ASH | Chapter 10

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan abruptly stood up.

“The leader of Lofusi?” Fei Huan was so excited that even his voice trembled slightly. “You want me to meet Peilade?”

Wonderful!

He had thought it would be a long time before he got the chance to approach him.

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao, it seems I’m about to take another step forward.

He Donghua patted him on the shoulder, telling him to calm down.

“Heh, young people are always so impatient. I’m sending you this time to show him a batch of samples Dongtang has newly developed.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Xitong used to handle it, but that boy has been getting more and more out of line. He can’t stand to have anyone else in his eyes.” He Donghua snorted, then said to Fei Huan, “Peilade is no ordinary man. Be careful, and don’t disgrace Dongtang. Xiao Fang was the one who requested this opportunity for you as well. Don’t let her down.” Only then did he understand why He Xitong’s expression had looked so ugly.

Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Fei Huan nodded. “Big Brother, don’t worry.”

“Get ready. Everything has already been prepared.”

“Yes,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Big Brother. I’ll go at once.”

“Ash.” He Donghua called Fei Huan back. After a moment’s thought, he said, “There’s no need to tell Xiao Fang. She already knows. Give her a surprise when you return.”

“All right!”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan was very excited as soon as he got off the plane.

He was gradually closing in on his prey, and this prey was both dangerous and clever, with an illustrious reputation.

Peilade of the Lofusi Group.

There​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ were many neat phone booths in the airport. Fei Huan suddenly thought of Xu Luotao.

If Xu Luotao knew that I had already arrived in France and was about to meet Peilade, what kind of expression would he have?

That would be foolish. Fei Huan suppressed his impulse and walked out of the airport.

“Mr.​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Zhang?”

He had just reached the entrance when several impeccably dressed men quietly approached him.

Fei Huan stopped, his gaze lingering briefly on the high bulges at the men’s waists.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ had not expected the Lofusi Group to be so brazen as to openly carry weapons in a place like this.

“Here to pick me up?” Fei Huan asked with a polite smile.

The men before him looked as though he owed them millions. Every one of them wore a grim expression. One of them opened a car door. “Please get in, Mr. Zhang. Mr. Peilade doesn’t like waiting.”

What​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ an attitude. Was Peilade really that arrogant?

Fei Huan made a face inwardly and lazily got into the car.

A black cloth was held out in front of him.

“Please​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ tie this over your eyes.” The stiff voice suited the man’s poker face perfectly.

“How cautious.” Fei Huan mocked him coldly, but still complied with their request.

Did that unlucky He Xitong have to put up with this humiliation every time he came here?

His​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ eyes were securely covered, and darkness descended around him. Fei Huan could only estimate how far he was being taken by the movement of the car.

“Hey, is Peilade a coward? Is that why he has to hide himself so thoroughly?” Fei Huan knew it was unwise to ask such a provocative question, but if someone in the underworld was insulted and did not retaliate, it meant they had something to hide.

Fei Huan did not want anyone to think he had something to hide. He would rather they thought him reckless.

The​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ silence around him continued. No one responded to Fei Huan’s words.

Fei Huan tilted his head and listened for a moment, then found it boring and settled obediently into his seat.

The destination seemed to be extremely far away.

They​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ had been driving over rough roads for a long time, with no sign of stopping.

Darkness had always been on friendly terms with sleep. Fei Huan simply stretched out on the leather seat and fell asleep with ease.

He slept soundly. In his hazy state, it seemed someone was patting him on the shoulder.

A​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ voice came from above his head. “You sleep so soundly.”

Fei Huan opened his eyes, and an aristocratic face appeared above him.

The man’s face was as pale as lead. Dressed in blue wool, he smiled with elegant grace. His gentle, refined appearance should have inspired trust and a sense of amiability, but the opposite was true. It only made his astonishing danger more apparent.

Peilade?

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan reflexively sat up, extremely uncomfortable with the feeling of lying beneath this man’s gaze.

Only when he stood did he realize with a start that he was no longer in the car. He was in an extraordinarily spacious room.

The style was purely European, with a luxurious carpet stretching all the way to the balcony. A magnificent fireplace stood in the middle.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan could imagine Peilade flirting with his ever-changing girlfriends in front of the fireplace during winter.

