[Adult City] Lonely Officialdom (Final Chapter) - 37

Chapter 239 Speed of Life and Death

I was busy over the weekend and missed the update. I'll make up for it next week, sorry.

"Brother Fa, you saw it too, it's not our fault, it's this kid—" A long-haired guy tried to defend himself.

"Say one more word and I'll slap you." The policeman shouted at the thug who had spoken.

After his shout, the thugs quieted down. The car was temporarily quiet.

"See? How fierce these policemen are? If I hadn't come with you, you would definitely have been in trouble." Zhang Bing said, reaching out to grab Jiang Yan's hand, as if to comfort her if she was afraid she was frightened.

Jiang Yan suddenly moved her hand away from her knee, leaving Zhang Bing with empty air. "I don't need it."

Hearing that two prisoners were still chattering, the policeman, unable to bear it any longer, turned around and shouted at the two of them, "You two shut up too."

"Damn it, you dare to yell at me? Apologize to me right now, or I'm getting out of the car." Zhang Bing said angrily.

"Apologize? What a joke. I've never apologized to anyone in my life. Don't even think about it if you get out. Either sit still, or jump out." The short policeman in the passenger seat said with a look of disdain. They were on the Second Ring Road, and the car was speeding; jumping out would be certain death.

"I love having people apologize to me without ever having apologized before. Hurry up, or I'll get angry," Zhang Bing threatened.

"Sit still, kid, or I'll be stabbing you." As he spoke, a chill ran down his spine, and a sharp knife was pressed against Zhang Bing's waist.

"Hey, you can't do anything rash—police officers, they're stabbing me—" Zhang Bing shouted nervously to the policeman in front.

"We're up ahead, how could we see?" the short policeman said with a sneer.

"Then I'll fight back," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"I'm warning you, if you dare to move, we'll charge you with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. I have the right to shoot you immediately," the tall policeman driving said in a deep voice. It was already past midnight, and there were very few cars on the road. This car with police license plates moved almost unimpeded.

"What if they move?" Zhang Bing asked, pointing to the group of thugs in the back.

"They're heroes who assisted the police in arresting those who assaulted officers, they're going to be commended, haha—" the short policeman thought he was being funny, and then grinned, revealing his ugly, slightly foul-smelling mouth.

"Aren't you just blatantly bullying me?" Zhang Bing said with a wry smile.

"Good that you understand, kid, sit still and don't move. They always brag about how great you are, but you're nothing special—" the short policeman said with a look of disdain.

"I may not be great, but killing trash like you is still easy," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

Sizzle—

squeak—

the tall policeman, not paying attention to his direction, heard Zhang Bing's words. The car scraped against the median barrier, hissing and grinding.

It veered towards the middle of the road.

"Do you know who we are?" the tall policeman asked grimly.

"Yeah, your acting is so bad, it could win last place at the Oscars—" Zhang Bing said with a grin, "Alright, that's enough. My wife and I need to go home and rest. Tell me, who ordered you?"

"Kid, you'd better shut up now, or you won't be as lucky as before." A menacing voice came from behind. Zhang Bing's knife, positioned at his waist, moved slightly forward, cutting through his thin clothes. The tip pressed against his flesh; with just a little more force, Zhang Bing would be torn open and bleeding profusely.

Ignoring the knife behind him, Zhang Bing suddenly moved, nimbly turning around, snatching the knife, and stabbing the three stunned men in the chest. Caught off guard, the three men were instantly killed, just as he had predicted. The white knife went in, the red knife came out, all of them finished.

The two policemen also saw Zhang Bingdi's movements in the rearview mirror, but they were too slow to react. They weren't sure if their partner was dead yet. The shorter policeman shouted, "Cat, Cat—are you alright?"

There was no answer. The two policemen exchanged a glance, and one slammed on the gas, accelerating the car again. The man in the passenger seat smiled calmly and said, "We didn't believe you when you said you were in good shape, but it turns out it's true. You're even unharmed after being stabbed with a knife. It's strange, we didn't bring guns because we were afraid of being exposed, otherwise we would have liked to test if a bullet could hurt you—but that doesn't mean you've won. At this speed, you'd better not move, or the car will crash and we'll all be finished."

"Finished? Do you have the guts? I really don't know which blind guy picked on a bunch of trash like you. Tell me, who ordered you? If you tell me, I'll let you go. I really have no interest in killing you." Zhang Bingdi said with a cold smile.

“When have we brothers ever been afraid of death? Do you think people who risk their lives begging for food are afraid of dying? I'm warning you again, sit tight. If you dare to make a move, be prepared to crash and die. We're nothing, but you're big shots—”

“I'll ask you one more time—swish—” Suddenly, Zhang Bing sprang up, and before anyone could react, he reached through the gap between the seats and plunged a knife into the passenger's arm. The excruciating pain made him scream loudly inside the car.

“Cough cough—okay, I'll ask you one more time. Now your companions are all helpless, and you're the only one left. You don't think you're Superman, do you? That you can escape from us?” Zhang Bing twirled the knife in his hand, smiling as he spoke. The knife was indeed sharp; he liked it.

The man gripping the steering wheel tried to calm himself, as if considering how to answer Zhang Bing's question. As the car entered the overpass, the tall man's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Oh no, jump!" Zhang Bing's heart skipped a beat when he saw the tall man's eyes. Knowing the situation was dire, he grabbed the bewildered Jiang Yan, pushed open the car door, and jumped out.

With a crash, the speeding car slammed into the steel railing of the bridge.

Boom!

A deafening noise followed as the car bounced into the air from the impact, then slammed against the railing before plummeting into the endless abyss below. That guy knew he couldn't complete his mission tonight, and he was really going all out, simply driving the car head-on into the railing.

The van was still traveling at high speed; an ordinary person jumping off would either fall to their death or be crushed to death. Zhang Bing could only gamble on his superhuman strength to save himself; this was his greatest confidence in not being afraid of these guys' underhanded tactics.

Zhang Bing's timing in jumping was excellent; any later and it would have been troublesome—the car would have hit the front, and he would definitely have been injured. She held Jiang Yan tightly, her back to the ground, her body tumbling with the car's momentum. She stretched out her arms to hold Jiang Yan as close as possible, seemingly unconcerned about her own injuries.

After several rolls, the car finally came to a stop against the roadside railing. Lying on the ground, Zhang Bing was still incredibly shocked. It had been an extremely dangerous moment. If she had reacted any slower, not only would she be in grave danger, but Jiang Yan would have been in serious trouble—everything would have been over.

She took a deep breath of fresh air, not having time to feel relieved. Seeing the car plunge into the river, Zhang Bing finally breathed a sigh of relief. Without checking her own injuries, she hurriedly looked at Jiang Yan in her arms. Although her face was disheveled, it was still stunningly beautiful. The hat she wore to conceal her exquisite features had fallen off, her silver hair danced in the wind, and her face was covered in soot and dust. Fortunately, she wasn't physically injured—but she had fainted from fright.

In movies, the male and female leads usually embrace tightly to express their joy after surviving a close call, sometimes even sharing a long kiss. The movie ends in this romantic atmosphere, leaving countless viewers wondering: will they go to a hotel or just have sex on the roadside?

Zhang Bing and Jiang Yan's recent scene was also incredibly dangerous, a true close call. Instinctively, Zhang Bing wanted to quickly change his expression, pretending to be unable to contain his excitement, rushing over to hug Jiang Yan and spin her around a few times, then kissing her lips without thinking twice. He thought Jiang Yan would definitely cooperate—but now, it was just a thought, because the female lead had fainted, and he had to take her to the hospital immediately.

Just as he was making these plans, Jiang Yan woke up. Seeing Hong Wen's concerned gaze, she wasn't angry anymore, smiling sweetly, "Are you alright?" This was completely different from what Zhang Bing had imagined, leaving him extremely frustrated—at least she had to cry before Hong Wen could kiss her.

“I thought they were joking, but I didn’t expect they actually crashed—these bastards really don’t want me to live—” Zhang Bing said with a bitter smile.

Jiang Yan glanced at Zhang Bing’s bleeding arm under his torn clothes and immediately said with concern, “Are you hurt?”

Chapter 240 Rolling Around

“It’s nothing. Just a small injury—let’s go back quickly—I guess someone in the passing cars must have called the police, and it will be more troublesome if the police come—” Zhang Bing said, looking around at the cars that were rushing past, trying to see if there was a taxi.

