Chapter 19

In the evening, a Pontiac was parked in front of the Gendarmerie Headquarters building. Yu Congyi saw it as soon as he came down from the building after finishing his day's work.

The car door opened, and Tang Zefei stepped out, looking towards the steps in front of the building. The steps were quite high, and Yu Congyi, standing atop them, looked down, meeting Tang Zefei's gaze. Tang Zefei adjusted the fur collar of his wool coat, his eyes crinkling slightly, and waved to Yu Congyi. Yu Congyi saw him, looked at him for a while, then sighed softly and walked down the stairs.

He didn't really want to see the other person. For Yu Congyi, almost every time he saw the other person, it was never a good thing, so he walked quite slowly.

Tang Zefei leaned against the car, his gaze loosely fixed on Yu Congyi as he walked towards him. Though loose, his gaze was unambiguous; he was using this opportunity to take a complete look at Yu Congyi. For the first time, he was scrutinizing Yu Congyi's posture so meticulously—Yu Congyi's gait was not only steady and measured, but his back was also ramrod straight. More importantly, his physique was undeniably striking, making his ordinary military uniform look as if it were tailor-made for him… Tang Zefei recalled Zhan Yuewei's words and couldn't help but feel a little itchy. As Yu Congyi passed through the gate of the military police headquarters, the guards beside him saluted and shouted in unison, "Good morning, sir!" Tang Zefei smiled slightly and straightened up.

Yu Congyi walked up to him, and before he could say anything, Tang Zefei smiled at him, extended one hand and bowed slightly, "Would the lord do me the honor of having dinner with me?"

Yu Congyi glanced around to make sure there were no strangers nearby, then lowered his voice and approached the other person, asking, "What do you want?"

Tang Zefei looked at him innocently, "Commander Yu, don't misunderstand, I just wanted to have a meal with you."

Yu Congyi was full of doubts, thinking that his relationship with the other party was not at the point where they could have a pleasant dinner together. However, he had no reason to refuse. He glanced at the other party and said helplessly, "It's my pleasure, please." Tang Zefei turned around and opened the car door for him. After watching him get in the car, she crouched down and sat down in the back seat with him.

The back of the car in Pontiac was quite spacious. Yu Congyi sat on the left, and Tang Zefei on the right, with plenty of space between them. Tang Zefei gave the name of a restaurant, and the driver started the car and drove away from the military police headquarters.

There were only the three of them inside the car. Having nothing to talk about, neither of them spoke, keeping a considerable distance between them. It was cold outside, but warm inside the car, the windows fogged with condensation. Yu Congyi reached out and wiped the glass, seeing the car heading towards the French Concession. He reached into his pocket and found his cigarette case. He usually carried his lighter and cigarette case with him, and the warmth inside made him feel quite comfortable. He took out a cigarette and lit the lighter.

"Sir," the driver suddenly spoke up, "excuse me, please don't smoke."

"Hmm?" Yu Congyi put down the cigarette between his fingers, feeling somewhat puzzled by the request.

"I'm sorry, please understand." The driver glanced at the rearview mirror but didn't offer an explanation. However, his tone wasn't harsh, so Yu Congyi didn't feel uncomfortable listening to him.

Yu Congyi sighed softly, looking at Tang Zefei with some surprise. "Your Tang family doesn't have a smoking habit?" Since they were on someone else's turf, he didn't feel the need to smoke. The driver smiled apologetically but didn't explain, "Uh, yes..."

Since it was someone else's custom, Yu Congyi had no objection. He put the lighter back in his pocket and turned his gaze to the window.

"Because of my health, I can't smoke," Tang Zefei said casually. "So, gradually everyone in the Tang family stopped smoking."

"Is it a lung problem?" Yu Congyi asked.

"No, it's an old problem." Tang Zefei gave a helpless smile and didn't continue the topic. He changed the subject, "Brother Congyi, what do you usually do in your free time?"

Upon hearing this address, Yu Congyi instinctively felt a little uncomfortable. "Brother Congyi?"

