After Transmigrating into a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Tool Person - Chapter 26

The town was bustling with life, its streets crowded with people coming and going.

Xie Yinian held a leash in one hand, leading the golden retriever as she strolled through the lively streets with Xia Qiqi. When she noticed a stall selling trinkets up ahead, she walked over to take a look.

Spotting a cute cat-shaped keychain, Xie Yinian held it up and asked, “How about this one?”

“It’s cute,” Xia Qiqi said.

“Then I’ll take this.” Xie Yinian smiled.

Just as she was about to pay, someone brushed past her, bumping her shoulder.

The man was dressed in sportswear, a cap pulled low over his head. His voice was low and muffled as he muttered, “Sorry.”

Xie Yinian shook her head, signaling that it was fine.

But suddenly, the golden retriever barked furiously, lunging forward and biting onto the young man’s pant leg, refusing to let go.

“Hey! Let go!” Xie Yinian quickly pulled on the leash, scolding sternly, “Release!”

The boy panicked, tugging his leg.

“Are you letting go or not?” Xie Yinian’s tone deepened.

The golden retriever whimpered softly before finally releasing him.

The boy quickly turned and ran off.

The dog watched the direction he disappeared in, then turned to bark anxiously at Xie Yinian and Xia Qiqi.

Finding the behavior unusual, Xia Qiqi crouched down and gently patted the dog’s head. “You can’t bite people randomly. That’s wrong.”

The golden retriever let out a pitiful little whine.

Seeing that no one was hurt, Xie Yinian sighed in relief and turned to pay—only to pat her pocket and find it empty.

Frowning, she checked the other pocket. Still nothing.

A realization struck her. That boy—he must have taken her wallet.

The stall owner glanced at her impatiently. “Are you paying or not?”

Xia Qiqi looked over, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“My wallet’s gone. Wait here—I’m going after him.” Xie Yinian pressed the leash into Xia Qiqi’s hand and took off running.

“Xie—!” Xia Qiqi called, but she was already gone. Quickly, Xia Qiqi pulled out her phone to pay for the trinket, then hurried after her.

The boy darted into an alley, panting heavily as he bent over to catch his breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, then pulled a wallet from his pocket.

Inside was a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills. He gave a derisive laugh. “So careless. Well, too bad for you.”

He slipped the cash into his own pocket and tossed the wallet aside, turning to leave.

Only to find Xie Yinian blocking the way.

She grabbed his sleeve, frowning. “Give me back my money.”

Her grip was firm; the boy struggled but couldn’t break free. “Let go of me!” he snapped.

“Return the money first,” she said, her voice cold and steady.

The boy gritted his teeth and, in desperation, pulled out a fruit knife, thrusting it toward her.

Xie Yinian’s pupils shrank. Reacting on instinct, she caught his wrist mid-swing. The knife clattered to the ground. She kicked him sharply, sending him sprawling, and in the next second, had him pinned face-down.

Good thing she’d taken self-defense classes—today, they paid off.

At that moment, Xia Qiqi appeared at the mouth of the alley, running up breathlessly with the golden retriever.

“Are you okay?” she asked, worry written all over her face.

“I’m fine,” Xie Yinian said, shaking her head.

The boy squirmed, trying to break free. “Let me go!”

The golden retriever growled lowly, lunging forward again to grab the boy’s pant leg and hold him down.

“Xia Xia, call the police!” Xie Yinian ordered.

Xia Qiqi nodded seriously and pulled out her phone.

Not long after, the police arrived. They handcuffed the boy and led him away.

One of the officers held out the recovered bills to Xie Yinian. “Miss Xie, here’s your money.”

“Thank you,” she said, taking it.

“We’ll need you to come to the station to file a report,” the officer added.

“Of course,” Xie Yinian replied with a nod.

“Can the dog come with us?” Xia Qiqi asked.

The officer glanced down at the panting golden retriever and said, “Sure, it can ride in the trunk.”

