Family

Su Ti neither agreed nor disagreed with Team Leader Liu's advice and warning, but...

"Team Leader Liu, this matter isn't over yet."

"What do you mean?"

Team Leader Liu was puzzled. Since Su Ti had already escaped the Death Fighting Competition, the matter should have ended there for him.

The rest of the investigation was their business.

"The Death Fighting Competition's organizer—the man in the silver mask—doesn't intend to let me go. Before he left, he even told me that we'd meet again next time."

Su Ti spoke slowly, but he did not completely trust Team Leader Liu either. The reason was simple: the organizers had somehow received advance intelligence and calmly withdrawn from the police encirclement. The police had arrived more than ten minutes after they left the scene. With that kind of influence, he did not believe there was no collusion involved.

That said, it was unlikely that the underground boxing organizers had infiltrated the entire Public Security Bureau. There was no reason to trust no one at all.

From Su Ti's observations, Team Leader Liu was most likely trustworthy. That was why Su Ti chose to tell him how serious this was and seek his help.

"Something like that happened?"

Team Leader Liu was somewhat surprised, but his years of experience quickly led him to the answer.

Aside from having no restrictions, the Death Fighting Competition had many similarities to real-world boxing matches.

The fundamental source of profit for this kind of competition was betting on the outcome of the fights—gambling.

And the size of the betting pool depended on how popular the match was.

A fighter's reputation, publicity, and so on all affected a match's popularity, which in turn affected its profits.

This time, Su Ti had pulled off an upset. As an unknown fighter, he had defeated a professional boxer, and he must have left a deep impression on the audience.

To make more money, the organizers would definitely want to capture him again, use him as a gimmick, stage more matches, manipulate the betting pools, and squeeze out more profit.

Once it came to that, Su Ti would be in danger.

"I can assign police officers to protect you in secret."

Wanting to establish this connection, Team Leader Liu immediately spoke seriously, but Su Ti refused.

"It's useless, Team Leader Liu. You can guard against a thief for a day or two, but you can't guard against one forever. You can protect me for a day or two, but you can't protect me forever. Especially since the organizers fled so promptly this time—it shows they have enormous influence and connections everywhere."

Su Ti's final words carried another meaning, though he did not say it outright.

With the possibility of an insider, he did not dare place his bets on police protection.

Team Leader Liu was an old detective with many years of experience. He immediately understood what Su Ti meant and gave him a long look. He had not expected Su Ti to think that far ahead. That level of composure made him believe Su Ti's earlier claim about being a genius somewhat more.

Those words also made Team Leader Liu calm down and think carefully. Following that line of reasoning, if there really was an undercover agent in the bureau, sending someone to protect Su Ti would indeed be of little use.

Team Leader Liu fell silent for a moment, then began writing.

He handed Su Ti a slip of paper with an address and phone number on it. Su Ti took it and looked at it, confused.

"What's this?"

"Go to this place and say Liu Xing referred you. For my sake, they should be willing to shelter you."

Su Ti looked again and saw that the address ended with four striking words: Dragon Gate Martial Hall.

"A martial hall?"

"That's right, a martial hall. You'll understand once you get there."

Team Leader Liu looked at Su Ti with a complicated expression. This was a last-resort solution. Though he was a deputy team leader, he could do nothing about the Death Fighting Competition's organizers. He also did not want to watch Su Ti, this young man, suddenly disappear one day without explanation and turn into a corpse. This was the only step he could take.

"If what you said is true, then with your talent in martial arts, they should accept you. If they don't, come find me again, and I'll think of another way."

Although he did not know what help a martial hall could offer him, Su Ti saw Team Leader Liu's solemn expression and knew the man was sincerely trying to help him. He accepted the slip of paper and said earnestly,

"Thank you, Team Leader Liu."

"No need to thank me. Protecting the safety of citizens is what we should do. Also, if there's any new information about the underground boxing ring, such as a successful arrest, we'll notify you immediately."

Team Leader Liu sighed deeply, then added,

"Of course, until the underground boxing organizers are caught, you still need to pay close attention to your personal safety. Don't go to isolated places. If anything seems wrong, call the police immediately. Understood?"

Su Ti nodded to show that he understood.

