Chapter 28

On that day, Tang Zefei had just left the Central Bank when his bodyguard was shot.

The assassin was after Tang Zefei, but he was waiting for his driver, standing against a lamppost. The moment the gun went off, he nimbly dodged backward, narrowly escaping death. The instant the gunshot rang out, pedestrians screamed and scattered. Just then, a car pulled up and stopped at the roadside. Tang Zefei opened the car door and practically leaped inside.

Lu Jin came to pick up his master and witnessed this scene from the passenger seat. Seeing the bodyguard lying on the ground after being injured, he was so shocked that he ordered the driver to leave quickly. At this time, the car door was not yet closed, and the car wheels were slowly rolling due to inertia. In a moment of urgency, Tang Zefei leaned half of her body out of the car, grabbed the bodyguard's arm with one hand, and pulled him into the car.

The bodyguard, Xiao Liu, had been wounded in the thigh, and his shirt was ripped open by a bullet, bleeding profusely—a gruesome sight. Tang Zefei grabbed him and put him in the car, ordering the driver to rush him to Maria Hospital. Xiao Liu, realizing he had escaped death, was filled with gratitude and terror; tears and snot streamed down his face as he collapsed onto the back seat, groaning incessantly.

The car quickly pulled up in front of the hospital. Tang Zefei didn't waste any time, bending down to lift Xiao Liu, only to find him unconscious. He patted Xiao Liu's head and face, but Xiao Liu only groaned weakly. His hands were covered in blood, almost soaking his clothes; the aura of death lingered before Tang Zefei. A chill ran down Tang Zefei's spine—if it weren't for Xiao Liu taking those bullets, his fate would truly be unknown today!

Lu Jin went around to the back seat, carried Xiao Liu on his back, and Tang Zefei followed him into the examination room. Xiao Liu was bleeding heavily, and the emergency room doctor frowned as he looked at him. He put Xiao Liu on a stretcher and rushed him into the ward, saying that the patient needed a blood transfusion. Lu Jin made a phone call to the management department and immediately summoned three or five brothers to volunteer for blood transfusions.

While waiting, Tang Zefei came out and sat on a bench in the corridor outside the ward. Lu Jin followed her out and stood by the door. After a while, seeing no movement, Lu Jin looked down and saw his master's pale hand quietly supporting his chin on his knee, his eyes lightly closed, perhaps dozing off. He was completely wrapped in a black trench coat, and although he was already quite pale on ordinary days, he looked even more so now. Lu Jin didn't know how to describe it, only that the contrast between his skin tone and the color of his coat was so striking that it seemed to sting anyone who saw him. Turning his head as if to look around, Lu Jin saw that the entire corridor was covered with white stone bricks, a cold and silent atmosphere that was hard to describe.

A wall lamp hung dimly at the end of the corridor. The smell of disinfectant was unusually strong all around, and Tang Zefei, who was extremely sensitive to this smell, almost felt uncomfortable. He wasn't asleep; he was just puzzled and wanted to think things through, but his thoughts yielded no results, and hatred gradually grew within him.

Without even needing to think deeply, he knew who was behind today's incident. He just hadn't expected Zhan Yuewei to be so impatient. They had only eaten together a week ago, and he hadn't expected her to be so easily provoked by words, actually taking him seriously. Tang Zefei knew that his relationship with Zhan Yuewei would inevitably end like this, no matter how carefree and decadent they had been when their fathers were both around, they couldn't escape this final fate.

Tang Zefei was not surprised at all when it came to ruthlessness. He knew very well what kind of people he and the other party were. You can know a person's face but not their heart. He had not forgotten how he had eliminated the other party's father. He thought he was just lucky today. He might not have such an opportunity again!

Why are you in such a hurry? Tang Zefei couldn't figure it out, but she felt she couldn't just sit and wait to die. This person was cunning and ruthless; after this setback, when he would strike next was completely unpredictable.

Tang Zefei decided to retaliate. But after thinking it over, he didn't know what to do. Suddenly, he stood up and said to Lu Jin, "I need to make a phone call."

Lu Jin was startled by his movements. He had thought Tang Zefei was just resting and dozing off, but it turned out he wasn't asleep at all. Tang Zefei's expression was somewhat unpleasant, and Lu Jin cautiously asked, "Young Master, what are you thinking about?"

“It was Zhan Yuewei, but I don’t know why,” Tang Zefei said. “I don’t know why he wanted to kill me.”

"Young Master, are you sure it's him?" Lu Jin was taken aback. He had other candidates in mind, but hesitated to speak. Tang Zefei glanced at him. "That's why I'm going to ask him."

"You've always gotten along well with Young Master Zhan, so why..." Lu Jin chased after her, but Tang Zefei didn't want to explain. "Whether it's true or not, I'll find out with this phone call."

