After a grueling night of battle, Xiao Ma had nearly drained himself dry and died in the line of duty. He slept until noon the next day and woke with rubbery legs, a spinning head, and stars dancing before his eyes. He splashed water over his face twice in front of the bathroom mirror. One look at his unmistakably overindulged, physically depleted reflection made him sigh deeply. Even a hero could be brought low.
Jade Guanyin was crouched on the living-room sofa in nothing but his shirt, holding a kitchen knife and looking down as she worked on something. Xiao Ma poked his head out with a toothbrush between his teeth, took one look, and roared, “Little bastard! That’s my vegetable knife! You’re using it to trim your toenails?!”
Jade Guanyin raised the knife and examined it unconcernedly. “I thought it was for chopping people. What are you scared of? It’s not like I have athlete’s foot.”
“Fuck! You pervert! You’ve got ‘disgusting’ written all over you from head to toe!” Xiao Ma charged out and snatched away the knife. After rummaging through his drawers, he finally threw her a nail clipper. “Do you have some kind of flashing fetish?! Put on some pants!”
“I’ve run out of clean underwear,” Jade Guanyin said, pouting.
“I’ll buy you some later, all right?!” Xiao Ma dug out a pair of his own jeans and threw them at her. “Wear these for now!”
“Buy women’s underwear. The lacy kind.”
“Would women’s underwear even fit you? Cut off that disgusting thing first!”
“Why?” Jade Guanyin sounded genuinely hurt. “You seemed to enjoy touching it last night.”
“You grabbed my hand and made me touch it! Shut up, you pervert!”
“Brother Ma is so handsome when he’s angry. Be meaner to me.”
“Ahhh! You fucking pervert! The second your injuries heal, get the hell out of my place!”
The more he cursed, the more delighted Jade Guanyin looked. She stretched out seductively across the sofa and watched Xiao Ma dress and put on his shoes. Just as he was about to leave, she added, “I want steak today.”
“Stake, my ass!” Xiao Ma cursed viciously. “Stay here and behave! …I’ll take you out for steak when I get back.”
“Hee-hee. All right.”
He slammed the door behind him, carefully locked both locks, then yawned all the way to the private hospital.
Still half asleep, he stepped out of the elevator and nodded to the bodyguards stationed outside Boss Xia’s room. The instant he pushed open the door, the furious argument inside shocked him wide awake.
“I told you to help him restructure the business! I didn’t tell you to drag him into the underworld!”
“I dragged him in? Was yesterday the first day he met you?! Did he not know what line of work we’re in?! If he dared set his sights on you, then he jumped into this muddy water himself! He wants to come in clean and leave with spotless hands? Ha! What a fucking joke!”
Xiao Ma carefully locked the door behind him, then sidled over with a placating smile. “Boss, Boss Dong Dong, what’s worth getting this upset over? It wouldn’t look good if the men outside heard…”
“Shut up!” the Boss and the female boss shouted in unison, each hurling a pillow at him.
Xia Liu Yi continued, “If he wants to play at ‘going legitimate,’ give him a few legitimate businesses to play with. Why did you bring him to meet the other brothers? Why did you let him touch head-office affairs?”
“If he wants to muddy the waters, he has to pay the price! Joining the society is his pledge of allegiance!”
“Pledge of allegiance, my ass! Stop making decisions behind my back! Starting today, take every single matter out of his hands!”
Cui Dong Dong sneered. “Too late. Didn’t your little bastard tell you? He isn’t just an ‘investment adviser’ in public anymore. A month ago, he burned incense, swore the blood oath, and formally joined the hall. From that day onward, he became a member of Xiao Qi Hall. Once you join the society, you don’t walk away. Everyone knows that.”
Xia Liu Yi shot out of bed and seized Cui Dong Dong by the collar.
Xiao Ma hurriedly threw himself between them. “Boss, your leg is still injured! Lie back down. Boss Dong Dong, say less too. The Boss isn’t well right now…”
“Shut up!” the Boss and the lady boss shouted together, each swatting him aside with one hand.
“Cui Dong Dong, you’ve got some nerve,” Xia Liu Yi said through clenched teeth, barely containing his fury. “You know this is the one thing I can’t tolerate.”
“You should be saying your little bastard has some nerve,” Cui Dong Dong replied with a cold laugh. “The moment I told him joining was a condition, he agreed. He really will do anything to drag you onto the straight and narrow.”
