"A sting operation, of course!"
Su Ci watched out the window with interest. Cheng Yang lay on the bench like a dead dog, baking in the sun like a steamed prawn. From the surface, there were no visible injuries, and no kind-hearted passersby came over to check on him.
Just then, two extended business vans aggressively burst into view. The windows were specially treated, making it impossible to see inside. A BMW followed closely behind.
They didn't come in peace. Su Ci checked the time and guessed it was Cheng Mingliang. She opened the car door and stepped out. "Sister Su, let's go down. Wanting, finish up the documents. As for Captain Qin, stay in the car for now and wait for my signal."
Jiang Su opened her door and got out, standing beside Su Ci next to Cheng Yang, quietly waiting for the impending storm.
The vans drove up to the three of them. The passenger in the front van nudged the driver with his shoulder, a lewd grin on his face. "Li Si, look. These two chicks are real lookers. If only we could... hehehe!"
"Where?"
"Where are they?"
The dozen or so men in the back acted like they hadn't seen a woman in ten lifetimes, looking around excitedly with greasy smiles.
Li Si chuckled and teased, "Zhang San, look at how impatient you are. Don't forget why we're out here. Once we finish this job, Brother Cheng will take us to the club for a foot massage. We can play however we want then."
As he spoke, his eyes followed Zhang San's pointing finger. In that single glance, he noticed Cheng Yang lying on the bench. "Holy shit!"
He slammed on the brakes instantly. Zhang San and the others in the van were nearly sent flying, and the three vehicles behind were forced to come to a screeching halt as well.
"What are you doing?! You called me impatient, but you're even worse. Well? Are they hot or what?"
The passenger couldn't help but tease.
Everyone in the van burst out laughing.
"Impatient my ass! Do you only have eyes for women? Didn't you see the Young Master on the bench?"
At Li Si's reminder, everyone reflexively looked at the bench. They saw their Young Master lying there unconscious, his eyes bruised and purple as if he'd been beaten.
Li Si and the group scrambled out of the van in a panic.
In the BMW, Cheng Mingliang was about to call Su Ci to confirm the location. However, thanks to Li Si's sudden braking, his face slammed into the back of the front seat. A warm sensation flowed from his nose. He reached up and felt wet blood. He couldn't help but curse:
"Fuck! How are you driving? Do you want to lose your job?!"
The driver was on the verge of tears. "Boss, the car in front slammed on the brakes. That's why I stopped."
Cheng Mingliang didn't say much more. He hurriedly pulled out some tissues to wipe his nose. When the bleeding wouldn't stop, he crumpled them into balls and stuffed them up his nostrils. He pounded the back of the seat. "Dammit, get out and see what's going on! If it's not something serious, I'm going to make them pay!"
The group got out of the cars in a rush. With their suits, ties, slicked-back hair, expensive watches, and polished leather shoes, they had the air of high-society figures. Yet, this attire still couldn't mask the thuggish aura radiating from their very bones.
As soon as Cheng Mingliang got out, he didn't even look around before he started cursing at Li Si's group, revealing several gold teeth. "What the hell are you good for? You can't even drive! I'm wasting my money supporting a bunch of useless trash like you."
Li Si stammered, "L-Leader..."
Before he could finish, Cheng Mingliang slapped him. "What 'Leader'? Don't you know we went legit years ago? Call me Boss."
Li Si immediately corrected himself, his lips trembling as he pointed toward Su Ci. "Boss, the Young Master is over there."
Su Ci watched the farce unfold before her, finding it utterly dull.
Cheng Mingliang truly lived up to his name; his bald head shone brightly in the sunlight. He wore a gold necklace as thick as a dog chain around his neck and a large gold watch on his wrist, as if terrified people wouldn't realize he was wealthy.
To truly successful people, such tacky attire was the hallmark of a nouveau riche. They would clumsily mimic the way the elite spoke, yet their behavior remained entirely out of place in high society.
Most elite families wouldn't associate with them, so it was inevitable that they were out of the loop.
Cheng Mingliang glanced at Cheng Yang on the bench, then spoke disdainfully to Su Ci and Jiang Su. "So you're the ones using my son to threaten me!"
Su Ci shrugged and said nonchalantly, "If that's what you think, then sure."
Cheng Mingliang had never seen someone so brazen about threatening others. Even before he entered the real estate industry, he had never been as arrogant as Su Ci. He pointed at her in a rage. "You..."
Just then, Cheng Yang twitched and groaned. It was as if Cheng Mingliang's belated fatherly love had awakened his consciousness, and he began to babble incoherently.
Cheng Mingliang immediately swallowed the rest of his words.
Cheng Yang made incoherent sounds, as if seeking the protection of his father's broad chest to shield him from all storms.
But he couldn't see anything now. He fumbled around blindly and accidentally tumbled right off the bench.
Su Ci and Jiang Su reacted quickly, stepping out of the way with looks of disgust. "That was close. He almost got my shoes dirty."
Hearing that voice like a whisper from the Reaper, Cheng Yang was like a startled bird. He tried to back away, but the bench behind him left him with nowhere to go. Perhaps because Cheng Mingliang was nearby, he gained some courage and opened his mouth, letting out a "Bo-bo" sound.
Cheng Mingliang also realized something was wrong with Cheng Yang, and his eyes nearly split with rage.
Even though Cheng Yang was the most useless of his sons...
...he was still his own flesh and blood. Seeing him reduced to this state, how could he remain calm?
Cheng Mingliang roared at the two women, "What have you done to my Cheng'er?!"
The familiar voice allowed Cheng Yang to pinpoint Cheng Mingliang's general location. With his eyes tightly shut, he stumbled to his feet, dragging a limp hand behind him. He shuffled over frantically with his feet turned outward, looking quite comical and bizarre—like a conscious but stiff-limbed zombie.
After much fumbling, Cheng Yang finally hugged... Li Si's thick waist, his mouth constantly opening and closing as he made "Bo-bo" sounds.
Before infants learn to speak, their pronunciation isn't smooth. The syllable "Bo-bo" sounds similar to "Baba."
Su Ci didn't stop this touching father-son reunion. She even admired her own generosity. Although Cheng Yang had identified the wrong father, it didn't really matter.
She wasn't afraid that her negotiations with Cheng Mingliang would fall through.
Cheng Mingliang looked at his second son in disbelief. He had been fine this morning, so how had he become this ghostly wreck? He questioned Su Ci again, "What on earth did you do to my son? He couldn't have possibly offended you that much, right?"