“You’re going to let your woman and your child die?” said Xia Lei coldly. If that was the case, then he had overestimated the morals of a person like Danny. Maybe he didn’t even have morals and was just trash.

“No, I am not that sort of person. They are the only people I cherish in this world,” said Danny, “But I don’t believe that you will do that. You’re not a bad person, Xia Lei. You’re not one either, Miss Long. You won’t be able to do something so despicable."

Xia Lei and Long Bing could not help glancing at each other. From their perspective, they were incapable of deliberately killing Sang Qing-Xin and Sang Yue-Yue; cunning Danny was not afraid of this sort of threat at all.

“You punk. Think you know me?” Long Bing lifted her walkie-talkie, prepared to scare Danny.

Xia Lei pressed her hand down. “Let me talk to him a little more.”

Danny watched them put on their act and didn’t bother talking.

“Danny, I wonder if you’ve watched the movie Jet Li was in - Unleashed,” said Xia Lei.

A corner of Danny’s mouth twitched. He’d evidently seen this movie.

Xia Lei continued, “Jet Li was raised like a dog in the movie; he just needed to be fed to kill people for his owner. Gu Ding-Shan has never treated you like an adopted son, so why should you treat him like your adopted father? He probably didn’t give you much money in all the twenty years you’ve been with him, huh? Your woman and child won’t be in that sort of place otherwise. I’ve been to Angel Orphanage and it was in bad condition. You would’ve gone to help those orphans if you had the money, wouldn’t you?”

“You’re right, but what about it?” said Danny.

Xia Lei smiled. “Name a price. I know you want this. You’ve let your wife and child down so you want them to have a better life. I can fulfil that wish.”

Long Bing glared at Xia Lei and said in annoyance, “You’re the one offering so you’re coughing up the money.”

Xia Lei shrugged nonchalantly. He knew why Long Bing had said that and in that way too - she was trying to get Danny to ask for a smaller amount.

Danny was silent for a bit. “Fifty million.”

“Huh?” Xia Lei was shocked by the price.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Long Bing could not help scolding him too. “Are you insane? Sang Qing-Xin and Sang Yue-Yue won’t be able to use up all that money in their lifetimes!”

“I’m not insane. Qing-Xin has a wish, and it’s to build a bright and spacious orphanage. It will have a library, a computer room, and a field for the children to play in... I want to fulfil her wish,” said Danny.

Xia Lei was cursing him internally too. ‘Shit. You want me to cough up fifty million to fulfil your woman’s wish? You think I have more money than sense?’

“Relax, Xia Lei. It’ll be very worth your spending this money. I’ve been around Gu Ding-Shan and his dealings since I was a child and I know all his secrets. I also have a lot of information you guys cannot get, and it’s all important evidence.” Danny looked straight at Xia Lei. “Promise me. Take it as me begging you.”

Xia Lei and Long Bing could not help exchanging glances again.

Xia Lei smiled wryly. “All right, fifty million. I’ll give it to your woman.”

A faint smile appeared in the corners of Danny’s mouth but the corners of his eyes grew wet. “Take them away, please. I cannot face them.”

“No. They don’t know what you do. I told them that you’re an agent working for the government. This identity will make them proud of you,” said Xia Lei.

“You...” Tears rolled from Danny’s eyes.

Xia Lei shook his head. “So people like you can cry too - you’re still human, I guess. Get ready. I’ll let them come now.”

Long Bing and Xia Lei left the interrogation room. Sang Qing-Xin and Sang Yue-Yue entered the interrogation room, guided by Long Bing. The room was filled with the sounds of crying, laughing and a young voice calling ‘Daddy, Daddy!’ occasionally.

Long Bing and Xia Lei sat on the bench in the corridor. Long Bing looked at Xia Lei. “Fifty million. You agreed just like that?”

Xia Lei smiled wryly. “It is a bit much, but if we can bring down Gu Ding-Shan and Gu Ke-Wu, oh, and Gu Ke-Wen too, I’ll be willing to pay fifty million, maybe even two hundred million. This money was all from gambling anyway and from Gu Ding-Shan too. I don’t feel any sting in spending it.”

Long Bing rolled her eyes at Xia Lei. “If Gu Ding-Shan knew that you’re bribing Danny with the money you got from him I bet he’ll drop dead with anger.”

An image of Gu Ding-Shan holding his chest and coughing blood surfaced in Xia Lei’s head and he couldn’t help smiling.

“You don’t have to be involved in the next steps. And...” Long Bing was quiet for a bit before she spoke again. “Boss Shi and I reached an understanding. We’re only going to take down Gu Ding-Shan this time. No one else. You get me?”

