Chapter 71: Fishing Part 3

But he’d waited all afternoon—through Dai Linxuan’s official appointment as director, through the shipping segment discussion—and got nothing.

“I did plug it in,” Lai Li said playfully. “Didn’t you see the smiley face?”

Dai San Shu paused, remembering that when Dai Linxuan connected his computer for the PPT, the first slide was a very formal smiley face with text on the right:

“Good afternoon, everyone.”

Several shareholders had chuckled and replied, “Good afternoon.”

In hindsight, Dai Linxuan clearly hadn’t known.

When the smiley popped up, Dai Linxuan stared at the big screen for a long moment without speaking. Finally, he adjusted his jacket to cover the bloodstained shirt he hadn’t changed out of, smiled at the crowd, and said, “Good afternoon.”

…

Dai San Shu finally got it—that smiley wasn’t a greeting; it was Lai Li mocking him!

He punched the car door. “You never intended to help me from the start, you fucker!”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Lai Li asked strangely. “What made you think I’d betray my brother?”

He’d already figured out Dai San Shu’s biggest card: Song Zichu.

And that man was dealt with, so no need to keep up the pretense.

Dai San Shu’s chest heaved violently. “You think kissing Dai Linxuan’s ass means he’ll keep you forever!?”

Lai Li shrugged it off. “If he doesn’t keep me, you think he’ll keep you?”

He gripped the gear shift, the engine roaring impatiently. “Three seconds. Get lost or I ram you—one.”

Dai San Shu glared at him murderously, eyes bulging like they might pop out.

“Two.”

Before Lai Li said “one,” Dai San Shu waved furiously at his driver. He had no doubt this bastard would actually do it.

“So obedient?” Lai Li taunted like he was teasing a dog. “I wouldn’t have hit you anyway. Fixing my car costs more than yours.”

Blood rushed to Dai San Shu’s head, leaving him dizzy. “You little beast…”

Lai Li yanked his collar through the narrow window. “I don’t mind the insult, but not everyone gets to call me that.”

Dai San Shu’s face got stuck, turning red from the strain.

The dim car interior paired with Lai Li’s cold eyes made for a chilling scene.

Lai Li said sinisterly, “Watch your safety, Third Uncle. I wouldn’t want to suddenly lose contact with you, like that one friend of mine who died.”

Dai San Shu’s head was shoved back out the window. The car peeled away, nearly tripping him and blasting him with exhaust.

Fuming and speechless, he took two steps before suddenly looking up, remembering Song Zichu, whom he hadn’t been able to reach for ages.

Dai San Shu stood there in shock and doubt… No way?

Had Lai Li made Song Zichu disappear?

…Killed him?

*

Lai Li headed straight for Song Zichu’s eyeball.

The Municipal Public Security Bureau wasn’t far, but it was rush hour. Even weaving through traffic took over twenty minutes.

He parked on the roadside and entered the complex where the eyeball was planted. School was out, and kids filled the streets with noise.

A stray cat by the bushes ate cat food left by residents. Sensing something off, it backed away warily, locked green eyes with Lai Li for a second, then bolted.

Lai Li snorted, scooped up some kibble, and tossed it to a lazy fat orange tabby that hadn’t bothered running.

“Meow.”

Lai Li grabbed it by the scruff and lifted it. It didn’t struggle, even munching the two kibbles it’d snatched.

“…Stupid thing,” Lai Li mocked. “Good thing not many people eat cat. You’d be first on the menu.”

Staring at the tabby’s patterns, a familiar image flickered in his mind—

Someone he knew also had an orange cat…

His phone buzzed. The bodyguard messaged: Guy circled the stairwell, now picking the lock.

Lai Li typed back: Be careful. He might have a knife.

If it was just scouting, no lock-picking. This was likely a kill mission.

He clapped his hands, stood, and hurried to the third building from the end.

To the bodyguards downstairs, he said, “I’ll take the stairs, you take the elevator. Leave three to guard below.”

They split up quickly. The building wasn’t tall. Lai Li glanced up while toying with the Bronze Small Knife and entered the lit stairwell… with windows.

He thought for a moment and called one downstairs guard to watch the second floor.

On the fifth floor, footsteps echoed from above. Lai Li paused, then realized it might be a resident.

But why stairs over elevator?

“Young Master Lai?”

