What gives me the right to lecture you?

Back in the dormitory, sure enough, Ruan Hui was nowhere to be seen.

Chen Ling frowned and pondered for a long time, but found no answers.

Still, since a quarter of the task was already completed, that was something. As for where Ruan Hui had gone? It didn’t matter.

At least the cigarettes were left behind—he could keep smoking.

Over lunch, Chen Ling’s phone rang.

It was a text from Zeng Fucai.

“Old Jin has news.”

“So soon?”

“I didn’t expect it either. Just asked around and someone saw him at the Huanglong Stadium a couple of days ago, scalping tickets.”

“Thanks.”

Chen Ling put away his phone, eyes narrowing.

He hadn’t counted on Zeng Fucai actually finding Jin Youde; after all, even the police hadn’t managed it. He’d assumed Jin had long since vanished.

But to his surprise, Jin Youde hadn’t gone far at all, and was back to his old tricks?

In that case, he couldn’t be blamed for coming back to finish things…

After lunch, the group of four made their way to Huanglong Stadium.

—

At the entrance of the ticketing center at Huanglong Stadium.

Jin Youde pressed the peak of his cap low, a waist bag slung across his shoulder, sitting on the steps beneath the blazing sun, picking at his boxed lunch. The bitterness in his heart was beyond words.

In his forties, after a lifetime of striving, he’d managed to build a modest business.

But who could have foreseen such a sudden downfall, leaving him full of regret!

If heaven would grant him another chance, he would surely keep to his own path and work well with that young man.

But it was far too late for that now.

When he was hauled to the police station by a group of students that day, aside from being beaten up, he hadn’t been worried.

After all, he’d only acted as a phone recharge agent, and the recharge hadn’t worked—hardly fraud. As long as he returned the money, it would be fine.

That’s how it played out; not even a civil dispute, just a misunderstanding.

So after returning the money, Old Jin planned to go home, began to contact his people, determined to teach that kid a lesson.

But halfway home, he got the news—his foot massage parlor had been raided!

And the police had gone straight to the district station.

This was serious. Rumor had it the captain was gunning for promotion and was aggressively boosting performance stats.

So Jin hid far away, watching his business get investigated, shut down, then saw the police show up at his house…

Home was out of the question, but all was not lost, as long as his chess and card room stayed untouched.

Yet before the massage parlor’s troubles were settled, the chess and card room was raided as well.

That was the final straw for Old Jin!

That chess and card room didn’t make money from table fees or tea—it was from the rake.

In other words, it was a gambling den.

And upon investigation, it turned out the same owner ran both places.

Organizing and harboring fallen women, running gambling dens, facilitating gambling—the nature of it…

No escape now, a classic underground syndicate!

Even matters cleared up during the day were sent back for review, turned into “suspected large-scale student fraud.”

No helping it—the captain had KPIs to hit.

In the end, even the safe in the chess and card room was hauled away.

Inside was the savings of Old Jin's lifetime!

At this point, Old Jin realized it had nothing to do with the young man; someone else was kicking him while he was down.

Who? He didn’t know.

Over the years he’d crossed, competed, suppressed too many people to count.

In the end, Old Jin could only leave in bitter resignation, fleeing to another city to lay low.

But he was unwilling!

He refused to let his life end in such misery, to die quietly in some forgotten corner.

Even if fate wished him dead, he swore to defy it!

Indeed, heaven leaves a path.

Through persistent inquiries, he learned that the captain had gotten his wish.

And Jin’s affairs were temporarily shelved—the storm had passed.

So he immediately returned to Linjiang, leveraging old connections to resume his old business.

—

“Ah—” Jin Youde looked at the box of gutter oil food in his hand, feeling deeply moved. “So it’s true, a man mustn’t harbor malicious intent!”

“If I hadn’t been so greedy, I’d still be in the supermarket slurping snail noodles, sipping cold beer, enjoying the air-conditioning, watching Xiang Nan and Yang Xiaoyun flirt…”

“Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Forget it, no use thinking about it. Since fate hasn’t abandoned me, I’ll rise again someday!”

“I must defy heaven!”

Jin Youde lost his appetite, picked up the lunchbox, dusted himself off, and turned—only to see that person…

The one he could never forget!

He had come!

He was walking toward him…

—

“Whoa—he’s really here?” Zhang Peng followed Chen Ling toward the ticketing center, spotting the supermarket owner from afar.

He’d been skeptical when Chen Ling said they’d find him here.

But as soon as they parked, there he was, squatting nearby…

“Scalpers cluster at places like this,” Chen Ling smiled. “I checked—on October 5th, Barbe Green City is playing Siwu Laojiao in a major league match.”

“If a scalper wants to make money, he wouldn’t miss a home game for the local team!”

Zhang Peng blinked, once again grateful.

Being Chen Ling’s enemy was terrifying!

Within moments, they stood before Jin Youde.

Jin Youde sighed and sat back down.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to run—he simply couldn’t outrun them.

A joke—old bones, forty-something, how could he outpace these college kids?

And he wasn’t wearing his underwear outside…

“Old Jin, long time no see!” Chen Ling greeted with a grin.

Seeing Jin had no intention of fleeing, he didn’t restrict his movements.

—

As Chen Ling sat next to him, Jin Youde was straightforward, placing the lunchbox on the ground and spreading his hands, “Now that you’ve found me, do what you will.”

“But let me warn you—you’re all still young, don’t go down a criminal path.”

With that, he closed his eyes, ready for the coming storm.

Chen Ling looked at him, a little helpless.

Was he mistaken again? His situation was entirely due to Chen Ling.

Well—not exactly. He was merely the cause; Jin’s greed brought about the effect.

But blaming everything on others was precisely the mindset typical of men like Jin Youde.

“You… aren’t going to teach me a lesson?” Chen Ling couldn’t help but prompt, “Last time, you lost out—it was me who beat you up!”

Jin Youde was even more surprised. “Me? Teach you?”

“I can’t outrun you, can’t outfight you… look at the state I’m in!”

“Why would I teach you a lesson?”

Chen Ling: ???

He really made a good point!

“You don’t resent me?” Chen Ling persisted.

Jin Youde shook his head: “At first, yes; now, not anymore. You’re just a student, not so cunning, couldn’t have thought of blowing up my businesses.”

Zhang Peng blinked, stifling a laugh, wishing he could tell him—That’s right! He is that cunning! He wanted to blow up your businesses!

Just that someone beat him to it!

Jin Youde had no idea, and continued: “Originally, after you beat me, I did want to find someone to deal with you.”

“But later, I realized—even if I didn’t fall at your hands, I’d eventually fall at someone else’s.”

“Only blame myself—not careful enough, too greedy.”

“Honestly, if I had another chance, I’d never try to cheat you, would work with you properly!”

“I’ve said my piece—you may do as you wish.”

Jin Youde assumed the posture of a man resigned to his fate.

This left Chen Ling genuinely puzzled…

Four people, not including Zhou Jing or Jin Youde.

Besides the inexplicably self-exposed Ruan Hui, there were three others—who were they?

As he pondered, Chen Ling’s phone rang…

It was a call from Feng Lifang.

Recently, she had devoted herself to work, seemingly avoiding contact with Chen Ling.

Chen Ling understood her ostrich-like mindset, so had been careful not to disturb her.

Now that she called, he wondered what it was about…

He answered.

“Hello…”

“Chen Ling, could you come to the training department?”

There was a hint of grievance in Feng Lifang’s tone.

Chen Ling didn’t ask what the matter was, replying immediately, “I’ll come right away. Wait for me…”