Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

I knitted my brows.

Why would Yi Xiaosi want to kill Zhang Ning?

Zhang Chao said, "That man was one of my party supporters. That was why he was on the stage with us. But I had no idea that he was planted by Yi Xiaosi to do this. I never thought he could go this far."

"Ho…" Bai Li said, "I didn't know that your parties as the opposition had so much beef in between you that you want the other's life."

Then he shrugged. "But then again, who said politics was any cleaner?"

Zhang Chao narrowed his eyes. "You seem to have some problem with politicians?"

"Why not? Every step you take is fairly calculated. For example, we know that you didn't call us on the stage merely for our brave deed's appreciation. I bet that you don't even fucking care about what happened in Natural Park."

I carefully observed him. He seemed impassive.

"You learned that something like that happened in Yi Xiaosi's territory. Isn't it like you got your hands on gold? One less competition if you played your cards right. You also learned that we were involved in the case, so I know you want something from us. Oh, by the way, that was a beautiful speech of offering your help to Yi Xiaosi to catch the culprit."

Zhang Ning was quietly staring at Bai Li, and then she shared a glance with Zhang Chao.

"You will shower all nice and fluffy compliments on us and would then efficiently fool us to tell or give you what you want. I wasn't born yesterday."

Major General Shi coughed a bit. His expression said that this wasn't something new to him.

Zhang Chao slowly said, "You are partly right. Indeed, I had a plan in calling you on the stage."

Liao Huifang mumbled from my side. "I wondered why you suddenly called us out like that. You gave me a heart attack."

I typed. "Tell us already."

He paused for a bit. "I want to know what Yi Xiaosi told you."

I typed. "We haven't met him yet."

"What? But weren't you at Natural Park yesterday? I got the report that somebody from his party met you."

Liao Huifang said, "It was his assistant. Zhao Wenyan."

"What did he tell you?"

Bai Li asked, "What answer do you want to hear from us?"

"Heh! That Zhao Wenyan. He is one cunning fox. He must have pinned the blame on me, right? That I did everything that happened in Natural Park to frame Yi Xiaosi and pull him out of the eight allied parties."

I raised my eyebrow. I felt amused. I typed. "You seem to know each other so well."

"We have to. Otherwise, they would skin us alive if we are not cautious."

"And yet you said that you would give full support to him." Bai Li snickered.

Zhang Chao shrugged. "I have to maintain my image in front of the public though I really hate to."

"Naturally."

I carefully observed Zhang Ning and typed. "But there is something more right? Yun Shuang is also your equal opponent, but you only asked about Yi Xiaosi."

They went quiet.

I typed. "Why did they want to kill Zhang Ning? Generally, shouldn't you be their target?"

It was Zhang Ning who spoke this time. "Well... actually, Yi Xiaosi's eldest son Yi Xing had confessed to me many times. But I rejected him."

Oh…This was interesting.

The son of Yi Xiaosi liked the daughter of his opposition party leader. I saw why there could be friction.

"But he is quite persistent. And now he has gotten too possessive."

Zhang Ning seemed awkward and distressed.

"I get random letters from him, and many times, I see somebody following me everywhere I go. Although nothing has happened until now because Dad has chosen guards to follow me everywhere."

Bai Li said, "And so he is unable to handle the rejection."

Zhang Ning pursed her lips. "Yes. It has become a bother now."

Zhang Chao suddenly banged his fist on the table. "I have warned Yi Xiaosi and his son many many times to stay away from my daughter! But he has become totally crazy! He just doesn't want to accept that my daughter isn't interested in him! He is acting like a maniac."

I typed. "And what did Yi Xiaosi say about this?"

"I personally met him in his office to confront him and his son. He simply told Yi Xing to stop bothering Ning. That was it. As if a mere sentence was going to change him in any way. Yi Xing seemed to agree then, but I know he felt far from that."

Bai Li said, "So now he just wants to kill Zhang Ning?"

Zhang Ning quietly said, "Yes."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because last month, I was out promoting Dad's campaign, and a young man gave a bouquet to me just as an appreciation. Yi Xing...when he came to know about it, he flipped out, and then the next day, I came to know that that man was admitted to the hospital. He was beaten up and punched badly all over his body! He was almost in a comatose state."

I saw her shoulders slightly trembling. She bit her lower lip.

"And that's when Yi Xing called me and threatened that he doesn't want to see me with any man. If he saw anyone close to me, then everybody would end up like that young man. But this time he didn't stop there. He said he wouldn't hesitate to hurt me, too, if I didn't listen to him. T-that day, he sounded so scary…If I don't choose him, then I cannot choose any other man either."

Zhang Chao immediately pulled her in his hug. "I cannot believe Yi Xing can go this far! He really tried to kill my daughter just because she doesn't love him back! Like hell, I would let Yi Xiaosi and his son go now."

He cleared his throat. "When I came to know the happenings in Natural Park, I knew Yi Xiaosi would do something to harm my reputation. That is why I called you on the stage. I thought that perhaps you believed what they said and I wanted to know that. I wanted you on my side so I thought to praise you."

"We are not on anybody's side. We stand where the truth is." Bai Li continued. "And as for your question, Zhao Wenyan indeed said that you are behind all the crimes in Natural Park."

A vein popped up on his forehead.

"What nonsense! I knew it! Yi Xiaosi is also secretly taking his revenge because Ning hurt his bastard son. He pretended to be disappointed in him, but well, he is the father. How can he see his son in pain? But his mole has confessed now. He cannot run away."

Bai Li kept quiet.

I sighed. This was all so complicated. I already felt so tired.

Zhang Ning then slowly looked at Bai Li. I sensed her hesitation for some reason.

"C-can I ask you something?"

"Sure," said Bai Li.

"I don't mean to offend you, but how did you know that I was going to be shot? I-I mean you cannot…"

I proudly looked at Bai Li. He was a capable man, after all.

Major General Shi said, "All thanks to his training."

Bai Li shrugged. "When you spend fourteen years in the army carrying guns every day with you, the experience has many advantages. I heard the sound of that man slightly shuffling something from his pocket. There was a clank of metal against metal, perhaps the gun against the metal buttons on his pants. Then I heard the click of him pulling back the slide lock. It was unmistakable. He was going to shoot. And it came from exactly behind you. That's why I knew that you were the target. It was a semi-automatic pistol, right? Sig Sauer."

Zhang Ning widened her eyes, and she looked shocked. Same as Zhang Chao.

"Yes... You are right."

Bai Li just shrugged again.

Major General Shi smirked. "Thankfully, you haven't forgotten your training yet, Bai Li. You make me proud."

"Do you think I am so useless that I would forget it after just a few days I was discharged?"

"You are a free man now, Bai Li. You should…" he suddenly looked at me with a hint of a smile on his lips.

I blinked my eyes.

"At thirty-two, you need the training to court beautiful women and start a happy family with lots of kids, not to retain your fighting skills."

I coughed. Suddenly, I felt a bit shy. God knows why.

"I see you still have the same dry humor, Major General."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"It was not... forget it."

Zhang Chao said, "I must say, I am impressed. Nobody near me could detect that and you who couldn't see saved my daughter of all people."

I typed. "Bai Li needs some rest now."

"Oh." Zhang Ning seemed a bit startled. "Yes, of course. Dad, we should leave."

He looked at his assistant, gritting his teeth. "Prepare to leave for Yi Xiaosi's office!"