Xia Lei nodded. “I understand. There’s an ambush of tigers in the cave and if you guys try to kill them all at once they will rush out in a group and attack you. If you guys kill just one, this group attack will not happen.”

“One more thing. We’re going to have a good talk in a few days when everything’s died down.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“You’ll know when we talk.”

Xia Lei wrinkled his brows. Long Bing had always come across as a straightforward person in speech and action but she was not being straightforward now. He had a small nagging suspicion in his heart - what did she want to talk about?

“I’m going out to report the situation to Boss Shi. You watch Danny,” said Long Bing.

“Sure, go ahead,” said Xia Lei.

Long Bing left the corridor and Xia Lei’s gaze went to the interrogation room.

Sang Qing-Xin was holding onto Danny’s hand and not willing to let go. Sang Yue-Yue was sitting at Danny’s pillow with her little hands holding his face, blowing at his eyes.

“What are you doing, Yue-Yue?” asked Danny.

“Daddy, Mummy said that it won’t hurt if I blow on it. I’ll blow lots and lots of air on you and you’ll be all better soon,” said Sang Yue-Yue earnestly.

Danny and Sang Qing-Xin laughed.

Xia Lei stopped using his X-ray vision. He did not want to intrude on the family’s reunion.

He suddenly thought of Liang Si-Yao. If she hadn’t been a high-ranking CIA officer then they would probably be in talks about marriage by now. Would he have a cute child with her too? Like Sang Yue-Yue?

‘What is she doing now? I wonder if Master has gotten used to the life in America...’ It wasn’t Xia Lei’s first time thinking these questions but his heart hurt every time he thought of these.

The sound of footsteps approaching reached his ears and Xia Lei put his thoughts away. He raised his head to see Annina walking over to him in the corridor. She still had the dirty slippers on and those ridiculous jeans and his jacket. She looked like an European vagabond - haggard, but still very sexy. The two Bureau 101 agents guarding the corridor couldn’t help looking at her ass.

Annina sat on the bench, then lay across Xia Lei’s knees. “Lukas...”

Xia Lei held her hands and found that they were cold. “We’ll go back in a bit and you can have a hot shower and change into clean clothes,” he said gently.

“I’m not afraid of the cold.” Annina’s voice was small. “I came specially to tell you something.”

“What is it?” Xia Lei was curious.

Annina’s voice grew smaller and she switched to German. “I heard Long Bing in a call with someone when I was in the washroom. She was in the doorway and I was inside but I could hear her.”

Xia Lei laughed and he replied in German, “So that was it. She was reporting to Boss Shi. I know about it.”

“But she mentioned you,” said Annina.

Xia Lei paused. “What did she say?”

“She said you’re not normal. You’re very special, and should... should...”

“Should what?”

Annina shook her head. “Sorry, my Chinese is not good enough and I didn’t understand. But I feel she’s suspecting you of something. You should be careful. That’s why I came over to tell you about it.”

Complicated feelings arose in Xia Lei.

Annina did not get the most crucial part but she had still given him a clue. He was most worried about the secret of him having taken AE pills being exposed and Long Bing’s suspicions were heading in this direction!

He believed that Long Bing had no intention to harm him but he knew her character. She was a patriotic soldier and she would not let anyone who did anything to harm the nation get away, no matter who it was. If she knew about the secret of the AE pills, and found out about his father’s identity... Xia Lei didn’t dare think further. He didn’t know how he’d face Long Bing and Shi Bo-Ren if things got to that point.

‘This can’t go on. The CIA wants to catch me and if Bureau 101 knows about my secret... Will there still be a safe place for me on this Earth?’ thought Xia Lei darkly.

“Lukas? Are you listening?”

Annina’s voice cut into his thoughts. He responded in German, “It’s enough that you know about this, Annina. Do not reveal anything in front of Long Bing. You get what I mean?”

“I get it. I just feel like it’s so unfair. You’ve done so much for your country - the world’s most advanced lathe, and the military factory you’re building... You should be a hero, not someone under suspicion.” Annina felt injustice on Xia Lei’s behalf.

Xia Lei sighed. “No hero has ever had a long life. I don’t want to be a hero - I just want to live the life I want.”

Annina laughed. “I’m like you. I just want to live a life I want and I don’t care about anything else.” She turned on his thigh and blew at a certain part of his. “How long more is it going to take, Lukas? I want to go back and take a shower.”

The warm air tickled him and Xia Lei became a little sensitive.

Just then, Long Bing walked in, followed by a group of agents.

“Lei, I’m going to take Danny and his family away. Call me if there’s anything,” said Long Bing.

“Nn, okay, I’ll contact you,” said Xia Lei.

Their gazes collided for a short time before they moved away.