On Friday, after returning home and having dinner, Xu Ze spent two hours working on practice problems. At nine that evening, he got up and went out. He waited for a while at the entrance to the hallway before a bodyguard appeared from who knew where and asked, “Going out?”
Xu Ze nodded. “I can go by myself.”
“Sorry, that’s not allowed.” The bodyguard refused decisively. “Where are you going?”
Knowing he couldn’t hide it, Xu Ze could only answer honestly. “The west side of the city.”
He had expected to be stopped, but the bodyguard merely nodded. “No problem.”
When they arrived at the parking lot, three bodyguards got out of the car along with Xu Ze. They then split up and entered the club separately. In the blink of an eye, Xu Ze could no longer find any trace of them.
Even with his hat on, Xu Ze was recognized at a glance by the omega server at the front desk. The other party waved at him and mouthed, “Number 17.” Xu Ze walked over, and the omega pulled him aside.
“Why did you suddenly come back again?”
Before Xu Ze could answer, an impatient “Get lost!” from a drunk was followed by an alpha being kicked away as if he were a piece of trash. The alpha happened to crash right into Xu Ze.
Xu Ze immediately pulled the alpha behind him while raising his other hand to catch the punch the drunk swung at him, then flung it aside. His movements were clearly those of a trained professional. Beneath the brim of his hat, his eyes carried a warning. The drunk spat irritably, muttered something under his breath, and walked away.
“Number 17?” The alpha emerged from behind him. It was Xiaofeng. He asked in surprise, “What are you doing here?”
“I have something to take care of. Do you have time right now?”
“Yeah, yeah, I do.” Xiaofeng answered immediately.
Xu Ze nodded, then turned to the server and said softly, “I’m leaving first.”
“Mm.” The omega watched him without blinking. “Be careful, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I heard you broke your contract with the big boss. It’s dangerous for you to come here now.” Xiaofeng walked alongside Xu Ze, his tone full of concern. “I’m sure someone noticed you just now. They’ll definitely report it to the big boss.”
Xu Ze only asked, “Has Boss Shao from the casino been here recently?”
“Ah, Boss Shao? He comes here all the time because he has to help the big boss keep an eye on the other areas. You know how the club is getting more and more chaotic. I heard it might be demolished later, so everyone’s trying to make as much money as they can while they still have the chance.”
“What about you?”
“Same as always. Selling cigarettes and drugs, working as a chip runner. If the club really does go under, I’ll just go somewhere else. Maybe I won’t even have to pretend to be an alpha anymore.” Xiaofeng seemed to have only just noticed the pain. He rubbed the hipbone where he had been kicked. “I still have to thank you for getting me the pheromone spray.”
“It’s nothing,” Xu Ze said.
Xiaofeng was fifteen years old that year, a child in the truest sense of the word. He had left home to make a living on his own when he was just a little over ten, struggling to survive amid beatings, kicks, and verbal abuse. Last autumn, because of his naturally low pheromone level and the fact that he hadn’t received the proper nutritional supplements during puberty, Xiaofeng had regressed into a beta. Xu Ze had found a suitable alpha pheromone spray for him and helped him keep the secret.
Being born a beta was perfectly normal, but Xiaofeng knew that if he regressed from an alpha to a beta, he would be mercilessly mocked. People would have one more way to humiliate him, especially in a place like this.
Xiaofeng thought Number 17 was the nicest person in the club.
That was why, when he had first heard the rumors about Number 17 and the big boss, Xiaofeng had even felt a little happy. If those rumors were true, Number 17 wouldn’t be assigned dangerous fights anymore, nor would he have to work himself to the bone to earn money. But as it turned out, Number 17 hadn’t become the big boss’s kept lover. He still bled profusely and suffered serious injuries in the octagon.
The casino had two floors. The first floor was the regular gaming area, open to everyone, while the second floor was the VIP area. It wasn’t just for gambling; it also served as a private room for business negotiations.
Xiaofeng fished a handful of chips out of his pocket and stuffed them into Xu Ze’s hand. “If you just stand around empty-handed, people will start watching you.”
“Thanks.” Xu Ze found a gaming table. He had worked as a dealer here before, so he knew which games were the safest to play. More importantly, from his current position, he had a clear view of the entrance.
After playing a few rounds, his chips had multiplied four or five times. Xu Ze kept looking up at the entrance. Tang Feiyi and his people usually arrived at the club between nine-thirty and ten.
