Never Let Go
(Author's note: Buying a house in this day and age is not an easy task. Jiu'er went over last night to celebrate with a good friend of hers. She had not touched alcohol for a long time because she was busy writing, so she quickly fell asleep after downing a few bottles of beer. She did not feel much when she woke up today, just that her stomach was a little churning, so she drank a few cartons of milk to nourish her stomach. She had been running to the bathroom since noon, feeling like she was about to collapse. Who knows if it was because of the beer or the milk. Sigh, she should quit drinking both. There's only one chapter today, so Jiu'er will make it up to everyone tomorrow.)
Given Xia Feis age, it was unimaginable that he could know so much about Assassins. Xia Feis excuse was that he had once met a retired Assassin in the Wild Star Region, and he had told Xia Feis stories of his youth.
Though the three Ling brothers were skeptical, they could not raise any questions. After all, they had no idea what was going on in the Wild Star Region.
Xia Fei thought about it for a moment and decided to tell Thuram about Ling Feng's injury. The three Ling brothers were his men, so he should at least inform Thuram about what had happened to them as a sign of respect.
Thuram did not say anything. Aside from giving Ling Feng a few days off, he had also transferred a speed ability user named Ferrey over to take over Ling Feng's current job. He also told Xia Feis that he could contact him anytime if he needed more manpower. The reappearance of the Incognito Killer had obviously caught Thuram's attention.
It was late at night by the time he sent off the Ling brothers. Ling Xiao and his men continued to monitor Barty from all angles. There was still a lot of work to be done before the truth came to light. Speculations were not enough; what Xia Fei needed now was proof.
Xia Fei returned to the hospital owned by the Jian family under the bright moonlight. As soon as he reached the main entrance, he saw an old man standing under a locust tree by the side of the road.
Xia Fei smiled as he walked over. Were you waiting for me?
Pang Hai silently nodded and pointed ahead. Xia Fei understood and walked alongside Pang Hai. The road was empty in the wee hours of the morning, and the lights were dim. It was a little chilly when the breeze blew, and the yellow leaves danced in the wind.
Neither of them spoke as they silently walked forward. After turning a corner, there was a stall selling supper. This food stall seemed to be doing very poorly, with not a single customer present. Pang Hai ordered a few skewers of grilled fish and two bowls of porridge.
Xia Fei was already famished after tormenting himself for most of the night, and he only stopped after eating five bowls of porridge and seven grilled fish. Xia Fei lit a cigarette and took a few drags as he waited for Pang Hai to get to the point. There was no doubt that the head butler of the Jian family would not just treat him to two bowls of porridge.
Pang Hai ate very slowly, completely different from Xia Fei who was wolfing down his food. He used a metal spoon to take small bites before chewing carefully. He did not look like he was eating porridge but more like he was tasting some exotic delicacy.
Barty also had a good appetite when he was young, but he always ate porridge with orange candy and meat floss. You guys are different in this regard; youre never a picky eater. Pang Hai carefully wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
Xia Fei pursed his lips. Im poor, so I dont have the right to be picky. Its already good enough to fill my stomach. Besides, Im nothing in common with Barty.
Xia Fei was very surprised when Pang Hai mentioned Barty right off the bat, but he did not show it. As for Pang Hai comparing him to the twisted Barty, Xia Fei could not agree with it, so he did not bat an eyelid.
Pang Hai got up and continued walking with Xia Fei, not heading back to the hospital.
Barty was actually quite a good boy when he was young. Ive watched him grow up, so I know that very well, Pang Hai said.
Perhaps. Im not interested in what happened in the past. What is most important to me is the present and the future. Xia Fei figured out something from Pang Hai's words, so he used a tactful way to express his stance. Avrils a good girl, and there is no reason for her to be hurt. No matter who I find, the outcome will be the same.
Pang Hai sighed. "You know what happened to Zhou Yuqing, right?"
Xia Fei nodded lightly. Thats right. Ive indeed found out. No wonder youre nowhere to be seen for the past few days. Looks like youre not idle either.
Then what do you plan to do?
Xia Fei chuckled. This matter doesnt depend on me. You should ask Barty what he plans to do.
Pang Hai glanced at Xia Fei with his murky eyes. Its not Barty's doing.
Xia Fei suddenly stopped in his tracks and said in a deep voice, Since things have already come to this point, lets be more explicit. Theres no need to beat around the bush.
The ones who appeared by Blackwater Lake tonight were your men, right?
Some are, and some aren't. How did you know?
Protecting every member of the family is my responsibility. You have your men, and I have mine. Unfortunately, Im not doing a great job as a steward.
Pang Hai's words were laced with self-mockery. It was obvious that he was feeling rather guilty about Avrils nearly being kidnapped.
Xia Fei lit a cigarette and did not say a word, quietly listening.
Twenty-seven years ago, Barty learned how to seek pleasure from a few friends. One time, he met Zhou Yuqing, who was two years younger than him, in a brothel. Barty felt that it was rather pitiful for her to be selling her body in a brothel at such a young age, so he bought a house outside and took her in as his mistress.
Barty would go to the house every day to look for her, and the two of them lived the life of a young married couple. They lived peacefully for over a year until one day, Zhou Yuqing suddenly disappeared, as if she had evaporated from the face of the earth. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find her.
