Bald hesitated, but despite his hesitation, he recognized the frighteningly expensive watch on Qiao Nanchu’s wrist, “Let’s settle this privately, but you’ll have to compensate me for medical expenses and mental distress.”

Qiao Nanchu had no objections and spoke concisely, “Name your price.”

The higher the better.

Bald was still not bold enough, only asking for one hundred thousand.

After the formalities were completed, Qiao Nanchu asked Wen Baiyang to sit on a chair first because she was going to read lips. He was used to looking at her eyes when he spoke, “Wait here for me, I’ll take you back to school later.”

She nodded, hugging the computer that had been damaged in the assault, and sat obediently waiting.

...

He poured her a cup of hot water before heading to the warehouse of the Criminal Investigation Team to get a pair of gloves. Vice Captain Xing asked if he was going to the scene. He didn’t answer, but said, “Turn off the surveillance in the back lot.”

Vice Captain Xing figured out what he was intending to do, “You’re still at the station, don’t mess around.” This guy, truly wild, even in a police uniform, no one could restrain him.

He simply stated, “I have my limits.”

Vice Captain Xing, knowing he could not be persuaded, turned a blind eye, but asked, “Then tell me, who is this young girl?”

He kept a straight face, “Sister.”

Vice Captain Xing threw down his pen, chuckling, “You’re pulling my leg, you think I don’t know you’re an only child? Not just Qiao Nanchu’s own dad, but even his uncles don’t have a sister that big.”

Qiao Nanchu raised his eyebrows and switched to a different tone, matching his suave appearance, “Girlfriend, no good?”

Vice Captain Xing cursed softly, “There you go, only nineteen and already so audacious.”

Qiao Nanchu, not in the mood for jokes, turned off the surveillance in the back lot, left the police station, and soon caught up with Bald.

He called out, “Hey.”

Bald turned around, standing still.

He beckoned with his finger, “I’m calling you, come here.”

Bald stepped back, “What, what do you want to do?”

He pulled out a pair of white rubber gloves from his pocket and put them on, “One hundred thousand, right? That must be quite an injury.”

Those gloves, often seen on TV in criminal investigations, were worn by police at crime scenes to avoid contaminating evidence with their fingerprints.

Bald broke into a run.

But he hadn’t gone far before a hand grabbed his collar and pulled him into an empty lot behind the police station, where no one was around.

Qiao Nanchu threw him to the ground and picked up a rock, “There are no cameras here, even if I kill you here, it’ll remain an unsolved case.” He weighed the rock the size of a fist in his hand, looked down, and said, “Ever heard of the Qiao family from Imperial City?”

Officials in Imperial City, countless among them bore the surname Qiao.

That Qiao family?

Bald, sweating profusely with fear, stammered, “Heard of it.” His liver trembled, “I don’t want the one hundred thousand—”

Qiao Nanchu was not very patient and didn’t wait for him to finish. He walked over with the rock in hand, “Remember this well, I’m the fourth child of the Qiao family, Qiao Nanchu.” He squatted down, patted the bald head with gloved hands — his handsome face carrying a mischievous smile — and said, “If you want revenge, come find me.”

With that, he swung the rock down.

“Ah ah ah ah ah—”

This world is too horrible, sometimes, violence must be met with violence, evil with evil.

In the afternoon, Jiang Zhi only had one scene, which also marked the final scene of “Wilderness.” After this last scene, the film would wrap up, even Zhou Xufang made a cameo.

A group of Republic-era bosses discussed their next reform plan. Zhou Xufang, as an extra without a frontal shot, poured a cup of tea for these bosses.

Vice Director Zhao was also exhausted. This film was essentially a major showcase for the three male leads, with minimal parts for female roles. Even Yu Ran, the female lead, had few scenes. But as an extra, Zhou Xufang almost had to appear daily, and the impromptu addition of extra scenes was quite draining.

After wrapping up, the producer invited everyone for afternoon tea, but Jiang Zhi, claiming to feel unwell, passed and instead lured Zhou Xufang to the resting room with two ice cream cones.

“Are you accompanying me to the wrap-up party tonight?”

Zhou Xufang, licking the strawberry-flavored cone, holding Jiang Zhi’s cotton candy box, discovered a new way to eat it, dipping the cotton candy into the ice cream — the taste was simply amazing. She enjoyed it immensely, her eyes contentedly half-closed, “It’s all crew members, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go.”

Other people’s girlfriends always follow them around, his, not so much.

“Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? You’re part of the crew.” He spoke earnestly, “You’re an outstanding representative of the extras.”

The outstanding extra representative, Zhou Xufang took another lick of her cone and declined the director’s invitation, “I won’t go, I have work.”

Another task?

Jiang Zhi immediately asked, “What time, where?”

“Nine o’clock, Jingming Road.” Zhou Xufang briefly summarized the task, “Deliver a package.”

He wanted to ask her not to go, feeling it would seem unreasonable and unappreciative on his part, so Jiang Zhi asked, “Can’t I come with you? I won’t be in your way.”