Less than two minutes later, a bodyguard entered the casino. A round had just ended, so Xu Ze gathered all the chips on the table into a box and handed it to Xiaofeng. Xiaofeng was still absorbed in Xu Ze’s skillful gambling techniques and instinctively hugged the box.
Xu Ze looked toward the entrance. The person who walked in wasn’t just Shao Ping. There was also an alpha he recognized—He Yu.
He had only met He Yu a few times. The first time was when He Wei had brought He Yu to watch a fight and tried to sign Xu Ze to a contract. Later, Xu Ze had happened to see He Yu accompanying Tang Feiyi at the club. Some time ago, Xu Ze had heard He Wei mention that He Yu had been driven out of the company and had disappeared.
Xu Ze turned his head and saw Xiaofeng staring intently at Shao Ping and his group, though he couldn’t tell which person Xiaofeng was watching.
“Do you know them?” Xu Ze asked.
Xiaofeng answered a little slowly. “Oh… that one is President He. He’s been coming here for a while. He handles cargo transportation. Boss Shao is very wary of him because President He’s influence is almost greater than his now.” After a pause, Xiaofeng added, “But I think President He is a good person. He’s helped me a few times.”
Xu Ze kept his gaze fixed on Shao Ping’s face until the man went upstairs.
He Yu didn’t follow him up. After entering, he had happened to glance in Xu Ze’s direction and paused, apparently recognizing him.
He walked over, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray at the corner of the gambling table, glanced at the chips in Xiaofeng’s arms, and said with a smile, “You’ve won quite a lot.”
Xiaofeng seemed nervous. He stammered, “I… I had my friend help me win them.”
He Yu then looked at Xu Ze. Xu Ze patted Xiaofeng on the head. “Thanks for your time today. I’ve kept you here long enough.”
Xiaofeng reacted quickly. “Oh, then I’ll get going.”
With so many people around and too many eyes watching, the two went to a secluded passageway.
He Yu took another cigarette and held it between his lips before offering the pack to Xu Ze. Xu Ze shook his head to indicate that he didn’t smoke.
“How has Xiaowei been lately?” He Yu asked after taking a drag.
He still liked to sleep, but he was spending more time studying and taking it seriously. Xu Ze replied, “He’s doing okay.”
“I heard you broke your contract with Tang Feiyi and still haven’t paid the penalty.” He Yu smiled. “Although that kind of contract was unreasonable to begin with, how do you still dare to come here alone?”
“I need money,” Xu Ze said quietly.
He Yu looked at him for a while, then smiled again. “Everyone says you’ve been kept by someone. So the chairman’s son is this stingy, after all?”
Xu Ze didn’t refute the claim. Its premise was wrong from the start. But he knew why people thought that way. The chairman’s son couldn’t possibly be involved with a poor alpha. Using money to buy a little novelty and excitement was indeed a more plausible explanation.
When Xu Ze remained silent, He Yu asked again, “You think that if you come work at the casino, Tang Feiyi won’t find out about you?”
“I don’t know.” Xu Ze lowered his eyes. “I just came to take a look and see if I could work under Boss Shao.”
“Shao Ping?” He Yu seemed so surprised that he found the idea almost absurd. “Tang Feiyi was practically raised by him. A man like that is only more ruthless than Tang Feiyi. He’ll do anything. I suggest you give up on that idea.”
Xu Ze pressed his lips together as if he were considering it. A few seconds later, he said, “I’ll think about it.”
“There’s nothing to think about. You’re still so young. It’s not worth ruining your life here. Don’t come back again.” He Yu glanced at his watch. “I have something to take care of. Can you get out of here by yourself?”
“I can,” Xu Ze said. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He Yu raised a hand slightly. “I’m off.”
After leaving the passageway, Xu Ze sensed that something was wrong. He started walking toward the bar, made his way through the crowded people, and entered the restroom. He then locked the restroom door from the inside and headed straight for the last stall. Gripping the edge of the skylight with both hands, he braced one foot against the toilet tank. The moment he squeezed his entire body through the window, he heard the restroom door being kicked open, followed by the shocked exclamations and curses of the alphas using the toilets.
Xu Ze stepped onto the wall and jumped neatly into the alley. As he ran, he sent a message to the bodyguards, telling them he would reach the parking lot shortly.
