Chapter 137: 137: Zhou Xufang’s domineering counterattack from desperation!

“Check who’s breaching our system?”

Lu Ning quickly typed on the keyboard, a full screen of codes scrolling continuously. After they stopped, she tapped the enter key, and got in!

Holy shit!

Lu Ning felt faint, “It’s a thousand-digit password.” She switched the entry point and started cracking it. The speed was so fast that she could barely keep up, “This is a high-level hacker, Captain Qiao, I need assistance.”

Qiao Nanchu called over a colleague from the tech team, “Yao An, stop what you’re doing and assist Lu Ning.”

Yao An connected his computer and flexed his fingers, “OK.”

...

The entire office resounded with the sound of keyboard clattering, so fast it made one’s heartbeat race.

Qiao Nanchu stepped aside and connected with Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team: “Our surveillance got hacked, it could be a trap, tell Zihao to return to the team immediately.”

If it was a trap set by the drug trafficking gang, it meant that their undercover was probably blown.

Captain Xiao understood, “Thanks, I’ll have Zihao return to the team right away.”

Code name 0893, name: Jiao Zihao, thirty-eight years old, male.

Apart from his direct superior, Captain Xiao, only Qiao Nanchu knew his real name and identity.

“Captain Qiao!” Lu Ning called out.

Qiao Nanchu ended the call and returned to the office, casting a glance at Lu Ning’s computer screen filled with SpongeBob…

This thing again.

Li Xiaodong found it inconceivable, “Could it be that we’ve encountered our old nemesis again?”

Who else could their old nemesis be?

—The errand runner hacker who visited their Criminal Intelligence Department every now and then.

Lu Ning moved her sore and numb fingers, sticking to the facts, “It’s a bit difficult; even with Yao An’s help, we can barely keep up, and we still can’t crack her password. This style and speed, it does indeed resemble Shuangjiang.”

Li Xiaodong stared at the screen full of SpongeBob and pondered, “Isn’t he just an errand runner? Since when did he join a drug trafficking gang?”

Yao An interjected, “He might be employed by them.”

“Tech team,”

Qiao Nanchu started to speak.

He knocked on the table and issued a direct order, “Drop everything you’re doing and catch this SpongeBob for me first.”

“Yes Sir.”

At this moment, the neon lights began to illuminate the twilight zone of glamour.

After cutting the wrapped-up cake, the heavy metal music in the bar started booming. An actor from the cast was DJing on stage, with strobe lights flickering, setting an exhilarating atmosphere.

Fang Lixiang felt so hot she questioned her life choices. She removed her flowered jacket but was still overheated. How foolish she had been to wear a jacket to a bar, and even more so to wear a sweater underneath it.

She poured herself a glass of ice beer and downed it in one gulp.

At that moment, from a position above to her left, someone called her, “Miss Fang.”

Fang Lixiang turned her head and revealed a standard professional fake smile, “President Lin.” Wasn’t this the investor who had knocked on two actresses’ doors in one night?

Burly and complacent.

What was his name… oh, Lin Qianxun.

Such a waste of a ‘modest and gentlemanly’ name.

Lin Qianxun straightened his tie, putting forth the manner of a business elite, “May I sit here?”

Could she refuse?

An investor was like a father, like a mother, like the rain and sunshine.

She couldn’t refuse, continuing with her professional fake smile, “Sure—”

Someone interrupted from above to her right, “You can’t.”

That voice…

Fang Lixiang turned her head, “Boss.” This was also a father, also a mother, and also rain and sunshine.

“Wilderness” was Jiang Zhi’s movie, naturally Xue Baoyi had invested in it, also being one of the investors, his presence at the wrap party was not surprising.

Xue Baoyi was a hairstyle fanatic, sporting a new look again with some blue on top and a diamond stud on his right earlobe, wearing a biker-style jacket and effortlessly being the brightest star in the bar wherever he stood.

He stretched out a hand and pointed next to Fang Lixiang, “That’s my spot.”

Second Young Master Xue’s nickname was well-known in the entertainment industry, after all, he was from the Xue Family and ‘Prince’ of Imperial City. Lin Qianxun naturally gave him respect, hastily raising his glass in apology, “I didn’t realize it was Second Young Master Xue’s person, my apologies, my apologies.”

Second Young Master Xue waved his hand dismissively.

Lin Qianxun quickly retreated.

