Chapter 125

Just back from buying fresh milk, Peng Ling looked at Jin Yan Mu’s expressionless face and really wanted to scratch him. It had been him who shouted and exposed himself at the critical moment earlier. Peng Ling ignored him, snorted, and pushed the door open to enter the ward. Seeing her return, Li Shuang and Jiang Sen got up to bid farewell to Xie Wendong, then greeted Peng Ling and hurriedly left.

Peng Ling placed the two bottles of heated fresh milk on the table and asked sarcastically, “Wendong, you all discussed things well while I was gone, right?!”

Xie Wendong replied innocently, “There’s nothing we need to hide from you. It were just ordinary conversations!”

“Oh, really?!” Peng Ling sneered. “Then knocking out eight of the ‘Thirteen Brothers’ is just an ordinary thing?”

Xie Wendong inwardly groaned. Helplessly, he said, “It has nothing to do with me. I was injured and lying in bed, knowing nothing. It was their own decision!”

Peng Ling curled her lips. “Would they dare without your permission?! ‘Boss’!”

Xie Wendong felt a headache and closed his eyes. “I’m tired. Can we not talk about this?”

“As you wish!” Peng Ling walked to the window, arms crossed, staring outside. She already knew Xie Wendong had the protection of the Political Department. Even if there was evidence of his crimes, not to mention her, even her father, Peng Shulin, would need permission from the Political Department’s higher-ups to arrest him. But Peng Ling still felt uneasy—she didn’t want the person she liked to be involved in the underworld, especially since Xie Wendong was a top gang leader whose life was at risk at any moment.

The two fell into silence again, both having things to say but neither speaking up.

On the third day, when Gao Huimei and her sister arrived in City H, Xie Wendong would engage in a full-scale battle with the five rebel gangs, with the police joining in as well, led personally by Chief Liu Dexin. Peng Ling had intended to ask for leave that day, but the chief, who had received instructions from Xie Wendong, refused outright and insisted on taking Peng Ling with him to make arrests.

Xie Wendong’s condition had improved somewhat. A few days earlier, Hei Dai had sent over some precious European medicines, and the messenger didn’t forget to convey Victor’s blessings. Xie Wendong expressed his gratitude and told his subordinates to treat the man well. Perhaps what the old Russian sent really worked—Xie Wendong now had some strength. Though he couldn’t get out of bed, raising his hand wasn’t a problem. This time, Xie Wendong was truly grateful to Hei Dai and decided to visit Russia someday.

At 10:20, Jin Yan Mu entered the room and whispered, “Brother Dong, Jiang Sen called just now and said they’ve arrived!”

Xie Wendong also became nervous. He hadn’t seen his sister Gao Hui Mei in some time—strictly speaking, it had been a year. They had only spoken a few times over the phone, and he had no idea what they had become like. He never expected their first reunion after so long to take place in a hospital bed. Xie Wendong shook his head with a bitter smile—life was truly full of twists and turns!

Just after 11 o’clock, as Xie Wendong was thinking about what to say when they met, the door was kicked open as if by someone. With a loud crash, it startled Xie Wendong, who was lying in bed. At the door stood two young women, both dressed in black and white suits. They were equally beautiful and charming, but each had her own distinct temperament—one mature and steady, the other youthful and radiant—leaving Xie Wendong speechless. Truly, women change a lot by the age of eighteen! Jin Yan coughed, finally waking the three of them up.

Gao Huiyu, dressed in black, curled her lips downward, her eyes gradually filling with tears as she threw her arms around Xie Wendong.

Seeing Gao Huiyu rushing at him with tears in her eyes, Xie Wendong sighed inwardly, praying that his newly healed ribs wouldn’t break again. When Gao Huiyu got close to him, she threw herself into his arms and cried bitterly, reproaching him in a trembling voice, “Wendong, how could you be so careless? I was so worried when I heard you were shot!”

Enduring the pain in his chest, Xie Wendong gently stroked Gao Huiyu’s hair and said with a smile, “Xiaoyu, it’s been a year since we last saw each other. Don’t cry just because you see me! Your makeup is so flawless—it would be a shame if it got smudged from crying.”

Gao Huiyu gradually stopped crying and said through sobs, “I was worried about you! How could you be so careless? And hey, I’m not wearing makeup—I’m naturally beautiful. Don’t you know that?”

Xie Wendong chuckled and said, “Oh, I forgot for a moment. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Seeing that Xie Wendong was unharmed, Gao Huiyu’s mood eased. She leaned against his chest and said softly, “Without me by your side this past year, did you find many other women?”

Xie Wendong groaned inwardly and blurted out, “How could that be? Not many!”

Gao Huiyu narrowed her eyes and demanded, “Not many? How many exactly? Explain yourself!”