He began to suspect that Zhan Yuewei already knew the true cause of Zhan Chu's death, but even so, he shouldn't be the one settling scores. Since their meeting in the alley that day, he hadn't had another chance to see Yu Congyi, and Yu Congyi's cold attitude told him that nothing had changed between them. If he were implicated, Yu Congyi probably wouldn't want to, or would disdain, confront him! Tang Zefei thought that given their current situation, he shouldn't expect either of them to develop any positive feelings about their relationship. He had taken advantage of him, and Yu Congyi had accepted it without a care in the world—wasn't that enough to explain everything?

Tang Zefei felt a little regret, but not much. Because he couldn't think of many other opportunities he could have to get close to that person besides doing this.

Tang Zefei shook his head, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile. He didn't know why his current thoughts always ended up relating to Yu Congyi, as if Yu Congyi had already taken up residence in his mind, making him think and ponder uncontrollably. Tang Zefei couldn't help but chuckle softly a few times. He thought to himself that if he were Yu Congyi, he would find it annoying and irritating, because having someone who could connect everything he thought of with himself, keeping everything on his mind—as his aunt always said, wouldn't that shorten his lifespan?

So Tang Zefei decided to stop thinking about Yu Congyi and made a phone call, but no one answered at the Zhan family's house. After thinking for a moment, Tang Zefei called the Zhan family's study instead.

The call was answered, but there was no sound. Tang Zefei knew that Zhan Yuewei was exceptionally shrewd; if she wanted to investigate, she would already know where the call had come from.

"Who..." A voice came from the other end of the phone, but it wasn't Zhan Yuewei's voice, only a servant's. Tang Zefei handed the phone to Lu Jin, who said, "Where is your master?"

"Young Master Tang, our young master went out this morning," the servant muttered, "and hasn't returned yet."

“It’s me, Lu Jin. Why do you think it was Young Master Tang who called? I didn’t say a word just now.” Lu Jin’s voice was deep.

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't hear you clearly just now." The servant was slightly speechless.

"Your master taught you to do that, didn't he? The phone number in the Zhan family study was only given to Young Master Tang," Lu Jin said.

"No, no, that's not true," the person on the other end of the phone stammered.

"Zhan Yuewei!" Lu Jin suddenly yelled into the microphone, "You get out here right now!"

"You!" The servant opposite him was startled. "How dare you! What are you doing?!"

"Zhan Yuewei is right next to you, isn't she?" Tang Zefei picked up the phone at this moment, her voice clear and distinct, "Since I started hanging out with Young Master Zhan, I've never been able to call his study. I've never heard of Young Master Zhan ever staying in his study. His study is always locked. If Young Master Zhan wasn't right next to you, how would you have had the chance to answer my call?"

"What exactly do you want?" The servant sensed panic and stammered, "Young Master Zhan really isn't home. If you have something to say, Young Master Tang, let's talk another day!" He was about to hang up when he said that. Tang Zefei smiled and said, "Tell your master that I need to talk to him at the Kai Siling Western Restaurant at 5 PM in three days." He then hung up the phone.

"Young Master, this," Lu Jin looked at Tang Zefei, "do you still want to meet with him?"

"What I said earlier was half true and half false. I just wanted to scare him. Zhan Yuewei has been acting recklessly for so many years, do you think he can be intimidated by this phone call?" Tang Zefei put down the phone and leaned against the wall. "It seems that Zhan Yuewei's current situation is indeed unclear. However, this servant is behaving very strangely, as if he is inexplicably afraid of us. Then we can see his master."

“I absolutely have to see him this way. Even if it’s the last time.” Tang Zefei’s gaze swept over Lu Jin’s face and looked ahead. “I like to finish what I start, and I need to make things clear.”

"Then I'll bring a few people with me." Zhan Yuewei nodded.

Tang Zefei put his hands in his pockets, looked straight ahead, and after a long while, let out a soft sigh.

"Lu Jin, if I said I wanted to kill him," Tang Zefei said in a low voice, "what do you think?"

"I will do my best," Lu Jin replied almost without thinking.

“No, if you take action, we’ll be inviting trouble,” Tang Zefei said quietly. “I’m afraid we’re already too conspicuous.”

Lu Jin was slightly surprised to hear his master say such a thing for the first time, and then said, "Young Master, Zhan Yuewei should not know my identity."

“He’s seen you a few times.” Tang Zefei shook her head. “If he’s seen you, it means that people around him may have seen you too. We’re all already on his blacklist.”

“Young Master, I’ve actually been wanting to ask you this, but I haven’t dared,” Lu Jin swallowed, his voice almost sinking to the ground, “How did Boss Zhan die?”