Indeed, it was a world that spoke with money. Fang Lixiang felt quite touched by this. After her thoughts, she said to Xue Baoyi, “Boss, I think President Lin misunderstood.”

Xue Baoyi, straddling her leg as he sat down, moved aside her flowered jacket: “What misunderstanding? I own the entirety of Baoguang, and thus all employees of Baoguang are mine,” he pointed a finger at Fang Lixiang, “including you.”

Fang Lixiang: “Oh.”

Xue Baoyi flicked his trendy fringe and called out, “Employee Fang Lixiang.”

“…”

That tone, imperial as an emperor’s.

Employee Fang Lixiang: “Present, boss.”

He leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at people from the corner of his eye, his gaze like a favored consort graced with the dragon’s favor, ordering, “Pour me a drink.”

To Fang Lixiang, she felt like the eunuch waiting upon him in court, “Yes, boss.” She quickly poured the fine wine.

Xue Baoyi drank leisurely, occasionally ordering people around him for some fruit or whatever, clearly in no rush, lazily lifting his eyes, just in time to catch Jiang Zhi standing up from his seat.

He asked, “Brother Zhi, where are you going?”

Jiang Zhi ignored him.

He got up and walked over, then after a couple of steps, he called Fang Lixiang to follow: “Come with me.” To prevent more shortsighted people from bothering her.

“Oh.” Eunuch Fang Lixiang followed closely.

Xue Baoyi, walking with a purposeful stride, blocked Jiang Zhi’s path, “You’re leaving?” The wrap party was centered around him, and he was the main attraction; it made no sense to just walk away.

Jiang Zhi, seemingly indifferent, “It’s half-past eight.”

“It’s only half-past eight.”

His mind seemed elsewhere, his gaze foggy, not fully present, “Zhou Xufang’s shooting ends at nine, and I’m going to pick her up.”

Alright then.

He truly couldn’t spend a moment without Zhou Xufang.

At that moment, his phone rang.

Jiang Zhi answered; it was Qiao Nanchu. Whatever was said, he couldn’t hear clearly; the DJ’s music on the stage was too loud, and he felt irritated, “It’s too noisy, speak up.” He handed a card to Xue Baoyi, “Settle the bill for me.”

Without waiting for a reply, he headed out.

On the phone, Qiao Nanchu was concise, “Zhou Xufang’s in trouble.”

Jiang Zhi halted, “What do you mean? Make it clear.”

“It’s a case with the Drug Enforcement Team. Our undercover just sent a secret report, notifying that there’s a drug deal tonight. We just found out that a third party has intervened, and it’s very likely that Zhou Xufang’s partner is involved.”

Zhou Xufang never touched illegal transactions.

It was a trap.

Jiang Zhi quickly walked outside, his expression disturbed, asking, “What time and where is the deal?”

“Nine o’clock, Jingming Road.”

Nine o’clock, Jingming Road.

Zhou Xufang really went there for a task.

Jiang Zhi’s hand holding the phone tightened, “Nanchu, help me.”

Even though he knew Qiao Nanchu also stood as a police officer, he still made the request, as he had no choice; Zhou Xufang was his lifeline.

Qiao Nanchu did not hesitate and gave a grunt of affirmation, “I can speak to the Drug Enforcement Team, but I suspect there are others in the shadows; it’s best to stop Zhou Xufang from going to Jingming Road.”

“Contact me if anything happens.”

After hanging up, Jiang Zhi tried to call Zhou Xufang, but couldn’t get through—her phone was off. She normally wouldn’t have it on during a task.

Jiang Zhi took a deep breath and walked into the wintry night.

The car parked outside a bar, and Ah Wan got out of the vehicle, “Boss, why did you come out?”

Jiang Zhi pulled the car door open and sat inside, “Go to Jingming Road.”

Eight forty-five.

The office of the Criminal Intelligence Department was quiet, save for the rapid clicking of keyboard keys.

All of a sudden, Yao An shouted in surprise, “Captain Qiao! Come look at this.”

Qiao Nanchu tossed his half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray and stood up to approach.

Yao An enlarged the red dot moving on the screen and charted a course, “This tracker’s moving straight towards Jingming Road.”

It wasn’t a police tracker.

“Who sent this?”

“An unknown IP.”

Monitors had just been hijacked, and now they sent a location—what’s the meaning?

Was this a provocation toward the police or someone using them as a cat’s paw?