After waiting in a corner for a little over half a minute, Xu Ze saw the three bodyguards emerge from the building. He walked over and got into the car.
Even after the car pulled onto the main road, the bodyguards still looked grave. They had lost track of Xu Ze while he was on his way to the bar. Inside the club, Xu Ze moved like a fish in water, familiar with every path and every exit. But that familiarity was an uncontrollable and dangerous variable in their eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Xu Ze said. “Next time, I’ll go in alone and come back to meet up with you as soon as I’m done.”
One of the bodyguards immediately declared, “There won’t be a next time.”
Over the next few days, Xu Ze became busy with his applications and the property transfer. Next Saturday was his birthday. Once his birthday passed, the house could be transferred into his name. Xu Ze wanted to sell it as soon as possible to raise the money for Ye Yunhua’s lung transplant.
Many schools had already contacted Xu Ze through his teachers or approached him privately, hoping he would apply. He didn’t hesitate much before ruling out all the universities outside the capital. He didn’t have any particular major he longed to study, nor was there any specific university he absolutely had to attend. He simply wanted to stay in the same city.
Meanwhile, He Wei, who had been relatively well-behaved throughout the semester, suddenly went crazy.
The deadline for applications was ten o’clock on Wednesday morning. At five minutes to ten, he took out his tablet and logged into the application system. He deleted all three universities that his family had hired professional consultants to select for him, leaving only one university on the list. After clicking Submit, he immediately shut down the tablet and lay face-down on his desk to sleep. Less than half an hour later, two bodyguards came to the classroom and took He Wei away without saying a word.
Xu Ze didn’t tell He Wei that he had run into He Yu at the club. He thought He Yu probably didn’t want He Wei to know, either.
After returning from the west side of the city last time, Xu Ze had thought Lu Heyang would text or call to question him. He had even prepared what seemed like a suitable excuse and, to avoid giving himself away, had silently rehearsed it over and over again. But Lu Heyang never contacted him.
This made Xu Ze even more uneasy than if Lu Heyang had confronted him. It meant Lu Heyang might really be angry, or might have completely given up on him.
Over the weekend, Xu Ze went to the nursing home. Ye Yunhua hadn’t been doing very well lately. She frequently experienced difficulty breathing and needed oxygen for long periods. However, her emotions seemed much calmer. She lay quietly in bed and no longer asked when Qiao Yuan would come to take her home.
On Wednesday, Xu Ze took the preliminary exam for the first university. It was the seventh day He Wei had been absent from school and the sixteenth day since Xu Ze and Lu Heyang had lost contact.
On Thursday, Xu Ze had the preliminary exam for the Military General Academy. He had seen the information on its official website. As for why he had been browsing the website of the Military Education General Academy in the first place, it seemed to be the only thing he could find that was related to Lu Heyang.
Xu Ze hadn’t returned to the auto repair shop since submitting his applications. He had been concentrating on preparing for his exams. During this period, as he gradually detached himself from the various incidents, he had vaguely realized that whatever the purpose of that text message might have been, it certainly hadn’t been sent out of simple goodwill to inform him of the hidden circumstances surrounding his father’s death in the line of duty. The last time he went back to the west side of the city, he had already stepped halfway into a trap. He had to stop first.
His phone rang once. Xu Ze picked it up and looked at the screen. It displayed “Number 9”—a number Lu Heyang had used before.
Xu Ze immediately unlocked his phone and opened the message. Lu Heyang had sent him a URL, accompanied by just three simple words:
Sign it.
When Xu Ze opened the link, he found an electronic signature form for a subsidy application. He skimmed through it and signed his name, then exited the webpage and replied to Lu Heyang:
I’ve signed it.
After waiting for a while without receiving a reply, Xu Ze gathered his courage and asked:
Can I call you now?
A few seconds later, Lu Heyang replied:
Go ahead.
With permission, Xu Ze called him. But when he heard that familiar “Hello,” he suddenly didn’t know how to begin. He hadn’t really planned what to say in the first place. He had simply wanted to hear Lu Heyang’s voice.
“I’ve been in closed training the whole time. I haven’t been using my phone much.”
Lu Heyang’s tone was flat. Xu Ze guessed it was probably because he was tired. He responded with an “Mm” and asked, “When you called me last time, was there something you wanted to talk about?”
