Chapter Forty-Eight: Bald Strong and Grey Wolf

Before long, Er Niu called with news: Huang Weiwei was currently at a beauty salon, and another pattern had emerged—no matter how late, she always returned home, living alone in a high-end residential complex, as if waiting for someone to visit her at night.

It was the classic routine of a mistress: waiting and clandestine meetings. Er Niu had already mapped out her regular route home. Liu Jingye immediately opened his phone map, precisely pinpointed the location, and locked down the spot where they’d make their move.

As for Huang Weiwei’s car, she had just bought a new Ferrari—at the very least, she would want to show it off for a while.

“Everything’s ready, brothers—let’s roll!” Liu Jingye stubbed out his cigarette, raised his arm with a rallying cry, and the energy in the room surged to its peak.

But as they reached the door, they realized someone was missing. Looking back, they saw Lin Shengnan standing by the kitchen entrance, her face full of grievance. Seeing everyone watching her, she pouted like a little woman and said, “Go on, I’ll make a late-night snack and wait for you.”

Liu Jingye laughed, walked over, and took her small hand. “Come on, you’re the boss lady—how could we do without you?”

Feeling his strong, warm grip, Lin Shengnan’s heart thudded uncontrollably. Her mind went blank, her legs moving of their own accord as she let herself be led along.

The group, corpse in tow, crowded into a single car and drove through the pouring rain toward the location Liu Jingye had mapped out.

They lay in ambush in a pitch-black alley. Liu Jingye stepped aside briefly to call Yuan Xiaoying. “Any action tonight?”

“That’s classified, I can’t tell you,” Yuan Xiaoying answered seriously. “But I can say that Liang Hong will be there.”

“Will everyone have their phones off all night?” Liu Jingye asked.

“Yes.”

“Liang Hong too?”

“With the provincial leadership team present, he won’t be an exception.”

“Good,” Liu Jingye said. “If you can, assign another team to specifically target the Huangchao operation—keep Huang Xing and all his men tied up tonight.”

“No problem, I can arrange that. Huangchao is already a priority target for the provincial department,” Yuan Xiaoying replied briskly.

“Good. Just sit back and enjoy the show,” Liu Jingye said, hanging up.

In her office at the police station, Yuan Xiaoying gazed out at the pitch-black night and the torrential rain, murmuring, “A rainy night is always the best backdrop for a story.”

Liu Jingye, Lin Shengnan, and the others, along with the corpse, huddled in the dark alley, sheltering from the rain. Outside, a straight road led to the upscale complex—a route that, with the rain pouring down, was deserted of both people and cars.

Er Niu was still waiting anxiously at the beauty salon for the red Ferrari to appear.

The downpour and howling wind could not drown out the wild beating of their hearts.

Lin Shengnan hid behind Liu Jingye, nervously watching the alley entrance, when suddenly the sound of Stone brushing rainwater from his face distracted her.

Looking up, she realized with surprise that she was dry—at some point, Liu Jingye had raised his own jacket above her as a shield.

Her heart gave a hard thump. Looking up at Liu Jingye, she saw his face was soaking wet, rain streaming down his sharply defined features, yet he seemed unfazed.

“Only my father has ever been so selflessly caring for me,” Lin Shengnan thought, her nose stinging with emotion. “I’m still a woman, after all—I’ll always need someone to lean on. The feeling of being protected by a man is truly comforting; it makes everything feel safe and easy.”

Moved by her thoughts, she shifted closer, nestling herself fully in Liu Jingye’s arms, docile as a bird. This way, Liu Jingye wouldn’t have to hold up the jacket so awkwardly.

The two melted into one, Lin Shengnan pressed tight against his chest, every sensation vivid.

Liu Jingye, who had been focused on the task, was suddenly distracted by her movement—her soft, curvaceous body pressed so clearly against him.

He couldn’t help but sigh, “Big…”

“What did you say?” Lin Shengnan snapped out of her dreamy state and looked up at him, her tone cool.

Liu Jingye was instantly embarrassed, forcing a laugh. “I was just saying, this rain is really heavy.”

“Yes,” Lin Shengnan replied, narrowing her eyes mischievously. “It’s tough on you to be out in such a downpour.”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Liu Jingye said awkwardly. “All for the sake of the brothers making a fortune. Life is never smooth sailing—when I’m tired, I think of Bald Qiang braving danger to fight that bear; when I’m hungry, I think of Grey Wolf, always after the little lamb for his wife.”

Lin Shengnan snorted, surprised by how chatty he could be.

