Chapter 223: The Wait In The Small Shop

Li Xiaofei frowned.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Although he hadn't interacted much with the young police officer, he was certain that she was a genuinely upright and justice-driven officer. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have risked her life by wearing a bikini to infiltrate the Dragon Claw Gang's den of wolves just to save Li Jie.

Though her actions were a bit reckless, and her skills weren’t particularly impressive, her character was undoubtedly trustworthy. Li Xiaofei's deep-seated sense of chivalry wouldn’t allow him to abandon a police officer in distress. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to take the young officer to see Tan Zhenwei.

Before setting out, he sent a LightChat message to Tan Qingying, explaining that he had run into some trouble and would be about half an hour late. He quickly sped towards the city government building on his ever-reliable modified motorcycle. He tried calling Tan Zhenwei directly, but the call didn’t go through.

That was expected. After all, City Leader Tan had been overwhelmed with pressing matters recently and was working around the clock. It wasn’t surprising that his personal phone couldn’t be reached. So, Li Xiaofei sent a LightChat message instead.

Twenty minutes later, Li Xiaofei arrived at the entrance of the city government building. But he still hadn’t received any response from City Leader Tan so he decided to go in directly. However, he was stopped by the guard at the gate.

“Sorry, but it’s after hours and the government complex is closed. No one is allowed to enter without a pass.” The on-duty guard politely informed him.

Li Xiaofei showed his Kunlun Badge, but it was to no avail.

He felt a headache coming on.

What now?

After thinking it over, he decided to call Tan Zhenwei’s secretary directly.

This time, the call finally went through.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Li, but the City Leader has been with the investigation team since this afternoon. At this stage, all members of the investigation team have blocked communications, so I can’t reach the City Leader either.” The young secretary said respectfully. “If there’s something urgent, you can relay the message to me.”

Li Xiaofei hesitated for a moment and then said, “No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll try to reach him later... thank you.”

After hanging up, Li Xiaofei let out a sigh. He glanced back at the unconscious young police officer.

What now? I guess I’ll head back to the gang headquarters.

Li Xiaofei rode off into the snowy night. He needed to hurry and get the young officer settled at the Cloudy Sky Gang before making his way to his appointment.

***

At Old Chen’s Offal Shop.

Tan Qingying sat alone at the table in the far corner. This was the table she always sat at whenever she and Li Xiaofei met.

Before she knew Li Xiaofei, she would sit here by herself, quietly finishing her bowl of offal soup, pickled vegetables, and braised meat. The warm, everyday atmosphere of the shop gave her a brief moment of peace and solace. But after she met Li Xiaofei, this spot had become filled with laughter and joy.

No matter what troubles she faced outside, just sitting here and seeing that smiling face across from her was enough for Tan Qingying to start smiling herself. She would chat away, and let all her worries and sorrows disappear.

A short while ago, Li Xiaofei had messaged her, saying he would be a little late. Tan Qingying replied with a simple

Okay

, then called out to Uncle Chen to order the usual three dishes, timing it perfectly for his arrival. Li Xiaofei was always punctual and never late. So she had ordered for him as well.

Bu today, the offal shop felt a bit deserted. Only the elderly couple from before were dining in the spacious room. Their solitary figures only made the shop feel even more quiet and cold. The other regulars were nowhere to be seen.

“Uncle Chen, has business been slow lately?” Tan Qingying asked casually.

Uncle Chen sighed with a smile and replied, “People have been feeling insecure ever since the beast tide started attacking the city. Most are staying home and don’t want to go out. Some have even lost their income and are relying on nutrition porridge to get by. They’re afraid to spend money and are saving up for New Martial Arts surgery.”

The beast tide's siege had instilled a sense of crisis in everyone, but especially among the common folk. Now, many people were eager to undergo New Martial Arts surgery, hoping to quickly boost their strength through this shortcut. That way, they could protect themselves and their families better.

A trace of worry flickered in Tan Qingying’s bright eyes. A prolonged beast tide was a huge disaster for any base city. In recent days, her father had become even busier with work and had hardly ever come home. It had been a whole week since she had last seen him.

Even those who paid little attention to current events or politics could sense the tension and pressure in the air. From the various pieces of information circulating on the light-network, it was clear that her father was facing significant problems.

Numerous influencers were now claiming that the closure of Duxing Hospital and the New Martial Surgery Center was not really due to the alleged trafficking of live organs. The real reason, they argued, was that City Leader Tan Zhenwei was a staunch and fanatical supporter of the ancient martial arts faction.

They claimed that City Leader Tan Zhenwei had allegedly fabricated a wrongful case to suppress the New Martial Arts movement. At first, this narrative hadn’t gained much traction in the mainstream. After all, Tan Zhenwei had always been known for his diligent governance, clean reputation, and strong public support.

But as the star beast siege dragged on, and more stories emerged online about patients whose treatment had been delayed due to the closure of Duxing Hospital, the criticism began to grow. Many people eager to undergo New Martial Arts surgery found their appointments repeatedly postponed. The joint investigation team had also failed to release new evidence on the alleged organ trafficking.

As a result, the online condemnation of Tan Zhenwei had intensified as public opinion started to shift. Tan Qingying firmly believed that with her father’s wisdom and capabilities, he would eventually turn the situation around. But she couldn’t help feeling anxious.

Time passed as she frequently glanced at the old-fashioned clock hanging in the shop. The agreed-upon time was fast approaching. But there was still no sign of Li Xiaofei.

He should be here soon.

She tried to reassure herself.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the table and asked, "May I sit here?"

Tan Qingying looked up. It wasn’t Li Xiaofei standing in front of her. Instead, it was a young man, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

He was tall and strong, with a handsome face and an elegant smile that could easily captivate many women. His demeanor exuded the refined air of someone from a prominent family.

"What are you doing here?" asked Tan Qingying as a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. But she also felt a tinge of impatience in her heart.

"What’s this? Am I not welcome?" The man sat down without waiting for an answer. "I just happened to be passing by and saw you sitting alone, so I thought I’d drop in and see how you’re doing."

Yeah, right.

Tan Qingying sneered inwardly.

Someone of his status, passing by a place as out-of-the-way as this? Who is he trying to fool?

After a week of putting up with his false courtesy, she was growing weary. She was tempted to slam the table and walk out. But then she remembered that Li Xiaofei would be arriving at any minute, so she held back.

"I’m fine, no need to worry." She replied coolly, "If there's nothing important, you can leave."

"Heh, this is the first time a woman has dared speak to me like that," said the young man who still didn’t move.

Instead, he leaned in closer, his gaze becoming more intense as he brazenly took in the curves of Tan Qingying's body.

"I have a very interesting proposal that could solve City Leader Tan’s predicament... Are you interested?" He said as a sly smirk played at the corners of his mouth.