Chapter 43

Zhang Xianyang turned back and smiled at Zhang Muyang. "Not bad. Wang Xiao'er surprised me, though."

Zhang Muyang looked up at Wang Zhaoyi, who was busy filming, and smiled casually. "He just loves showing off. Once Sister Mianmian joins the crew in a couple of days, let's see if he can still get so worked up."

Zhang Xianyang raised his brows in surprise. "Sister Mianmian is going into battle herself? How did the news spread so fast?"

"This is our territory. Unless someone deliberately keeps it quiet, how could news not travel fast?" Zhang Muyang glanced toward the extras. "Besides, plenty of them are Big Brother Feng's diehard loyalists. How could they just stand by and watch Wang Zhaoyi flirt around behind their sister-in-law's back?"

Zhang Xianyang gave Su Man a half-smiling look and said pointedly, "This might get in someone's way."

Following Zhang Xianyang's gaze, Zhang Muyang looked toward Su Man as well. Seeing the big star watching Wang Zhaoyi film with a reserved yet shy expression, he curled his lips meaningfully. Then he said, "By the way, guess who I saw when I left the breakfast shop today?"

Zhang Xianyang blurted out, "Those people from the Li Family?"

Zhang Muyang shook his head with a smile. "It wouldn't be surprising if it were them. It was Gu Anming, who came over with the troops—Mayor Gu's nephew. You dealt with him over that antique-smuggling case."

Though it had been a long time, Zhang Muyang's detailed description immediately reminded Zhang Xianyang of the man. "What did he want with you?"

"He said the Intelligence Bureau was planning to establish a branch in the Old District, and he was in charge. He originally came looking for Dad, but Dad didn't have time for him, so he sent him my way." It was no major matter, and Zhang Muyang sounded unconcerned. Jiang Peize, who had been waiting outside the set, spotted Zhang Muyang and immediately came over with a smile. "So it's Young Master Zhang."

Zhang Muyang nodded politely. "Colonel Jiang, you've worked hard. Once we're done, I'll treat the brothers to drinks."

That did not sound like an invitation to anything good. Zhang Xianyang chuckled to himself, then solemnly echoed, "The place has already been arranged. After we eat and drink, we can have some fun too—"

Jiang Peize's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly cut Zhang Xianyang off. "We appreciate the generosity of Young Master Zhang and Third Young Master Zhang, but the military has regulations. We cannot go to that kind of place."

Zhang Xianyang and Zhang Muyang exchanged looks before bursting into laughter. "Colonel Jiang, you misunderstood. I mean we can head to the training grounds after dinner and have a little spar. Our brothers have long heard of the Ace Division's reputation. They're eager to give it a try and learn from you!"

Jiang Peize's face turned red. He gave two dry coughs and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

Damn it. You made it sound so suggestive, and your family runs that kind of business. It'd be stranger if I didn't misunderstand.

Seeing Jiang Peize's embarrassment, the Zhang brothers stopped teasing him and promptly changed the subject. "By the way, why didn't Colonel Fang Zhixin come with you? We thought we'd get to reunite this time."

Jiang Peize answered vaguely, "Colonel Fang is carrying out a mission."

Su Man sat calmly outside the set. On the surface, she seemed to be casually watching the actors rehearse, but her attention remained fixed on Zhang Xianyang. Before she came, Elder Zhang from the Capital Zhang Family had already spoken to her. He told her to do everything possible to get close to Zhang Xianyang, preferably winning his favor. Su Man had not taken Elder Zhang's instructions seriously at first. She had been in the industry for so many years, and whenever she genuinely wanted a man, she had never failed. But after arriving in the Old District, she realized things were not that simple.