With the matter settled, both men rose to leave. Just then, Su Ti suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, Team Leader Liu. There's one more thing I want to ask you to help with. About the fact that I killed someone—could you not tell my family? I don't want them to know."

Though Su Ti had the memories of this life's family, he still felt somewhat unfamiliar with them. Killing someone was not exactly something to boast about, so it was better to keep it hidden if possible.

Team Leader Liu patted Su Ti on the shoulder. He could understand that. Though it had been self-defense, family members would still feel uncomfortable knowing about it.

"Don't worry. The Death Fighting Competition is still under investigation. To protect you, we won't disclose any details of the case to the public. Your family will only know that you were rescued by the police. They won't know the specific circumstances."

"That's good."

In the lobby, three adults waited anxiously.

"Dear, do you think something happened to Su Ti? He's been in there so long and still hasn't come out."

An ordinary-looking woman with her hair pinned up and slightly sallow skin was beside herself with worry. Next to her, a thin, balding man in black-rimmed glasses hurriedly comforted her.

"He should be fine. The officers told us earlier that they rescued him in time and that he wasn't injured."

Though the balding man was trying to reassure her, his own words lacked confidence.

Beside them, a well-dressed, portly middle-aged man with an oily face and a prosperous appearance also consoled her.

"That's right, sister-in-law. Don't worry. We should have an answer soon."

"It's all your fault. When he first said he wanted to find a job, I didn't agree. You insisted that he needed to toughen up. If something happens to our child, I... I..."

The woman's eyes reddened as she spoke, and the balding man in glasses hurried over to comfort her.

Just then, the balding man's eyes lit up, and he said joyfully,

"He's out! Qing, look! Our son is out!"

The moment Su Ti walked into the lobby, the woman rushed over and threw her arms around him.

Then two middle-aged men, one fat and one thin, came over. Both bore a seventy-percent resemblance to him.

"Wuwuwu, my son! You scared your mother to death! Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see."

The ordinary-looking woman in front of him, crying uncontrollably, was Su Ti's mother in this life, Liu Qing.

Liu Qing taught at Mingguang City No. 3 Middle School and was a middle school math teacher.

She had been the first to notice that Su Ti had not returned home the night before last. When she could not reach him by phone, she had immediately called the police. She had barely slept for nearly a full day and night, waiting for news.

Su Ti had already learned these things from the police officers.

"Mom, I'm fine."

Looking at Liu Qing, who was crying her eyes out, Su Ti felt touched. In his previous life, his parents had died early in a car accident, and he had no other relatives to speak of. He had always been alone. After so many years, this was the first time he had felt what it was like to be cared for.

"It's fine as long as you're okay. Come on, let's go home."

There were five people in the car: Su Ti; Su Ti's father, Su Zimo; his mother, Liu Qing; Su Ti's father's older brother, Su Zihao; and Su Ti's uncle.

The fifth person was Su Zihao's driver.

"Su Ti, I heard from the police that you were taken by people from an underground boxing ring this time. Are you all right?"

Liu Qing had fallen asleep from exhaustion after finally seeing Su Ti safe and sound. It was his father, Su Zimo, seated to Su Ti's right, who spoke.

Su Zimo had the same profession as Liu Qing: he was also a teacher, though he taught Chinese at Mingguang City No. 4 Middle School, also at the middle school level.

Su Zimo had the typical look of a scholar—thin and weak, always wearing a stern expression, with thinning hair and black-rimmed glasses. Unlike Liu Qing, who doted on her child, he was very strict with his son.

The original owner's memories contained many scenes from childhood of being struck on the palm with a ruler by Su's Father for failing to memorize texts. Thanks to his father, Su Ti had ultimately joined the humanities track and majored in history at university.

"Nothing happened. The police arrived in time. I was rescued before I even went on stage."

"That's good."

Su Zimo sighed in relief. The murder cases connected to Mingguang City's underground boxing ring had caused quite a stir. Did he not know the son he had raised himself? Su Ti normally would not even dare kill a chicken, let alone fight. If he had been forced into underground boxing, he could have died miserably in the ring at any moment.

"Su Ti, your uncle has thought it over. Stop delivering food. You can get experience anywhere during summer break. Come work at your uncle's company instead. I'll pay you a salary. Besides, you haven't seen your older and younger female cousins in ages. It'd be good for you to get acquainted."

