Chapter 137: My Plan

I sat by Rong Ye's bed and gently patted him.

He slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice:

"A Jin? What's wrong?"

"Rong Ye, come out for a moment," I said, glancing at Da Sao who was sleeping nearby, and whispered, "I have something I want to ask you."

As we walked to the living room, I was about to go out when I suddenly remembered something.

The rooftop was cold, so I needed to put on my jacket.

I clearly remembered hanging the jacket on the coat rack, but I found it on the sofa instead.

But things like clothes didn't matter to me; even if it were gone, I wouldn't care.

I put on the jacket and went to the rooftop to wait for Rong Ye.

Rong Ye took a while to come up, looking like he hadn't fully woken up.

"What's going on, A Jin? So late at night," he said, wrapped in a robe and sniffing, "Did you run into some trouble?"

"Yes, I've encountered something very difficult," I said, gritting my teeth as I asked, "Rong Ye, why do you need money?"

Rong Ye paused for a moment and said, "I told you before, I want to retire from the life, so I need to set aside some savings for my old age."

"Then why did you borrow money from Tong Ye? Your own savings should be enough for retirement."

He fell silent for a while before saying, "Now that it's come to this, I might as well tell you the truth, A Jin. I took money from the gang and went to Aomen, where I lost over eight hundred thousand."

"Is that so..." I lowered my head quietly.

The last time Rong Ye lost money and got beaten by over thirty people, I was the one who sorted it out for him.

This time, with me not around, who could sort it out for him?

"Before this gets exposed, I have to find a way to cover the gap in the gang's funds," Rong Ye said calmly. "No matter who I borrowed from, I couldn't pay it back, so I had no choice but to go to Fei Tong, even though we have bad blood."

"You took the gang's money to gamble—did Jiu Zi try to stop you?" I asked.

"Ah Jiu..." Rong Ye's eyes wandered. "If it weren't for Ah Jiu... I could have won back my losses that day in Aomen! It was him who wouldn't let me keep gambling! Who does he think he is?"

My heart ached deeply.

Who does he think he is?

He's my brother.

"A Jin, Ah Jiu must have been bought off by Fei Tong!" Rong Ye said through gritted teeth. "He kept blocking me when I was borrowing money, and after I borrowed it, he kept urging me to pay it back. Why did I end up with such a traitor? If it weren't for me, would he even be alive now?"

I nodded and asked, "You said Jiu Zi was always advising you to pay back the money—was that on the rooftop or at home?"

"At home, with that woman around, I told him not to bring it up! So it had to be on the..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

My eyes felt uncomfortable, as if something was about to spill out.

"Rong Ye, Jiu Zi was killed by Tong Ye while fleeing to Guangdong, yet he came here to advise you to pay back the money."

I covered my forehead, feeling overwhelmingly sad.

For every day of these past four years, I had dreamed of reuniting with Rong Ye and Jiu Zi.

I never imagined that this would be the outcome waiting for me.

Before I could say anything, I suddenly felt a chill in my lower abdomen.

Something had pierced my stomach.

I instinctively reached out with my right hand to grab the assailant's throat and pressed down with my left hand on their wrist.

But who else was there?

The only one who could have stabbed me was Rong Ye.

Rong Ye's eyes were wide open, looking furious.

But why was he furious after stabbing me?

And my fingers, gripping his throat, were trembling.

What was all this about?

Rong Ye slowly pulled a necklace from his pocket.

It was a copper tag with the character "Tong" on it.

"Jing Lan was right... A Jin, even you've betrayed me?"

I stared at that copper tag for several seconds before finally recognizing what it was.

"You're carrying Fei Tong's tag—did you come here to take my life?!"

I felt all my strength drain away, and my hands gradually let go.

This life was Rong Ye's; if he wanted it, I would give it back.

I slowly moved Rong Ye's hand away from the dagger, then used my own clothes to wipe the fingerprints off the blade. Finally, I pulled it out and threw it on the ground.

I didn't look at Rong Ye again. Instead, I walked step by step to the edge of the rooftop.

Jiu Zi's shadow appeared again, standing shoulder to shoulder with me.

"A Jin, aren't you going to live on with my smile?" he asked.

"I'm in so much pain; I can't smile," I said, with something constantly flowing from my eyes. "Jiu Zi, if there's a next life, I'll smile then."

Before I could jump, the entire rooftop suddenly shook violently.

I tried to steady myself, but then thought it wasn't necessary, so I leaped downward.

Just then, Rong Ye ran over and grabbed my wrist.

I swung in the air like a pendulum and looked up at him in confusion.

He was crying.

"A Jin... Why... Why have you all betrayed me?!" His tears fell on my face, making me feel uncomfortable.

I didn't want to answer that question.

I thought I came to repay a debt, but I was too foolish and let Rong Ye misunderstand.

"Rong Ye, let go. That way, it'll be ruled as an accidental fall, and it won't have anything to do with you."

Rong Ye clung to my hand and sobbed loudly; I didn't know what was going through his mind.

"Rong Ye, I've repaid your kindness."

Amid the violent shaking, Rong Ye finally let go.

I felt myself crash into a huge billboard, as if every bone in my body had shattered.

If there really is a next life, I'll find Jiu Zi first, then go back and thank Tong Ye.

I think I misunderstood Tong Ye.

If I could choose again, I probably wouldn't go to prison for Rong Ye.

That way, Jiu Zi wouldn't have died.

And I wouldn't have died.

No, if I could really choose again, I'd go back to when I was eleven.

I'd snatch the knife from Jiu Zi's hand and teach him not to kill the local boss.

That way, we could have had normal lives, right?

...

When I woke up again, I still couldn't make sense of what was in front of me.

What was all this?

Was it a movie shoot?

Those men and women dressed in overly trendy clothes.

That man in a mask and suit.

"Good morning, nine guests," the masked man said. "I'm delighted to meet you here; you've been asleep in front of me for twelve hours."

If this was a movie, he should take some lessons from "Terminator"—his costume and props look a bit shabby.

But what should I do next?

I'm too slow-witted to understand this place.

I don't get what he's saying, and I don't understand everyone's questions.

"A Jin, say 'Wo Diu' with me! It sounds more intimidating. 'Wo Diu'! You don't like it? How about 'Kan Jia Chan'?"

"A Jin, if I'm not around one day, just find another 'Da Nao'."

"A Jin, if you can't find a 'Da Nao', just smile more. At least be a happy fool."

Yes, at a time like this, I should listen to Jiu Zi. His plans have never failed.

To make myself seem more threatening, how about adding Tong Ye's catchphrase?

"Kan Jia Chan, I don't care how many people are here..." I slammed the table and pointed fiercely at the masked man. "Fen Chang, I advise you to know your place. You have no idea what serious consequences come with messing with me—I really will end your life."

Luckily, they don't know me, or they'd see right through it.

I've never said "Kan Jia Chan" or "Fen Chang" before, and I've never wanted to kill anyone.

Until I find my new "Da Nao", I'll just keep pretending.

I'm Qiao Jia Jin.

And I'm about to start lying.