SA 18.1

3:12 PM

The helicopter rocked as it descended onto the helipad. Fang Yang crawled out of the cabin, and was immediately hit by the gust of wind, blinding him momentarily. He tilted his head slightly. “Where’s Liao Qiu? Why didn’t he come?”

The black-clad men who came to pick him up didn’t answer. Fang Yang raised his voice, asking again. The leader of the group replied, “Mr. Chen has asked Mr. Fang to meet him in the study.”

These weren’t Hongyun’s men. Fang Yang realized almost instantly what that meant. What had happened to Hongyun while he was away?

“Chen ge is looking for me?” He remained calm, his voice steady. “What for?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, Mr. Fang.”

The men he had brought with him to Thailand were his most trusted subordinates, those who had been by his side for ten years. When they sensed something was off, they reached for their weapons. But before they could even react, six black gun barrels were already aimed at them.

Yi Yuan was as solid as a fortress, so how had these uninvited guests made it in? The answer was left unspoken.

Fang Yang’s demeanor shifted into calm. He nodded slightly. “Lead the way.”

Chen Chen was sitting in his usual place in the grand chair, wearing his customary white robes. He was admiring a scroll of calligraphy. But this time, it wasn’t the wild cursive of Huaisu. It was the flowing script of Zhang Xu.

Fang Yang sat down on the sofa opposite him, his men still surrounding him with guns aimed.

“Where’s Ye Jingsheng?”

Chen Chen didn’t lift his head. “You should be more concerned about the future of Hongyun than him. Last night, our brothers fought all night, almost uprooting the Zhong family’s power. That poor bastard is now running like a rat, constantly fleeing for his life. You’ve avenged your mother, haven’t you?”

“That assassination six months ago, you were the one who orchestrated it, weren’t you?”

“…Yes.”

Fang Yang remained silent for a long time. “Why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’?” Chen Chen finally set the scroll down, a faint smile on his lips. “Are you asking why I went after Ye Jingsheng, or are you asking why I’ve been pretending for thirteen years in front of you?”

Fang Yang, who was always composed in public, couldn’t contain his anger now. He raised his voice sharply, “Chen ge, why did you lie to me?!”

Chen Chen slowly stood up, waving his hand dismissively. His men began to file out, leaving the two of them alone in the massive room, their gazes locked in fury.

“Lie to you? I pulled you from being a nameless, insignificant thug to the second-in-command of Hongyun. Who stood by you when everyone wanted to hand you over to the Qinglong gang to pay for your crimes? Who avenged your mother’s death? And now you question me about why I lied to you?” Chen Chen stormed towards him, shouting, “Don’t think for a second that I’ve not been in control! You gave Ye Jingsheng ten percent of the shares, preparing for the funds to register in the U.S. You wanted to ditch me and run off on your own. What’s the difference between that and betrayal?!”

“You’ve never truly let go of control, Chen ge,” Fang Yang coldly sneered. “Hongyun has always had your loyal guards in the shadows, and I’ve always known that. But now, I finally understand. You’re using me to do what you couldn’t do yourself!” Fang Yang’s voice hardened. “So, you lied to get me out of Hong Kong. You went after Ye Jingsheng. You’re using this chance to take over the underworld. That’s your true goal!”

“You’re right,” Chen Chen replied, his eyes narrowing with cold resolve. “Back then, I was inexperienced. I needed someone like you, someone bold and willing to take action, to eliminate all the obstacles for me. But later, I had countless opportunities to quietly get rid of you, and I didn’t. Do you know why?” His voice dropped, and the familiar domineering aura resurfaced in his eyes. “I wanted Hongyun, but I wanted you too.”

Fang Yang felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

“You never thought about it, A-Yang?” Chen Chen’s voice softened as he stepped closer. “I like Ye Jingsheng, but I won’t allow him to ruin any of my plans including Hongyun, and you. I’ve thought about killing him, but don’t worry, he’s still alive. You, me, and someone else—all of us can’t bear for him to die. But… you two can never be together.”

Fang Yang didn’t speak, seemingly stunned by Chen Chen’s confession. Even as Chen Chen placed his hand on his shoulder, Fang Yang made no move to resist.

“You and he are too similar, yet your paths are different. A-Yang, I’m selfish. If I could have both of you, that would be ideal, but if I have to choose, I choose you. Stay with me, and from now on, Hong Kong will be ours…” Chen Chen slowly reached forward, one by one, unbuttoning the collar of Fang Yang’s shirt. His icy fingers slid down, and a look of intoxicated pleasure appeared on his face. Fang Yang, too, seemed to lose himself. One of his hands even slid around Chen Chen’s waist, slowly caressing him.

“I… I never knew you were like this…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Chen Chen gave a small, amused smile. “It’s not just you. If I didn’t say it, no one in the world would ever figure out my thoughts.” His expression suddenly shifted, and he furrowed his brow, letting out a soft groan, then grasped Fang Yang’s hand and gently squeezed his arm. “What’s wrong with you—”

Before he could finish, in a split second, Fang Yang quickly reached to his waist, drawing out his Desert Eagle. Chen Chen dodged, raising his arm to strike Fang Yang’s right wrist, his other hand sweeping past Fang Yang’s elbow, twisting it expertly. Fang Yang only saw a flash before something cold pressed against his forehead. He didn’t even have time to process how this man, who usually seemed harmless, could move so quickly.

He lifted his eyes, meeting Chen Chen’s gaze. Chen Chen, holding a silver-white gun, looked at him with calm amusement.

In his hand was the top-rated gun in the world. Polar Silver Fox.

The man before him now seemed terrifyingly unfamiliar.

“Why are you so surprised?” Chen Chen sighed dramatically, his tone almost playful. “We’ve been together for thirteen years. Don’t you think I know what you’re thinking?”

“But what you’re thinking, I truly don’t know.” Fang Yang closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

Chen Chen suddenly burst into laughter. “You don’t know what I’m thinking? Of course you don’t! Because what I went through thirteen years ago, you didn’t live through it!

Fang Yang blinked open his eyes, his body stiffening.

Chen Chen gasped sharply, straightening up. His laugh didn’t stop, morphing into something akin to a twisted sob. “Am I despicable? Cold-blooded? Heartless? Yes! If I weren’t that way, I never would have made it back alive that year! Who created this situation? I’m going to make them pay tenfold! Zhong Qinglin’s death is far from enough! I want him to suffer, to make him wish he were dead! I’ll repay every single ounce of that grudge from the past!”

Fang Yang shuddered. His obsession, his hatred… it was so deep. To have smiled at Zhong Qinglin over the past ten years, despite everything… it was unbearable, a constant torment and restraint.

Chen Chen laughed until he wiped away the tears in his eyes. “A-Yang, you were trained by me. Now that the big plan is coming together, you won’t betray me, will you?”

Fang Yang’s lips moved slightly, then he said, “Chen ge, I want Ye Jingsheng.”

Chen Chen’s eyes narrowed, and with a sharp, swift motion, he slapped Fang Yang hard across the face.

Chen Chen left the study, calmly gazing at the dozen or so armed men outside the door.

“Watch him. Don’t let him step out of this room. Keep the rest of the plan as is.”

“Yes!” The men nodded stiffly, but one hesitated, “What if Mr. Fang tries to break out forcibly—”

“…Shoot him.” Chen Chen raised his chin slowly, his voice quiet but resolute.