The sofa beneath him was likewise filled with the same luxurious opulence that radiated from Peilade.

But that was not what made Fei Huan fall silent.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ felt uneasy.

Why had being moved here from the car failed to wake him at all? Had his reactions really become that dull?

How long had I been lying on this sofa?

How​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ long had Peilade been watching me like this?

Peilade elegantly raised the corners of his lips. He seemed to have seen through Fei Huan’s questions. “The perfume in the car has a soporific effect.”

Fei Huan looked up at this lofty prey.

Had​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ his colleagues from Interpol followed him here?

Before boarding the plane, Fei Huan had left a message for his superiors through the phone he used for secret communications, informing them of the purpose of this trip. As long as they confirmed Peilade’s presence and broke in when he accepted the drug sample, Peilade would be finished.

Showing himself so easily could be considered Peilade’s oversight.

“Thank​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ you for your hospitality. I slept very well.” Fei Huan smiled, his handsome face suddenly filled with temptation.

A glint flashed through Peilade’s eyes.

“I’d better finish the business first.” Fei Huan pulled open his collar and took out the sample hidden against his body. “This is the eldest young lady of Dongtang’s latest masterpiece. After using it, the entire body becomes extraordinarily sensitive, while the mind remains completely clear. The effects also last a long time.” Fei Huan opened the small paper packet, revealing the grayish-white powder inside.

Peilade​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ smiled wickedly. “Men will pay a great deal of money for this.” That smile on his elegant, handsome face was chilling.

Fei Huan nodded. “That’s right. Men are all a little perverted in that regard. They like to make the women they desire suffer in every possible way. This drug is different from the products currently on the market. It has no side effects, yet it’s so intensely pleasurable that people can hardly bear it. If its ingredients weren’t impossible to pass inspection, it ought to be trademarked and sold officially.”

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be women. Personally, I prefer using it on men.”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan stiffened abruptly. Peilade’s hand did not take the sample from his hand. Instead, it settled on Fei Huan’s waist.

“Mr. Peilade,” Fei Huan said with a bitter smile, “I thought a man as accomplished as you would put business first.”

“Is that so?” Peilade gave Fei Huan a teasing glance and took the sample from his hand.

The​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ item was now in Peilade’s possession.

Break down the door! The evidence is right there!

Fei Huan bit his lip and shouted inwardly. He anxiously waited for the sound of sirens.

Damn​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ it! The surroundings were so quiet that it seemed impossible for anything to happen.

Peilade’s voice came from behind his ear. “Business is over. Let’s talk about something else.”

Which idiot in charge of following me lost track of me?

Some​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Interpol! They can’t even compare to the paparazzi following the Hong Kong police! Fei Huan cursed furiously inside.

He could have taken this bastard down in one shot and shown off in front of Xu Luotao.

A pair of strong hands wandered over his waist.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan endured it and said, “Mr. Peilade, there’s something I forgot to tell you.”

“What is it?” Peilade’s tone had already become suggestive, his lips moving toward Fei Huan’s ear.

Fei Huan said coldly, “I’m getting married to Dongtang’s eldest young lady next month. I hope you’ll do me the honor of coming over for a drink, Mr. Peilade.”

Unexpectedly,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ the hand on his waist did not withdraw at once. Instead, it shamelessly slipped beneath his shirt.

Peilade chuckled. “Congratulations. But it would be a waste for a beautiful body like Mr. Zhang’s to be used to embrace women.”

Even knowing he was on someone else’s territory, Fei Huan could no longer endure it.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ suddenly shoved Peilade away and turned to draw his gun.

The black muzzle pressed against Peilade’s forehead.

He could simply shoot Peilade and eliminate Xu Luotao’s greatest concern.

“Temper,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ temper.” There was not the slightest trace of panic on Peilade’s face. He lazily tugged at his tightly fastened collar. “Your backup hasn’t arrived yet. Isn’t acting like this a little reckless, Fei Huan?”

Fei Huan’s entire body shook. His only reaction was to pull the trigger.

“Click.”

There was no expected explosion or spray of blood. The bullet in the gun had probably been removed while he was asleep.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan threw away the gun and reached for the knife strapped to his ankle.

But Peilade transformed into a ferocious beast in an instant and pounced forward.

