23 A smile in the dark

The sudden attack surely caught off-guard Chen Dahai and the rest of the people there, the stun grenades flew through the air and landed on several places on the area.

"Take cover and pick your targets, remember! Our priority is to catch Chen Dahai, so try your best not to mortally wounded him, if you have to kill the remaining, don't hesitate, I will take full responsibility," Cai yan ordered in a firm tone.

"Shit, it's the cops! How could they know tonight's transaction?!" Chen Dahai angrily shouted, the pain in his eyes because the stun grenades cause him more aggravated.

"Chen Dahai, what is this?! Are you trying to set me up?!" Qiao Si accused as several underlings tried to cover him even though they also in dizzy condition.

Cai Yan and her teams sprung out from their original spot and find a better one to take cover, Cai Yan shouted: "This is the police from Zhong Hai west station department, lay down your arms and peacefully surrender or we will have to use lethal to take you down!"

"Mr. Qiao please, I know nothing about this, those useless mice didn't tell me anything regarding the siege!" Chen Dahai said, he had placed several eyes in the station yet none of them reported to him.

"Humph, save your excuses for later!" Qiao Si said. He glares at his underlings, "quickly get me out of here, those pigs are chasing after Chen Dahai, just ignore them!"

Qiao Si underlings obeyed their boss direction as they separated themselves from Chen Dahai's group and slowly walked toward the exit.

Cai Yan cursed in her thought, this big shot sure smart enough to read the situation, it was indeed she wouldn't be able to arrest them all since she didn't have enough man and firepower.

Will Chen Dahai let himself be arrested? Of course not. He had been caught red-handed doing Drug trafficking, most common punishment would be a death sentence, even if he managed to get away, at least they will drop him 10 years in the cage. Chen Dahai grabbed on one of his men and angrily shouted, "Hold them off! Don't let them get near me or I swear I kill your entire family."

The gangster cold sweating and didn't dare to delay any longer, he arranged several men to prepare Chen Dahai's exit, while the other holds the cops from getting to him.

Tch, typical! Cai Yan grumbled, she signalled her team and said in a loud voice, "Open fire!"

*P-taff!* *p-taff!* *p-taff!*

*ckck-bang!* *ckck-bang!* *ckck-bang!*

*pitpat* *pitpat* *pitpat*

A shootout between cops and gangs occured in the once peaceful park. Since Cai Yan and her team managed to get into better position, they had an advantage over them. Soon the fight will be over as the gangster one by one fall into the ground, whether they fainted or dead are unknown. However, this fight didn't affect Chen Dahai speed of retreat. Cai Yan upon seeing Chen Dahai getting farther, she got nervous as a chance of her target getting away became bigger. With an impulsive thought, she shot one of the gangs in their shoulder and said, "Cover me! I'm going after Chen Dahai"

"Chief, wait-" her subordinate didn't manage to stop her as she already runoff.

In the midst of gun fires, Cai Yan struggled to chase Chen Dahai. Sometimes she saw bullets flying across her eyes, sometimes also behind her ears. Adrenaline already pumping into her nerve as she couldn't get nervous anymore. She running as fast as she could, hoping to catch up with them.

Of course, they wouldn't let her succeed, two of the gangs separate themselves from guarding Chen Dahai to block her path. Cai Yan didn't have time to properly aim at them, she raised her gun and started shooting wildly, one of the bullets managed to take a nest on one of the gangs but the other just get grazed his hand. The guy sneered as he took properly aim at Cai Yan, preparing to send her into her grave.

Its like the time froze for Cai Yan, the barrel from SMG that had been aimed at her resembled a dragon that was about launching a fireball from its mouth.

They said when you're about to die, memories from the past will resurface, that's why there were people who died with a regret as they remembered something that they unable to fulfill or mistakes they yet to fix.

Cai Yan remembers everything clearly, her childhood, her parent, and... her older sister. Yes, her once taken older sister from her family. Cai Yan was 4 or 5 at that time, her older sister is 7. Only after 10 years later that her older sister came back, but she is changed. She had been cold and distant, even to her own families. She still smiled here and there, but that smile did not show any life. Smiling, for her like just an obligatory that she must do according to the situation she faced.

