Chapter 859: Unyielding Bonds and Uncertain Futures

Someone will interrogate and investigate him, then deliver his final punishment.

The results of the interrogation and the judgment on his execution will be sent to you immediately. But…

If you’re still uneasy, you can follow me and take a look.

……

Chen Jing and a team of armed personnel from the Special Cleaning Department escorted Mr. Song out of the villa. They paused briefly at the fork in the road outside before Chen Jing turned to Lu Xin, her questions laced with a hint of inquiry.

“Don’t worry.”

Lu Xin smiled at her and replied, “I honestly didn’t expect things to go this smoothly — it’s way beyond what I thought.”

“Honestly, I was worried things might not go so well either.”

Looking at Lu Xin’s sincere expression, Chen Jing unexpectedly sighed and whispered, “When the security team reported in, both I and everyone at the Special Cleaning Department were gripped by fear and panic. That fear was no less intense than the dangers you face; we were all anxious that years of hard work might collapse into ruin…”

Her words weren’t very direct, yet Lu Xin understood perfectly.

Indeed, as soon as he returned, he and Chen Jing located Mr. Song.

And without much struggle, they captured him.

But what if Mr. Song, unwilling to accept defeat, musters every bit of his strength to resist?

Qinggang may have men like him, but it also has people like Chen Jing who can’t bear to see years of effort go to waste.

“That’s never going to happen.”

Lu Xin replied with a smile, “He’s just one man. I’m not so fragile that I’d blame a minor issue on the entire world. After all, I believe there are more good people and good things around us than you might think!”

“Phew……”

Chen Jing exhaled softly, her eyes on Lu Xin revealing a rare tenderness.

Usually, such gentle eyes only appeared when she looked at the Hide-and-Seek game — especially the pink one.

“That’s good. You should go back and rest.”

Chen Jing smiled, “Don’t let this ruin the joy of reuniting with your classmates.”

“Take care, boss…”

With the weight of the event seemingly lifted from their hearts, everyone sighed in relief and said their goodbyes to Chen Jing. Even Number Three and Number Five, who had just begun to see her in a new light, now—like Lu Xin—trusted her completely, their initial doubts fading away.

Likewise, the seasoned hitman in the Jeep bowed his head in resignation.

“Good, good. This nightmare is finally coming to an end. Later, I’ll find a hotel, have a good shower, and get some sleep…”

“And wake up tomorrow…”

Before her thoughts could settle, Chen Jing, turning back suddenly, called out, “By the way, there’s you.”

“Did you volunteer at Special Cleaning Department D-Group, or should I send someone to pick you up?”

……

“?”

The seasoned hitman was dumbfounded, lifting his head with an expression that betrayed an almost tearful exasperation.

“Don’t worry.”

Chen Jing smiled reassuringly, “D-Group in Qinggang doesn’t need anyone on the operating table, and we rarely use you as cannon fodder.”

“Also, once you accumulate three hundred credit points at D-Level, you can leave. Considering your significant contribution to this investigation mission, I’ll have you granted two hundred points right off the bat so you can exit sooner.”

“Alright…”

Listening to her thoughtful and considerate words, the seasoned hitman could only nod in resignation.

“I’ll just take a taxi there on my own…”

……

“Fine.”

With a smile, Chen Jing departed, “That counts as surrendering voluntarily — plus it’ll add ten extra credit points.”

……

……

Lu Xin and the others watched as Chen Jing left, then noticed the seasoned hitman obediently taking a taxi to report to the Special Cleaning Department.

Lu Xin couldn’t help but muse, “Seems like this hitman isn’t very professional, but at least he knows his limits.”

“Jiu Ge, you’re really doing well these days…”

After the tension lifted, Number Fourteen joined in, exclaiming, “The boss actually cares about your feelings…”

“Not too bad…”

Lu Xin’s mood brightened even more as he modestly replied, “She was the one who recruited me, and we’ve always been close.”

Number Fourteen marveled, “That’s amazing. Being close to the boss makes everything so much easier.”

“Not bad.”

Lu Xin thought with pride, “Normally, Chen Jing barely audits my expenses; she just signs off with a wave.”

But that’s not something you discuss openly.

Number Three snorted at their proud expressions, saying, “Our director listens only to me, after all.”

Lu Xin and Number Fourteen pretended not to hear him.

Number Five tilted his head and frowned, “Aren’t you guys a bit childish?”

“Ha, in the lab, I’m the one in charge. Who did you think would know that?”

……

Lu Xin and Number Three exchanged polite smiles, choosing not to argue.

After all, one works at the Administration Hall and the other at the Special Cleaning Department — a makeshift lab simply can’t compare.

……

……

“Alright, everything here is wrapped up. Where to next?”

Seeing that Chen Jing and the others had already left, Number Fourteen let out a long sigh, patted his stomach, and curiously asked,

“Home!”

Lu Xin smiled at them, “You worked so hard to get back; I’ll treat you all to a meal.”

Instantly, everyone’s mood lifted. They piled into the car Chen Jing had left behind, chatting about what to eat.

Number Fourteen excitedly suggested, “How about some barbecue?”