“No need to look, let’s go.” Jiang Yan said, and took the lead and ran ahead. At this moment, she was frighteningly calm, completely lacking the girlish demeanor she had in Changxiang.

Zhang Bing was stunned, then smiled and followed Jiang Yan down the highway. Once they got off the highway, they could find a taxi. However, in his heart, he kept reflecting. Jiang Yan, Lin Jing, these daughters of high-ranking officials seemed to have two faces. He really didn’t expect that.

“It’s been a long time since we ran together,” Zhang Bing said with a smile, turning to look at Jiang Yan walking beside him. Back in Changxiang, running along the road near Zhang Bing’s home was a regular occurrence, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Jiang Yan pursed her lips, adjusting her breathing evenly, ignoring Zhang Bing.

Zhang Bing knew she was still angry, but he didn’t care, running alongside her as usual.

After exiting the ring road, more taxis appeared. Zhang Bing hailed one, and the enthusiastic driver, seeing their disheveled appearance and the bloodstains on Zhang Bing’s arm, immediately asked what had happened. Zhang Bing used the excuse of falling on a slope ahead to refuse the driver’s suggestion to take him to the hospital. He got out at an intersection, then hailed another taxi, this time going directly to the Beijing Liaison Office.

Afraid of arousing suspicion from the staff, Jiang Yan walked side-by-side with Zhang Bing, concealing his injured right arm. Although both of them had some dust on their faces, the staff at the Beijing liaison office assumed the young couple had been fighting or something had happened and didn't approach them to inquire.

Upstairs, in his room, Zhang Bing suddenly remembered there was only one room. Should he also make Jiang Yan share a room?

Zhang Bing stood at the door, hesitating. Sending Jiang Yan back now was definitely inappropriate; her family would question her. The best outcome would be for him to book another room himself, but he hoped he wouldn't run into anyone he knew, otherwise, explaining would be troublesome.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yan went straight into the room and headed straight for the bathroom, presumably to wash the dust off her face. Zhang Bing thought for a while and decided to wait and see what Jiang Yan's intentions were. Ideally, they could just share the room for the night; he was sure he could make her happy. He gently closed the door, afraid of waking anyone else and disturbing his plans.

After washing up, Jiang Yan ignored Zhang Bing, who was sitting on the sofa, and went straight out of the room. A moment later, she returned with a sponge and a bottle of mercurochrome, saying casually, "Roll up your sleeves, I'll put some medicine on them for you ."

"Okay. Thanks, buddy, I knew you were the best to me." Zhang Bing quickly ran to the sofa, sat cross-legged, and rolled up his tattered sleeves, revealing chafed skin covered in sand. Jiang Yan sat next to Zhang Bing, gently cleaned the area with the alcohol-soaked sponge, and then applied mercurochrome.

"Any other places?" Jiang Yan asked, looking up after spreading the medicine evenly. Her long eyelashes fluttered, captivating Zhang Bing.

"My knees seem to hurt a bit too," Zhang Bing said, rolling up his pants to his thighs. Sure enough, his kneecaps were also chafed.

Jiang Yan glanced at Zhang Bing, then knelt down to clean the dirt from his knees. Her focused and attentive manner resembled that of a virtuous young wife.

After treating a few more minor wounds, Jiang Yan took the medicine and went out again, presumably to return it to the front desk. Zhang Bing stretched and comfortably lay down on the sofa. Perhaps this misfortune would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, earning Jiang Yan's forgiveness; if so, Zhang Bing would feel that his injuries were worthwhile.

When Jiang Yan returned and saw Zhang Bing still lying on the sofa, she coldly said, "Why are you still here?"

"I'm sleeping here. This is my room," Zhang Bing said matter-of-factly.

"Go sleep somewhere else," Jiang Yan said coldly.

"I have nowhere to sleep. It's okay, you sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa—" Zhang Bing said pitifully, hoping to gain Jiang Yan's sympathy.

"That's your own problem."

"Dude, don't worry, I swear on my character, I won't do anything to you—we've been alone in the same room before, don't you believe me—"

"Get lost."

After Jiang Yan said that word, Zhang Bing looked at Jiang Yan's angry face, sighed sadly, and silently went out—but just as Jiang Yan walked over to close the door, he turned back and squeezed to the side of the door.

"See how obedient I am? I had already rolled far away, but unfortunately, I was blocked by the wall and rolled back." Zhang Bing looked at the expressionless Jiang Yan with a grin, grabbed her hand that was pushing him, "Looks like even God doesn't want me to leave!"

Jiang Yan looked at him, and he looked at Jiang Yan, his eyes full of affection.

"Hehe, Jiang Yan, I have something to discuss with you." After a while, Zhang Bing said seriously, and was about to squeeze past Jiang Yan.

Unexpectedly, this time Jiang Yan did not stop him. After letting him in, she slammed the door shut, silently turned around and sat down on the sofa.

Zhang Bing sprawled on the sofa, kicking his leather shoes to the door. He sat cross-legged, a blissful expression on his face as he looked at the wounds Jiang Yan had treated. "Ah, it's so comfortable having Jiang Yan take care of me," he said. "Next time, I'll try to get hurt a few more times; it'll be worth it!"

Jiang Yan ignored his teasing, walked to the sofa opposite Zhang Bing, and sat down. She glanced at his wounds and frowned. "So, what's the matter?"

she asked. "Aren't you going to help me find out who did this? We almost became a pair of star-crossed lovers!" Zhang Bing was still shaken by what had just happened, feeling incredibly close to home. These guys were too much! It wasn't about fighting him; they even disregarded Jiang Yan's status and attacked her too. It was incomprehensible.

"That's your own business. I was just dragged into it by you," Jiang Yan said, raising a few long eyebrows. Her expression, however, was calmer than before, lacking its previous coldness. "You're responsible for dealing with the mess you caused. Besides, I'm a woman; it's a man's duty to protect a woman."

"Haha, indeed, protecting you is my duty—Jiang Yan, I will protect you for life!" Zhang Bing looked at her tenderly, blowing on the wound, immediately feeling a cool sensation. He knew Jiang Yan's anger had mostly subsided; she was just putting on an act, otherwise she wouldn't have carefully bandaged him—making Zhang Bing less angry about what happened tonight. After all, it was these life-or-death situations that had diverted Jiang Yan's attention and calmed her anger.

"Who do you think did it?" Jiang Yan ignored his smugness and asked in a deep voice.

Zhang Bing shook his head with a bitter smile, "The car probably fell off the overpass and turned to rubble. All the clues are gone; it's hard for you to guess."

"Don't you have an answer in your heart?" Jiang Yan looked up at Zhang Bing's face and asked.

"Anyone could be. In Beijing, besides you, who can I trust?" Zhang Bing touched his nose and smiled bitterly. These people were all driven by self-interest. Loyalty and betrayal were irrelevant; as long as there was common ground of interests, enemies who fought to the death today might become friends tomorrow.

“Could it be Lin Tao and Tang Xiaoyang’s gang?” Jiang Yan asked, pulling her hair back over her head as she voiced her guess.

“Why not Li Xuan?” Zhang Bing asked with a squinting smile.

Zhang Bing thought for a moment, then said, “There are only three people in Beijing who would have a reason to kill me. Lin Tao, Tang Xiaoyang, and Li Xuan. Tang Xiaoyang is the most likely among them. Moreover, he was insulted by me. It’s understandable that he would take the risk of hiring an assassin. However, the more likely it is, the more suspicious it is.”

“Why not give it a try?” Jiang Yan said calmly.

Zhang Bing nodded, took out his phone from his pocket, and went to the window to make a call.

After a few rings, the call was answered.

“Zhang Bing?” The other person’s voice sounded very sleepy, probably because they had been woken up by Zhang Bing’s call.

“Young Master Li, it’s me. I need your help with something.” Zhang Bing said somewhat anxiously.

“What is it?” The voice on the other end of the line was much calmer and more alert. Perhaps sensing the anxiety in Zhang Bing’s voice.

"A friend and I were ambushed on the street, and we barely managed to escape the killer. Could you help me investigate?" Zhang Bing said hoarsely.

"Ambushed? Where? Where are you now? Are you injured?" Li Xuan's shocked voice came through the receiver. He was very concerned about Zhang Bing's situation.

"I'm fine, I'm in a very safe place now. I just suffered some minor injuries. Young Master Li, you have a lot of connections in Beijing, could you help me investigate?" Zhang Bing pleaded.

