Seeing Xiao Liu slowly disappear down the street in the distance, a wave of anger washed over me. I immediately sent a message back to Zhang Huanan: "Are you tired of living? Don't initiate contact with me."
To my surprise, Zhang Huanan on the other end of the line made no move after receiving the text message. I could only pull the previously hidden cigarettes from my pocket and light one up. As time ticked by, I grew more and more anxious.
To stake out a person who would never show up was simply a waste of my time. Just as the cigarette in my hand was about to burn out, I suddenly heard the car door move. I thought it was Xiao Liu returning, but the person sat directly in the back seat.
"Officer Li, it's been a while."
A voice I had not heard in a long time sounded from behind me, sending a shiver through my entire body.
Zhang Huanan.
"Are you fucking crazy? Do you know what kind of car this is?"
Zhang Huanan took the cigarette butt from my hand and took a long drag.
"What kind of car? In any case, it doesn't have police car paint."
I saw his nonchalant expression in the rearview mirror and felt my anger rise: "Aren't you afraid I'll just drive you to the police station right now?"
"Oh? Old Li, we're two grasshoppers on the same rope," Zhang Huanan said with a sneer, looking at me.
"Seven years ago, when you caught me, I gave you a hundred thousand yuan for Xuanxuan's treatment. You should know how to repay a kindness."
"I've already fucking repaid your kindness long ago," I said, gritting my teeth, my heart in turmoil.
If I had known, I never should have gotten involved with this scum.
"I told you to lay low, but you just kept getting into trouble... I really should have sent you to the station myself."
"Is this how you talk to Xuanxuan's savior?"
Zhang Huanan tossed the finished cigarette butt out the window.
"Xuanxuan is in elementary school now, right? I remember... Class 5 of the fourth grade?"
"You..."
Hearing Xuanxuan's name come out of this scum's mouth, I was instantly enraged.
"If you dare touch Xuanxuan, I will absolutely tear you to pieces."
"It's mutual," Zhang Huanan smiled.
"You help me escape capture, and I won't touch her."
I knew in my heart that once I boarded this pirate ship, I could never get off for the rest of my life. Seven years ago, when I personally arrested Zhang Huanan, he suddenly offered me one hundred thousand yuan to buy his own life.
Although I had always despised evil, my daughter Xuanxuan was suffering from a very rare disease. The doctor said it was called Crigler-Najjar syndrome. He told me how rare it was and mentioned many ways to deal with it, but I couldn't understand a single word.
I only knew that Xuanxuan needed a liver transplant, and I needed money. Zhang Huanan's one hundred thousand yuan did indeed save Xuanxuan's life. But from that day on, I was in collusion with this scumbag.
If I didn't help him escape from the police's pursuit time and time again, he would threaten to expose what had happened all those years ago. It wasn't that Zhang Huanan had "strong counter-surveillance awareness"; he just had my help. I couldn't let anything happen to Xuanxuan.
She was the child of my deceased comrade. She had called me 'Dad' for ten years, so of course, she was my daughter.
"Zhang Huanan, I have my limits," I said, looking at the scumbag in the rearview mirror.
"If you don't want to get caught, you'd better behave yourself these years. Otherwise, I will definitely make you regret it."
"Damn it..."
Zhang Huanan's expression suddenly turned cold, and he cursed viciously.
"Li Shangwu, you're trying to negotiate with me? If I get caught, my brothers in the business will definitely not let Xuanxuan go."
Hearing this, my heart clenched violently.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you should obediently be my dog and don't get any funny ideas," Zhang Huanan kicked the front seat with his foot.
"Otherwise, not only will I ruin your reputation, but I will also shatter your family."
I glanced at him in the rearview mirror, and a thought flashed through my mind. If Zhang Huanan were to be caught, things would become very troublesome. My own ruin was not important; after all, I had made the mistake and should bear the consequences.
But what about Xuanxuan? Therefore, Zhang Huanan could not be caught. He had to die.
I was already sick of helping a con man every day, sick of living with a guilty conscience in constant fear. Now that Xuanxuan's illness was cured, it was time for me to pay my debts. If Zhang Huanan were left alive, more people in this world would suffer because of him.
If I could do it all over again, I would have chosen to send him to prison back then, instead of carrying this debt on my conscience for so many years. But I didn't know if, had I really done that... would Xuanxuan have forgiven me?
"Zhang Huanan, have you eaten?"
I asked faintly.
"Eaten?"
He was slightly taken aback, seeming not to understand my meaning.
"You've been under surveillance for so many days. Let me take you out for a good meal. Just forget what I said earlier, don't take it to heart."
"Now that sounds more like it."
Zhang Huanan leaned back in the rear seat and slowly stretched.
"You guys stake out a place for days. I've been eating fucking instant noodles every single day."
I nodded, started the car, then shifted into gear and pulled away. Right now, I needed to find a secluded spot to ensure Zhang Huanan's body wouldn't be discovered for a few days. Although I would certainly be caught, I had to get Xuanxuan settled before that.
As I drove slowly, I released the safety on the gun at my waist. Zhang Huanan was leaning back in his seat with his eyes narrowed, resting. Seeing this, I slowly drove the car into a small alley on the side.
But before the car had come to a complete stop, Zhang Huanan suddenly attacked from behind. He reached over with a stiff wire and instantly looped it around my neck. I immediately sensed trouble.
This bastard wanted to kill me too.
"Zhang Huanan... you're asking to die..."
I gritted my teeth, constantly pulling at the wire around my neck, trying to turn around, but my legs were stuck by the steering wheel.
"What a fine plan, Officer Li..."
Zhang Huanan said as he applied force.
"There were supposed to be two of you on the stakeout, right? But you decided to drive me out for a meal... Isn't that a bit strange? If the other guy noticed you were gone, wouldn't he contact the team?"
In just ten seconds, my vision grew extremely dark. Zhang Huanan was really going for the kill. I knew that once I was dead, Xuanxuan's situation would be extremely dangerous.
Thinking of this, I immediately pulled out the gun at my waist, turned my hand back, and fired several shots, not even knowing if I had hit him. Inside the enclosed car, the loud gunshots made my ears ring.
"I fucking give you money... and you still want to kill me?!"
Zhang Huanan roared, increasing the force in his hands. This time he pulled too hard. I felt as if my blood vessels were about to explode.
At this critical moment, I immediately pressed the button on the seat. If I could just recline it, there might be a chance of escape. But I forgot.
This high-end car would recline the seat at the most comfortable, most leisurely pace. Perhaps it was to protect a person's back, or maybe to let a tired person get a good night's sleep. At this slow pace, everything before my eyes went black.
You get what you pay for. There is a reason for high-end things. My back really doesn't hurt.
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