When a long-suffering man's anger accumulated to its limit, it would break straight through the shackles of reason.
Shi Lei raised his head to look at the fiery clouds on the horizon. The setting sun had dyed the clouds layer after layer, like crimson paint spilled across a beach and mixed into the rolling waves.
While he was cooperating with the officers to make a statement, Texas approached from afar and nodded at him.
That simple gesture told him that the infected
child should have escaped the danger to her life.
Learning that she was safe, a sense of accomplishment welled up in Shi Lei's heart. He had already done his best to minimize the impact of this incident. The rest of the road would have to be walked by them themselves.
Shi Lei had not bought a phone, so he had left the company address while giving his statement. When the two officers learned that he was a new employee of Penguin Logistics, they exchanged somewhat strange looks.
"Mr. Shi, thank you very much for your cooperation. If we need to ask further questions, we will visit you again."
"No problem. Can I leave now?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, Shi Lei walked over to Texas and headed out of the residential complex beside her.
Seeing the two leave, Ratman immediately chased after them. He pulled all the Lungmen Dollars from his wallet and bowed repeatedly as he expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you so much for today. On behalf of my father, I sincerely thank you both. This money isn't much, but it's a token of my appreciation. Please accept it."
If Shi Lei accepted it, he would lose the three guaranteed Roleplay Value he received every day at midnight for being penniless. Therefore, he did not even touch the money and quickly stepped away.
"No, no, don't give it to me. It was nothing, really. Offering money makes things too formal. Just give Penguin Logistics more business if you need anything in the future."
When Ratman saw that he would not accept it, he shamelessly tried to stuff the money into Texas's hands instead, only to be refused again.
By the time they reached the burning building, the firefighters working at height had mostly extinguished the blaze. Shi Lei glanced up twice without lingering, then left the residential complex with her and returned to the car parked by the street.
Staring at the parking ticket on the windshield, Texas remained expressionless. She stood before the car as the autumn breeze gently lifted the hair on her forehead, then suddenly asked:
"Want to get a drink?"
Shi Lei had just opened the passenger door and had not yet gotten in. Hearing that, he looked up at her blue-to-yellow gradient eyes and grinned.
"Sure, but let me make this clear first. I don't have any money. I'll treat you back after I get paid."
Texas pressed her lips together in a smile, opened the driver's door, and took the wheel. After shutting the door, she tilted her head and fastened her seat belt.
Perhaps because she had grown up in a well-off family, she did not care much about money. The Lungmen Dollars left over from past deliveries had mostly gone toward supporting the perpetually broke Exusiai and Croissant.
Shi Lei bent down and looked through the window at the building where the fire had already been extinguished. Then he withdrew his gaze and said:
"Texas, that flashy sword technique of yours looked really cool. Can you explain how it works when you have time?"
In at least seventeen days and at most two months, he would break through the Genshin Realm and reach the strength of an adeptus in the game Genshin Impact. By then, if he could manipulate stone pillars freely, he would definitely need to learn a pillar rain technique.
"Sure."
Texas seemed to remember something, a faint smile lingering at the corner of her lips.
In the past, it had been a sword for killing.
Now, it was a sword for saving people.
Croissant Arrives Late
Texas was not a native of Lungmen, but she had lived here long enough. She knew the locations of bars and taverns in every district very well.
The clouds were draped in the evening glow, as if someone had overturned paint across the heavens. Rather than taking the route back, she turned ahead and pulled over by the street.
Shi Lei followed her out of the car and entered a small tavern with simple decor, dim lighting, and elegant music playing inside. The atmosphere was nice, suitable for chatting with friends over drinks, small gatherings, or minor business negotiations.
Texas took out some Lungmen Dollars from her wallet and gently placed them on the counter.
"One Winter Approaches."
After saying that, she turned to look at him and spread her left hand, indicating that he could order whatever he wanted. She was paying today.
