The corpse frozen in the cold cabinet has begun to show signs of livor mortis, while Yan Juanjuan is situated beside it. She looked at the man lying inside, her eyes filled with a gleam of terror.
The room is very dark, the only light source emanating from the cold cabinet. Ye Zi has kept her trapped in this place for two days now, only delivering a little water and food before disappearing again. She doesn’t know where she is or how long she will be confined here, and she has no access to any outside information.
The room is filled with a damp sll, and in the midst of it, she can faintly hear the sound of water flowing and the clatter of pots and pans. Is she behind so kitchen?
Attempting to move herself, hindered by the restraints on her hands and feet, she struggled a few tis before collapsing beside the cold cabinet, coming into indirect contact with the corpse inside it. Terrified, she scread, imagining the dead man suddenly opening his eyes, crawling out to devour her. Yan Juanjuan felt her sanity teetering on the brink.
Supporting her upper body with her shoulder, Ye Zi had deliberately placed her on top of the cold cabinet, making it impossible for her to descend from it. Upon opening her eyes, she could only see the corpse and darkness, leaving Yan Juanjuan with intense fear and psychological trauma due to such ntal suggestions.
Unable to sense the passage of ti, a hazy sense of soone approaching her took hold, Yan Juanjuan blinked her eyes, shivering due to the cold emanating from beneath her. "Who? Who are you?"
A shadow stood before Yan Juanjuan, it was clear this was a man. When Yan Juanjuan realized this, she woke up completely. "What do you want?"
The man wasn’t tall, his sowhat corpulent figure making his slightly protruding head appear comical. He stared at Yan Juanjuan with lifeless fish-like eyes, the wordless deanor evoking images of various murder scenarios.
"Ye, where’s Ye Zi? I want to see her!"
The man tilted his head, and despite Yan Juanjuan’s behavior, he did not give her any chance to resist, pressing her head onto the cold cabinet. She fainted, but blood trickled down from her forehead.
"Didn’t I tell you to go easy?" Ye Zi, who had just arrived, saw the man had already lifted Yan Juanjuan, bloodstains visible on the corner of the cold cabinet, causing her to frown.
"If Miss Ye finds my approach too harsh, why doesn’t she handle it herself!" Evidently, the man wasn’t afraid of Ye Zi; his indifferent attitude elicited only a snort from her.
"Since we’ve got her, let’s hurry it up; Master Ma is waiting."
"Is the vehicle arranged?"
"Of course, it’s a clandestine setup, otherwise how could we get away!" The man stuffed Yan Juanjuan entirely into a sack, tying it with a rope at the entrance and slinging it over his shoulder. "Won’t she suffocate like this? Master Ma wants a living person, not a female corpse."
"Stop always saying ’Master Ma’ in my presence, I don’t take orders from you." The man pressed a switch on the wall, revealing a door and slipped inside. Ye Zi followed closely behind, frowning.
Inside the hidden door was a short passageway, probably only two to three ters long, leading to a residential room where the car was parked at the alley entrance. Following closely behind the man, Ye Zi reached the exit. She went out first to confirm no one was outside before letting the man co out.
"Even Miss Ye has tis of fear, huh? Without Yao Zheng, no one to rely on? Normally, the unmovable one, yet today acts as my chauffeur?" The man started to chatter incessantly once inside the car.
"Shut your mouth, or I’ll cut your tongue so you can never speak again." Ye Zi threatened from the front seat as the car maneuvered from the alley onto the road. To the left was the North District Police Station, and the vehicle headed to the right.
A silver-white QQ followed behind, its front shield dented, weaving between lanes, sotis ahead of Ye Zi’s car, sotis blocked in another lane before falling behind. The battered little car never failed to draw attention as it stopped and started.
"Damn, does this stupid car want to die!" The man seated in the back suddenly blurted out, and Ye Zi glanced to the left. Through the rearview mirror, she’d already noticed the car. She vaguely recalled it had overtaken her from the side earlier; How did it end up behind her!
"Roll up the windows, don’t cause trouble!" The man obediently did as he was told; on the main road, he didn’t want to invite disaster, especially considering they were about to drive past the district police station. The new commissioner was reportedly quite sothing.
The vehicle quickly entered the northbound lane, and the man glanced back. "Miss Ye, where are we headed?"
"That QQ car seems suspicious, let’s loop around first."
"What trouble can an old car possibly cause? It’s just so kid who just learned to drive; I think you’re overthinking it."
