SA 16.2

He should never have sought help from these opportunistic jackals and beasts, but he had no other way out! Fang Yang and Ye Jingsheng, neither of them would let things go peacefully! And that Chen Chen!

Zhong Qinglin’s hand trembled slightly as he gripped the glass. For over thirty years, he had fought and killed for Hongyun, carving out his path with bloodshed. Compared to the Chen family, father and son, he was far more qualified to own Hongyun! He should have eradicated that scourge back when Chen Chen was still in the United States, rather than simply killing a useless woman! How could he have let him escape back then?

Agitated, he pinched the tightly furrowed space between his eyebrows and recalled the events from thirteen years ago. Through Zachis, he had spent a fortune to hire a top assassin, one who had once served the Mafia to eliminate Chen Chen and his mother. He thought it would be an effortless task to kill an unarmed boy and a woman, but the assassin never returned to report. He vanished, as if swallowed by the earth, and the only casualty was the mother, who had died protecting her son.

Zhong Qinglin still didn’t know what had happened back then. He never imagined that a mere seventeen years old boy could kill a ruthless, cold-blooded assassin of the highest caliber. But when Chen Chen returned to Hong Kong, battered and scarred, standing before him once more, Zhong Qinglin hadn’t had a single night of peaceful sleep since.

Even though this seemingly fragile boy never confronted him while his father was alive, always submissive and never uttering a word in defiance, and even in recent years, it was the aggressive Fang Yang rather than Chen Chen who posed a more direct threat, Zhong Qinglin still felt a constant, unshakable fear in his heart.

A dog that bites doesn’t bark—an absolute truth.

Chen Chen, Fang Yang, Ye Jingsheng… among these three, who’s truly the key?

—–

“Ah Sheng.” Hei Pi pushed the door open and had barely called out when he immediately fell silent under Ye Jingsheng’s cold glare. He knew all too well about Ye Jingsheng’s rules. For the sake of his younger brother, he didn’t even dare bring his ever-present “King Cobra” into the hospital room.

Ye Jingsheng turned his head, carefully tucking the blanket around Ye Ling on the bed before stepping out of the room with light, deliberate movements, closing the door behind him.

In truth, Ye Ling’s recovery wasn’t as promising as they had hoped. While he had started showing reactions to the outside world, his moments of clarity were pitifully rare. Even when looking directly at Ye Jingsheng, he couldn’t recognize who he was. After calming himself down, Ye Jingsheng wasn’t in a rush anymore. If Ye Ling could wake up, they had a lifetime ahead of them—he was willing to wait.

Every time Ye Ling briefly regained consciousness, he would see a scruffy, unkempt man sitting quietly by his bedside. Those eyes, wild and untamed, were half-closed, carrying an unusual trace of gentleness.

It gave him a sense of peace.

After all, isn’t gradually getting used to something just another form of healing? For him, this was enough.

He couldn’t afford to repeat the same mistakes again.

“What the fuck is it this time?” Ye Jingsheng flicked Hei Pi hard on the forehead. “How many times have I told you not to talk about Hongyun’s matters in the damn hospital?”

Hei Pi swallowed nervously before whispering a few words in his ear. Ye Jingsheng frowned. “What the fuck? Didn’t that bastard Fang Yang say he’d hire someone to deal with those nosy Japs? Were the brothers who died a few days ago all for nothing?!”

“Zhong Qinglin is clearly at the end of his rope, but those Japs just won’t let go. Last time, we leaked their deal with the Thai gangsters to the cops—made them lose plenty already. Yet they’re still not backing down.”

“Not afraid to die, huh?” Ye Jingsheng let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Fine. Let’s blow this shit up even bigger. Let’s see if they’re still fearless then!”

“But what happened last time already broke the rules of the underworld. If word gets out, it won’t look good. Plus, the cops have been keeping a close eye on us lately. Apparently, someone new took over up top—a real hard-ass who’s itching for a head-on clash.”

Just as Ye Jingsheng was about to respond, the hospital room door suddenly opened. Wu Yixue stepped out, stethoscope in hand, half-grumbling, “Can you guys keep it down? Ye Ling’s awake.”

Ye Jingsheng immediately gestured for Heipi to step back against the wall and instructed, “I’m not as cautious as your Yang ge or Chen ge. Hei Pi, find a few fearless guys and hit a couple of spots tonight. I’ll handle it personally. Let’s see if we can’t scare those turtle bastards to death!”

Walking into the room, he saw that Ye Ling had propped himself up against the headboard. He seemed slightly more spirited than before. Ye Jingsheng’s expression softened as he smiled and said, “Awake now? Slept for over ten hours again, you’re turning into a pig.”

Ye Ling furrowed his brows slightly. “It was… noisy just now.”

Ye Jingsheng immediately shut his mouth, worried he might bring up something unpleasant from the past. Quickly changing the subject, he asked, “Xiao Ling, are you hungry? How about some roast goose from the deep well? Your brother will get it for you.”

From the back, Wu Yixue coldly interjected, “He can only have liquid food for now, or glucose injections. If you insist on doing things your way.”

Ye Jingsheng sighed, exasperated. “Fine, fine, no roast goose. I’ll listen to the doctor.”