Shi Lei glanced at the cocktail menu, where all the names were strange and unfamiliar, and had no idea what kind of alcohol they corresponded to. He quickly looked away and smiled at the bartender.
"The same as hers, thanks."
It was nearly six o'clock, almost dinner time, so there were not many customers in the tavern. They chose seats by the window and sat side by side.
Texas had only ordered drinks and nothing else. She probably just wanted a light drink after work.
She watched the pedestrians passing outside the window and instinctively reached into her pocket for a cigarette. But when she remembered that Exusiai had confiscated her cigarette case, she withdrew her hand with a hint of frustration and did not go outside to buy any.
Before long, a waiter brought over the cocktails.
"Two Winter Approaches. Please enjoy."
The entire cocktail was pale blue, and with the ice cubes in it, it looked somewhat like an aquarium. Shi Lei took a sip and felt a sharp, refreshing burn rise from his throat, making him gasp twice.
"Wow, this stuff is strong!"
Texas merely smiled faintly. She neither commented on the drink nor teased him. She lifted her glass, drank a quarter of it in one gulp, then moved her lips.
"We'll head back after we finish."
"Mm, okay."
After recovering for a moment, Shi Lei abruptly changed the subject.
"Actually, I've always been curious about your past. I just didn't know whether I should ask. I want to know if real gangs are like the ones in movies."
Texas raised her glass and took another sip, leaving half the drink inside. Her brows furrowed slightly, as though she were seriously considering how to answer.
"They aren't as good as you imagine, and they aren't
as bad as you imagine either. They're underground organizations that make rules and hope everyone follows them."
"That's a brilliant summary. Then I won't ask."
Texas's expression remained unchanged. Nothing on her face revealed any emotional shift.
"It's not that. There just isn't much to say. It's merely a game where a group of people set rules for one another within a limited area and establish order amid chaos. The past is already past. Perhaps the nightmares of the past will come for me someday, but I believe I'll be able to face them calmly then."
It was rare for her to say so much at once. The latter half sounded less like an explanation and more like something she was telling herself.
Shi Lei knew when to stop and did not pursue the topic further. It seemed this gang Eldest Daughter must have had an exceptionally eventful past before coming to Penguin Logistics.
Texas took another sip, quickly draining the remaining alcohol in her glass. After she finished it completely, she set the glass down. Once Shi Lei had finished his, the two left the tavern.
Shi Lei got into the passenger seat and heard Texas let out a small alcoholic burp, so he could not help advising her.
"Wait a second, isn't this drunk driving? Drive irresponsibly, and your loved ones will shed two lines of tears. Is the company far from here? How about we walk back?"
She glanced sideways at him but did not take his advice. After driving for five or six minutes, she arrived at Penguin Logistics and parked in the plaza behind the building.
The two went to the top floor, intending to clock out. However, they ran into Exusiai, who had not left yet, in the office area.
She had just been about to speak to Texas when she seemed to smell something. She leaned closer and took two deep sniffs.
"Well, well, you two actually went out drinking behind my back. That's so unfair!"
Texas packed up her things and shut down her computer.
"Just one drink."
"One drink is still drinking! Remember to invite me next time. Also, do you know you two were on television?"
As she spoke, Exusiai held up her phone screen for Shi Lei, who did not have a communication device. Someone had posted photographs of them rescuing people online.
Lungmen Television had used that photograph as a backdrop while interviewing onlookers around the residential complex where the fire had occurred.
Texas did not care at all. She said she was a little sleepy and wanted to take a nap. She told them not to include her when cooking, then lay down on the desk.
Shi Lei felt the same way and had no particular thoughts about appearing on television. He took Exusiai to the Safe House, where they would continue making sausage, cheese, and grilled meat pizza tonight.
They did not see Croissant anywhere along the way, and no one knew what she was busy with. In any case, they had barely seen her lately.
After dinner, Exusiai did not stay long. She played video games for a while, then excused herself and left. Shi Lei continued playing against the computer until around ten, then fell asleep peacefully.
