Chapter 37: Ten Years Are Not Too Late

"A grown man crying like this," Yang Chen sighed helplessly. Having witnessed everything firsthand, he knew that Zhang Hu was genuinely heartbroken over his sister. His words seemed true; otherwise, no normal person would blatantly betray in such an exaggerated manner as before. Zhang Hu suddenly raised his head, wiped away his tears, and earnestly declared, "Boss, from now on, my life belongs to you. I'll be your loyal servant, no matter the cost!"

Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh and said with a peculiar smile, "You're pretty straightforward in seeking allegiance. How do you know I want to be your boss, or that I want to lead your gang?"

"Well...well..." Zhang Hu stammered, unable to find words, then resorted to pleading, "I, Zhang Hu, know nothing except fighting, seizing territories. Boss, if you don't mind, let me be your bodyguard!"

"Do you think I need one?"

"Uh..." Zhang Hu's face turned pale instantly, recalling Yang Chen's terrifying skills. He had no choice but to lower his head and whisper, "No, you don't."

Seeing Zhang Hu's defeated expression, Yang Chen began to appreciate this straightforward man. More importantly, this bald guy was brave and careful, knowing when to advance and retreat. Back at the bar, when he noticed Yang Chen's extraordinary skills, he immediately apologized without any arrogance. Now, for the sake of his sister, he showed genuine emotions and chose to trust Yang Chen, gambling with his life.

After some thought, Yang Chen stood up and said to Zhang Hu, "Zhang Hu, although I won't take over the underworld business, it doesn't mean I won't let someone else take over."

"Boss...what do you mean?" Zhang Hu sensed a glimmer of hope and immediately raised his head to ask.

Yang Chen paced back and forth before saying, "With Chen Dehai gone, the underground world in this area will soon fall into chaos. I need you to take over Chen Dehai's position."

Zhang Hu hesitated, "Boss, taking over that old ghost's territory isn't hard. His key men were all shot dead by your amazing gun skills, leaving only me. I've got a decent reputation in the gang over the years. If I use some ruthless tactics, the brothers who are willing to follow me can help control this place. But...but I don't know how to manage things. The underworld also involves businesses, which were all handled by the old ghost himself. I don't understand those things."

"Don't worry about that," Yang Chen smiled, "You just need to stabilize this place and keep Chen Dehai's forces intact. Hold it firmly in your hand. For other matters, I'll have someone else tell you what to do."

"Someone else?" Zhang Hu asked in confusion, "Not you, Boss?"

"There's someone more suitable than me to take over. From now on, you'll follow that person's instructions and don't ask too many questions. As for the Xi Meng Society, just try to replace Chen Dehai and continue to go along with their wishes," Yang Chen explained.

Without waiting for Zhang Hu to ask more questions, Yang Chen tore off a piece of paper, wrote down his phone number, and handed it to Zhang Hu. "Here, this is my number. My surname is Yang. Don't call me boss anymore. I'm not Chen Dehai, and I don't need you as a lackey."

Zhang Hu quickly took the paper, holding it tightly in his hand, and flashed a hearty smile. "Yes, boss... I mean, Mr. Yang."

Yang Chen nodded in satisfaction. "From now on, handle things on your own. I'll have someone contact you directly to help manage this area. If you encounter any obstacles you can't overcome, call me and I'll consider helping you out. But don't call unless it's something really important."

Zhang Hu listened intently, not daring to defy Yang Chen's instructions.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Yang Chen realized this "business trip" had taken almost two hours, and it was nearing midnight. Remembering his promise to Rose, he felt a surge of excitement and said to Zhang Hu, "It's about time for me to leave. Your sister is probably still in Chen Feng's room. I knocked Chen Feng out, so he's likely still alive. I suggest you let your sister deal with him—let's call it 'karma'."

When Zhang Hu heard the name "Chen Feng," a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes. He solemnly nodded, "Mr. Yang, my sister and I owe you our lives. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word. I'll do whatever it takes."

"Stop with the cheesy flattery. You sound like you're reciting lines from a corny 1980s period drama." Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh, patting Zhang Hu on the shoulder before walking out of the study.

Given that the Chen residence was in chaos, Yang Chen faced no resistance as he walked out the front door and headed towards where he had parked earlier.

But after walking less than a mile, Yang Chen was surprised to see three police cars parked by the dark woods of a nearby park, with several officers standing around.

Yang Chen knew better than to think that Chen Dehai had called the police—that would be like a mouse asking a cat for help. Moreover, the officers seemed to be lying in wait rather than actively pursuing anyone, suggesting they were on some other mission and had coincidentally ended up in this area.

After pondering for a moment, Yang Chen decided to keep walking, pretending he hadn't noticed the police.

But after only a few steps, a voice called out behind him...

"Stop!"

A clear and melodious female voice sounded somewhat familiar. Yang Chen turned around and, upon seeing who it was, couldn't help but show an amused smile. "Well, well, if it isn't Director Cai. What a coincidence to run into you so late at night."

The approaching policewoman was none other than Cai Yan, whom Yang Chen had met briefly at the police station earlier. Walking towards him in her dark green uniform, Cai Yan's defined facial features exuded a sense of heroism that ordinary women lacked. Her slightly made-up face and pink, glossy lipstick added a touch of feminine charm to this confident and capable policewoman. Her exceptional grace was akin to a night-blooming orchid.

Cai Yan looked at Yang Chen with a hint of suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

"Well..." Yang Chen rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat embarrassed, and chuckled, "It's a personal matter. Can I keep it to myself?"

Cai Yan regarded the cheeky man in front of her with distaste but remained vigilant. She vividly remembered how he had floored two of her officers before. With a stern face, she said, "When a police officer asks you a question, you answer honestly. This is assisting in an investigation."

Yang Chen replied slowly, "Director Cai, it's nothing serious. I was just down by the river with a female friend, and we kissed. I touched her a bit, squeezed her leg. If there's anything else, it's that she grabbed me too... I was just so happy at the time..."

Hearing this, Cai Yan's face turned red with anger. She gritted her teeth and said, "Enough! Stop talking!"

How can this man be so shameless! Cai Yan felt nauseated.

Yang Chen, looking serious, said, "Director Cai, you asked for my assistance in an investigation, and I told you all about my private matters. Your attitude is really unfair to a good-hearted, law-abiding citizen like me who's willing to help the police."

Cai Yan was tempted to slap Yang Chen but, remembering her official duties, she held back her anger, thinking of the saying "A lady's revenge can wait ten years." With a wave of her small hand, she said, "Get out of here, and leave this place immediately!"