ASH | Chapter 8

As​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ expected, He Dongfang hurried over from the villa in the suburbs. The moment she saw the swelling and redness on Fei Huan’s face, she immediately made to storm off and confront He Donghua.

Although she was He Donghua’s younger sister, He Dongfang was very young. Officially, she was the beloved daughter He Donghua’s father had fathered with his junior concubine at the age of seventy-seven. He Dongfang was not exactly beautiful, but she had fair skin and delicate features. Having grown up in a wealthy household, she naturally possessed an unhurried, aristocratic air.

It was a karmic entanglement from his previous life. Ever since Fei Huan had recklessly taken a bullet for her, and she had witnessed his fearlessness in the face of danger, as well as his cool and composed nature, her heart had become tied to him.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Donghua had originally been unwilling to let his sister be with some nameless nobody. But although He Dongfang appeared gentle and compliant, her temper was every bit as stubborn as Fei Huan’s. She was as tender as water toward the person she loved, yet as stubborn as a rock toward anyone who displeased her. He Donghua had no choice but to go along with her wishes. Besides, Fei Huan was capable, and his personality suited He Donghua’s tastes, so he accepted the relationship.

Fei Huan caught He Dongfang by the hand. With his face still burning red, he asked, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to ask Big Brother why he had you beaten like this.”

“What​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ does this have to do with Big Brother? It’s that bastard from Shengtong who’s at fault.” Fei Huan pulled He Dongfang onto his lap, speaking as he kissed her long hair.

“I think Big Brother deliberately treated you badly!” He Dongfang touched Fei Huan’s bruised and reddened handsome face, her heart aching. Tears welled in her eyes. Seeing Fei Huan beaten was no different from being beaten herself.

Her distressed expression pierced Fei Huan, and guilt stirred in his heart.

But​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ guilt was guilt, and the mission still had to be carried out. Seizing the opportunity, he said, “You can’t blame Big Brother for looking down on me. Who can blame him when I’m so useless that I can’t even take charge of anything?” He revealed a wickedly charming smile no one could resist, then leaned close to He Dongfang’s ear and whispered, “And yet I was foolish enough to fall in love with Miss He.”

Sweetness filled He Dongfang’s heart. She gave Fei Huan a radiant smile and leaned against his chest as she mused, “Who says you can’t take charge of anything? Dongtang’s most important secrets have to be kept by someone they trust. You’re my husband. If I don’t put you in charge, who else should I give them to?”

“We won’t be married until next month, and there are so many relatives in the family. How could Big Brother be willing to entrust something this important to me? We don’t even know whether he trusts me.”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan felt as though he were a eunuch from ancient times, whispering slander into the ear of a powerful concubine. He slapped himself several times in his mind.

Still, I suppose I can be called a model of enduring humiliation for the greater good.

With that thought, his mood improved considerably. He nearly burst out laughing and almost gave himself away.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Dongfang let out a cold laugh. In front of Fei Huan, she was hopelessly infatuated, as innocent and coquettish as a young girl. Toward everyone else, however, she was formidable.

“Big Brother isn’t willing?… Hmph, so what if they’re family? I oversee Dongtang’s laboratory and all its drug formulas. Whoever I want to put in charge, I can put in charge.”

He Dongfang’s important position in Dongtang was not due solely to He Donghua’s favor. She was a highly gifted doctor of medicine, responsible for the formulas of the drugs produced by Dongtang: more precisely, the methods used to refine and synthesize narcotics.

Today,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ drug trafficking was the most profitable business in the global underworld, and it was also Dongtang’s primary source of income. In addition to raw materials, it required expertise in purification and various synthesis formulas. Only by continually giving addicts more intense and pleasurable sensations could they sell the drugs at a high price.

Fei Huan was overjoyed. With He Dongfang’s word, taking hold of Dongtang’s drug trade would be easy. Only by controlling that could he establish contact with the Lofusi Group and deal with Xu Luotao’s sworn enemy.

He showered her with honey-sweet kisses, putting on an eager yet forcibly restrained expression.

“Once​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ we’ve entered the bridal chamber next month, we absolutely have to take a proper honeymoon. Where would you like to go?” Comforting people was one of Fei Huan’s specialties. His hands wandered while he whispered sweet words.

Sigh… I’m undercover, so why did I have to choose this way to complete the mission?

Fei Huan had not yet reached the point where he could toy with another person’s feelings at will. That was why, whenever he looked at He Dongfang, there was always a trace of guilt and sorrow in his eyes.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ thought of Xu Luotao again. After a year apart, Xu Luotao was not the only one who had suffered. Many times, Fei Huan had wanted nothing more than to fly to Xu Luotao’s side and never leave him again. But whenever he remembered Xu Luotao calling him an “ashtray,” he could not swallow his anger.

Once I succeed as an undercover agent and bring down the Lofusi Group in one blow, I’ll see which ashtray has the nerve to do this!

When will I finally be able to infiltrate the core of the Lofusi Group…

After​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Xu Luotao sent Fei Huan back to Dongtang, he could not find a moment’s peace. He was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. He instructed Tan Feng to keep constant watch on Dongtang’s movements, plant people inside the organization, and gather intelligence on every aspect of Dongtang, making absolutely certain that they remained fully informed of the situation at all times.

The instant Fei Huan showed any sign of exposure, they would rescue him immediately.

Even after arranging everything, he remained deeply worried and sat in his office with a sorrowful expression.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan’s revenge could be said to have chosen exactly the right method. Whenever Xu Luotao thought of what happened to undercover agents discovered by the gangs, his heart turned cold as ice.

