Chapter 0017: Infernal Affairs

We cannot foresee the path ahead, so we must focus on taking every step under our feet. What is meant to happen will happen, whether you worry about it or not.

Move forward, look ahead—life is that simple.

Every strong person has a soft heart. Adjust your mindset, and gentleness will follow. Cry to yourself, smile for others—that is what life is about.

They say you can meet anyone anywhere. Zhao Fusheng never imagined he would encounter this person here in Hanjia Alley.

Everyone has such an experience in childhood: in middle or high school, there is always someone who shines—either academically gifted, athletically talented, or handsome. In short, a persona like Rukawa Kaede always makes people look up to him involuntarily.

Standing before Zhao Fusheng was the man who had been known as the school heartthrob in his high school days—Chen Shijie.

In his memories, Chen Shijie was the most accomplished among all of Zhao Fusheng's high school classmates. By the age of forty, he had reached the position of deputy director of the Ninghai Provincial Public Security Department. Of course, this also had something to do with his marrying well. After all, not everyone has a father who was the former secretary of the provincial political and legal committee.

Although Chen Shijie's wife was ten years older than him, perhaps, compared to his future, love might not be that important.

When Zhao Fusheng was first reborn, he hadn't thought of Chen Shijie. In his previous life, their interactions were few; most of what he knew about Chen Shijie came from occasional high school reunions.

But now, the man stood before him alive, transformed into a thug hanging around in arcades. The force of temporal dislocation struck Zhao Fusheng's heart in an instant, leaving him at a loss.

What surprised him even more was that Chen Shijie clearly recognized him, but what baffled Zhao Fusheng was that Chen Shijie blinked and said nothing.

If he remembered correctly, Chen Shijie had applied to police academy after high school. What was going on now?

But Zhao Fusheng was no child. Since the other man didn't greet him, there must be a reason. So he didn't dwell on it and instead looked at the fat man. "Are you the boss?"

Obviously, this man must be the boss.

The fat man glanced at Zhao Fusheng, then at the tattooed man. "You know him?"

The tattooed man whispered a few words in the fat man's ear. The fat man sized up Zhao Fusheng with some surprise before speaking. "Fan Jian owes me over forty thousand here. With interest, it's fifty thousand. What, are you here to pay off his debt?"

Although Zhao Fusheng was a good fighter, the fat man didn't take him seriously.

These days, relying on fists won't get you anywhere in society. After several crackdowns in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, the tough guys on the streets had all been taken down. Nowadays, thugs rely on their brains, not their fists.

"I can pay you back, but not now."

Zhao Fusheng said flatly, then gave the tattooed man a cold look. "I'm here to tell you: next time you come to our house causing trouble, don't blame me for being rude."

The fat man was taken aback, then pointed a finger at Zhao Fusheng. "You've got guts!"

He then looked at the men beside him. "Did you hear that? Before Fan Jian's IOU is due, don't bother them again."

The thugs quickly nodded in agreement, acting like obedient children.

Zhao Fusheng frowned, surprised that the fat man was so easy to deal with.

Just as he was about to leave, the fat man suddenly spoke. "But if the deadline comes and the kid hasn't brought the money, bring Fan Jian's wife and daughter to me. Send them south to entertain guests."

Too naive!

Zhao Fusheng's heart chilled, and he finally understood why Li Yuan had taken Fan Beibei and Fan Baobao and disappeared in his previous life.

But then he immediately found it very strange. If that was the case, how did Fan Baobao become a big star?

For a moment, Zhao Fusheng realized that his understanding of many things was unclear.

But no matter what, he still had to get through this immediate hurdle.

With that thought, Zhao Fusheng said to the fat man, "You'd better remember what you said."

Then he turned and walked straight out.

Watching Zhao Fusheng's back, the tattooed man gritted his teeth and whispered to the fat boss, "Boss, should I call some guys and chop him up?"

The fat man didn't respond. Chen Shijie, standing nearby, said sternly, "Chop what? Are you afraid the police won't come knocking?"

"You..." The tattooed man looked displeased.

Before he could finish, the fat man slapped him on the head. "You what? A-Jie is much smarter than you. We have big things to do. What are you being cocky about!"

Seeing the boss angry, everyone fell silent. The fat man looked at Chen Shijie and said with a smile, "A-Jie, come with me. I have something for you to do."

The others dared not make a sound, watching the two leave.

...

...

When Zhao Fusheng left Hanjia Alley, his expression was troubled. He now had a strange feeling. After all, times had changed, and in this world, he couldn't be sure how it differed from his original one. So sometimes, he wasn't certain about certain things.

Taking the bus back to the dormitory, Zhao Fusheng kept thinking about what Chen Shijie was doing there.

Flipping through his address book, he searched carefully and finally found a familiar name. He took out the magnetic card issued by the school, inserted it into the phone, and dialed a number.

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Li Yuanhao. This is Zhao Fusheng."

"Hold on a moment."

After a few minutes, a voice came from the other end. "Hello, Zhao Fusheng?"

"Yeah, it's me." Zhao Fusheng smiled. "How is it? Are you getting used to things in Xiangnan?"

"Don't even mention it. Everything else is fine, but I can't get used to the food here." Li Yuanhao said. "Is there something you need?"

Their relationship in high school was average—neither good nor bad. Zhao Fusheng calling from so far away must mean he had something to discuss.

Zhao Fusheng didn't beat around the bush. He asked directly, "Where does Chen Shijie go to school?"

"Chen Shijie?"

Li Yuanhao was startled. "Did you run into him?"

"No, I saw someone on the street who looked a lot like him." Zhao Fusheng said with a smile.

"He's probably at Binzhou Police Academy, if I remember correctly." Li Yuanhao and Chen Shijie had been deskmates and had a decent relationship.

Zhao Fusheng's heart stirred. After chatting for a bit, he hung up.

After putting down the phone, he let out a long breath.

If what Li Yuanhao said was true, then Zhao Fusheng felt he might have learned a somewhat absurd but factual truth.

"Infernal Affairs?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned, muttering to himself.

These days, the film "Infernal Affairs" hadn't been made in Hong Kong yet, so naturally, no one knew about the rooftop scene between actor Liang and actor Lau.

But that didn't stop Zhao Fusheng's imagination from running wild, piecing together the whole story.

But if that were the case, perhaps this fifty thousand could be saved.

Someone who had made 'earning money that can never be spent' one of his life goals thought silently to himself.