CH 8

Cheng Ran approached Liang Jiankong with a friendly smile, like they were best buddies. “What a rare encounter! How about a drink?” he suggested.

“Thanks, but I don’t feel like drinking,” Liang Jiankong replied casually. He took a bite of his grilled squid, casually tossing the empty bottle into the trash can.

Ah Bao and a few others couldn’t help but take a few menacing steps forward. This gang of hooligans, always lurking with concealed knives, especially that dog Cheng, constantly barking all day long. They had long wanted to catch them and give them a good beating. Unfortunately, this was a main road, so they couldn’t resort to real knives and guns, or else…

Cheng Ran approached with a natural smile. “Why so distant? I heard you narrowly escaped death again. How careless of you! Did you get injured anywhere?” he asked.

Liang Jiankong ignored Cheng Ran’s obvious provocation. “Where did you hear that? You must have misheard,” he replied.

“Really? I also heard that you totalled a Maybach while fleeing for your life,” Cheng Ran continued.

“I had already given it away. Are you planning to give me one?” Liang Jiankong responded dryly.

“No problem at all,” Cheng Ran said generously, spreading his hands.

“Well, thanks in advance then,” Liang Jiankong replied indifferently.

“I thought I saw a woman here just now, but she disappeared. Your girlfriend?” Cheng Ran swiftly changed the subject, deliberately looking around as he finished speaking.

“It’s so dark. Can you even see anything?” Liang Jiankong chuckled softly.

“Haha, it’s just curiosity. Even our eternal Buddha now has women around,” Cheng Ran remarked, scanning the surroundings on purpose.

“I don’t have your way with women,” Liang Jiankong chuckled.

Cheng Ran frowned disapprovingly. “Don’t say that. If only you would join our gathering every time, otherwise…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his phone rang. He turned away, answering the call, and after a short while, he turned back and said, “The boss wants me back. Next time, bring a lady along. Let’s go our separate ways for today.”

Cheng Ran took the lead, while Liang Jiankong remained rooted in place, twirling his phone in his hand. Ah bao hesitated to speak, sensing that something was amiss despite appearing unaffected on the surface.

Soon, Ah bao received a phone call, and upon seeing the caller ID, he knew that the worst had happened. After hanging up the phone, he immediately reported to Liang Jiankong, “Just as Lord Liang predicted, the restaurant caught fire.”

“What about the person?” Liang Jiankong inquired.

“He’s waiting for us in a safe place,” Ah Bao replied.

“And the belongings?”

“They’ve been taken care of.”

“The Nepal incident doesn’t seem like something he would do. Who hired those mercenaries to set up the ambush?” Liang Jiankong pondered.

“Japanese, but he’s also involved,” Ah bao stated.

Cheng Ran was merely using them as pawns.

“Boss, do you think Cheng Ran will target Doctor Xu?” Ah bao regretted asking the question as soon as it left his lips, realizing that he had crossed the line.

After a momentary pause, Liang Jiankong finally spoke, “Keep an eye on things.”

Liang Jiankong fell silent, and Ah bao dared not ask any further. However, he couldn’t understand his boss’s intentions towards Doctor Xu.

Cheng Ran’s name was closely associated with Liang Jiankong, almost like a bundled package deal. While he didn’t instill fear at the mere mention of his name, he commanded a certain level of respect. 

The old Master Cheng was aging and unable to keep up with the demands of this ruthless world. In this circle, it was a harsh reality that once you stepped down from your pedestal, someone would step on your bones to take your place. 

Ten years ago, when Cheng Ran was still young, he began assisting in managing the family business. These past two years marked his true succession of his father’s legacy. He was clever and ruthless enough. When he first took over, a group of old folks made a big fuss, clamouring to remove this young upstart. But within half a year, those who passed away, passed away, and those who became senile, became senile. The rest obediently retired and lived out their days at home.

Cheng Ran would say, “It’s the modern society now, let’s not resort to old-fashioned violence. Let’s play it smart, shall we?” That’s what he said, but everyone knew who was the most ruthless killer among them. 

Compared to Cheng Ran’s arrogance, Liang Jiankong appeared much gentler. Most people were surprised by his handsomeness and elegance when they first met him, especially considering Liang Jiankong intentionally maintained a low profile in recent years. But that was just the surface. If one had to choose between Cheng Ran and Liang Jiankong as opponents, most people would decisively choose the former. Jokingly, one could take on a barking wolfhound, but facing Liang Jiankong, they wouldn’t even know when their neck would be snapped.

Cheng Ran acted swiftly after ascending to power. The strongest weapon of the Cheng family was poison, and the pharmaceutical company served as their best cover. 

However, Cheng Ran’s ambition went beyond that. He extended his influence into the arms trade, which touched a sensitive nerve for the Li family. Not only that, in recent years, Cheng Ran had relentlessly targeted Liang Jiankong, reaching a level of madness. The bloodshed and chaos never ceased. 

