At dusk, He Chu San returned to the apartment building he had rented. The elevator doors slid open slowly, revealing A’Nan and A’Mao standing in the corridor, waiting anxiously.
That very morning, the two had been lazily asleep when a call from the Boss jolted them awake—Sister-in-law had gone missing! Xia Liu Yi, upon learning that He Chu San had not returned to the Chinese temple in Nakhon Pathom, concluded at once that he must have gone back to Hong Kong. The bodyguards rushed to Bangkok to meet the frantic Boss, boarded the earliest flight home, and searched everywhere—He Chu San’s residence, his company, Mr. He’s home, even Xin Xin’s art school—but found no trace of him. With no other choice, they returned to wait.
Now, seeing him finally appear, both men let out a breath of relief—only for their expressions to turn into ones of sympathy. A’Nan pointed subtly toward the door, his gestures making it clear: the Boss is furious.
He Chu San nodded calmly, took out his key, and entered.
The room was unlit. The glow from the corridor spilled in through the doorway, illuminating Xia Liu Yi seated on the sofa—his expression dark—and the wreckage strewn across the floor.
He Chu San was suddenly reminded of that shabby little room in Sheung Wan, when Xia Liu Yi had discovered the secretly taken photograph and waited at home to “interrogate” him. The resemblance between then and now was uncanny. Yet this time, he felt none of the guilt or unease he once had.
And what right did Xia Liu Yi have to question him?
He turned and shut the door without switching on the light. One stood, one sat—they faced each other in the dark.
“Where did you go?” Xia Liu Yi demanded, agitation breaking through. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?! Why did you come back to Hong Kong alone?!”
He Chu San did not answer. Instead, he asked calmly, “Why did you go to Thailand? What secret is hidden in that photograph?”
Xia Liu Yi drew a deep breath, suppressing the emotions on the verge of erupting. “It has nothing to do with you. Don’t ask. Give the photo back.”
“I recognized one of the men—he’s Azure Dragon’s father. Did you go to Thailand because of Azure Dragon? Were you looking for this photograph, or the people in it? How did Xiao Ma die? Why were you and Qin Hao injured? What are you planning to do next—”
“I said it’s none of your business!” Xia Liu Yi snapped, suddenly rising to his feet, cutting him off.
Without warning, He Chu San tore the ring from his finger and hurled it at him.
The ring grazed Xia Liu Yi’s cheek and struck the window behind him with a sharp ting! The glimmer of the diamond vanished into the darkness.
“I’m your husband! Everything about you concerns me!” he roared. All the anger he had suppressed for days burst forth at once. “How much longer are you going to hide things from me?! Do you have to die in front of me before you’re satisfied?!”
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Xia Liu Yi shot back. He had never seen He Chu San like this—unrestrained, out of control—and found the sudden fury utterly baffling.
“You’re the one who’s gone mad!” He Chu San retorted. “Where’s your ring? I wanted to ask the moment I got to Thailand—where is your ring?!”
Xia Liu Yi froze.
Speechless.
—The ring he had worn around his neck had been lost somewhere during that desperate escape, swallowed by the boundless forest.
Silence stretched long between them.
In the darkness, He Chu San let out a soft, disappointed laugh.
“So living properly with me… is really that hard for you.”
He turned and reached for the door.
Xia Liu Yi lunged forward instinctively, grabbing his arm. Their bodies collided against the half-open door, forcing it shut again.
“Listen to me! A’San!” Xia Liu Yi’s heart pounded wildly, thunderous in his ears. He pinned He Chu San against the door, yet felt as though the man might slip through his grasp at any moment.
He Chu San looked straight into his eyes—sharp, piercing, leaving him nowhere to hide. In silence, he waited.
Waited for his “explanation.”
But Xia Liu Yi could not explain.
He had gone to Thailand for vengeance. Xiao Ma had died under the pursuit of Interpol and the betrayal of Jade Guanyin. The people in that photograph had destroyed Azure Dragon’s lineage. He still intended to investigate further, to deal with dangerous figures through deceit, to kill, to risk his life again and again—
He Chu San would worry. He would try to stop him. Worse—he would be dragged into that danger.
Facing his gaze, Xia Liu Yi forced the words out.
“It’s not what you think. I lost the ring during the fight. I went to Thailand because Xiao Ma offended a local boss—the Thai man in that photo, an old acquaintance of Azure Dragon’s father. Xiao Ma was detained there. I brought Qin Hao to rescue him…”
He recounted everything in detail—the story he had rehearsed countless times, every perilous moment vivid in his mind.
