Chapter Sixty-Nine: Girlfriend

“Serve the dishes!”
Li Zhen called the waiter in.
“Oh, and bring me a bottle of Donghai Laojiao.”
The waiter paused in surprise.
“Comrade, are you drinking that by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Can you handle it?”
“I’m in a good mood. That’s enough—just bring it.”
Shaking his head, the waiter turned and left.

Meanwhile, inside Xu Fei’s room—

“Manager Sun, I ordered this braised yellow croaker in advance just for you. Please, have a taste.”
Sun Yindi picked up a piece with her chopsticks, smiling.
As someone from the south, she usually didn’t care much for sea fish, but this dish made her nod in approval again and again.
“Third Brother, do you remember the first time we ate this dish? It was right here, wasn’t it?”
An Lao San chuckled and nodded. “Yes, and that time, my eldest brother gave a good lesson to those three kids in the next room.”
Xu Fei could sense there was a story behind this and smiled, “Third Brother, tell me about it.”
An Lao San was in high spirits. He downed his wine and was just about to begin his tale when—

Knock, knock…

Someone knocked at the door.
Xu Fei rose and opened it.

Li Dabiao stood there holding a bottle of alcohol. When he saw Xu Fei, he glared and, without so much as a greeting, walked straight in.

“Li Dabiao, what are you doing here?”
An Lao San glanced sideways at him.
“Third Brother…” Li Dabiao’s eyes skimmed over Sun Yindi, and his face brightened. “You’re… you’re Sister-in-law… Sun Ying?”
Sun Yindi nodded.
Back when Li Dabiao followed An Guohao, Sun Ying had been An Guohao’s woman—so of course, he recognized her.

“Li Dabiao, do you want something?”
An Lao San’s voice was cold.
“Third Brother, I didn’t expect to see you and Sun Ying together here. We’re all old friends. Just now, downstairs, I noticed you seemed upset with my brother-in-law. I came up to talk to you about it.”
“Whatever your brother-in-law did, I’ll deal with him myself.”
Li Dabiao sneered. “I think you might want to let it go, Third Brother.”
“Oh? Let it go? I, An Lao San, was just insulted by that boy, and you think I’ll just let it go?”
Li Dabiao swaggered over and sat beside An Lao San.
“Third Brother, let me mention someone. When I say this name, you’ll probably drop the matter with my brother-in-law.”
“Who could possibly have that kind of sway?”
“Chen Qiang.”
An Lao San’s expression tightened at the name.
“Well? Third Brother, with his reputation, do you still want to press the issue?”

An Lao San clenched his teeth silently.
“Chen Qiang? And how is he related to your brother-in-law?”
Li Dabiao grinned.
“You’ll never guess—Chen Qiang is my brother-in-law’s father-in-law.”
“What?!”
An Lao San was stunned. Even Sun Yindi beside him frowned.

As the manager of Donghai Bank, she certainly knew of Chen Qiang, deputy director of the city’s southern precinct—a man with influence in both legal and criminal circles.
“Third Brother…” Sun Yindi gently tapped the back of An Lao San’s hand.
He took a deep breath.
“All right, you’ve said your piece. We’re drinking here—Li Dabiao, if you’d see yourself out.”
“Haha, Third Brother, come now, I just wanted to toast you…”
An Lao San raised his hand.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Fine, then I’ll be on my way.”
Having achieved his goal, Li Dabiao got up. He spotted the braised yellow croaker, picked up his chopsticks. “Let me try this… ha, mmm, good!”
He tossed the chopsticks down, laughed, and strode out.
“Bully, hiding behind others!”
An Lao San glared after him and drained his glass.

“Third Brother, people like that aren’t worth it,” Xu Fei said, glancing at Sun Yindi. “Who exactly is Chen Qiang?”
“He’s deputy director of the southern precinct. Leaning on his position, plenty of people in the underworld owe him favors. In Donghai, anyone on the streets will tell you—Chen Qiang’s name carries more weight than any boss.”
Sun Yindi glanced at An Lao San. “If I remember right, even Brother Hao used to pay tribute to Chen Qiang, didn’t he?”
An Lao San nodded.
“Come, let’s not talk about unpleasant things. Yindi, you really helped my brother out this time—let me toast you.”
Sun Yindi lifted her glass with a smile. “No need for such formality, Third Brother. It’s been a long time since we drank together.”
An Lao San looked at Xu Fei and smiled. “Come.”
Xu Fei raised his glass.
The three clinked their cups and drank.

After a few rounds,
Sun Yindi was tipsy.
“Third Brother, shall we leave it here for today?”
An Lao San nodded.
“Good idea. You’ve got a lot to do during the day, unlike us. Yindi, let Xu Fei see you home.”
Sun Yindi looked at Xu Fei.
This man, two years her junior, was tall and broad-shouldered—he even resembled An Guohao a little.
She had always found herself powerless against tall men.
She smiled and stood up.
“Xu Fei, I’ll trouble you, then.”
Xu Fei hurried forward.

“Sister Sun, should I support you?”
She nodded.
“Please, I really can’t stand too steady now.”
Xu Fei reached out and steadied her.
An Lao San opened the door and walked out ahead.
Xu Fei and Sun Yindi followed.

At this moment,
Li Zhen cracked his door open.
Seeing Xu Fei supporting Sun Yindi, his eyes widened. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Let go of her!”
Xu Fei and Sun Yindi turned to look.
Li Zhen staggered out, grabbed Xu Fei by the collar, and said, “You little punk, getting too bold. Do you know whose woman she is? Mine! Li Zhen’s!”
Xu Fei saw it was Li Zhen. “Li Zhen, you’re drunk. I’m just seeing Sister Sun downstairs—she’s had a lot to drink tonight too.”
“Sister Sun? Hmph, calling her so sweetly—do you have the right?”
“Li Zhen!”
Sun Yindi glared at him angrily. “What nonsense are you spouting? Since when was I your woman?”
Li Zhen was taken aback.
Wobbling, he pointed at Sun Yindi. “What? Since when aren’t you my woman?”
“Enough, come home with me. Don’t embarrass me here.”
She grabbed him and headed for the stairs.

Just then, An Lao San came over. “And he is?”
Sun Yindi shook her head. “Just the friend I mentioned earlier.”
“Oh.”
Seeing their relationship, An Lao San said nothing more.

He walked them to the door.
Li Zhen turned and pointed at Xu Fei. “You’d better behave yourself. I’m warning you, I…”
“Enough!”
Sun Yindi gave Li Zhen a hard shove.
“Huh?”
Li Zhen shook off her hand. “Don’t meddle. I’m telling you, Sun Yindi, I won’t let any other man touch you.”
She dragged him away.

Watching the two of them disappear into the night,
“I never expected Sun Yindi to end up with a man like that,” An Lao San sighed softly.
“Third Brother, let me see you home,” Xu Fei offered.
“All right.”

An Lao San and Xu Fei headed home together.
But they hadn’t gone far when, from the direction Sun Yindi and Li Zhen had just left, a sudden scream pierced the night.