The group—two women and one dog—climbed into the police car.

As they drove, the officer remarked, “You handled yourself really well back there. Have you had formal training?”

Xie Yinian nodded slightly.

The officer sighed. “That thief’s a repeat offender. He’s been caught several times, but only ever got a few months each time. This time, with the knife, it’s attempted assault—he’ll be looking at at least a year or two.”

Xie Yinian and Xia Qiqi sat quietly in the back seat, listening. Both of them thought that locking that boy up for just a year or two was honestly letting him off easy.

Xia Qiqi lowered her head to check Xie Yinian’s arm. Seeing the bruises there, she frowned and scolded softly, “Don’t ever do that again. Rushing out like that—you have no idea how scared I was.”

Her heart had nearly leapt out of her chest. If anything had happened to her, she didn’t even want to think about it. Thankfully, Xie Yinian was fine—just a few minor injuries.

“I’m sorry,” Xie Yinian said apologetically.

“Does it hurt?” Xia Qiqi asked in a small voice.

Looking at Xia Qiqi’s face full of worry, a gentle warmth rose in Xie Yinian’s chest. She smiled lightly. “It doesn’t hurt.”

From the driver’s seat, the police officer chuckled. “Are you two sisters?”

Xie Yinian laughed. “No, we’re friends.”

“You seem really close,” the officer said with a grin. “I almost thought you were related.”

Xie Yinina: “…”

When the car arrived at the station, they got out and followed the officer inside. The boy who had stolen from them was already sitting in a chair, looking sullen and defiant.

As soon as he saw them, he scoffed and turned his head away.

Xie Yinian and Xia Qiqi sat down across from him. The officer taking notes looked up and asked, “Miss Xie, was it this boy who stole from you?”

Xie Yinian nodded.

“Could you describe what happened?”

“At the time, I chased after him and caught up,” she said calmly. “Then he suddenly pulled out a knife and tried to stab me. I managed to react in time, twisted his arm, and pinned him to the ground until the police arrived.”

Listening from the side, Xia Qiqi’s heart pounded. If Xie Yinian hadn’t dodged that knife in time, wouldn’t she have been—

She grabbed Xie Yinian’s hand tightly under the table, fear still lingering in her chest.

Feeling the warmth of her hand, Xie Yinian looked down, then turned her head toward Xia Qiqi. The other woman was watching her anxiously, her face pale with worry.

Xie Yinian gently stroked the back of her hand and said softly, “I’m fine.”

The officer paused mid-sentence, glancing up at the pair. For some reason, he suddenly felt like he’d just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food.

On the floor, the golden retriever barked once and wagged its tongue happily.

Xia Qiqi bent down to pat its head, her tone tender. “Are you hungry? Just wait a little longer—we’ll be home soon.”

The golden retriever barked again as if in reply.

After hearing Xie Yinian’s statement, the officer turned to the boy and said sternly, “Take him to the interrogation room.”

The boy cursed at them a few times before the officers dragged him away.

Capping his pen, the officer said, “Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Xie. The report is complete—you’re free to go.”

“Thank you,” Xie Yinian replied, standing up. She picked up the leash, led the dog, and walked out of the station alongside Xia Qiqi.

Glancing at the bruises on Xie Yinian’s arm, Xia Qiqi said, “Let’s go to the hospital and have it checked.”

“Okay.”

They walked to the nearest clinic in town. Since dogs weren’t allowed inside, Xie Yinian asked the security guard to look after the golden retriever for a while, then entered the hospital with Xia Qiqi.

Inside, they sat in the waiting area outside the consultation room.

“Next,” a gentle voice called from within.

Visitors were allowed to accompany patients, so Xie Yinian and Xia Qiqi entered together.

Dr. Jiang Tong was finishing up a medical form, handing it to the previous patient with a few kind reminders. The patient nodded, thanked her, and left.

When Jiang Tong looked up at her next visitor, she blinked in surprise.

“Yinian?” she said, startled.