Xia Liu Yi’s anger shifted into suspicion. He frowned, thought for a moment, then released her collar and sat back down. “You still don’t trust him? You were testing him?”
“I believe he means no harm, but that doesn’t mean he has no agenda,” Cui Dong Dong said. “If he wants to change Xiao Qi Hall, he first has to climb aboard Xiao Qi Hall’s pirate ship. I won’t let someone interfere in society affairs while keeping his own hands clean.”
This time, Xia Liu Yi sneered. “Deputy Hall Master Cui, you’ve been clever all your life, but you’ve made one spectacularly stupid mistake. He never intended to keep his hands clean. When I went to prison and he refused to help, it was because he knew coming forward then wouldn’t accomplish anything. Now he agreed to join because it plays straight into his hands! He must have noticed something and realized I’m not genuinely going legitimate yet, so he wants to infiltrate us and find out what I’m hiding. You think that boy cares about preserving a little public ‘innocence’? What he wants is for me, you, Xiao Ma, and every last person in Xiao Qi Hall to turn over a new leaf and wash our hands of the underworld!”
He lit a cigarette, wearily blew out a smoke ring, and sighed. “Now that you’ve let him join, you’ve placed every one of us right under his nose. That boy’s best trick is boiling frogs slowly and buying people’s loyalty before they even realize what happened. Didn’t you see those idiots calling him brother yesterday? Go check. I guarantee half of them have already bought financial products through this ‘investment adviser’ and are waiting to collect their profits at the end of the year. If I’d stayed locked up another two months, Xiao Qi Hall would have changed its surname to He!”
He pointed the cigarette toward Xiao Ma, who was crouched to one side, rubbing his face with an aggrieved expression. “Ask him what he bought if you don’t believe me.”
Cui Dong Dong stared at Xiao Ma in disbelief. Xiao Ma trembled. “N-no, it’s not—I…”
“What. Did. You. Buy?” Cui Dong Dong asked, her face turning icy.
Xiao Ma covered his head and shrank into the corner. “Two hundred thousand dollars’ worth of shares.”
“Ma! Ru! Long!” Cui Dong Dong charged over, seized his ear, and began beating him. “You hopeless idiot! Haven’t you always hated him?”
“Ow, ow, ow! I hate him, but I don’t hate money! Besides, Boss Dong Dong, weren’t you the one who brought him to the company and introduced him as our investment adviser? Of course we went to him to ask about ‘investments’… Ow! It hurts! Boss Dong Dong, Boss Dong Dong, I was wrong! Stop hitting me! I have important business to report! If you beat me to death, I won’t be able to tell you! Ahhh…”
In the end, before Xiao Ma could be beaten into a pig’s head, Xia Liu Yi said, “Forget it. If even you fell for that little bastard, what chance did the others have?” He tossed Cui Dong Dong a cigarette, finally rescuing Xiao Ma.
Xiao Ma covered his head and hid behind Xia Liu Yi, feeling deeply wronged. Damn it. He had finally developed the tiniest sliver of goodwill toward that He brat for the sake of money, and this beating had knocked it clean out of him again.
Boss Xia personally lit Deputy Hall Master Cui’s cigarette and soothed her. “The little bastard won’t be able to uncover anything yet, and we genuinely plan to restructure most of our businesses. Just be more careful around him when you handle the rest.”
Still furious, Cui Dong Dong turned her fire on the Boss. “Honestly, you could have kept any pretty boy you wanted. Why did you have to choose the most troublesome one?”
“Weren’t you the one constantly encouraging me to keep him back then?” Xia Liu Yi snapped. “Now you’re acting wise after the fact!”
Cui Dong Dong snorted. Since the Boss was injured, she wisely decided not to argue further.
“Fine, it was my mistake,” she conceded. “I failed to see through A’San’s plan and let him use me instead. Forget that for now. What did you get out of Shrimp Skin?”
Xia Liu Yi glanced at the tightly closed door, crushed out his cigarette, and lowered his voice. “The order to kill Azure Dragon didn’t come from Inspector Xu. It came from Inspector Hua.”
“What?!”
The three remained shut inside for a long time, whispering among themselves. Xia Liu Yi explained the full story, but Cui Dong Dong only became more doubtful.
“Azure Dragon always had a good relationship with Inspector Hua. Why would Inspector Hua want him dead?” she asked.