December 1, 1094.
Today was payday, but it did not mean much to Shi Lei. He had been with Penguin Logistics for less than a week, so he would not receive much even if he got paid.
Just like yesterday, Emperor had Texas take him on ordinary deliveries that afternoon to train his skills. They completed more than twenty orders in four hours without another incident.
They stayed busy until five in the afternoon, then returned to the company to clock in. After sitting in the office for more than fifty minutes, they called Exusiai and went downstairs to meet up.
Lin Yuxia had come to the dinner alone, without attendants or servants. Chen had four people on her side: aside from Hoshiguma, there were also her superior Jiu and an elite member of the Lungmen Guard Department.
Shi Lei had chosen an affordable stir-fry restaurant in District 20 for the meal. If they wanted something delicious and inexpensive, this should be a pretty good choice.
"Hey, why isn't she answering the phone?"
"Exusiai, what's wrong?"
"Croissant isn't answering. Maybe her phone ran out of battery. Should we wait for her?"
For someone as efficiency-minded as Chen, waiting with no idea when it would end was extremely torturous.
"What, is someone not here yet? Why don't we go first? Send her the address by text. Once that person is done, she can come find us directly."
Shi Lei asked everyone what they thought, and they all agreed that it would work. Texas then drove Shi Lei, Exusiai, and Lin Yuxia, while Chen's group of four got into a police vehicle and followed them to the Yan-style Restaurant in District 20.
The eight of them took two private rooms and did not combine them.
"Since the two of you are treating us as thanks, naturally, I'll eat whatever you order. But there are only so few of us, so don't order too much and waste food."
While the two were ordering, Exusiai crooked a finger at Shi Lei and lowered her voice.
"Croissant ran into a little trouble. I'm going to pick her up now. Just save me some grilled meat."
"What do you mean? What happened to her?
Pincer Attack Cheese
Exusiai looked awkward, unsure how to explain.
"Uh, anyway, just eat and drink well. Save some good food for us. We'll be back soon."
Shi Lei tilted his head slightly and studied her with interest, making Exusiai too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
"I haven't been at the company long, but I'm still a member of Penguin Logistics. If there's trouble, just say it. Maybe I can help. Don't tell me she's getting an abortion and it wouldn't be convenient for me to go?"
That outrageous statement scared Exusiai badly, and she waved her hands again and again.
"No, no! She's in a group fight with someone and called us over for help. I figured you've probably never experienced that kind of scene, so you'd be better off staying here to eat."
Perhaps because they had never gone on a mission together, Shi Lei felt that she did not consider him one of their own.
"Come on, listen to yourself. We're a team, a team, get it? Food can be eaten anytime, but a fight can't wait even a moment."
"Hehe, I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
After saying that, Exusiai ran over to Texas and whispered in her ear. Texas stood up immediately after hearing it.
Lin Yuxia, who was sitting at the same table, looked puzzled and asked:
"What is it? Did something happen?"
"Nothing much. One of our colleagues ran into a small problem and needs us to handle it. Miss Lin, please wait here. We'll be back soon."
With that, Shi Lei ran to the private room next door and told Chen's group of four that they needed to leave for a while.
Jiu sharply sensed that something was amiss and asked:
"Mr. Shi, have you run into some kind of trouble? Just say the word, and we'll all mobilize."
"No, no, don't make such a big scene out of it. Don't worry, it's nothing major. You all eat first. We'll be back soon."
If they called the police over for a fight, the nature of the matter would completely change. Judging by Exusiai's reaction, she probably wanted to go over and throw down, which was why she would not even stay for dinner.
"Mr. Shi, do you really not need help?"
"No, no. I'm leaving first. I'll be back in a bit. Enjoy your meal, and sorry about this."
Shi Lei quickly left the private room, departed the restaurant with Texas and the others, and swiftly got into the car.
Before you continue