033 Several Groups of People
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A little over an hour had passed when Yang Tang handed in his exam paper, making him one of the earlier finishers. He wandered around half the campus, but all he saw were lower-grade students clustered together between classes or heading to the restroom; not a single familiar face appeared.
“Still out of place, huh,” he sighed. As he passed by the basketball court, he didn’t even have to greet anyone; Liu Yu and Glasses, who were playing basketball with others, immediately came over to him.
“Hey, Old Yang!”
Yang Tang waved, returning their greeting.
Liu Yu said, “Old Yang, do you know that anyone who’s ever mixed in at our school admires you like crazy now?”
“Admire me?”
“Yeah, there’s that guy in your grade, Zhan Song. Apparently he jumped off the building and broke his leg, then his family came to the school raising hell, but the school leaders didn’t pay any attention. Instead, they publicly gave Zhan Song a disciplinary warning to stay under observation!” Glasses explained.
Yang Tang: “...”
“And I heard that kid in your class, Gu Yongli—the one you broke the hand of—was threatening to make trouble for you. But after Zhan Song’s incident, he immediately went quiet,” Liu Yu chimed in.
“Oh?” Yang Tang raised an eyebrow. “Gu Yongli’s hand healed?”
“Not completely. I saw him in training class the other day; he still had his arm in a sling!”
The two chatted with Yang Tang all the way to the school gate, intending to ask for his contact info or something. Just then, a Windisha and a Volkswagen Santana started up almost simultaneously across the street, speeding toward the school gate, one after the other.
“Yang Tang!”
“Yang Tang.”
A woman and two men got out of the cars in succession. The woman was none other than He Jianni, and the two men were the Wu father and son.
“Hey, Jianni, and Uncle Wu, it’s been a while!” Yang Tang greeted them, exchanging a knowing nod with Wu Hao, but felt a bit awkward about which car to get into.
Wu Lie, always attentive, said, “Yang, since this lady is your friend, you should ride with her. We’ll find a place to sit down and chat.”
Yang Tang tilted his head, noncommittal. “No problem, let’s talk.” He gave Liu Yu and Glasses a look, signaling them to leave.
Once inside the passenger seat, Yang Tang simply gestured for He Jianni to drive.
She started up, wanting to accelerate, and asked, “Who’s that short, stout middle-aged man?”
“Take it slow. That guy’s a cop, at least deputy bureau level. He was in charge of the South Street Bridge robbery case last time,” Yang Tang replied with a smirk. “But I heard he’s not exactly a model citizen, messes around a lot, so Jianni, I’d advise you to keep your distance.”
He Jianni gave Yang Tang a sidelong glance, teasing, “What are you to me, huh? Why do you get to tell me what to do?” She paused and added, “With someone like him, you think I’d ever be interested?”
Yang Tang couldn’t help but chuckle. “Jianni, I’m just giving you a heads-up! Besides, it’s not about whether you like him—if he likes you, there are plenty of ways he could try something, right?”
He Jianni caught the implication, her eyes wide. “He’s a cop!”
“There are rotten apples in every barrel—even priests aren’t all saints. Same logic,” Yang Tang replied. “By the way, I’m not familiar with this area. Find a quiet tea house or something to stop at.”
“You’re not familiar? You study at this school!”
“That’s exactly why I’m not familiar with the surroundings,” Yang Tang said.
After He Jianni and Wu Lie’s cars left the school gate, in two vans parked across the street, Brother Hua let out a sigh. “Tell them to drive slower, just keep tailing them.”
Black Screen asked, “Boss, why did we just...”
“You don’t know a thing!” Brother Hua snapped. “I always tell you to read more, but you never listen. You know who that short, fat guy driving the Santana is? He’s a cop—an important one. He was all over the news about the robbery a while back!”
Hearing this, all the thugs in the van—including Black Screen—were startled.
Just then, Brother Hua’s vans started up, preparing to turn around, when a small Chang’an van swung in, grazing their car and speeding after the Santana like an entourage.
“Damn, that fat guy really is a big shot in the police. There are at least four plainclothes officers in that little van!” Brother Hua marveled, then ordered, “Tell the lead car to keep their distance, don’t get too close.”
“Got it!” Black Screen replied, pulling out his phone to call the front vehicle.
Brother Hua leaned back, grumbling, “Damn it, now I see why Yang Tang looks down on me—his connections run deep as hell!”
Xinji Tea House, second floor, private room.
Yang Tang, He Jianni, and the Wu father and son sat across from each other.
Before Yang Tang could speak, Wu Lie began, “Yang, you know my son Wu Hao, right?”
“Yes,” Yang Tang replied with a false smile. “Last time, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have gotten a ball to play with!”
