Under the mounting pressure, the front desk manager hesitated only a moment longer before reluctantly pulling up the call records on the hotel’s system.
With a trembling hand, he turned the screen toward Liu Wei.
The officer’s eyes scanned the records quickly, his lips curling into a knowing smirk.
He then turned to Gu Jin.
"Miss Gu, in which room were you staying?" he inquired.
"Room 602," Gu Jin responded coolly.
Liu Wei’s smirk widened into a cold chuckle as he turned back to the crowd.
"Well, it appears that Miss Gu did, in fact, place a call to the front desk. However—" he paused for effect, "there is no record of the front desk calling Room 603 or 604 to request them to quiet down."
Gasps rippled through the onlookers, followed swiftly by furious whispers.
"So they were lying!"
"Despicable! How dare they mistreat Lady Gu Jin ?"
"This hotel will never see another cent from me!"
A growing number of guests pulled out their communication devices, taking photos and recording videos as they vowed to leave scathing reviews online.
The front desk manager’s face drained of color as he realized the gravity of the situation.
Liu Wei’s expression hardened.
"Under the penal code, deliberate harassment and obstruction of a high-profile guest—especially one of Gu Jin’s status—are criminal offenses. We can make a case against all four of them," he declared, motioning to the front desk manager and the three culprits still sprawled unconscious on the floor.
"They could face legal consequences, including jail time."
Then, turning toward Gu Jin, he spoke with professional courtesy.
"Miss Gu, if you are willing, I would like you to accompany me to the station to file a formal complaint. We will ensure that justice is served."
Gu Jin, her expression unreadable, studied Liu Wei for a moment before nodding.
"Very well. I will go with you."
A unified murmur of agreement swept through the crowd.
"We’ll come as well!" someone shouted. "We saw everything—we’ll be witnesses!"
One by one, people voiced their willingness to testify.
What had started as a tense confrontation had evolved into a city-wide movement in defense of their hero.
Unbeknownst to Gu Jin, someone in the crowd had begun a live stream moments earlier.
Within minutes, the video had spread like wildfire across social media.
The title read: "Gu Jin, the Savior of Fujio City, Harassed by a Corrupt Hotel!"
By the time they arrived at the police station, reporters were already stationed outside, their cameras flashing like a storm of lightning.
Journalists jostled for position, eager to capture footage of Gu Jin, whose status in Fujio City was now akin to that of a legend.
Her mistreatment at the hotel had outraged the masses, and the city was abuzz with calls for justice.
The moment Gu Jin stepped out of the police vehicle, a swarm of reporters surged forward, microphones extended toward her.
"Miss Gu! Is it true that the hotel deliberately sabotaged your rest before the National Alchemy Competition?"
"What actions will you be taking against them?"
"Do you believe this was politically motivated?"
Faced with the blinding camera flashes and barrage of questions, Gu Jin remained composed.
Though inwardly exasperated by the attention, she had long since mastered the art of maintaining a cool exterior.
Beside her, Long Yifan stepped forward, subtly shielding her from the most aggressive reporters.
"Miss Gu will make a statement after she has filed the report," Liu Wei interjected firmly, waving off the press.
"For now, we must proceed with official procedures."
After giving her statement at the police station, Gu Jin stepped outside with Long Yifan.
The reporters were still lingering nearby, but they kept their distance after Liu Wei’s warning.
The two of them walked towards the car, ready to leave the chaos behind.
Just as they reached the vehicle, Long Yifan’s phone rang. He answered it, his expression unreadable at first.
But soon, his lips curled into a small, relaxed smile. After a brief conversation, he hung up and turned to Gu Jin.
"The National Alchemy Competition has been postponed," he said casually.
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Postponed?"
Long Yifan nodded, crossing his arms. "Yes, specifically so that you can get some rest."
Gu Jin’s brows furrowed in suspicion. "And how exactly do you know this?"
Before Long Yifan could reply, Gu Jin’s phone vibrated in her pocket.
She pulled it out and saw an unknown number calling. Answering the call, she placed the phone to her ear.
A respectful voice came from the other end.
"Miss Gu Jin, I am one of the organizers of the National Alchemy Competition. I’m calling to inform you that the competition has been postponed to the day after tomorrow. We hope you take this time to rest properly."
Gu Jin narrowed her eyes.
"And how do I know you’re the real organizer and not some scammer trying to mess with me?"
After all, she was already warned about the dirty tricks her competitor could play on her.
There was silence on the other end for a brief moment before the man let out a helpless chuckle.
"Miss Gu, we have officially posted the announcement on our verified account. You can check it online."
Gu Jin ended the call and immediately opened the internet.
To her surprise, the news of the competition’s postponement was everywhere.
As she scrolled through the posts, she realized what had happened.
The people of Fujio City had flooded the internet with messages, tagging the National Alchemy Competition’s organizers.
They had demanded that the competition be delayed so their hero, Gu Jin, could recover from the mistreatment at the hotel.
At first, the organizers ignored the messages.
But then, the internet almost crashed with the sheer number of people supporting the request.
Even the higher authorities of the country had been tagged.
Under immense pressure, the organizers had no choice but to act immediately.
Gu Jin stared at the screen, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in her chest. She had never expected the people of Fujio City to rally behind her .
Long Yifan smirked as he watched her reaction. "Surprised?" he asked.
Gu Jin didn’t answer right away. She looked at the countless messages of support, the people fighting for her, and finally, she let out a small sigh.
Long Yifan chuckled. "Well, you should get some proper rest now. The whole city made sure of it."
Gu Jin glanced at him before putting her phone away. "Let’s go."
Long Yifan found a hotel not too far from the police station and quickly booked a room for Gu Jin.
After completing the reservation, he turned to her with a shameless grin.
"Gu Jin, I don’t have enough money to book another room. Can I stay in yours?"
Gu Jin rolled her eyes at his words. "Then go sleep on the street."
Long Yifan pouted dramatically. "After all I’ve done for you today, don’t I at least deserve a kiss?"
Gu Jin’s expression remained serious. She looked him straight in the eye and said,
"If we’re talking about what you deserve for what you did to me, then a slap is a must."
Long Yifan immediately choked on air. "Gu Jin, you’re too cruel!" he whined, but he wisely backed off from the kiss request.
In the end, he sighed and booked two rooms—one for Gu Jin and another for himself, making sure they were adjacent to each other.
After getting the room keys, Long Yifan led Gu Jin towards the elevator.
The ride was quiet, and when they finally reached their floor, the doors slid open.
Just as they stepped out, two kids suddenly rushed out from one of the rooms, running at full speed.
Before Gu Jin could react, one of them bumped into her, making her lose her balance.
Instinctively, Long Yifan grabbed her hand to steady her, but in his effort to protect her, he lost his balance as well.
The next second, both of them tumbled to the floor.
In that brief moment, Long Yifan’s priority was to shield Gu Jin. His hand moved protectively behind her head, ensuring she wouldn’t hit it on the hard floor.
Time seemed to freeze.
Gu Jin’s eyes widened in shock, while Long Yifan was momentarily stunned.
The warmth of her lips against his made his mind go blank for a second. But unlike Gu Jin, he recovered quickly.
A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes, and before she could push him away, he leaned in slightly and tried to suck on her lips.
That was the last straw.
Gu Jin’s face darkened in fury. Without hesitation, she shoved him away with all her strength.
A sharp slap echoed in the hallway as her palm met his cheek.
Long Yifan winced and held his face, looking at her in disbelief. "Gu Jin, why do you always resort to violence?!"
Gu Jin stood up, brushing off her clothes as she glared at him. "Because you always deserve it."