He Chu San listened in silence.
“…I brought the photograph just to establish some connection,” Xia Liu Yi finished. “That’s all. Do you understand?”
He Chu San lowered his eyes. In the dimness, his expression could not be seen.
“So you’re saying your trip to Thailand had nothing to do with Azure Dragon?” he asked, his voice calm once more.
“Nothing at all. You’re overthinking it.”
He Chu San gave another soft laugh.
“So it really is me overthinking. I thought—even if I couldn’t compare to him—I would at least hold half your heart. Seems I was mistaken. I’ve given everything I could… but I can’t change your past. From the moment he died, I had already lost. I don’t blame you for still loving him. But I cannot accept my husband lying to me again and again. And I refuse to share your feelings with someone else.”
He took out the photograph from his pocket and pressed it into Xia Liu Yi’s hand. Then he pushed him aside and stepped back.
“This house is mine. The one who should leave… is not me.”
Xia Liu Yi stared at him in shock—at that cold, distant expression.
He could scarcely comprehend what he was hearing.
“What nonsense are you talking?!” he demanded, reaching for him again—but He Chu San swiftly stepped back once more.
“Take all those bodyguards outside with you,” he said evenly. “I have nothing to do with their Boss anymore.”
“A’San!” Xia Liu Yi called, alarmed.
“Xia Liu Yi,” He Chu San said calmly, “you claim this has nothing to do with Azure Dragon. But on New Year’s Eve… the night you had that nightmare—you held me and called ‘Eldest’ all night. You kept begging him to ‘come back,’ saying, ‘I’ll kill them… I’ll avenge you.’”
“….”
The color drained from Xia Liu Yi’s face. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, and through that roaring, he heard He Chu San’s final words—
“Leave.”
……
At dawn, the telephone rang beside the bed.
Cui Dong Dong was roused from a haze of warmth and softness. Annoyed, she burrowed downward, burying her face into Xiao Luo’s chest.
“Answer it,” Xiao Luo mumbled, pushing her.
“You answer,” Cui Dong Dong muttered, reluctant to leave that soft, warm comfort.
“It’s on your side,” Xiao Luo nudged again.
“Ahhh, so damn annoying—” Cui Dong Dong groaned, rolling over with great effort, dragging her arm and waist until she finally reached the mobile phone. Snatching it up, she snapped, “Which idiot is calling this early, looking to die for waking me up?!”
After a few words from the other end, she jolted upright.
“What? The Boss came back yesterday? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!”
She hung up and shoved Xiao Luo. “The Boss is back—I need to go to the company. Get up and make me breakfast.”
“I’m sleeping. Go eat outside yourself.” Xiao Luo rolled over, pulling the blanket over her head.
“Hey—what kind of wife are you?” Cui Dong Dong complained, pushing her again.
“Who’s your wife? Go marry whoever you want,” came the muffled reply from beneath the covers.
Cui Dong Dong shoved her once more, grumbling as she got out of bed and rummaged through the wardrobe. “Damn it, your temper’s getting worse—are you the boss here or am I? I swear I’ll divorce you.”
“So noisy. Hurry up and leave.”
“……”
……
On the way, Cui Dong Dong sat in the car, fuming as she downed a cup of coffee and devoured two pineapple buns. She almost wished she could take a bite out of Xiao Luo herself—preferably right out of her chest. Once she had eaten her fill, her mood improved somewhat. Bright and spirited again, she strode into the company, ready to welcome her Boss who had returned from the brink of death—after days of worry.
Yet when she reached the door of the CEO’s office, A’Nan and A’Mao, who stood guard outside, exchanged a glance and quickly pulled her aside, whispering a few cautious words into her ear.
“What?! Thrown out?!” Cui Dong Dong blurted in shock—only to have her mouth immediately covered by A Nan.
“Then… where did he sleep last night?” she lowered her voice and asked.
A’Mao pointed gloomily toward the office. “Stayed inside all night. Didn’t sleep.”
“The Boss must be heartbroken,” A’Nan said worriedly. “We’re all afraid something might happen to him. Boss, go comfort him—we don’t dare go in. We’re counting on you.”