Ye Ling tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He rarely spoke or showed any expression, and this small smile was enough to make Ye Jingsheng giddy. Overcome with excitement, he began telling jokes to lighten the mood. The problem was, he was terrible at telling jokes, and Ye Ling didn’t really understand most of them, yet the atmosphere in the room was inexplicably warm and harmonious.

Ye Jingsheng suddenly shifted the conversation with a smile. “Xiao Ling, do you want to be discharged from the hospital?”

Wu Yixue froze for a moment, a hint of tension flashing across his face as he looked nervously at Ye Jingsheng.

Ye Ling tilted his head slightly, giving no clear response. Ye Jingsheng smiled and gently patted his head. “The sky in Hong Kong is always so gray. How about we go to the beach? See a real blue sky and crystal-clear sea..It’ll be a long trip. I’ll have Dr. Wu go with you so you won’t feel lonely.”

Wu Yixue immediately understood that Ye Jingsheng had already made up his mind to send Ye Ling away and was preparing to turn Hong Kong upside down.

—–

In the dimly lit pub, the deafening rock music wasn’t enough to satisfy the men and women’s need to vent their excess energy and desires. Hot dancing, sweat, and enticing moans were all part of the allure. In the city, there was never a shortage of bodies and souls entwined in lust.

Xiao Jie downed his vodka in one gulp, the burn making him stick out his tongue. “Damn, that hits the spot!”

“Jie-zai, your drinking’s gotten better, huh? Hehe.” A familiar man sidled up to him, his voice dripping with honeyed intent. “Why aren’t you at your own bar? Came all the way here just to see me, huh?”

Xiao Jie, irritated, shoved him away with a palm. Mong Kok was due for a sweep tonight, and Ye Jingsheng had already warned him to stay far away to avoid getting caught in the chaos. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was drifting further and further away from Ye Jingsheng.

The man clung persistently, forcing three more drinks down Xiao Jie’s throat. Just as he was about to lose his patience, a familiar figure flashed across his blurry vision.

Chen Chen? What the hell is he doing here?!

Xiao Jie jolted to his feet, leaping down from the bar. At a time like this, how could Chen Chen have the leisure to come to a place like this? And this man, known for his restraint and near-monk-like self-discipline, of all people, what could he possibly want in a place like this?

Chen Chen entered the VIP room on the second floor, popped open a bottle of red wine, and barely took a couple of sips when a hand slid over the back of his neck. It trailed slowly, deliberately downward—teasing. Chen Chen grabbed the hand firmly, his grip like iron, stopping the advance cold. The man stepped around to face him, crouching with a sly grin. “Chen ge, it’s been a long time since you’ve shown up.”

Xiao Jie knew this guy all too well. He was the most sought-after escort in the club. Not a soft, submissive type, but wild, untamed, and impossible to control. His raw edge made clients worship the ground he walked on.

Chen Chen pulled out his wallet, tossing it onto the table like it was nothing. “Take what you need and shut the fuck up.”

The man chuckled, shamelessly pocketing the wallet, then sidled up to Chen Chen, pressing against his chest, fingers playing with the buttons of his shirt. “Every damn time, it’s the same line. ‘Money doesn’t hurt feelings,’ right?” His gaze was sultry, his smirk wicked. “Chen ge, I wait for you every single fucking day.”

Chen Chen’s eyes softened, a strange tenderness surfacing—the kind of look that only ever showed up when he was with Ye Jingsheng. “You serious?”

The man grinned, breathing heavily as he slid Chen Chen’s hand inside his shirt, guiding him to feel the heat of his skin.

For a moment, Chen Chen seemed to let go, kissing the corner of the man’s mouth, pulling him into an embrace that deepened by the second. The man started to moan, his body writhing against Chen Chen, sweat slicking his skin as he hastily stripped off his own clothes. His trembling hands eagerly reached for Chen Chen’s belt, fumbling in desperation.

Chen Chen’s brows knitted tightly. His hand shot down, stopping the man dead in his tracks. The man, mistaking it for playful resistance, doubled down. He pressed harder, his voice dripping with lust. “Chen ge, you’re dying for this. Fuck me—”

Suddenly, Chen Chen’s hand clamped around the man’s throat, squeezing with an iron grip. The man choked and gasped, his body convulsing violently as his air was cut off. His face flushed a deep red, then quickly turned blue. Chen Chen’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening with cruel precision. He watched, unblinking, as the man’s body trembled under him like a broken marionette.

Just before the man collapsed, Chen Chen released his grip, letting him fall to the floor in a heap. The man coughed violently, gagging as he clutched at his throat, desperate for air.

“Who the fuck told you could touch me?” Chen Chen’s voice was low, calm, yet colder than ice. He sat there, shirt half-undone, radiating an aura so dangerous it left the man speechless, too terrified to even move.

“Get the fuck out,” Chen Chen ordered, his tone indifferent as he methodically rebuttoned his cuffs.

Only when the man scrambled out, leaving Chen Chen alone in the room, did he lean back. His hand slid over his still, unresponsive groin, his lips curling into a bone-chilling smile.

Outside the door, Xiao Jie stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape, unable to process what he had just witnessed.