"Age-wise, I could indeed call you 'brother'," Tang Zefei said, narrowing her eyes. "Do you mind?"

Yu Congyi scratched his trouser leg, shook his head, and continued his previous topic, "I, I hardly ever have a moment to myself."

"That's such a pity." Tang Zefei sat rather slouchingly, with her legs crossed and one arm propped on her knee, supporting her chin. "I was just thinking of inviting Brother Congyi to see a movie sometime."

Yu Congyi didn't know what kind of intimacy the other person was being. He shook his head noncommittally, as if reminiscing, "It's been a long time since I've watched a movie."

"There's a new foreign film that's been released recently, and it's really great," Tang Zefei said.

“Oh…” Yu Congyi thought for a moment. He had actually been to the cinema many times before to complete the assassination missions given by Jiang Fengming, but each time it was not to sit down and watch a movie in a down-to-earth manner.

"Dancing?" Tang Zefei asked.

Yu Congyi looked at him, suspecting that the other party was thinking about the "Bronze Sparrow Terrace in Spring" incident, but he firmly shook his head.

"Then I guess Brother Yi would like to go to the theater, right?" Tang Zefei asked again.

Yu Congyi thought about it again, "Actually, it's been a long time since I've seen a major opera."

“Opera is a traditional Chinese art form, and it’s quite lively. Even though I don’t understand it, it’s still fun to join in,” Tang Zefei shared. “I spent an afternoon sitting under the stage, drinking herbal tea, eating melon seeds and dried fruit.”

Yu Congyi was surprised that he was interested in Chinese opera and looked at him with considerable astonishment.

Although Tang Zefei's appearance and bloodline are not those of a true Chinese, and are quite different, he was born in China and grew up in Tianjin. All the servants, attendants, and bodyguards around him are pure-blooded Chinese. Yu Congyi felt that he must have been subtly influenced, and his thinking, behavior, and speech were no different from those of a true Chinese.

As they spoke, the car turned a corner and arrived at their destination. The journey wasn't short, and the car's four windows were tightly closed, making it rather stuffy. However, Yu Congyi gradually relaxed after several pointless conversations with Tang Zefei, and even felt a genuine sense of ease; his tense body became less constrained. As soon as they stepped out of the car, a blast of cold air hit them. By then, many receptionists from the restaurant had already come out to greet them and ushered them inside.

After they both sat down, Tang Zefei whispered a few words to the waiter, who then took out a menu that looked like a hardcover book and placed it in front of Yu Congyi.

Yu Congyi opened the recipe book and saw a mix of Chinese and foreign languages ​​jumping around in front of him, without any pictures. He couldn't understand the true meaning of some of the complicated dish names for a while. After looking at it for a while, he looked up at Tang Zefei and handed the recipe book to her.

"Young Master Tang, please order whatever you like," he rubbed his temples, feeling he really had no appetite. "I'm not picky about food."

Tang Zefei took the menu, flipped through it casually, called out a few names to the waiter, and finally said, "Please hurry." The waiter then ran away with the menu in his arms.

All was quiet. Yu Congyi looked around and saw that there were few other guests, leading him to suspect that this was a private restaurant that the other party had specially arranged for him. On the way here, he had noticed that the restaurant's decor was a blend of Chinese and Western styles. It was quite large, like a mansion, but the exterior buildings were hidden behind an old church nestled among trees and vines. Yu Congyi had passed by it many times on the main road before, but he had never discovered that there was such a large and mysterious place inside.

"How did Young Master Tang find such a remote place?" Yu Congyi asked the other party.

Tang Zefei wiped his hand on the damp towel next to the tableware. "I came here once with a business owner. Their place was decent, and the food was pretty good." He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "And there aren't many people here, so it's suitable for discussing business, and also for clearing out the place."

Upon hearing this, Yu Congyi frowned slightly, the brief moment of comfort he had just experienced vanishing instantly. "So, did Young Master Tang invite me to this place to discuss business, or... to clear the area?"

