Volume 1, Chapter 39: Old Black Has Arrived

Recalling what happened at the police station, I felt a wave of panic and lowered my head, intending to skirt around one side of the corridor.

Director Qin saw me and immediately blocked my path.

His investigative gaze stared at me coldly as he said slowly, "Zhou Yan, until we catch the real suspect, you remain the primary suspect."

"You don't have any evidence," I retorted, stiffening my neck.

"The net of justice is vast and sparse; we will find evidence sooner or later. We'll see!"

Director Qin's expression remained blank, but his thick eyebrows suddenly twitched, making my heart skip a beat.

Qin Shaohu grew anxious and began shouting loudly.

"Dad, hurry up and arrest this dangerous murderer! Teach him a good lesson—a coward like him will definitely crack and confess!"

"Shut your mouth!"

Director Qin glared fiercely at his son. This was a busy hospital corridor; how could he say such things?

Turning back to fix his gaze on me, Director Qin warned in a stern tone, "Zhou Yan, I heard you've been getting quite close to Han Feng lately. You'd better behave yourself. He is an ex-convict with a serious criminal record."

"I'm not breaking the law. What business is it of yours?"

I put on an indifferent attitude and asked instead, "Director Qin, when will the driver who hit my dad be caught?"

"We're pursuing the case. Just wait!"

Director Qin gave a cold, perfunctory reply, then went over to support Qin Shaohu back to his ward.

The trouble between Qin Shaohu and me was far from over.

Yet I was deeply wronged; I truly hadn't hit him.

And yet, there was no way for me to prove my innocence.

Resentful of me, Director Qin would deliberately drag his feet on the traffic accident case involving my father, remaining inactive and refusing to handle it.

Without compensation, I would soon drain the last of my family's savings.

Worse still, Director Qin had even begun turning his attention to Han Feng.

He probably assumed that Han Feng had instigated me to lie in wait by the roadside and beat up his son.

Shortly after leaving the hospital, a taxi pulled up, and Han Feng, sitting inside, smiled and waved at me.

I got in, and together we headed toward the railway station.

We were going to pick someone up—an old prisonmate of Han Feng's.

While waiting, I recounted everything that had happened with Director Qin at the hospital.

Han Feng furrowed his brow slightly, unable to hide his concern.

"This old Qin is trouble. He's way too protective of his family. If the local precinct keeps its eyes on the KTV and raids the place every few days, we won't be able to run a business."

"Brother Feng, I'm sorry!"

Filled with remorse, I came up with an idea.

"Director Qin is mainly targeting me. Maybe I shouldn't go to the KTV anymore."

"Brother, what are you talking about? Your brother here isn't someone who runs from trouble. When difficulties arise, we just find a solution. When we reach the mountain, there will be a road through," Han Feng said heartily.

Just then, a dark-faced, muscular man carrying a backpack strode out of the exit.

Han Feng laughed out loud, leaned on his crutches to greet him, and gave the man a big hug.

"Old Hei, did you get everything sorted out at home?" Han Feng asked with a smile.

"Just the usual stuff. After going back to the countryside to pay my respects to my parents, I went to the city to see my son. That little brat just cried when he saw me—a real mood killer," Old Hei said.

"I'm going to trouble you this time," Han Feng said politely.

"We go back years; our bond goes without saying. Just think about those days in prison—falling asleep every night depended on listening to the sound of your guitar," Old Hei said with a laugh.

Han Feng introduced Old Hei to me, omitting his full name and telling me to just call him Brother Hei.

The three of us left the railway station, found a nearby small restaurant, ordered a few dishes, and sat down for lunch.

From their conversation, I learned that Old Hei was definitely a ruthless man.

Old Hei had entered the Shaolin Martial Arts School as a child to study under a master. Through diligent and rigorous training, he possessed exceptional martial arts skills.

He was righteous and loyal, frequently standing up for others against injustice.

Because his ancestral home had been forcibly demolished, Old Hei, in a fit of rage, injured more than a dozen members of the demolition team.

