The man with glasses was ruthless, but I really had no reason to fear him. I had bowed and scraped to wipe the bloodstains from his leather shoes earlier, not because I was scared, but because I was afraid my proud old friend Tie would get hurt.
"If you continue to be this foolish, I'll have to consider whether I want to cooperate with you?"
I patted the face of the man with glasses, a bit too hard, tilting his spectacles.
"I don't understand what you're saying?"
The man with glasses tried to slap my hand away, but I casually grabbed his fingers and twisted! With a yelp of pain, he exclaimed, "Ow, ow, let go."
I released my grip. He rubbed his fingers, which I had nearly twisted off, and glared at me.
"Tie Zhi Shan was once my brother. He killed someone in Beijing and intercepted the Qianlong thumb ring that rightfully belonged to me, then came to seek refuge with your master. If you think you can scare anyone into backing down, I'm telling you bluntly, you might sleep tonight but never wake up tomorrow. You had the two people return to act as police. I assume you've understood my plan. Had it not been for this, you would likely be finished."
The man with glasses looked at me, silent. He was tough, but in terms of presence, he was slightly inferior to me.
"What's your name?" I asked him.
"X Driver Fang Sheng."
"Remove 'X Driver.' As for half or a quarter, he's willing to play along with you, but I have no interest. You're slightly better than your junior, but your skill level isn't even enough to carry the shoes of a real X Driver."
"Tang Nan, you..."
"Don't act all flustered as if your secret has been exposed. Fang Sheng, in this plan, I happen to need one less person. I'll call Lin Zhi Jun, and you will be the one holding the Qianlong thumb ring."
The man with glasses, Fang Sheng, looked at me with a solemn expression. "As far as I know, the plan wasn't supposed to be like this?"
"The plan has always been like this. If it weren't for Zhang Mao's arrogance, I would have already received 30 million yuan."
...
The plan continued. First, negotiate with Lin Zhi Jun, selling him a set of thumb rings at a low price, allowing Lin Zhi Jun to discover through his business acumen that one of the thumb rings was fake. Then, use the jade thumb ring I possessed to swindle Lin Zhi Jun out of 30 million yuan, using this as a stepping stone to open the door to 'Logic Paradox.' Although Zhang Mao's actions had deviated the plan from its course, Lady Luck still favored me. Fang Sheng served the same purpose as Zhang Mao.
About two hours later, Lin Zhi Jun arrived at the hotel. The man with glasses, Fang Sheng, and Lin Zhi Jun were negotiating in the hall outside. I closed the door and listened in the bedroom.
"You want to sell me this set of Qianlong-era thumb rings for 10 million yuan?" Lin Zhi Jun repeated Fang Sheng's words.
"Mr. Lin, is there anything improper with my offer?"
"Heavenly Arts and Crafts Collection Investment Company has been in the news, suspected of fraud. And the artifacts they used were this set of Qianlong thumb rings, weren't they? You want to sell me illegal items for 10 million yuan. Is my money so easily earned, Lin Zhi Jun?"
"Mr. Lin, you're mistaken. Heavenly Arts and Crafts Collection Investment Company may be guilty of fraud, but what crime have the artifacts committed? Yes, I bought them from Heavenly Arts and Crafts Collection, but there's a sales contract!"
Faced with the explanation from the man with glasses, Fang Sheng, Lin Zhi Jun merely smiled. "I, Lin Zhi Jun, never touch illegal items."
"Well said. Since you're here, don't act like a saint. Lin Zhi Jun, how much do you want to buy them for?"
"You might not have understood what I said earlier. I'll be direct: I've already called the police before coming."
Listening in the room, my head was spinning. Last night, I had considered the worst-case scenario, that Zhang Mao would try to make a quick buck and run. I had thought of contingency plans, but I couldn't execute them, and I felt quite humiliated. Fortunately, Fang Sheng's appearance had turned the situation around. But what was happening now? Why was the negotiation about to fall apart? Why wasn't Lin Zhi Jun following my plan? This was the setup phase; why call the police?
There was a commotion outside. It sounded like Lin Zhi Jun and Fang Sheng were fighting. I had to open the door and go out. By the time I came out, Fang Sheng had already broken through the door and escaped.
Lin Zhi Jun shouted, "Tang Nan, don't let him escape."
I was forced to chase after him. He ran fast when escaping. My stamina was definitely better than Fang Sheng's, but after running down one floor, I finally had a chance to tackle him. What I didn't expect was that Lin Zhi Jun had not fallen behind either. He rushed over in time and, together with me, pinned Fang Sheng down firmly. Just then, two police officers ran over and handcuffed Fang Sheng.
Fang Sheng struggled, "I'll kill you!" His struggles were in vain. Fang Sheng then glared at me fiercely, "When I get out, Tang Nan, you're finished."
I remained silent. Lin Zhi Jun smiled and picked up the conversation. "You won't have that chance. Three lives, suspected fraud of over 50 million yuan. Fang Sheng, even if you miraculously avoid the death penalty, you'll never get out of prison in your lifetime."
The police took Fang Sheng away. Lin Zhi Jun called me back to the hotel room, asked for the password, and took out the set of Qianlong thumb rings. He looked at the thumb rings with admiration. It was then that I asked, "Mr. Lin, what exactly happened? This is not what was planned!"
"I received word that you were betrayed. After the transaction today, this Fang Sheng was going to kill you. I reported this to Team Leader Wang, and he decided to wrap things up."