"Okay. I'll call them right away to find out."

"Do you need my help?"

"No need, I can handle it myself. Thank you, Young Master Li. Please investigate for me and let me know if you have any news." After

hanging

up the phone with Li Xuan, Zhang Bing pondered for a while, recalling his conversation with Jiang Bolin again. He felt that Li Xuan seemed genuinely unaware of the situation, so he frowned, put his phone in his pocket, and sat down on the sofa where he had been sitting.

"Are you sure?" Jiang Yan asked nervously, no longer minding revealing their relationship.

"It doesn't seem like Li Xuan, but it's just a guess, it's too early to say for sure. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. You said it's a man's matter, I'll handle it." Zhang Bing buried his face in the sofa, rubbing his head in pain. Beijing was becoming increasingly dangerous, and he had to be especially careful not to implicate Jiang Yan again. He had always thought she would only target him, but he was wrong.

Another silence fell between them.

"What about Yuan Zixuan, Lin Jing, and Ye Tong? Is there anyone else?" Jiang Yan reverted to her usual coldness, her face ashen, her lips trembling slightly.

Zhang Bing felt dizzy. Jiang Yan had finally asked; perhaps she had considered it for a very long time? But he had also considered it for a long time, yet he didn't know how to answer.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. You can sleep on the sofa." Jiang Yan quickly got up and walked towards the bedroom, not looking at Zhang Bing again, but Zhang Bing saw the tears in her eyes, and his heart ached terribly.

Women have their periods every month, and so do men.

Now, Zhang Bing's period had started. Since everything that happened last night, Zhang Bing had been in a terrible mood, even cursing in his dreams.

Normally, when flies swarmed around Jiang Yan, Zhang Bing, though annoyed, would maintain a gentlemanly demeanor and keep things in check, secretly spitting on the business cards offered by those scoundrels trying to steal her away. This morning, however, he felt an urge to vent his anger. Seeing someone else send a business card through the waiter, completely ignoring Jiang Yan and himself, Zhang Bing couldn't help but utter a vulgar curse: "A bunch of idiots, toads trying to eat swan meat?"

He had said this specifically to please Jiang Yan by getting up early to bring her to the Beijing Hotel for a special breakfast, and he had barely slept last night, fearing she might quietly leave him in the morning. This remark undoubtedly caused quite a stir among the many onlookers. Those sitting there eating breakfast weren't low-level office workers earning three thousand yuan a month; they were elegantly pointing and gossiping about Zhang Bing, criticizing his lack of manners and rudeness.

The waiter standing next to Zhang Bing was incredibly embarrassed, unsure how to relay the gentleman's words. But there was no need for him to; Zhang Bing had spoken angrily, his voice undisguised. The middle-aged man who had handed out business cards was sitting not far from Zhang Bing's table. Provoked by Zhang Bing's words, he was completely stunned, his face turning red and purple. He couldn't think of a rebuttal for a long time.

"Bang—Shut the hell up!" Zhang Bing slammed his hand on the table, sending plates, cups, and food flying. He pushed back his chair and stood up, fiercely scanning the room, saying harshly, "Anyone who dares to utter another word, believe me, I'll slap you!"

*Whoosh!*

The men and women who had been chattering incessantly immediately stopped talking, looking down on Zhang Bing, a rude and uncouth thug, while secretly wondering how much of a chance they had if a fight broke out. The strong fear the stubborn, and the stubborn fear the reckless. Zhang Bing's shout silenced the entire restaurant.

"You—who are you? I want to know this lady—what's it to you?" the middle-aged man handing out business cards asked, pointing at Zhang Bing.

"She's my woman. I don't like people fawning over my woman. What can you do about it?" Zhang Bing cursed at the man.

"—You can explain, but what you said was incredibly rude," the man said, exasperated.

"Next time, it won't just be rudeness—" Zhang Bing scanned the room, warning with a cold smile. For a moment, he exuded an air of dominance.

The middle-aged man glared at Zhang Bing, wiped his mouth, and walked away. Zhang Bing knew this guy was probably a businessman from out of town; if he were from the government, they would have called him already.

Disturbed by this fly, Zhang Bing also lost her appetite. She glanced worriedly at Jiang Yan, afraid she'd get even angrier, but to her surprise, Jiang Yan just smiled and continued eating.

Zhang Bing thought for a moment, worried that her emotions would affect Jiang Yan's mood, and besides, she'd be constantly talked about if she stayed any longer, so she said softly, "You can eat slowly and peacefully. I'll wait for you outside."

Zhang Bing pushed back her chair and walked towards the revolving door.

"How rude! In such a high-class setting, with foreigners present, saying such rude things, making a fool of yourself in front of them—"

As the man passed behind a couple's seats, he glanced at Zhang Bing and whispered to his beautiful female companion sitting opposite him. Zhang Bing's hearing was exceptional; although his voice was extremely low, she still heard him.

Zhang Bing stepped back and stood behind the bespectacled, refined-looking elite. The man, unaware that Zhang Bing was behind him, launched into a long, rambling monologue about Zhang Bing to his woman, like a complaining wife. His companion subtly reminded him several times with glances and fingers, but he was too engrossed in his monologue to understand.

His companion grew impatient and stopped looking at him, focusing instead on Zhang Bing behind him. He then turned around, puzzled, inwardly annoyed at whoever had caught his attention. When he saw Zhang Bing standing behind him, his mouth suddenly gaped open in an "O."

"Is that foreigner your father?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"Ah—" The man didn't understand the meaning behind Zhang Bing's words.

“If they’re your father, then invite them back and treat them like royalty,” Zhang Bing said, slamming a fried egg onto the man’s head. Half-cooked yolk smeared all over his face.

The man’s hair was greasy from too much hair wax. Zhang Bing calmly picked up the milk from the woman who was quite attractive, then washed his hands on the plate on the table. Under the woman’s astonished gaze, he took a tissue from the table and wiped his hands before leaving, feeling relieved.

Desires need an outlet, and so does anger.

After beating the man, Zhang Bing felt much better. Standing at the hotel entrance, he took a deep breath, patiently waiting for Jiang Yan, but his mind was unsure of where to go.

This trip to Beijing was completely unexpected; it had caused a lot of trouble, but also brought many gains. However, from the perspective of officialdom philosophy, the losses far outweighed the gains, which was not a good thing. The Chinese bureaucracy has always valued balance. His arrival disrupted the balance of power among the major factions in the capital, temporarily creating a powerful alliance—something the higher-ups probably didn't want to see. Perhaps that was why he and Jiang Yan were both being hunted down last night?

Just then, the phone rang again—

the weather in the north was dry, and the occasional sandstorms were a major headache. Zhang Bing hadn't expected them to meet him in the suburbs. His car was parked at the gate and couldn't be driven in, so he walked inside, led by a taciturn man. A gust of wind blew, and Zhang Bing quickly squinted in fright. The wind carried too much sand; he hadn't been experienced before. Sand got into his eyes, and tears welled up.

This was a man-made hunting ground. Aside from the occasional sheep and rabbit startled from the fence, Zhang Bing hadn't seen any other animals. Gunshots rang out in the distance, and Zhang Bing became alert, quickly scanning his surroundings.

A beautiful woman, dressed in camouflage military pants and a black sleeveless t-shirt, her exposed skin a wheatish hue, with a full figure and long, slender features, strode over. Her military boots crunched on the soft grass, the broken blades releasing a fresh, earthy scent.

Zhang Bing took a deep breath; it had been a long time since she'd smelled this aroma, or rather, she no longer felt the urge to smell it—back in her hometown of Changxiang before the New Year, this kind of weather was perfect for flying kites—when she was tired from running, lying on the ground, this was the smell she'd caught. Alas—

she missed the women of Changxiang, and her precious Feifei and Ai'er. Zhang Bing sighed softly.

"Welcome," the woman said, extending her hand to Zhang Bing with a swift and decisive gesture, as if she'd received special military training.

Zhang Bing smiled and shook her hand, saying, "Every time I see you, it's a refreshing experience. Remember that song called 'Watch Me Change 72 Times'? Do you have 72 transformations?"

"Just a necessity for survival," the woman replied with a smile, unperturbed by Zhang Bing's words. Her gaze swept quickly over him before returning to its previous expression.

Chapter 242 Hunting and Being Hunted

"How is it? I look handsome, don't I? Are you tempted?" Zhang Bing asked with a grin, noticing the woman's gaze.