Zhang Xianyang was only sixteen. He was just a kid, and he did not look like he understood anything of that sort. Besides, his older brother Zhang Muyang followed him around all day like a stubborn burr, leaving no room for anyone else to get close. Su Man had tried approaching Zhang Xianyang during her first two days there, but when she returned to the hotel on the third night, she found a stack of indecent photographs on the bedside table. Looking at those unsightly photos, Su Man did not dare play any tricks in front of Zhang Muyang. She could only secretly investigate who was close to Zhang Xianyang. After digging around, she noticed that Wang Zhaoyi was clearly interested in him. Su Man immediately thought of using Wang Zhaoyi as a shield against Zhang Muyang's hostility. It seemed to have had some effect so far, but Zhang Xianyang was another matter...

Noticing Su Man listening in on their conversation, Zhang Muyang frowned slightly. He did not like this woman having improper thoughts about his younger brother. Whether it was her own intention or the intention of the person behind her, the thought of his clean, well-behaved little brother holding this promiscuous woman and doing that sort of thing made Zhang Muyang uncomfortable.

With that thought, Zhang Muyang felt a dull pressure in his chest. He raised an arm around Zhang Xianyang's shoulders and rested his chin on top of Zhang Xianyang's head. The Zhang brothers often made such intimate gestures, but every time, it meant one of them was irritated or depressed.

Zhang Xianyang, who had been speaking with Jiang Peize, immediately fell silent and looked up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Zhang Muyang casually messed up Zhang Xianyang's hair. Seeing that the crew inside had just finished shooting a scene, he immediately called out, "All right, let's call it a day."

The big boss had spoken. Even if the director was dissatisfied, he could not say much. This investor was different from the previous ones. Though Zhang Chaofan was famous in the industry for being meticulous, he still did not dare gamble with his life. He waved a hand and instructed the assistant director and other crew members to wrap things up. Zhang Muyang directly led Zhang Xianyang and several military district officers away from the set first.

Dinner that evening was booked at Cloud Virtue Resort, one of the businesses under Gao Yunsheng, the Zhang Family Gang's Fourth Elder. Located ten kilometers from the city and halfway up White Tiger Mountain, it was a vacation resort covering roughly three hundred square kilometers. It had originally been a summer retreat for the Zhang Family Gang elders, only opened to the public after the gang went legitimate. Gao Yunsheng had specifically brought in a chef from Mongolia who specialized in roast whole lamb, as well as cooks who could prepare Northeastern specialties. Zhang Linmo had ordered Gao Yunsheng to clear the place out that morning, so when Zhang Muyang and the others arrived, no outsiders remained in the entire Cloud Virtue Resort besides gang members and staff.

Since it was the middle of winter, they could not hold a bonfire party outdoors. Gao Yunsheng had no choice but to open up the entire main hall to entertain the military guests and their own brothers. The spacious hall could accommodate nearly twenty thousand people. Every table had already been set with high-proof baijiu, while at least five crates of beer were stacked beside each table. Gao Yunsheng had gathered the heaviest drinkers in the Old District, determined to drink the military men under the table.

The Old District brothers had bad intentions, while the military men were eager to compete. Even the film crew came with the mindset of joining the fun. Thus, once the banquet began, the baijiu on the tables and the beer beneath them vanished like rushing waterfalls. Everyone thought Zhang Xianyang was too young, and since he looked so clean and well-behaved, they were embarrassed to force him to drink. Zhang Muyang beside him, however, was not so lucky. Bowl after bowl of baijiu mixed with beer went down his throat within minutes. With his genetically enhanced body, Zhang Muyang looked capable of drinking a thousand cups without getting drunk. Within the first half hour, he had already drunk four or five people under the table without changing expression. Only Zhang Xianyang, who knew his every movement, could tell from Zhang Muyang's increasingly controlled behavior that he was getting a little drunk.

Sitting beside him, Zhang Xianyang poked Zhang Muyang in the back worriedly and whispered, "Big Brother, why don't you go to the bathroom?"

Zhang Muyang turned around and stared intently at Zhang Xianyang with clear eyes. Then he smiled. "All right. Yangyang wants me to go to the bathroom, so I'll go to the bathroom."

