"Get your hand off me!"
"Sleep? What sleep! Don't you know the state your own body is in?"
Wen Lanlan glanced with disgust at the hand Lu Chengfeng had placed on her hip, then irritably slapped it away.
Wen Lanlan picked up the pack of menthol cigarettes from the kitchen island, took one out, and lit it with a *snap*. She took a deep drag, exhaling a plume of smoke.
Incomparably elegant.
At that moment, Wen Lanlan's heart was a mess of turmoil.
For the past five days, she had thought her husband was dead. She had even considered filing for a declaration of death, marrying A Lun, and starting a new life.
But she never expected A Lun to be taken out just like that.
Wen Lanlan wasn't particularly broken up about A Lun's death, though.
After all, plotting against the boss was a line you shouldn't cross. His death was no great loss.
But now, how was she supposed to face her husband, who had returned from the dead?
He seemed to want to get back on his feet, but how could it be that easy?
Their territory had been chipped away until only the Da Fuhao Bathhouse remained.
Their underlings had almost all deserted them.
Meanwhile, the other four bosses were rich and powerful, their forces strong, at the height of their power.
How could he possibly fight them? It was completely impossible!
Not to mention, her husband was useless in that department.
At this thought, the glimmer of hope that had just appeared in Wen Lanlan's eyes faded away...
Just then, the landline at home rang.
Wen Lanlan stubbed out her cigarette and pressed the speakerphone button.
"Sister-in-law, our bathhouse has been shut down by the Chengzhong police station!"
"All the technicians have run off! Sister-in-law, this is the last business our Chengzhong company has!"
Zhu You, the Lu family's most loyal manager, reported anxiously over the phone.
Wen Lanlan's delicate body trembled, her face instantly turning deathly pale.
Of the group's five major areas, the Lu family's territory was in Chengzhong.
Back when Lu Songwen's father was alive, no one dared to touch their Chengzhong territory.
But ever since Lu Songwen inherited the business, various powers had been coming to snatch the Lu family's enterprises.
And now even their only remaining business was being shut down?
Wen Lanlan said furiously, "I'm going over right now! I'd like to see what gives them the right to do this!"
Lu Chengfeng said, "Let's go. I'll go with you."
Wen Lanlan looked at Lu Chengfeng with disdain. "What's the use of you going? You're not your father!"
Lu Chengfeng just smiled.
To uncover the criminal network of the entire Jiansheng Group, he had to rise through the ranks quickly. Only then would he have enough influence to get close to the group's upper echelon.
To rise quickly, he needed a powerful enemy to appear, so he could then destroy them.
That was the only way to use them as a stepping stone and turn his underworld status around in one fell swoop.
Lu Chengfeng had a feeling that his stepping stone would appear tonight.
***
Half an hour later, Lu Chengfeng and Wen Lanlan arrived at the Da Fuhao Bathhouse in the Chengzhong Area.
At that very moment, Zhang Yongguang, the chief of the Chengzhong police station, was there with his men, plastering official seals on the bathhouse.
The Bluebird sedan pulled up to the entrance, and Lu Chengfeng and Wen Lanlan got out.
"Sister-in-law. Brother Wen," said Zhu You, the bathhouse manager, who was already waiting respectfully at the door.
Wen Lanlan got out of the car and habitually pulled out a menthal cigarette.
*Flick*—
Zhu You quickly lit it for her.
Lu Chengfeng, meanwhile, silently scanned the surroundings.
The other four bathhouses nearby were brightly lit, with scantily clad technicians constantly going in and out.
Lu Chengfeng knew from his intelligence that these four bathhouses had been opened by another boss from the group.
Their business was booming! And they hadn't been touched.
Only his place had been raided.
This meant he was being targeted. Either that, or Zhang Yongguang felt he hadn't been paid enough.
Lu Chengfeng hoped it was the former.
Wen Lanlan took a drag from her cigarette and looked coolly at Zhang Yongguang.
