That Kid Had Some Guts!

Zhao Jianguo hadn't taken Chen Yuan and Zhang Xiu'e's case seriously at all.

A fight with no serious injuries didn't even count as a criminal case.

He already had plenty on his plate. How could he spare the time for this?!

Zhao Jianguo handed the case over to Liu Ming, gave him a few instructions, and left.

He knew Liu Ming was acquainted with Wang Dahai, but so what?

A labor broker having a few meals with the station's officers—there were plenty of relationships like that around the station.

As long as nobody crossed the line, he could turn a blind eye.

The call Zhao Jianguo had taken earlier had been from Chen Jingshen.

The two had been friends since they were toddlers running around naked. Later, Chen Jingshen had moved to Sea City, and they'd kept in touch less often.

"Jingshen? What made you think to call me?"

"Jianguo, do me a favor."

Chen Jingshen skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"My dad was in a car accident. Go check on him for me and let me know how he is."

Zhao Jianguo fell silent for a moment.

Chen Desheng, the head of Hung Hing.

Hung Hing was now called the Hung Hing Group. It had gone legitimate, becoming a proper business group involved in real estate, hotels, entertainment complexes...

The people were still the same. They'd simply transformed themselves into respectable businessmen.

"Jingshen, you and your father..."

"I know. Just go check on him for me."

Zhao Jianguo didn't ask any more questions. He knew those two were both stubborn as mules. Asking wouldn't help.

By the time he drove into Wutong District, it was completely dark.

This was one of Deep City's long-established wealthy neighborhoods, where each villa occupied several acres. Chen Desheng's property was at the very back. Zhao Jianguo had been here once before, with his father, more than a decade ago.

He parked outside the gate and lowered the window to look around.

The wrought-iron gate was black and very tall. Two brass lamps hung on its pillars, casting a warm yellow glow.

Beyond it lay an asphalt drive lined with plane trees. Their crowns met overhead, completely shading the road.

A man in a black uniform stepped out of the guardhouse and waved him through. Zhao Jianguo came back to himself and drove inside.

The drive was long, flanked by neatly trimmed holly hedges with broad lawns beyond them. Ground lights shone up through the grass, making it glow green.

Farther back stood several ginkgo trees. Their leaves hadn't yellowed yet and looked deep green beneath the lights.

The villa was three stories tall, with cream-colored exterior walls and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows glowing from within.

Zhao Jianguo parked his car. As he reached the entrance, he heard someone shouting inside.

"You useless idiots! You can't even find one person! What the hell do I keep you around for?!"

The voice was loud and full of vigor, nothing like that of someone who had just been in a car accident.

Zhao Jianguo stood at the entrance and glanced inside.

The living room was huge, with a soaring ceiling and a dazzling crystal chandelier overhead. A set of carved rosewood sofas stood in the center, furnished with bright yellow satin cushions.

Chen Desheng stood in front of the sofas.

He was in his seventies, but his back was ramrod straight. His hair was entirely white, yet meticulously combed.

More than a dozen men in black stood before him in two rows, their heads bowed, barely daring to breathe.

At the front stood a fierce-looking man in his forties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and downturned lips.

He wore a black jacket zipped up to his neck. Though he stood straight, his head was bowed lowest of all.

Zhao Jianguo recognized him. This was Chen Desheng's bodyguard, Lei Zhen, who had been with him for over twenty years.

"Lei Zhen, explain something to me. All I asked was for you to find someone. You've spent an entire day looking. Where is he?"

Chen Desheng's voice rose another notch.

Lei Zhen kept his head down. "Sir, we're still looking..."

"Still looking?"

Chen Desheng took a step forward.

"A young man of eighteen or nineteen saved my life on a street in Deep City, and you can't find him? Deep City is only so big. Tell me, how can you not find him?"

Nobody dared make a sound.

"What about the people who were there that day? The cameras at the intersection? Did you check them all?"

Lei Zhen's voice was subdued.

"We did. The cameras caught him, too, but the kid ran off too quickly. I asked the people nearby. None of them knew him."

Chen Desheng stared at him, his chest heaving.

"Lei Zhen, Lei Zhen. You've been with me for over twenty years, and you're getting worse at your job."

At that, Lei Zhen lowered his head even farther.

One of the younger men couldn't hold back any longer and said quietly:

"Sir, he might be from out of town and have only just arrived in Deep City. He didn't leave much for us to go on..."

"Did I ask you?" Chen Desheng shot him a fierce glare. The young man immediately fell silent and meekly ducked his head.

Chen Desheng paced back and forth in front of the sofas, his voice growing louder.

"One living, breathing person, and all of you can't find him? After all these years I've spent in Deep City, I can't even track down the man who saved my life. If word gets out, I'll be a laughingstock!"

He stopped and looked at the rows of men before him.

"Do you think I'm old and useless now, so you can just fob me off?"

"We wouldn't dare!" the dozen men answered in unison.

Chen Desheng sneered. "Wouldn't dare? I think you've got plenty of nerve."

He fixed his gaze on Lei Zhen. "After my accident, did anyone notify Chen Jingshen?"

Lei Zhen stiffened.

At that, Zhao Jianguo cleared his throat and walked in. "Uncle!"

The living room fell silent at once.

All the men turned to look at him, gratitude in their eyes. Someone had finally arrived to save them.

Chen Desheng turned, saw Zhao Jianguo, and paused in surprise.

Then he understood.

"Zhao Jianguo. Chen Jingshen sent you, didn't he?"

