Chapter 22: The Mad Tiger’s Rival

The two of them got straight into Mad Tiger’s car. Su Xue pressed herself close to Ye Fei, not daring to make eye contact with Mad Tiger—her fear was still plain to see.

“Brother Tiger, I want to thank you for helping us out this time,” Ye Fei said directly, not bothering with pleasantries.

“No need for thanks. We’ve had our little run-ins before, but I, Mad Tiger, admire a man like you. This was nothing, just lending a hand.” Mad Tiger let out a hearty laugh.

“Miss Su, about last time—my apologies. Don’t worry, if any of my men dare bother you again, I’ll deal with them myself,” Mad Tiger said to Su Xue.

Su Xue managed a weak smile, still too afraid to speak, her gaze fixed resolutely on Ye Fei’s shoulder, refusing to look anywhere else.

Mad Tiger only smiled, unconcerned. He turned back to Ye Fei, speaking with genuine camaraderie. “Ye Fei, I know what those policemen are like. If you got roughed up in there and need anything, just say the word. Sorting out a few petty officers is nothing.”

“No need.” Ye Fei suddenly smiled, his eyes flashing with a chilling light that made Mad Tiger’s heart shudder.

“This kid’s got a fiercer streak than I do,” Mad Tiger thought, startled. Clearly, Ye Fei planned to handle it himself. Still, Mad Tiger was curious what exactly Ye Fei would do.

Suddenly, the car braked sharply. Ye Fei held Su Xue tightly so she wouldn’t be thrown forward, then looked up ahead.

“Xiao Zhang, what’s going on?” Mad Tiger asked in a low voice.

“Brother Tiger, there’s a car blocking the road. Looks like Cannon’s car,” the driver replied.

“Cannon!” Mad Tiger glanced ahead. From the car in front stepped a man in his thirties, flanked by several underlings, swaggering toward them.

Mad Tiger’s face darkened. He turned to Ye Fei. “Sorry, Ye Fei, I’ve dragged you into this. I’ll go sort it out.”

With that, Mad Tiger pushed open the door, his expression grim, and strode out to meet Cannon, his trusted men following closely.

“Ye Fei, is something going to happen?” Su Xue asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry,” Ye Fei soothed her gently.

Seeing her worry, Xiao Zhang added, “Don’t worry, Brother Fei. Brother Tiger can handle this.”

Ye Fei nodded. “Xiao Zhang, who’s this Cannon?”

“Cannon’s one of Brother Tiger’s main rivals. Both of them are among the Four Great Experts of the Ming Gang. But Tiger and Cannon don’t get along; they’re always clashing. If it weren’t for the boss holding them back, they’d have come to blows ages ago.”

The Four Great Experts? Ye Fei was unimpressed. If all the Ming Gang’s top men were like Mad Tiger, he could take them all on by himself.

“But aren’t they all from the same gang? Why the infighting?” he wondered aloud.

“No idea. I haven’t been with Brother Tiger long—just know those two can’t stand each other,” Xiao Zhang replied.

Ye Fei mused that whenever an enterprise grows, disputes over inheritance follow; when a gang grows, so do power struggles and scheming—all for greater influence.

On the street, the air between Mad Tiger and Cannon’s factions was thick with hostility.

“Brother Tiger, what a rare sight! Heard from the boys you were around, didn’t believe it at first. Had them stop your car just to check, and here you are in the flesh,” Cannon said with a sneer.

“Cannon, cut the crap and move your car,” Mad Tiger replied, his tone cold.

“Don’t try to boss me around, Mad Tiger. I’ll park wherever I damn well please. What, you got a problem with that?” Cannon dropped all pretense, shouting belligerently.

“Ba Cai, ram that car out of the way,” Mad Tiger ordered.

A silent young man behind him immediately turned and got into his car.

Cannon grinned maliciously. “Relax, Brother Tiger, just playing around! Ba Zi, move the car, don’t block Brother Tiger.”

Only then did Cannon seem to notice Ye Fei and Su Xue in Mad Tiger’s car. “Well, well, Brother Tiger, got yourself some esteemed guests today! No wonder you came out in person. Who are these fine folk? Care to introduce us?”