Qiao Nanchu stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, “First, send the location to Captain Xiao.”

“OK.”

Eight forty-six.

FOR headquarters, a glance reveals nothing but computers, digitally styled interior, three projectors, one surveillance wall, and touchscreens every few steps.

FOR, established only half a year ago, had become the largest errand runner company in the country.

“Boss.” A man in his thirties, wearing a plaid shirt and glasses, sat in front of a computer, his fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard, “The location has been sent to the police.”

The man called boss, with a buzz cut, square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, tall and strong, was FOR’s leader Ah Win. Tattooed sleeves and a coin-sized scar on his temple, he started by collecting debts, had eight priors, and was well-known in the circles for being ruthless.

Ah Win walked over, leaned on the desk with his sleeves rolled up revealing his tattooed arms, “Did you clean up any traces?”

“Don’t worry about my work.”

After double-checking, Ah Win moved toward the filing cabinet, shifted the only English book on top aside, and a door behind the cabinet revealed itself; he stepped through.

“President Zhang.”

The woman was seated in an executive chair, back to him, with only her slender apricot heels visible, “Is it done?”

Ah Win nodded in confirmation, “The location is right on the goods, and it’s been sent to the authorities—we should get a hit this time.”

The woman rested her hand on the armrest and tapped, “Securing the evidence and the culprit is the police’s job. Your task is to ensure that ‘Z’ doesn’t come back.”

“Don’t worry, the people are already sent out.”

Eight fifty-nine, Jingming Road.

Music from a square dance in the opposite park roared deafeningly; across the street, the alley remained deserted, save for the occasional passerby.

Drug Enforcement Team’s undercover agents blended with those passers-by, “accidentally” passing by.

Nine o’clock sharp—

The man selling helium balloons by the roadside fiddled with his earpiece, whispering low, “Number one position, target spotted!”

Ten meters away.

A couple sitting by the green belt stood up; the man adjusted his hat and lowered his head, “Number two position, target spotted!”

Another ten meters.

“Number three position, target spotted.”

Number twenty-eight Jingming Road was at the end of the street, with only a closed-down kindergarten.

There was the drop-off point.

The target had appeared, about one meter seventy tall, very thin, wearing a black top, black pants, black hat, a black mask, and carrying a black handbag.

At the neighboring barbecue stand, a man put down his beer bottle, fingered the gun at his waist, and opened his earpiece, “Captain Xiao, target approaching.”

The Drug Enforcement Team’s commander Captain Xiao was standing opposite the kindergarten, in a small shop. He tossed away his cigarette and walked out of the shop, “All units ready.”

The target stopped at the kindergarten’s door, waited for fifteen minutes with no one coming to receive the goods, seeming hesitant, pacing four times before dropping the bag and leaving.

All undercover drug enforcement officers were in place, ready to act.

Captain Xiao shouted, “1—”

“2—”

“3!”

“Take him!”

At the command, some twenty undercover drug enforcement officers, guns drawn, surrounded the target, who seemed petrified, standing in shock; he wore large glasses which nearly covered his entire face.

Captain Xiao, gun in hand, closed in, eyes locked on the target’s hands, not daring to be careless, yelled, “Raise your hands!”

The target didn’t hesitate and immediately raised his hands.

Captain Xiao moved closer, “Put your hands on your head and squat down!”

The target complied, putting his hands on his head and squatting down.

Captain Xiao signaled.

The deputy leader understood immediately and went to check the goods—upon opening the black handbag, he froze.

Captain Xiao asked, “What’s the situation?”

“It’s not the goods.”

“Then what is it?”

The deputy leader turned the bag upside down, emptying its contents: “It’s AD milk calcium.”

The entire Drug Enforcement Team: “…”

What was going on?!

A drug bust turned up a bunch of milk calcium?

Li Xiao, who was closest to the suspect, kicked him down to the ground, “Who are you?”

The suspect sat down hard, his glasses and hat falling off. As he lifted his face, beads of sweat the size of beans were visible, trembling as he removed his mask, “I, I, I’m Wang Dahai.”

Wang Dahai had wet his pants.

Such a coward, clearly a decoy!

Captain Xiao crouched down, grabbed the suspect, and slapped on the handcuffs, “Who sent you?”

Wang Dahai looked about to cry, feeling wronged, sad, and scared, “It was, it was Lord Black Impermanence.”