Xia Liu Yi shook his head. “I think the Old Shopkeeper was involved. Inspector Hua told Fat Seven, ‘As long as Azure Dragon dies, it doesn’t matter who takes over.’ Stirring up chaos while secretly controlling both sides of the law—that sounds exactly like the Old Shopkeeper.”
“The Old Shopkeeper?!” Cui Dong Dong looked even more puzzled. “We’ve never dealt with him directly. Every year, we paid him his full share through Inspector Hua. What reason would he have to kill Azure Dragon?”
Xia Liu Yi considered it. “Maybe Azure Dragon blocked one of his sources of income. Maybe he discovered something. Either way, we have to get to the bottom of this. I want to meet the Old Shopkeeper in person.”
He told Cui Dong Dong, “On the surface, cooperate with A’San. Restructure every business that can be restructured. Privately, our partnership with Master Qiao can’t stop. We still need to move ‘goods’ from Thailand for him. The underworld says the various He societies have prospered all these years because the Old Shopkeeper supports them from behind the scenes. Rumor has it Master Qiao has direct contact with him. I want Master Qiao to make the introduction. O Division is watching me closely now. At the end of the year, go to Thailand in my place and finalize the next transaction with Golden Maitreya. Once the goods arrive, transfer all of them to Master Qiao. Don’t sell any through our own establishments.”
Cui Dong Dong nodded.
“Also, don’t stop the red envelopes for the inspectors. Double them. Ever since Inspector Hua died, no new ‘representative’ has stepped forward to speak for the Old Shopkeeper. The political situation has probably made him more cautious. Spend more time with the inspectors and find out whether anyone else knows his true identity.”
“All right.”
Xia Liu Yi sighed. “Be careful when you handle these matters. Keep A’San away from them.”
Cui Dong Dong sighed as well. The troublesome man in the Boss’s household. “I know.”
“You had something to report?” Xia Liu Yi asked Xiao Ma.
Xiao Ma had absorbed far too much information that day and was still trying to process it. He hesitated for a long while. “Boss, there is something I need to confess, but promise you won’t beat me first. You were in prison, and Boss Dong Dong was busy. I thought I shouldn’t create more trouble for you…”
“Enough!” Xia Liu Yi cut him off impatiently. “We won’t beat you. Spit it out.”
“Cough. About a month ago, near the company, I found… cough… Jade Guanyin.”
Cui Dong Dong frowned. “Jade Guanyin? The one from Thailand?”
“Xiao Yu?” Xia Liu Yi asked, equally suspicious.
“That’s her. I don’t know how she offended Golden Maitreya, but he had her chased all the way here. She said she had something important to tell you and wanted to wait until you were out of prison so she could speak to you face-to-face. Yesterday, I told her you were out, but then she said she would wait until you left the hospital…”
“She says something and you believe it?!” Xia Liu Yi cursed. “That creature is a fox spirit in human skin. No one can ever tell what she’s planning! What has she been doing this whole time?”
“Nothing. She was injured when she arrived and said Golden Maitreya had sent assassins everywhere looking for her, so I hid her at my place. She sleeps there every day and hasn’t gone anywhere…” Xiao Ma paused, then added reluctantly, “She’s been as docile as a cat.”
“A cat?” Xia Liu Yi sneered. “Have you ever met a cat that could bite through your neck in one bite? You’re lucky to still be alive!”
Xiao Ma shrank his neck. Since he had never seen Jade Guanyin in action, he remained unconvinced. “She doesn’t seem that terrifying…”
“You don’t know a damn thing!” Xia Liu Yi snapped. “What business could she possibly have with me? Most likely, she only wants to borrow my power to hide from Golden Maitreya. If you aren’t afraid of dying, keep her at your place. We’ll deal with her after I leave the hospital. Keep a close eye on her!”
“Yes, Boss!”
…
After sending Cui Dong Dong and Xiao Ma away, Xia Liu Yi lay alone in the hospital bed, smoking and thinking. When he casually glanced up and noticed the time on the wall clock, the smoke immediately went down the wrong way. Coughing, he hurriedly crushed out the cigarette, opened his mouth, and blew several hard breaths. He sniffed around the room, then carried his IV bottle and limped to the window to push it open, letting the wind disperse the smell.
Elite He walked in at that exact moment during his company’s lunch break, carrying an insulated food container. Boss Xia hurriedly threw the remaining cigarette butt out the window and assumed a dignified pose of admiring the view.
“Brother Liu Yi, why are you out of bed?” He Chu San hurried over to support him. “Press the call button if you need something and ask the nurse’s aide. You could ask the bodyguards outside too.”
