He Chu San spent three days crafting an extremely cliché story—one widely circulated among the common folk: a wealthy young lady and a poor boy fall secretly in love, but the young lady is forcibly abducted by a ruthless underworld boss like a kidnapped maiden, stuffed into a sack and taken back to his lair. The poor boy risks his life to storm the stronghold, bravely battling the boss, and in the end, the young couple elopes happily.
Xia Liu Yi idly poked at his fish balls with a bamboo skewer, rolling them twice in the curry sauce.
“This boss… does he also wield twin blades?”
He Chu San stood obediently before him and sincerely praised, “Very imposing.”
Xia Liu Yi crooked a finger at him.
The moment He Chu San stepped closer, Xia Liu Yi grabbed him by the collar and slammed him onto the table! Grabbing his hair, he smashed his head down with a loud bang! Blood instantly burst from He Chu San’s forehead, his vision spinning. When the dizziness subsided and he looked up again, cold sweat soaked through his clothes—Xia Liu Yi was holding the bamboo skewer, about to stab it straight into his eye!
He Chu San resigned himself and closed his eyes. After waiting a long while with nothing happening, he opened them in confusion—only to find Xia Liu Yi had flipped the skewer and lightly pressed the blunt end against his trembling eyelid.
“Not saying a word, but full of schemes! Taking a roundabout way to curse me, huh?” Xia Liu Yi said. “Don’t try tricks with your Boss Liu Yi. Go back and rewrite it.”
With a makeshift “Indian-style turban” wrapped around his head, He Chu San obediently spent another three days writing. When his father asked what had happened, he only said he had been hit on the head by a flowerpot that fell from upstairs. Every morning he still left home with a small schoolbag, but once he turned the corner of the alley, several burly men would haul him off to the company, where he wrote all day before being “packaged” and sent home again late at night.
Three days later, he submitted a new script:
A free-spirited underworld fighter falls in love with a beautiful woman fallen into the red-light district. After a moving and heartfelt romance, the woman is seized by a rival gang. To save his beloved, the fighter bathes in blood and battle, wielding twin blades alone to cut down more than forty enemies, carving a path of blood through a narrow alley…
Xiao Ma, standing nearby, found it increasingly familiar and leaned toward a subordinate to whisper,
“Twin blades taking down forty people? Doesn’t this sound like when our Boss Liu Yi saved Azure Dragon Boss…?”
“Cough! I didn’t hear anything, Brother Xiao Ma.”
As Xia Liu Yi listened attentively, his expression darkened more and more. Yet He Chu San remained oblivious, continuing to read the synopsis, convinced that since he had shifted from criticizing the underworld to praising it, he probably wouldn’t get beaten this time.
After finishing, he stood there diligently, waiting for feedback. The room fell so silent a pin could be heard dropping. Xiao Ma read the atmosphere and quietly flexed his fingers, ready to help beat someone on Boss Liu Yi’s behalf.
“Where did this story come from?” Xia Liu Yi tapped his knuckles lightly against the table.
“I heard it,” He Chu San replied, glancing up cautiously, finally sensing something was wrong.
“From whom?”
“Everyone says—”
Before he could finish, his entire body flew backward!
His thin frame smashed through two stools, crashing into the wall along with broken legs of the furniture. When he fell, he was covered in dust, coughing twice—and then spat out blood.
“Eighty percent force,” Xiao Ma mentally calculated.
Xia Liu Yi strode forward, grabbed a broken stool leg, and struck him again!
He Chu San let out a cry. The jagged nail in the wood tore his arm open, blood immediately seeping out. Pain and confusion filled him as he stared at his own blood, unable to understand why this unpredictable boss had suddenly lashed out again.
Xia Liu Yi flipped the stool leg, pointing its sharp broken end at him, raising it high—about to stab down—
The door suddenly burst open.
“Boss!”
“Boss!”
Hao Cheng Qing had just stepped in when a dull thud echoed.
This big boss, who had inherited the gang as crown prince at twenty-five and weathered a decade of underworld storms, remained calm and composed. He paid no mind to the noise, merely sweeping his gaze across the room.
“Where’s Liu Yi?”
