Chapter 28: Lin Qi’s Wrath

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At dusk, the police station was bustling with activity. In order to quickly get to the bottom of the kidnapping case involving Song Xin, the eldest grandson of the Song Group, everyone had been hard at work through a day of interrogations and arrests, each person busy with their own tasks.

“Is anyone there! Hm? Look at the time, aren’t you going to feed me?”
“In a whole day, you’ve only given me a sip of water! Are you trying to starve me now?”
“You just want to make me take the fall so you can close the case and claim credit, is that it?”
“I’m telling you, I’m not some street vendor you can push around! If you piss me off, I’ll tear this place apart!”
“……”

Lin Hai had been tossed aside like an old rag, left to dry for hours. Finally, he could hold back no longer and exploded.

Just as Lin Hai was loudly protesting, the door suddenly swung open. Zhang Hua hurried in, followed by Zhang Yang and several police officers.

“Master! It’s all my fault, I’ve committed a grave sin, tarnished your reputation and sullied your name. Please, don’t be angry—let me make amends!” Guilt gnawed at Zhang Hua, and she apologized repeatedly the moment she burst into the room.

“Yes, Master, please forgive my mother. She just found out you were wronged and dropped everything to rush over,” Zhang Yang pleaded as well.

The familiar figure’s sudden appearance made Lin Hai’s eyes brim with tears. He turned away from the crowd, gazed up at the ceiling, and sighed with emotion:

“Ah, let it be, let it be! Madam Zhang, you’ve done nothing wrong—this is my fate. I always knew I was destined for this calamity! I didn’t want to trouble you, and more importantly, I wanted to save a young life blossoming with hope, to spread love in this world! That’s why I knowingly walked into the tiger’s den, braved blades and thorns, narrowly escaped the monsters’ pursuit, only to be framed by those despicable, shortsighted, heartless scoundrels from the Song family. My lifelong reputation, ruined in an instant! Ah, say no more—these are all tears of sorrow.” As he spoke, he even managed to squeeze out a handful of snot and tears.

The officers, who had spent the day dealing with Lin Hai, were well acquainted with his shamelessness. Yet each time he shattered their expectations of decency, they were left dumbfounded and speechless.

Lin Hai had already made up his mind: there was likely no hope of squeezing anything out of Li Fengying, but he certainly couldn’t let his efforts go unrewarded. Since it was Zhang Hua who’d brought him here, he’d make sure to get some consolation from her. Though he was annoyed with Zhang Hua, he couldn’t vent his anger at her directly, so he channeled it into his performance.

On her way in, Zhang Hua had heard all about the Song family’s actions and was seething with rage. Seeing that Lin Hai didn’t blame her only made her feel more ashamed, and she resolved to settle the score with the Songs. She declared fiercely, “Master, rest assured! Since this mess started because of me, I won’t let you bear this injustice or suffer prison in vain. I’ll deal with those Song bastards myself!”

With that, Zhang Hua stormed out in a fury.

“Madam Zhang, don’t be rash… Zhang Yang, what’s your mother up to?” Lin Hai tried to stop her, but to no avail.

Zhang Yang leaned over and whispered to Lin Hai, “Master, that old scoundrel from the Song family is here for questioning. My mom’s going to vent your anger for you—just watch! Heh heh.” Then, standing upright, he continued, “Master, please go with the officers to handle your bail paperwork. I’ll go fetch Master Lin Fan.” With that, he turned and left.

Lin Hai was still frustrated. Why couldn’t this mother and son understand what he meant? He wanted them to settle Li Fengying’s debt, not to go settle scores with the Songs!

The officers who had come with Zhang Hua and her son were already stunned, their minds reeling with questions as they looked at Lin Hai.

“Who the hell is this guy? Why are the Zhangs treating him so politely?”
“Old bastard, how come you weren’t spouting highbrow nonsense like this a moment ago?”
“Could he be Mrs. Zhang’s lover? That can’t be—she’s not blind after all!”
“……”

With these suspicions, the officers took Lin Hai off to take care of the bail procedure.

When they reached the bail window, Lin Hai listened to the bail officer’s explanation, then, holding a thick stack of forms, he bellowed, “Hell! You weren’t this thorough when you arrested me! Am I supposed to write a thesis before I get out? I’ll never finish all this by tomorrow!”

“If you want to leave, you have to fill them out properly. Every field, no mistakes. Otherwise, you’ll have to start over,” a middle-aged officer intoned with a frosty expression.

