Chapter 18: Dad Loses His Temper

That night, Zhao Liangyan, still unaware that Chen Lie had returned, was once again on the move like a hardworking old ox, heading over to visit his free-spirited childhood friend, Zhang Dongsheng.

Zhang Dongsheng came from a well-connected family—seriously well-connected. But because of that background, he and everyone associated with him were constantly under scrutiny from all directions.

Among those keeping an eye on him was, of course, his own father, who was always looking for a chance to catch him and ship him off to the remote northwest. Even a crafty rabbit has three burrows—how much more so for Zhang Dongsheng...

Following his usual routine, Zhao Liangyan scouted the area as he walked, making sure it was safe before sneaking into a modest-sized courtyard.

He had barely set foot inside when he was tackled to the ground before he could do anything else.

Someone clamped a hand over his mouth for good measure.

Zhao Liangyan was completely stunned. For a split second, he was dazed—then caught a glimpse of the shoes on his assailant and immediately gave up resisting.

After about two minutes, the people searching the house returned.

“Report! There’s a secret passage leading to another courtyard, but there’s no one there.”

“Has he not come back yet, or did he just leave?” asked a slightly older voice.

“He probably hasn’t come back yet.”

There was a brief silence, then footsteps approached Zhao Liangyan.

They stopped in front of him. No one told him to get up, and no one asked any questions.

Zhao Liangyan was a man of peace, not used to this kind of iron-blooded, intimidating presence. He forced a smile, managed a couple of awkward laughs, and called out, “Uncle Zhang.”

Old Man Zhang snorted. “Where’s that rascal Zhang Dongsheng?”

“I have no idea! I just got here myself, hadn’t even seen him yet before your men tackled me to the ground.” Zhao Liangyan didn’t even bother getting up, just lay there talking to Old Man Zhang. “Uncle Zhang, I only found out about this place before my last business trip...”

Honestly, Zhao Liangyan felt utterly hopeless—completely, utterly hopeless!

He was a grown man with kids of his own. If Uncle Zhang kicked his ass today, even if no one else found out, he’d still feel humiliated!

Old Man Zhang gave his arm a nudge with his foot. “Get up.”

“I won’t!” Zhao Liangyan was feeling wronged—so wronged he didn’t care about saving face anymore. “If you want to hit me, go ahead! Whatever!”

“...” Old Man Zhang’s stern face grew even more severe. “Get up!”

“No!” Even the most honest man has a temper!

Old Man Zhang: “What do you think you look like? I told you to get up, so get up! I’m not going to hit you today!”

Zhao Liangyan hesitated. “...Honestly, the ground feels pretty cool.”

Old Man Zhang ignored his nonsense and just asked, “How do you usually get in touch with Zhang Dongsheng?”

“It’s always one-way. If he doesn’t contact me, there’s no way for me to reach him—unless I wait for him at a spot he told me about. Like tonight.”

Old Man Zhang only half-believed him. Seeing that Zhao Liangyan wasn’t saying anything more, he didn’t press. Instead, he asked, “Tell me, has he done anything illegal or against the rules?”

Before Zhao Liangyan could get up, he added, “Or has he ever talked anyone into doing anything illegal?”

“Don’t lie to me. Just tell the truth. If you dare lie, I’ll beat you up, and your own father will too.”

Zhao Liangyan was exasperated. “Uncle, how old are you? Why do you still act like a kid, always threatening to tell on people to their parents?!”

Old Man Zhang didn’t reply. Zhao Liangyan paused, then sighed. “As far as I know, no.”

Zhang Dongsheng’s nightclub was just that—a nightclub. It was just a place for people to gather. He wasn’t up to anything shady.

But what people did after meeting at the club, or who they met there, was out of his hands.

“Really?” Old Man Zhang squinted at him. “He hasn’t been messing around with any girls?”

“Uncle, weren’t you asking about illegal stuff? Chasing girls doesn’t count, right?” Zhao Liangyan’s voice grew smaller and smaller. “As long as it’s consensual, that doesn’t count, right?”

Never mind the connections—just look at Zhang Dongsheng’s looks and money. Anyone with half a mind would be throwing themselves at him!

And there’d be a whole line of them, too!

“All right, let me put it another way,” Old Man Zhang snorted. “Without the ‘consensual’ part, has he ever forced himself on any girls?”

Zhao Liangyan: ...

Should he tell the truth?

He was just debating whether to answer when a lazy, teasing voice rang out, “Of course he has! He definitely has!”

Zhao Liangyan and Old Man Zhang’s whole group looked up at the wall of the neighboring courtyard. Someone was squatting up there, waving at them.

Who else could it be but Zhang Dongsheng?

Zhang Dongsheng waved, grinning cheekily at Old Man Zhang, then made a “time out” gesture. “Right there! Don’t come any closer. If you take even half a step forward, I’ll run for it right now, and you’ll never find me!”

Old Man Zhang’s temper flared. “Get over here!”

“No way. If I go over there, you’ll just get angrier. And if you get mad, it’s bad for your health.” Zhang Dongsheng squatted on the wall, keeping a close eye on his dad, clearly ready to make a break for it at any moment. “Didn’t the doctor tell you when you went to the sanatorium? Are you really getting more childish as you get older, needing people to coax you?”

“Shut your mouth!” Old Man Zhang didn’t move. “Who have you been messing with now? I’m telling you, if you ever run into someone tougher than you, you’ll be in for it!”

Zhang Dongsheng stood up and clapped. “That’s my dad—always spot on!”

Old Man Zhang suddenly had a bad feeling.

“I’m telling you, I really did run into someone tougher than me—tough and nasty!”

Old Man Zhang: “...”

Zhao Liangyan gritted his teeth. “Would you shut up already? You’re not a kid anymore, but you still act like one.”

“So what if I’m not a kid? Chasing girls—how is that childish?” Zhang Dongsheng grinned.

Zhao Liangyan wanted to strangle him. “Get down here. Come down and talk.”

There weren’t many families living here, but there were some. Voices carried at night, and talking from the top of a wall was just begging to become neighborhood gossip!

But Zhang Dongsheng wouldn’t budge. He stubbornly refused to come down and was about to spout some more nonsense when someone kicked him in the butt.

He toppled straight into the courtyard where Zhao Liangyan was.

Old Man Zhang didn’t move a muscle, just watched as his son fell off the wall.

Zhang Dongsheng had been toughened up by his dad since he was a kid, so he landed with some skill, rolled to absorb the impact, then jumped up, fuming, and looked back.

One look and he exploded. “Chen Lie, you little bastard! You’re a grown man—still tattling? Have you no shame?!”

“Shut up!” Old Man Zhang strode over and gave him a kick. “Chen Lie’s already married twice, and you—useless idiot—are still single!”"