“Cannon, cut the tricks. If you’ve got a problem, take it up with me—I’ll see it through,” Mad Tiger snapped.

“Brother Tiger, what’s the point of aiming at you? Now, that woman in your car—she’s worth my attention! Haha!” Cannon cackled.

Even with the windows up, Ye Fei could see Cannon gesturing wildly at their car, laughing and shouting. It was obvious Cannon’s words were about the two of them, and that last look was directed at Su Xue, undisguised.

Ye Fei frowned. Su Xue was an innocent bystander caught up in this feud. Cannon and Mad Tiger’s rivalry was longstanding—Cannon knew he couldn’t touch Mad Tiger directly, so he was turning his sights on Su Xue to get at him.

“Ye Fei, is he talking about me?” Su Xue asked nervously.

“It’s nothing to do with you, don’t worry. He can’t do anything to you,” Ye Fei reassured her.

Clearly, Mad Tiger and Cannon weren’t going to come to blows today. After each side left, Ye Fei and Su Xue got out near home, declining Mad Tiger’s invitation to dinner.

Before leaving, Ye Fei gave Mad Tiger a long, searching look.

Back home, Ye Fei’s phone rang. When he answered, Cen Dachao’s voice sounded on the line. “Hello, is this Ye Fei?”

“Yes, Captain Cen, it’s me. What’s the matter?” Ye Fei replied.

“How are you doing?” Cen Dachao asked.

“Oh, I’m fine, I’m home now. Captain Cen, about my leave today—”

“No problem, I’ve already approved half a day off for you. Just rest at home. As long as you’re okay. Can you come in tomorrow, or do you want another day?” Cen Dachao interrupted, helpfully offering another day off.

“Thank you, Captain, but no need. I’ll be back at work tomorrow. I’ll hang up now.”

A short while later, Xiao Li called quietly.

“Ye Fei?” he asked directly.

“Xiao Li, what’s up?” Ye Fei answered.

“You’re alright now?” Xiao Li asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Captain Cen just called—you were right there, weren’t you? What’s up?” Ye Fei wondered. Was Xiao Li so young but already hard of hearing?

“Su Xue took leave to visit you at the station.”

“Oh, I know. I’ve already seen her, and now both of us are home,” Ye Fei replied naturally.

“What! You’re already living with Miss Su, the beauty? Damn, Ye Fei, you sly dog! I thought you were clueless, but you’ve got more game than me! Only a few days on the job and you’ve hooked up with her—moved in together so fast!” Xiao Li exclaimed.

Realizing he’d said too much, Ye Fei glanced at Su Xue. Seeing no reaction from her, he relaxed.

“Alright, I’m done talking. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up,” Ye Fei said quickly.

“Fine, just called during work. Hanging up now!”

After the call, Ye Fei felt a warm satisfaction. His friends genuinely cared about him.

Su Xue had overheard the conversation. In the past, she would have been afraid of people knowing she and Ye Fei lived together, but now, hearing such news, she felt no resistance. Instead, a sweetness and a secret joy bloomed in her heart.

With half a day off, they called someone to clean the windows, replace the dirty bedding, and reinstall both the windows and the security grilles. After two or three hours of work, their half-day holiday was gone.

Su Xue cooked a simple meal—just two dishes—for the two of them. Afterwards, they relaxed, watching TV.

After their showers, they sat in the living room, snacking and watching TV until after ten o’clock.

Then, each went to their own room for bed. But just as Ye Fei lay down, Su Xue knocked on his door.

“Ye Fei, I’m scared to sleep alone,” Su Xue said, hugging her newly bought pillow as she stood at the door.

“Still afraid of snakes?” Ye Fei asked, looking at her. He guessed she’d been so frightened it had left a mark, making her constantly imagine snakes in her bed.

“Yes, I keep thinking a snake will crawl into my bed, burrow under the covers,” Su Xue said, shuddering.

And so, that night, Su Xue slept with Ye Fei once more.