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Psst! We're moving!
He Ran deliberately delayed leaving by two minutes, but Jian Xi was already nowhere to be seen.
“Ran Ge, why did you take so long?” Lin Jia exclaimed as soon as he saw him. “I’ve been to the bathroom three times already.”
He Ran extended his left hand, using two fingers to poke Lin Jia’s chest and stop him in his tracks. “Did you wash your hands?”
“I didn’t use my fingers to wipe, so why would I wash them?” Lin Jia chuckled. “Just kidding, I washed them, alright.”
He Ran reached for his cigarettes. “Alright, I got word that Zhang will be at Jin Dan Building tomorrow. Let’s head out early.”
Jin Dan Building was located in the city center, and they were going there to collect a debt.
Speaking of which, He Ran had been in this line of work for two years now, specializing in collecting bad debts for bosses. The debtors were usually slippery characters, so he had to resort to various tactics.
The two rode their small motorbikes back to Yati Road. A hundred meters or so of road stretched ahead, like an open box with its lid flipped off, its end touching the sky. On this moonlit night, it felt as if the moon was within reach.
He Ran dropped Lin Jia off first. From afar, he spotted an SUV parked at the entrance. Its hazard lights blinked once, and a bald head popped out of the car window, grinning. A scar on his left eyebrow wriggled like a moving centipede:
“Oh, Ran Ge is here too.”
Lin Jia greeted him, “A Long.” Then he hopped off the motorcycle.
Lin Jia stood by the SUV, chatting with the bald man and occasionally nodding.
The conversation was brief. The bald man patted Lin Jia’s shoulder. “Alright, wait for further instructions at home, kid. Keep up the good work.”
He waved goodbye to He Ran, “Ran Ge, we’re leaving. Oh, by the way, Boss Jia mentioned you last night while drinking. He really hopes you’ll come back as his right-hand man.”
He Ran smirked faintly, cigarette dangling from his lips. “Boss Jia flatters me. I appreciate his recognition. Tell him I’ll thank him personally when I see him next time.”
The bald man chuckled twice and drove off.
“Ran Ge, see you at nine tomorrow then,” Lin Jia said, pulling out his house keys from his pocket.
He Ran exhaled a puff of smoke, legs stretched to keep balance, and asked, “What did Long want with you?”
Lin Jia let out a casual “Hey,” adding, “Nothing much, just said they’re short-handed and wanted me to watch over things for a couple of days. Just two days.”
He Ran furrowed his brows, skepticism evident.
Lin Jia thumped his chest confidently. “I happen to have some free time. Just making some extra cash. Our main job of debt collection won’t be affected, I promise.”
Leaning forward slightly, He Ran issued a warning. “You know what kind of people they are. Be careful not to stray down the wrong path. Once you do, there’s no coming back.”
Lin Jia grinned. “Brother, didn’t you manage to straighten yourself out?”
He Ran’s expression shifted slightly, prompting Lin Jia to quickly reassure him. “Don’t worry, I understand. Go back early, don’t keep grandma waiting.”
Lin Jia turned around, the keys jingling in his hand.
He Ran called after him, “If you need money, tell me.”
Lin Jia’s figure paused briefly, almost imperceptibly, before turning back with a forced smile. “My mom’s health has been great lately, no issues! We’re fine on money.”
Lin Jia’s father had passed away long ago, leaving behind a mother with uremia. Over the years, all his hard-earned money had gone into medical expenses. In two months, Lin Jia’s wife would be due to give birth.
He Ran watched his lean figure disappear around the corner before starting the motorcycle.
________________________________________
The next morning, Jian Xi was on the early shift. Before eight o’clock, a queue had already formed outside the consultation room.
The First Municipal Hospital was a top-tier hospital, and its obstetrics department was always bustling. Jian Xi had transferred from emergency to outpatient care earlier in the year and still performed surgeries twice a week. After nine o’clock, patients who had completed their tests began returning with their results for diagnosis.
“The baby’s development looks good, consistent with the gestational age. Pay attention to fetal movements.” With only three patients left, her phone rang.
Jian Xi picked it up to see Lu Pingnan calling. She hesitated for half a second but answered anyway. “Hello, what is it?”