“Should I bring my mother in to prove I never even finished elementary school? Are you trying to drive me to pull a gun?” Lin Hai protested.

The officer kept typing away, replying perfunctorily, “We’re just following procedure. If you don’t like it, file a complaint.” He glanced at Lin Hai, then said teasingly, “Actually, this is just like your—well, your behind.”

“What the hell do you mean?” Lin Hai asked, dumbfounded.

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“It’s the rules! All we can do is follow them!” The officer, who had been part of Lin Hai’s interrogation, still bore a grudge and now took the opportunity to mock him.

“Screw you! Are you saying I’m a turtle? You little bastard, how dare you mess with me!” Lin Hai was so angry he rolled up his sleeves, ready to lunge at the officer.

Just then, Zhang Yang appeared with Lin Fan, hastening to intervene. “Officer, my friends here aren’t exactly experts at paperwork. May I have my lawyer assist them?” he offered quickly.

“Hmph.” The staffer, expressing his disdain for Lin Hai, looked up at Zhang Yang, then back at Lin Hai and Lin Fan, and finally said, “Fine.”

“What kind of attitude is that? Don’t you know how to greet clients with a smile?” Lin Hai huffed.

Lin Fan quickly dragged Lin Hai aside, whispering, “Enough, Uncle! Don’t push it—this is their turf, so just keep your head down!”

Bang! At that moment, the conference room door on the other side was flung open.

Zhang Hua’s furious voice rang out: “Old man! Our partnership is over. I’m not selling you that land! From now on, the Zhang Group will have nothing to do with the Songs!”

She stormed out in a rage.

“Madam Zhang, don’t forget—we have a contract, in black and white! You can’t just back out!” an old man sneered, chasing after her.

Zhang Hua stopped and replied with a cold laugh, “I forgot to mention—I transferred my shares to Zhang Yang last year. The Zhang Group board approved his succession three months ago, but we kept it quiet to avoid speculation. So, the contract you signed with me last month is void. Sue me if you dare; I’ll see you in court! Goodbye!”

“You… you…” the old man was left red-faced and speechless, gasping for breath.

With a flourish, Zhang Hua turned to Zhang Yang and the others. “Let’s go!” she commanded, strutting out with newfound confidence.

“Go, Mom!”
“I tip my hat to you!”
“Way to go, bro!”

Zhang Yang, Lin Hai, and Lin Fan followed in her wake, emboldened by her display.

To make amends, Zhang Hua and her son treated Lin Hai and Lin Fan to a feast at the city’s most luxurious restaurant.

At the table, Lin Hai and Lin Fan made no pretense of restraint, devouring their food and all but ignoring Zhang Hua and Zhang Yang’s repeated apologies.

After dinner, Zhang Hua and Zhang Yang personally drove Lin Hai and Lin Fan to Lin Hai’s villa.

On the way, Zhang Hua remained guilt-ridden, lamenting the entire ride. Lin Fan and Zhang Yang, knowing her temperament and unable to contradict an elder, left her to Lin Hai while they chatted about their own experiences.

Lin Hai knew better than to offend a benefactor, so he kept comforting her. Only after wearing his tongue raw did he finally manage to halt her endless fretting.

When they arrived at the villa, Zhang Hua wanted to come in, but Lin Hai firmly refused. Reluctantly, she was dragged away by Zhang Yang.

Full and tipsy, Lin Hai and Lin Fan swaggered into the house, but the moment they stepped into the living room, they froze as if turned to stone, their feet rooted to the floor.

“Sweetheart, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? You must be exhausted. Go get some sleep, don’t push yourself so hard. Forget about dinner—I’ll go buy your favorite spicy crayfish, all right?” Lin Hai, seeing Lin Qi on the sofa with fire in her eyes, trembled as he spoke.

“Er… Sis, your hair is, um, starting to smoke. Maybe you should, you know, wash it?” Lin Fan stammered, tongue-tied before the volcano that was Lin Qi.

The moment she saw them, Lin Qi finally erupted, shouting, “Silence! You two are getting bolder by the day, aren’t you? Staying out all night, and now you’ve brought the SWAT team to our door? What earth-shattering deeds were you up to last night? Are you trying to tear this house down?”

Lin Hai and Lin Fan exchanged glances and asked in unison, “How did you know?”

Lin Qi, hands on hips, pointed at them in anger. “You caused such a commotion—who wouldn’t know? The landlady said if she hears even the slightest rumor about this place again, we’re all out!”