Xiao Ma and the others, mouths agape and drenched in sweat, all looked toward the back of the door—
With a creak, the wooden door opened. Xia Liu Yi stumbled out from behind it, clutching the back of his head, looking disheveled, casually tossing aside the stool leg.
“Eldest.”
Hao Cheng Qing frowned slightly.
“I was standing behind the door beating someone, Eldest!” Xia Liu Yi said, aggrieved, rubbing his head. “Next time, can you give a warning before coming in?”
Hao Cheng Qing laughed, draping an arm over his shoulder and personally rubbing the back of his head.
“Does it hurt?”
“It hurts!” Xia Liu Yi replied without hesitation. “You owe me compensation.”
“I’ll give you the new nightclub to manage. Enough?”
“Enough! Enough!” Xia Liu Yi immediately accepted, then shot a murderous glare at Xiao Ma and the others. They instantly sprang into action—serving tea, dusting, tidying—ushering the Azure Dragon Boss onto the sofa.
He Chu San, still struggling on the floor behind the door, was lifted away by two men without a word, no longer obstructing the Big Boss’s presence.
The subordinates respectfully closed the door, leaving only Azure Dragon and Xia Liu Yi inside.
Xia Liu Yi sat down beside him.
“Eldest, what brings you here?”
“Xiao Man wanted to visit the filming set…”
Before he finished, Xia Liu Yi jumped up. “Xiao Man’s here? Where?”
Azure Dragon calmly took a cigar from the box on the table.
Xia Liu Yi obediently sat back down and lit it for him.
“Eldest, my mistake—I interrupted again. Please continue.”
Azure Dragon took a slow puff, handed the cigar over, and only then continued,
“She got dizzy near the entrance. I had someone send her back.”
“Is her health still not good? How’s her mood lately?”
Azure Dragon shook his head.
“I’ve been too busy. You should visit her more when you have time.”
“Alright,” Xia Liu Yi nodded, then asked, “That nightclub—you’re really giving it to me?”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“It might not be appropriate,” Xia Liu Yi said, complaining as he lit another cigar. “Xu Ying has been unhappy with me lately…”
“You don’t need to worry about him,” Azure Dragon said. “If there’s anything you don’t understand in the accounts, ask Dong Dong.”
Xia Liu Yi lowered his head, thinking everything through carefully.
“Alright. Don’t worry—I’ll handle it.”
Azure Dragon smiled. “You’re sensible. I trust you.”
They spoke a while longer about business. Azure Dragon noticed the scattered handwritten pages on the floor, some stained with blood.
“What’s this?”
“A new movie script,” Xia Liu Yi said awkwardly. “I had a college student write it, but he made a mess…”
Before he could stop him,Azure Dragon had already picked up a page.
“Pick up the rest.”
Xia Liu Yi had no choice but to scramble around and gather them.
He stood stiffly as Azure Dragon flipped through page after page, his heart pounding.
“That kid’s brain is broken—I already beat him up, I—”
“Not bad,” Azure Dragon said calmly. “Film it like this.”
“…What?!”
Azure Dragon set the script down, stood up, and patted his head.
“I have things to attend to. I’ll leave now. Remember to visit Xiao Man.”
“…Ah, right…”
AfterAzure Dragon left, Xia Liu Yi leaned against the door, staring blankly at the script for a long moment before sighing softly.
He took out a cigarette and lit it.
“Xiao Ma!”
“Here!”
“Take that kid to get treated.”
……
He Chu San had bandages wrapped several times around his chest, several more around his arm, and even the turban on his head hadn’t been removed—he had effectively “leveled up” from an “Indian A’San” into a “mummy-version Indian A’San.”
He sat with his head lowered at the edge of the film set, watching a group of small-time thugs bustle about under the director’s instructions, arranging props. Suddenly, everyone stopped at once and respectfully called out in unison—that meant Xia Liu Yi had arrived to inspect the set.
Everyone flattered Xia Liu Yi. Only He Chu San kept his head down, ignoring everything, continuing to write the next scene’s dialogue as a small act of resistance.
Everyone here was a villain. Xia Liu Yi was the worst of them.