Lu Pingnan exploded in anger. “Don’t push your luck!”
Jian Xi was bewildered.
Lu Pingnan continued, “You have the nerve to complain after drenching my head in beer last night? Your brother stormed into my office this morning, acting like a lunatic. If you’re sick, go see a doctor, don’t act crazy!”
Tao Xinglai was her younger brother, in his early twenties, with a fiery temperament and handsome features. He aspired to become a movie star. After one year in the industry, he was still struggling as a fourth-tier pretty boy.
Jian Xi frowned, apologizing to the patient with a gesture, then moved toward the window.
Lu Pingnan raged on, spitting out words rapidly. Jian Xi gradually understood—Tao Xinglai had heard about last night’s incident and, enraged, went to confront him, calling him shameless.
At this moment, Tao Xinglai was putting on quite a show in front of Lu Pingnan’s business partners.
“You call yourself a businessman? You might as well be the scum of the earth!”
Lu Pingnan covered the phone with his hand, suppressing his anger while quietly slipping out through a side door.
“Get over here now! Take your brother away!”
Before hanging up, Jian Xi faintly heard Tao Xinglai’s voice: “You scumbag, how dare you run! Stop right there...”
After ending the call, Jian Xi quickly finished seeing the remaining patients, then drove to Jin Dan Building.
________________________________________
At ten o’clock, in the underground parking lot of Jin Dan Building.
In an inconspicuous corner behind a concrete pillar, a black motorcycle was parked between two cars.
“Ran Ge, Ran Ge, is that him?” Lin Jia lifted the brim of his baseball cap, pointing toward the elevator.
He Ran squinted and confirmed it was the debtor. “Yes.”
He removed the half-smoked cigarette from his mouth, stubbed it out on the ground, and quickly put on his mask. “His car is that Volkswagen in front. When he gets to the car door, we’ll move in.”
Lin Jia grabbed the intimidating iron wrench. “Got it!”
But soon, He Ran noticed someone accompanying the debtor, emerging a few steps behind from the elevator—a sharply dressed man with a clean-shaven face.
He Ran muttered under his breath, “Damn.”
It wasn’t the presence of another person that complicated things—it was the fact that he’d met him just last night.
It was Lu Pingnan.
Suppressing the inexplicable emotions stirring within, He Ran told Lin Jia, “Change of plans. Use the splash tactic.”
Lin Jia picked up the prepared bucket of chicken blood and gave an OK sign.
Just as they were about to act, a Jeep suddenly cut across from the right. He Ran cursed under his breath, “Joining the fun, huh?”
The driver leapt out, wearing linen pants rolled up to reveal his ankles, and the most eye-catching feature was his leopard-print coat.
Tao Xinglai had excellent poise. Even dressed flamboyantly, he didn’t look out of place. Pointing with the sunglasses in his hand, he directly blocked Lu Pingnan.
From a distance, He Ran could only see them arguing, but couldn’t make out the details.
Lin Jia: “Ran Ge?”
He Ran thought for a moment and said, “Proceed.”
He Ran grabbed the wrench, and Lin Jia hoisted the bucket, both moving forward quickly.
Lu Pingnan and Tao Xinglai were locked in a heated exchange, while the debtor casually observed the spectacle. Suddenly, feeling a weight on his shoulder, he turned around to meet He Ran’s gaze.
The large mask obscured most of He Ran’s face. His voice deepened, “You’re Boss Wang?”
The debtor looked confused. “Yeah, that’s me.”
Tao Xinglai and Lu Pingnan paused their argument and looked over. Surprisingly, Lu Pingnan reacted first—he recognized He Ran’s snap of the fingers and immediately sensed trouble—
Behind He Ran, Lin Jia lunged forward, splashing the entire bucket of chicken blood onto Boss Wang.
At the same time, Lu Pingnan, instinctively seeking self-preservation, reflexively shoved Tao Xinglai forward.
Chicken blood flew everywhere, accompanied by loud screams.
“Fuck you, Lu Pingnan! This mink coat cost a fortune!” Tao Xinglai, currently playing a minor role in a period drama, had plenty of experience dodging danger. He nimbly jumped aside, managing to avoid most of the blood, only getting a couple of drops on his cheeks.