Three of them were severely injured and left disabled, resulting in Old Hei being sentenced to five years in prison.

By the time he was released, his parents had passed away, his wife had remarried, and Old Hei was left completely alone and unemployed.

Han Feng had brought Old Hei here to take charge of the KTV's security.

A place like a KTV was a mixed bag where drunken brawls were commonplace.

What worried Han Feng even more was Chu Hailong resorting to underhanded tactics, sending thugs to cause trouble at the KTV. Ordinary security guards wouldn't be able to handle that.

Prison bonds run deeper than the sea!

Old Hei readily agreed to help Han Feng for a period of time.

Overjoyed, Han Feng repeatedly poured drinks for Old Hei, boasting that with Old Hei holding down the fort at the KTV, local thugs would be scared out of their wits and unable to stir up any trouble.

In high spirits, Old Hei decided to show off a skill.

He tossed a peanut into the air, snapped his chopsticks together to catch it with pinpoint accuracy, and then tossed it into his mouth to chew.

I was amazed and couldn't help but applaud and cheer.

"Xiao Yan, you should follow Brother Hei and learn some martial arts. You can't count on these legs of mine anymore," Han Feng said with self-deprecating humor, casting me a glance to hint that I should seize this rare opportunity.

I quickly poured a drink for Old Hei and respectfully called him Master.

"Haha, we're all brothers. Just call me Brother Hei!"

Old Hei laughed and waved his hand, looking me up and down.

"Brother Zhou Yan has a decent build, but his muscles aren't solid enough. You should start by practicing some agile combat techniques!"

Excited, I nodded vigorously, saying I would follow whatever arrangements Brother Hei made.

In the past, I had always been on the receiving end of beatings. When it came down to it, it was because I was an honest, dutiful student who didn't know how to fight at all.

From now on, I was going to train hard in martial arts.

No one on earth was ever going to bully me again!

After lunch, the three of us arrived at the Yumei KTV, where I saw Fu Xiaoya once again.

Having become the lobby manager, Fu Xiaoya had changed into a pink, form-fitting professional suit, making her look both capable and sexy.

Every call of "Manager Fu" added to her extraordinary confidence as she meticulously managed all the operations of the KTV.

The way Fu Xiaoya looked at me had also changed; she was no longer fierce, and her gaze held a hint of softness.

She probably felt that I was no longer completely useless and that I had my own shining points after all!

Han Feng and Old Hei continued chatting in the office, while Fu Xiaoya took a moment to call me into an empty private room.

"Xiao Yan, have you been to the hospital?"

Fu Xiaoya asked, surprisingly showing concern for my father's condition.

"I have!"

I sighed softly and spread my hands in helplessness.

"My dad is definitely going to be paralyzed. Early this morning, your mom went to his hospital ward to propose a divorce—she was in a big rush."

"Ha, she's capable of doing that. Anyway, it's not the first time."

Fu Xiaoya sneered contemptuously and rolled her eyes.

"Your dad had it coming, serving him right. What good outcome is there in hooking up with someone else's wife? He's finally learned his lesson, hasn't he?"

Although I didn't like Fu Xiaoya evaluating my dad that way, I didn't say anything.

I also believed that if my parents hadn't divorced, my mother wouldn't have abandoned my dad so easily.

After all, there was still the emotional bond of their son and daughter connecting them.

Sensing that Fu Xiaoya's words implied something deeper, I couldn't help asking, "Sister, why did you say 'not the first time'?"

"You really want to know?"

Fu Xiaoya asked rhetorically, putting her legs up on the coffee table and sullenly lighting a cigarette.

Not daring to provoke Fu Xiaoya, I said cautiously, "Sister, if you don't want to talk about it, just pretend I never asked."

"Fine, telling you won't hurt. It'll let you see the ugly faces of your dad and my mom clearly—neither of them deserves to live in this world."

Fu Xiaoya harbored a deep resentment, and anger showed clearly on her pretty face.