That night, he had been so distracted by the unfamiliar text message that he couldn’t think clearly. Only afterward, when he checked his call history with Lu Heyang, did he realize that the call had lasted barely more than ten seconds. They had practically hung up right after exchanging a few words.
“Isn’t it a little late to be asking that now?”
It was far too late. Xu Ze was just about to apologize when Lu Heyang asked him in return, “Is there something you want to talk about now that you’re calling me?”
“No,” Xu Ze answered.
“Are you sure there’s nothing?”
There really wasn’t. He just wanted to hear Lu Heyang’s voice. Xu Ze answered again, “I’m sure.”
“Then let me ask you something else. Over the past half month or so, has anyone strange contacted you, or have you received any unusual messages?”
Xu Ze had thought Lu Heyang would ask him about going to the club, but he hadn’t expected Lu Heyang to skip over his actions and ask directly about the original trigger instead. The false excuse he had repeatedly rehearsed was now useless. Xu Ze paused for a long time before saying, “I don’t think so.”
“Is it that you don’t think so, or are you certain there weren’t any?”
Lu Heyang’s tone remained flat. He wasn’t impatient or agitated. He was calm and patient, without the slightest hint of aggression. Yet Xu Ze felt the tension of being in an interrogation room and instinctively held his breath.
“Xu Ze.” At that moment, Lu Heyang called his name again. “Can you give me an answer without lying or hiding anything?”
Xu Ze lowered his head. Four or five seconds later, he said, “I can.”
Lu Heyang said nothing, waiting for Xu Ze to continue.
“Last time, at the hotel, I received a message in the evening. There were several pictures in it, about…” Xu Ze paused. “About my dad. It seems to be connected to an alpha from the club.”
“What’s the problem with asking?” Lu Heyang didn’t ask what the relationship was. He only asked, “Can you investigate this yourself? While making sure you’re safe and that it won’t affect your upcoming exams?”
The answer was obvious. Xu Ze wasn’t unaware of his own limitations, but it seemed that only now did that overwhelming sense of helplessness truly wash over him. He pressed his fingers against the corners of his eyes and admitted, “I might not be able to… handle this on my own.”
“It’s okay. Send me the pictures.” Lu Heyang’s voice softened slightly. “I’ll take care of it.”
At ten that night, Lu Heyang and Gu Yunchi left the training dormitory and got into a car heading for the airport. The preliminary examination for the Military General Hospital had ended that day, which meant the basic training courses were temporarily over. From then on, they would need to decide which branch of the military to apply for before undergoing specialized training and examinations.
After getting into the car, Gu Yunchi put on his headphones and sleep mask to rest. Lu Heyang opened his tablet and began looking through the pictures Xu Ze had sent him.
There was nothing wrong with the case records, and the seal of the Capital General Bureau was genuine as well. Yet Lu Heyang couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He scrolled to Shao Ping’s photograph, a black-and-white still taken from surveillance footage, and studied it for a long time.
Then he realized what was unusual.
He returned to the first picture. The date of the incident recorded in the case file and the date shown on the surveillance footage were the same. There was nothing wrong with that.
Lu Heyang returned to the home screen and located a folder. Before opening it, he hesitated for a rare moment.
The folder contained the information Jiang Wen had previously sent him about He Yi’s family. Lu Heyang’s eyes swept over the lines of text: the date of the general election ten years ago, the locations of the properties registered under He Yi and his spouse’s names—
Until now, Lu Heyang had been able to guess who was behind the messages sent to Xu Ze. But that was no longer the most important thing.
The tall streetlights flashed past the car windows. The vehicle was speeding down the expressway toward the airport at a hundred kilometers per hour. The interior was quiet and dim.
Lu Heyang turned off his tablet. After sitting in the same position for several minutes, he picked up his phone and dialed the landline in his family’s living room.
The housekeeper answered quickly.
“Hello?”
“Auntie, have you cleaned my room these past few days?”
“Yes, I’ve cleaned it every day.”
“Has anything new appeared in my room?”
“Yes. A few days after you went abroad, I noticed a very thick document envelope on your desk. Would you like me to mail it to you?”
The headlights reflected off a distant overhead road sign, sending a flash of bright white light across Lu Heyang’s eyes. He slowly leaned back against the seat, finding support for his body, before replying, “No need. I’ll be home in the early hours of the morning.”