"Mr. Zhang, please." The woman extended her long arm, gesturing for Zhang Bing to come, a glimpse of her skin peeking out from under her arm. It was fleeting, a glimpse of her skin. "Mr. Zhang, do you know who invited you?"

"Haha, if I didn't know, would I dare come? Who else could invite me at this time, and in this place?" Zhang Bing said with a chuckle. When Zhang Bing asked the woman who had invited him, she said she wouldn't answer for the time being, and he was too lazy to ask again. Jiang Yan had just finished breakfast and gone home, so he followed the car that was supposed to pick him up—these people were really resourceful; from the time he accepted the invitation to the car arriving to his arrival, less than 10 minutes had passed, and it happened right after Jiang Yan left.

"No wonder Young Master Lin praised you so highly," the woman nodded.

Another gunshot rang out, and the two looked up. A man in camouflage was smiling at Zhang Bing, carrying a gun. Not far away, a sheep lay in a pool of blood.

Zhang Bing smiled and walked towards the man, thinking, "This guy is quite extravagant, he knows how to enjoy himself." He was leisurely hunting, while he had been hunted in a sorry state last night. It's true what they say, comparisons are odious.

"Interested in trying?" Lin Tao said, handing Zhang Bing an AKS used by paratroopers, tank crews, and special forces.

Zhang Bing took the gun and played with it rather unprofessionally for a couple of rounds, even firing a bullet at the dead antelope. Unfortunately, the bullet landed more than a meter away from the motionless antelope—this was after Ling Shan had taken him to train at the provincial military region a few days ago.

Zhang Bing laughed awkwardly, handing the gun to Xia Zhi beside him, explaining with a smile, "I'm not good at this. When I was a kid, I only ever used a slingshot to break windows; I've never played with any shooting weapons like this before—I never even had the chance to touch one, haha."

Zhang Bing turned to look at Xia Zhi, smiling, and said, "I believe Miss Xia is an expert. Let me broaden my horizons."

Shui Yao expressionlessly held the gun, her eyes sweeping across the open grassland. She fired a shot into the sky. The gunshot startled the animals in the reeds; rabbits, pheasants, and even the captive antelopes all rushed out. The water sprite narrowed her eyes slightly, raised her rifle, and fired in bursts. With each shot, an animal fell, and in less than thirty seconds, she emptied the remaining dozen or so bullets in the magazine. That's equivalent to firing a bullet every fraction of a second, with almost no pause.

Lin Tao and Zhang Bing were dumbfounded. They had only ever seen such marksmanship on television. "Perfect accuracy"—it's easy to say, but heaven knows how difficult it is to actually do it. Moreover, the animals had been awakened by the gunfire and scattered in all directions, yet she hit them every time. The two exchanged a glance, their respect for the woman beside them growing even stronger.

"Incredible!" Lin Tao looked at Xia Zhi with admiration, unable to help but praise her. He rarely complimented people.

Zhang Bing chuckled and said, "Today has truly been an eye-opener for me. I've never seen anyone wield a gun so skillfully, especially a woman like you. I've met several special forces firearms instructors, but none of them are as good as you—Miss Xia. How about you teach me sometime?"

"Please excuse my poor skills, it's just practice makes perfect," Xia Zhi smiled, exuding confidence, but ignored Zhang Bing's request.

"Haha, Young Master Zhang, I know a few instructors from the military region. We can practice with them, and then exchange ideas when Miss Xia has time, how about that?" Lin Tao laughed heartily, defusing the situation. Today, Lin Tao wasn't wearing his thick glasses, and his dashing camouflage uniform gave him a certain imposing presence. The observant Zhang Bing noticed that this man wasn't wearing contact lenses at all, and the fact that he wasn't wearing glasses today, despite usually wearing them, suggested something.

The man was faking nearsightedness, or rather, he was deliberately using glasses to change his image, making himself appear more refined and composed, rather than as sharp and intimidating as he was today.

"Did Young Master Li need something from me?" Zhang Bing stopped dwelling on those minor issues and asked with a smile.

"Haha, I like making friends. Xia Zhi praised you highly, saying you're a rare young talent, and since we had some misunderstandings before, I was eager to chat and drink with you again. I told Xia Zhi about this, and she happened to have met you once before, so she invited you out for a chat." Lin Tao said, pointing to the woman beside him.

"Praised me highly?" Zhang Bing's smile widened. He thought, "This woman actually praised me? That's so unexpected." He'd only met her once, at the banquet Li Xuan had hosted to welcome him. The two had a very unpleasant argument; he'd told her to "get lost," and she obediently did, only spilling red wine on his head before leaving.

Zhang Bing smiled bitterly. Like father, like son. Born into an official family and in the highest echelons of the capital's power circle, which of them was simple? No wonder Xia Zhi had sighed "just survival" when he'd mocked her—the truth!

Zhang Bing had previously thought Xi Juan was the most talented woman in the capital. Jiang Yan, Lin Jing, and Yuan Zixuan all had good backgrounds and were beautiful, but their interpersonal skills and charisma were inferior to Xi Juan's. Now it seemed he'd underestimated women. Leaving aside the scheming Lin Jing and Jiang Yan had displayed these past few days, even this woman he'd initially thought insignificant was far from simple. Her acting and social skills were second to none, even surpassing those of men. What was truly remarkable was her ability to navigate between her arch-rivals, Lin Tao and Li Xuan, with such ease. This alone left others in awe. Knowing the two men as Zhang Bing did, he knew they were no fools.

"There was a small misunderstanding between Xia Zhi and Young Master Zhang. Please forgive me, Young Master Zhang," Xia Zhi said earnestly, looking at Zhang Bing.

"Haha, how could that be? I'm not that petty. I should be asking for Miss Xia's forgiveness. I was so immature back then," Zhang Bing quickly replied with a laugh.

"Haha, we've become friends through a fight, haven't we? Brother Zhang and I are the same way, aren't we? Come on, let's go to the Rust Pavilion for some tea. Don't leave tonight. This sheep I hunted is meant to treat Brother Zhang. We have a chef here, a master from Xinjiang, his barbecue is superb. And Xia Zhi hunted so much game earlier, Brother Zhang, take some back with you when you leave, give it to Grandpa Jiang and Vice Premier Jiang to try, consider it a small gift." Lin Tao said with a smile. Xia Zhi led the way, and the group walked along the path between the fences towards a small pavilion standing amidst the reeds not far ahead. There were bodyguards on guard, and a beautiful woman was brewing tea.

Lin Tao invited Zhang Bing to sit on a stone bench, with Xia Zhi keeping him company.

"Come, Brother Zhang, I'll offer you tea as an apology." Lin Tao said, picking up the cup of tea in front of him to drink.

"Young Master Lin, you're too kind. What are you apologizing for?" Zhang Bing asked, feigning confusion.

"Haha, Brother Zhang, you're so magnanimous! I've felt guilty and uneasy ever since. Back at the Mad Dragon Club, I ran up to you and said a few harsh words. Thinking about it now, it's laughable," Lin Tao said with a wry smile.

"Sigh, I was in the wrong first. Young people are bound to have tempers. Let bygones be bygones; we don't need to hold grudges over such trivial matters." Respect is reciprocated, and besides, Zhang Bing really wanted to learn from Xia Zhi's skill in balancing Li Xuan and Lin Tao, employing a balancing tactic—that was his fundamental principle.

Lin Tao clapped his hands and laughed, "That's right, Brother Zhang, you're right. One should always look forward. We had some unpleasantness before, but I hope we can return to being good friends—think back to our first meeting at Heaven on Earth, how pleasant it was!"

Lin Tao looked intently at Zhang Bing, who, however, held his cup and gently sipped his tea, smiling without replying.

"After the unpleasantness with Tang Xiaoyang last time, will he let me off easily?" Zhang Bing asked, narrowing his eyes. It wasn't time to take sides when friend and foe were unclear. He had initially sided with Li Xuan, but now Lin Tao might have realized his usefulness and was trying to win him over, though of course there would be some bargaining involved.

However, this was for the best; no one could benefit from absolute power. The capital was a murky place; without deep roots, one couldn't survive. Zhang Bing was now relying more on connections—the Jiang family's, the Li family's, or others'—it all depended on how he operated. He didn't intend to stay here long or compete for power. His goal was to find a representative with aligned interests within the Jiang family's network; only then would his future path be smoother.