Zhao Jianguo came inside and stood at the edge of the living room, greeting him respectfully. "Uncle."

Chen Desheng looked him up and down several times, then suddenly scoffed.

"He still cares whether I live or die? He hasn't come home in nearly twenty years, not even a phone call. Now he hears I've been in an accident and sends you over? Why didn't he come himself?"

Zhao Jianguo smiled bitterly to himself. He should have known he'd get an earful by coming here.

"Uncle, Jingshen is in Sea City and can't get away. He was very worried when he heard what happened, so he asked me to check on you."

"Worried?"

Chen Desheng snorted.

"If he were really worried, he'd come back himself. What's the point of sending someone else?!"

Zhao Jianguo opened his mouth, unsure what to say. It wasn't his place to interfere in the troubles between Chen Jingshen and his father.

Chen Desheng glanced at Zhao Jianguo again, his tone softening a little.

"The injuries are nothing. Just cuts and scrapes. Tell him I won't die. He can stop worrying."

"I'll let him know later."

"Later?"

Chen Desheng snorted again.

"Tell him to call me himself. Stop sending messages through other people. I don't bite."

"All right. I'll tell him."

Chen Desheng waved a hand and stopped looking at him. His gaze returned to his subordinates, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Lei Zhen was hunched over, inching toward the door. He had almost reached the doorframe.

He was a big man. No matter how quietly he moved, he still looked like a lumbering bear, shoulders tucked in and walking on tiptoe. The sight was indescribably comical.

"Lei Zhen!"

Lei Zhen gave a violent start.

He slowly straightened, turned around, and forced a faint smile onto his face.

But that smile looked worse than crying!

"Sir..."

"Where are you going?"

"I... I'm going to the bathroom."

"The bathroom is over there." Chen Desheng pointed to the other end of the hall. "Why are you heading for the front door?"

"Sir, I... I just wanted to get some fresh air."

The shoulders of the dozen men in the living room were all trembling slightly, but not one dared laugh aloud.

"Get back here!"

Lei Zhen obediently returned to his original spot. This time, he bowed his head even lower, his chin almost touching his chest.

Chen Desheng walked slowly up to him and stared at him coldly.

"You were the one who told Chen Jingshen about my accident, weren't you?"

Lei Zhen said nothing.

"I'm asking you a question!"

Lei Zhen raised his head. All trace of his fierce expression had vanished. He looked like a child who had done something wrong.

"Sir, I..."

"Were you?"

Lei Zhen drew a deep breath. "Yes."

Chen Desheng stared at him, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Lei Zhen, Lei Zhen. You've got some nerve!"

Lei Zhen swallowed. "Sir, I just thought... the young master ought to know. Something so serious happened to you. What if..."

"What if what? What if I died?" Chen Desheng's voice suddenly rose. "So he could come back and collect my body, is that it?"

Lei Zhen no longer dared speak.

Chen Desheng paced back and forth in front of him with heavy steps, his slippers slapping against the marble floor.

"I tell you to find someone, and you can't. I tell you to investigate something, and you can't get to the bottom of it. But running to Chen Jingshen to tattle? You're very good at that."

Lei Zhen kept his head down as sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Chen Desheng stopped before him and jabbed a finger into his chest.

"Tell me. Do you work for me or for Chen Jingshen?"

Lei Zhen raised his head, looking wronged. "Sir, of course I work for you. I just..."

"Just what?"

Lei Zhen opened his mouth, then swallowed the rest of his words.

Standing to one side, Zhao Jianguo felt a little bad for Lei Zhen.

Lei Zhen had followed Chen Desheng for more than twenty years. His loyalty was beyond question.

He was close to Chen Jingshen, too. After Chen Jingshen fell out with his family, Lei Zhen had been caught in the middle, unable to please either side.

Chen Desheng glared at Lei Zhen, then turned back to the sofa and sat down.

He leaned against the backrest and waved a hand.

"Get out, all of you! Just looking at you annoys me."

The men immediately looked as though they'd been granted a pardon and headed out together. Their steps were light and quick. Within seconds, every one of them was gone.

Lei Zhen stood at the back, wanting to leave but not daring to.

Chen Desheng opened his eyes and looked at him. "Why are you still standing there?"

"Sir, please calm down..."

"Calm down? Get Chen Jingshen to come home, and I'll calm down."

Lei Zhen opened his mouth, wanting to say something. In the end, he stayed silent and turned to leave.

When he reached the doorway, Chen Desheng spoke behind him. "Stop."

Lei Zhen stopped and looked back at him.

"That young man who saved me. Keep looking."

Lei Zhen nodded. "Understood, sir."

After he left, only Chen Desheng and Zhao Jianguo remained in the living room.

"Jianguo, sit down."

Zhao Jianguo sat in the armchair beside him.

"How is Jingshen doing in Sea City?"

Zhao Jianguo thought for a moment. "He seems to be doing all right. He's in investment banking. He earns good money."

"Good money?" Chen Desheng snorted. "Do I need his little salary?"

Zhao Jianguo didn't respond.

Chen Desheng was silent for a while, then asked, "Has he married?"

Zhao Jianguo shook his head. "Not that I've heard."

Chen Desheng's brow furrowed briefly, then relaxed.

"Tell him I'm fine. He should just get on with whatever he needs to do."

Zhao Jianguo nodded.

Chen Desheng closed his eyes again and leaned back against the sofa. His voice grew quieter, as though he were talking to himself.

"Nearly twenty years. That kid really has some guts!"