“Tsk, tsk, how the tables turn,” Cui Dong Dong sighed. “Used to be him telling others to scram all day—now he’s the one getting kicked out. Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“……” “……”
Lady boss, with that gloating attitude, you’re going to get chopped to pieces if you go in.
Cui Dong Dong smacked each of them on the head, knocking away their anxious expressions, and whispered, “What are you staring at? This Boss knows her limits! This concerns the Big Boss’s dignity—no one else is to know. If word gets out, you two will be…” She made a throat-slitting gesture.
A’Nan and A’Mao nodded frantically like pecking chickens.
After thoroughly intimidating—and teasing—the bodyguards, Cui Dong Dong straightened her appearance, composed herself into a serious, professional demeanor as though utterly ignorant of last night’s gossip, knocked on the door, and entered with confidence.
Inside was nothing like the chaotic wreck she had expected. Xia Liu Yi reclined in his chair, idly turning over a group photograph of his sworn brothers on the desk.
Sensing her presence, he did not even lift his head. “You’re here? Sit.”
“You came back yesterday and didn’t even say a word?” Cui Dong Dong shut the door behind her. “Have you eaten? I brought you two pineapple buns.”
She set the coffee and buns on the desk, stealing a glance at him. The Boss appeared unusually calm. Aside from a faint stubble on his chin and a slight pallor from a sleepless night, there was almost nothing amiss.
Xia Liu Yi picked up the coffee and buns and ate as if nothing had happened—his appetite seemingly unaffected.
Yet this only made Cui Dong Dong inwardly shudder.
In the past, whenever the Boss quarreled with Sister-in-law, he would be furious one moment, despondent the next—never like this. This level of calm… it meant the wound ran deep.
What exactly did that brat say?
And he actually dared to throw the Boss out? Not afraid of getting his ass stabbed by ten thousand men?
Her thoughts took a sudden, dangerous turn—
Wait… if that brat has the Boss wrapped so tightly around his finger… is he really the one on the bottom? Could it be that he…
“What nonsense are you thinking?” Xia Liu Yi swallowed a mouthful of bread. “Wipe that gossiping look off your face.”
“Cough.” Cui Dong Dong hastily composed herself.
“They told you?” Xia Liu Yi gestured toward the door.
“No, no—cough—they’re just worried about you. Afraid something might happen.”
“What could possibly happen to me?” Xia Liu Yi said calmly. “We just argued a bit. What, do you think I’d grab a knife and chop him up?”
Though his tone was steady, Cui Dong Dong caught the hollow emptiness in his eyes—and that fleeting hint of violence in his words—and understood the depth of his heartbreak.
She walked over, sat on the armrest of his chair, hooked an arm around his neck, and pulled his head gently against her, patting him in comfort.
“Alright, don’t be too upset. No matter what harsh words he said, it’s because he cares about you. You didn’t see how he threw a tantrum at me in this very office before—I’d say he loves you to madness. Give him some time to calm down. He’ll come around.”
Xia Liu Yi remained silent in her embrace for a while before speaking.
“If I don’t tell him everything, he’ll never understand. But I can’t tell him—doing so would not only ruin my plans, it would also put him in danger. I’ve thought all night… and there’s no perfect solution.”
He paused, his expression dim with sorrow.
“Maybe it’s better if we separate for a while. Being with someone like me… it’s too hard for him. I understand him. I care about him. But I can’t stop.”
A trace of grief surfaced in his eyes as he looked up at her.
“They killed Azure Dragon… and Xiao Man. I can’t stop. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Cui Dong Dong replied softly, her own eyes tinged with pain. She pressed his head against her shoulder. “I understand.”
Xia Liu Yi took several deep breaths against her shoulder before regaining his composure. He patted her arm in thanks and straightened.
“Let’s talk business. Qin Hao and the doctor are still in Thailand—send someone to bring them back. Xiao Ma is gone… his position—I want Qin Hao to take it.”
“He’s only just joined and you want to make him a ‘Red Pole’? The brothers might have something to say about that.”
“Everyone knows Qin Hao’s ability to manage territory and his fighting skills. Besides, he took a bullet for me in Thailand and fought to get me out alive. By all rights, he deserves promotion. No need to give him as much real power as Xiao Ma had—just the title. Split Xiao Ma’s duties into three parts: one for Qin Hao, one for Black Chicken, and one for Hornet.”