Chapter 243: Choice of Interests

These past few days, I've had many things to deal with suddenly, so updates can't be guaranteed. Please forgive me. But I will guarantee one chapter a day.

Li Xuan and Lin Tao are both excellent representatives, intelligent and capable. However, they all share one thing in common: ambition. If Zhang Bing were to help Li Xuan crush Lin Tao, or help Lin Tao defeat Li Xuan, then one of their forces would inevitably rise to prominence.

Zhang Bing's current position of sitting with them for tea and even negotiating is based on a balance of power. If this balance were broken, would he still receive the same treatment when facing a dominant Li Xuan or Lin Tao? Would

he then be their partner or their vassal? Moreover, due to his special status and position, he must remain a partner. Becoming a vassal would mean being abandoned by the Jiang family, as the next ruling power would not be willing to be a vassal. If that happened, Zhang Bing would be worthless, easily crushed by anyone.

The current situation is excellent for him; if used well, he could, like Xia Zhi, navigate between the two. However, if misused, his situation would be extremely dangerous. When neither family will let him off the hook, it's like having most of the power in the capital against him. More importantly, with the Jiang family in power, maintaining balance is a necessary goal. If Zhang Bing doesn't do this, he'll definitely be ruthlessly abandoned by the Jiang family, and then he'll truly be nothing.

"I really can't say anything about the Zhao family's matter. They have extremely strong influence in this area, and Tang Xiaoyang isn't someone who's willing to suffer losses. That matter is in the past, and it's pointless to discuss who was right and who was wrong now. All I can do is try my best to mediate. As for whether they'll give me face—hehe, to be honest, I'm not sure myself," Lin Tao said with a smile.

Based on his relationship with Tang Xiaoyang, he could guarantee that he could resolve most minor disputes. But Zhang Bing and Tang Xiaoyang clearly had a serious grudge. According to information he had his men gather, Zhang Bing had stolen the Tang family's young master's sweetheart. Tang Xiaoyang had originally thought he could get some revenge in the capital, but instead, he was humiliated in front of everyone by Zhang Bing—for these face-conscious young masters, this was more painful than death.

"To be honest, I found your invitation today quite strange. It was precisely because of this strangeness that I agreed to come when Xia Zhi called me," Zhang Bing said with a smile. "You should know that my relationship with Li Xuandi is fairly good, while you and he have some issues. To be even more frank, we didn't get along very well before, and I also have such a deep conflict with the Zhao family—I really can't find a balance in this complicated relationship."

Zhang Bing took a sip of the fine Wushan Maojian tea and said jokingly, "Logically speaking, we should be rivals, not sitting together so intimately drinking tea."

Zhang Bing spoke extremely frankly, not deliberately ignoring the positions of both men, and bringing up the natural order of things. Lin Tao's expression remained calm throughout Zhang Bing's speech. Han Xiazhi, sitting beside him, however, looked at Zhang Bing with utter astonishment. Most male social interactions involved a back-and-forth of flattery; how could he be so honest? Besides, his face and past behavior didn't seem like those of an honest person. Had he suddenly changed his personality?

"Brother Zhang is indeed straightforward. It's true, our previous interactions were quite unpleasant. Even now, if you don't accept my friendship, we'll revert to being rivals after you leave. However, Brother Zhang is taking his position too seriously," Lin Tao explained with a smile, swirling his glass in the cup.

"Oh? I don't quite understand."

"Whether it's a nation or a group, whether they're allies or adversaries, it all revolves around self-interest. Their stance will shift according to the amount of benefit gained. Of course, you might think I'm being vulgar, but I'm being completely honest. Whether it's the relationship between nations or individuals, it's all about choosing a side when pursuing one's own greatest interests. Those seemingly noble and righteous things are nothing more than excuses to cover up one's motives. You should understand this, but most people are unwilling to admit it. As for us, you, and my current situation, we can talk openly and honestly, without needing to hide anything or hypocritically deny anything." Lin Tao looked at Zhang Bing, very sincerely and earnestly.

"Interests?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"Yes, what's most beneficial to you." Lin Tao nodded with a smile.

"What can I do? Or rather, what do I have that you value?"

"Brother Zhang Lin, you're being too modest. Changxiang, as the hometown of a great man, has always been a focus of attention for the higher-ups. Your influence in Changxiang is not something anyone can ignore. Besides, Brother Zhang, your influence extends far beyond the local area. In Beijing, aren't you living a comfortable life, making everyone speechless with your every move? Zixuan left me, Lin Jing did her best to protect you, and the Jiang family also secretly supports you. Brother Zhang's luck and charisma are beyond the reach of any of us." Lin Tao didn't hide his envy, even revealing his jealousy. "To be honest, back in the Mad Dragon Club, if I hadn't been so jealous of you, I don't think we would have had so many misunderstandings."

"You mean you want me to transfer to your side?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"I'd like to, are you willing?" Lin Tao said with a smile, his tone half-serious and half-joking, making it hard to tell what he really meant. "I

'll have to think about it carefully." Zhang Bing shook his head with a smile.

"Haha, Brother Zhang, you're a smart man. The most important thing in cooperating with smart people is honesty. I can't win you over, and likewise, Li Xuan can't completely win you over. Otherwise, you wouldn't have accepted my invitation today, would you?"

"In that case, I understand even less why you invited me today," Zhang Bing asked curiously.

"I don't want such a powerful opponent to help Li Xuan. Or rather, a group of powerful rivals—a powerful force formed because of you, Brother Zhang," Lin Tao said earnestly. "What we need is balance. You understand this, I understand this, Li Xuan understands this, and the Jiang family understands this, doesn't they?"

Although Lin Tao spoke subtly, Zhang Bing still understood the meaning behind his words. Lin Tao's words contained both coercion and enticement, but undeniably, he spoke the truth, and it was the only way out of the dead end that Zhang Bing was currently considering—the country needed balance, and this red line was something everyone had to abide by; otherwise, they would be ruthlessly abandoned.

"Young Master Lin, why don't we go back inside and talk over a meal? I reckon the antelope feast you ordered is ready by now," Xia Zhi suggested with a smile, seeing that the two had almost finished discussing their business.

"Haha, alright, Brother Zhang, how about we go back inside? The sandstorm outside is still too strong. Don't laugh at me, but I'm a glutton. Since the chef from Xinjiang came, I've eaten here quite a few times. But this antelope feast is truly irresistible. Haha, you must try it today," Lin Tao stood up and invited Zhang Bing. There was indeed a classical wooden house where Zhang Bing got out of the car; the restaurant was probably there.

Zhang Bing stood up and accompanied Lin Tao back the way they came.

"Young Master Lin, I just remembered, I have something I'd like to ask you for help with," Zhang Bing said to Lin Tao with a smile halfway there.

"What is it? Tell me, I'll do my best," Lin Tao stopped and looked at Zhang Bing very seriously. It was clear that this man could be quite wild when he was having fun, but he was also very focused when it came to serious matters.

"I was ambushed last night, and I'd like to ask Brother Lin to help me find out who's behind this," Zhang Bing said with a smile, his tone relaxed.

"Brother Zhang was ambushed? Are you alright?" Lin Tao was equally surprised. Everyone knew about Zhang Bing's background; for someone like him to be ambushed was simply outrageous—if Lin Tao knew he'd almost been killed along with Jiang Yan, his eyes would probably pop out of their sockets. Jiang Yan's status was now no lower than his; if Jiang Yan was in danger, then he had to consider his own safety more carefully—the major powers had been fighting for a long time, but personal safety would never be involved; that was the bottom line.

"It's alright—it's just a matter of blood for blood. I shed blood, so I have to find someone to settle the score," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"Okay. I'll help you investigate. Brother Zhang, just let me know if you need any help," Lin Tao readily agreed.

No wonder someone of Lin Tao's status could say he never tired of the Antelope Banquet, even after eating it so many times; today was Zhang Bing's first time eating there, and he was also thoroughly enjoying it. Leaving aside the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside roasted whole lamb, Zhang Bing was also delighted by the various stir-fries made with lamb meat and offal. The lamb kidney soup was especially prized; Zhang Bing drank two large bowls without hesitation.

Chapter 244: Angry

Xia Zhi looked strangely at Zhang Bing, who was frantically drinking soup, while Zhang Bing himself seemed unconcerned. He knew what this woman was thinking; she probably thought he was having kidney deficiency, hence his frantic drinking. Heh heh, words were useless. If she was interested, Zhang Bing wouldn't mind a long-lasting contest. Although Zhang Bing originally loathed this woman, seeing her in camouflage, her exposed wheat-colored skin, and her curvaceous figure today, if the lights were off and her face ignored, Zhang Bing wouldn't be left impotent.

