Volume One, Chapter 34: Reluctant to Let You Go

"Stop sticking your nose in my business, dammit!" Chu Hailong roared.

Clang!

I didn't know what Chu Hailong had thrown, but I flinched, not daring to look back. We finally made it out of the villa; that short stretch of a few dozen meters felt agonizingly long.

I realized something clearly: following Han Feng meant being baptized by blood and fire. It was a path paved with thorns.

Chu Hailong’s men did not pursue us. Han Feng and I successfully left the villa district, and the bustling, noisy streets suddenly felt incredibly reassuring.

"Brother, I owe you today," Han Feng laughed.

"Don't say that, Brother Feng. I didn't really do anything." I shook my head quickly, feeling a deep sense of shame. I had never witnessed such a scene before, and the cold sweat I’d broken into hadn't yet faded.

"Haha, without you there to support me, a cripple who can’t even stand properly, how could I have projected that kind of intensity?" Han Feng laughed loudly, then added mysteriously, "These days, everyone is afraid of someone who doesn't fear death, especially those who dare to strike in the shadows. I could tell—even Chu Hailong was a little afraid of you."

I grew anxious. "How can even you not believe me? I really didn't hit Young Master Qin!"

"Heh, it doesn't matter. Let Chu Hailong keep misunderstanding!" Han Feng dismissed it lightly. My heart, however, felt heavy; I felt as if I had been cleverly used by him. But then again, if I were completely useless, why would Han Feng want me as a brother? Since I had chosen to follow him, there had to be some cost. I consoled myself, and eventually, I felt at ease.

We didn't go straight home. Instead, we took a taxi to the barbecue district. We ordered some meat skewers and beer, sitting at a small table outside, letting the cool evening breeze blow over us as we ate, drank, and chatted freely. I loved this sense of comfort, freedom, and the earthy, vibrant atmosphere of ordinary life. For a moment, all my worries drifted away.

From Han Feng, I learned a bit about Chu Hailong. He was a country boy with no background, so poor he couldn't afford a meal, and he had been extremely timid and cowardly. In school, Chu Hailong was mocked until he couldn't hold his head up; he was bullied repeatedly, never daring to fight back or tell anyone, only hiding in corners to bite his sleeve and cry. Because of this, he grew to despise pretentious students and loved taking men to the school gates to pick fights, stealing the students’ meager pocket money. In Han Feng’s view, this was a form of reactive psychological illness, and one quite difficult to cure. In reality, however, having taken over the Yihe Hall, Chu Hailong was incredibly wealthy. He had monopolized almost all the entertainment venues in Dong'an County and had even opened several more in the city.

"Brother Feng, do you really have photos of Chu Hailong on the bridge?" I asked cautiously, feeling particularly sensitive to the word "photo." I had used five candid shots to deal with my stepmother, Xu Li, preventing her from ever daring to scheme against me again. Interestingly, Liu Fangfei from the photo studio had used those same five photos to threaten my vicious biological father, unexpectedly gaining five thousand yuan. I had learned a principle from this: holding someone’s secrets over them forces them to be cautious and behave. But I was still too young and inexperienced; I would later realize that this practice was actually extremely dangerous. It’s like pulling chestnuts from the fire—it’s very easy to burn your hands.

Han Feng was a bit drunk, his tongue thick as he boasted, "Of course I don't have photos, nor any evidence. But I know that incident had something to do with Chu Hailong, so I just said it to bluff him. Haha, the guy was guilty, and sure enough, he was terrified."

Han Feng had only been bluffing Chu Hailong! He was far too bold. We had only made it out of that villa alive because we were lucky. I gasped, realizing that Han Feng was also a highly dangerous individual.

Who had jumped off the bridge? And what did it have to do with Chu Hailong? I didn't dare ask, and naturally, Han Feng didn't say. But from our conversation, I could tell that Han Feng held Chu Hailong in low regard, viewing him as a brainless brute who would never achieve greatness. During the time Han Feng managed the Yihe Hall, Chu Hailong had already begun to show signs of betrayal, having secretly taken on a master. This master was the true mastermind behind the scenes, a major player. As for who exactly it was, Han Feng knew, but he didn't say.

It was past midnight. I took a taxi to drop Han Feng home first, then drifted back to my own place, feeling lightheaded. As I went upstairs, I noticed a light on in Fu Xiaoya’s room, and a wave of excitement surged through me. Could she be back? I pressed my ear against the door, but there was no sound inside. After a moment of hesitation, I knocked gently.

"Come in, it's not locked." Her familiar voice reached me like music. I pushed the door open, and it was indeed Fu Xiaoya. She was leaning against the headboard, holding a magazine. She wore a set of light pink pajamas, her straight, slender legs exposed; her red-painted toenails were twitching rhythmically, looking lively and cute.

"Sister, you're finally back!" My voice trembled with pathetic relief, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Where have you been running around?" Fu Xiaoya huffed, annoyed.

She hated Han Feng, so I didn't tell her the truth. I answered vaguely, "So much has happened, I felt suffocated, so I just walked around the streets."

"Come here!" Fu Xiaoya beckoned. I walked over to the side of the bed. Suddenly, she lifted her pale, dainty feet and kicked my legs and waist a few times. The force wasn't great, but it still made a dull thud. I endured it without moving, a smile on my lips. At that moment, I suddenly felt that even being scolded or hit by Fu Xiaoya was a form of grounded happiness.

"Stupid boy, you were locked up for two days, you look like you're in one piece." Fu Xiaoya laughed, looking radiant and moving.

"I wasn't beaten; they just wouldn't give me food or drink and interrogated me endlessly," I explained.

"That's also a form of torture. It's good you’re strong and made it through," she said, giving me a rare compliment.

"I remembered your words, so I kept insisting I was at home sleeping. They had no evidence, so they had to let me go." I felt a bit proud, but Fu Xiaoya’s face grew stern as she warned me again, "This case isn't closed yet. You must remember to keep saying that."

I nodded vigorously, looking as obedient as possible.

"Come, lie down beside me." Fu Xiaoya patted the pillow next to her. I was flattered, unable to believe my ears, and stood there blankly. She looked displeased. "What, you don't want to?"

"I do!" I blurted out, quickly kicking off my shoes and carefully lying down beside her, catching the intoxicating scent of her perfume.

"Did you drink?" Fu Xiaoya wrinkled her nose, looking disgusted.

"I was tired from walking, so I had some barbecue and a couple of beers," I said with a sheepish smile, quickly changing the subject. "Sister, are you not going to leave again?"

"My mother said they are going to get a divorce; this place is even less of a home to me now." Fu Xiaoya let out a cold snort. "I came back to pack some of my things. It was too late to get off work, so I'll just make do for the night and leave tomorrow morning. Damn it, I've had enough of this house..."

"But I don't want you to leave!" I gathered my courage and shouted the words I had buried deep in my heart for so long.

Fu Xiaoya froze, looking at me as if I were a monster, then suddenly her expression softened. "Come here, lie in my arms." She patted my head and truly opened her arms to me.