Chapter 50, Section 049: The Policewoman's Visit to the Sick

Zhang Yantong immediately looked toward the door and her eyes widened in surprise. Feng Zhixiao entered, flanked by several of his cronies, with Liu Momo trailing behind. Each of them carried a fruit basket, their eyes darting around as if searching for the door number.

"Over here!" Zhang Yantong waved her hand.

Feng Zhixiao paused, his short blond hair slicked neatly, and when he saw Zhang Yantong, dressed in her police uniform at the door, he greeted her with delight, "Oh, Captain Zhang, you’re here too?"

Feng Zhixiao had crossed paths with Captain Zhang more times than he could count—sneaking around, extorting, collecting protection fees, and making more than a few trips to the station. His mother scarcely bothered with him anymore, usually just giving him a few admonishments after he was released, and that was the end of it. Zhang Yantong shot him an exasperated look. "What does this have to do with you?"

"Heh, so you're here to visit Brother Chen as well!" Feng Zhixiao laughed knowingly, then nudged Liu Momo forward. "Momo, let me introduce you. This is Officer Zhang, from the Criminal Investigation Unit!"

"Oh! Officer Zhang, hello!" Liu Momo was caught off guard, but her heart was entirely with Ye Chen. Her gaze immediately locked onto the man in the hospital bed, and she rushed over, tears brimming in her eyes. "Brother Chen, how... how did you get hurt?"

"I'm fine, aren’t I?" Ye Chen gently stroked her hair. "Don’t worry, I’m all better. I’ll be able to go home tomorrow!"

"Really?" Liu Momo quickly wiped away her tears.

"Of course. Momo, you look stunning today!" Ye Chen gave her a once-over. The little girl had truly blossomed; she hadn’t been this beautiful just half a year ago. In such a short time, she’d become so charming, and wearing the clothes he’d bought her, she exuded a pure, fresh aura. Even a worldly man like Ye Chen felt his heart skip a beat. He thought to himself, should he finally make her his someday?

"Hee hee..." Liu Momo beamed with delight at his compliment. To be praised by the one she liked was the sweetest sensation. She stood up, posed, and said, "Of course it looks good—these are clothes you bought me!"

"Alright, I’ll get you a couple more sets next time," Ye Chen chuckled.

"No, Mom told me not to waste money recklessly, especially not to spend boys’ money!" Liu Momo answered solemnly.

"She’s right," Ye Chen nodded, thinking of Liu’s mother, who had worked so hard to raise her daughter, finally sending her off to college. He couldn’t let her be deceived by some boy at school. He could well imagine her mother’s good intentions.

Feng Zhixiao squeezed in, holding out his fruit basket. "Brother Chen, I came to see you too!"

"Well, now, you rascal! That’s rare!" Ye Chen laughed, glancing at the cronies Feng Zhixiao had dragged along, each bearing gifts until the table was nearly full. The group burst into cheerful chatter, while Haozi and Daxia helped themselves to snacks from the pile of gifts.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yantong, squeezed out to the doorway, frowned. With a helpless sigh, she straightened her uniform and turned to leave. Fang Qin, who was at her side, hurried after her, asking, "Captain Zhang, aren’t we going to keep questioning?"

"What’s the point? Let’s leave it at that," Zhang Yantong replied with a faint smile.

"But I really think those two men with Ye Chen are suspicious!" Fang Qin insisted anxiously.

"It’s over. Let’s not pursue it further." Adjusting her cap, Zhang Yantong stepped into the elevator.

...

Inside the hospital room, the atmosphere was lively. Seeing Liu Momo almost draped over Ye Chen, Feng Zhixiao started egging them on. "Brother Chen, give her a kiss! Haha..."

"Yeah, Brother Chen, show us, give her a kiss!" The kid called Xiao’er, in his red scarf, sniffled and grinned mischievously. At twelve, he was tall for his age, looking almost twenty. His bright eyes were glued to Liu Momo, clearly captivated by her beauty and figure. Dressed in a black denim mini-skirt, her long legs gleamed like jade, and the delicate dress exposed her shoulders and a hint of her belly.

"Xiao’er, what are you starting trouble for?" Ye Chen shot him an annoyed look. "You, kid, I bet you haven’t even grown hair down there yet."

"Nonsense!" protested the boy. "Brother Chen, that’s not true! My equipment is fully functional. Not long ago, I even took a girl’s virginity in my class. If you don’t believe me, ask Brother Zhixiao—he knows best!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Liu Momo blushed scarlet at their crass jokes. These rascals, saying such filthy things right in front of her! Yet… why did she actually enjoy hearing it when Brother Chen was there? She scolded herself silently, shaking her head to banish her wild thoughts.