Lai Li looked up expressionlessly into Jin Ming’s surprised gaze.

“…”

After a moment, Jin Ming concluded absurdly, “You’re not here for me, are you? How’d you know I live here?”

Jin Ming carried a trash bag, dressed casually—probably just off work.

“Why the hell would I seek you out?” Lai Li pocketed the knife smoothly and sneered. “Can’t I live here too?”

Jin Ming didn’t buy it. “A young master like you in a dump like this?”

Lai Li brushed past him up the stairs—delaying risked a collision. “Not as fancy as you.”

“Hey, wait—how’s your car crash recovery?”

“None of your business.”

“You vanishing abroad so suddenly, I half-thought you killed Chang Fangyi and faked the crash to flee…”

Before Jin Ming’s joke landed, fighting noises erupted above. A figure charged down, hesitated at the sight of them.

Normally, he’d play it cool and bolt, but their vibe screamed trouble. He vaulted the railing without hesitation, aiming to skip a floor—

That one glance, and Lai Li sensed a familiar aura.

This was a Cricket.

Lai Li grabbed his arm swiftly, twisting back, but gravity foiled it. The man yelped in pain and drew a knife for Lai Li’s hand.

Lai Li released in time, taking only a shallow cut.

The Cricket flipped down another flight nimbly.

Lai Li lunged to pursue but got yanked back by Jin Ming. “Who is this guy?”

Lai Li shoved him off. “Scram!”

If not for Jin Ming butting in, he would’ve pinned the Cricket’s hand to the railing with his knife!

Annoying obstacle.

“You’re injured—don’t chase. I’ll go.” Jin Ming shoved the trash bag into Lai Li’s hands, vaulted the railing, and called back, “Toss my garbage!”

Lai Li, who hadn’t done chores in twelve years: “…”

His face flickered darkly. Chasing now was pointless. Even having seen the face, tracking him later would be hell.

He went up one floor, deduced Jin Ming’s door from the setup, and hung the bag on the knob.

No one but his brother could order him around.

He told the upstairs bodyguards to stay inside and tend wounds if hurt.

Descending two floors, he spotted signs of the escape—the Cricket had guessed at guards below and jumped floors from higher up.

Lai Li exited the building, turned to check the escape route, and nearly collided with a very familiar figure rounding the corner at a hurried pace.

Off to the side, Jin Ming’s figure flickered behind bushes. He’d cuffed the fleeing Cricket and shouted without looking back, “President Dai, perfect timing blocking him!”

Jin Ming and the bodyguards hadn’t caught up, but Dai Linxuan appeared suddenly. The Cricket had a knife; Dai Linxuan wasn’t a match but slowed him enough for the others to close in and subdue him together.

Lai Li had half a mind to turn and leave, but at the words, he grabbed Dai Linxuan’s hand. “Did he hurt you?”

Dai Linxuan eyed the bleeding cut on Lai Li’s hand. “What do you think?”

Lai Li instinctively pulled back his hand, but his wrist was firmly gripped. Dai Linxuan wiped the blood from the back of his hand and softly asked, “You and Zi Xiao ate here?”

Lai Li: “…”

Jin Ming didn’t know where he’d gotten such efficiency from—he’d called for backup while chasing the guy, and now his colleagues had arrived to take over.

Lai Li wanted to snatch the man away, but Dai Linxuan was blocking his path. He couldn’t bring himself to say harsh words to his brother, let alone lay a hand on him…

Jin Ming walked over, clutching his arm. He glanced at Dai Linxuan, then at Lai Li, seemingly oblivious to the tense standoff. “—Where’s my trash?”

The stab wound on his arm looked quite serious; blood had already seeped through his clothes.

Lai Li said coldly, “Your home.”

Jin Ming: “You went into my home?”

Dai Linxuan: “You went into his home?”

They spoke almost simultaneously—one brimming with surprise, the other inscrutable.

Lai Li immediately said, “Bro, I didn’t go in.”

Dai Linxuan looked at him with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he said to Jin Ming, “Do you need me to call an ambulance for you?”

“No problem. This little injury can be handled at the station,” Jin Ming said nonchalantly. “Why don’t you and your brother come sit next door? I’ve got some top-notch tea there.”

His tone sounded consultative on the surface, but he stood rooted to the spot, clearly determined to wait for them to go together.