"What's there to settle between us?" Tang Zefei looked at him but curled the corners of her mouth. "Speaking of business, I'd like to have a little romance with Commander Yu."

Yu Congyi looked him straight in the eye, showing no fear at his words. Ignoring the other man's words, he asked directly, "Young Master Tang invited me here because of Boss Zhan, right?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Zefei leaned closer to him and lowered her voice, saying each word clearly, "Commander Yu, when I come out on a date with you, I won't mention anyone else."

Ignoring his flippant remarks, Yu Congyi said seriously, "I've been very busy these days. I'll expedite the process over there. The Military Police Headquarters is in a mess lately, so please don't show up at the Military Police Headquarters building again."

Tang Zefei looked at him. "Are you worried about my safety?"

Yu Congyi raised his eyelids and glanced at him quickly, "Young Master Tang, please feel free to invite me however you like."

Tang Zefei stared at him, her expression resembling another attempt at a smile. Yu Congyi ignored her, turning his head away. Tang Zefei then suddenly said softly, "Tang Lishu took over my father's position as manager Xu five years ago and started specializing in opium smuggling. Before that, he was just overseeing the Hebei line at the Tang family's iron mine... I know these business matters don't concern the military, yet he suddenly died without explanation. Commander Yu, who exactly is your superior in the underworld?"

Yu Congyi turned to face him this time, "Young Master Tang, didn't we agree not to talk about strangers except for the two of us?" Even after saying this, he suddenly felt pressured, his fingers moved and gradually touched the dagger tucked in his waist. The other party must have known all along that Tang Lishu was killed by him, but he had been slow to reveal the truth. Last time in prison, he was ambiguous and did not mention the matter. This time, he was even more cryptic. What did he want with this smile hiding a knife?

Since the other party didn't say anything, Yu Congyi didn't need to pin the blame on himself. He fully expected that the other party would argue with him for a long time because of this matter. Unexpectedly, Tang Zefei changed the subject and almost obediently complied, "Yes, I almost forgot, Commander Yu, come and eat."

As they spoke, a steamed sea bass was placed on the table. Tang Zefei used her chopsticks skillfully, picking up a tender piece from the belly and placing it on the porcelain plate in front of Yu Congyi. Yu Congyi obligingly picked it up, opened his mouth, and looked at Tang Zefei. Tang Zefei's lips seemed to be smiling, but the curve of her eyes was sharp as a knife. Yu Congyi sighed, ate the piece of fish, and knew that the other party was still waiting for him to kill Boss Zhan. Why would she poison him at this time? He had been overthinking it.

Tang Zefei picked up a piece for herself and put it in her mouth.

"It tastes good." He raised his eyebrows and looked at Yu Congyi. "Congyi, eat more."

Yu Congyi was helpless against the change in how he addressed him, so he nodded and silently ate with the other person.

A short while later, the second dish, Bloody Monte Cristo, was served. Yu Congyi didn't understand the name of the dish; when it was brought to the table on a wooden plate, it simply contained beef wrapped in puff pastry, quite ordinary.

"The name is fancy," he commented after taking a bite, "but the taste is just so-so."

"The steak is wrapped in French puff pastry and injected with red wine blood. This name is an allusion to The Count of Monte Cristo, isn't it?" Tang Zefei picked up a piece and smelled it. "It's an image of revenge and communion."

Yu Congyi nodded thoughtfully, pretending not to understand.

Until the end of the meal, neither of them brought up anything that could cause a confrontation. In fact, once such a topic was raised, it would be difficult to resolve, and both of them knew this. After leaving the restaurant unhurriedly, Yu Congyi declined Tang Zefei's offer to take him home and left alone in his car.

He'd had a few drinks with dinner, and now, under the influence of alcohol, his head was feeling slightly flushed. The car was driving smoothly, and he rolled down the window, his heart churning with unease. He stretched an arm out the window, facing the howling wind, and suddenly pounded on the car door. In that instant, he truly realized that he had once again let his enemy off the hook tonight!

