The tavern doesn't have many customers during the day; there are only a few leisurely patrons sitting inside, sipping their drinks and chatting. Most of them are just idly passing the time, enjoying life.
So Qiuqiu and the others weren't too busy. She followed Shen Nan out and immediately saw the two people not far away. Sensing something was wrong, she hurriedly called out, "Sister!"
Zhou Zuizui exclaimed "Ah!" and looked up in their direction, her eyes meeting Shen Nan's by sheer coincidence. She paused, but there was not a trace of guilt or fear in her eyes.
She glanced at the man not far away, his expression cold and stern, standing tall and straight, calmly observing them. Even his casual demeanor was different from that of others. This was probably the air of a soldier.
She didn't speak, but Ai Zeyang slowly approached and looked at Shen Nan with some surprise: "And who is this?"
Zhou Zuizui smiled and introduced him to Ai Zeyang without any hesitation: "My husband is Shen Nan."
Upon hearing this, Shen Nan was momentarily stunned. He had thought she wouldn't introduce herself, or that she would simply state her name.
As for Ai Zeyang, he was completely stunned and frozen.
He glanced at the imposing man in front of him, then at the expression on Zhou Zuizui's face, pointed at the two of them, and blurted out, "Is this your cheap husband?"
Shen Nan: "..."
Zhou Zuizui smiled, raised her eyebrows with a hint of smugness, and said, "Yeah, how do I look?"
Ai Zeyang stroked his chin, looked Zhou Zuizui up and down, raised an eyebrow, and gave her a flirtatious wink: "You're not as handsome as me, you're at a disadvantage."
“That’s right,” Zhou Zuizui echoed, “You’re the most handsome man in the world.”
The two of them sang in harmony, and to outsiders, it really seemed like they were a couple.
Shen Nan narrowed his eyes, scoffed, and looked at Zhou Zuizui with indifferent expression: "Nothing?"
"Hmm." Zhou Zuizui knew what he was asking about.
She was actually fine. After being pulled aside and asked a few simple questions, she was released. Although the group of people looked fierce, they probably considered that Shen Nan was disguising herself quite well and didn't want to offend anyone, so they released her easily.
Just as I came out, Ai Zeyang arrived.
Zhou Zuizui hadn't even had a chance to rest before she was dragged out for a walk and a meal.
Shen Nan nodded, his eyes deep as he looked at the distance between the two of them, their arms almost touching. He tugged at his lips, looked down, and reminded them, "Try not to go out these next few days."
"OK."
Zhou Zuizui thought for a moment and then introduced them: "This is my friend, Ai Zeyang."
Shen Nan responded with a calm, emotionless "Mmm," saying, "I have other things to do, I'll be going now."
The two: "..."
Watching Shen Nan turn and leave without hesitation, Zhou Zuizui stroked her chin and nudged Ai Zeyang's arm beside her, asking in a drawn-out voice, "Is my husband jealous?"
The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Shen Nan, who had only walked a short distance, to hear. However, he didn't stop for a moment and simply disappeared from their sight.
Ai Zeyang lowered his eyes, concealing his thoughts, and scoffed at Zhou Zuizui: "What are you jealous of? You're with me, you're probably still asleep."
Zhou Zuizui: "..."
She stared at Shen Nan's back for a few seconds, then her eyes darted around, and she smiled, feeling pleased.
For the next two days, Shen Nan did not appear with Zhou Zuizui.
Zhou Zuizui was used to the man's elusive nature, especially since they had no real feelings or relationship; he could come or not if he wanted.
Ai Zeyang stayed here, saying he was taking a week off. He dragged Zhou Zuizui out for a stroll every day, acting as if he'd never been here before. But Zhou Zuizui was bored by herself, so she just went along with it. She was very carefree.
She was carefree and relaxed, while Shen Nan was at the opposite extreme.
They are urgently deploying this mission, with the goal of wiping out this group in one fell swoop and not letting any smugglers or lawbreakers escape.
The police had arrested many people before, but the leader behind them, Zhen Ye, whom Shen Nan had met, had escaped time and time again. That's why the police approached Shen Nan and his team this time to cooperate and help.