Xie Wendong rolled his eyes, blaming himself for speaking without thinking. He lookedappealing for helpfully at Gao Hui Mei behind him. Gao Hui Mei, sensing Xie Wendong’s signal, stepped forward, pulled Gao Huiyu away, and comforted her, “Xiaoyu, don’t get angry. Wendong isn’t that kind of person.”

“Of course not!” Gao Huiyu muttered. “It’s best if I don’t find out, otherwise, hehe!” She made a few gestures in front of Xie Wendong, her lips curling to reveal two small canines.
Oh no! Xie Wendong lamented inwardly. It seemed nothing could stop Peng Ling from meeting those two sisters—otherwise, at least two knives would be aimed at him. God help me!
Actually, God is fair; He won’t neglect a good person, nor will He let scoundrels get away with it.
Gao Huiyu temporarily left Xie Wendong alone, and the three of them chatted happily. Gao Huiyu peeled an orange and fed it to Xie Wendong. Seeing her innocent and beautiful face, Xie Wendong felt relaxed. From time to time, he deliberately bit her fingers, making her laugh nonstop.
At Xie Wendong’s signal, Jin Yan was about to leave the room to give him some privacy when the phone rang. Jin Yan answered it nonchalantly, but his expression changed after listening. He didn’t know how to tell Xie Wendong. Gao Huiyu looked at him strangely and asked, “Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?!”
Jiang Sen shook his head and winked at Xie Wendong, saying, “Brother Dong, Officer Peng is coming!”
“Pfft!” Xie Wendong spat out the orange slice in his mouth in surprise. “You mean Officer Peng… is coming??” Oh no, Xie Wendong thought. This is like an asteroid hitting Earth!
Jiang Sen nodded firmly and said helplessly, “It was Liu Dexin who called. The fight is over, and everyone has been caught. Peng… she said she’s coming. Even Old Liu can’t stop her!”
Gao Huiyu was confused and asked, “Who’s this Officer Peng you’re talking about? Is she that powerful?”
Xie Wendong and Jiang Sen nodded simultaneously and said, “She’s extremely powerful and hard to deal with!” Xie Wendong added, “Xiaoyu, Xiaomei, you two go back to the hotel first. I’ll handle the police first and then come for you.”
Gao Huiyu pouted and said, “It’s not me you’re afraid of! I want to see what kind of person can be so impressive!”
Gao Huimei was also curious about who could scare Xie Wendong so much and nodded in agreement.
Xie Wendong’s eyes darted frantically as he tried desperately to think of a solution, turning to Jin Yan for help. But Jin Yan didn’t have any better ideas either. He was even less experienced in matters of the heart than Xie Wendong and thought Xie Wendong was too fickle—unlike himself, who felt satisfied with just having Shui Jing. Jin Yan’s gaze drifted outside the window, pretending not to see. Seeing this, Xie Wendong almost jumped in anger, silently groaning before giving up.

Jin Yan shook his head, thinking it couldn’t go too far, and said to the two sisters, “You both know Dong Ge’s current status—he’s under close police surveillance. If they see you, you might also be investigated. Although we may not fear him, it’s better to avoid trouble. I think it’s best to stay away for now.”
Jiang Sen’s reasoning made sense. Gao Hui Mei hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying to Xie Wendong, “Wendong, since that’s the case, we won’t cause you any more trouble. Xiao Yu and I will leave first and come see you again tonight.”
Xie Wendong sighed in relief, saying regretfully, “The police are really annoying! Sigh, I’ll call you two after she’s gone.”
“Okay!” Gao Hui Mei took her sister by the hand. “Let’s go!” Gao Hui Yu left reluctantly as her sister pulled her away. Xie Wendong asked Shui Jing to accompany them and go shopping on Central Street, to buy whatever they liked, with the implicit intention of delaying things as long as possible.
Not long after the Gao sisters left, Peng Ling arrived. As soon as she entered the ward, she shouted angrily, “Xie Wendong, did Director Liu stop me from leaving? What’s going on? Explain it to me!”
Xie Wendong sighed inwardly—today was surely going to be a tough day…
The clash in the morning was just a probing move by San Yan; neither side suffered heavy losses, and not many of those injured were arrested by the police. In the afternoon, San Yan went to the city police station to release the captured members. At the same time, he ordered Chen Baicheng to lead the 14th branch of Long Tang to launch an attack on one of the five major rebel gangs, the ‘Bai Jia Hui’. Chen Baicheng had joined Wen Dong Hui later; though new, he rose quickly. Thanks to his role in killing Guan Delin and his loyalty, he was quickly trusted by Xie Wendong and assigned as San Yan’s assistant. San Yan also recognized his abilities and entrusted the management of the 14th branch to him.
It was 10 p.m. Chen Baicheng led hundreds of men from the branch, armed with knives, guns, sticks, and clubs, straight to the location of Bai Jia Hui—Zhongyuan Street in the PF District.