Chapter 35 (1/2)
Edited by Bet fro with noise and excitement In a small square not far from a residential area, a plush brown teddy bear with a bow tied around his neck exited a public restroo a backpack He adorably turned his head left and right, glancing around his surroundings with curiosity
The visitors of the square noticed him quickly and turned his way one after another Some lively children shrieked with excite their parents in his direction, wanting to hug the big teddy bear
However, before they got close, the silly looking plush bear dashed towards the street vendors on the outskirts of the square He stopped in front of an old e nu red banknotes from his backpack He unceremoniously stuffed them into the old man's hands
A touched expression appeared on the oldhim Then he picked up his plastic stool andbehind a small tricycle with a bunch of balloons
A second later, the bear put his backpack on the cargo platfor himself into the padded saddle, and skillfully maneuvered the tricycle fro the street stalls and… started to shop while riding
A crowd of onlookers: “…” Oi, this isn't how the plush teddy bear's routine should go, is it?
“Sweets, fireworks, fancy paper lanterns, New Year banners… There are so s—was the New Year's Eve in the city always this lively?” In the teddy bear costume, shi+ Jin appeared cal driven crazy by the steadily increasing progress bar
Xiao Si, who had been silent since shi+ Jin arrived at the square, finally stirred <i found=”” hi=”” hasn't=”” entered=”” the=”” coate!=””>
shi+ Jin's eyes lit up He threw a few red banknotes to afireworks and snatched all the prank fireworks on his stall, piling theot on, then, with his tricycle full of balloons, sweets, and ust of wind and headed for the residential area
The onlookers: “…”
The children ere eager to come over: “…Boohoo, waah, waaah— Bear ran away, I want beaaar!”
Chen Qing was holding the dinner at a coe and was relatively old It had rando spaces The entrance, which faced a busy old town street, could atside by side
Gua One parked at the corner of a street a ways fros ”This area's layout is troublesome: ambushers can hide almost everywhere, and the a away”
Gua Two, in the passenger seat, added, “The co interiors are cramped, and there are no elevators Is the leader of Black Rose out of hisuse this location for dinner—isn't he afraid ill be suspicious?”
Lian Jun glanced at the many people out and about on the street and asked, “Is everyone in position?”
Gua Three, sitting to his left, tapped his tablet a few ti's faovern to identify all the suspicious persons and vehicles The situation inside is unknoe're still waiting for the scouts to get back to us”
Lian Jun nodded He checked the hour, then dialed Chen Qing's number
Gua Nine sat on Lian Jun's other side He i's exact location
The call connected quickly Voice sounding as usual, Chen Qing asked, {Are you here yet, Lian Jun? The soup is about to be done This time, you have to taste redients—I've been picking theo}
Half a led out the relevant part As he looked at the New Year decorations in the displayof a nearby shop, a picture of shi+ Jin's jolly looking snowh his mind For a moment, it dazed him, but he quickly shook himself out of it and focused on the present “Then, by all means, I have to try it I still haven't arrived—the road is narrow and the snow hasn't been cleared yet My car can't get through, I'm afraid I'll be a little late”
{It's fine, this is ot how the roads here are this tietically His words were accoainst a pot and the muffled noise of a television, all very realistic, as if he really was in the kitchen preparing dinner {Be careful on the road, you don't have to hurry Callit is}
Lian Jun seized the opportunity: “No, coate”
Chen Qing was quiet for a few seconds, then he reiterated in a noret here I'll hang up now—I have to finish cooking the soup, you'll be here soon} He ended the call right after
Gua Nine's hands paused in their dance across the laptop keyboard, and he frowned “I've confirmed the call came from somewhere in the co—the call was too short”
“It's enough to know he's really inside” Lian Jun put down the phone and turned to Gua Three “Black Rose has been preparing for this inal residents have been replaced, so warn our people to investigate with caution”
Gua Three nodded and busied hies to his men
After they waited for about ten minutes, the scouts sent back: all appears nor Most probably, Lian Jun's guess was right, and the uise
Everyone inside the car frowned Lian Jun tapped a finger on his knee and instructed Gua One to drive towards the co
The man answered quickly Lian Jun said that he had arrived at the gate of the co refused, sounding very eot a sudden stoical problem Then he relayed the exact address of his house, mentioned that he had unlocked the door already, and asked Lian Jun go straight in
Everyone in the car: “…”
“What now, should ait or go in?” Gua Two asked
Gua Three interjected, “If ait, I believe Mr Chen will call and say he's constipated”
Gua Nine followed suit: “But if we go in, we juer'sfor his decision
“Wait,” Lian Jun announced, in a caler to lead us into a trap If we refuse tocoo in, or we'll just deliver ourselves into their hands”
Lian Jun decided such, so they quietly waited
Threehad yet to call, Lian Jun insisted on not calling him too
The situation reached a deadlock Outside the car, the old town street was full of festive New Year's atmosphere and an occasional pedestrian passed by, but inside, silence reigned It was as if the carseparated two different worlds
“fuck!”
