Chapter 35: One Million [Please Add to Favorites]

Wujiang City.

Ziwei Garden Residential Complex was one of the most upscale communities in Wujiang City, home to the wealthy elite.

In Apartment 1403 of Building 3—the Zhang family’s residence—a spacious 180-square-meter home.

Zhang Biao lounged on the sofa, listening to his subordinate report on recent earnings. Ever since Li Xin had severed his arm, Zhang Biao had been holed up at home recuperating, and the daily takings had dwindled by the day. Without his presence, people assumed something had happened to him and simply refused to pay their protection fees. Even those timid, debt-ridden gamblers had grown bolder.

When he heard that yesterday’s intake had dropped by nearly a hundred thousand, Zhang Biao was nearly livid with rage. If things continued like this, the annual losses would reach tens of millions.

Anger flared, and the pain in his left shoulder throbbed anew. Zhang Biao ground his teeth and waved his hand, sending his subordinate scurrying out.

“Damn it, bastard!” Zhang Biao hurled his cup to the floor, glass shards scattering, leaving the place a wreck.

“That wretched Li Xin is nothing but a harbinger of disaster. I won’t rest until we’ve settled this score! You mongrel—if I don’t kill you, I’ll stop calling myself Zhang!”

Furious, his face clouded as dark as ink, Zhang Biao ignored the stabbing pain in his left shoulder—his head was filled with nothing but rage.

But Zhang Biao was no fool.

Li Xin had stormed down from the fourth floor, and with a single bare-handed strike, had shattered his arm—a strength beyond comprehension. Zhang Biao had questioned every subordinate present, but none had seen any steel blade in Li Xin’s hand. Yet the bone-setting doctor insisted only a sharp steel knife could have caused such an injury.

Recalling that first encounter in the hospital, Zhang Biao felt a shadow darken his heart. He had a nagging sense that Li Xin was harboring some unspeakable secret.

“What could it be?” Zhang Biao racked his brains, having searched every available record on Li Xin.

He’d run away from home at fifteen, gone south to work, and returned at twenty-six to take over the herbal medicine shop. That was all.

But what about those eleven years in between? It was as if they’d vanished into thin air—an utter blank.

“It must be my people didn’t investigate thoroughly enough.”

Clenching his teeth, Zhang Biao cursed under his breath. After a moment’s thought, he picked up the phone and dialed a landline.

“Hello, Sister Lan? It’s Zhang Biao.”

“Zhang Biao! How rare~ What brings you to me today?” A coy, sweet female voice came over the line, sounding for all the world like a young, lively woman.

Zhang Biao, already forty-eight, still called her “Sister” with deference.

“Sister Lan, I need you to look into someone.”

“Send me the details by email. You know my rates,” Sister Lan replied, all business.

Zhang Biao chuckled. “Of course—half a million, right?”

“One million.”

“What?” Zhang Biao was stunned, his tone tinged with annoyance. “Why the sudden price hike? You’ve doubled it!”

A peal of flirtatious laughter rang out, her voice dripping with an allure that could drive a man wild. “Anyone who can sever your arm and leave you at his mercy is no ordinary person, is he? The investigation’s become more difficult, so naturally the price goes up.”

“You…” Zhang Biao’s anger nearly boiled over, his expression souring further. He’d been hiding at home, not setting foot outside—how did she already know?

But soon, Zhang Biao calmed himself. Sister Lan’s information network was more formidable than the police—there was little she didn’t know.

“Fine, one million. I’ll send you the information along with the payment.”

“Now that’s generous, Brother Biao. Wait for my good news,” Sister Lan replied, her laughter as enchanting as ever, before hanging up.

“One million—one million! That’s half a month’s earnings gone!” Zhang Biao gritted his teeth, the grinding sound cold enough to chill the blood. In his eyes, two crimson flames of fury burned fiercely.

…

With Wang Xiaoqian injured, their travel plans were inevitably delayed and rearranged. Li Xin was frustrated but powerless.

After all, he was afraid of ghosts.

After their meal at the street vendor, he’d intended to take her home, but she refused once more and insisted on staying at a hotel. Li Xin had only booked a single luxury suite—how could two people share it, especially when one was a beautiful and cunning lady thief?

Unable to persuade her, he had no choice but to agree.

They returned to the hotel late—already midnight. Li Xin gave Wang Xiaoqian her medicine, helped her settle into bed, and then took out his spare bedding from the cabinet to make himself a spot on the floor. For the time being, he’d have to find a larger, cleaner hotel tomorrow.

He passed a sleepless night, while Wang Xiaoqian slept soundly, seemingly having forgotten the night’s earlier ordeal.

Early the next morning, as the street below began to bustle, Li Xin finally drifted off into a drowsy sleep, yawning endlessly. Who knows what dream he was having—drool soaked a flower-shaped patch onto the white sheets, a ridiculous sight.

“Hey, hey, get up!” Wang Xiaoqian teased his nose with her hair. The tickling became unbearable, and with a sneeze, Li Xin woke up, blinking at the beauty before him.

“What’s the big idea, Miss Heroine? I just managed to fall asleep.”

“Hmph, serves you right for not sleeping properly last night. It’s morning now, not the time for lazing about. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your promise from last night?” Wang Xiaoqian pouted, feigning indignation.

Li Xin gave a wry smile, recalling his words from the night before: until Wang Xiaoqian recovered, he’d be her willing servant, at her beck and call.

“So, Miss Heroine, what’s on the agenda today?”

“A brand new entertainment complex just opened in Baishan District—let’s go have some fun.”

“Oh… alright…”

With dark circles under his eyes, the two had breakfast and drove straight to the Baishan District Entertainment Center. It was Saturday, and the grand opening meant all activities were at a twenty percent discount, drawing in throngs of customers. It took circling three parking lots before Li Xin finally found a spot.

Roller coasters, pirate ships, free fall rides—Wang Xiaoqian threw herself into them all with boundless enthusiasm, while Li Xin could only grit his teeth and keep her company. Truth be told, this was the first time he’d ever let himself go and play so freely—what a thrill.

As they reached the game zone, Wang Xiaoqian’s excitement soared. She dashed inside, playing one-handed with surprising skill.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Li Xin glanced around and spotted a bustling internet café not far off. With nothing better to do, he wandered over.

“Mid lane, long box mid!”

“Watch for the jump—attack now, don’t chicken out!”

“Damn it, do you even know how to play? You ruined our pentakill!”

He hadn’t even stepped inside when the din of shouting and banter reached his ears. Li Xin was about to frown when his gaze landed on the center of the internet café, where a crowd had gathered around a semi-transparent glass room.

It was a 5v5 soundproof chamber, specially designed for gaming competitions.

Outside, a massive LCD screen broadcast the ongoing CF demolition match inside. Many spectators sat or stood, watching intently and discussing animatedly.

“Hey, why did you wander off alone? I had a hard time finding you,” Wang Xiaoqian said, clapping him on the shoulder, a sheen of sweat glistening on her brow.

“Oh, just killing time.”

“You know about this stuff?”

“I dabble a bit.”

Seeing this, Wang Xiaoqian didn’t press further and dragged Li Xin over. Some people recognized Wang Xiaoqian, offering her their seats, while shooting Li Xin curious looks, as if unable to fathom why he was with the infamous lady thief.

By now, the match inside had ended. The players stood up, left their seats, and filed out the door.

In that instant, as Li Xin chatted and joked with Wang Xiaoqian, he suddenly froze. His brows knitted, gaze fixed intently on the team of players emerging, laughing and talking amongst themselves.