Chapter 285 Velvet Soft Girl (1)
The day after the Inspiration Mushroom column was published, the poet Sreel arrived as expected. This time he brought a violin, and the tune he played was particularly inspiring, like the ending music after defeating an enemy in an old game.
"Books hold true emotions, and only when the pen connects with the heart can it reach the spirit." After listening to the whole story, Sirer concluded with this: "Yearning and emotion are the true meaning of creation. No matter how time passes or how the world changes, this is an eternal truth. Inspector Chu sees it so clearly, how can I not say thank you."
Ji Huaisu was a little surprised: "You are actually quite satisfied. I thought you would protest because you didn't burn the mushrooms."
"Why should living things get entangled with dead things? Nowadays, everyone has different opinions on mushrooms, and a stagnant atmosphere will not last long~"
Si Ruier jumped onto a chair, pointed at Chu Hengkong and said with a smile: "The poet is in high spirits right now, and the next song will definitely be excellent. Inspector, please tell us about your past. I guarantee that the song will be better than that story!"
"Let me think..."
Chu Hengkong fell into deep thought. He and his boss had experienced many things, but some of them were not suitable to be told to others, and not all of them were profound enough to be unforgettable.
When it comes to creation, he is not good at controlling the "key points", so he has to recall them carefully in his mind first.
Like turning a rusty spring, the tape rewinds to a distant past. The film has long since aged under the scour of time, but the people and events of the past are still vivid, carrying with them the memories of a wild youth.
·
Ten years ago, New York.
The phone on the table buzzed, and the ashtray filled with cigarette butts also vibrated. Chu Hengkong held a cigarette in his mouth, wondering who could be calling him at this time.
He has two phones, one for work and one for personal use. The takeout shop only calls his work phone, and occasionally, when a friend gets itchy hands or someone comes in because of his reputation, his underworld informant will call him personally to arrange a discussion. Otherwise, this phone rings only once a month, on the first of the month, when Mr. Chu's family regularly checks in on him.
The Chu family didn't like him very much, but after all, because of the old man's favor, they would always ask him if he needed anything.
Today's number didn't fall into either of those categories. He'd already left the call hanging for forty seconds, and the phone was still vibrating. He waited, cigarette between his fingers, for a moment before the call automatically disconnected and went to voicemail. The caller hung up, and then the phone started vibrating again.
He seems to be a very patient person.
He put out his cigarette, answered the phone, and said in Chinese, "Who is this?"
"I'm Velvet," the young girl said.
He was stunned for a moment before he remembered it was the girl from two months ago. He was worried about the consequences after the incident, so he left his personal phone number.
But Young Master Chu couldn't help being so indifferent. That night, after helping Velvet kill a whole roomful of people, not long after, a fleet of luxury cars pulled up outside the mansion, as if attending a funeral. A group of old men and women with thick beards scrambled out of their cars and ran to the little girl, wailing and babbling in incomprehensible Italian. Judging by their expressions, they were probably saying something like, "This old minister deserves death! We've wronged His Majesty!"
At the end, she turned around and thanked him profusely, with an expression of gratitude as if she saw Superman descend from the sky to save the last emperor from the dire straits and revive the country. She said she would not take money, but she stuffed two boxes of gold bars into his pocket, which are now gathering dust in his closet.
Anyone would have thought the matter was over, the last emperor had returned to the palace, and all that was left was for the old ministers to worry about, and his delivery job was just a chore. Could it be that the emperor had nothing better to do and wanted to catch up with him?
"How's it going lately?" he said casually.
"Not bad," the girl said. "I want to ask you to deliver something."
"What?"
"Send it to me."
·
The Velus family's office building is located in downtown New York City, making it quite convenient for transportation. It only takes about ten minutes to walk from the rooftop. Although he was wearing a yellow delivery vest when he entered, the security guards on both sides saluted him.
Velvet was in the 38th-floor conference room, lost in thought, staring at a map. The veteran officials flanked the table, their expressions swirling as if they were watching an emperor being executed. When he entered, the officials once again looked at him as if he were their savior. Apparently, they really thought the delivery man was a good enough talent to beg him to become a general.
Chu Hengkong pulled a chair and sat down: "Where are you going?"
"Ohio, about a nine-hour drive."
He spent a long time trying to figure out what Ohio was. Velvet turned the map around and pointed it out to him. "Here."
"It looks like a deserted, shabby place, not suitable for a spring outing," Chu Hengkong commented. "What are you looking for here?"
"Looking for the Russians," Velbert said. "Ohio is one of the largest Russian immigrant settlements in the United States, and Cleveland, the base of the Minonev family, is located here. They are one of Velus's last remaining allies, and I want to negotiate a business deal with the Russians."
"It must be a big deal." Chu Hengkong took out a cigarette and lit it.
"I want to buy a batch of Russian arms to expand my family's combat power. It's no exaggeration to say that this transaction will determine the survival of the Velus family."
Velvet spoke calmly, as if she wasn't going to buy munitions but rather a sandwich from the nearby bakery. She was wearing a long, pure black dress that resembled a convent dress. The garment was meticulously crafted, and with her calm, watery face, she looked like a cool, noblewoman.
“So some people don’t want to see you close a deal.”
"A lot of people."
"The Russians don't care?"
"The Russians only do business with their allies, and I need to prove that I am worthy of being their ally."
Chu Hengkong glanced at his phone: "It's 2:45 pm now."