"I did it." Tang Zefei glanced at him, but her gaze swept past him. "You guessed it, didn't you?"

"That's why I said this time it can't be you or me who makes the move." Tang Zefei closed his eyes, and at that moment, he thought of Yu Congyi again.

Hitmen are easy to find, but finding one that puts Tang Zefei at ease is not so easy. However, he knew he could no longer maintain contact with Yu Congyi under this identity, even though he remembered that the other man only pitifully hoped to be entangled with that person's fate again in this way. Yet, Tang Zefei was also acutely aware that if things continued between employer and hitman, he felt there would be no way to salvage the situation.

…

When Yu Congyi returned home, Jiang Fengming had not yet arrived. He remembered that the other man had told him earlier that he wanted to go to Yibin Restaurant for Sichuan cuisine that evening. Yu Congyi didn't know if he wanted to go with him or meet at the restaurant later. Fortunately, he had some free time at his department today, so he returned home early and waited for the other man.

Almost half an hour passed without any call from Jiang Fengming. Yu Congyi stood up from the sofa, went to his room, and checked his pocket watch; it was nearly seven o'clock in the evening. He opened the window and looked outside. This morning, the sky over the British Concession had been overcast and gloomy, and he had suspected it was going to rain. Now, the rain that had been accumulating all day finally began to fall, light and persistent. The night sky was dark and deep, and the raindrops were like threads. It wasn't heavy, but the dampness that washed over him carried a chilling cold.

Yu Congyi changed his shirt, straightened his collar in front of the mirror, and walked out of the room. He then called the butler.

“It’s raining outside now, get me an umbrella.” He rolled up his sleeves and took a hat from the coat rack. “Call Fengming and tell him I’m heading to the restaurant to wait for him.”

The butler paused, looked up at him, and scratched the back of his head. "Young Master, isn't the young master at home?"

"Hmm?" Yu Congyi stopped rolling up his sleeves and looked at him with a puzzled expression. Suddenly, as if realizing something, he opened his eyes wide.

"Is Fengming home?"

"Yes, the young master returned in the afternoon and went straight to his bedroom. He hasn't come out since." The butler scratched his head. "When the young master came back, he didn't look too good."

Yu Congyi's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he felt an inexplicable unease. He frowned slightly, but without asking anything, he turned and walked up the stairs, quickly reaching the second floor.

As if something was chasing him, Yu Congyi ran to Jiang Fengming's bedroom and saw that the door was closed, so he reached out and knocked.

Sure enough, Jiang Fengming's voice came from inside, muffled by the door, "Who is it?"

“It’s my elder brother,” Yu Congyi said. “I’m coming in.”

"Oh." Soft footsteps sounded, the door opened, and Jiang Fengming stood in front of Yu Congyi wearing a shirt and pajama bottoms, his face showing obvious worry and unease.

"Why didn't you tell me you were back? I waited for you downstairs for an hour." Yu Congyi was puzzled when he saw Jiang Fengming's listless appearance.

“Brother, you didn’t come to see me either,” Jiang Fengming said, glancing at him after opening the door. He then walked back and sat down on the bed. Yu Congyi followed him in and immediately noticed the countless cigarette butts in the ashtray by the bedside, filling the entire bedroom with a strong smell of smoke.

“You didn’t even ask the housekeeper if I went home or not, did you?” Jiang Fengming glanced at him again. “Because I was always waiting for you outside or in the living room, so you overlooked it.”

"Alright, I guess I waited in vain since you didn't ask carefully enough." Yu Congyi walked to the bedside and flicked the ashtray. "What are you doing smoking so much in the room? Come on, let's go out to eat."

“I’m not in the mood to eat. Brother,” Jiang Fengming looked straight at him, “Yang Xiang is dead.”

Even though Yu Congyi had a premonition that something was wrong with the other party, he was still taken aback by these sudden words. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "Who did this?"

"That's what I need to ask you, brother." Jiang Fengming lowered his head and sighed, "Did you kill Yang Xiang?"

It turned out that Yang Xiang's beloved godson had been drowned in the river by Yu Congyi that day. A member of the Yang family witnessed Yu Congyi leading him out the back door, after which the boy disappeared completely. This morning, a maid from the Yang family went to the back river to wash clothes. She accidentally dropped a garment, which drifted downstream and became entangled in a patch of dry reeds. The maid waded into the reeds to retrieve the garment and suddenly stumbled upon a bloated, floating corpse. The maid screamed in terror and immediately reported to her master. Yang Xiang led a group of servants to the scene. A brave servant pulled the body ashore, and a sharp-eyed servant immediately recognized the distorted, grotesque face as Xiao Lian. The witnesses from that day immediately came forward and recounted their encounter with Yu Congyi to Yang Xiang. Those with discerning eyes knew that Xiao Lian's death was inextricably linked to Yu Congyi. Unfortunately, since the body had been submerged in water for many days, even if bullet holes were seen on the corpse, it was impossible to confirm the original size of the bullet holes. Although the murderer could not be identified, it was what the Yang family wanted to know.

