“That, that, that! That’s just a very ordinary pose for a photo!”

Li Cheng’s face was contorted with grief, tears and snot streaming down his face, unable to defend himself:

“I’m really innocent, big brother! I really am… wronged souls have their avengers! If I really offended you, you can kill me and I’ll accept it! But you’re really wronging me here! I really don’t know about that so-called Genius Club!”

Lin Xian stared at him.

He knew Li Cheng very well… had dealt with him many times, and he was indeed a person who cherished life and feared death.

His mistress was truly devoted to him, staging many scenes of "heroically saving her husband."

But Li Cheng never thought about saving her, always adhering to the principle of "birds in the same forest fly apart when disaster strikes."

So…

Getting something out of Li Cheng's mouth was actually quite easy.

As long as his life was threatened, he would be as obedient as a Tmall Genie, answering whatever was asked and even volunteering information.

Such a person who cherished life and feared death. If he said he didn’t know, then he probably really didn’t know.

Li Cheng suddenly woke up:

“I… I remember! It’s a whole set of photos! A very famous international photographer took them for me… there’s a set! A whole album!”

“Do you want to see it? It’s right there, in that cabinet! You can see it as soon as you open the bottom drawer! I’m telling the truth!”

He was really frightened, his breath coming in ragged gasps, frantically pointing to the wardrobe on the other side of the room.

…

Lin Xian walked to the cabinet, pulled open the drawer, and found the album Li Cheng was talking about.

It was very high-end, with gold and silver threads, and an incomprehensible signature on the title page.

He opened it.

Page after page of photos of Li Cheng striking "domineering CEO" poses.

Li Cheng wasn’t lying.

The photos in this album and the one in the frame were indeed a set of photos, with the same clothing, background, and lighting.

There were seated and standing poses, all very formal.

Some with arms crossed, some with hands in pockets, some standing straight, and yes, there was that one with the index finger pointing to the sky.

Professional photos? Publicity shots? Artistic portraits?

Lin Xian didn’t know what to call these kinds of photos, but that was roughly what they were, the kind that every sales consultant had in their WeChat Moments.

Whether they were selling houses, cars, insurance, or acting as credit card loan intermediaries.

Lin Xian turned to the page with the index finger pointing to the sky.

Indeed.

Looking at the whole set of photos, this one didn’t seem strange anymore, just a very ordinary photo pose.

“What can you find out by asking like that?”

At this moment.

Da Lian Mao (Big Face Cat), covered in dust, came in from outside:

“Let me do it.”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four shots in a row hit Li Cheng's thigh!

“Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Li Cheng's screams echoed throughout the manor, and the carpet was instantly stained red.

“Are you going to talk or not?”

Da Lian Mao pointed the gun at Li Cheng’s forehead.

“I… waaaah, I really don’t know! Waaah, I really don’t know anything about the Genius Club… Never heard of it before, aaaah!”

Bang!

A decisive shot, a red flower bloomed on the white bed sheet, and the whole world fell silent.

“Little brother, he really doesn’t know.”

Lin Xian nodded.

He knew Li Cheng better than Da Lian Mao; if he still wasn’t talking after all this, then he really didn’t know.

Da Lian Mao looked at Lin Xian and shrugged:

“You want to ask him about the Genius Club? That’s not so easy to investigate… I’ve been investigating for so long, and I’ve only found one name. And after so many years, I haven’t found anything else.”

“Are you sure that people from the Genius Club killed your father?” Lin Xian looked at Da Lian Mao:

“What did you find out?”

“I only found this name.” Da Lian Mao looked down at Li Cheng, whose head was blown open, gnashing his teeth:

“If they didn’t kill him, why would I have found their name?”

“Aiya, don’t chat here, little brother! Is this a place to chat? Let’s go, we can’t stay here long! I’ve already filled the van!”

Da Lian Mao kicked Li Cheng’s body to the side and beckoned Lin Xian to go downstairs.

“You’re quite an interesting person,” Lin Xian said, following him and looking at Da Lian Mao with a smile:

“Sometimes silly, sometimes loyal, and sometimes really vicious and ruthless.”

“Pui!”

Da Lian Mao spat righteously:

“It’s Li Cheng who deserved to die!”

Wiping his mouth, Da Lian Mao was very angry:

“You told me about the things he did, and as someone who has a daughter, I can’t stand hearing that kind of thing. Beast! He should be crushed to death by a road roller!”

“When you have a daughter in the future… you’ll feel the same way I do, wishing you could kill him a few more times.”

…

Bang!

In the courtyard of the villa, Da Lian Mao slammed the van door shut, looking at the gold bars, jewels, and cash packed inside:

“I should have pumped up the tires before coming, look, they’re all flat.”

“This guy is really rich, I couldn’t haul it all away even if I came with a truck.”

“Here, take this.”

Whoosh—

Lin Xian caught what Da Lian Mao threw at him.

It was a large heart-shaped blue gemstone, crystal clear and extremely beautiful.

“Don’t come here empty-handed.”

Da Lian Mao smiled:

“This thing might be worth more than this whole van of gold! It’s just hard to sell, you take it, give it to your girlfriend or something.”

With that, he walked around the loaded van, got into the driver’s seat, and started the engine:

“Are you sure you don’t want a ride, little brother?”

“No need.” Lin Xian shook his head.

The time was almost up, it didn’t matter whether he got in or not.

Besides… Da Lian Mao had packed the van so full, he would need the bone shrinking skill to squeeze in.

“Here, take it.”

Lin Xian threw the blue gemstone in through the car window: “I have no use for it.”

“Hey! You’re really too kind, brother! You’re making me feel embarrassed!”

Da Lian Mao looked at Lin Xian with a grin:

“Thank you, brother! Now I have money to carry out my next plan, to avenge my daughter and my old man!”

“I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to see you again. If I do… I’ll have to invite you home for a meal! Try your sister-in-law’s cooking!”

“Hehe…”

Lin Xian was amused by Da Lian Mao’s words:

“What’s your sister-in-law’s specialty?”

“Dumplings! They’re delicious!”

The two looked at each other and laughed for a long time.

But…

Would there be a next time?

Probably not.

This was a dumpling meal that would never be eaten.

“I’m leaving, little brother!”

“Go on.” Lin Xian waved his hand.

Rumble—

The heavy van started, the accelerator pressed down hard, and the tires began to move slowly.

“Hey!” Lin Xian shouted.

“Huh?”

Da Lian Mao stepped on the brakes, stuck his head out of the driver’s side window, and looked back at Lin Xian:

“What’s wrong, little brother?”

Lin Xian put his hands in his pockets:

“I want to ask you one last thing, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Hey! What’s with the formalities between us! Just ask!”

The cicadas chirped mournfully in the midnight, and the streams in the courtyard pond were silent.

Lin Xian looked at Da Lian Mao:

“[Do you remember… the specific time your father and your daughter were killed in the accident?]”

…

Da Lian Mao’s smile froze on his face, turning somber.

He pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

He lit it.

Slowly exhaling white smoke…

After a long time.

“I’ve watched the surveillance video at the intersection.”

He choked, trembling:

“Many times.”

He clenched the cigarette butt tightly in his teeth:

“So the time of the accident, the time they died… I’ll never forget it in my life, I remember every minute and every second.”

Exhaling a swirling cloud of smoke, Da Lian Mao looked down at his watch:

“It was about this time.”

Lin Xian raised his watch, and Da Lian Mao’s voice also came at the same time—

“00:42” [00:42]

Boom!!!!!!

Boom!!!!!!

Boom!!!!!!

A blinding white light descended, incinerating everything.

…

…

In the corner of the bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes.