Chapter 38 — Whatever You Do, Don't Shoot

"You... you people, don't do anything rash..." The bald man truly wanted to cry. Weren't these the very words his own crew had thrown at those cops in the bank just minutes ago? Retribution had swung around to him this fast. What did they call it—instant karma? It looked exactly like this.

"Mm, not bad." Wei Zhao nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "Now will you talk? Who is Brother Cihua?"

"He's my boss... I don't know anything else, I swear. He's the one who told me to do this. Young man, whatever you do, don't shoot..." The bald man was the sort who clung to life and dreaded death. For all the swagger he'd shown before, when his own life was truly on the line, he was frightened too.

He had taken this job for money, so he could eat, drink, and play the wastrel with more flair—but throwing his life into the bargain was not worth it.

Wei Zhao frowned. It was plain enough that this bald man was a mere small fry, with no knowledge of what lay underneath.

"All right, stop the van," Wei Zhao ordered the bald man.

"Stop? What for?" The bald man was startled.

"We're getting out, of course. What, in this state you still mean to kidnap her?" Wei Zhao glared at him.

"No... I mean, you're not handing us over to the police?" The bald man was rather astonished; he had not expected Wei Zhao to let them off.

"What's that got to do with me?" Wei Zhao rolled his eyes. "I'm not a cop. Do they pay me a salary?"

At those words the bald man was overjoyed. He had assumed Wei Zhao meant to deliver them to the police station; now that they could slip this disaster, he was naturally delighted. The job had failed, true, but they had still hauled a fortune out of the bank—enough for them to squander for the rest of their days. So the bald man excitedly ordered the underling at the wheel to stop the van.

Wei Zhao fished a gun off the bald man and tossed it to Gu Mengyao. "Take it. In a moment, aim for their wheels."

"Oh..." Gu Mengyao had no idea why he said it, but she took the pistol and gripped it tight.

Wei Zhao had Gu Mengyao get out first, then followed her down. As he climbed out, he said, "You can choose to shoot me or Mengyao, but you'd better make sure we're dead. If I'm not dead, I'll be aiming at your fuel tank. Understand, baldy?"

As he spoke, Wei Zhao patted the bald man's shiny pate.

"N-no... we won't..." The bald man shivered for no reason at all. This Wei Zhao kid was truly uncanny; the bald man had no wish for any further complications.

As he got out, Wei Zhao paid special heed to the jade pendant's reaction, but there was not the slightest sign from it, and only then did he breathe easy. It seemed the bald man and his men had made the smart choice.

Had the jade pendant stirred even a hair, Wei Zhao would have turned and subdued the bald man again, then taken him hostage as he stepped out with him.

After Wei Zhao and Gu Mengyao got out, the Hyundai van shot off in a puff of dust. Just as Wei Zhao had predicted, the bald man made no move against them.

"What are you staring at me for? Call Uncle Qing and have him come pick us up." Wei Zhao looked at Gu Mengyao, who was staring blankly at him, not knowing whether to laugh or be annoyed.

"Oh..." Gu Mengyao could scarcely believe it. Out of danger, just like that? But watching the Hyundai van dwindle into the distance, it did seem to be so. Still—what was Wei Zhao so cocky about? Using that commanding tone with her?

"Hey, why didn't you confiscate all their guns just now and march them down to the station?" Gu Mengyao was still nursing a grudge over Wei Zhao's parting remark. What did he mean, he wasn't a cop and the station didn't pay him a salary? Couldn't he do a good deed for once?

"That van was full of men who cling to life and dread death. With a gun to their leader's head, they wouldn't dare make a move. But the moment I took their guns too, they'd know they were finished—and then they'd certainly make a last-ditch stand," Wei Zhao said.

"But you had their leader as a hostage," Gu Mengyao said, puzzled.

"When a man's about to die himself, does he still care about his leader? Come on, don't be so naive." Wei Zhao sounded exasperated. "Getting out of this alive was pure luck. Hey—just who did you cross? These people were clearly coming for you."

"Hmph. What are you so smug about?" Gu Mengyao was thoroughly annoyed by his attitude. "You're my sidekick, aren't you? Is that any way to talk to your master?"

"..." Wei Zhao was speechless. This woman really was beyond reason.

Shen Yushu sat in Uncle Qing's car wiping her tears. Gu Mengyao and Wei Zhao had been taken; who knew how it would end? At best, the two might be released; at worst... Shen Yushu did not dare think further.

Uncle Qing, his face just as careworn, was dialing the phone. Of all times, he could not get through to Gu Pengzhan, and it left him frantic.

Suddenly the phone rang. Uncle Qing started, picked it up, and saw the caller ID—his face at once showed a mix of worry and joy.

It was Gu Mengyao's number, though it was not necessarily Gu Mengyao herself calling. It might be the kidnappers using her phone. But either way, at least there was news.

"Hello? Yes?" Uncle Qing answered cautiously.

"Uncle Qing, come get me, quick..." For the first time, Gu Mengyao felt that Uncle Qing's voice was so dear to her.

Along with Uncle Qing came Qiu Lingshan and the rest—the police team.

"Yao-yao!" Shen Yushu was the first to leap from the car and threw her arms around Gu Mengyao. "You scared me to death. I thought I'd never see you again."

"You silly girl, always talking nonsense." Gu Mengyao had recovered from her earlier fright, and hearing Shen Yushu carry on like that, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Mr. Lin, are you all right?" Seeing the blood on Wei Zhao, Uncle Qing asked hurriedly.

"Took a bullet in the thigh. Nothing serious." Wei Zhao got up, limping. And truth be told, it did hurt a bit—that thing had a delayed kick to it.

Uncle Qing now truly admired Wei Zhao. Shot, and still saying it was nothing—now that was a man, a real man. If Wei Zhao had known what Uncle Qing was thinking, would black lines have sprouted over his head? Because he remembered that some actress had been jokingly dubbed a "real man."

"Mr. Lin, is it? Please come back to the station with us and give a statement." Qiu Lingshan walked over and addressed Wei Zhao in a formulaic tone.

Wei Zhao frowned at once. Was this girl blind? Could she not see he was wounded? He said irritably, "Do you want me to drop my pants and show you?"

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