Barty was depressed for a very long time because of this, so he began drinking and having fun outside every day, staying out all night. That day, Barty and a few friends had a lot to drink and were racing in their hovercar in the middle of the night, ultimately losing both his legs forever.
When Pang Hai talked about how Barty lost both his legs while racing, his two eyes turned slightly red, and his words were filled with self-blame.
Xia Fei did not expect the relationship between Zhou Yuqing and Barty to be so complicated. A young rich young master took pity on a young lady trapped in a brothel and took her in as his companion day and night. As time passed, feelings blossomed between the two, and the two gradually developed a good impression of each other, yet Zhou Yuqing suddenly disappeared. Such a cliché plot seemed to be more suited for romance novels.
Since Zhou Yuqing chose to leave, why would she come back? Xia Fei wondered.
Pang Hai furrowed his eyebrows slightly. I can't figure that out, either. There's been no news of Zhou Yuqing for over twenty years, yet she suddenly appeared seven months ago with a mentally handicapped child, saying that she and Barty gave birth to this child. Though the child is mentally handicapped and has dwarfism, Barty still cares a lot about it. After all, having a child of his own is an unattainable dream for him.
I've once asked someone to investigate where Zhou Yuqing has been all these years, but there's been no results. Even the customs records are blank.
Xia Fei shook his head. Customs records aren't omnipotent. The lack of records only proves that she hasn't been to a civilized planet in the past twenty years. From what I know, there are many planets in the Alliance that have very low civilization levels, so they don't even have customs. Perhaps Zhou Yuqing has gone to some primitive and backward planet.
After thinking about it for some time, Xia Fei asked, Have you verified Pam's DNA?
Yes, and based on the results, there's a 99.9999% chance that Pam is Barty's biological son, Pang Hai said.
You also knew that Barty and Zhou Yuqing were together back then, so why didn't you step in to stop him?
Pang Hai sighed. The young masters of wealthy families are different from ordinary people. It's very normal for them to have one or two women as their mistresses. As long as he doesn't do anything too out of line, I usually won't interfere.
What Pang Hai said was not without reason. Though the young masters of wealthy families were generally well-educated, appearing to be well-educated and more knowledgeable than the average person, these young masters would more or less be tainted with some bad habits. What was the point of fooling around with women in a family like the Jian family?
However, Barty's bad habits were not as simple as fooling around with women. His mind was already completely twisted, and even the most ferocious beast would feel inferior to Barty's cruelty and darkness. How could he still be considered human? Calling him a beast was practically an insult to the word beast.
Xia Fei suddenly laughed. I still don't get it. No matter how I look at it, Barty is the biggest suspect in Avrils kidnapping, so why are you still trying to exonerate him? Do you care more about Barty than Avrils?
The moment he mentioned Avrils current situation, Xia Fei's tone was no longer as polite as before. It was somewhat cold, and there was even a hint of killing intent in it. Not only did the person who schemed against Avrils have to die, even the person who helped him had to die. This was Xia Fei's most basic principle.
Even though Pang Hai had done his best to take care of Avrils for sixteen years and had done a lot of hard work, Xia Fei would still kill him without hesitation. There was no room for negotiation on this matter. Xia Fei stubbornly believed that the friend of his enemy was his enemy.
Pang Hai waved his hand. I'm not here to exonerate anyone. I've been taking care of Avril since the day she was born. She's even closer to me than my own granddaughter. I'll never show mercy to anyone who tries to harm Avril. I'm here today to tell you the simple truth: Barty wasn't the one who did it.
"Evidence." Xia Fei extended a hand. He had always been a skeptic, so Xia Fei would not believe anything Pang Hai said without any concrete evidence.
To Xia Fei's surprise, Pang Hai swiped his spatial ring and took out a microcomputer and handed it to Xia Fei.
This is Barty's activity schedule for the past year. What time he wakes up, what he eats, where he goes, and who he meets are all recorded. Take your time to look at it. Once you're done, you will know that Barty is indeed innocent in the kidnapping of Avrils.
Xia Fei furrowed his eyebrows. Are you following Barty?
Pang Hai did not feel the slightest bit guilty as he said bluntly, You can think that Im following you. You should know that the Jian family is one of the top wealthy families in the Alliance. There are many things that normal people will not be able to understand. They live in a completely different world from you.
Xia Fei's arm, which was holding the microcomputer, trembled slightly. This was what it meant to be a wealthy family. It was said that once one entered a wealthy family, one would be as deep as the sea. Only now did he truly understand the meaning of this phrase.
Even when he ate or slept, he would be strictly monitored. What freedom was there left to speak of?
There was no doubt that since Pang Hai was able to produce detailed information on Barty's activities for the past year, every move and word that Newman and Avrils made must be within Pang Hai's grasp. How terrifying was it to have someone else's life in the hands of another?
Xia Fei stored the microcomputer in his spatial ring and began walking back to where he came from.
Of course, Ill verify the authenticity of this information. What you said earlier is very true; Avrils and I do live in two completely different worlds. There are many things that Im unable to understand, but this will never hinder my determination to be friends with Avrils.
Barty had a look of approval on his face. Youre very smart to understand the meaning behind my words.
Xia Fei lit a cigarette and said in a very serious tone, Plus, I can tell that there's another layer to your words. In the eyes of the rich and powerful, it's not a big deal to take lives for fun. You're hoping that I'll let Barty off this time.
Pang Hai's eyes lit up. Thats right.
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