Chapter 1103: The Blade's Edge

"You're not alone." Zhao Fusheng looked at Chen Shijie and said slowly, "Director Cao told me they're working hard to bring Tong Zhenbang and his gang to justice. Believe me, you'll be able to end this mission soon."

"Is that so?" Chen Shijie had already recovered from his shock, but a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Zhao Fusheng, you've really given me quite a few surprises."

Looking at his old classmate, Chen Shijie said to Zhao Fusheng, "From the time you showed up at the Alley Game Arcade, I felt you seemed different from before. I just didn't expect such a big change."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "No matter how I change, we're still classmates."

He knew that no matter what he said, he couldn't ease the oppression and loneliness in Chen Shijie's heart. After all, walking in darkness for so many years, if not for that glimmer of persistence deep inside, Chen Shijie might have already broken down.

Lin Yutang once said that the word 'loneliness' can be broken down: it has children, melons and fruits, a small dog, mosquitoes and flies—enough to fill a summer evening at the mouth of an alley, full of human warmth. A child holds a melon under a willow shed, a thin dog chases butterflies in a narrow lane; the bustling world is full of laughter, but I alone am left with wind in my temples. Children, fruits, cats, dogs, flies—they are lively, but none of it concerns you. That is loneliness.

For Chen Shijie, whether it was the dazzling lights around him or the laughter and curses of others, none of it had anything to do with him, because he never belonged to that dark world.

"Why did you have to get involved?" Chen Shijie said to Zhao Fusheng in a low voice.

Although he was an undercover cop, to be honest, he really didn't want Zhao Fusheng to get involved in this matter. After all, Zhao Fusheng was an ordinary person, even if he had considerable wealth. But Tong Zhenbang and the people behind him were a group of murderous demons; calling them vicious and evil was not an exaggeration.

Dealing with people like that was not a pleasant experience.

He was in darkness because of work, but Chen Shijie truly didn't want Zhao Fusheng to be part of it.

That was probably the mindset of every cop or undercover agent—they always wanted to keep danger to themselves so that those around them could live in peace.

"Actually, it's not that troublesome." Zhao Fusheng smiled and laid out the entire plan he had with Cao Jianguo to Chen Shijie. Finally, he said with a smile, "If this plan succeeds, you should be able to restore your identity and return to the police force."

Hearing this, Chen Shijie's eyes lit up, and his whole demeanor seemed to brighten.

For him, nothing was more exciting than completing his mission and ending this undercover life. Now, hearing Zhao Fusheng say there was a chance to end it all, Chen Shijie was truly tempted.

"The problem is, Tong Zhenbang isn't easy to trust." Chen Shijie was silent for a moment, then said slowly to Zhao Fusheng, "I've been with him for a while, and I know his character well."

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned by Chen Shijie's words.

"Don't take risks." Seeing Zhao Fusheng silent, Chen Shijie couldn't help but say. He was genuinely worried that Zhao Fusheng might underestimate Tong Zhenbang and cause some irreversible trouble.

Zhao Fusheng's expression was quite calm, as if he wasn't bothered by Chen Shijie's words. Just as Chen Shijie was about to lose patience, he finally said slowly, "As long as Tong Zhenbang wants to make money, he can't do anything to me."

"What do you mean?" Chen Shijie was a bit suspicious, then recalled the information he had seen about Zhao Fusheng earlier. He raised an eyebrow: "You mean that investment company?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "I'm the chairman of Future Group. Most of the successful investment cases of Future Investment Fund were decisions I made. In other words, as long as Tong Zhenbang and the people behind him want to launder money and make profits, they can't afford to offend me."

Chen Shijie was taken aback, then thought about Tong Zhenbang and the ways of those behind him as he knew them. After careful consideration, what Zhao Fusheng said actually made a lot of sense.

Greed is humanity's original sin, especially for these criminals. If they weren't greedy enough, they wouldn't have taken the path of crime.

For the same reason, no matter how bad Zhao Fusheng's attitude was, Tong Zhenbang would have to swallow his pride and endure it, because he needed something from Zhao Fusheng.

"I was worried about how to notify you, but you came to me yourself." Zhao Fusheng said, then smiled at Chen Shijie: "Truly, you can find something without looking, and get it without effort."

Chen Shijie rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay attention to his self-satisfaction. Then he remembered something and asked Zhao Fusheng, "That driver of yours—did he retire from the military?"

Just now, he had barely revealed a trace of his presence when Zhang Qian had already spotted him, which really surprised Chen Shijie.

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and nodded: "Yes, it was him who found you."

"I deliberately let him see me," Chen Shijie quickly said.

Time was limited; they didn't exchange much. After briefly discussing the current situation, they walked out of the classroom.

"If time is tight in the future, I might pass intelligence through you," Chen Shijie said as they walked.

Since things had come to this point and Zhao Fusheng had already reached an agreement with Cao Jianguo, he naturally had nothing more to say.

The only solution was to arrest Tong Zhenbang and his group as soon as possible.

"Okay, Zhang Qian will cooperate with you then," Zhao Fusheng said with a smile.

"Hmm, can I trust him?" Chen Shijie hesitated and asked in a low voice.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "You can treat him as me."

Since he said that, Chen Shijie understood what it meant. It seemed that Zhang Qian was his absolute confidant.

The two walked out of the Central Academy of Drama side by side. Zhang Qian, not far away, nodded to Zhao Fusheng and Chen Shijie, signaling that all was well. Zhao Fusheng didn't exchange any more words with Chen Shijie and walked straight to where his car was parked.

Watching Zhao Fusheng get into the car, Chen Shijie silently got into his own car and drove, keeping a moderate distance behind Zhao Fusheng's car.

He still had to fulfill his obligations, after all, Tong Zhenbang had told him to monitor Zhao Fusheng.

But Chen Shijie also knew that this task wouldn't last long, because Zhao Fusheng had just told him that he would soon arrange a meeting with Tong Zhenbang.

As for the so-called surveillance now, Chen Shijie thought he might take the opportunity to learn about Zhao Fusheng's current life.

But unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed.