SA 15.1

Xiao Jie’s hostility towards Fang Yang was deep-rooted, and to describe it as “bitter enemies on sight” was not an exaggeration. If it were usual, Fang Yang would have long started teaching him a lesson to let out the frustration in his heart, but he knew that Xiao Jie was a person dear to Ye Jingsheng’s heart, so he really didn’t dare to do anything. Just by looking at Hua Xiao Jie’s expression, he knew that this man was almost using all his passion to love a wanderer named Ye Jingsheng. That was probably why he harbored such deep hatred.

Fang Yang’s earlier question to Ye Jingsheng was his sincere inquiry. But would Ye Jingsheng really stop wandering for him? He couldn’t be sure.

He exited the room, and Liao Qiu, who had been quietly standing outside, followed him.

“Liao Qiu, you’ve had a hard time these past few days.” Fang Yang lit a cigarette, “I know Ye Jingsheng’s nature well. He’s always been a troublemaker.”

Liao Qiu hurriedly bowed his head. “You’re too kind, boss.”

Fang Yang walked down the stairs, stopping suddenly, “How many years have you been with me?”

“Since the year we took down Qinglong Gang, Chen ge asked me to follow you. It’s been 7 years.”

Fang Yang nodded, “I’ve always treated you as a brother in arms over these years, which is why I left you at the headquarters this time when I left Hong Kong. But still, such a big mess occurred?!” His tone rose. “If something had happened to Chen ge, Hongyun would have immediately become scattered sand! Are you saying you didn’t know that?!”

Liao Qiu’s sweat flowed like rain. “We never thought Uncle Qing would dare to hire those desperados to openly attack Chen ge–“

“Didn’t expect?” Fang Yang laughed sarcastically, “At the time of the incident, a bunch of armed bodyguards huddled in the car while gunshots rang out in the restaurant. Was it unexpected or did you turn a deaf ear?!”

Liao Qiu, drenched in sweat, was speechless.

“Ah Yang.”

Fang Yang turned around. A slender figure appears slowly around the corner, tall and distinguished, looking as unblemished as a chrysanthemum.

“This incident was purely accidental. No one expected Uncle Qing to actually tear his face off and act out of desperation, why blame them?” Chen Chen reached out and smoothed Fang Yang’s collar, “You’re still worried about Ye Jingsheng for getting seriously injured because of this?”

Fang Yang looked away, indifferently saying, “I just didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

—–

Xiao Jie once asked him, if one day he could leave this underworld, what would he do. Ye Jingsheng raised his glass and drank, laughing drunkenly: “What else could I do? Without the underworld, Ye Jingsheng is nothing.”

Xiao Jie sighed: “Sooner or later, one has to pay for their actions. Can’t live like this forever, right? My biggest wish is to sell my bar and then leave Hong Kong.”

Ye Jingsheng casually asked, where to then?

“Switzerland.” Xiao Jie suddenly looked down and smiled. “I heard that there, people can live a carefree life without working from the moment they are born. If we go there, we can go see the windmills—”

Ye Jingsheng burst out laughing: “Please! Windmills, that’s Holland, not Switzerland!” Xiao Jie’s face turned half black as the barkeeper called him over. He got up abruptly. “Are you all dead? You need me for every little thing? If I weren’t here, are you all ready to die?!” Ye Jingsheng just laughed it off as a joke right then and there.

Living as a man of the underworld, dying as a ghost of the underworld. It was as if he too had once “turned from darkness to light,” trying to be a so-called righteous person, yet after all the twists and turns, he still returned to square one.

Once stained with blood, one is doomed forever. Such is the fate of those from the underworld.

So, when he saw Chen Chen at the shooting range, he wasn’t really surprised.

That attack, in his heart, was likely not just a loss of face; it was truly a life-threatening crisis, and even the gentle and kind-hearted must start to fight back.

“Your stance is wrong,” Ye Jingsheng lazily commented, leaning against the door.

Chen Chen removed his protective goggles, giving him a look. “You’re able to walk around now?”

“Been able to for a while. Lying down for nearly a month, I was about to turn into a mummy,” Ye Jingsheng exaggerated with a shrug. Chen Chen turned back, hands gripping the gun, and pulled the trigger. “I thought you were active enough.”

The sound of the bullet whizzing past made Ye Jingsheng unable to hear his words. “What?” A loud bang, the bullet only hitting the protective barrier outside the human-shaped target.

“Nothing.” Chen Chen put down the gun, smiling wryly, “I really can’t handle a gun well.”

Ye Jingsheng walked over, steadying his hand. “No one is born knowing how to shoot; it’s all about practice. Steady the gun with both hands, lower your stance. ” Due to their positioning, the two were almost pressed against each other, Ye Jingsheng’s hand moved to Chen Chen’s hip, signaling him to relax his lower body. “Aim with one eye…”

Chen Chen involuntarily twitched his waist, and Ye Jingsheng then covered his eyes with his hand, whispering, “If you’re not comfortable, then don’t look at all. When it really comes to life and death, you won’t even have a chance to aim. Trust me.” His other hand wrapped around Chen Chen’s fingers, guiding him to squeeze the trigger forcefully.