He returned home with a great haul. Lin Tao had all the wild game, including the antelope, rabbit, and pheasant, that Xia Zhi had killed, cleaned and gutted them thoroughly, and then had them thrown into the trunk of Zhang Bing's car.

Zhang Bing first drove to the Beijing Liaison Office, leaving some game to give to the office director and Mayor Long, then drove back to the General Staff Villa, intending to let the Jiang family try it. The Jiang family wasn't home, so Zhang Bing didn't stay long and went straight back to the Liaison Office. Just as

Zhang Bing parked his car and stepped onto the hotel steps, he heard a noise behind him.

Beep! Beep!

A bright red Volkswagen Beetle pulled up, ignoring the dispatcher's instructions to stop, and honked at Zhang Bing, who was standing on the steps in a daze.

Zhang Bing turned around and saw the woman inside the car; his head immediately started to throb. This woman was the one he most wanted to see, and also the one he most dreaded facing.

"Get out, what are you staring at?" Lin Jing rolled down the car window, her beautiful face peeking out and beckoning to Zhang Bing.

Zhang Bing composed herself and walked over with a smile: "What brings you here?"

Lin Jing wasn't wearing her military uniform or casual clothes today. Instead, she was wearing a cream-colored, fitted business suit. A woman who dares to wear a business suit in this color must have a great figure. She was in excellent spirits, her eyes as open and pure as ever, attentive and occasionally showing a childlike mischievousness. She showed no embarrassment at seeing Zhang Bing, as if nothing had happened the night before.

Could it be just a dream? Like the dreams she used to have when she frequently had wet dreams? Zhang Bing wasn't even sure herself.

"I came to find you," Lin Jing said with a grin. This answer made Zhang Bing's heart leap into her throat again. Too many romantic entanglements can lead to a romantic disaster. Duan Zhengchun of Dali had already proven the truth of this saying to men all over the world with his actions.

"Come in. What are you standing there for?" Lin Jing rolled her eyes.

"Oh." Zhang Bing walked over, opened the passenger door, and got in. The first thing she saw was Lin Jing's long, slender legs hidden under her business suit, and she immediately recalled the madness of last night, which was still unforgettable.

"What are you daydreaming about again? Are you free today? I don't care, you have to spend the day with me. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time seeing me again." Lin Jing said with a smile.

"Where are you going?" Zhang Bing asked suspiciously. Could this be her reason for offering herself? Subconsciously, Zhang Bing always felt that Lin Jing's offering had an ulterior motive.

"I can't tell you, it's a military secret." Lin Jing shook her head and said with a smile.

Zhang Bing accompanied Lin Jing on a day-long tour of Beijing, visiting Xidan, Wangfujing, Sanlitun, and Beihai Park—Zhang Bing had finally truly seen all of Beijing. Although Lin Jing wore a sophisticated business suit, she was quite childlike, exclaiming excitedly at anything cute and occasionally picking things up from street stalls to compare with herself and Zhang Bing.

They played until after 10 PM, then found a small restaurant and ate authentic Beijing-style fried noodles before Lin Jing drove Zhang Bing back to the Beijing Liaison Office. When she saw Zhang Bing enter through the revolving door, her thin figure silhouetted against the other glass door, Lin Jing could no longer maintain her composure and finally broke down in tears, sobbing on the steering wheel. When

Lin Jing drove her Beetle back, the lights were still on inside. The security guard at the gate quickly and dutifully opened the gate for her. Lin Jing nodded gratefully to him, drove straight in, and turned off the engine on the side of the courtyard.

Lin Jing's mother came out from the inner room to greet her, looking at her daughter who had just climbed out of the car with a touch of doting affection. She said reproachfully, "Why are you so late? Your phone was off—you should have at least called if you weren't coming home for dinner."

The Lin family was small; Old Master Lin only had one son, Lin Quanshui, and one daughter, Lin Quanyu. Lin Quanyu had been married for many years without children, and Lin Quanshui only had Lin Jing. Therefore, the whole family doted on her like a precious treasure. It could be said that Lin Jing was the apple of everyone's eye, embodying the love and expectations of both families.

Lin Jing had gone out with Zhang Bing all day, and fearing being disturbed, she had turned off her phone. Her family couldn't reach her by phone either, so it was no wonder they were worried.

"Mom, I'm not a child anymore, I'm fine," Lin Jing said with a smile, taking her mother's arm.

"You—you won't stop being a child until you get married," Xia's mother said, taking Lin Jing's small hand and carrying her small bag considerately.

The two entered the living room, where Grandpa, Dad, and Uncle were sitting on the sofa drinking tea and talking. Seeing Lin Jing enter, their faces clearly lit up with happy smiles. Grandpa Lin's smile was the most pronounced, but it vanished just as quickly. In an instant, it disappeared without a trace. Then, with a stern face, he gave a cold snort.

Lin Jing knew Grandpa was angry. Smiling, she ran to sit next to him, pulled him close, and said in a sweet voice, "Grandpa, have you eaten?"

"No, I'm too angry to eat," Grandpa Lin said coldly.

"Oh, really? That won't do. Grandpa's stomach isn't good; he can't skip meals. How about this, Grandpa, what would you like to eat? I'll cook for you myself," Lin Jing said, pulling Grandpa Lin's hand in a flattering manner.

Seeing his granddaughter's expression, Grandpa Lin could no longer maintain a stern face and burst into laughter. "You little devil, you're so grown up now, and you're still always laughing and joking. Who will want you as a wife in the future—"

"Hmph, plenty of people want me," Lin Jing said, wrinkling her little nose.

"Look, look, our Lin family has produced a talent—look at this shameless guy—we should have sent you back in the war, he was impervious to bullets—" Old Master Lin said, pointing at Lin Jing, Lin Quanshui, and Tan Ming. The three men burst into laughter.

Seeing the smiles of their closest relatives was a truly blissful thing. However, they had to hurt them.

After they finished laughing, Lin Jing hesitated for a moment. She smiled and asked, "What important matter are you talking about now? Anyway, I know that when the three of you sit together, nothing good ever comes of it."

"Jing'er, how can you talk like that?" Lin Quanshui, Lin Jing's father, scolded his daughter for her nonsense.

"Brother, it's alright. Tengkong is our own child, what's wrong with talking about her? Besides, she's not someone who doesn't know her place. She won't gossip outside." Tan Ming quickly smoothed things over. Although Lin Jing wasn't his biological daughter, he had no children of his own, so he transferred all his fatherly love to Lin Jing. In fact, he doted on her even more than Lin Quanshui.

"Uncle is the best," Lin Jing said with a smile. Turning her head to look at the deep wrinkles on her grandfather's face, a pang of sadness shot through her. She gritted her teeth and whispered in his ear, "Grandpa, you don't need to worry about that matter."

"What matter?" Grandpa Lin's eyes narrowed, and he looked solemnly at his granddaughter, whom he still treated like a child.

"It's about what you two were talking about that night. I think it's best if you remain neutral. Don't agree to anyone trying to win you over." Lin Jing was somewhat afraid to meet her grandfather's gaze. Her grandfather had spent his life in the military, commanding many large-scale battles, and he had personally killed a platoon of people. Although he was old now, his eyes still sent chills down one's spine.

"Jing'er, explain it more clearly." Lin Quanshui glanced warily at the two women, who were enthusiastically discussing a scene from the television program, and asked in a low voice.

"It's nothing. I'm just reminding you not to hurt Zhang Bing," Lin Jing said with difficulty.

"Jiang Yan asked you to say that?" Grandpa Lin's previously cloudy eyes brightened even more.

“No. It was my own request,” Lin Jing shook her head and said.

“What reason?” Old Master Shen suddenly had a bad feeling; it was the innate alertness of a soldier.

Lin Jing lowered her head and thought for a moment, then whispered something in her grandfather's ear.

Her father, Lin Quanshui, and her uncle, Tan Ming, didn't hear clearly.

Upon hearing Lin Jing's words, Old Master Shen's expression changed drastically. He stared wide-eyed, looking up in astonishment: “Are you telling the truth?”

“Yes.” Lin Jing bit her lip, looking pitiful as if her hair was falling to the ground.

“You bastard—” The old man angrily smashed the purple clay teacup against the wall, shattering it.

