Miranda offered her sincere apology, "I'm truly sorry for the trouble I've caused everyone. Please tell me the amount you think is fair, and I'll compensate each of you." "Wait a minute," the police officer, who had just finished managing the traffic, walked over. His eyes lingered on Miranda for a few seconds before he began speaking formally, "The compensation amount must be determined by the police. Each of you will need to submit an itemized list of your losses along with the necessary documents. The police will review them, and once approved, the responsible party will be instructed to deposit the funds into the police account. We will then distribute the compensation accordingly." However, this method did not sit well with many of those involved. "I'm leaving Rome soon and don't have time to go to the police station to submit these so-called documents. Besides, everyone knows how slow European police can be. I don't want to stay in Rome for several months over a few thousand euros." "Exactly. My work keeps me constantly flying around the world. I can't afford to wait for such a lengthy process. I need my compensation quickly so I can move on!" "Or, this lovely lady," one man chimed in, "if you'd like to give me your contact information, we can discuss the amount and timing of the compensation privately…" "Haha, bro, now's not the time to hit on her, though I must admit, she's incredibly beautiful." "Don't you want to? Oh, come on, which of the men here is only interested in compensation? Who wouldn't want to sleep with her?" "Ha ha ha, man, you don't have to be so blunt. Beautiful women usually prefer to be more reserved." "No, no, you misunderstand women. All women prefer someone with strength, stamina, and size. It has nothing to do with being reserved or wild." "Hahahaha, you guys are something else…" The conversation among the group of men quickly shifted from compensation to more explicit topics. Miranda frowned but remained silent. At the moment, it was clear that her assistant had caused the trouble, and she was willing to take responsibility for the compensation. She looked towards the police officer, hoping he would move the process along, only to find that his gaze was also fixed on her, somewhat dazed.When their eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze and covered up his staring with a slight cough. Miranda steadied herself and asked, "Officer, how long will it take to receive the compensation list?" "Oh, the compensation… I think it will take about three working days. Miss, could you please leave your contact information? The police will contact you later regarding the fine and compensation." Miranda calmly provided him with a string of numbers. "Miranda?" he asked, glancing at the note. "Yes." After registering her information, the officer remarked, "I thought you had a beautiful American name." "How did you know I was American?" she asked. "Your demeanor," the officer replied. "I've seen American movies, and you resemble one of the actresses. I wasn't trying to flirt with you; I just mistook you for her, which is why you seemed familiar." Miranda was puzzled, "Movies?" "Yes, the movie is called 'Red Cliff.'" It took Miranda a while to understand the foreign-sounding name of the film. The movie had been star-studded when it was released, featuring several leading actresses who were considered goddesses of their era in America. Miranda said, "I'm not her. I'm far from being like them." "No, you… you're truly beautiful. At least, that's how I see it." A person nearby interrupted, "Officer, could you please focus on your work?" "Exactly. As I said before, European police are notoriously slow, which is really frustrating." The officer quickly adopted a more professional demeanor and completed the registration process. "Miranda, you can leave now. Please keep your phone on during this time, and the police will contact you within three working days." "Alright, thank you." Miranda thanked him sincerely and prepared to leave.However, the group of men around her had no intention of letting her go so easily. A tall, large man blocked her path, blushing as he asked, "Miranda? Your name is Miranda, right? Where are you headed? I can give you a ride." "I'm more familiar with the roads in Rome; I can give you a ride too. Young people driving can be unreliable and accident-prone." "Let me take you instead. It's not safe for a young woman to travel alone at night." "And you think it’s safe in your car?" "You're no safer either." Miranda suddenly chuckled, "Sir, I recall you mentioning that you were in a hurry and didn’t want to stay in Rome any longer?" The man was momentarily taken aback but quickly retorted, "Well, changing my flight plans takes time anyway. Giving you a ride wouldn’t take long." "Thank you for your kindness, but there's no need. I'll just take a taxi." Miranda smiled politely at everyone, then stepped past them and walked toward the street corner ahead. She checked the time on her phone—it was almost 5 a.m. The sky was starting to lighten, though it wasn't fully bright yet. There was still a bit of distance to her hotel, and in Rome, most restaurants didn't open until the afternoon. Few places sold breakfast early, so she planned to stop by a 24-hour convenience store to get something for her uncle to eat. As she was lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice someone gently tap her on the shoulder from behind. Startled, Miranda let out a small cry, "Ah…" "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," the voice belonged to the police officer. He raised his hands apologetically, "Miranda, I was wondering if I could give you a ride home. It would be much safer in a police car." Ride in a police car? Miranda hesitated for a moment. "Don't you have to work?" "My shift is over; I’m off duty now," the officer smiled, a bit bashfully. "Come on, I can drive you back. It’s much safer than taking a taxi. My name is Derek, badge number 03695715. If I try anything, you can report me to the station." Earlier, Miranda hadn’t paid much attention, but now, up close, she realized that Derek was probably in his early thirties. Foreigners often looked older, so his actual age was likely under thirty. Unable to refuse his offer and knowing how difficult it could be to hail a cab in Rome, Miranda, worried about her uncle, agreed. "Thank you, that would be helpful." A flash of joy crossed Derek's eyes. "Not at all, come on, get in."