Yes, maybe Cai Yan's regret, it's that she couldn't bring back 'the smile' that had gone from her older sister. She tried, but not succeed. She closes her eyes, prepare to takes the shot.

*Swoosh!* *Puchi!*

"Gack!"

The sound of someone's choking entered Cai Yan's ears, she slowly opened her eyes before she got shocked. The man who supposed to become her grim reaper now hold on his own neck, there was blood spilled between the gap of his fingers as he couldn't stop it from flowing. The man stared at Cai Yan with wide eyes and confusesed expression, clearly, this man didn't even know what happen and what cut his neck open. Shortly, the man choked on his own blood and fell to the ground, leaving another confused person alone.

Cai Yan still didn't know how to utter any words, she looked around trying to find someone responsible for this, but couldn't find other people. The sound of the engine waking her up. She just remembered her supposed to be task by the time Chen Dahai's car already drove off leaving the park quickly.

Grumbled in annoyance, Cai Yan walked closer to the throat-slitted dead body and inspected it.

The cut was small and clean yet tear the man whole neck. Cai Yan shuddered when thinking about how this man had been killed and... whom had done it. In the end, Cai Yan sighed because whoever did this had saved her life, instead of full wary, she should be grateful instead. Cai Yan stood up and with a smile, she said "thank you". Then she walked back to her team for taking care the rest matter.

In the darkness of the woods inside the park, a woman could be seen standing on one of the branches. It wasn't clear how she looked like because she was surrounded by the darkness, but just from the vague description of her, anyone could tell that she was one hell of the beauty, she looked at the retreating figure of Cai Yan and a faint smile crept on her lips, "Anytime" she softly replied.

(***)

Morning came as the birds joyfully chirping and the sunlight managed to slip away from soft curtains on the windows. Naruto yawned while going downstairs, he walked into the living room and turned on the tv. In the dining room, Lin Ruoxi already clad in her official suit and having a congee as a breakfast. Upon noticing Naruto just wake up, she smiled and teased him.

"Oh look the lion coming down!"

"Can it princess," Naruto spat while scratched his stomatch.

"I should be mother queen since I woke up far earlier than you."

"Tch, people like you would never understand the joy of wake up late."

"People like me it's the embodiment of diligence persona."

"Congratulation, I'm very impressed, now keep that persona away."

"Don't you know the early bird gets the early worms?"

"Who cares? I don't eat worms anyway."

Naruto and Lin Ruoxi continued bickering whatever they bicker about. Wang Ma who was in the kitchen, preparing more breakfast while happily listened to them. She strolled out and said, "Young Master, please have the breakfast what's on the table first, I will bring more soon."

Naruto nodded, turned off the tv and walked to the dining room, he took one of the metal spoons and surprisingly scooped some of the congee from Lin Ruoxi's bowl. His eyes brightened, "Wow, this is good! How come you cook this good even just a Congee, Auntie Wang?"

Lin Ruoxi was shocked upon his action, like a hen protecting its chick, she covered her bowl and angrily said, "This is mine! Why would you eat a food from my bowl? Pick your own!"

Naruto shrugged, he curled his lips, "It just one scoop of spoon anyway, cheapskate!"

Lin Ruoxi pouted angrily, she glared at Naruto, who just take a few congees from its pot, then she grabbed the pot, hugged it into her bosom and declared, "You not allowed to have more!"

Naruto startled and looked at his own bowl which was only around five or six spoons took to finish it, "Ruoxi don't be ridiculous, this portion wasn't enough!"

Lin Ruoxi shook her head, she stood from her chair and retreated, "I said no then it's a no!"

Heavy line marked Naruto's forehead, he twitched his lips, "Come on! it just one spoon of congee, why would you exaggerate like this?"

Lin Ruoxi sneered, she straightened her back, her nose slightly raised, "It just one spoon, but it's mine. It's my congee! I wouldn't let anyone take it from me even just one spoon!"

Naruto's face darkened, he's eyeing her figure with predator eyes, "Ruoxi, I'm warning you, give it to me..."

