"Where did you get hurt?"
Lin Han arrived at the hospital and asked as soon as she spoke.
"My left arm!"
"Your gunshot wound wasn't healed yet, and you got stabbed again?"
"Isn't that the case."
Lin Han looked around and saw the police outside. She whispered to me, "Mr. Ke did this."
"Ke Yingying?" I widened my eyes, showing my inner fear.
"Yes!" Lin Han paid no attention to my acting.
"He's in Xi'an?"
"No, he's in the Northeast, controlling things remotely. Don't worry, Mr. Ke guarantees no one will know. We're killing ourselves, and the hired people don't know either. From your expression, that guy was going for the kill."
I felt a bit helpless. When that person lunged at me, my immediate thought was, this is absolutely the standard method of 'Logical Paradox.' Simple and extreme, like how Zhang Si was dealt with, to eliminate me.
It seems I thought too much. Yes, this is the standard method of 'Logical Paradox,' but not all standard methods are meant for killing. This time it was a scheme, but what about next time? Ke Yingying is a sharp double-edged sword, and one careless move could lead to disaster.
Suddenly, I even felt a hint of regret. My Xuanxue of The Schemer is still in its exploratory phase. I shouldn't have shown it off so quickly. Ye Qingcheng must have noted it down, and it's probably already been shared with Ke Yingying. Everyone understands things differently. What if Ke Yingying achieves great success in her studies and becomes an uncontrollable killing machine? What would I do?
Upon reflection, I was too hasty. All four of them are dangerous individuals. Li Jiu kept them on standby, calling them reserves. The reason for this might be that they lack the ability, or perhaps they are too dangerous.
I believe the latter possibility is more likely. Ye Qingcheng is very calm and handles things quickly; she is the most stable among the four. Xiao Zian and his wife are unpredictable. As long as the height matches, she can easily disguise herself. Her skills are the most uncanny among the four. As for Lu Yao, he always claims to be a coward with low abilities. However, this person, referred to as 'earth clod,' is the one I can't see through. The last one, Ke Yingying, is too dangerous. If not controlled properly, this person could become a blade that kills oneself.
"Honey, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm suddenly a little scared of these four people."
"When Wang Zeyu told me about these four, he said they might be personal bodyguards or a fatal threat. However, after interacting with Ke Yingying, I can feel that he genuinely wants to help me. When I was in Guangzhou, Sister Ye and Sister Xiao were also very friendly. And Lu Yao, when I arrived in Ruili, he was like an elder. Only in front of you does he act foolish. I think this foolish personality is the real Lu Yao. By showing his true feelings to you, it means he trusts you very much."
"It seems I was overthinking."
"I think you're scared, scared they'll surpass you. The fact that they always do things you can't predict means you're not yet a qualified leader of The Schemers. You need to work harder."
I smiled and took Lin Han's hand: "It seems my wife has become a confidante." Lin Han placed her other hand on mine: "Don't you know? You've quietly changed many people."
"Including me?"
"Of course."
"Didn't you call me before you came and say you brought me food made by our mom?"
"Yes!"
"Where's the food?"
Lin Han looked at me and grinned, revealing a fawning smile. Well, she definitely forgot about the food. Changes and all that? Just empty talk.
Ye Qingcheng arrived. As my lawyer, her presence in the ward alongside family members was not unusual. The problem was that she completely ignored my injuries. I looked at her calm expression and deliberately reminded her: "Teacher Ye, I'm injured."
"Oh, I'm here today to talk to you about Zhao Zhichao's matter."
Clearly, in the minds of these Four-Color Elders... no, their Four-Color Knights, getting me injured and then getting me out on medical parole was a standard procedure. It was so routine that it wasn't even worth mentioning. But, big brother, big sister, have you considered my feelings? What if that person had really tried to kill me? What if I had overreacted emotionally and killed that person?
"Sect Leader, can we begin?"
"Oh, yes, yes, you start."
After speaking, I glanced at Lin Han, who was sitting obediently beside me. Lin Han, understanding my thoughts perfectly, covered her mouth and chuckled.
The year Zhao Shirui was sentenced to death, Zhao Zhichao was only 15 years old. She didn't believe her father's crimes had anything to do with her. She was a very masculine girl with simple thoughts.
When her father became a criminal, Zhao Zhichao thought she wouldn't need to go to school anymore. She left the classroom in front of the teacher, carrying her schoolbag. This girl, who would climb trees to poke beehives and swim in rivers to catch crabs, was going to fight for her own life alone.
However, Zhao Zhichao did not live so freely. Three days after she secretly dropped out of school, someone brought her back. Then, she was taken to live with her paternal uncle.
Zhao Zhichao began her new life at her uncle's.