“Remember that stand outside the orphanage when we were kids? We’d press our faces against the door every day…”

“Ah, but the Old Director was always worried it wasn’t hygienic, so he wouldn’t let us eat.”

“Right, and then that guy selling barbecue got arrested, didn’t he?”

“Yes, I heard he was a murderer. The entire courtyard was covered in hair.”

“Delicious…”

“Now that you mention it, I kind of miss those days…”

……

The group reminisced nostalgically, though the driver’s face had taken on a greenish tint.

Since Number Fourteen made the suggestion, Lu Xin readily agreed to treat them to barbecue.

Barbecue is such a bargain!

He immediately began planning how best to treat his classmates — after all, he was the one inviting them, and cutting costs wasn’t an option.

So he directed the Jeep toward Doll’s villa.

By now, Doll had already known of their arrival — or rather, she had known since they entered Qinggang.

But being considerate, she didn’t disturb them while they were busy.

Only now did she, like a gracious hostess, stand early at the villa door waiting for them.

Seeing her smiling warmly there, Lu Xin was momentarily troubled about how to introduce her.

Fortunately, Number Fourteen stepped in enthusiastically and introduced her as “Jiu Sao” with great fervor.

Number Five and Number Three looked on in surprise.

They first glanced at Doll, then at Lu Xin.

Suddenly, their expressions twisted unnaturally, and they shook their heads ever so slightly, sighing softly.

That reaction…

…made Lu Xin feel even better!

At a class reunion, it’s not enough for everyone to just beam when they see you, right?

No.

It’s most important that they be happy, with a hint of surprise and admiration too!

……

……

When Number Fourteen mentioned barbecue, Doll immediately sprang into action — meaning she hurried over to the nanny teams to announce that she wanted barbecue. In a way, that was a good sign; Lu Xin had worried if she were left to prepare things by herself she might even bring along a few sheep. Then she set up a table in the courtyard, arranging several chairs, a huge grill, a microwave, and more.

Everyone sat down, chatting casually.

Doll bustled around happily.

Even the nanny teams couldn’t help but remark that Doll’s courtyard had never been so lively.

After all, wasn’t she once known for disliking noise?

And oily foods? She used to barely even glance at them.

Amid these musings, as the meat and seasonings were prepared without the nanny teams having to lift a finger, Number Fourteen took charge, skewering pieces of meat each as big as a fist. As he carefully rubbed oil and spices onto them, he praised how it was always best when prepared by Jiu Sao — beautiful, generous, and wealthy; the meat was always the finest, and his praise even made his lips taste as if they had honey on them.

Doll’s cheeks flushed red from the compliments.

Nearby, Number Five, listening intently, seized a moment to quietly ask Doll,

“Interested in investing in a new medicine I’m developing? It only needs a few billion.”

“……”

Doll listened, clearly tempted.

Lu Xin quickly intervened, “Leave her alone — she only has three hundred million in total…”

……

……

Night had fallen before they knew it.

Everyone sat in the villa courtyard with the lights on, enjoying Number Fourteen’s barbecue. Each skewer was juicy, grilled to a perfect crisp outside yet tender within. After such tension, they savored an uncommon sense of contentment.

It seemed none had imagined that after all those years apart, they’d have the chance to sit down together over a meal.

Yet many were still missing.

“Among those still alive, aside from us, isn’t it only Teacher Xiao Lu, Number Two, Number Seven, and Number Twelve?”

Lu Xin, holding a beer, said slowly, “Teacher Xiao Lu is just an ordinary person. She’s been through tough times lately, so I won’t let her involve herself in such dangerous matters. But if you want to see her, that’s still possible.”

“As for Number Two, he’s probably still in Flame City. I’ll go pick him up tomorrow.”

……

“Number Two doesn’t need you to pick him up; just have Fat Fourteen look for him.”

Number Five jammed a skewer of meat into the burly man’s mouth — even tossing the metal stick along — as he mechanically chewed.

Then, with a slight, knowing smile, he looked at Lu Xin and said, “I can tell you’re a bit nervous right now. But no matter how nervous we are, it doesn’t help. Number Seven is dead set on following the Old Director; ever since our orphanage days, she’s always been different from us.”

“As for Number Twelve, he’s the best at hiding — no one can ever find him.”

“And that girl named Little Deer…”

“……she really shouldn’t be involved in what we’re about to do.”

“……”

At this point, she paused and looked earnestly at Lu Xin, saying, “But Jiu Hao, aren’t you missing the point?”

“The point…”

Lu Xin was taken aback for a moment, “Finding the Old Director?”

“No.”

Number Five shook his head, “The Old Director is unreachable. More importantly, we can’t even dare look for him now.”

“The key is…”

She sighed softly, looking earnestly at Lu Xin, “Can you really protect us now?”

“……”

The courtyard quieted as leaves drifted lightly from the bare branches.

After a moment, Lu Xin looked up to see everyone watching him.

He smiled and said, “Perhaps I should address that tomorrow.”

“This setup by the Black Spade Office inadvertently helped me understand something…”

“About the Unique Consciousness — perhaps it’s time we put an end to it…”