Once, when Liang Jiankong was in the United States, Cheng Ran attempted to poison him, nearly claiming his life. Fortunately, fate spared him. This incident was enough to enrage the Li family. 

Li Tong, the head of the Li family who seldom spoke, called for an emergency meeting late at night. In a fit of anger, he smashed a jade table and ordered the immediate elimination of several core drug production sites of the Cheng family in the Golden Triangle within three days. Even more mercilessly, he issued a kill order, intending to assassinate Cheng Ran’s only younger brother. To this day, his brother remains lying in a hospital room in a vegetative state. Old Master Cheng suffered a heart attack from anger and nearly died. Daring to draw his sword against the the Li family and aiming his blade at Liang Jiankong, Cheng Ran wouldn’t be spared until Li Tong had his way.

However, the feud between Liang Jiankong and Cheng Ran wasn’t forged in recent years. It was said to have originated from the “Qingshan Inferno” incident that shocked the underworld eight years ago. 

Many people still didn’t understand what happened that night, and various rumours continued to circulate. But one thing was certain—the enmity between the two families was deeply rooted. When the two met, they greeted each other like brothers, but in private, they would stab each other without hesitation. 

Since the beginning of the year, Cheng Ran had openly brought these matters to the surface. “I killed your right-hand man. I’m intercepting your arms trade. What are you going to do?”

The response was clear: “You killed my trusted subordinate, then I will exterminate your loved ones. You want to intercept my arms trade, then I will ensure you have no poison to sell.”

Their fates were entwined, bound by an unyielding determination that knew no bounds.

After returning to Z City, Xu Qingyan promptly received an invitation from Cao Jin to join him for dinner. Surely this heroic figure had cracked a major case, feeling triumphant from head to toe.

Considering there was no pressing matter at hand, she decided to accept the invitation.

The meeting spot was a high-end Japanese restaurant, and the choice of such a prestigious venue undoubtedly reflected the elation in Officer Cao’s heart, like a clear and sunny day in the liberated zone.

When Xu Qingyan arrived, Cao Jin was already there, having ordered a table full of dishes.

Upon seeing her, Cao Jin quickly greeted her, “Finally, if you didn’t come any sooner, I couldn’t resist starting without you.”

Xu Qingyan smiled and shook her head, “Captain Cao, you have quite the appetite.”

Cao Jin handed her the menu, saying, “That’s nothing. Take a look and order whatever you like.”

It had been over a month since Xu Qingyan had last seen him, and every time she encountered this person, his face would inevitably bear signs of injury. This time, his face seemed fine, but his left hand had bruises.

“What happened to your hand?” she asked.

Cao Jin sniffed and downed his glass of wine in one gulp, feeling a moment of relief, before saying, “It’s nothing, just a minor incident. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

“Drinking is harmful, and you’re still injured.”

“I know, Dr. Xu. Let’s eat quickly.”

Cao Jin turned up the heat on the hotpot, and soon the broth started bubbling. Xu Qingyan didn’t hold back and ate heartily.

Cao Jin poured himself another glass of sake and refilled Xu Qingyan’s tea. He said, “In a few days, the news will be out.”

“What news?”

“Hehe.”

Captain Cao seemed to be delighted.

“We’ve caught this,” Cao Jin lowered his voice and raised his middle finger at Xu Qingyan.

Xu Qingyan: “……”

Cao Jin expression changed as he realized his blunder, “Oops, that’s not what I meant. I meant the third-in-command, haha! We’ve chopped off one of their arms, let them be arrogant, let them continue trafficking drugs.”

Cao Jin had many confidential tasks, and he wouldn’t reveal too much about them. However, Xu Qingyan learned from some news that their joint task force was investigating an international drug trafficking case. Although she didn’t know the details, according to Captain Cao, capturing the third-in-command meant they were either severely injured or dead.

Cao Jin laughed with excitement, “They’re still under interrogation. I don’t think we can uproot them completely this time, but it’s enough to make them suffer. I have to admire us; it’s not easy, you know? We’ve been undercover for so many years, and now we’ve caught a big fish.”

Xu Qingyan understood the hardships and dangers of Cao Jin’s job. Without a strong belief, it would be impossible to persevere.

Cao Jin muttered to himself, “Lately, the gangs are getting restless. I think both sides will engage in a full-blown war. Perfect timing. Let’s take advantage of the situation.”

Xu Qingyan’s brow twitched involuntarily.

In the past, Cao Jin occasionally mentioned his work tasks, but she would dismiss them without much thought. But now as she listened, it sent shockwaves through her heart and made her pulse race.

They devoured twelve slices of salmon, two plates of cod fish, three plates of foie gras sushi, four plates of jumbo prawns, and a whole pot of hot pot. Despite the feast, Cao Jin still felt unsatisfied, while Xu Qingyan was already feeling a bit overstuffed.

Setting down her chopsticks, Xu Qingyan declared, “I need to use the restroom.”

