Chen Kejiao: "..."
I said, "It looks like if all goes well, none of us will survive tonight."
Chen Kejiao remained silent.
I continued, "There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time, but I haven't dared to, afraid that if I said it, we wouldn't even be able to be friends anymore. Since I've been forced into this situation today, I might as well just tell you."
Chen Kejiao said awkwardly, "You... go ahead and say it."
"Can you promise you won't get angry?"
Chen Kejiao thought for a moment and finally nodded.
I gestured with my hands in front of my chest and stammered, "Did you... add padding to your bra?"
Chen Kejiao blushed and muttered under her breath, "You pervert!"
I could tell she wasn't really angry. Normally, she probably would have stormed off, but at this moment, having someone to sit next to and chat with was a good option. This was also the first time I'd seen this strong woman show such a vulnerable side. Of course, regarding that question, I really wanted to know the answer—it didn't make sense; with such a petite figure, how could that part be so impressive?
Chen Kejiao suddenly said seriously, "Mr. Xiao..."
I said, "Call me Brother Qiang."
Chen Kejiao's pretty face darkened: "Don't push your luck!"
“…Then let’s call him Mr. Xiao. Lately, I feel a pang of heartache whenever I hear that title.”
Chen Kejiao smiled slightly and said, "I've thought about it. I may not have had good intentions when we cooperated in the past, but I really didn't mean any harm. Please forgive me for that."
I quickly replied, "I understand. It's not easy for a woman to shoulder the burden of revitalizing the family business. Besides, you're only taking a small share, it's nothing."
Chen Kejiao smiled faintly and said, "Actually, you're not such a bad person, you're just a bit eccentric."
I was taken aback and said, "Did you memorize your lines wrong? Usually, at this final moment, the woman should say to the man something like 'Actually, I've always loved you,' and the man will be driven wild by that, and maybe the two of them can escape safely."
Chen Kejiao simply smiled and remained silent.
Before I could say anything more, I heard Goodbai from the next room shout in a voice filled with anger and shock, "What did you say? Who are you?"
The big guy grabbed me and dragged me to the next room. Chen Kejiao looked at me with a complicated expression, her eyes filled with reluctance and a hint of concern.
When I arrived next door, I saw Goodbai holding a phone in one hand. He stared at me with a venomous look as I entered. The phone was blaring, with people seemingly arguing and trying to speak at once. It was quite a noisy scene.
The next moment, Liu Bang's voice came from inside: "Hey, is this Gudebai? We've been looking for you. I've taken care of all your men..." Someone nearby, either Zhang Qing or Dong Ping, shouted: "What do you mean you've taken care of them all? We were the ones who did it!"
Goodbai shouted, "Stop shouting! Send a representative to talk to me!"
The phone call was still filled with chaotic noise: "Don't shout, don't shout, listen to what he has to say." It seemed that many people from Liangshan were present.
Finally, Liu Bang shamelessly hogged the phone and said, "No matter who it is, we've captured every single one of your men."
Goodbai said, "Let them talk to me."
Liu Bang said to his heroes, "Quick, make some noise." It seems someone had tortured the foreigners, because suddenly all sorts of foreign languages started to blare out.
Goodbai said weakly, "That's enough..."
Liu Bang then said to his heroes, "Alright, let's pack up. Hey, you there, don't use my socks, use Old Wu's underwear..."
Goodbai composed himself and said, "Speak, what do you want?"
Liu Bang said, "We need to see Xiaoqiang return safely within half an hour. For every 10 minutes of delay, we'll kill one of your men. Don't worry, I'll keep your brother until the end, and I'll make sure he feels 'happy' before he dies. Hehe, he's the type we all like."
Let alone Goodbye, even I got chills when I heard Liu Bang say those words.
Goodbai's hand trembled as he held the phone, and finally he said, "Let me think about it."
Liu Bang said, "I'll give you five minutes. We'll kill the first person in 35 minutes. Give the phone to Xiaoqiang."
Goodbai pulled out a gun, pointed it at me, and shoved the phone into my hand: "If you dare to reveal even a single word of our address, I'll kill you."
I ignored his empty threats at this point and leisurely answered the phone: "Hello, this is Xiao Qiang, who is this?"
Unexpectedly, this time it was Baozi who spoke to me. She asked in a trembling voice, "Qiangzi, are you alright?"
Afraid that she would worry, I quickly replied seriously, "I'm fine."
Baozi immediately sobbed, "If you say that, they must have hit you." Just then, they heard the voices of the crowd trying to break up the fight: "Alright, alright, a couple of kicks are enough, any more and you'll die..." Baozi was probably venting his anger on some unfortunate foreigner.
I cried out in a panic, "Baozi, I'm really fine." She was there abusing the prisoners, not realizing her husband was still in their hands.
Baozi smiled through her tears and said, "Then we'll wait for you to come back."
After I hung up the phone, Goodbai's face was ashen, and he asked me, "What exactly happened?"
"You're asking me? Who should I ask?" So many strange things have happened today, and unlike usual, I still have no idea how these strange things happened. How did the Liangshan heroes know my family was in trouble? Did they just happen to drop by for a visit? But judging from their unharmed appearance, they must have been well-prepared for the surprise attack. Otherwise, how could they have taken down those heavily armed foreigners so easily?
Before Goodbai could ask me any more questions, I glanced at my watch and said, "You'd better do as they say—" I said with a smile, "Although they are my friends, I have to say, they are all heartless!"
Frustrated, Gu Debai picked up the phone and reported the situation to Lao Hao, anxiously asking, "Should we change our plans?"
Old Hao thought for a moment and said, "No, do everything according to the original plan. I know you're worried about your brother, but do you really think they'll release him if you let Xiaoqiang go back?"
Goodbai said urgently, "That's not what I meant. I meant to devise a new, more comprehensive plan..."
Old Hao interrupted him, saying, "Stop talking. Even ten of you couldn't beat them in a battle of wits. Do you know who those people are? Have Xiaoqiang call that Vice Principal Yan right now and tell him to send over whatever he has. That Yan isn't one of their people, so he shouldn't attract attention for now. Don't worry, once we leave China, I'll use money to urge the governments of some small countries to request the extradition of your brother and the others. In this world, money is everything."
Goodbai shoved the phone into my hand: "Quick, call that guy surnamed Yan now."