Zhao Shicheng's neighbor was Director Lu. Back then, the Zhao and Lu families were neighbors in the same compound. Zhao Shicheng was like an elder brother to Director Lu. Director Lu was thirty-nine that year, the captain of the criminal investigation team, with a happy family and a son named Lu Fan.
Zhao Shirui, who was executed, was two years younger than Director Lu. However, Zhao Shirui married early, so Director Lu's son, Lu Fan, and Zhao Zhichao were the same age.
Because the two families were close, the children were also compelled to interact. This is how Zhao Zhichao met Lu Fan. To be honest, Zhao Zhichao looked down on Lu Fan, thinking he was frail and spoke in a childish voice like a girl.
Zhao Zhichao was boisterous every day, carrying her backpack on one shoulder and her school uniform tied around her waist. She was somewhat restrained around female classmates, but she swore profusely at male classmates.
Lu Fan, on the other hand, was completely different, scholarly, humble, and polite.
The two would often meet downstairs. Lu Fan always tried to avoid Zhao Zhichao, but was always caught by her. She would push Lu Fan around a bit, or swing her fists at him. In Zhao Zhichao's eyes, Lu Fan was a wimp who deserved a beating, and she would pick on him whenever she had the chance.
Until one day, Lu Fan got into trouble. Several older students surrounded Lu Fan and beat him. Zhao Zhichao immediately got angry. Damn it, the person she bullies can't be bullied by you guys! She dropped her backpack and charged forward. Zhao Zhichao was fierce in fights, but she was outnumbered. Her eyes were swollen, and her mouth was like a sausage.
Lu Fan gave Zhao Zhichao money to go to the hospital. Zhao Zhichao expected Lu Fan to accompany her, but she didn't expect this coward to vanish without a trace, leaving behind his father's warning not to fight.
Zhao Zhichao didn't go to the hospital. She bought a bottle of ice-cold soda by the roadside and tried to numb her pain like in Hong Kong movies on TV. Zhao Shicheng somehow found out about the fight and rushed over. Zhao Zhichao was indifferent to Zhao Shicheng's concern and coldly said, "Don't bother me, you're not my father."
When it came to rebellion, Zhao Zhichao had never lost to anyone. Yet, she became good friends with her neighbor, the 'fake sissy' Lu Fan. Zhao Zhichao took Lu Fan to steal fruit, and Lu Fan took Zhao Zhichao to the library.
Zhao Zhichao's mother had run off with another man. But Zhao Zhichao felt that her mother had never been as concerned about her studies as Lu Fan was. Lu Fan urged her every day, saying, "If you don't die from studying, study to death. If you can't get into a good university, then we won't be able to steal fruit together."
Surprisingly, Zhao Zhichao found motivation. During that period, her studies improved greatly. At that time, Zhao Zhichao's studies were excellent. She didn't want her uncle to know she was close with Lu Fan, so she found a half-finished building. Every day, she and Lu Fan would sneak through the fence and have their own study base in the unfinished building.
Zhao Shicheng later discovered this. He started picking Zhao Zhichao up from school every day and then locked her at home before attending to his own business. Zhao Zhichao felt very annoyed, but she was still a minor, and her rebellious phase seemed to be over. She was unwilling but didn't resist excessively.
One day, Zhao Zhichao was studying at home when she heard a crash. Someone had smashed the glass, revealing Lu Fan's fair face. Lu Fan's skin was pale, mostly from nervousness. He was so excited that he could barely breathe. Zhao Zhichao smiled at Lu Fan and gave him a thumbs-up: "True man."
Lu Fan choked for a long time, and finally, with rare effort, said, "Fuck~"
From that day on, they were inseparable, indifferent to what others thought. They studied together until 1989, when it was time for university entrance exams. Zhao Zhichao had completely changed. Her figure had developed nicely, with long hair cascading down her shoulders. Lu Fan had also changed. The short, small person was no more, though he wasn't very tall either, only half a head taller than the tall Zhao Zhichao.
After school, Lu Fan, carrying his schoolbag, caught up with Zhao Zhichao and put his arm around her shoulder, saying, "Brother Chao, I've fallen for a girl in class three. She's really beautiful."
Zhao Zhichao snorted through her nose, "Do you have the guts to confess? Do you need me to go tell her for you?"
"Okay!"
Zhao Zhichao didn't know what possessed her, but she actually went and told the girl in class three. The girl learned that Lu Fan was not only handsome but also a good student, and shyly agreed.
After school, Lu Fan pointed at Zhao Zhichao's nose and cursed, "Zhao Zhichao, are you f*cking crazy? Does it matter who I like for you to go and say it?"
Zhao Zhichao hid a smile, "I was afraid you'd be too shy."