He had never been such an irritable and anxious person. But after being separated from Fei Huan for a year, he had missed him to the point of desperation. Now that they had finally met in haste, he had to personally send him into danger.

Love mingled with longing and worry. What could not be had was always the most precious.

When​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Fei Huan had suddenly disappeared back then, Xu Luotao had gone over it again and again. He knew the problem must have come from those three words, “ashtray.”

So when Fei Huan brought up his nickname, “Ash,” this time, Xu Luotao immediately understood what was going on.

He had long regretted his careless words, which had wounded Fei Huan’s pride and shaken Fei Huan’s trust in him. But he had never imagined that a year later, he would suffer so much for those trivial three words.

His​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ thoughts were a tangled mess, and his heart ached unbearably. Could this be what Fei Huan had felt back then?

Fei Huan had certainly taken his revenge in full. He was quite something.

Things were progressing smoothly on Fei Huan’s side. He Dongfang was indeed formidable.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Donghua had already been considering letting Fei Huan enter the organization’s inner circle and take charge of its secrets. After He Dongfang had pestered him for an entire afternoon, alternately acting spoiled and throwing a spectacular tantrum, he naturally went along with the matter.

Fei Huan could hardly wait to take over, but on the surface, he had no choice but to pretend to refuse.

“Big Brother, this is such an important matter. I’m afraid…” The redness and swelling on his face had already faded. Fei Huan sat in a chair, surveying the Dongtang core members gathered in the room, and frowned at He Donghua as though he were troubled.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Dongfang sat beside He Donghua in the seat of honor, showing just how much weight she carried. She gave Fei Huan a sweet smile. “What are you afraid of? Keeping the formulas safe isn’t difficult. The difficult part is finding someone you can trust. I worked hard to develop those formulas, so of course you’ll keep them safe. Would you ever leak my formulas?”

Her words aroused the displeasure of everyone else in the room. He Dongfang was clearly saying that, apart from her future husband, she trusted none of the other family members.

But He Dongfang had always been responsible for the drug formulas, and she and her brother held Dongtang’s power between them. Who would dare speak up?

Countless​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ resentful eyes burned into Fei Huan’s back: What right did this boy, who had climbed up through his connection by marriage, have to control Dongtang’s lifeline?

Two people gave uncomfortable snorts. One was He Dongfang’s maternal uncle, Long Yuxing. His sister was the old man’s junior concubine and had an affair with He Donghua, so he too had risen through connections. Still, he was not as favored as Fei Huan, who had entered the family and been put in charge of the formulas right away.

The other was He Donghua’s nephew, He Xitong. As a legitimate member of the He family, he was especially displeased with an outsider of unknown origins being entrusted with the organization’s secrets. He was also the most suspicious of Fei Huan. Unfortunately, he had investigated all of Fei Huan’s records and found not the slightest flaw. That was why, of the two men, his snort was the louder.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Donghua said sagely, “That’s true. How could we not trust Xiao Fang’s husband?” He cast a warning glance at the two young men who were brimming with discontent.

Long Yuxing shrank back under his gaze. He Xitong, however, had plenty of backbone. He met He Donghua’s eyes directly for a moment before arrogantly looking away.

Fei Huan gave He Dongfang a shy, toothy smile, then turned to He Donghua and said, “Whatever you decide, Big Brother.”

Ignoring​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ the hostile stares pricking his back like needles, Fei Huan sat there calmly.

Xu Luotao, I’ve taken another step forward…

When the meeting ended, everyone dispersed. He Dongfang had another matter to discuss with He Donghua. Fei Huan left the hall, casually grabbed a handful of rice, and stood leisurely beside the enormous open-air aviary in the garden, feeding the birds.

Footsteps​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ sounded behind him.

Fei Huan sneered but continued tossing the rice into the cage one grain at a time without showing any reaction. The captive birds were completely unafraid of people and flapped their wings beside his hand.

He Xitong also took a handful of rice and came to stand beside Fei Huan.

“Congratulations.”​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ The words were vague, their purpose unclear.

Fei Huan could not be bothered to guess his intentions, so he simply ignored him.

“I didn’t expect you to get through the He family’s door so easily.” He Xitong stared at the tame birds inside the cage as he said, “Don’t think He Dongfang is truly devoted to you. The siblings are merely using you to further consolidate their hold over Dongtang.”

Dongtang​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ was a family-run organization. Although He Donghua had already taken control of the overall situation, he still had to remain wary to some degree of family members such as He Xitong, who had the right to inherit.

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.” Fei Huan glanced at He Xitong with a mocking smile. “Maybe I’m a little stupid, but what do I have to do with consolidating power?”

“Only a handful of people can come into contact with the formulas. Having one more person on your side naturally gives you one more layer of protection.”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan chuckled. “Then which side are you on?”

He Xitong suddenly flung the rice in his hand, frightening the birds in the cage into flying away in panic.

He leaned close to Fei Huan’s ear and said in a low voice, “Kid, don’t think He Dongfang can protect you. Make one wrong move, and I can demand that the gang convene and execute you.”

“Are​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ you threatening me?” Fei Huan frowned, then quickly revealed his distinctive dimples. “What good would threatening me do you? Big Brother already holds the power. Make a reckless move, and you should watch out, or you’ll be the one getting executed.”

“A petty man drunk on a little success…”

He Xitong left those four words behind and walked away with a carefree air.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan was left staring blankly at the aviary.

He Xitong was not rash. His words had to carry some deeper meaning.

What exactly was going on beneath the surface?