"Or what?!"

"Or you regret it, very... much... regret... it," Naruto devishly grinned.

Lin Ruoxi felt her scalp turn cold after hearing Naruto's threat, gulping down a saliva on her throat, "W-What are you going to do to me?" she couldn't help but stammered her speech.

Naruto threw a pondering look, before scratched his own palm, "You know, my palm recently feeling weird and itchy, maybe it needs to 'softly tap' on something soft."

Lin Ruoxi body trembled as she heard him, she still remembered his previous punishment when she was trying to jump from the second floor of the coffee house. she could still remember how his hot palm kept striking her rear, making her deep in shame and full of embarrassment.

"You... you..." Lin Ruoxi nervously said as her face turned red and hot all over.

"So? What will it be? Give me the congee or the soft tap?" Naruto wickedly smile.

Lin Ruoxi had her head face down as Naruto couldn't see what expression she wore, but a sound coming from her made Naruto shocked and speechless.

*Hick* *Sob* *Hick*

*Hick* *Sob* *Hick*

'She cried?! Mother*** for real?'

Naruto's heart turned cold the moment he heard Lin Ruoxi's sobbing voice. The pitiful voice of feeling wronged make her looks like a child who just received mistreatment. Naruto felt stabbing pain deep inside him, because somehow he couldn't bear this look of her, it was different when she cried from Lin Kun's assaults before. Suddenly Naruto becames nervous as he hurriedly comforted her.

"Ruoxi comes on, I'm just kidding okay? Y-you can have the congee... here look," Naruto grabbed his bowl and quickly eating his congee, indeed that only take 5 spoons to finish it. Naruto put down his bowl and said, "ah! I'm satisfied and full now, so I won't haggle over the congee with you anymore, alright? Please stop crying, I beg you."

"Pf-" suddenly the sobbing sounds stop, but a strange noise burst out.

"Ruoxi?" Naruto raised his eyebrows.

"Pffttthahah!" Lin Ruoxi laughed cheerfully

At this very moment that Naruto head became blank as he realized that he just being tricked.

After their drama has concluded, Naruto sulkily eating his breakfast, Lin Ruoxi repeatedly comforted him together with Wang Ma, turned out she and Wang Ma has been plan to prank him this morning which was still for an unknown reason. Naruto ignored Lin Ruoxi as he eating meat buns in a silent manner, giving her we-are-on-cold-war expression.

"Come on, I was just joking, stop brooding!"

Lin Ruoxi, feeling the helplessness as she failed to comfort Naruto. Turned her head to Wang Ma, she gently nodded which the housekeeper responded in the same manner, Wang Ma then quickly went back to the kitchen.

"Naruto, do you know why we are doing this?" Lin Ruoxi gently asked

Naruto wrinkles his brow but still gave 'I don't care' expression.

Lin Ruoxi didn't bother his reaction as she continued, "You see, I just realized last night that I have not been properly welcoming you into the house, we have been bothered by anything, from my father to Xu Zhingho, you have been repeatedly comforting and helping me yet I'm completely ignorant about you, such as forget to officially welcome you into the house.

I don't know you and you don't know me, and I don't know what sort of fate has brought us together, sometimes I wonder what would happen if I didn't meet you back in the bar? Will I end up dead or worse? Or nothing happens but I'm still trapped in cages of my father and Xu Zhihong?

I admitted that I'm not sort of a religious person, but I like to believe that we should be grateful for everything that has been gifted to us, even it is just a small one."

Lin Ruoxi raised her hand and clapped. From the kitchen, Wang Ma came out with a tray. There was a food on it but it's cover by a stainless steel cap. Of course, people wouldn't be able to know what was inside it, but somehow Naruto knew what food is that. He knew it the moment Wang Ma brought it out from the kitchen, the radar of his favorite food has been going crazy, hell it went nuts!

Lin Ruoxi and Wang Ma giggled at Naruto reaction, Wang Ma lifted up the food and placed it in front of Naruto, she grabbed the cap and looked at Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi nodded, then together with Wang Ma, she said "1... 2... 3! Welcome to our house, Naruto!/Young Master!"