Yu Congyi couldn't give himself a clear answer as to why he hadn't taken action against Tang Zefei. He couldn't explain why, but he felt that he shouldn't have acted so rashly. However, every time he let her go, he would tremble with regret. The driver, hearing the loud banging on the door, turned around in alarm and looked at him. "Sir, are you alright?"

Yu Congyi waved his hand and said in a low voice, "You drive."

Behind the alleyway of Victoria Road in the British Concession, covered with fallen pine needles, Yu Congyi returned to the Jiang family's townhouse, reeking of alcohol—but standing at the gate of the courtyard outside the villa, he suddenly sensed something amiss!

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was strange, but when he looked at the villa gate ahead, he felt a chilling, bone-deeply menacing aura in the wind!

Yu Congyi dashed into the courtyard almost instantly and kicked open the villa gate.

The door wasn't closed properly. When Yu Congyi rushed in, there were three or five burly men dressed in long gowns and mandarin jackets guarding the door. The arrogant people in the living room seemed not to have expected reinforcements to arrive, so they all turned their faces to look at the door.

Jiang Fengming and all his servants were bound and subdued in the hall by this group of ruthless bandits. In fact, the Jiang family usually had bodyguards, but coincidentally, they had all taken a day off from their boss this morning to go out for tea, cards, and brothels, and had not returned yet. Moreover, because Jiang Fengming's residence was so remote and hard to find, no one would normally pay much attention to it.

At the same time, Jiang Fengming saw Yu Congyi's figure at the door and cried out in a terrified voice, "Big brother, save me—!!!"

Logically speaking, someone who has reached his position should be a fearless and reckless person, but for some reason, Jiang Fengming has been spoiled and has developed a timid and cowardly demeanor. Perhaps he is not really that afraid in his heart.

Before Jiang Fengming's cries could even subside, Yu Congyi had already drawn his pistol without hesitation and fired at the men in front of him. The distance was too close, so his movements were slowed down. After the first man fell to the ground unexpectedly, the others suddenly scattered nimbly in all directions, like rabbits startled from their burrows, and launched counterattacks while fleeing.

Yu Congyi's vision blurred into chaos, a veritable cacophony of smoke and fire. The area from the doorway to the living room had suddenly transformed into a life-or-death arena, with countless figures roaring and snarling, wielding iron rods and sharp blades as they pounced on him. He dared not hesitate, dodging several deadly attacks. Leaning against the wall, he heard the churning of blood in his ears; the alcohol had completely evaporated in that instant.

The dagger was hidden deep inside his clothes, and he couldn't easily pull it out immediately; this was all he had. The figures in front of him turned into moving black fragments, and countless clubs, knives, and guns rained down from the sky. Without daring to catch his breath or hesitate, he realized they were a group of desperate criminals. He abruptly stood up, grabbing one of the men by the collar. Using this unfortunate hostage as cover, he struggled to maneuver against the ferocious weapons. He was exhausted and had no choice but to fire a barrage of bullets. Some hit, some missed. The recoil of the pistol was considerable, especially for someone like him, who was acting like a madman, disregarding his own life. Many bullets pierced the hard walls and marble floors, sparking, while others grazed flesh, splattering blood. One of the men lunged menacingly from the side, clamping his arms around his neck and forcefully pulling him back. The hostage, freed, immediately pounced on him, twisting his hands and turning the pistol around to face him.

Yu Congyi released his grip, then forcefully thrust the gun upwards. A deafening explosion followed, the gun barrel flying off the hostage's chin and exploding violently in front of him, spraying red, white, and black brain matter, blood, and flesh all over his face. The man restraining him from behind seemed stunned; his grip on Yu Congyi's neck loosened for a moment. Yu Congyi knew he had used up the last bullet in the pistol, so he casually tossed it aside and instead drew his dagger from his waist, slashing viciously backwards.