"Momo, what’s wrong?" Ye Chen touched her cheek. "You’re burning up!"

"Huh? I… I’m fine!" she insisted, shaking her head. "Don’t worry, Brother Chen, I’m really okay."

"Momo, are you blushing?" Xiao’er batted his eyes at her. "Don’t tell me you haven’t done that with Brother Chen yet?"

Pfft—

Feng Zhixiao and the others roared with laughter. This kid was something else—he could blurt out anything with a straight face. They laughed so hard tears streamed down their faces. Just as Liu Momo managed to compose herself, Xiao’er’s comment made her bury her head in Ye Chen’s arms, refusing to come out no matter how he coaxed her.

If it had been anyone else, it might not have had the same effect. But Xiao’er was just a child, playing cute. For a kid six years younger to boldly ask Momo such a question—it was impossible not to find it hilarious.

"Enough, stop laughing. If you keep going, Momo’s going to burst into tears," Ye Chen scolded, glaring at the group. Haozi and Daxia were still squatting in the corner, busily ‘sorting’ the gifts.

"Right, right, let’s stop. Momo’s a girl—she’s shy. She’s not thick-skinned like the rest of us," Feng Zhixiao chuckled.

With the room finally quiet, Liu Momo emerged from Ye Chen’s embrace, glaring at Feng Zhixiao. "Feng Zhixiao, you jerk! I won’t talk to you next time. And don’t even think about getting a discount at my mom’s barbecue stall!"

"What?!" The group was stunned. Thanks to Ye Chen, Feng Zhixiao and his cronies had always enjoyed ‘member’ rates there. Drinks were complimentary, the barbecue was twenty percent off—a godsend for these penniless boys. Now Momo was taking it all back, and their faces fell as they pleaded, "Momo, no, please, Big Sis Momo…"

"Who’s your big sister? You’re older than me!" Momo pouted.

"Aw, come on, Momo, I’m begging you! We know we were wrong!" Feng Zhixiao pleaded.

"You know you were wrong?" Momo put on a mock-angry smile. "You were all laughing so hard just now. Why not laugh now? Hmph, you just don’t respect me!"

"No, no, Sis, of course we do! We’re all counting on you and Brother Chen to cover us. Next time—no, right now, I’ll deal with these idiots for you!" Feng Zhixiao quickly winked at the others, who immediately caught on and began slapping their own faces. "Sis Momo, we were wrong, okay?"

The group, pretending to slap themselves, managed to satisfy Momo’s tiny sense of pride. She cleared her throat and said, "Alright, alright, just don’t let it happen again."

"Heh, thanks, Sis Momo!" Before they knew it, Feng Zhixiao’s gang had accepted Momo as their big sister, and of course, Ye Chen was their boss.

"Zhixiao, let me tell you something," Ye Chen beckoned him over.

"Brother Chen, I’m listening!" Feng Zhixiao hurried over.

"Do you remember what I told you before?" Ye Chen looked at him seriously. "I said I’d give you a territory, remember?"

"What? Brother Chen, are you serious?" Feng Zhixiao was stunned by Ye Chen’s grave expression—it didn’t look like a joke at all. "Brother Chen, you can’t be serious, can you?"

"Heh, my word is my bond," Ye Chen replied with a smile. "Get a few more guys together. You’re going to take over the Jianghuai Hotpot City in University Town."

Thud—

Feng Zhixiao nearly collapsed, grabbing the hospital bed for support. "Brother Chen, you’re not joking? That’s Bold Brother’s turf! Even if I recruit more guys, it’s useless. He’s got guns, and my boys aren’t even fit to be cannon fodder!"

"Trust me," Ye Chen nodded. "Bold Zhang has already been arrested by the police. Hmph, trafficking dozens of kilos of drugs—he’s as good as dead. Even if he survives, he’ll be in prison for life. He’s never getting out."

Feng Zhixiao was dumbstruck. There had been rumors recently about a major drug bust, but there hadn’t been any news from University Town. Had Bold Brother’s men managed to keep it under wraps? For a moment, Feng Zhixiao’s mind went blank, unsure what to do. Swallowing hard, he asked, "Brother Chen, even if Bold Brother’s been arrested, his men still control University Town. Won’t we just be walking into a death trap if we go there?"