Cruel Romance - Chapter 6.2

Xiang Residence.

A study room, a large ebony desk separated the two people who were sitting on opposite sides.

Xiang Han Chuan lit up his cigar, took a deep breath and asked Zuo Zhen, “Have you found out anything?”

With one hand supporting his forehead, Zuo Zhen replied, “He Run Sheng has admitted, that the mastermind behind him is Lian Chuan. Lian Chuan blackmailed him with information about his thief of smuggled goods. I have caught Lian Chuan, Shi Hao has been interrogating him overnight, but his lips are sealed, insisting that he alone betrayed Ah Hui and Ying Dong.”

Xiang Han Chuan raised his brows, “You believe that he’s not telling the truth?”

“All that he said, I don’t believe a word of it.” Zuo Zhen smiled bitterly, “Lian Chuan is Shao Hui’s man, even if he dares to betray Shao Hui, how can he even know Ying Dong’s whereabouts? Let’s say that even if he does so, what benefits does he get? He must at least have an accomplice, or someone else must be the mastermind.”

“I now suspect, that it is not a particular person or particular gang but a group of them working together. The person they want to defeat is not just Ying Dong and Shao Hui, they are working against the entire Xiang Group and Qing Gang. Because all the clues and suspicions we have now are quite vague and scattered, I don’t recommend acting on them, wasting energy on catching shadows.”

Xiang Han Chuan listened carefully to Zuo Zhen’s analysis, nodded, “Zhen, I’ll leave this to you. I will await your news, and my people will follow your orders.”

“In the near future, they will make a move.” Zuo Zhen seemed to be deep in thought, “Our defenses must be impenetrable, Lian Chuan has already landed in our hands, to them, it must have created panic. Although Lian Chuan has not confessed anything but he won’t be able to be quiet for long, and when it is appropriate we can spread some false news, to bluff the nail in the dark. They won’t be able to hold it in for long.”

“I heard Ah San saying in the hospital, that you’ve already bluffed them once.” Xiang Han Chuan laughed, “You let him come back to look for Shi Hao, that was a bait, to hook up that fish He Run Sheng. Afterwards, mantis stalking the cicada and then an oriole behind? You really have your own ways. But how were you so sure, that there were traitors in the midst?”

Zuo Zhen replied lightly, “Chang San Harbour is my place, I’m very sure of the situation there, without someone making arrangements on the inside, outsiders can’t even dream of setting a trap inside. As for whether the person was actually there, I wasn’t sure, but since his mission wasn’t accomplished, he must have been observing my every move, in case circumstances change, that would be undoubtedly so, but who was it, wouldn’t I know if I try?”

Xiang Han Chuan looked at this sworn brother of his with admiration, back then they had experienced all sorts of hardship to set up their business, Zuo Zhen’s character, he understood better than others. Even in the most dangerous and pressing situation, Zuo Zhen wouldn’t panic, and while others were in a frenzy, he would perceptibly catch on to that fleeting opportunity and turn the entire situation around, to turn passiveness into aggression.

“No news about Ah Hui?” Xiang Han Chuan knew that Zuo Zhen’s care for Shao Hui was no less than what he had for Ying Dong.

Zuo Zhen’s expression darkened, “Not yet. I’ve already notified a few triads, that whoever can save Ah Hui in time, I’ll owe them a favor.” The weight of this sentence was not ordinary, Zuo Zhen’s favor could represent a luxurious mansion, expensive cars, or his strong backing, opportunity for advancement, who wouldn’t be tempted?

Xiang Han Chuan couldn’t help but be surprised, “We don’t have any clue at all?”

“There are clues but I’m afraid they are of no help to finding out Shao Hui’s current location.” Zuo Zhen continued, “It’s a ring, looks like it was left behind in the tussle, I’ve already ordered Tang Hai to find out its origins, we should have some news soon.”

Xiang Han Chuan sighed, stood up and said, “In a while I’ll go to the hospital to check on Ying Dong’s condition. Come along, perhaps when he wakes up, he can tell us about what happened then.”

Zuo Zhen replied, “Alright I’ll go pick Jin Xiu up first.”

“Jin Xiu?” Xiang Han Chuan asked suspiciously, “I’ve heard of this name before, who is she?”

“It’s a long story,” Zuo Zhen continued, “It’s better if you ask Ming Zhu, she’s Ming Zhu’s younger sister.”

Xiang Han Chuan was even more confused, “What has that got to do with Ying Dong?”

Zuo Zhen replied simply, “She likes Ying Dong.”

“But I don’t recall Ying Ding bringing it up?” Xiang Han Chuan said, “I was planning to introduce Guang Xing and Cheng family’s fourth daughter to him.”

What else could Zuo Zhen say?

Ying Dong had never had feelings for Jin Xiu, from the start, Jin Xiu’s feelings for him were one sided and in vain. But this was Jin Xiu’s personal matters, he did not wish to talk about them.

“Have a smoke.” Zuo Zhen took out a platinum cigarette case and offered a stick to Xiang Han Chuan.

Xiang Han Chuan looked at him with surprise, “I never smoke British cigarettes, you’ve forgotten?”

“Oh, right.” Zuo Zhen suddenly realized, and couldn’t help but smile, with the cigarette at the side of his mouth, he searched through his pockets.

“The lighter is on the table.” Xiang Han Chuan could no longer hold it in, “Zhen are you too tired, why are you in such a daze?”

Zuo Zhen was silent, holding the lighter in his hands for a while, before lighting up the cigarette and inhaling deeply, “It’s nothing.”

His wasn’t just tired, even if so he could raise his spirits, just that, thinking of Jin Xiu, he couldn’t concentrate.

“I’ve rarely seen you like this.” Xiang Han Chuan stared at him thoughtfully, before laughing meaningfully, “Perhaps that kind of thing would also happen to you?”

“Ai, I’m really quite sleepy.” Zuo Zhen didn’t seem to understand, stood up to stretch, “Go ahead to check on Ying Dong first, I’ll fetch Jin Xiu and will be there soon.”

“She’s at your place?” Xiang Han Chuan obviously harbored certain intentions, “I’ve heard that you’ve never brought women back to spend the night?” He was obviously not ge

“She’s at your place? Xiang Han Chuan obviously harbored certain intentions, “I’ve heard you never bring women back to spend the night?” He seemed determined to not let this go.

“I’ll leave first.” Zuo Zhen skillfully deflected the question, leaving was the best solution.

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