Black Chicken and Hornet were rising juniors within the gang—mid-level figures personally cultivated by Xia Liu Yi and Cui Dong Dong in recent years. Though the arrangement favored Qin Hao somewhat, it was still reasonable. Moreover, since Xia Liu Yi had taken leadership of Xiao Qi Hall, seniority no longer dictated rank—only ability. With Qin Hao’s competence, any initial dissatisfaction would fade once he proved his worth.
Cui Dong Dong did not object further.
“You told me to keep a close eye on Uncle Yuan while you were in Thailand. What do we do with him now?” she asked.
“Where is he?”
“Spending the past few days playing mahjong with his concubines at his old house on Lantau Island.”
“He’s the Grand Elder—he can’t just disappear without explanation. Set up a ‘game’ for him.”
……
Two days later, Yuan Shu—once the most senior elder of Xiao Qi Hall, a man who had held immense authority in the past and was now retired in comfort—received a private “gift” from Deputy Hall Master Cui Dong Dong: a VIP ticket for a luxury cruise.
The next morning, he boarded a gambling ship bound for international waters.
There, he allegedly lost millions in one night—his entire life savings. Driven to despair, he reportedly leapt into the sea, leaving behind only a suicide note and personal effects confirming his identity.
That very night, however, his bound body—tied like a dumpling—was hauled out of a cargo container, stuffed into the trunk of a car, and transported to a remote, abandoned factory.
……
On that same night, He Chu San—having driven the Boss away and freed from the watch of bodyguards—spent two days moving about in secret, conducting his own investigation.
Now, he shut himself inside his home, carefully organizing the information he had gathered. Then, relying on memory, he dialed a number.
“Hello? Investigator Lu? This is He Chu San. I’d like to meet and talk.”
……
Uncle Yuan was dragged from the trunk and hauled into the factory.
This man, who had spent a lifetime navigating the underworld, who had believed himself fortunate enough to retire peacefully, still did not understand whom he had offended—or why he had been kidnapped. He struggled, muffled cries and curses escaping his gagged throat.
He was thrown onto the open floor. His captors quickly withdrew.
Silence fell.
An eerie, suffocating silence.
He turned his head in panic, trying to see—but there was nothing. The place was pitch-dark, reeking of rot. Having spent decades in the jianghu, he knew that smell all too well.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
After witnessing so many deaths… today, it was finally his turn.
Bang!
A blinding light struck his face. He recoiled, turning away. Footsteps approached.
Squinting, he made out two figures—Xia Liu Yi and Cui Dong Dong—standing before him.
His eyes widened in shock, muffled sounds bursting from his throat.
Xia Liu Yi’s face was devoid of expression. He crouched down and tore the gag from Uncle Yuan’s mouth.
His voice was hoarse, heavy with suppressed emotion, yet outwardly calm.
“You’re old. Leave yourself some dignity. Don’t force me to act—just speak.”
Uncle Yuan struggled to lift his head, still stunned and confused. “Xi… Xiao Liu? Speak what? Why did you bring me here? I don’t even know what’s going on!”
Xia Liu Yi took out a photograph and placed it before him.
“Seen this?”
The moment Uncle Yuan saw it, his expression changed.
“Th-this…”
“Golden Maitreya gave it to me before I killed him.”
“You… you killed Golden Maitreya?!” Uncle Yuan’s face drained of all color.
From his reaction, Xia Liu Yi knew his suspicions were correct. He patted Uncle Yuan’s face lightly, his tone cold.
“I know you had a hand in Azure Dragon’s death. Back then, he found this photo in the Dragon Head’s accounts and suspected something about his father’s death. He came to you with it—but you informed Golden Maitreya. You even instigated Xu Ying to seize power, and in the end, had him executed with ‘three knives and six holes’ to silence him.”
Uncle Yuan trembled uncontrollably, yet still tried to struggle. “N-no, that’s not how it was! Xiao Liu, listen—”
“Shh… shh…” Xia Liu Yi raised a finger to his lips, soothing him like a child.
“You’re not leaving here today. But your wife and children are in my hands. If you don’t want them to follow you in death, then don’t waste a single word.”
He leaned closer, voice low and steady.
“What exactly happened back then? What does this photograph mean? Aside from Hao Wei and Golden Maitreya, who is the third man in the picture? How is it connected to Azure Dragon’s death?”
“Think carefully. Take your time.”
“There are things I already know. For every lie you tell…”
“I’ll cut off one limb from your wife or children.”
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Futile Devices Scans 
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