"Officer Zhang, our Da Fuhao Bathhouse has been open for years without any trouble. Why the sudden shutdown?"
Zhang Yongguang gave Wen Lanlan a cold look and said arrogantly, "Illicit activities. We're enforcing the law."
Wen Lanlan grew even more furious. "Zhang Yongguang! Don't give me that crap! This place has been open for ten years! You think you don't know how this business works?"
Zhang Yongguang sneered. "Wen Lanlan, who do you think you are?"
"You still think you're the daughter-in-law of a big boss?"
"Your father-in-law is dead! Get lost! Don't interfere with my work!"
Just as Wen Lanlan was about to explode, Lu Chengfeng squeezed between them, separating the two.
"Officer Zhang, there are too many eyes and ears out here. Why don't we talk inside?" Lu Chengfeng said with a smile.
"What's there to talk about!" Zhang Yongguang said, rolling his eyes.
"Just give me five minutes! I guarantee you'll be satisfied! If not, I'll never bother you again!" Lu Chengfeng said, a fawning smile on his face, his attitude utterly humble.
"Fine! You've got five minutes! Not a second more!"
Zhang Yongguang snorted and followed Lu Chengfeng and Wen Lanlan into the manager's office of the Da Fuhao Bathhouse.
***
"Officer Zhang, please have some tea."
Lu Chengfeng poured a cup of tea, bowed slightly, and offered it to Zhang Yongguang with both hands.
But Zhang Yongguang just snorted through his nose and didn't take it.
Lu Chengfeng could only give an awkward laugh and place the cup on the side table.
Wen Lanlan shot Lu Chengfeng a disgusted glare.
*What a useless coward!*
*Acting so meekly in front of a mere station chief! He didn't have an ounce of a boss's presence!*
"Officer Zhang," Lu Chengfeng began, "you must know that our Lu family has been pushed around by the other bosses in the group."
"This Da Fuhao Bathhouse is the last business we have."
"I hope you can go easy on us, Officer Zhang! Otherwise, my wife and I will have no way to survive."
Zhang Yongguang gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How can the law bend for personal feelings? Just pack up the remaining sofas and TVs. Sell what you can!"
"Please, Officer Zhang," Lu Chengfeng said with a smile.
"You know as well as I do, the Da Fuhao Bathhouse is large, well-located, has been running for a long time, and has many loyal customers."
"It's only normal for some jealous people to file complaints."
"How about this? You name a price. Whatever you ask for, I'll give it to you."
Zhang Yongguang said flatly, "This isn't a matter of how much you give. It's a matter of principle. This place must be shut down today! It wouldn't matter if the emperor himself came."
"Oh?" An imperceptible glint flashed behind Lu Chengfeng's gold-rimmed glasses.
"Is it because someone else gave you more?" Lu Chengfeng's tone turned cold, and he straightened his back.
Zhang Yongguang froze... A muscle in his face twitched, and his expression instantly became awkward... then twisted into a rage born of humiliation...
The moment Lu Chengfeng saw his expression, he knew he had hit the nail on the head.
Zhang Yongguang sputtered furiously, "Lu Songwen!"
"I am acting according to the law! You'd better cooperate! Otherwise, I can have you arrested today!"
"Who the hell do you think you are! Daring to spout nonsense at me!"
"Hurry up, shut down, and get lost! There's no place for you two in the Chengzhong Area!"
After saying his piece, Zhang Yongguang turned to leave the manager's office.
"Officer Zhang, let's talk a little more."
Behind him, the smile on Lu Chengfeng's face slowly vanished...
"Get lost! What right does a useless punk like you have to talk to me!" Zhang Yongguang clasped his hands behind his back and spat on the floor.
Lu Chengfeng sighed, rubbed his chin, and then suddenly grabbed the ashtray from the table.
He lunged forward and smashed it hard against the back of Zhang Yongguang's head.
*Thwack—*
Blood instantly gushed from the wound.
Zhang Yongguang's huge, corpulent body fell to the floor with a heavy thud.
Proofreader: Peter Pan