That very day, Yang Xiang asked someone to inform Jiang Fengming of the matter, hoping to get an explanation. Unfortunately, fate was cruel; that afternoon, Yang Xiang was shot and killed in front of the Bailou Western Restaurant, the bullet striking him squarely in the chest, killing him instantly. Yang Ruinian informed him of this, his tone harsh on the phone, indicating he wouldn't rest until the truth was revealed. Upon hearing this news, Jiang Fengming's mind went blank for a moment, then cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Almost instantly, he naturally thought of his elder brother.

"It was my brother who killed him, wasn't it? It was my brother, wasn't it?" Jiang Fengming hung up the phone and realized his hands were trembling. "Go home, I want to go home." He ordered his men, and then, without warning, he silently left the factory and went straight home.

"Forget about his godson, Yang Xiang is dead. Brother, brother, didn't we agree to work together to figure something out? This can't be rushed, we can always find an opportunity to do it. Why, why do you have to take his life now?" Jiang Fengming's voice trembled more and more as he spoke. "Don't you know how much trouble it will bring me if I announce Yang Xiang's death to the public? Yang Ruinian will drive me to my death!"

“I didn’t kill Yang Xiang,” Yu Congyi said, looking at Jiang Fengming’s increasingly uneasy expression. He reached out and placed his hands on Jiang’s shoulders. “Listen to me.”

"You didn't kill Yang Xiang? Then what about his godson? Who killed him?" Jiang Fengming retorted, his neck stiff.

"I killed him, but that's not the same thing, I..."

"You killed your godson. Yang Xiang died after he told me. Who else could it be if not you? Brother, we are family, of one mind. Tell me the truth. You know, no matter what, I will never truly blame you. Don't run away. Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Yu Congyi knew Jiang Fengming's personality and was well aware of his current breakdown. He knew that Jiang was timid, unwilling to be the first to speak out, and even less willing to become an open enemy. Therefore, he had always silently helped him behind the scenes for many years. He never expected that today's events would make him unable to see the other party clearly.

He hadn't expected Jiang Fengming to distrust him and question him in such a tone.

"Feng Ming, don't you believe me?" Yu Congyi removed the hand from his shoulder and looked into the other's eyes. "I'm not lying to you, Yang Xiang. I really didn't kill him."

"Then let me ask you, what's the deal with his godson?" Jiang Fengming raised his face and spoke in a higher tone.

Yu Congyi noticed that Jiang Fengming's hands were trembling. His younger brother would tremble uncontrollably when he was truly worried and scared. A wave of inexplicable guilt washed over him. He didn't have time to regret or hate his impulsive actions that day; he suddenly grabbed Jiang's arms and held them tightly. "I'm sorry, Fengming, I'm sorry. It was an impulsive act, it has nothing to do with you. I'll bear the consequences of killing his godson myself, you shouldn't..."

"The consequences of killing his godson are no longer important. What's important is that Yang Xiang is dead! Now that Yang Xiang is dead, how will Yang Ruinian treat me and you? Do you want to be arrested by the garrison and dismissed from your post? But brother, of course I will speak up for you, but I have the right to know the truth. If you don't tell me the truth, how can I believe you? Brother, tell me the truth, what is going on here!"

As the body before him trembled more and more, and his words grew increasingly slurred, Yu Congyi closed his eyes, suddenly overwhelmed by a profound sense of powerlessness. His tongue was a heavy weight, his truth and his inner turmoil entangled on opposite ends of a scale. For him, Jiang Jiejie was the greatest obstacle in his heart, something he could never utter a word about—a knot in his heart. He realized he truly couldn't explain why he would kill Yang Xiang's godson.

"Big Brother!" Jiang Fengming stared at the person in front of him, who seemed to be in a daze, and couldn't help but shout to bring Yu Congyi back to his senses, "Big Brother, did you hear me? Big Brother, say something!"

"I didn't kill him!" Yu Congyi wasn't lost in thought, but rather conflicted to the point of madness. Overwhelmed by powerlessness and pressure, he roared, "I didn't kill Yang Xiang! I didn't kill Yang Xiang! I didn't kill Yang Xiang! How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?!"

"Jiang Fengming, stop asking. I admit to killing people, but I didn't do it. Asking me a thousand times won't help."

Yu Congyi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, accompanied by a throbbing sensation in his temple. He reached up and pressed his hand to one temple. He was truly confused about the situation; what exactly had happened to Yang Xiang? He had harbored the intention to kill him, but hadn't yet had the chance to act.