“Brother Tang, you have it backward. If it weren’t for you, those punks would’ve killed me,” Wu Hao said, eyes full of gratitude, though his words carried a hint of resentment.
Yang Tang was surprised. “What, you still haven’t found the guys who beat you up?”
Wu Hao shook his head. “No. My dad said they went abroad.”
Yang Tang looked at Wu Lie, skeptical. Before the fall of that fat man, he was the overlord of Mist City—how could he not find a few people?
Wu Lie noticed Yang Tang’s gaze and sensed the young man had seen through something, so he quickly shifted the topic to He Jianni. “Yang, the three of us men have been chatting for a while; it wouldn’t do to neglect the lady!”
“Oh, right!” Yang Tang feigned sudden realization. “Let me introduce you. This is my senior, He Jianni. Jianni, this is Wu Hao, my basketball buddy, and his father—”
At that point, Wu Lie took over, “Wu Lie, an old investigator, currently working at the city bureau.”
If Yang Tang hadn’t warned her, He Jianni might have been taken in by Wu Lie’s introduction. Now, she was sufficiently cautious, and out of politeness, shook hands briefly with Wu Lie.
Once introductions were done, Yang Tang broached the subject, “So, Uncle Wu, what brings you to me today?”
“No urgent matter. Hao just wanted to thank you—after all, you saved his life,” Wu Lie said sincerely. “Not only does Hao owe you, I owe you a huge favor myself!”
Yang Tang quickly waved his hands. “I wouldn’t dare! If it weren’t for Miss Ye Ni’s SUV that day, I wouldn’t have been able to get Hao to the hospital in time!”
Wu Hao shook his head. “That’s a separate matter. If you hadn’t acted, those bastards would’ve killed me right there. Ye Ni and her friends didn’t help at all at that moment!” There was a trace of bitterness in his words.
Yang Tang immediately sensed Wu Hao’s strong self-centeredness. Ye Ni was kind enough to lend her car, yet Wu Hao still held a grudge against her—what a thankless attitude!
“All right, all right,” Wu Lie noticed his son’s words had gone astray and quickly changed the topic. “Yang, besides basketball, do you have any other interests? Like archery?”
Yang Tang instantly realized Wu Lie had investigated him, though he lacked proof. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be chatting over tea. He felt a bit uneasy but kept his expression unchanged.
He Jianni grew restless. “Where’s our Longjing tea? What’s taking so long?” She rang the bell before Yang Tang or Wu Lie could speak.
Almost immediately, a waitress opened the door and bowed. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
He Jianni snapped, “Where’s our Mingqian Longjing? Why isn’t it here yet? Are you trying to scam me with this purple-gold card?” She tossed a metal card at the waitress.
The waitress was startled, quickly picking up the card and replying timidly, “Please wait a moment, I’ll call our manager.”
Wu Hao was also taken aback by He Jianni’s temper, looking embarrassed.
Yang Tang and Wu Lie, however, were unfazed. Yang Tang even pretended to comfort her, “Jianni, don’t be upset, it’s just a small thing.”
Wu Lie was about to tease them when his phone rang unexpectedly. He stepped outside to answer it, then soon returned, apologetic. “Yang, I originally reserved a table at Taihe Restaurant to treat you, but it seems I won’t have the pleasure today.”
“What’s wrong, Dad? Something happened?” Wu Hao asked.
“Yes, something’s come up. The accomplices of those robbers aren’t willing to let it go,” Wu Lie said, eyes fixed on Yang Tang.
Unfortunately for him, Yang Tang’s thick skin had been honed over the years, and after killing three robbers, he remained unflustered. He replied politely, “In that case, I’ll treat Uncle Wu and Hao another day!” Though he said this, he was pondering whether the news about ‘Zhang Jun’s accomplices’ was true.
“No need to wait. The table is already booked. Hao will take you there soon—I’ll be leaving now.” With that, Wu Lie departed.
“Geez, Dad’s work as a cop is tough—on call twenty-four hours a day!” Wu Hao grumbled, then winked at Yang Tang. “Brother Tang, let’s play basketball after lunch?”
Yang Tang: “...”
He Jianni glared, “Basketball? Yang Tang has another exam this afternoon!”
“Oh, right!” Wu Hao instantly remembered and looked annoyed. “Sorry, Brother Tang!”
“No need to apologize. But Hao, honestly, you’re old enough to stop thinking only about basketball!” Yang Tang shook his head.
“It’s because I’m in second year—if I don’t play now, I won’t get to next year,” Wu Hao sighed. “Brother Tang, wouldn’t it be great if there were no college entrance exams?”
He Jianni was about to laugh when a reprimanding voice sounded outside the private room, “What are you doing? You can’t just barge in without a reservation!”
...