After arranging all the matters for the day of the transaction, Shen Nan leaned to one side and squinted to rest. Gao Zhuo, who was Shen Nan's deputy captain, pulled Xiao Tong aside to quietly inquire about the news.
"Xiao Tong, your captain's been acting strange these past few days, have you noticed?"
The little boy's eyes widened as he nodded: "Yes!"
Although their captain's emotions are unpredictable, he's usually very easy to talk to; he may be fierce, but he's still very kind to them. But these past two days, he's clearly been irritable.
Gao Zhuo stroked his chin, looking at the man who was sitting on a chair with his legs spread apart, resting not far away. He pondered for a moment and then asked, "Could it be that your captain was played by a woman?"
"Impossible!" Xiao Tong exclaimed. "Our captain doesn't even have a woman!"
Their captain lives like a hermit monk every day; how could Xiao Tong not know where he gets women? He's been by the captain's side these past few days... no, that woman from the other day.
The child's eyes lit up as he looked at Gao Zhuo.
Gao Zhuo raised an eyebrow: "Speak, what's going on?"
The child scratched his head, unsure of what to say.
"Gao Zhuo." A deep male voice came from inside the room, and this call was a warning to Gao Zhuo.
Gao Zhuo choked for a moment, then walked in with an open and honest demeanor, and sat down next to Shen Nan: "Are you worried?"
What do you think?
Gao Zhuo: "..."
Didn't I ask you that question? Why are you asking me again?
He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shen Nan: "Where have you been staying these past few days? Is something wrong?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Nan abruptly opened her eyes and looked at him, her dark eyes quietly gazing at Gao Zhuo.
Gao Zhuo felt a chill run down his spine under Gao Zhuo's gaze and quickly said, "I'm going to get back to work. Captain Chen, please get some rest. See you tomorrow night!"
Shen Nan watched Gao Zhuo's departing figure and scoffed coldly.
He paused, took out his phone from his pocket, glanced at it, and sent a message: At the bar?
AAA: Not here, out with friends.
Shen Nan narrowed his eyes and scoffed: Try not to go out these next two days.
AAA: What's it to you?
Shen Nan: Zhou Zuizui.
AAA: OK, I won't go out.
Over here, Zhou Zuizui looked at the messages she received on her phone and could roughly imagine Shen Nan's expression when he called her name. She also knew the seriousness of the matter, and after her initial joking, she decided not to continue. As for the rest, she would settle accounts with this person later.
Anyway, the accounts are already in place, so there's no rush.
The following night, the bright moon hung high in the sky.
After leaving the ancient town, there is a large forest. People come here to play during the day, but at night, to prevent wild animals from appearing, ordinary people dare not come here at all.
Shen Nan came out in the afternoon, taking Xiao Tong with him. Gao Zhuo and his group also set off from other places and lay in ambush here early on.
Today is the day they exchange money for goods.
The forest was exceptionally quiet at night, with only the occasional animal cry that sent shivers down one's spine. It's a very long distance from here to the old town; it takes about two hours to drive there.
Shen Nan was invited into the car with Brother Leopard's men, and even his eyes were covered.
He twitched his lips, sat in the car listening to the sounds outside the window, his ears twitching as he clearly heard everything happening outside.
Only when the car stopped and the sound of the wheels rolling over the branches and leaves disappeared did the person in front look at the two of them and whisper, "Mr. Shen, we've arrived."
Shen Nan reached out and removed the blindfold from his eyes, scoffing, "Is this how you do business?"
Leopard Bro popped up from the side and looked at Shen Nan: "Sorry, Mr. Shen, it's best to be cautious in this world."
They were also terrified of being chased by the police.
Shen Nan gave Leopard Brother a warning look, feigning anger: "There won't be a next time!"
Brother Leopard smiled obsequiously and hurriedly replied, "Of course, Mr. Shen, this way please."
However, after Shen Nan arrived at the place where Brother Leopard had taken him, he looked at the car in front of him by the moonlight and squinted slightly: "Is all the cargo here?"
“Yes,” Leopard said.
Shen Nan nodded and gestured to the boy beside him: "Where is your Master Zhen?"
Leopard Brother's eyes darted around, and he said shrewdly, "Master Zhen has something to do tonight, so the delivery will be handled by us."
Shen Nan paused, looked down at his feet, and sneered inwardly: That old fox.
