Chapter 356: Ye Qiu Is Captured

A few minutes later, Ye Qiu was dragged forward, arms bound tightly behind his back. He was tossed down in front of Wang Haoran like a sack of potatoes.

“Hmm? You look familiar. Aren’t you… Ye Qiu?” Wang Haoran gave a slow smile, amusement flashing in his eyes.

Ye Qiu’s face was dark with frustration. He never expected this outcome. He thought the plan was foolproof, yet he ended up face down in the dirt. What caught him off guard was that Wang Haoran had not just one but two elite bodyguards.

“He had a snake on him. Clearly came with ill intent,” Feng Xuansu said as she examined the bamboo basket Ye Qiu had been carrying.

Wang Haoran narrowed his eyes, gaze falling on Ye Qiu. “Bringing a venomous snake into someone’s home… were you planning to kill me?”

“You’ve got the wrong idea,” Ye Qiu tried to talk his way out. “I just thought your villa had some nice flowers. Wanted to pick a few, that’s all. As for the snake, I bought it to make soup.”

He let out a faint chuckle, his tone growing smug. “At most, you can accuse me of trespassing.”

Feng Xuansu looked unimpressed. Her expression chilled as she made a cutting gesture across her neck. “I don’t think it’s that simple. If it were up to me, I’d end this cleanly.”

Ye Qiu shivered. She looked like a fairy out of a dream, but her heart was colder than ice.

“We’re law-abiding citizens,” Wang Haoran said, chuckling softly as he shook his head. “We don’t kill people over flowers.”

He pulled out his phone and called Ling Duanya.

Seeing this, Ye Qiu was oddly relieved. A brush with the police was better than dealing with private revenge.

After hanging up, Wang Haoran walked over with a glass of water. He added two ingredients, stirred it casually, and held it to Ye Qiu’s lips. With no choice, Ye Qiu drank it.

“What did you put in that?” His voice was sharp with anger.

“Relax. It’s just plain water,” Wang Haoran said calmly. “You looked thirsty. Figured you’d want something to drink. No need to yell about it.”

Then, without further discussion, he picked up a rag and stuffed it into Ye Qiu’s mouth, muffling him completely.

A moment later, a notification echoed in his mind.

【Ding! Host has caused Ye Qiu to lose his male capability. Gained 800 Villain Points. Ye Qiu’s Protagonist Halo -40, Host’s Villain Halo +40!】

Wang Haoran smiled faintly. He didn’t take Ye Qiu out right away for a reason—there was still some value to squeeze out of him.

Soon after, movement stirred outside the villa. Ling Duanya had arrived with her team.

“That’s the guy, Officer Ling,” Wang Haoran said, pointing at Ye Qiu, who could only glare helplessly with a rag in his mouth.

“Got it,” Ling Duanya nodded firmly. After hearing Wang Haoran’s brief explanation, she signaled her colleagues. Ye Qiu was taken into custody without delay.

【Ding! Host has caused protagonist Ye Qiu to be arrested. Gained 600 Villain Points. Ye Qiu’s Protagonist Halo -30, Host’s Villain Halo +30!】

“I’ll take over from here. I’ll find out the truth,” Ling Duanya said seriously.

“Thanks. I’ll leave it to you.”

“No need to thank me. It’s my job.”

Inside the interrogation room, Ye Qiu sat handcuffed. Across the table sat Ling Duanya and another officer.

“You brought a deadly snake into someone’s villa in the middle of the night. Were you trying to commit murder?” Ling Duanya slammed the table, her voice sharp.

“I don’t even know him that well. Why would I want to kill him?” Ye Qiu’s expression was calm, his tone light, like it was all a joke.

“Really? I know for a fact you assaulted one of Wang Haoran’s classmates at school. He called the police, and you ended up being sued. You spent a fortune on legal fees. You held a grudge and came here for revenge, didn’t you?”

“I was annoyed, sure. But if I really wanted revenge, why not go after that student Lu Ming? He’s the one who reported me,” Ye Qiu replied, keeping the truth to himself.

Ling Duanya considered his answer. It made kind of sense. Still, something didn’t sit right.

“But you still scaled someone’s wall in the dead of night carrying a venomous snake. That’s a fact, isn’t it?”

“I already said—I liked the flowers in his yard. Wanted to take a few back and plant them at my own place,” Ye Qiu repeated, holding to his story. “The snake was for soup.”

He smiled with ease. “At most, it’s attempted theft.”

“Stop smiling. We’ll find the evidence and make sure you pay for this,” Ling Duanya growled.

“I walk straight and stand tall. I’ve got nothing to fear,” Ye Qiu said calmly.

He wasn’t worried. He knew the law. His motive wasn’t solid, at least not enough to hold up in court. And the evidence—a snake alone—wasn’t conclusive.

At most, they could slap him with attempted theft, and even that was minor. A fine would settle it. He’d be out soon enough.

Once I’m out, you’re dead.

The thought burned quietly in his chest.

He hadn’t known there’d be two elite bodyguards at the villa. If he had, he never would’ve used this method. He would’ve gone to the black market, bought a gun, and taken the shot from a few hundred meters away. One squeeze of the trigger and the job would be done.

With nothing useful gained from the interrogation, Ling Duanya stepped out to review the case with her colleagues.

Time passed quietly. Before long, nearly 48 hours had gone by.

Ling Duanya returned with another officer and entered the room.

“Officer Ling, don’t you think it’s time to let me go?” Ye Qiu smirked as he watched her approach.

The charges against him were weak. 48 hours was the maximum detention without cause. He was about to walk free.

As for compensation? He was rich. A few flowers were nothing.

“Don’t get cocky. Sooner or later, we’ll nail you,” Ling Duanya muttered, still glaring.

Her reluctance told Ye Qiu everything he needed to know. He waited a beat, then raised his cuffed hands.

“Time’s up. I’m free to go.”

Ling Duanya hesitated but knew the procedure. With a frustrated sigh, she pulled out the key to unlock the cuffs.

Just then, an officer burst into the room.

“Officer Ling!”

“What is it?”

“Someone just sent in a package—anonymously.”

The officer handed over a thick stack of documents.

Ling Duanya flipped through them, and a bright smile broke across her face.

Ye Qiu saw the look on her face and felt a pit open in his stomach.

“Autumn Leaf,” she said, her voice light with joy.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ye Qiu said, forcing a confused expression.

“You will. Take a look.”

She spread the documents out in front of him. Ye Qiu leaned in, eyes scanning the pages. Cold sweat broke out across his back.

These weren’t just files. They were mission records—detailed accounts of jobs he had completed. Or to be exact, crimes.

Why were these out in the open? These were confidential!

His scalp tingled. His heart raced. He needed to get out.

The cuffs on his wrists weren’t a real restraint. He could break free with a bit of brute force. He’d been lying low because he thought he was safe.

But now? If he didn’t run, he’d die in here.

He was just about to make his move when a strange weakness spread through his limbs. He couldn’t muster any strength. Even his fingers felt heavy.

Then it hit him. That glass of water.

His heart dropped.