Lin Jing stood stubbornly in front of her grandfather, looking at his furious face, feeling a pang of heartache. This was the person she loved most, and the person who loved her most. What was the reason for this? That ephemeral, ethereal love?

Chapter 245 The Truth Comes Out

"What happened? What happened?" Chen Yuru and Lin Quanyu were sitting on the sofa watching TV when they heard Old Master Lin's roar and the sound of a glass being smashed. They both ran over.

"You raised such a good daughter—" Old Master Lin said, raising his hand, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to sit down. He sighed and turned away.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?" Lin Jing's grandmother, who was in poor health and had gone to bed early after dinner, came downstairs when she heard the noise and ran out as well.

Old Master Lin didn't answer. He strode back to his room and slammed the door shut. Lin Quanshui and Tan Ming hadn't heard clearly what Lin Jing had said to the old man that made him so angry, so they both looked at Lin Jing.

"I'm sorry," Lin Jing said softly, addressing her grandfather who had entered the room, and also the other elders who were looking at her with concern. She picked up her bag from the sofa, walked past her mother, and ran upstairs.

As soon as she turned, tears streamed down her face again. She had always been a crybaby. She thought she should learn to be stronger.

"What happened? They were talking so well, why did they start arguing?" Lin Jing's mother asked her husband, annoyed.

"How should I know? I'll go check on Grandpa. You go upstairs and check on Jing'er—I don't know what she said that made Grandpa so angry—" Lin Quanshui said, heading towards Grandpa's room. Chen Yuru and Lin Quanshui exchanged a glance and went together to Lin Jing's room on the second floor.

"What's going on? How did this get involved with Zhang Bing? Isn't he that Jiang family girl's man—" Tan Ming thought for a long time before finally remembering this guy named Zhang Bing.

"Damn it, what did this kid do to our Jing'er?" Tan Ming couldn't help but curse, picking up the tea on the table and gulping it down.

Zhang Bing's steps weren't as light as they appeared. When they met today, Lin Jing said that if they didn't see each other today, they wouldn't have a chance to see each other again. What did that mean? Was she leaving? Should she try to stop her? What reason could she give?

After venting at the restaurant today, Zhang Bing felt much better. However, with one troubling thing after another approaching, Zhang Bing felt overwhelmed. Tonight, Zhang Bing wanted to be alone.

She went into her room, took off her clothes, and went into the bathroom naked. She turned on the cold water, and a torrent of water rushed in, engulfing her.

Sitting on the sofa by the French windows, watching the neon lights of the world outside, Zhang Bing suddenly felt the urge to confide in someone. After thinking for a long time, she finally dialed that incredibly familiar number.

The phone was answered after only one ring. Zhang Bing hadn't expected her to still be awake so late. Suddenly, Zhang Bing didn't know what to say. Li Huan always enveloped and indulged him with the softest, most tender touches. To Zhang Bing, Li Huan was not only a lover, but also a sister and a mother.

For a long time, the two held the phone in silence, simply listening to each other's breathing and heartbeats. His mind involuntarily drifted back to the beautiful past, to the sweet memories of staying at Li Huan's house for a week when he first took office.

He longed—longed—to go back to the past—

for some reason, whenever Zhang Bing felt agitated or extremely tired, he would involuntarily think of Li Huan, of the happy days in Chunhua Town—unfortunately, it seemed he was getting further and further away from that now.

Talking to Li Huan on the phone, although neither of them spoke, Zhang Bing's mind instantly calmed down. He felt guilty towards this woman. He had always understood her feelings for him—a kind of unrequited love, not just a brotherly affection.

Zhang Bing had a very delicate emotional connection with Li Huan, an emotion that left him conflicted. During the most helpless and destitute time of his life, she appeared in his life like an angel, giving him hope and warmth. Therefore, she was the most special person in his heart.

"Xiao Bing, if you're tired, come back and rest." After a long while, Li Huan finally broke the mysterious atmosphere between them and said softly. Her voice was soft and sweet, very careful. Zhang Bing had a strange feeling that Sister Huan was standing in front of him, massaging his shoulders as usual, and whispering in his ear.

"Who said I'm tired? Sister Huan, I just missed you and wanted to hear your voice." Zhang Bing said with a smile. He couldn't help but admire Li Huan in his heart. Even though they were thousands of miles apart, she could guess his thoughts at a glance.

Or was it because he always called her in this state of mind that she had gotten used to it?

"Hehe, that's good. I know you're getting better and better, you little rascal." Li Huan laughed softly on the other end, cleverly defusing the question.

"Why aren't you asleep yet? It's so late, I thought you were already asleep—" Zhang Bing's tone was slightly reproachful.

"I can't sleep," Li Huan said sweetly, knowing Zhang Bing was worried about her health. "Little one, I was just about to call you."

"Yeah, I knew you needed to talk to me, so I called you first." Zhang Bing stood up from the sofa, looking outside, her earlier negative emotions gone. Things had changed. The loneliness was gone.

"Hehe, really that amazing? Then predict what I ate tonight?" Li Huan chuckled.

"I can only predict once a day, it won't work after that," Zhang Bing explained with a laugh. "Is Feifei asleep?"

"The little girl couldn't stay awake, she went to sleep a long time ago, but she said her brother and father haven't called him for two days, and she's going to settle the score with you when she gets back." Li Huan still chuckled.

"Hehe, I'll take a few days off when I get back and spend some quality time with you and Feifei." Mentioning the little girl made Zhang Bing very happy.

As Li Huan hung up the phone, she was still reluctant to part, holding the receiver without saying goodbye. After a while, she softly said, "Xiao Bing, I miss you."

By the time Zhang Bing wanted to say something, the call had already ended. Zhang Bing put down the phone, lay down on the bed with a relaxed mood, and fell asleep almost immediately.

While Zhang Bing was still sleeping, she was woken up by the doorbell. Still half asleep, Zhang Bing was quite annoyed at being disturbed at this hour. Wearing only shorts, she opened the door, about to explode in anger, but managed to suppress it.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang, these two gentlemen need to see you, that's why they're bothering you so early," the hotel waitress said apologetically, her eyes glancing over Zhang Bing's bare body with a slight look of surprise.

"Hmm," Zhang Bing nodded. Looking at the two men standing behind her, she asked, "You wanted to see me?"

Zhang Bing only recognized one of the two men. Although she forgot his name, she remembered his face; he seemed to be Lin Jing's bodyguard. Why were they coming to see her so early? Had their secret been exposed?

"Mr. Zhang, our old master invites you to come in for a chat," said the old master's bodyguard in a deep voice.

"Oh dear, I'm very busy, I'm afraid I don't have time today. How about this, I'll bring some gifts to visit the old master tomorrow—" Zhang Bing said with a smile. He had already made up his mind to quickly get his men out of Beijing. Damn it, this place is no place for a human being.

"Mr. Zhang, you should consider our young lady's feelings," the bodyguard glanced around and whispered to Zhang Bing.

When he arrived at the General Staff Villa again, Zhang Bing found it somewhat amusing. He used to always go to Jiang Yan's house, but now, he didn't even have a chance to enter their house. The car drove straight past, but ended up at Lin Jing's house.

The bodyguard sitting in the back seat with Zhang Bing was very polite to him, getting out of the car first to open the door for him. Zhang Bing nodded his thanks to him before getting out of the car and walking towards the Lin family's hall. The bodyguard and the driver didn't follow. After parking the car, the two of them got out and closed the gate to the courtyard.

"Unleash the dogs behind closed doors?" The phrase suddenly flashed through Zhang Bing's mind.

Entering the living room, Zhang Bing was taken aback. On the pale yellow sofa, Grandpa Lin, Lin Jing's father, and uncle sat side-by-side, each with a stern face, unsmiling. No one greeted Zhang Bing.

On the opposite sofa sat several women. Zhang Bing had seen these women before; in the middle sat Lin Jing's grandmother, flanked by her mother and aunt, Lin Quanyu. The women also looked unfriendly; the women who had gotten along well with Zhang Bing last time now treated her like an enemy, their faces contorted with rage.

The man and woman sat separately, glaring angrily at Zhang Bing. Just as he'd predicted, the truth had come out. What goes around comes around. Zhang Bing smiled bitterly to himself, glancing around but not seeing Lin Jing. A sense of unease crept into his heart.

