Chapter 112: Zhou Wen

More than ten minutes passed.

Outside the factory grounds, the sound of approaching vehicles broke the silence.

The gangsters gathered there, who had previously been sitting around or smoking, immediately snapped to attention, lining up in a neat row like well-drilled soldiers at the sound of the engines. A black commercial van drove slowly into the yard.

Once the van came to a halt, a lackey rushed forward to open the door, ushering out a middle-aged man wearing glasses. The man was about 1.7 meters tall, not particularly imposing, and possessed such a common, nondescript face that he would easily vanish into any crowd. However, his demeanor was refined and scholarly.

"Boss." Upon seeing him, Boss Zou and the other two leaders hurried forward, bowing their heads and greeting him in unison with profound respect.

This scholarly-looking man was Zhou Wen, the kingpin of the criminal underworld in PE City.

Despite his gentle, academic appearance and refined air, anyone with status in the underworld knew him to be absolutely ruthless and vengeful. It was rumored that he served an even greater authority—a man who held the true power in PE City, a figure akin to an emperor. No one knew the identity of this mysterious overlord, not even Zhou Wen’s three most trusted lieutenants, but they all knew the rumors were grounded in truth.

"How did things go?" Zhou Wen asked, giving his three lieutenants a slight nod.

"Don't worry, Boss. Everyone has been captured, not a single one missing. We were very careful; I doubt anyone at the nightclub even realizes they’re gone," one of the three replied quickly.

"Very good. Take me to see them. I need to verify this myself." A faint smile appeared on Zhou Wen’s face as he offered this praise and gave his orders.

The three men were overwhelmed, almost flattered by the commendation. Zhou Wen was a man of few words who rarely smiled and held his subordinates to incredibly strict standards; praise was a rarity. Moreover, the task itself had been simple, and their targets had no significant backing.

In fact, the five individuals they had captured had somewhat complex social backgrounds compared to ordinary citizens, but to these gangsters, that was a benefit. People with such backgrounds were unlikely to involve the police; it was easier than snatching ordinary civilians and would cause no backlash. They had never expected Zhou Wen to personally come down to verify such a trivial matter, let alone offer praise.

As seasoned veterans of the streets, they quickly grasped the subtext: these five had not just offended Zhou Wen, but some titan that even Zhou Wen felt compelled to appease.

*Just what kind of powerful figures did Jiang Feng and his crew offend?*

The two leaders who had initially intended to put in a good word for Jiang Feng exchanged a look and fell silent. They knew this was well beyond their pay grade. One wrong move, one misplaced word, could provoke their inscrutable boss and lead to their own demise.

Jiang Feng and his four companions were not blind. Realizing that the man before them was one of the most powerful figures in PE City, they began pleading for mercy, calling out to him as "Boss." Jiang Feng even went as far as to drop the name of Cao Tianrong, hoping Zhou Wen would spare him for Cao's sake.

"You're one of Little Cao’s men?" Zhou Wen asked, casting a curious, appraising look at Jiang Feng when the name was mentioned.

"Yes, yes! Boss, please, spare me! If I’ve done something wrong, I beg you to show mercy and not hold it against me," Jiang Feng pleaded, heartened by the realization that Zhou Wen recognized his superior. He still had no idea who he had actually offended; he had never met Zhou Wen before today. He had carefully observed the man, and Zhou Wen’s attitude toward him seemed indifferent, not born of personal hatred.

"That won't do. Even if you are one of Little Cao’s men, I cannot let you go," Zhou Wen said softly, leaning down to pat Jiang Feng’s cheek. He had to stoop because the five men were all bound and lying on the ground.

Zhou Wen took out his phone, pulled up several photos, and compared them one by one to the captives. Once he confirmed everyone was accounted for, he exhaled, stood up, and turned to his subordinates.

He gestured for Boss Zou to come closer. "Take a few men and move them into the factory building. Make sure they are tied securely, and tape their mouths and eyes. I will be checking them later."

"Yes, Boss."

Boss Zou hurried off to carry out the order. Zhou Wen scanned the crowd, then turned to a slightly chubby man among his lieutenants. "Xiao Xiao, strictly forbid all the men involved today from speaking a word of this. If I hear even a whisper of this outside, don't blame me for being ruthless. Also, I am very satisfied with this work. Give everyone involved a reward of twenty thousand."

"Yes, Boss."

Ten minutes later, Boss Zou reported that the task was complete. Zhou Wen nodded, walked into the factory personally, and checked the ropes and tape on the five captives multiple times to ensure there was no chance of escape. After scanning the room to ensure no tools were left behind, he walked back out.

"You've all worked hard today. You can dismiss the men," Zhou Wen ordered.

"Yes, Boss."

The three lieutenants didn't dare say more and led their men away in an orderly fashion. Soon, only Zhou Wen’s black van remained, along with his driver and two personal bodyguards.

Zhou Wen adjusted his glasses, pulled out his phone, and composed a text message to someone, informing them that the targets were secured, their location, and his own status. He then found a spot to sit, lit a cigarette, and waited.

"Understood. I'm on my way. I'll be there in about half an hour," a reply appeared on his phone shortly after.

Zhou Wen exhaled a cloud of smoke and gazed into the distance, deep in thought.

Huang Yu drove a customized Hummer SUV along the outskirts of PE City, with Peng Min sitting in the passenger seat.

"Yu, are they really all captured?" Peng Min asked, watching as Huang Yu secured his phone and adjusted the navigation.

"Yes, it's true. That last text confirmed it," Huang Yu replied, pressing down on the gas pedal.

Ever since Huang Yu had regained his senses and they had become intimate, she had stopped calling him "Brother" and, like Li Jia, started calling him simply "Yu." She had grown accustomed to it over the past two days. Huang Yu had not objected, which she took as a sign that he had fully accepted her presence.

For the past two days, they had lived together like a true couple—or perhaps more accurately, like husband and wife. She was stunned by his efficiency; with just a few phone calls, he had arranged for a large supply of narcotics to be delivered to them yesterday—enough to last them months. They had been diluting the doses before use. Today, he had asked her to join him to deal with the people who had harmed Li Jia’s family.

*Who is he exactly? He hasn't stepped out of the house in days, yet he's managed to set everything in motion,* she thought, glancing at his profile.

*But who cares who he is? As long as he’s mine for now, every day is a bonus,* she reasoned.

Since the night of his first withdrawal, her hatred for him had vanished, replaced entirely by affection. He wasn't the one who had truly destroyed her or Li Jia’s family. Her initial plan to hurt him had been to spite his father, and it had succeeded. Since he hadn't retaliated and had instead treated her with tenderness, her resentment had faded. She had accepted that she belonged to him—at least until the day she died.

"Yu, after Li Jia’s business is settled, what are your plans?" she asked after a moment of hesitation. She wanted to ask how much longer she could stay with him, or if he would leave her behind once this was over, but she lacked the courage. She was the type to retreat when things got real—the same reason she had been unable to escape the nightclub until Li Jia had given her the resolve.

"After this is settled, I’ll take you home. It was Li Jia’s final wish, and I will fulfill it," Huang Yu said flatly.

"I see," she murmured, her tone crestfallen. She had hoped to hear him say he wanted to stay with her, no matter where they went.