Chapter 9: The Revenge of Feigned Madness and Foolishness Is Only the Beginning

They entered the opulent Golden Splendor, ascended to the third floor, and arrived at private room 303.

Song Kai pushed open the door. Inside, three people were already seated on the sofa, drinking. Two men and a woman—the men were Zhang Gang and Zhou Senwei, the very two who’d been drinking with Song Kai the previous night. He didn’t know the woman, but she wore a white, knee-length dress, had a fine figure, and her face was heavily made up. As with most made-up women, it was hard to judge her looks, but she couldn’t be more than twenty.

Song Kai laughed heartily. “Hey, Brother Gang, Brother Senwei!”

“You’re here, Song Kai,” Zhang Gang greeted, rising to his feet. “Come, have a drink. By the way, Kai, did you and that girl last night get wild all night?”

Zhang Gang was eager to know what had happened, thus his question.

Song Kai grabbed a bottle, took two swigs, and replied, “Don’t mention it. I was so drunk the moment I walked in, all I wanted to do was vomit. I staggered into the bathroom and by the time I came out, the girl was gone. She was a looker, though, Brother Gang—you have good taste.”

He spun a casual lie, then plopped down beside the woman in the white dress, slipping his arm around her waist.

Her expression darkened as she struggled free.

Zhang Gang’s face also clouded. “Don’t fool around, Kai. This is my friend, Luo Feng. Xiaofeng, this is Song Kai. Back in the day, he was renowned among us as a high roller.”

Luo Feng nodded curtly, but inwardly she was annoyed. The trap they’d set yesterday had let Liu Miaoyu slip away—how had she managed to escape, drunk as she was, barely able to walk?

Luo Feng was a distant relative of Liu Miaoyu, and the two were close. Luo Feng worked as a catalog model, part-time third-rate actress, and escort. With little education, she relied on her looks and figure to get by.

Last week, there was an audition for a supporting role. Luo Feng had gone to great lengths, even bribing the assistant director, to get a spot. She’d dragged Liu Miaoyu along, but in the end, Luo Feng was cut while the director took one look at Liu Miaoyu, who was just tagging along, and insisted she sign a contract.

Luo Feng was consumed by jealousy, which led her to hatch the scheme—to secretly drug Liu Miaoyu’s drink and ruin her reputation.

As luck would have it, Zhang Gang also wanted to disgrace Song Kai, get him on the front pages, and have Xu Ling see his true colors.

Zhang Gang and Luo Feng hit it off and devised the plan: get Song Kai and Liu Miaoyu alone in a room, then call the police and reporters to catch them in the act. With evidence and witnesses, Liu Miaoyu’s innocence would be destroyed, and Xu Ling would surely break off her engagement with Song Kai.

It was a flawless plan, except Song Kai, by a twist of fate, unexpectedly saw through and unraveled everything.

Though Song Kai didn’t know Luo Feng, he understood she was Zhang Gang’s woman, and naturally wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine.

He laughed and leered, “Xiaofeng, you’ve really got a fine figure. Brother Gang, you’re so stingy—not introducing her to me sooner.” With that, he scooped Luo Feng onto his lap.

She struggled, but Song Kai’s hand had already slipped deftly into her neckline and began groping.

Luo Feng cursed, “Are you insane?”

With a swift motion, Song Kai tore her top open, exposing her ample chest. He squeezed and grinned, “I’m not crazy—I’m a scoundrel.”

Zhou Senwei, beside them, stared dumbfounded, swallowing hard. As Zhang Gang’s underling, he’d never had a chance to glimpse Luo Feng’s body before.

Zhang Gang stormed over, shouting, “Song Kai, are you out of your mind? She’s my woman!”

Song Kai’s rough grip had already left bruises on Luo Feng’s chest. Feigning surprise, he said, “Oh? Brother Gang, isn’t she a whore?”

Luo Feng was truly furious, not least because of the burning pain where he’d grabbed her. She leapt up and kicked at Song Kai.

He dodged aside.

Luo Feng pulled her clothes back on, clutching her chest and swearing loudly. “You bastard, you deserve a beating—damn it, my chest…”

Zhang Gang swallowed his anger. For the sake of his plan, he had to endure.

Song Kai just chuckled. “Ah, Brother Gang, I’m really sorry. I honestly didn’t know she was your girl. From the way she acted, I thought she was one of the hostesses here. My apologies, truly.”

Zhang Gang snorted. “Forget it. I called you here for a reason. Song Kai, Big B has been looking for you.”

“Who’s Big B?” Song Kai asked.

“He’s the guy you owe money to—the casino boss. Didn’t you lose over three hundred thousand gambling? He’s out to get you. He said if you don’t pay by tomorrow, he’ll break both your arms.”

“Oh? What should I do, Brother Gang?” Song Kai feigned fear.

Zhang Gang waved a hand. “Kai, you’re my brother, of course I’ll help. Tonight, buy a ticket to Yunnan. My people will meet you there and help you slip across the border to Vietnam. Once you’re in Vietnam, you don’t have to worry about Big B. He’s powerful, but his reach doesn’t extend there.”

At this, Song Kai stepped forward and slapped Zhang Gang across the face.

Zhang Gang was stunned.

Song Kai spoke righteously, “Brother Gang, you’ve really hurt me! Am I that kind of person? You really break my heart…”

Zhang Gang covered his face, staring at Song Kai, furious but unable to vent.

Song Kai wore a look of deep sorrow. “How could I leave alone? If I run, Big B will come after you next. Am I the kind of man who would abandon his brothers for his own sake? Brother Gang, you really disappoint me.”

Zhang Gang was speechless, seething inside but unable to show it. He said, “Song Kai, I’m telling you, Big B has great power. If he catches you—”

Smack!

Song Kai slapped him again, this time on the other cheek, drawing blood from Zhang Gang’s nose.

Loudly, Song Kai declared, “Brother Gang, I won’t allow you to say such things—”

“Damn you!” At last, Zhang Gang lost control. He grabbed a beer bottle from the table and swung it at Song Kai’s head.

Song Kai dodged quickly. “Brother Gang, don’t get mad. I was just too emotional. I’ll do as you say, I promise. Don’t be angry.”

Zhang Gang panted, putting the bottle down. Seeing Song Kai submit, he snorted to himself, thinking, Song Kai, you bastard, once you’re in Vietnam, I’ll make you regret it…

He was seething, but forced himself to wait. As long as Song Kai boarded the plane to Yunnan, everything would be easy. The plan was simple: get Song Kai to leave the country, and once he’d slipped out of China, they could torment him however they liked, without fear of police interference or their plot being exposed.

Once Song Kai was gone, Xu Ling would naturally break off the engagement, and Zhang Gang could then pursue her openly and effortlessly.

Wiping his nosebleed, Zhang Gang said, “Alright then. Buy that ticket as soon as you can.”

“I… I don’t have any money,” Song Kai said.

Zhang Gang glared. “Zhou Senwei, book one for him.”

Zhou Senwei took out his phone. “Give me your ID number.”

Song Kai recited his ID number, then turned to Zhang Gang. “Brother Gang, you really take care of me.”

Zhang Gang nodded. “Glad you understand, brother.”

Song Kai nodded, putting on a look of tearful gratitude. “Come, Brother Gang, it’s our last night together. Let’s drink—no one goes home sober!”

Zhang Gang frowned, sensing something odd about Song Kai tonight, though he couldn’t put his finger on it. Usually, Song Kai was meek and foolish, but tonight he’d dared to slap him… Maybe it was just deep brotherly feeling.