Masculine hormones are not something that can be easily controlled at will.

Perhaps if it had been a male police officer asking these questions, the outcome would have been quite different—maybe Brother Nan from the streets would have gone weak at the knees and begged the authorities for mercy. After all, he wasn’t exactly known for his backbone. But faced with a female officer—especially an attractive one—Bai Haonan, after a brief moment of panic, slipped back into his habitual, smooth-talking ways. “Why do you want to check my ID? You’ve taken a liking to me and want to know more? Just ask directly. It’s so rare these days to meet a shy girl like you.”

With just that, he turned the tables in an instant. Some girls might have laughed and slapped him for being a rogue, but Guo Sisi, caught off guard, immediately shrank away in flustered embarrassment. “There you go again, spouting nonsense! I’m just—”

Bai Haonan wasn’t about to let her linger on the subject of his ID. Leaning in, he lowered his voice, “How’s your dad’s recovery coming along?”

As expected, Guo Sisi forgot about the ID and snapped back angrily, “You really can’t shake your hooligan ways!”

Sensing victory, Bai Haonan pressed his advantage, moving closer. “Yes, I’m a scoundrel, but I’m not breaking any laws. I don’t force anyone, I don’t pay for it—just a little consensual fun between adults. That isn’t illegal, is it?”

Even just the word “soliciting” sounded filthy to a girl like Guo Sisi; she couldn’t help but cover her ears and hiss, “You’re disgusting! Get away from me!”

Bai Haonan edged even closer with a lazy grin. “Actually, this kind of trash is pretty attractive—willing to spend money, devoted to pleasing women, offering satisfaction in every way. Isn’t that better than those awkward, bashful types who blush just holding hands and fumble their way through everything? Isn’t there a part of you that craves a little excitement?”

Guo Sisi was so furious she was ready to hit him, but her uniform kept her in check. She forced down her anger, pointing at him with a trembling hand. “Get lost! Stop talking nonsense!”

Bai Haonan had already noticed how hard she was trying to keep her voice down. “Fine, I’ll get lost. Just don’t say one thing and mean another, Officer Guo. I really am scum, no moral boundaries. Some women mess around with me because they’re out for the same thing—no shame, just pleasure. But you’re different. Your upbringing, your experiences, your job—they mean you could never be that way. So don’t let yourself be tempted. Just be the proper woman you’re supposed to be. As for your parents, you’ll have to deal with them yourself—just tell them I’ve found another girl.” With that, he turned to leave, swaggering as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

But behind him came a sharp command: “Stop right there!”

Bai Haonan, already grinning to himself, had to roll his eyes in disappointment and pull a face before turning back, feigning impatience and defiance. “Miss, what exactly do you want from me?”

Guo Sisi faced him, her crisp uniform giving nothing away, though she was clearly wrestling with her emotions. “I don’t understand why your outlook on life is so twisted, but even Miss Qiao said you’re not a bad person. I may not have much experience with the outside world, but I can see you don’t mean any harm. I won’t deny it—my parents, once they found out you were single, were even more determined to match us up. They practically chase me to the courts every day to watch your practices. Even the department is in on it. From the chief down to my colleagues, everyone hopes I’ll pull myself together. But that doesn’t mean you can just humiliate me whenever you want!”

Bai Haonan hurried to reassure her, “Please, don’t take it the wrong way! Honestly, your only problem is that you’re a bit tall and maybe a bit too serious, but a tall girl at the door is always nice to look at—even without undressing. Sooner or later some guy who wants to improve his family’s height genes will come along. Take your time, maybe in a few years you’ll be even more charming. Just don’t get mixed up with scum like me. I hope you’ll show your parents my true colors!”

Perhaps she’d never encountered such a lazy, nonchalant rogue before. Real scoundrels wilted in front of a police uniform. She could only laugh bitterly. “Why are you like this? Can’t you talk properly, just once? Can’t you be serious?”

Bai Haonan looked troubled. “Being serious isn’t in my nature. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of chasing women, it’s that you’re a bit too honest—raised to be good, always doing the right thing at school, in life, at work. Don’t ever let a smooth-talking scoundrel trick you. Find yourself an honest guy. I suggest you treat me like a pile of dung—don’t even bother to look my way!”

Guo Sisi couldn’t help but frown. “Do you really find it amusing, degrading yourself like this? I may not know much, but at least when it comes to coaching your team, you’re clearly capable. Even Chief Deng says you’re confident and talented. Why do you insist on painting yourself in such an ugly light?”

Bai Haonan spread his hands helplessly. “What else can I do? I enjoy my flings, spend what I earn, and from the first day I met you I knew exactly what your colleagues were plotting. You and I live in different worlds, but you still come here every day. Have you really never thought about refusing your parents’ arrangement? Isn’t a scoundrel like me enough to scare you off?”

The young officer stared at him with an intensity that truly carried the weight of her badge. Bai Haonan struggled to hold her gaze—his eyes darted around nervously, and all he could think was, if it weren’t for this damned fake identity, I’d have you calling me daddy in three days flat!

But Guo Sisi couldn’t possibly imagine the filth running through his mind. After a long pause, her tone finally softened. “My father really did come close to dying. He says the only thing that kept him alive was his worry for me. Now he’s lying in his hospital bed, obsessed with finding me a match. My mother’s just as relentless. Even when I tell her what you’re really like, she says all men are the same—that after marriage and kids you’ll settle down. You’re better at talking than I am, so could you please explain it to them?”

Seeing this tall girl in uniform speaking so gently, Bai Haonan’s shallow heart couldn’t help but swell with a bit of pride. “I do have a way with middle-aged housewives…”

Guo Sisi’s brows shot up again, but she lacked conviction. “Can’t you ever be serious? Just once?” She almost sounded like a bashful wife gently scolding her husband.

Bai Haonan thought it was time to settle this once and for all. With a smirk, he strode ahead. “Fine, I’ll help you this time. But let me say it again—no matter how handsome I am, you can’t just come pestering me every day, getting in the way of my good times, or hiding in the corner watching me. At least have some self-respect. You’re such a beautiful girl—don’t tell me no one’s after you!”

He just couldn’t help himself; flirting was second nature. Even with a calm tone, he could set hearts fluttering. The young officer, walking past the oleander bushes, was so mortified she rushed forward and grabbed him by the collar. “Shut up, you!”

But Bai Haonan was quick on his feet, darting off without a word, with Guo Sisi chasing after him in exasperation.

A man and a woman burst out of the back gate of the medical university, one chasing the other. The street outside was crowded, and seeing a police officer in pursuit, people stopped and stared. Guo Sisi, aware of the image she presented in uniform, halted and called out, “Liu Hao! If you don’t stop, I’ll shout for help!”

The university was right in the heart of the city, near the busiest hospital entrance. Seeing the throngs of people frozen in attention, Bai Haonan awkwardly stopped. Guo Sisi caught up, grabbed his collar with two fingers, and lifted it. “Think you can escape my grasp?”

Bai Haonan, instinctively playing along, stood on tiptoe to match her gesture, making her laugh despite herself. He sighed, “Doesn’t this feel like a scene from a romantic drama?”

Guo Sisi hurriedly let go, blushing furiously.

She truly was an honest girl.