Chapter 18: This Time, It Really Is Cooperation Between the Police and the People

The elderly women nearby immediately shifted their focus to Qu Tuotuo the moment she spoke. Was she a plant hired by this chubby guy? However, upon observing her attire, they dismissed the thought. It had to be said that these women had an eye for quality. While there wasn't a single famous logo in sight, her clothes looked incredibly comfortable and clearly weren't cheap. Two sharp-eyed ladies soon recognized them as pieces from a niche, luxury-tier brand.

There is a saying that poverty limits one’s imagination, and Yu Dazhang was a prime example. He had met Qu Tuotuo several times and had never noticed anything different about how she dressed. In his eyes, she wore the same simple, affordably priced clothes as any other girl. It was like how we view government-issue uniforms—they seem outdated and hopelessly unstylish. Yet, in reality, even the most basic of those uniforms can cost thousands or even tens of thousands. They carry an aura of prestige far beyond what ordinary people perceive in brands like Adidas or Nike. If you don't believe it, buy a set, hire two attendants to follow you around with thermoses in hand, and stroll through a school; before long, school officials will be rushing over to greet you with such excessive warmth and politeness that you might mistakenly believe you are the one in charge. Even if you crashed a stranger's wedding, you would likely be seated at the main table. Thus, clothing is the most direct way to signal status—provided, of course, that one knows how to read it.

The group of elderly women was stunned. A beautiful, clearly wealthy girl was interested in this chubby guy! Seeing Yu Dazhang blinking frantically and gesturing with his lips, Qu Tuotuo immediately guessed what he was up to.

"Can I pay via transfer?" Qu Tuotuo asked. The women were even more bewildered. Was she really going to pay? Shouldn't she ask for details first? That was 180,000, not 18! Even when buying pork, one would pick through the fat and lean; here she was, offering a dowry the moment she arrived—was she in that much of a hurry? Or were chubby guys suddenly in high demand?

"I'm sorry, we aren't a good match," Yu Dazhang refused. He had no choice; he dared not take the money. He was only here on assignment, not for an actual blind date, so why would he accept a dowry? The content on the cardboard was for show; if he really accepted the money, it would be impossible to explain. Besides, he could tell that Qu Tuotuo was just teasing him. She probably still held a grudge.

Yu Dazhang understood the situation, but to the elderly women, it looked completely different. The guy had refused! A beautiful, wealthy girl had thrown herself at him and even offered to pay upfront, yet he still said no! You absolute fool! The women felt as if they were in a science fiction movie—surreal, bizarre, and impossible to reconcile with reality. Had marrying into a woman's family become the new trend?

"Why aren't we a match?" Qu Tuotuo pointed at the cardboard. "I meet all your requirements. I have a car and a house ready, and we can discuss the money—if 180,000 is too little, I can pay more."

Was this really about the money? Yu Dazhang didn't want to play along anymore. The act was too fake; couldn't she see the women's eyes popping out of their heads? "Fine, then make it a million," Yu Dazhang said, holding up a finger. He didn't believe she would keep acting. To him, a million was an astronomical sum he had never even seen in two lifetimes. Even if her family was wealthy, that was her parents' money—could a girl just starting out in society really pull out a million?

However, Yu Dazhang miscalculated. "Fine," Qu Tuotuo said without a moment's hesitation, "give me your account number."

Is your money falling from the sky? Yu Dazhang realized he was the clown. To think he had once considered that amount a fortune, while to her, it was like pocket money. No wonder the kidnappers targeted her—she was truly loaded! As the saying goes, you can question a kidnapper's morality, but you cannot question their eye for a target.

Just as Yu Dazhang was wondering how to respond, the voice of Lu Zhongxin came through his miniature earpiece: "Targets sighted. One male, one female. They are moving into the park from the entrance."

Hearing this, Yu Dazhang cast a casual glance toward the park gate. After locking onto their positions, he turned back to Qu Tuotuo. "Let's step aside and talk."

"Alright."

Su Mi, standing to the side, hadn't said a word. She thought she knew Qu Tuotuo better than anyone, but the events unfolding made her feel as though her friend had become a stranger. Her best friend had always been stuck-up and had never shown this much interest in any man. In Su Mi's eyes, this chubby guy had absolutely no redeeming qualities other than his stomach. How did she develop such strange tastes after going abroad?

Seeing Qu Tuotuo walk off with the guy, Su Mi couldn't hold back. "Tuotuo," she tugged at her sleeve, "do you even know him? You're just going to walk off with him?"

"It's never too late to get to know someone," Qu Tuotuo replied with a smile. Su Mi felt a strange sense of daze as she looked at her friend's face. She had never seen Qu Tuotuo smile like that in all the years she had known her—it was the expression of someone truly happy and carefree.

*Sister, you're becoming a stranger to me! So you like them chubby, huh?*

Once they were aside, Yu Dazhang turned slightly to keep the suspects in view. Qu Tuotuo took a step to the side and stood opposite him.

"Stop messing around. I'm here for work," Yu Dazhang said honestly, knowing that since she already knew his identity, she would likely keep causing trouble if he didn't explain.

"Your work involves blind dates?" Qu Tuotuo was momentarily confused.

"No time to explain." Seeing the two suspects heading in another direction, Yu Dazhang hurriedly said, "I need a favor."

"What kind of favor?" Qu Tuotuo's eyes lit up, looking genuinely interested.

Yu Dazhang kept his eyes on the suspects, not daring to relax for a second. "Just walk beside me and chat normally."

"No problem," Qu Tuotuo agreed readily.

Under the watchful eyes of the elderly women, Yu Dazhang and Qu Tuotuo strolled slowly toward the suspects.

"How much do you weigh?"

"Personal privacy. I refuse to answer."

"You only make 3,500 a month, how did you get so fat?"

"..."

"Did you steal leftovers from restaurants?"

"..."

"Give me your phone number."

"No."

"I'm not asking. Do you want me to shout, 'He's a cop'?"

"131..."

The moment Yu Dazhang spoke the last digit, he lunged forward. In two steps, he reached the male suspect, twisted his arm with a clean, expert maneuver, and had him in handcuffs before the man could even struggle. The female suspect, seeing this, turned and bolted.

*No loyalty there.* Yu Dazhang had expected the woman to fight him, but she hadn't even glanced his way before running off. He didn't bother chasing; there were plenty of colleagues stationed around the park, so there was no way she would escape. Besides, he wanted to give his colleagues a chance to show off. Or, more honestly, he was just too tired to run.

Just as the woman had sprinted a few paces away, a slender figure quickly closed the distance. A delicate arm easily hooked around the female suspect's neck, followed by a swift rotation... Qu Tuotuo pinned her knee against the woman's chest and looked up at Yu Dazhang.

"Did I catch the right person?"