Chapter Forty-Four: Uniform
“Mr. He, where shall we eat?” Jiang Yun asked.
“Let’s go to a street food stall. Have you ever eaten there?”
“I did, back in college—I ate there every day!”
“Good, let’s eat at the stall then! The weather’s turning cold, and soon they’ll be gone!”
He Ling drove Jiang Yun to a street food stall just outside the airport.
“Boss, one grilled fish, twenty skewers of lamb kidneys, and twenty skewers of beef tendons!”
“Coming right up!”
“Do you want to drink?” He Ling asked.
“Better not, I’ve got to drive later!”
“We could find a designated driver.”
“Well… fine then!”
“Boss, bring us a dozen beers too!”
“Sure! Please have a seat!”
He Ling and Jiang Yun sat down. Before long, the barbecue was served, and He Ling called for a driver. The two took off their masks and started enjoying the skewers.
“To your health!”
“Cheers!”
They clinked their glasses of draft beer, chatting about everything under the sun as they ate.
Suddenly, He Ling leaned over and vomited at the roadside. Jiang Yun patted his back. “Mr. He, are you alright? If you can’t drink, don’t force yourself!”
He Ling’s behavior caught Jiang Yun completely off-guard; usually, He Ling seemed so refined and dignified, but now he was acting like a drunken fool.
...
Xiao He wandered around the airport hall, circling several times without encountering Jiang Yun.
“He doesn’t have any ID; he shouldn’t be able to board a plane.”
Her stomach grumbled. She decided to get something to eat first.
Xiao He walked to a street food stall not far from the airport, planning to order a few skewers.
“I want to keep drinking!”
“Alright, alright! Drink more when you get home!”
Hearing voices, Xiao He turned to see one person helping another into a car.
“It’s him!”
“Boss, cancel the lamb skewers!”
Xiao He dashed over, but the car had already started and driven away.
She stopped a taxi. “Driver, follow that car ahead!”
“Got it!”
The driver gripped the wheel, shifted gears, and pressed the accelerator.
The engine roared, and the car shot forward.
A sudden brake brought the taxi to a halt. “What was that? Only three intersections—got my blood pumping for nothing!”
“How much?”
“Just the starting fare—ten yuan!”
Xiao He handed him a hundred, and the driver gave her change.
She got out and entered a hotel.
Jiang Yun and He Ling were at the front desk, checking in.
Xiao He quietly followed behind them.
Once Jiang Yun and He Ling went upstairs, Xiao He approached the hotel front desk.
“Hello! May I—”
“Shh!” Xiao He held up her finger, signaling for silence.
The receptionist closed her lips.
“I’m the girlfriend of one of those two just now. Please don’t say anything!” Xiao He said, looking mysterious.
The receptionist nodded solemnly.
“Which room did they go into?”
The receptionist, thoroughly fooled, actually believed her. “One is in 306, the other in 307.”
“Which one is the sober one?”
“306!”
“Thank you.”
Xiao He, feigning anger, walked toward the elevator. Once the doors closed, she let out a sigh of relief.
She arrived on the third floor, found room 306, and knocked.
“Who is it?” Jiang Yun called.
“Hello! Room service!”
Jiang Yun opened the door.
Suddenly, a petite figure pushed past him, slipping into the room.
The figure closed the door.
“It’s you?” Jiang Yun looked at her in surprise.
“Yes, it’s me!” Xiao He replied.
“Did you take my wallet?”
Without a word, Xiao He pulled out an ID and held it out to Jiang Yun.
“I knew it!” Jiang Yun took the ID. “Is there something you need, coming here specially?”
“I’m sorry!” Xiao He apologized. “You’re my idol! Could I get your autograph?”
“Alright.”
Jiang Yun found a pen and paper in the room and signed his name for her.
...
“Dog Boss, looks like Xiao He’s about to run!”
Er Gou, known as Dog Boss, frowned. “What’s going on?”
“I saw her follow our target from earlier into a hotel.”
Dog Boss led two men to the hotel.
“Hello! May I—”
“Shh!” Dog Boss gestured for silence.
The receptionist was exasperated—another one?
“We’re friends of those two who got drunk. We agreed to meet for a hot spring,” Dog Boss said. “Which room did they go into?”
The receptionist felt even more annoyed—the exact same line as the girl before.
“One is in 306, the other in 307!”
“Which—”
Before Dog Boss could ask, the receptionist cut him off. “The sober one is in 306!”
Dog Boss and his two companions entered the elevator and went up to the third floor.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
“Hello! Room service!”
Jiang Yun was baffled—another room service? He walked to the door and opened it.
Three men stood before him, tattoos on their arms, looking fierce and menacing.
“Who are you—”
“Dog Boss?” Xiao He cried out.
“You know them?” Jiang Yun looked at Xiao He.
She nodded.
“You stole my wallet earlier today—wasn’t that enough? Now you’re here again to block me. Be careful, or I’ll call the police!” Jiang Yun declared.
Dog Boss ignored Jiang Yun and looked at Xiao He. “Xiao He, what’s this? Not satisfied with my place? I hear you’re planning to escape?”
“Dog Boss, it’s not true! Please let me explain!”
“Come back with me!”
Jiang Yun frowned—it sounded like the girl was being coerced.
Xiao He trembled as she walked toward the door.
“Wait!” Jiang Yun called out.
“Kid, what do you want?” Dog Boss stared at him.
“What you’re doing is coercion, you know that?”
“I am coercing—so what?”
“Hey?” Jiang Yun’s temper flared. “Hey, so what are you going to do about it?”
“You decide—whatever you want, we’ll do!” Dog Boss was equally angry.
“Fine! Just wait. If you’ve got guts, don’t run!” Jiang Yun pulled out his phone and started dialing the police.
Seeing Jiang Yun about to call the police, Dog Boss panicked and threw a punch.
Jiang Yun responded with a set of Bajiquan moves, his elbow striking Dog Boss in the chest.
Dog Boss crashed into the wall.
Coughing, he clutched his chest, unable to catch his breath.
The two henchmen, terrified, pulled out knives.
Jiang Yun struck with a fierce punch, disarming them barehanded, and with a set of Xingyiquan, knocked both men to the ground.
All three lay there, clutching their chests and stomachs, bodies curled like shrimp.
Jiang Yun subdued them and began calling the police.
“Hello, this is what happened—” Jiang Yun briefly explained the situation.
Soon, the sound of sirens was heard.
Dog Boss, his two men, Xiao He, and Jiang Yun were all taken to the police station.
When Jiang Yun finally left the station, it was already two in the morning.
This incident would likely make the news—a criminal gang had been busted.
Dog Boss, the ringleader, would probably go to jail, while Xiao He would face criticism, education, and a fine.