Lin Hai shuddered at the mention of “landlady” and exclaimed, “Damn! The old woman found out? This is bad!”

Lin Fan, unaware the villa wasn’t Lin Hai’s property, asked in confusion, “Uncle, isn’t this your house?”

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Lin Hai shook his head at Lin Fan, wishing it were his. Then he turned to Lin Qi and asked anxiously, “She… she didn’t say anything else, did she?”

“Now you’re scared? What were you thinking before? She said she’ll give you one more chance—take care of Lin Fan, and don’t forget your promise!” Lin Qi emphasized her last words.

“Got it! Well, if that’s all, we’ll just head back to our room and practice our spells!” Lin Hai seized the chance to tug Lin Fan away.

“Come back! Did I say you could leave? She forgave you, but I haven’t! After such reckless behavior, do you think you can avoid punishment? Well? How do you want to die?” Lin Qi called them back, threateningly.

“Lin Qi, I haven’t been feeling well lately—can I save the punishment for next time?” Lin Hai begged.

“Yeah, Sis, we were really out saving the world this time. Please let us off just this once,” Lin Fan chimed in.

Lin Qi stood, cracked her knuckles, and said coldly, “Fine! Since you’re so keen on saving the world, start by saving yourselves! You have two choices: either each of you fights me—life or death, winner goes free, loser gets pounded! Or…”

“Come on, Sis! It’s bad luck to bleed before marriage! What’s option two?” Lin Fan shrieked, backing into a corner.

Lin Hai, face ashen, waited grimly for her answer.

Lin Qi looked the two over with interest. “Option two is simple—you two fight each other until one can’t get up.”

“I choose option two!” Lin Hai shouted, then lunged at Lin Fan, landing a punch. Secretly delighted, he thought, This is just like hitting the punching bag—sorry, nephew!

“Ow! Fine, Uncle, but don’t blame me for being unfilial—you picked first!” Lin Fan, caught off guard, clutched his cheek but then summoned his strength, launching himself at Lin Hai.

Uh-oh, this idiot’s taking it seriously! Lin Hai thought.

Bang! With a crash, Lin Hai was knocked to the ground, a Lin Hai-shaped dent forming in the marble floor.

“You little brat! You broke the floor! Are you serious?” Lin Hai, pinned beneath Lin Fan, struggled to get up but couldn’t budge.

“What do you think, old man?” Lin Fan replied, winking at Lin Hai.

Damn! Not only did I not make any money, now I have to pay for the floor! Furious, Lin Hai aimed another hook at Lin Fan’s right cheek.

“Ow! Are you blind, old man?” Lin Fan had only meant to put on a show for Lin Qi, but after two real punches, he was genuinely angry.

With a roar, “Blossom Rain Fist!” Lin Fan rained a flurry of blows on Lin Hai, who was pinned beneath him.

“You little rascal! Are you rebelling? You want to go to heaven?” At first, Lin Hai struggled and cursed, but as Lin Fan’s punches grew heavier, he could no longer resist. Shielding his face, he pleaded, “Nephew, time out! My bones are breaking—I’m going to die! Stop, please!”

Seeing Lin Hai truly struggling, Lin Fan finally relented. But as soon as he stood, he realized his body was covered in talismans.

At that moment, Lin Hai rolled away, formed a seal with his hands, pointed at Lin Fan, and shouted, “Explode!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! A series of sharp explosions left Lin Fan blackened, his clothes in tatters, smoke rising from his body, yet he remained standing, staring at Lin Hai.

Lin Fan even coughed out a smoke ring.

“Lying old fart, I’m going to enforce justice and rid the world of evil!” Charred and red-eyed, Lin Fan lunged at Lin Hai again.

“Are you nuts? Am I your enemy? Stop playing the hero—just fall down already! Where was all this strength when we were out fighting monsters?” Lin Hai groaned as Lin Fan charged.

“Come on, nephew! Take it easy…” But before Lin Hai could finish, Lin Fan crashed into him again, and the two began wrestling on the floor.

They pulled each other’s hair, bashed heads against the wall, twisted ears and mouths against the floor, brawling from the living room to the kitchen and back. The fight was wild and relentless.

Lin Qi watched with interest for a while, but when she realized they kept repeating the same moves, she lost interest and stepped over their tangled forms.

Lin Hai and Lin Fan soon forgot the original point of their battle and continued to scuffle, neither willing to yield…