One fist struck Fei Huan in the face, while another slammed into his abdomen.

“Ugh…”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan rolled beside the sofa, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then sprang up with his body bent forward. He discovered that his knife had already fallen into Peilade’s hands.

“It’s very sharp. Be careful not to hurt yourself.” Peilade chuckled lightly as he toyed with Fei Huan’s knife.

At some point, several burly bodyguards had appeared outside the door.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan took a deep breath and calmed himself. He smiled and said, “Mr. Peilade, treating a guest from Dongtang like this seems a little impolite.”

“Guests and enemies naturally require different forms of hospitality.”

“What do you mean?”

“You​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ know what an undercover agent means, Fei Huan, don’t you?”

Damn it! Fei Huan cursed. Where had the mistake been? The call to Xu Luotao? Or had there been a mole inside Interpol?

He even knows my name.

Please,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ God, don’t let him find out about my relationship with Xu Luotao.

“Hah! Give a dog a bad name and hang him. I honestly brought you the goods, and you accuse me of being an undercover agent.”

Peilade looked at him with interest and shook his head. “You’re at death’s door and still refuse to admit it. I’ll let you meet an old friend of mine.”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan was stunned.

Someone entered without a sound and stood beside Peilade. Although he was dressed in civilian clothes, the strong sense of justice unique to a police officer was still unmistakable on his face.

Fei Huan trembled in surprise, then ground his teeth and spat,

“You​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ bastard. So it was you!”

“It’s me, Fei Huan.” A tender smile spread across Lin Tongxue’s face. “It’s been so long. You’re still as beautiful as ever. No, you’re even more beautiful than before.”

Fei Huan ground his teeth until they squeaked. “You traitor.”

“I​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ only discovered it by accident. Seeing you at Old Master He’s birthday banquet really shocked me. I searched for you for a long time. I never expected you to accept an undercover assignment. But you didn’t notice me at the time. Your eyes were focused solely on Xu Luotao. Dongtang and the Lofusi Group have a close relationship, so naturally I had to tell Peilade.” Lin Tongxue smiled at Peilade. “Who can blame us? We’re good friends.”

Peilade raised his glass to Lin Tongxue. “Good friends who make money together.”

Fei Huan slowly moved toward the corner. “So, in the end, I was exposed because I was unlucky.” Only then did he understand why he had not been able to see He Dongfang before leaving. Dongtang already knew he was undercover and had deliberately sent him here to be captured. He Dongfang had been frantic with worry, and He Donghua had probably placed her under house arrest.

Peilade’s​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ smile seemed infused with demonic energy, making Fei Huan’s heart turn cold. “I specifically took you from He Donghua, but it wasn’t because of your little undercover identity. I’m simply very interested in Xu Luotao’s people.”

He took a step forward and said to Fei Huan, whose eyes had widened, “Watching you perform in front of me, seeing your expression change so unpredictably, was incredibly entertaining.”

Several men surged forward and surrounded Fei Huan in the corner.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan roared and immediately struck the man in front of him with a fist. He swung his elbow backward into another man’s abdomen.

Peilade and Lin Tongxue watched the hopeless brawl leisurely.

“Be careful. Don’t hurt his face.”

Several​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ blows landed on Fei Huan’s back in succession. The thick rubber batons struck his body, leaving him unable to catch his breath.

He fought back clumsily with a few punches, only to take another heavy blow to the leg.

Fei Huan knelt helplessly on the carpet, trying to stand again.

Another​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ baton came down hard on his shoulder.

The scene before his eyes instantly blurred, and his mind went blank. Fei Huan swayed as he struggled to hold himself up for a moment, then finally collapsed to the floor.

The beating finally came to an end.

Someone​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ roughly hauled Fei Huan upright and propped him before Peilade.

The evil smile concealed beneath that elegant mask was now only a blur.

A sudden prick of pain came from his neck, as though a needle had pierced him. Fei Huan’s heart tightened.

Sure​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ enough, he heard Peilade’s low voice. “You should be proud to have the honor of trying such an expensive new drug, shouldn’t you?”

Peilade’s voice gradually grew clearer in his ears, and the scene before him also came back into focus. Fei Huan knew the drug had begun to take effect.