Unlike the refined Su Zimo, Uncle Su Zihao had a large belly, an oily face, and a gold chain as thick as a finger around his neck. He looked like a typical nouveau riche.

In fact, he was one. Su Zihao and Su's Father were twin brothers. One stayed home to pursue academics, while the other went out into the world to do business.

Uncle had spent many years making his way outside. He had only returned recently, supposedly after making a fortune and establishing his own company. He had come back for two reasons: to return home in glory and support the family, and to open a branch office in his hometown.

"Brother, I've told you many times that children can't rely on their family. You can take care of them for a while, but can you take care of them for the rest of their lives? Sooner or later, they'll have to stand on their own in society."

Su Zimo was dissatisfied with Su Zihao's generosity. His approach to education had always been old-fashioned. He believed boys needed more training and hardship to become successful.

Su Zihao curled his lip and did not argue with Su Zimo. The car continued onward and soon arrived beneath the Su family's apartment building in an old district.

After the car stopped, Su Zihao said,

"Zimo, help your wife upstairs first. I have a few things to say to Su Ti."

"Don't fill his head with any poisonous nonsense. A boy can't depend on his uncles. He needs to make something of himself."

"Stop worrying so much. Su Ti only just went through something terrible. I'm just going to have a heart-to-heart with him."

With that, Su's Father helped Liu Qing upstairs. After they left, Su Zihao directly handed a bank card back to Su Ti.

Huh?

Su Ti was puzzled. What was this about?

"Take it. We haven't seen each other in so many years. This is your uncle's spending money for you. You just went through such a big ordeal, so take it to calm your nerves."

"The password is your birthday. There are fifty thousand yuan on it. Buy whatever you want. Don't go doing something stupid like delivering food late at night again just for a little money."

"Uncle, this... isn't that inappropriate?"

Su Ti said that, but his hand immediately accepted the card. His phone and the electric scooter he had bought for food delivery had both been lost during the kidnapping. He was completely broke and desperately needed money.

Su Zihao lit a cigarette, exhaled through his nostrils, and said boldly,

"What's the big deal? Your uncle made a fortune this time. Don't listen to your father's nonsense about enduring hardship. Let me tell you: the more hardship you can endure, the more hardship you'll be made to endure. In the end, money goes to the smart people."

Su Ti slipped the card into his pocket. That was true enough.

"Thank you, Uncle. Then I'll accept it."

"All right, it's getting late. Go back and get some rest. In a few days, I'll bring your older and younger female cousins to visit. You young people haven't met much, so you should get to know each other better."

"All right. Thank you, Uncle."

Uncle waved his hand and had the driver take him away, while Su Ti returned home with the bank card containing fifty thousand yuan tucked away.

"I'm back."

The moment Su Ti entered, Su's Father shushed him.

"Keep your voice down. Your mother just fell asleep. These past few days have exhausted her. Don't wake her."

"Okay."

Su Ti casually sat down and looked around the home. Though it was warmly furnished, the apartment was actually quite old. It was a secondhand home Su's Father and Su's Mother had bought when they got married, and after all these years, the family had never had the money to buy a new one.

"Did your uncle give you any money?"

Seeing Su Ti sit so casually on the sofa, Su's Father found it a little strange.

Because of his strict upbringing, Su Ti had always felt somewhat afraid of him.

He never dared act freely around him and was even somewhat restrained.

But now...

Su's Father quickly understood.

Having gone through such danger and escaped death, Su Ti must have grown up.

"No. He just said a few things to me and sent me upstairs."

"It's good that he didn't. Your uncle may be rich, but his money is his. He earned it through hard work, and we can't take it. Do you understand?"

Ever since Su Zihao returned, he had been trying openly and subtly to support their family. He had even tried giving Su's Father money several times, but Su's Father had refused every time.

It was not that he was cold or ungrateful. Deep down, Su's Father believed that measuring family affection with money was a very bad thing.

If he accepted Su Zihao's money, the relationship between the two families would change. How would Su Zihao's children view him then? How would they view his children? Could the two families still interact as equals?

Therefore, although he knew Su Zihao meant well, Su Zimo still held firm to his principles. A person might be poor, but their ambition could not be lacking.