“If we really pull off this job, what will you do with the money?” she asked suddenly, sounding for all the world like a wife waiting for her husband to strike it rich and planning their future.

Yet she didn’t pull away, still curled in his embrace, her ample curves pressed distinctly against his ribs.

Liu Jingye’s mouth went dry, and as if trying to present a noble image to his girlfriend, said, “Money isn’t important to me. Rich or poor, I won’t change. A watch worth tens of thousands and one worth a few bucks both tell the same time; cigars and cigarettes both cause cancer; a mansion or a humble flat both keep out the rain. What I truly seek is someone beside me—a woman whose every mood fills my life with color, a little more love, a little more tenderness, making life rich and vibrant.”

Lin Shengnan was taken aback, not expecting Liu Jingye to be so sentimental.

In truth, Liu Jingye hardly knew what nonsense he was spouting. All his attention was fixed on the tender moment with Yuan Xiaoying, lost in the unfamiliar softness that intoxicated him.

Just then, Liu Jingye’s phone lit up—a message from Er Niu: “She’s coming!”

“The target’s on her way, almost here—get ready,” Liu Jingye said in a low voice, pushing aside any stray thoughts.

Da Niu, Stone, and Hu Ming sprang into action, their movements a bit clumsy in the rain but methodical nonetheless.

From somewhere, they produced two wooden poles over a meter long, lifted the corpse, and carried it to the right lane of the road. With the poles as makeshift crutches, they propped up the body so it looked as if it were a cripple crossing the street.

The three hurried back to the alley just as the demonic roar of a supercar’s engine tore through the darkness, its thunderous growl echoing like a storm.

Two brilliant headlights pierced the rain; the fiery red Ferrari streaked forward like a blood-red lightning bolt. As it neared, a tremendous screech of brakes cut through the night, sharp enough to rend eardrums.

The Ferrari bucked wildly like a runaway horse, but momentum kept it from stopping in time. The panicked driver could not react quickly or precisely.

With a dull thud, the corpse was sent flying, even though the brakes were slammed—still, it was hurled more than ten meters away.

The car finally stopped. A woman in a long dress staggered out, rubbing her forehead. It was Huang Weiwei. The rain snapped her fully awake. In the glare of the headlights, she saw a motionless body sprawled on the ground in a bizarre position.

Her face drained of color. With a cry, she rushed over, crouched to check for breath, then professionally felt for a pulse at the neck. Instantly, she recoiled as if shocked, spinning about in panic.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, and rushed back to the car to make a call.

Liu Jingye and the others filmed the entire process with a high-definition camera, capturing her face clearly.

“Let’s hope she’s calling an ambulance,” Liu Jingye thought. The plan was underhanded, and the woman seemed almost innocent. If she showed any humanity or conscience, he would call off the scheme immediately.

But she disappointed him. Instead of calling for help, she dialed a number and, failing to get through, slammed the steering wheel in anger.

She tried another number, holding the phone for a long time, but again, no answer.

Panic overtook her. She ran back to the body, checked the pulse again—still, nothing. Not even a living person could fake that effect. Especially with someone like Huang Weiwei, with her underworld connections; if this had been a scam, she’d have ignored it, or worse, beaten the scammer senseless.

Finally, Huang Weiwei broke down. The downpour could not wash away the stain on her conscience. In a panic, she jumped into her car and sped away.

“It worked!” Stone shouted excitedly.

But Liu Jingye and Lin Shengnan found no joy, only a nameless sorrow clouding their hearts.

Liu Jingye went over, lifted the corpse, and silently apologized, “Sorry to put you through this again, my friend. But those who wronged you will soon join you. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

He told Da Niu and Stone to take the body back, then he, Lin Shengnan, and Hu Lin joined up with Er Niu and returned to the small inn.

Hu Ming and the others, elated, were about to call Huang Weiwei to blackmail her.

“No,” Lin Shengnan said firmly, before Liu Jingye could object.

He glanced at her, feeling a strange sense of understanding between them. Lin Shengnan blushed and waved him off, “Go shower, I’ll handle things here.”

Liu Jingye smiled and left—the sensation of being soaked was truly unpleasant.

Lin Shengnan continued, “If we call so soon, she’ll suspect it was a setup. We need to stay calm; let her stew in fear and uncertainty for a night. When she realizes she’s alone and desperate, that’s when we call—she’ll have no choice but to answer.”

Liu Jingye nodded. Her thinking matched his perfectly. Suddenly, he felt an odd sense that they were like a married couple: he guided the children (Stone and the others) in life’s big directions, while Lin Shengnan handled the small details.