a bit.

She stared blankly at Cheng Zhe, and the frankness in his eyes made her feel a sense of trust.

Lin Weiwei's current favorability rating: -5

Seeing the favorability rating rising on the panel, Cheng Zhe quickly continued.

"I'll go to the police station later to explain things clearly and confront Old Chen face to face." Cheng Zhe looked directly at Lin Weiwei.

Lin Weiwei opened her mouth, her voice softening slightly: "You...you really didn't?"

Cheng Zhe frankly admitted, "Really, no."

His eyes were so sincere that Lin Weiwei subconsciously believed that what he said was true.

She looked at Cheng Zhe and said softly, "Then... when you went to the police station, that old Chen was acting crazy."

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Cheng Zhe reassured Lin Weiwei and told her to wait in the police station reception room, while he went straight to the interrogation room.

The moment the door opened, Old Chen, who had been looking down, suddenly raised his head. When he saw Cheng Zhe, a hint of panic flashed in his cloudy eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deliberately clenched ferocity.

The police officer in charge of the interrogation pointed to the chair opposite Cheng Zhe as he entered: "Old Chen confessed that he stole Ms. Lin Weiwei's belongings and secretly took photos at your behest. What do you say?"

Cheng Zhe had just sat down and hadn't even had a chance to speak when Old Chen slammed his hand on the table and shouted.

Her voice was shrill and manic: "It was him! Officer, it was Cheng Zhe who made me do it! He said he liked that woman but was too shy to approach her, so he made me steal her things, take pictures of her, and then use that as leverage to force her to submit!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Cheng Zhe stood up abruptly, his anger ignited instantly, and stared coldly at Old Chen. "Old Chen, when did I meet you? When did I ever order you to do these despicable things? Explain yourself!"

"I'm not lying!" Old Chen said stiffly, not daring to meet Cheng Zhe's frank gaze.

"It was you! Last Wednesday at the convenience store downstairs in our apartment complex, you secretly pulled me aside, gave me five hundred yuan, and asked me to do these things, saying you'd give me another thousand after it was all done! You dare say you don't remember?"

Outside the interrogation room, Lin Weiwei stood quietly at the door. When she heard Old Chen's identification inside, her heart clenched, and the doubt in her eyes deepened.

Seeing this, Cheng Zhe understood immediately. His tone suddenly quickened, yet carried a sense of pressure: "I have solid evidence that I wasn't there last Wednesday. On the contrary, you said I gave you five hundred yuan. Was that money in cash or by bank transfer?"

"There are so many security cameras in the convenience store. If I secretly pulled you out, in which corner? Do you dare to let the police check the surveillance footage for a confrontation?" A barrage of questions rained down on Old Chen like cannonballs. His eyes grew increasingly panicked, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Cheng Zhe pressed his advantage, taking another step closer: "What? Can't say? Who are your accomplices? Are you covering for someone?"

"Your son looks just like you, shifty-eyed. I bet he's the one who did these things!"

Pressed for his life, Old Chen blurted out, "Absolutely not! He genuinely likes..."

He stopped abruptly as soon as he finished speaking, his eyes filled with terror, clearly having let something slip.

Cheng Zhe's gaze suddenly sharpened, and a thought struck him. He instantly turned to look at Officer Li beside him, giving a clear signal.

Officer Li understood immediately, picked up his pen, and quickly jotted down the keywords in his notebook, while glancing up at Old Chen.

In a serious tone: "Old Chen, where is your son now?"

Half an hour later, the three stood at the door of the interrogation room.

"I'm sorry to have made you come so late."

"Based on the case details, it's highly likely that Old Chen's accomplice is his son, Chen Tao."

Officer Li then turned to Lin Weiwei and said, "Ms. Lin, after investigation, Mr. Cheng has no problems."

Officer Li's words were like a reassuring pill, firmly landing in Lin Weiwei's heart.

"Thank you, Officer Li. You've gone to so much trouble." Cheng Zhe shook hands with Officer Li first.

Lin Weiwei nodded quickly, "Thank you for your hard work, Officer Li."

The two walked out of the police station side by side. It was already late at night, and their shadows swayed one after the other under the streetlights.

Cheng Zhe slowed his pace, turned to look at Lin Weiwei beside him, and said with concern, "Chen Tao has not been found yet. When you go out alone in the future, you must be more careful and try not to take secluded roads. If you feel uneasy, send me a message anytime."

Lin Weiwei nodded gently, and after a few seconds of silence, she stammered, "Cheng Zhe, I... I doubted you like that before, will you be angry? And... will you still be willing to... take me home in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhe smiled and said, "Don't worry, why would I be angry? You're just worried, that's not wrong."

"I never go back on my promises to you, and taking you home is no exception." Before he finished speaking, he raised his hand and gently ruffled Lin Weiwei's hair, his movements tender and natural.

Lin Weiwei was taken aback by the sudden intimacy. Her cheeks flushed red instantly, and the tips of her ears turned a faint pink, but she did not resist at all.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Zhe's heart stirred, and courage suddenly arose. He took her small hand in his own, and his warm palm gently enveloped her slightly cool hand.

Lin Weiwei trembled, her body tensing instantly, but she didn't pull her hand away, letting him hold it. Her heart pounded like a drum, and even her breathing became rapid.

They walked in silence, yet a subtle, ambiguous atmosphere permeated the air.

Upon arriving at Lin Weiwei's apartment building, Cheng Zhe stopped and gently released her hand.

Lin Weiwei was in a state of confusion. She opened her mouth, but stammered for a long time without being able to utter a single word.

She glanced quickly at Cheng Zhe, her eyes filled with shyness and panic, then turned and ran into the apartment building like a startled fawn, leaving only a flustered figure behind.