Wrap things up?
The quarter X Driver and half X Driver were just small fry. Were they wrapping things up just like that? However, Team Leader Wang had made this arrangement considering my safety, and I couldn't be ungrateful and blame him.
"Where is the last thumb ring?" Lin Zhi Jun asked me.
I handed the jade thumb ring I was carrying to Lin Zhi Jun. Lin Zhi Jun placed the thumb ring in the lacquered box, a look of joy on his face. "Perfect return, national treasure restored."
"What about the X Driver?"
"I've been monitoring this criminal organization for two years. Today, a total of 302 people were arrested, including two cadres. You could say that the 'Logic Paradox' base in Xi'an has been dismantled. The X Driver is just a toothless tiger; it's no longer a threat. Moreover, we are completely familiar with his criminal methods. If he wants to make a comeback, he'll be discovered very quickly."
The arrest of 302 people showed that the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department was extremely familiar with this criminal organization. Thinking of this, I said dejectedly, "Then my coming to Xi'an was completely useless, and I even held everyone back."
Lin Zhi Jun laughed heartily. "For me, you weren't holding me back at all. You brought my daughter back to me."
"That should be the only use I had."
I was dejected, but Lin Zhi Jun was extremely pleased. "Xiao Tang, one last question for you. Are you really not considering becoming my son-in-law, staying in Xi'an, waiting for the X Driver to make a comeback, and then apprehending him?"
To be honest, I hesitated. Lin Han attracted me, but for some reason, I thought of her family's teapot worth one hundred thousand pounds. In the end, I still shook my head. "We each go our own way. Perhaps we'll meet again."
"What a pity. I will definitely host a banquet to see you off."
...
In the action team, I saw Yu Xiao Luo. It hadn't been that long since we last met, but she had become much thinner. Team Leader Wang had told me that after Hao Zi Ge sacrificed himself, Yu Xiao Luo's work ethic changed; she worked without rest or sleep.
I nodded at her. She looked at me and revealed a smile I hadn't seen in a long time.
"Tang Nan, the X Driver wasn't caught, 'Logic Paradox' has disappeared without a trace, and there's still a lot of work to be done on 'Black Gold.' But you might be getting a long vacation. What are you planning to do?"
"Go back to my hometown to study and take the college entrance examination."
I didn't feel right about this. It felt like an anticlimactic ending. I had been following everything smoothly, and I had adapted well to Xi'an. How did the other side suddenly detect my identity and issue a kill order against me? Moreover, because of this, the years of hard work by the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department had gone to waste.
"I support you."
I looked at the refreshed Yu Xiao Luo. Perhaps in this straightforward girl's heart, the criminals had been apprehended, and Hao Zi Ge's revenge had been achieved. If I told her now that this was all a trap set by the enemy, would she be very disappointed?
"Yu Xiao Luo..."
I thought I should tell her. The feeling of being used was extremely unpleasant; it was a blockage in my heart that I needed to vent.
"Hmm~?"
Yu Xiao Luo smiled at me. I looked at her dark circles, her bright smile. Suddenly, I realized something. This girl, whom I had dared to laugh and be angry with when I first met her, hadn't smiled like this in a long time.
"It's nothing. I can go for lunch. I suddenly feel a bit hungry. Also, it's not far from the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Before leaving Xi'an, I want to buy some souvenirs there."
"That's fine. There's something I need to tell you about Tie Zhi Shan."
I looked at Yu Xiao Luo, thinking, you suspect Tie Zhi Shan of betraying me, but he unexpectedly escaped during the apprehension.
"From the information we've obtained, Tie Zhi Shan betrayed you to gain a foothold in this criminal organization, but he unexpectedly escaped during the apprehension. We will conduct a city-wide search and issue an arrest warrant."
"Thank you. If he contacts me, I will immediately contact the police."
After speaking, I saluted Yu Xiao Luo and turned to leave.
The X Driver's move was truly ruthless, a lizard severing its tail to save itself. He had sensed the police closing in and had simply cut off his tail, abandoning his decade-long setup in Xi'an. Lin Zhi Jun said the X Driver was a toothless tiger, but I could still feel his strong vitality and his cold gaze peering from the shadows.
He was still out there, and he would surely make a comeback. What about me? Would I get involved again? Thinking of this, another question arose: my identity was exposed, but who exposed it? Qin Si Si? No, she wouldn't. Liu Chen Xi? She was already dead. Lina and Leng Yan? No, under these circumstances, Team Leader Wang wouldn't let them see anyone. So, who knew my identity?
Tie Zhi Shan. No, he was the only one who wouldn't expose my identity. Because, in the context of our cooperation, if I was truly favored by Lady Luck, and the entrant changed from Zhang Mao to Fang Sheng, it was more like old Tie had helped me by fanning the flames. I deeply felt his ambition. At this point, it was illogical for him to betray me. Furthermore, there was an important point: Tie had not been put on the wanted list, and he would firmly believe that I hadn't given that letter to the police to protect that money. Therefore, he didn't know my identity at all, so how could he betray me?
Who was it, then?
I began to admire the X Driver. He was truly brilliant, using me as part of his scheme to shake off the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department, which had been investigating him covertly.
...
"Boss, another bowl of liangpi, with extra chili."
Lost in thought, I was walking along the snack street near the Bell Tower when I heard that familiar voice. I walked into the shop and saw a familiar back.