SA 18.2

9:30 PM

PC Headquarters

“Has he been like this the whole time?” Pei Jun crossed his arms, speaking softly.

Wei An replied, “Since this morning, he hasn’t shed a single tear. He won’t even let anyone treat his injuries. He personally cremated Hua Xiao Jie’s body, not letting anyone touch it.”

Pei Jun curled the corner of his lips. Ye Jingsheng, you show deep affection for everyone… except for me. Because of one regret from the past, you’ll hate me for the rest of your life.

“Everyone out. I need to talk to him.” Pei Jun closed the door and sat down across from Ye Jingsheng, silently watching him.

It was as if, in just one night, Ye Jingsheng had aged ten years. His eyes were bloodshot, like a pool of stagnant water. Lifeless.

“Ah Sheng, I’m truly sorry for Jie-zai’s death…” As the words left his mouth, Pei Jun felt they sounded hollow, just as they had when he’d expressed false condolences after Ye Ling’s accident. He cleared his throat, then said, “The chaos outside is getting worse. There are fights breaking out everywhere, but we all know Hongyun has the upper hand.”

Ye Jingsheng sat motionless, pulling the necklace from his neck. He slowly began placing Xiao Jie’s ashes into the pendant, piece by piece.

Pei Jun found it unbearable and roughly grabbed his hand. “Ah Sheng, now is not the time for this!”

Ye Jingsheng slowly raised his head, his voice hoarse. “Then when is the time? Officer Pei, tell me. To seek revenge for them and help you climb the ranks again?!”

Pei Jun was momentarily speechless, then snapped, “Why do you always think that about me? I might owe the world, but I owe nothing to you, Ye Jingsheng! I warned you about Fang Yang, but you insisted on doing things your way!” He paused, his expression hardening further. “The watch you have, I took it to forensics. There’s no chip, no evidence. It’s just an ordinary watch. Fang Yang was playing you from the start!”

Ye Jingsheng’s eyes seemed to flicker, a brief tremor passing through them.

“I’m just a gambler… a madman, just seeing if the dealer has the guts to play with me.”

“Play?” Pei Jun leaned closer, his eyes lowering, a smirk playing on his lips. “What I want to play with isn’t this.”

“Anything Yang ge plays, I’ll gladly accompany.”

“Really? Then come with me.”

“To bed?”

“You have a more important use than that.”

So this was his purpose. From the very beginning, he was nothing more than bait in Fang Yang’s hands.

His thoughts spiraled into chaos. His days of life and death together in Colombia, jumping into the Caribbean Sea hand in hand, those three days and nights on the deserted island, all the memories flooding back, only to realize they were all a lie!

Jie-zai, I should’ve listened to you… What kind of love could I possibly still hope for?

The world of the underworld, to me, has only one word. Loyalty. How can it be so difficult?!

“Ah Sheng! Don’t do this!” Pei Jun gripped his shoulder, his dry lips stained with the deep marks left by Ye Jingsheng’s teeth, blood trickling from the cracks. “Wake up, it’s not too late! I’m still on your side! Ah Sheng, you still have me!”

“You?” Ye Jingsheng gave a bitter smile, shaking his head slowly.

“How can I make you trust me?!” Pei Jun shouted, leaping forward and pressing him down with all his force. The emotions he’d harbored for years exploded in that instant.

“Why do I keep letting you go? You think I could’ve tolerated other members betraying the organization? I’ve been waiting for you to turn back! Year after year! Ye Jingsheng! Even if you’re an idiot, you should understand that I care for you! Without Fang Yang, you would’ve returned long ago. I would’ve killed Fang Yang and Chen Chen for you, even if it meant sacrificing my position. Trust me!”

Ye Jingsheng stared blankly at Pei Jun’s rare display of emotion, then calmly pointed at his chest. “In your heart, power is far more important than everything.”

Pei Jun stared into Ye Jingsheng’s eyes, his gaze burning with intensity. From deep in his throat, a sound of anguish escaped him, and in the end, he slowly released his grip on him.

Without a word, he stood up, beginning to straighten his clothes, even smoothing out the last crease on his tie.

The silence between them was deafening.

Just then, the door opened, and Wei An walked in. “Ye Ling just woke up. The drugs are too strong. He’s going into withdrawal. The doctors can’t do anything…”

Pei Jun’s heart jolted. He quickly turned to look at Ye Jingsheng, but saw him standing, his face as cold as stone, his fingers tightly clutching the pendant on the necklace.

“Take me to see him.”

Pei Jun followed him out of the room. Wei An leaned closer to Pei Jun’s ear. “Mr. Pei, about the watch…”

“Keep it a secret.” Pei Jun narrowed his eyes. “We can’t let him know that the chip is already in my hands.”

“Then are we going to sue Hongyun?”

“Sue?” Pei Jun sneered. “That would only catch a few small fish. With this, I now have leverage to negotiate with Hongyun’s Chen Chen. I can attack or retreat as needed. Why should I let the police chief take advantage of this? Besides, I’ve been wanting to meet this legendary villain for a long time.” Pei Jun’s smile turned dry and cold, as though he was acknowledging a bitter truth. Perhaps Ye Jingsheng is right. I care more about power than anything.

When they arrived at the observation room, Ye Ling, having been injected with a high dose of drugs, was acting completely mad, desperately grabbing at everything in sight. Even tranquilizers couldn’t penetrate his hysteria. Several doctors, under Pei Jun’s direct orders not to use force, were helpless. To Pei Jun’s surprise, Ye Jingsheng walked in. He grabbed the thrashing Ye Ling and pinned him to the bed. Ye Ling struggled, but for the first time, Ye Jingsheng, who had always been reluctant to raise a hand, slapped him twice, hard. Blood immediately welled at the corner of Ye Ling’s lips.

“Your life was traded for Jie-zai’s. From now on, your life doesn’t belong to you, and it sure as hell doesn’t belong to me! You.. you will live for him! Ye Ling, if you’re a man, then get through this. Live. Live for him, for his spirit in the afterlife!”

Ye Ling’s face twisted in pain, half-understanding, yet his distorted longing only made him struggle harder. “Let me go, I want—”

Ye Jingsheng tried to hold him down, but Ye Ling bit down on his hand with all his strength, blood spilling out. Ye Jingsheng glared at the frozen doctors and yelled, “Do something!”

“Ye Ling, remember my words! Live for him! Live for Xiao Jie!”

Outside the observation room, Pei Jun silently watched.

An hour later, Ye Jingsheng came out. He hadn’t slept in over thirty hours, yet there wasn’t a trace of fatigue left in him. His entire being felt as though it had been drained, his eyes hollow, filled only with killing intent. In just one day, he had lost so much that there was no time left for sighing or regret.

The cold, ruthless young man from years ago seemed to stand before Pei Jun once more.

“Aren’t you the one who always wanted me back?” Ye Jingsheng spoke coldly.

Pei Jun nodded.

“WUP is going to take on Hongyun?”

Pei Jun nodded again.

“I understand.” Ye Jingsheng’s voice was emotionless, each word clear and deliberate. “PC0253, reporting to the officer.”

Fang Yang, I will make you regret this.

“I, Ye Jingsheng, always repay my grudges. Life for life, blood for blood.”

Pei Jun’s breath caught in his throat. His goal had been achieved, but an unease lingered, something he couldn’t shake.