“Enough nagging!” Xia Liu Yi waved a hand with imposing authority. “I’m not made of paper. What’s wrong with getting up for some air?”
“All right, all right. I know you’re bored. After lunch, I’ll push you downstairs for a walk in the garden. Just don’t get out of bed by yourself again.”
“Enough nonsense!”
The nagging, nonsensical Elite He sighed, helped him sit back on the bed, raised the over-bed table, and took out the dishes one by one, dutifully serving Boss Xia his lunch.
“Have you eaten?” Xia Liu Yi remembered to ask only after taking two sips of soup.
“I’ll eat when I get back to the office.”
Xia Liu Yi used the lid of the container as a bowl, filled it with rice, and added a large pork rib.
“You don’t have to. There’s only enough for one person…”
“Quiet. Eat.”
He Chu San obediently fell silent, accepted the lid, and quietly shoveled rice into his mouth with a spoon. Xia Liu Yi added two chopstickfuls of vegetables.
“What are you smiling about?”
“I’m not.”
“Little bastard.” Xia Liu Yi cursed, then noisily drank two more mouthfuls of soup. “Stop coming at noon from now on. I have people who can bring me food.”
“Didn’t you say the hospital food tasted bad?”
“Can’t I have the bodyguards buy something from a nearby restaurant?”
“Restaurants use too much seasoning. It isn’t good for your recovery.”
“Can’t I survive without you? Stop talking nonsense. Finish eating and get back to the office. You’re not allowed to come at lunchtime anymore.”
He Chu San said softly, “Brother Liu Yi, don’t send me away. I’m really not busy, and this isn’t difficult. The company cares about results, not how many hours I sit there. It doesn’t matter if I go back a little later. Tomorrow, I’ll cook enough for two and bring it so we can eat together, all right?”
“Hmph.”
Xia Liu Yi gave a noncommittal grunt and lowered his head to drink his soup. After several mouthfuls, he finally could not stand it anymore. “What are you smiling about now?”
“I’m not.”
The two finished their meal in an unbearably sweet, clingy atmosphere. He Chu San cleared the dishes and unfolded the wheelchair, preparing to take Boss Xia downstairs for some sunlight. Xia Liu Yi sat watching him tidy up when his expression suddenly stiffened. Before he could stop him, He Chu San had already uncovered a lighter buried beneath a pile of fruit on the bedside cabinet.
Xia Liu Yi coughed. “Xiao Ma came earlier. He left it behind… Why the fuck are you looking at me like that? So I smoked one cigarette. What about it?!”
He Chu San sighed and slipped the lighter into his pocket. “Don’t do it again, Brother Liu Yi.”
“You’re trying to control me?!” Boss Xia demanded.
“Yes, I am,” He Chu San replied as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He leaned closer, straightened Xia Liu Yi’s hospital gown, and settled a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. “You just need someone to keep you in line.”
The moment he finished, he nimbly tilted his head and dodged Boss Xia’s incoming slap. Smiling, he pushed the wheelchair toward the door. “Come on. We’re going downstairs for some fresh air, Boss.”
The two bodyguards outside immediately straightened their backs and assumed solemn, professional expressions when they saw them emerge.
“Hello, Brother Nan,” He Chu San greeted warmly.
A’Nan thrust his chest out even farther. “Hello, Mr. He!”
“And how should I address this gentleman?” He Chu San asked the other man.
“Hello, Mr. He! I’m A’Mao!”
“Brother Mao.” He Chu San nodded with a faint smile. “Sorry to trouble you both, but hand over your cigarettes and lighters.”
“Huh?” The two bodyguards spoke at once and turned toward the Boss in the wheelchair. His face was pitch-black, but he pretended not to hear.
A’Nan and A’Mao obediently emptied their pockets and handed over their cigarettes and lighters. He Chu San nodded in satisfaction and continued smiling. “The Boss needs to recover. Please remind the other brothers not to smoke in his hospital room. No alcohol is allowed inside either. Thank you for your trouble.”
“It’s no trouble! No trouble at all!” The two bodyguards hurriedly shook their heads, then eagerly began currying favor with the Boss’s wife. “Mr. He, I’ll call the elevator!” “Mr. He, let me carry your bag!”
Boss Xia’s expression grew darker by the second. Sitting in his wheelchair with the look of a man who had lost all hope, he was pushed away by his newly self-appointed keeper.
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