He only wanted to finish writing all the dialogue as quickly as possible, finish filming, and return to school.
He had already missed two weeks of classes; his attendance had plummeted. This semester’s scholarship was definitely gone. Next semester, he would have to ask his father for tuition—at twenty-one, unable to support his father and still spending his money—it made him feel deeply ashamed.
He wrote furiously with a gloomy expression when suddenly a gentle voice beside him startled him so much that his pen flew out of his hand.
“What’s your name?”
It was a delicately made-up woman—the female lead of the film, Xiao Man, Azure Dragon’s wife, the sister-in-law of Xiao Qi Hall. She had been present these past few days during filming, though He Chu San had only glanced at her from afar, uninterested.
Now that he looked properly, he realized she had refined features and a gentle temperament—completely unlike the flamboyant or brash women from the red-light districts he was used to seeing.
Yet for some reason, she reminded him faintly of that villainous boss. Especially the shape of her slightly upturned eyes—only Xia Liu Yi’s gaze held a lazy cunning, while hers was hazy and unfocused, tinged with a constant melancholy.
He stared blankly, not answering, looking almost frightened. Xiao Man didn’t mind and asked again, “What’s your name?”
“He Chu San.”
She smiled. “Were you born on the third day of the Lunar New Year?”
“Yes.”
She smiled again and reached out to ruffle his turban like petting a puppy. For some reason, he felt her gaze was slightly vacant, her movements a little odd.
“I heard you’re a university student?”
“Yes.”
“That’s wonderful. I never even went to primary school. Is university fun?”
He Chu San thought for a moment and replied irrelevantly,
“There are many books in the library.”
“I don’t like reading—I like singing,” Xiao Man replied just as irrelevantly. Then, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, she quietly sang a short piece to him.
He found her increasingly strange but said nothing, listening attentively. She sang beautifully—her voice clear and bright, like a little oriole in spring.
“Sister-in-Law! We’re about to start filming!” someone called.
Xiao Man straightened and glanced at the person—her expression instantly turned blank, carrying the dignified authority of the sister-in-law. The caller immediately stopped urging and simply waited.
She turned back to He Chu San. “What happened to your head? Were you hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Who hit you?”
“Brother Liu Yi.”
Xiao Man sighed. “A’Liu… he’s being naughty again. I’ll speak to him for you.”
“No, no need,” He Chu San said nervously.
“I must,” Xiao Man said, eyes wide and hollow, shaking her head. “He’s always like this—he can’t make friends. Don’t blame him. He just has no one to play with. Back then, he was so pitiful—only the two of us.”
Hearing her describe the terrifying “Children’s Day tyrant” as a pitiful abandoned puppy made He Chu San shiver.
To steer the conversation away from becoming even stranger, he carefully said, “Sister-in-Law, shouldn’t you go film?”
She smiled faintly. “What’s there to film? No matter how much I act… he won’t watch.”
He Chu San assumed “he” referred to Xia Liu Yi. Given he was currently writing a gangster romance, his mind instantly spun wild stories of forbidden love, heartbreak, and tragedy between this sister-in-law and Xia Liu Yi…
Fortunately, another voice cut in, ending his imagination.
“Sis, filming’s starting—why are you still here?”
He Chu San’s eyes widened as he saw Xiao Man tiptoe, pull Xia Liu Yi’s head down, and plant an affectionate kiss on his forehead, then ruffle his hair like petting a dog.
Xia Liu Yi, hair tousled, smiled gently—like a lion turned vegetarian.
“Go on, Sis. Everyone’s waiting.”
Xiao Man smiled at He Chu San before skipping away.
He Chu San was still staring after her when Xia Liu Yi slapped a plate of beef offal onto the table to startle him.
“What are you staring at? Want your eyeballs dug out?”
“She… is your real sister?”
“Call her Sister-in-Law!”
“Oh.”
He Chu San glanced furtively at Xia Liu Yi sitting on the table eating beef offal. His head, chest, and arm all throbbed faintly—he constantly felt like Xia Liu Yi might suddenly grab a stool and smash him again.
Could you not sit here… I can’t write with you watching, he thought gloomily.
While he sulked, Xia Liu Yi was in an excellent mood.