Su Man, who was sitting nearby drinking with them, covered her mouth and laughed. "Young Master Zhang and Third Young Master Zhang are so close. They even discuss whether to go to the bathroom."

The entire table burst into laughter. Wang Zhaoyi looked at the Zhang brothers, then turned toward the exquisitely made-up Su Man. A glint flashed through his eyes, but he said with a sly grin, "When I need to use the bathroom, I'll discuss it with you too, Manman. How about you come with me?"

Before he could finish, someone behind him said with a half-smile, "I need to use the bathroom too. Can I come along?"

The smile on Wang Zhaoyi's face froze slightly. He turned around stiffly to find Feng Mianmian standing behind him in a black suit, holding the hand of a six- or seven-year-old boy. The boy kept making faces at Wang Zhaoyi and, whenever Feng Mianmian was not looking, made throat-slitting gestures at him.

Wang Zhaoyi rose to his feet awkwardly, moved close to Feng Mianmian, and smiled ingratiatingly. "Honey, why are you here?"

"To use the bathroom." Feng Mianmian's tone was neither warm nor cold as she looked at the embarrassed Su Man. "Want to come with me?"

Su Man hurriedly stood up and smiled awkwardly. "You must be Mrs. Wang. Hello, I'm—"

"I know who you are. I see you on TV every day. My favorite role of yours was Lin Chunxi. So pure and innocent—not just anyone can pull that off."

Su Man could barely keep her expression together. She looked pitifully at Wang Zhaoyi.

Wang Zhaoyi shrank his neck and was just about to say something when Feng Mianmian asked directly, "Didn't you want to use the bathroom? Why aren't you going?"

"I..." Wang Zhaoyi blinked and pointed at the son beside Feng Mianmian. "I'm scared of the dark. Let Chenchen come with me."

Feng Mianmian's lips twitched. She gave two light coughs, then said bluntly, "No need. I'll go with you."

"Well..." Wang Zhaoyi hesitantly glanced at the Zhang brothers, but the two of them acted as though they had seen nothing and said not a word. Out of options, Wang Zhaoyi could only force himself to ask, "If I go with you, are we using the men's room or the women's room?"

Seeing that the situation was turning bad, Zhang Xianyang immediately pulled Zhang Muyang to his feet. "Well, Sister-in-law, you discuss it among yourselves. I'm taking my brother to the bathroom first."

After a pause, he added helpfully to Wang Zhaoyi, "We're using the men's room."

Damn it, kicking a man when he's down!

Wang Zhaoyi watched the Zhang brothers flee with a grief-stricken expression and decided he would never play with them again. Damn it, when their brother was in trouble, they would not even draw a blade to help him. He cursed them to have girlfriends who stayed virgins for the rest of their lives!

Jiang Peize, Zhang Chaofan, and the others who remained were even less able to sit still. They immediately stood up and said, "Then we'll use the men's room too."

In the blink of an eye, only Wang Zhaoyi, Feng Mianmian, and Su Man remained at the table. The grown men at the other tables watched the low-pressure atmosphere around the central table and hunched their shoulders, not daring to make a sound.

A young soldier in uniform could not help poking the Old District Gang member beside him. He asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"

The gang member beside him chewed a few peanuts with great interest and answered casually, "Catching a cheater."

Author's Note:

Sorry, I had to go out this morning to take care of something, so I didn't manage to update on time.

Please forgive me. ╭(╯3╰)╮

When Zhang Xianyang came out of the bathroom, Wang Zhaoyi and Feng Mianmian were already nowhere to be seen. The atmosphere throughout the hall was stifling, yet charged with the faint excitement of gossip. Big star Su Man sat silently beside the dining table, her face alternating between green and pale, looking rather unpleasant. The rest of the film crew sat at another table, and not one of them came over to offer her a word of comfort. Thinking of the rumors he had heard about Su Man's poor reputation in the industry, Zhang Xianyang secretly chuckled.