Again, there was a loud bang, and the human-shaped target fell down. Chen Chen opened his eyes, still a bit stunned: “Can you really hit it even without looking?”

“It’s not about shooting blindly, it’s about feeling. Imagine you’re in a critical emergency, imagine the target in front of you is not just a target but an assassin trying to kill you. Don’t treat it just as a practice. Put yourself in the situation, and naturally, you won’t miss.”

This was what Pei Jun taught him years ago, and now, after five years, he brought it up at such a time.

Chen Chen simply put down the gun. “I’m really useless, I can’t even protect myself, let alone uphold the entire Hongyun. In this regard, Ah Yang does much better than I do.”

Ye Jingsheng scratched his head. “It’s not a big deal. If you really aren’t suited to be the leader, why would Fang Yang try so hard to help you?”

“Ah Yang is a very loyal person, he always feels that he owes me his life.” Chen Chen suddenly smiled brightly, “What about you? Why did you risk your life to save me?”

Ye Jingsheng’s eyes lit up. “You really aren’t cut out for the underworld. Go act in a movie. Even the biggest stars would have to step aside for you.”

Chen Chen laughed heartily. “You’re right, I should have been an actor.”

“What would happen to your brothers in Hongyun if you went into acting, Chen ge?” A voice made both men stop their conversation and turn their heads. It was Fang Yang walking in, speaking while taking off his sunglasses. “Ye Jingsheng, with you posing like that, I can’t guarantee what the other brothers would think if they saw this.”

Ye Jingsheng looked down and saw that he and Chen Chen were almost embracing, which indeed wasn’t very proper. He chuckled and let go.

Fang Yang glanced at him as if to say something, then walked up to Chen Chen. “There was a fire at the Lido yesterday, over ten of our brothers were injured or killed.”

Ye Jingsheng clicked his tongue: “Again?”

“We’ve smashed so many of their places, it’s only natural they’d retaliate. But this constant back-and-forth isn’t doing us any favors.” Fang Yang paused for a moment, “The police are on high alert after this series of disturbances, fearing a repeat of the gang warfare back in ’97. If things aren’t handled well, Hongyun might just collapse with them.”

“I still have Piaget’s watch. Once it’s made public, Zhong Qinglin will become an enemy to both the underworld and law enforcement, making it hard for him to recover. He’s pushing for a quick resolution to cut through the chaos and settle things fast,” Ye Jingsheng mused thoughtfully.

Fang Yang gave him a half-smile. “After all these years among them, do you still not realize what these so-called righteous people are like? They aren’t necessarily cleaner than us. We have the chip from the watch; Zhong Qinglin is in a bind. If it ends up with the police, Hongyun could get dragged down too. So, I think, we need a swift and decisive battle. Zhong Qinglin is bound to try splitting Hongyun eventually; we must take the initiative. Chen ge, what do you think?”

“You decide, why ask me?” He smiled softly. “Just be cautious with the fighting and killing, Hong Kong isn’t what it was thirty years ago when the old man was around. Our brothers follow us not to throw away their lives.”

Although Ye Jingsheng knew that the major decisions for Hongyun were usually made by Fang Yang, he hadn’t expected Chen Chen to delegate so completely. If not for his vendetta against Zhong Qinglin, who killed his mother for power, he likely wouldn’t engage in such a life-and-death struggle.

“Understood. Ye Jingsheng, come with me,” Fang Yang commanded.

Ye Jingsheng bristled at his tone, “What for?”

“Since you’re healed, you should start doing something useful instead of bothering Chen ge all day.”

Fang Yang walked off, and Ye Jingsheng followed angrily behind. “Who’s bothering Chen ge all day?!”

The two left the shooting range, Ye Jingsheng still grumbling. Suddenly, Fang Yang grabbed him, pinned him against the wall, and pressed a firm kiss to his lips. Stunned for a moment, Ye Jingsheng quickly recovered, responding just as fiercely until they were both breathless. Then, without warning, he bit down hard and shoved Fang Yang away.

Fang Yang glared at him, panting. “Stay away from Chen ge from now on! Don’t let me catch you again!”

“Cut the crap! Why not?!” Ye Jingsheng wiped the corner of his lips, “Are you jealous? You won’t let anyone else touch your Chen ge?”

Fang Yang was momentarily stunned before he clenched his teeth and let out a bitter laugh. “Yes, I am jealous! He’s the one you can’t touch!” God knows why this fool thought that way. Fang Yang snorted in frustration. Sometimes, Ye Jingsheng could drive a person absolutely mad!

The two parted on bad terms.