Recently, he had clashed with a minor leader from the Sha Family Gang over business. The gang had smashed up one of his gambling dens. Xiao Ma, quick-witted, had pocketed the cash and retreated with their people, leaving behind two men planted by Deputy Hall Master Xu. Those unlucky two were beaten badly.
The next day, Xia Liu Yi visited them in an underground clinic, inspected their miserable injuries, and then smoothly replaced them with his own men—after which he led his crew to seize three of the Sha Family Gang’s venues, looting over a hundred thousand in cash.
The Sha boss called Azure Dragon, demanding an explanation. Qing Long calmly stated it was a minor dispute between juniors and soothed him—then suggested both sides withdraw and keep the peace.
The Sha boss nearly spat blood in anger—but having suffered heavy losses, he could only swallow it and quietly mark the grudge against Xia Liu Yi.
Xia Liu Yi, counting money happily and boosting the gang’s reputation, didn’t care in the slightest. After ten years in the underworld, he had too many enemies to count.
As he sat on the table eating beef offal and calculating profits, he waved Xiao Ma over, intending to distribute the money among the brothers.
Xiao Ma hurried over—but before he reached him, he suddenly pointed upward and screamed:
“Boss Liu Yi, watch out!”
He Chu San’s pen flew out of his hand again. He looked up—
A massive iron beam with two long fluorescent lights attached came crashing down from above!
He was pinned against the wall—there was no time to escape. He could only watch helplessly as it fell toward his head—
In that split second, Xia Liu Yi—who could have easily jumped aside—lunged forward instead!
He bent down, pulling He Chu San into his arms, and simultaneously punched upward—
BANG!
He actually smashed the falling iron structure away!
He Chu San stared blankly, face buried in Xia Liu Yi’s chest, smelling the beef offal scent on him. The weather had grown cool, yet Xia Liu Yi still wore only a thin tank top. His lips brushed against a firm protrusion on Xia Liu Yi’s chest—
Cold sweat broke out instantly.
That spot was extremely sensitive for Xia Liu Yi. His face darkened as he shoved him away.
“The hell are you rubbing against me for?! You trying to nurse like a baby or what?!?!”
He Chu San blinked blankly, then looked down at his shoulder—
There was a bloody handprint.
A group of subordinates rushed over shouting,
“Boss Liu Yi!”
“Are you alright?!”
“You’re bleeding!”
Blood covered Xia Liu Yi’s hands, arms, and forehead. Though he felt it was nothing serious, his men panicked, crowding around to take him for treatment.
They hadn’t gone far when a piercing scream rang out—
“A’Hao——!”
Xiao Man rushed in like a madwoman, clawing into Xia Liu Yi’s arm, screaming hysterically,
“A’Hao! What happened to you?! Don’t die! A’Hao!”
She clung to him and wailed uncontrollably, completely unhinged. The subordinates exchanged looks—he hadn’t been killed by injury, but might be strangled by her instead.
Finally, Xiao Ma cautiously stepped forward. “Sister-in-Law… ”
“Ah——!” Xiao Man shrieked, startling him backward.
“Don’t come over! Don’t hit him! Don’t hit him!” she cried, curling up and trembling—then suddenly threw herself back over Xia Liu Yi. “Hit me instead! Don’t hit A’Hao! You’ll kill him!”
“I’m fine, Sis,” Xia Liu Yi said weakly, struggling to breathe.
She kept sobbing.
“I’m really fine. You’re just frightened—I’ll take you home.”
At his signal, the men helped them away. Xiao Man still clung tightly to his injured arm. Though his face turned pale from pain, Xia Liu Yi made no attempt to shake her off, gently patting her hand as they left together.
Xiao Ma stayed behind to clean up and quietly asked an older subordinate,
“Hey… what did Sister-in-Law call Boss Liu Yi? ‘A’Hao’?”
“Seems like his old name,” the man whispered. “He wasn’t called Liu Yi before—he changed it after following the Boss.”
They had completely forgotten He Chu San—
The unlucky young man, who had just survived death, sat stiffly at the table, staring blankly at the plate of beef offal stained with blood.
Futile Devices Scans 
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