This Japanese restaurant was not particularly spacious, but its decoration was simple yet elegant. What made it stand out was its authenticity, with a strong Japanese influence. The head chef and assistants were all Japanese, and the ingredients were air-shipped directly from Japan, ensuring the utmost authenticity in their cuisine. According to Cao Jin, he had reserved this spot a month in advance. Xu Qingyan silently thought it would be best not to tell Ling Qiao about this place; otherwise, this foodie might end up monopolizing Cao Jin’s reservations.

The restaurant had two floors. There was a long line forming outside the women’s restroom, while there was no one waiting outside the men’s restroom. As the woman’s restroom door remained closed, a man walked out from the men’s restroom. Xu Qingyan’s gaze swept across and suddenly froze, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

The person seemed oblivious to her presence as he washed his hands at the sink. When he turned around, his gaze met Xu Qingyan’s, and after a brief hesitation, he immediately smiled, “Have we met somewhere before?”

With a hint of embarrassment, Xu Qingyan replied, “At the hospital.”

After pondering for a moment, the person’s face lit up with recognition, “Dr. Xu.”

Xu Qingyan looked at him, her mind lagging behind for a moment, her face couldn’t help but broke into a smile.

“How coincidental. The medicine you prescribed for me last time worked wonders. Thank you,” she said.

Cheng Ran was dressed in a simple T-shirt with a casual suit jacket over it. With his naturally rosy lips and white teeth, he appeared elegant and refined, resembling a fresh college graduate.

Cheng Ran, clearly more relaxed than Xu Qingyan, immediately engaged in conversation. “I struggle with skincare. How many days a week do you have consultations? I can make an appointment with you.”

Xu Qingyan hesitated. “For skincare, you might consider consulting a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.”

Cheng Ran interjected at the right moment. “I don’t have much patience for the old-school methods of traditional Chinese medicine. I want to learn about everyday skincare routines.”

Xu Qingyan didn’t see any problem with that and replied, “I have regular consultations from Monday to Wednesday, but it’s for general patients.”

“That might be a bit inconvenient for me. I’m unavailable from Monday to Wednesday. How about this?” Cheng Ran took out a business card from his pocket. “Shall we exchange contact details?”

Xu Qingyan hesitated. She wasn’t a particularly sociable person, and when it came to patients, she always sought a clear conscience. After all, there was a doctor-patient relationship to consider, and it might not be a good idea to having too much personal interaction outside of that. This situation had never occurred before. 

However, when Xu Qingyan met those phoenix-like eyes again, her heart fluttered as if someone had gently squeezed it, causing her to instinctively nod.

She also shared her contact number with Cheng Ran, who immediately entered it into his phone. Before leaving, he shook his phone at her and said, “I’ll be in touch. Goodbye.”

Cheng Ran went straight upstairs. After he left, Xu Qingyan lowered her gaze and looked at the business card: CEO of Borui Biotech Co., Ltd., Cheng Ran.

A CEO at such a young age. Quite an impressive title. 

In this world, there truly existed two individuals who bore such an uncanny resemblance. If it weren’t for the fact that he had no knowledge of her existence, she would almost be convinced that this person was him.

As Xu Qingyan returned to her seat, Cao Jin had already indulged in another round of food and was now leaning back in his chair, leisurely savoring the flavors.

Xu Qingyan safely tucked away the business card, wondering if Cao Jin had caught sight of Cheng Ran from near the entrance of the restroom. Initially, she had considered sharing her encounter with Cheng Ran, but swiftly dismissed the idea.

After all, he was just someone who resembled another person closely.

After satiating his hunger and quenching his thirst, Cao Jin wrapped up their conversation and turned his attention to a different matter. 

“How long has it been since you last went home? Find some time to go back and visit.”

Xu Qingyan lifted her teacup, took a sip, and gently placed it back without saying a word.

Cao Jin knew that Xu Qingyan was much more stubborn than she appeared. But Shen Yuanchu was his closest brother, wasn’t he feeling any sorrow?

One must always look forward in life and not remain fixated to a single tree, unable to move on.

“Are you done eating? Let’s go.”

Noticing Xu Qingyan’s obvious indifference, Cao Jin helplessly ran his hand through his hair and had no choice but to give up.

Captain Cao, the respected police officer who usually had his way with everyone, found himself powerless in front of Xu Qingyan.

The two of them walked towards the entrance, with Xu Qingyan leading the way and Cao Jin following behind. Meanwhile, on the second floor, Cheng Ran happened to be descending the stairs. He abruptly stopped in his tracks and raised his hand, signaling the person behind him to stop as well.

Wu Ju asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

As Cheng Ran remained silent, Wu Ju looked ahead and happened to see Xu Qingyan walking out of the door.

Cheng Ran’s gaze lingered on Xu Qingyan for a moment, and he also noticed Cao Jin. Then, he smiled mysteriously and said, “Nothing, let’s go.”