Across the street, in a roo Mei, the leader of Black Rose, took off his headphones and banged his fist angrily on the table, snarling, “fucking Lian Jun, he's as slippery as an eel! He came to meetan old friend, and he's still so wary!”
The deputy next to hi to even enter the community He frowned “What should we do now, Boss? Wait him out?”
“Wait him out my ass! What that man values the most is his own life, and he has seen more traps than we've earned money If we continue to delay, believe me, he will simply break the appoint Mei snapped He composed himself and walked to theto look down at Lian Jun's car on the other side of the street Gnashi+ng his teeth, he growled, “Fine! Make Chen Qing call Lian Jun and try to persuade hi go pick him up!”
The deputy hesitated, then said worriedly, “What if Chen Qing caht even want to take Chen Qing somewhere else to eat”
It wasn't an unreasonable concern Given how cautious Lian Jun was, there was a real possibility he would cajole his friend into giving up thefor dinner at some restaurant in Annihilation's territory
Then, with Chen Qing in Lian Jun's hands, wouldn't Black Rose's play be ruined?
wang Mei's expression distorted and his eyes watching Lian Jun's car darkened He picked up a gun on the cabinet and wiped it studiously, saying, “We can't let Chen Qing follow Lian Jun Send soht now If Lian Jun insists on not entering the co that if he can't persuade Lian Jun to co the car or opening the , giving the snipers an opportunity Tell him that if Lian Jun doesn't die today, his children won't live to see tomorrow!”
The deputy was still uneasy “But…”
“But nothing!” wang Mei interrupted, turning around and pointing the gun at hio back and waste all our preparation? You know, I have no cowards on my staff”
Inti to object further He reassured his boss with a feords, then picked up his phone and contacted his subordinates
Inside the car, Gua One finished exa terrain and said, “There are five sniping positions around here The nearest ones are on the second floors of the shop opposite us and the one behind us In one, the lights are off, we can't see the interior, and in the other, the lights are on, but the curtains are pulled closed Both are suspicious”
“Find so the phone Abruptly, he asked, “What time is it?”
His subordinates were taken aback Gua Three, who happened to look at the tablet at that lanced at the hour and answered, “Half-past six”
They set off around five, and it took half an hour to get there, then they delayed for about an hour Now, it was dark, and the nuood time for an attack
Lian Jun nodded to indicate his awareness of the situation and said, “Order our people to slowly approach this side and prepare for a firefight near the gate The officials should think of a way to clear off the nearby streets so bystanders won't get involved”
Gua Three confirtone attracted the attention of everyone in the car
Lian Jun glanced at the screen “It's Chen Qing,” he said, tapping the ‘accept call' icon
Chen Qing called to ask Lian Jun why he hadn't arrived yet Lian Jun said he was outside the coood to visit eood manners should be observed even between friends Then he asked Chen Qing if he was already free, explaining that the arrangeular—it o, so he needed sohed and teased hiave another excuse and described the way in detail, still hoping Lian Jun could come by himself
Lian Jun continued to be he simply couldn't find the way
The two ood friends ere about to get together It was all very heartwar on the call, al such a pack of nonsense, the fucking liar
When had Lian Jun, the leader of Annihilation, ever learned the traditional code of conduct and goodfruits—did he even knohat the door of a greengrocer's shop looked like? And whether that was the lie or the truth, if he says he wants to buy fruits, then he should at least get off the fucking car!