Although Brother Leopard said he wasn't there, Shen Nan was convinced that the old fox was definitely nearby. He couldn't possibly miss such a big deal. The old fox was greedy for money; he wouldn't entrust such an important deal solely to Brother Leopard.
"Take a look." He gestured for the boy to open the loading truck.
The boy knowingly opened the cargo box. As soon as it opened… what was revealed before them was what they wanted: ivory, antelope horns, and other rare items. Shen Nan's eyes darkened as he looked at the items, some still stained with blood. Rare animals are already on the verge of extinction, yet some heartless people, driven by greed, kill, skin, and smuggle these protected species for exorbitant sums of money.
His expression was cold and stern, and he exuded a unique aura.
Before the child could finish checking everything, a burst of gunfire and panicked sounds rang out in the forest.
Someone rushed over: "Brother Leopard! They're undercover agents!"
Shen Nan sneered. Just as the man uttered a single word, he reached out and snatched the gun from Leopard Brother's waist. Before anyone could react, the gun was pressed against Leopard Brother's temple.
He tossed Leopard Brother to Xiao Tong and looked at the people coming from the other side: "I'm going to chase after Master Zhen."
...
A chaotic battle ensued!
The forest was bustling with activity that night.
Zhenye was indeed watching from a distance. As soon as he noticed something was wrong, he started to run away. There was even a helicopter on standby at all times.
Shen Nan watched the man desperately climbing the rope, took his gun from Gao Zhuo, half-squatted on the ground, squinted his eyes in the moonlight, and aimed at the target.
With a 'bang', Gao Zhuo whistled: "Captain Chen is awesome."
By dawn, all the smugglers had been apprehended.
Two days later, Zhou Zuizui hadn't been sleeping well for the past few days, and she didn't know why, but she felt inexplicably uneasy.
She sat in the lobby, staring at her unresponsive phone, feeling restless.
Ai Zeyang was leaving that afternoon, and seeing her like this, he hesitated for a moment but still asked, "What are you worried about?"
Zhou Zuizui remained silent.
Just then, the TV hanging in the lobby was playing the news. Zhou Zuizui was initially watching it casually, but when she saw familiar words, she couldn't help but take it seriously.
Even the guests sitting in the lobby were whispering among themselves.
"Did you know that just two days ago, a group of smugglers were caught in the forest not far away? It is said that they smuggled several tons of rare species such as ivory, and the transaction price was over 100 million."
"More than that!"
"How come I didn't hear any noise that night even though I stayed here for two days?"
"It's too far. The area is sealed off, and no one is allowed to go in or out for the time being."
...
Zhou Zuizui watched the reporter's interview intently. When the reporter mentioned that some police officers were injured, her heart skipped a beat, and her face turned even more pale.
Ai Zeyang watched along, observing her expression before pausing and asking, "Is your husband inside too?"
Zhou Zuizui hummed in agreement and picked up her phone from the side: "I'm going to make a call."
It's one thing to have no feelings for each other, but she also doesn't want her husband to die young; she doesn't want to live as a widow.
She lowered her head, walked into the yard, and dialed a phone.
A short while later, the call was connected.
"Hello."
Shen Nan's deep voice came through, "What's wrong?"
"I just saw the news. You...are you alright?"
Shen Nan raised an eyebrow, paused, and asked, "What, are you worried about me?"
Zhou Zuizui sneered and said in a low voice, "I don't want to live like a widow. If anything happens to you, I'll have to go back to that cage."
Shen Nan knew exactly what kind of cage she was referring to.
Shen Nan chuckled softly, in a good mood after completing his mission. He looked at the person sitting opposite him not far away, shaking their leg, and asked, "Really? Then why is your leg shaking?"
Zhou Zuizui: "..."
She was startled, turned her head in surprise to look at the man leaning against the small door, and blurted out, "Why are you here?"
Shen Nan walked up to her, hung up the phone, and said in a neutral tone, "I'll take you back."
Author's Note: Waaaaah, I'm so sorry everyone! I'm twenty minutes late!!!
But this chapter is much longer! The plot has also taken a big step forward!
Leave lots of comments, my darlings! I'll keep sending out red envelopes! Love you all!!!
I'm going back tomorrow, hehehe~
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