Zhou Xufang shook her head, “You would distract me.” Her ability to protect herself was sufficient. If Jiang Zhi came along, she would worry about him.

Jiang Zhi confiscated the ice cream cone from her hand, “Why take on so much work?”

He indeed wanted to pamper her a bit, to have her only accompany him and not allow her to do anything else. But that was just a thought—he dared not treat her with brute force.

Zhou Xufang answered, “To make money.”

Jiang Zhi wasn’t satisfied with that answer, “I have money.”

She knew he was wealthy, “Your money should be used for your business; my money can be used to support you.” Holding a piece of candy, she guided Jiang Zhi’s hand to dip it into his ice cream cone and while eating it, she earnestly explained, “I’ve seen on TV that it’s easy for entrepreneurs to make money but also easy to go bankrupt. If I have money, there’s nothing to fear. Even if you fail in your business ventures, I can still allow you to live a life of great wealth.”

She spoke with utmost seriousness, clearly having given it much thought.

Jiang Zhi was charmed by the words ‘great wealth,’ stars twinkling in his beautiful eyes. He returned the ice cream cone to her, dipping the candy and feeding it to her, “I won’t go bankrupt, you don’t need to support me.”

Zhou Xufang disagreed, “Even if you don’t go bankrupt, you will still have to confront the Jiang Family in the future and will need a lot of capital. I can’t give you much, only enough to ensure you have no worries about food and clothing.”

The more he heard, the better it sounded, joy visibly escaping from his eyes.

At that point, Zhou Xufang started concentrating on making plans: “You are twenty-four now, if you live to a hundred, that’s 76 more years. Since you’re so delicate, requiring the best food and clothes, not to mention cars and houses; even if I don’t buy you diamond watches every year, it will still cost tens of millions annually. Over seventy-six years…” she did a quick calculation, “that’s a lot of money, and I haven’t saved enough yet.”

Moreover, she wanted to buy Jiang Zhi diamond watches since all his friends had them. He couldn’t be the only one without. So, yes, she needed to save more.

He was so charmed by her that he couldn’t consider whether this counted as being a kept man: “I can do without the best food or clothes, and I don’t need the cars, houses, or watches.” Like a big golden retriever being stroked, he hugged her and affectionately nuzzled her, “Having you is enough.”

“How could that be okay?” Zhou Xufang felt it wasn’t right and insisted, “How can you be raised in poverty? You must be raised in luxury!”

He laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Zhou Xufang was serious, “Don’t laugh, I’m not joking.”

“Alright, I won’t laugh.”

His mouth was still smiling, his eyes still twinkling with amusement, as he kept kissing her on the couch, relentless like a dog…

At eight in the evening, the vibrant nightlife was just beginning.

The wrap party was held at a bar where Jiang Zhi had booked an entire floor for them to make noise, though naturally, no one dared to get too rowdy in his presence as he disliked noise. He found a corner to sit in, bored, watching his watch count the time.

“Director Jiang.”

Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids.

It was Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang’s choice of casual wear was always indescribable. Coming to a bar, he wore a garishly patterned robe and within half an hour was hot like a dog, panting and asking, “Why isn’t Xu Fang here?”

“She went to make money and support the family.”

“…”

So, Director Jiang, are you just responsible for being pretty?

Fang Lixiang genuinely praised, “Xu Fang is truly virtuous.”

Jiang Zhi replied, “Hmm.”

He continued watching his watch.

After a round of toasts, a few actors came over to offer drinks.

Jiang Zhi, lacking any enthusiasm, brushed them off, “I drove here; I’m not drinking.”

The producer next to him teasingly ventured, “Does your partner keep a tight leash at home?”

“Not really.” He poured himself a glass of milk without looking up, sitting in the dimmest light, his face turned sideways, like a fine young nobleman walked out of a painting, “I’m self-disciplined.”

Either holding a graceful partner or a stunningly beautiful one, the movie folks were left speechless…

At eight-thirty.

There was still half an hour left until the deadline. The intelligence department was on high alert; they had been tracking this drug trafficking gang for over six months, sending out four undercover agents, three of whom had already lost contact.

“What’s the route?”

“Captain Xiao has already sent it over.” Lu Ning pulled up the route map.

Qiao Nanchu confirmed once more, “The surveillance can be cut now.”

“Okay.”

Lu Ning’s fingers moved rapidly over the keyboard; in less than thirty seconds, all the surveillance of the routes was transferred to the intelligence department’s computers.

A wall full of monitors was dizzying to behold.

Li Xiaodong was somewhat excited, “From picking up the goods to delivery, our police are everywhere along the way. Captain Xiao has prepared several contingency plans just for the escape routes; even if this tumor grows wings, it won’t be able to fly away this time.”

No sooner had he finished speaking—

He was dumbstruck, “What’s going on?!”

All the computer monitors suddenly went dark.

Lu Ning connected to the computers, swiftly entering a string of codes, but still, there was no response: “The surveillance has been intercepted.”

Qiao Nanchu looked at the dark computer screens, pondered for a moment, then said, “Check who is interfering.”