"Being cautious never hurts." Ye Zi watched in the rearview mirror as the QQ car stopped at the traffic lights behind her. She continued looking ahead while the QQ car turned left and drove off in another direction. Ye Zi felt she had seen this car sowhere before; perhaps there’s just fewer people driving QQs now, which made it stand out.
"I’m telling you, you’re worrying too much. Those people have already returned to the city center, and the ones left are just useless cops. Once things calm down, they’ll start again. You just need to blow so wind in Master Ma’s ear; how does that sound?" The man started to cozy up to Ye Zi.
"Master Ma will make the arrangents, so stop worrying unnecessarily."
"Miss Ye, co on, I’m the one looking out for you, right? You secretly take Master Ma’s drugs and do weird stuff to get the cops onto us, and I haven’t leaked a bit of it. We’re all just doing the grunt work, so you’ve got to give the brothers so coin to satisfy their hunger. Now Yao Zheng is out of the picture, and the channels are all blocked; those officials have sealed their doors tight. Where are we supposed to get a al? A whole family to feed, and if you don’t blow so wind, are we supposed to drink the northwest wind for sustenance?"
With a squeal, Ye Zi pulled the car over to the side of the road, followed by cars behind slamming on their brakes, with curses raining down for her sudden lane change.
"What do you want to do?" The man sitting behind was startled by her actions, wondering if this woman had gone crazy, cutting across two lanes just like that.
"Were you just threatening ?" Ye Zi examined the man through the rearview mirror.
"Calling it a threat is hurtful!" The man smirked. "Just voicing so complaints, hoping Miss Ye could speak a good word for us underdogs to Master Ma. You’re close to him, and we’re just stray dogs outside."
"Ha, knowing you’re a dog ans you have to act like one. Do what the master asks you to do."
"Miss Ye, things aren’t the sa anymore, even though you’re with Master Ma and working with Yao Zheng. Without us, would you have this reach today? Yao Zheng controls the transport channels, but soone has to be willing to buy from you. If the big and small venues don’t buy the goods, won’t Master Ma’s stock just sit there and rot?"
"Is Master Ma afraid the gravy train’s being cut off?" Ye Zi seemingly understood the man’s words, squinting her eyes. "Master Ma sees the guesthouse is still standing, which ans Master Ma hasn’t given up on the North District yet. What’s the rush? Yao Zheng is just a pawn to Master Ma, now caught, and those clearing the paths for you have died. How can such minor issues scare Master Ma into threats?" Ye Zi paused. "Threatening won’t work. Master Ma’s developed drugs; hasn’t everyone tested them before? Knowing I’m close to him, you should realize I can use those drugs freely. Cops noticing? How do you know this isn’t part of Master Ma’s setup?"
"You..." Master Ma was at a loss for words, letting out a scornful laugh. "If that’s the case, then ask Miss Ye to enlighten us on Master Ma’s stance, so we can give the brothers sothing to say."
"Go back and talk to Master Ma yourself, if you dare." Ye Zi restarted the car and rged back into the lane, turning right into a farming area before hitting the highway.
"How could Master Ma see small fries like us? Miss Ye must be kidding!"
"Master Ma, you finally see yourself clearly; wasn’t it all grandiose earlier?" Ye Zi seized the chance to mock Master Ma. "If it weren’t for Master Ma’s orders, I’d never dare take you over like this. All you’ve done in Horse Gang, Master Ma is aware. Yao Zheng bullies you and withholds your fair share, Master Ma knows, so just get ready, things might get going again any day now."
"Miss Ye, what you said, is it true?" Master Ma’s tone beca soft, leaning toward the driver’s seat. "Apologies for earlier; I hope Miss Ye won’t take it to heart. I’m a blunt person, not accustod to beating around the bush, so please forgive ."
"Ha, Master Ma, saying such things to is fine, but with other bosses, you’d be dead on the spot."
"Thank you, Miss Ye, for the reminder, I’ll keep it in mind."
"About the car you were asked to check on earlier, any progress? Master Ma is waiting for news, and expecting the Horse Gang to dig out what even the underground couldn’t?"
"Miss Ye, don’t say I’m all talk. The underground is nothing; just started early and has more people. But regarding sources, we’re Horse Gang’s people in the market." When it ca to this, Master Ma seed to be unable to stop talking.
"Enough, Master Ma, I’m not interested in your Horse Gang’s achievents. What did you find?"
Sitting in the back, Master Ma’s eyes twitched in resentnt staring at Ye Zi ahead, his often challenged authority, even among those at the lowest rung, has limits of endurance, especially being the gang leader. (Continued in next installnt. If you enjoy this work, you’re welco to visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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