No one offered him a seat; the sofas were all taken by the Lin family. Zhang Bing pulled up a chair and sat down. Since the Lin family remained silent, he didn't dare speak first. At this moment, remaining calm and waiting for the other side to make the first move was the only thing Zhang Bing could do.

Chapter 246 Anger

"Zhang Bing, tell me, what exactly did you do to Jing'er?" Unable to get a clear answer from her daughter and not daring to ask her father, Lin Jing's mother said angrily. Because of this man, this was the first time her family had experienced such conflict. As a woman who hoped for harmony in her family, she certainly had reason to be angry with Zhang Bing.

"Auntie, I didn't do anything to Jing'er. Where is she? Call her up, and we can talk things out. I don't want any misunderstandings," Zhang Bing said amicably. He believed that maternal love was selfless and great, and he had no reason to offend a mother who cared about her daughter. Moreover, before he could ascertain what Lin Jing had told her family and before they had a unified story, he couldn't reveal their relationship. Otherwise, it might harm Lin Jing and make things worse.

"You haven't done anything to her? Lin, are you taking advantage of the Lin family because no one else is in charge?" Old Master Lin, the only member of the Lin family who knew about Zhang Bing and Lin Jing's relationship, was enraged by Zhang Bing's attempt to shirk responsibility. He glared at Zhang Bing, ready to attack

. "Old Master, you're exaggerating. I didn't take advantage of the Lin family, nor would I dare. With your status, one word from you and I'd have a hard time leaving this courtyard alive," Zhang Bing said. Her eyes were full of sincerity. "I really don't understand what happened. You invited me here first thing this morning, and you seem very angry with me. Is there some misunderstanding? Why don't you call Lin Jing out, and we can find out the root of the problem together?"

Zhang Bing still wanted them to call Lin Jing out so that she could understand her thoughts and it would be easier for her to deal with the situation. If she confessed so hastily, they definitely wouldn't let it go.

"It seems you're not going to admit it," Old Master Lin said angrily. "Go, call Lin Jing back here. Let's confront her face to face and see how she tries to deny it."

"Old man, Jing'er just went to work. Isn't it inappropriate to call her now?" Lin Jing's grandmother advised from the sidelines. She didn't want to involve Lin Jing in this matter again, fearing she would be wronged. Last night, the old man, who doted on his granddaughter so much, almost slapped her. If things fell apart today, he would hit her again. Who would dare to stop him?

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. Quanshui, go make a call," Old Master Lin said with a gloomy face.

Helpless, Lin Quanshui had no choice but to call Lin Jing and tell her to come back immediately.

"Fine, Zhang Bing, I don't care how much trouble you've caused in Beijing, or how many scandalous affairs you've had, but I didn't expect you to reach into our family. You really have some nerve—do you think I can't do anything to you?" Old Master Lin said breathlessly. This matter concerned his most beloved granddaughter, which made him especially angry. His irregular eating habits in his youth had left him with stomach problems, and this anger aggravated his stomach pain. Clutching his chest, he was sweating profusely from the pain, and the women quickly fetched stomach medicine for him.

"Grandpa, don't be angry. No matter what, we'll wait for Lin Jing to come back and get to the bottom of this. Although I'm not a soldier, I'm still a man, and I won't shirk my responsibilities," Zhang Bing quickly comforted him, seeing his anger, while secretly trying to guess Lin Jing's motives based on these events.

Zhang Bing was certain that Lin Jing had actively seduced him that night. But what had prompted her to do so? Did the answer match her guess before the encounter? What did she discover?

"Fine, let's wait for Jing'er to come back and see how you—can you still deny it. You shameless little rascal, surnamed Zhang—" Old Master Lin said angrily, clearly furious.

Lin Jing's mother wanted to ask Zhang Bing a few more questions, but fearing that she would provoke the old man's anger again, she dared not voice her doubts. The others knew even less about the matter, only vaguely guessing that it might be related to matters of the heart. Of course, their thoughts were relatively simple; they assumed the two were mutually attracted, that Lin Jing wanted to date Zhang Bing, but was rejected by Old Master Shen, and they never imagined that the two had already consummated their relationship.

The waiting time was awkward; the Lin family members scrutinized Zhang Bing with appraising eyes, and Old Master Lin glared at Zhang Bing from time to time. Zhang Bing was on pins and needles, hoping to die soon and be reincarnated. She also began to eagerly await Lin Jing's return so they could explain things clearly, and then let them do whatever they wanted.

When she heard a car horn at the courtyard gate, Zhang Bing suddenly realized that this sound, which she had previously considered noise pollution, wasn't so unpleasant after all; on the contrary, she had been waiting for it for a long time. Soon, the sound of the door opening was heard, and then the car drove into the courtyard.

The people inside sat upright, the old man didn't move, and the others didn't dare to move either. Zhang Bing could only sit obediently. The clattering of leather shoes approached from afar, and Lin Jing, dressed in military uniform, walked in.

She was clearly taken aback when she saw Zhang Bing sitting at the door smiling at her, then turned to see the expressions of the others and understood what was going on. Lin Jing went straight to the old man and asked, "Why did you call him here?"

"Why? To get to the bottom of things, of course," the old man said angrily.

"Isn't everything clear already?" Lin Jing said coldly, turning around and pulling Zhang Bing's arm. "Let's go."

Zhang Bing was more than happy to leave this place. Lin Jing's offer was naturally welcome. Just as the two were about to leave, Old Master Lin's booming voice came from behind: "Stop right there!"

"What else do you want to know?" Lin Jing turned to look at her grandfather and asked calmly.

"Know what? You want to know everything!" Old Master Lin said angrily. "That scoundrel is the man the Jiang family has their eye on. What are you going to do now—?"

"In the future, he will still be Jiang Yan's boyfriend," Lin Jing replied matter-of-factly.

"Nonsense! A young woman like that—she can't bear the shame." Old Master Lin's thinking was still quite traditional; he couldn't accept such open-minded views. Therefore, he wanted to get an explanation for his precious granddaughter. "Boy, give me a choice. What do you want to do?"

"I will take responsibility for Lin Jing. Let's discuss this privately. After all, making a public scene like this isn't good for her." Zhang Bing was incredibly troubled. Making a choice at this moment was truly difficult for him.

"Take responsibility? Fine, you want to take responsibility, right? Then you have to choose between that girl from the Jiang family and Jing'er. Do you want Jiang Yan or Lin Jing?" Old Master Lin pressed on.

"—"

"What? Can't answer? Or do you want both? Or do you want neither?" The old man's anger intensified.

"Old Master, your question is a bit unreasonable." Zhang Bing said earnestly. Jiang Yan was his love, and he couldn't give her up; Lin Jing's sudden offering to him, though abrupt, must have its reasons. Moreover, Zhang Bing sensed that this reason was definitely in her favor. She couldn't bear to give him up.

"I never intended to marry him. I was just playing around. I don't like him," Lin Jing said through gritted teeth.

"You're talking nonsense! You're a member of the Lin family, and I won't allow you to do something so disgraceful!" Hearing Lin Jing's irresponsible words, Old Master Lin flew into a rage. Although casual sex or multiple affairs are commonplace for the younger generation, it's still unacceptable to the older generation, especially for someone like Old Master Lin, a soldier with impeccable revolutionary credentials who dedicated his life to the Party and the country.

"I'm doing this because you forced me to," Lin Jing said, her face upturned, refusing to admit defeat easily.

"How did I force you? What does it matter to you whether this boy lives or dies?" Old Master Lin's face turned pale with anger as he pointed at Lin Jing.

"I promised Jiang Yan I would take care of him; he can't die," Lin Jing said coldly, pulling Zhang Bing along. "Zhang Bing, let's go."

"Stop right there! Zhang, give me an answer: are you going to marry our Lin Jing or not?" Unable to deal with Lin Jing, Old Master Lin resorted to venting his anger on Zhang Bing.

“Ah—marry him,” Zhang Bing replied with a wry smile, “if the law allows it.”

“What law allows it?” Old Master Lin was somewhat bewildered.

“Let’s go, Zhang Bing. What’s the point of talking to this old man? He won’t understand.” Lin Jing, without a second thought, grabbed Zhang Bing’s arm and pulled him outside. Zhang Bing cooperated and ran away; the old man’s questions were indeed overwhelming.

Whether or not to marry Lin Jing was a real problem. Not marry her? But he had taken her virginity; marry her? What about Jiang Yan and Xue’er?

Even worse, they hadn’t used a condom. What if she accidentally got pregnant with another Zhang Bing?

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