Chapter 102: The Troublesome Wang Jianming

I didn’t respond to Luo Feng, only telling him that in time, he would understand. Luo Feng curled his lips, then grew serious. He told me that early this morning, Wang Jianming had personally called him again. Luo Feng was furious about it. He said he felt Wang Jianming wasn’t like this before.

Although Luo Feng and Wang Jianming had never cooperated in any capacity, both were figures in the underworld. Wang Jianming was a major player in Jing City, and when Luo Feng first arrived there, he had personally gone to pay a visit. It was more a show of face—letting Wang Jianming know that a major gang leader from the port district had come to operate in Jing City.

Luo Feng feared that if things weren’t clarified, Wang Jianming’s men might cause trouble for him.

Naturally, Wang Jianming wouldn’t antagonize Luo Feng without reason. Every year, he would host a polite banquet for Luo Feng, who would reciprocate in kind. Though they weren’t particularly close, their relationship on the surface was decent, and Luo Feng’s understanding of Wang Jianming was neither shallow nor deep.

In Luo Feng’s impression, Wang Jianming was usually poised and generous, never forcing someone of Luo Feng’s rank. Luo Feng cursed, “I misjudged that old fox. I thought he wouldn’t force people, but it seems you’re right—he won’t let this go easily. He’s determined to make me cooperate.”

This time, Wang Jianming’s behavior truly took Luo Feng by surprise. Forcing someone was one thing, but Luo Feng felt Wang Jianming had lost his old dignified bearing and had become more like a scoundrel. When I refused cooperation at Wang Jianming’s courtyard—that was the first time Wang Jianming had come in person. Luo Feng refusing him was the second. Yet, both refusals didn’t make Wang Jianming give up.

What angered Luo Feng even more was that just the day before, they had a conflict; Wang Jianming had left in a huff. Yet this morning, Wang Jianming called Luo Feng as if nothing had happened. I had experienced this attitude from Wang Jianming even earlier than Luo Feng.

Luo Feng sighed, saying Wang Jianming acted like a rogue. He intended to meet him face to face again tonight. Luo Feng wanted to refuse, but Wang Jianming warned that if Luo Feng declined, he would regret it—the tone carrying a subtle threat. Luo Feng lost his temper and scolded Wang Jianming over the phone, but Wang Jianming was indifferent, saying, “See you tonight,” then hung up.

Luo Feng grew angrier, smashing the cup on the table to pieces.

“If he wants to come, I’ll give him a cold reception. Damn it, I want to see what he can do to me,” Luo Feng swore.

I thought about it and told Luo Feng he absolutely couldn’t act rashly.

Though Jing City was Wang Jianming’s territory and Luo Feng’s manpower was limited, the city’s control was much stricter than the port district, weakening Wang Jianming’s advantage. Normally, even if Wang Jianming wanted to cooperate with Luo Feng, he wouldn’t threaten him so casually.

After some consideration, I deduced Wang Jianming’s intentions.

Luo Feng had been holed up for days; his men barely left. Wang Jianming had many informants and surely knew this. Luo Feng was recently detained by the police for twenty-four hours, and it would be easy for Wang Jianming to learn this. Having lived long and been involved in criminal dealings for years, Wang Jianming was extremely shrewd.

He likely guessed Luo Feng was hiding, unwilling to make moves because the police were watching him.

When the police focused on Luo Feng, Luo Feng had to avoid giving them any leverage. Though Wang Jianming didn’t openly threaten Luo Feng, on reflection, if Wang Jianming wanted to stir up trouble when Luo Feng was vulnerable, framing him or tightening police surveillance was well within his power in Jing City.

Luo Feng asked me what to do after hearing my analysis.

I smiled coldly. “If he wants to play games, we’ll play along and see who falls apart first.”

I told Luo Feng that refusing to meet Wang Jianming was not a good strategy. He must not only meet him but also keep his doors open and treat Wang Jianming well whenever he came. Luo Feng trusted me and ordered his men to follow my instructions.

I also told Luo Feng about Wang Yazhuo’s call to me.

Sure enough, late at night, Wang Yazhuo called Luo Feng. Though he had been woken up, seeing her name, he didn’t want to answer. On one hand, he wanted no entanglements with Wang Yazhuo; on the other, Wang Jianming had really angered him.

Luo Feng was surprised to learn Wang Yazhuo had actually been under Wang Jianming’s house arrest and had been beaten. After thinking it over, he asked me if I really intended to help her.

I shook my head. “She’s a stranger to me. Why would I help her?”

But my words upset Little Ghost, who shook my hand and said, “Brother Fang Han, you must save Sister Yazhuo. That man is evil.”

She was referring to Wang Jianming. I rubbed my temple, realizing I had forgotten how well Little Ghost cared for Wang Yazhuo. I stopped discussing it with Luo Feng. Having gone too long without rest, I returned to my room, lay down, and drifted into a haze of sleep. Once again, I had that dream.

In it, Little Ghost shot me to death. The dream was vivid. She cried as she fired, seeming to say something, but the gunshot drowned out her words. I never heard what she said. Waking up, I was drenched in cold sweat. This was the third time I had dreamed it.

After a restless sleep, I regained some strength. Little Ghost curled up beside me, sleeping soundly. I couldn’t reconcile the sweet little girl beside me with the one who shot me in my dreams. I sighed and got up.

Night had fallen. Luo Feng’s men in the port district hadn’t sent any more messages. The media was in an uproar, practically sending us all the port district newspapers. Luo Feng still sat smoking on the sofa, saying he was waiting for Wang Jianming.

Sitting beside Luo Feng, he asked if I was confident about cracking the case.

I nodded.

I called Chen Fan and gave him instructions. Chen Fan hadn’t succeeded yet. I didn’t blame him much; though he was a police officer, with his authority, it was difficult to achieve results quickly. Luo Feng’s men in the port district had also tried to help but had no news.

Waiting idly was no solution. After thinking, I called Zhou Sheng’s father.

He was excited and asked immediately if there was progress.

I didn’t go into details on the phone, only saying I would visit him later and that they should wait.

Calls kept coming. Before Wang Jianming’s arrival, I received a call from Z. Z told me police had stayed in the hospital ward all day, asking many questions, but she was too agitated to answer much. She asked when I would come; Charlie still hadn’t woken, and Z didn’t dare to stay alone in the ward.

I gave her a time and hung up again.

At times like this, only Luo Feng and I could still smile. Luo Feng nudged my shoulder lightly, joking, “Could it be you looked at Z’s lower body, and that’s why she’s clinging to you?”

I laughed and replied, “To be blunt, Z is a woman of the world, sleeping around with many men. Do you really think she’d cling to me just because I happened to see her down there in a moment of urgency?”

Luo Feng was momentarily stunned. He patted his head and said he understood what I meant. But before he could continue, one of his men informed us that Wang Jianming had arrived.

Luo Feng waved them in, signaling to bring Wang Jianming inside.

This time, Wang Jianming didn’t come with just two men but with over a dozen. It was clear they weren’t here to negotiate but to cause trouble. Luo Feng showed no fear. Before Wang Jianming approached, he sneered, “This guy is really damn hard to deal with.”

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