"Negotiations begin tomorrow at noon, and we'll drive to Pennsylvania to spend the night."
Chu Hengkong laughed. He really liked the girl's speaking style. There were no unnecessary small talk, and she completely understood what he meant.
"I'm only taking you with me. We'll decide on the reward later."
The old ministers stood up on the spot, and Velvet nodded before them: "What do you need?"
"Prepare some pebbles."
The car they were driving on this trip was a dark green Hummer. It wasn't the most high-end, but it felt incredibly powerful. Chu Hengkong patted the steering wheel happily after getting in. One of the benefits of working for rich people was that you could drive fancy cars you couldn't normally get your hands on.
There was an ID card and driver's license in the car, which clearly stated that he was eighteen years old. Velvet also prepared a pair of sunglasses so that he would look older.
Velvet sat in the passenger seat, carrying the marked map with her. She put on a black veil when she left the house.
"I'll be in charge of showing the way."
Chu Hengkong put on sunglasses and asked, "Do I look like someone who doesn't know the way?"
"I don't think you've ever been outside of New York."
“You’re right.” He reached out and took off Velvet’s veil. The girl looked at him in surprise.
"You're not a widow, why are you wearing a black veil? It's so gloomy." He threw the veil onto the back seat. "You have a pretty face, so you should show it off."
Velvet lowered her eyes. “…Thank you. But please be polite.”
"What etiquette? I haven't learned it~"
He suddenly stepped on the accelerator, and the Hummer roared into the lane. Velvet was pressed against the backrest by the recoil again. She was a little used to this guy's driving style.
Chu Hengkong followed the instructions, heading west, choosing only minor roads until he reached the national highway. According to the deductions made in the conference room, an attack in New York City was highly unlikely, as the enemy would be wary of attacking in broad daylight. However, once they left the city and entered the national highway, they were no longer under the control of the ruling power. An attack could come at any time, in any form they could not imagine.
"The most likely method is a car chase," Velvet told him. "Using a helicopter is too expensive, and things haven't developed to that point yet. Snipers don't have a suitable observation point. They'll just drive recklessly, shattering windows with bullets or exploding fuel tanks."
"They won't." Chu Hengkong said.
"Why?"
"At first, they were too late. After another half hour, they didn't dare."
He suddenly veered into the right lane, rolling down both windows. Before Velvet knew it, a Ford sedan had passed them. In that instant, she caught sight of the muzzle of a gun behind the car window. The gunman, wearing a knitted cap, stared at her coldly.
She had never felt death so close. Unlike Lucas's long-planned attack, the real killer was cold and efficient, and the moment they saw them, it meant the end. However, almost at the same moment, a round hole appeared in the opposite car window, and the gunman fell backward, blood spurting from the center of his head.
The Ford lost control, crashed into the fence, and fell off the overpass. Velvet slowly turned her head. Chu Hengkong was holding the steering wheel with one hand, holding something in his hand.
It was a small stone.
The Humvee braked to a stop, and another car filled with assassins, unable to control its speed, rushed forward. This time, she saw Chu Hengkong's actions clearly. He flicked his finger, and the stone flew out of the car, whizzing into the car in front, piercing the back of the driver's head.
He accelerated to overtake the car in front before it lost control, and a few seconds later, Velvet heard the dull thud of a collision.
"This thing is much more useful than a gun." The boy said proudly.
She understood Chu Hengkong's confidence. The killers would definitely retreat because they were also human beings. Even if they were ferocious or indifferent, they would be afraid of "strength" itself.
Even a killer would not dare to chase an opponent who can kill people with stones. That is not a mission, that is seeking death.
·
About five hours later, they arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Humvee was riddled with bullet holes, revealing the enemy was more persistent than the family's advisors had anticipated, eventually even deploying a motorcycle squadron.
But even such a persistent pursuer finally fled with a cry when he saw Chu Hengkong smash the motorcycle with one punch.
"I've killed as many people in just one day as I did last year," the boy said jokingly.
"I thought couriers didn't kill people very often."
"Boss, New York City is a little more chaotic than you think. A stranger living alone in the city has plenty of opportunities to get into trouble."
Velvet was surprised by his address. “What did you call me?”
"You hired me today, didn't you?" The boy took off his sunglasses and smiled at her. "You pay me, so you're the boss."
It was such simple logic, but for some reason, it made Velvet feel a little happy. Their Hummer stopped at the hotel entrance. Chu Hengkong jumped out first and opened the door for her luggage, acting like a considerate waiter.
Velvet was convinced the guy was just making fun of her, but she took the boy's hand and got out of the car, acting as if she were his boss. As the two of them walked to the hotel, the black man at the front desk glanced back and forth at their overly young faces.
"I'm sorry, Miss Velvet," the black man said. "I know you made a reservation in advance, and you're the honorable Velus, but... minors need a guardian to stay. This is... basic common sense outside of the covenant."
Chu Hengkong put one hand on the stage: "Of course, I am her guardian."
"you?"
"You work very hard, and I like that." Chu Hengkong flipped out a one-dollar coin and said, "Of course I'm your guardian. I have proof."
He folded the coin in half once, then folded it in half a second time, letting the small piece of metal slide across the table and fall into the black man's hand. The black man's eyes widened, and he looked at the coin for a long time, then handed over a room card.
"I absolutely believe that you are qualified to be anyone's guardian," he said sincerely.
(End of this chapter)
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