Chapter 127: Impossible

"Wake up."

Xu Fei tapped the face of the man in sunglasses with a switchblade. The man slowly opened his eyes and saw Xu Fei wearing his sunglasses. He wanted to curse at Xu Fei, but the excruciating pain in his shoulder made even the slightest movement unbearable.

"What—what do you want?"

"You went after that curly-haired kid. He’s just a child. Does that really sit well with your conscience?"

The man in sunglasses let out a cold snort. "Damn it, are you here to lecture me? What do you want? Where’s number seven?"

"I let him go. He won't be hanging around with you anymore. As for you, you’d better stop doing such wicked things."

Xu Fei flicked the blade open, raised his hand, and thrust it forcefully toward the man’s head.

"Ah!" The man squeezed his eyes shut in terror. "Don't! Don't kill me!"

But a second later, he only heard the sound of the blade piercing the ground right next to his ear. He slowly opened his eyes again. Seeing the switchblade embedded in the dirt beside his head, he glared at Xu Fei. "What—what is the meaning of this?"

"How much did Fan Dongcheng pay you?"

"He paid..." The man paused. "Damn it, that curly-haired brat, that waste of space—did he tell you?"

Xu Fei nodded. "One hundred. He told you to stab me somewhere, and he didn't care where."

"And the money?"

The man looked at Xu Fei. "He hasn't paid yet. He said he wouldn't pay until he saw you were injured. That’s the rule in our line of work."

"Hmph, rules? Do people like you even have the right to talk about rules?" Xu Fei glared at him. "Alright, did he say where the payment would be made?"

"He did. The side gate of the Fine Arts Institute, four o'clock tonight."

Xu Fei nodded. "Fine. You’ve been cooperative. If it weren't for what you did to that kid, I’d have every reason to break your other arm."

The man shivered in fear. Xu Fei reached out and patted the man’s pants pocket.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing, buddy?" The man recoiled, shrinking back.

Xu Fei pointed at him. "Don't move."

Gritting his teeth against the pain of his dislocated shoulder, the man pleaded, "Big brother, look, my arm is dislocated. I’m going to need money for the doctor later. Can you... can you leave that money be?"

Xu Fei pulled thirty yuan from his left pocket and tucked it away.

"Kid, I knew you couldn't possibly have taken nothing from him. But if I had taken this money earlier, I doubt you would have told me the truth."

The man realized he had met someone formidable today. "Big brother, I was wrong. How about this? Can you help me to the alley entrance? I can catch a ride to the hospital myself."

"Get out!" Xu Fei glared at him. "Crawl yourself. And one more thing: don't let me find out you tipped off that guy surnamed Fan. If you do, I’ll come looking for you." Xu Fei pulled the switchblade from the ground. "If I want to find you, I’ll find you."

The man nodded. "Fine. I admit defeat today. You’re a master, big brother. Don’t worry, I won't tip him off."

Xu Fei pocketed the knife and turned to walk out of the alley.

"Big brother, can I have my sunglasses back..."

Xu Fei didn't look back, just waved his hand. "I’m commandeering them."

...

At the side gate of the Fine Arts Institute, few students or teachers passed by. The double iron gate was locked, but a smaller pedestrian gate to the left was open. Xu Fei leaned against the doorpost.

Footsteps echoed from inside. Xu Fei pulled the sunglasses down slightly. He saw Fan Dongcheng push the small door open, peering left and right like a thief. When he spotted Xu Fei, he froze, his eyes widening in shock.

"Why is it you?"

Xu Fei didn't give him a chance to turn and run. He grabbed Fan Dongcheng by the collar and pulled him through the gate with a single, sharp tug.

"Don't—don't hit me! Big brother, let’s talk this over."

Xu Fei nodded and pressed him against the doorpost. "Listen to me closely." He pulled out the switchblade and waved it in front of Fan Dongcheng. "This is the very thing they were supposed to use on me."

Seeing the knife, Fan Dongcheng completely crumbled. "Big brother, I... I didn't mean for them to use that! I just told them to beat you up so you’d stay away from Lin Fang."

Xu Fei tapped the blade against Fan Dongcheng’s face. "Shut up. I don't care what you said or what you told them to do. I’m here for the remaining twenty yuan."

"Huh?" Fan Dongcheng was stunned. "Big brother, what—what do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Don't you understand? Since that money was intended for me, it’s only right that I take it."

Fan Dongcheng’s face lit up with a forced smile. He hurriedly reached into his pocket and pulled out two ten-yuan bills—clearly the money prepared for the man in sunglasses. "Here, big brother, here is twenty."

Xu Fei took the money, checked it, and tucked it away. "Alright." He released Fan Dongcheng’s collar. "We’re even now."

Seeing Xu Fei say this, Fan Dongcheng lowered his head and asked tentatively, "Brother... big brother, can I go?"

"Get lost."

Seeing Xu Fei nod, Fan Dongcheng scrambled back through the small gate.

"Wait!"

Xu Fei suddenly called out. Fan Dongcheng was so scared he nearly wet himself, thinking Xu Fei had changed his mind. Trembling, he slowly turned back. "Big brother, didn't you tell me to go?"

"Treat Lin Fang well. She and I are never going to happen."

Xu Fei turned and walked toward the hospital. Watching him leave, Fan Dongcheng scratched his head. "What just happened?"

...

Xu Fei entered the hospital and went straight to the payment window to cover the costs for Zhang Ze for the next day. This money had just come from Fan Dongcheng. After paying, he grabbed the food he’d bought and headed up to the ward.

"Xu Fei, you're back?"

"Brother San, let’s eat."

Xu Fei pulled over a stool. He and An Laosan crouched on the floor to eat the stir-fried soybeans and bean starch noodles he’d bought from the breakfast shop across the street. Xu Fei and the shop owner had become friends after a previous incident, and the owner highly respected Xu Fei for his integrity. Tonight’s dish, along with two portions of rice, was a gift from the owner.

"How was today?" An Laosan asked while eating.

"Made fifty. Just paid for tomorrow's fees. By the way, has there been any movement from Brother Zhang?"

An Laosan shook his head. "The doctor says this is normal. He might wake up tonight, or maybe in half a year, or even..." An Laosan didn't want to finish the sentence. "Fei, do you think we should consider transferring him back to Donghai?"