“Aaah! Don’t hit me, don’t hit me!”
Boss Wang’s nose and mouth were filled with chicken blood. Seeing He Ran wielding an iron hammer, he immediately begged for mercy.
He Ran crouched slightly, slapping the man’s face lightly. “See this hammer? It’s perfect for cracking walnuts. Pay back what you owe, or next time I’ll crack your skull open.”
He flicked the man’s forehead. “Understood?”
The man’s legs trembled, too terrified to speak.
Lu Pingnan pulled out his phone. “Call security!”
He Ran shot him a sharp glare, his eyes cutting like blades.
“Go ahead, don’t leave!” Lu Pingnan was momentarily shaken by that piercing look but tried to maintain his composure.
Though masked, He Ran’s faintly curved eyes revealed a taunting smile, dripping with disdain.
Suddenly, headlights appeared around the corner.
“Brother, someone’s coming! Let’s go!” Lin Jia quickly grabbed the bucket.
He Ran nodded, ready to move, but the car suddenly swerved and blocked their path.
A white Audi. Jian Xi stepped out of the car, shouting, “What are you doing! I’ve already called the police!”
He Ran cursed under his breath, “Shit!”
Jian Xi froze upon seeing him, instinctively lowering the phone she had raised to her ear.
“Call them! Why did you hang up? Grab them!” Lu Pingnan, seeing her hang up, couldn’t believe it.
“What the hell are you shouting for!” He Ran’s eyes were fierce as he pointed at Lu Pingnan.
At that moment, Lu Pingnan instantly recognized him. “So it’s you...”
He Ran’s thick eyebrows and narrow eye contours were unmistakable. Lu Pingnan sneered, realizing, “No wonder she didn’t call the police—old acquaintances, huh? Last night, one handed over the beer, the other poured it on my head. Quite a pair you two make!”
Jian Xi clenched her phone, her expression turning cold. He Ran was momentarily speechless.
Lu Pingnan seethed; the humiliation hadn’t faded. Mockingly, he said, “Jian Xi, even if you suffered setbacks with me, don’t degrade yourself like this. Look at the company you keep now—scum, trash. Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Lu Pingnan!” Jian Xi interrupted sharply. “Watch your words.”
“My words?” Lu Pingnan pointed at He Ran. “Are the actions of the people you associate with any better? Splashing chicken blood on people, stalking, intimidation—isn’t that classy? Tell me, do you need certifications for this line of work? My company’s janitor’s son barely finished middle school. Could you recommend this job to him?”
He Ran remained calm, his expression betraying no emotion.
Jian Xi, however, clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning pale. She felt a sudden clarity, as if stepping out of her body to observe Lu Pingnan’s handsome face spewing cruel words.
Had she really loved this man for ten years?
Her nails dug deeper into her palm, pressing harder and harder.
Seeing her reddening hand, He Ran frowned and walked over, thrusting something into her grasp. “Here, take this!”
The intimidating iron hammer was forced into Jian Xi’s hand. With something to hold, she couldn’t continue hurting herself.
Jian Xi glanced up at He Ran, but he casually averted his gaze.
Suddenly, commotion erupted near the elevator. A group of security guards rushed toward them.
Lu Pingnan gloated, waving his phone. “Justice prevails.”
He Ran quickly ran toward the motorcycle, but the exit was already blocked by Jian Xi’s car. There was no way for the motorcycle to escape.
“Ran Ge, what should we do?” Lin Jia asked anxiously.
He Ran scanned the area. There was no escape route.
Suddenly—
“Get in.” Jian Xi said.
She opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat. “What are you waiting for?”
He Ran hesitated for two seconds but quickly made up his mind. Turning to Lin Jia, he said, “Let’s go!”
They dumped the bucket of chicken blood, masks, and wrenches into the car. He Ran climbed into the passenger seat. Before the door was fully closed, Jian Xi revved the engine and sped off with a roar.
Lu Pingnan’s face turned ashen. The head of security arrived, panting heavily. “Mr. Lu, where are the suspects?”
“Took you long enough.” He gnashed his teeth in fury. “Are you all eating shit?!”
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