---

The next morning.

Zhang Chao publicly declared war on Yi Xiaosi. He held a press conference in which he brought the man who fired a shot at Zhang Ning but failed to do so because Bai Li intervened.

"It was Yi Xiaosi. He gave me loads of money to kill Zhang Ning because she repeatedly rejected his son Yi Xing."

The media reporters gasped. This was a sensational piece of news, and they already imagined their channel\'s ratings skyrocketing like crazy.

Yi Xing was in love with his opposition party leader\'s daughter. But she rejected him, and the result was an attempt to take her life.

Not only that, the incident where Yi Xing tried to harass Zhang Ning outside his party office also spread like wildfire.

Many people gave their statements of what they saw when Bai Li punched Yi Xing. Some even secretly recorded how Yi Xing repeated what Bai Li told him to. With them as the witnesses and the video recording, Yi Xiaosi\'s reputation and effectively, his party\'s, suffered lethal damage.

Yi Xing was ostracized everywhere for turning into a crazy and maniac lover who harassed a woman.

And as if it wasn\'t enough, the young man who was admitted to the hospital also came forward to give his statement. He was badly hurt and covered in bandages.

"This is true. It was Yi Xing. I...I just offered a bouquet to Miss Zhang as a token of appreciation, but he misunderstood me that I was hitting on her. That same evening, his men grabbed me and took me to a desolate place. They beat me so much that my bones broke a-and I was bleeding from everywhere. Then Yi Xing came and warned me to stay away from Miss Zhang. I-if he sees me again near her, the consequences would be more terrible than just this beating."

Three incidents came into light, and everything took a turn for the worse. Yi Xing was facing heavy charges, but Yi Xiaosi was doing his best to suppress the aftermath. The murders in Natural Park was also a hanging knife of suspicion on them, which was quickly making the public believe that they were indeed behind them.

Yi Xing was laughing as he saw the news on the television. Instead of getting angry, he was calm.

His eyes darkened with an inexplicable glint.

"It\'s all because of Bai Li…He has colluded with Zhang Chao."

Yi Xing laughed. "Good. Now destroying that man has become a necessity."

Zhao Wenyan, his assistant, silently stared at him. "The situation is not good. We should lay low for a while. Your headlines are everywhere. Sir Yi had also instructed you not to go out while he is handling your charges."

Yi Xing lazily looked at him. "I want the tide to turn anyhow."

His tone commanded finality.

Zhao Wenyan said, "My reliable sources have told me something that could be of use to us."

Yi Xing raised his eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"Bai Li and his group are in Tianjin right now related to the case in Natural Park."

Yi Xing\'s eyes glinted.

"We can use this situation to our favor. I have a plan."

---

Zhang Ning was out shopping today in the mall. She didn\'t feel quite satisfied with just a thank you to Bai Li, who saved her twice.

So she thought of buying him a thank you present and give him whenever they would meet next time.

Bai Li\'s image when he first grabbed her in the rally and then how he beat up Yi Xing flashed by suddenly.

A smile unexpectedly bloomed on her face. But then it dimmed just as fast.

\'That woman Xin Lei... they must be dating. Their closeness is so obvious.\'

She tilted her head. "But why do I feel a bit uncomfortable?"

She shook her head and ignored it.

After looking around for quite a while, she found a suitable present and asked the owner to wrap it up.

"Mam, where are you going?" One of the female bodyguards asked.

"Restroom."

"We will accompany you, Mam."

"Hm."

Zhang Ning powdered her up, and ten minutes later, when she stepped out, she gasped in shock.

The female bodyguards were lying on the ground, blood trickling from their foreheads.

"W-what happened? Both of them…"

She bent to check on them, but suddenly somebody appeared behind her and covered her mouth with a cloth.

"Mmnnn!" She struggled against the man\'s grasp but failed to do so. He caught her wrists with his other hand, preventing her from signaling the other guards. She flailed her legs to move, but the man had tightly caught her.

She suddenly smelled something chemical, and her vision started to blur. Her resistance stopped, and her eyes soon shut in unconsciousness.

The man dragged her in a corner and dialed a number. "We got her boss."

"Good. Get her to the said location."

---

*Xin Lei*

It was almost afternoon when we reached a certain bar. With Su Weiyuan\'s contact, we found a dealer who dealt with supplying arms and ammunition, naturally under the table.

We had to be prepared if we wanted to face the showdown in Tianjin Port.

Yuan was staying at the hotel. I recalled what he said to me when we left.

"Xin Lei. Come back in one piece, okay? Or I will beat you up."

I laughed.

Yuan then looked at Bai Li. "Bai Li. Keep in mind what we talked about last night. It is possible that some situations could arise tonight that will make you feel anxious. But just remember and follow the instructions I gave, and you will be fine. Trust me. You will surely calm down."

Bai Li nodded. "Got it."

At present, I took Bai Li with me for a moment away from Liao Huifang.

I typed. "Bai Li. Promise me that whatever happens today, you won\'t blame yourself. Things can take a turn for the better or worse. We don\'t know what it would be. But no matter what, you will absolutely not self-deprecate yourself."

"En."

I typed again. "You are the most capable man I know. I believe in you and your strength. You have never let me down, Bai Li. I know you never will."

Bai Li smiled and ruffled my hair. "Yes, mam. Understood!"

I nodded in satisfaction. I typed. "Now, kiss me."

Bai Li chuckled.

He felt his way to my waist and pulled me towards him. He raised his hand and slowly rested it on my cheek. I felt his warmth and wanting to feel more of it, I pressed my cheek on his palm.

Bai Li lowered his head and leaned forward. He softly placed his lips on mine. I wrapped my hands around his neck. His scent invaded my nostrils, and with his lips skillfully moving across mine, I couldn\'t help but moan in his mouth.

He nipped on my lower lip, and I understood what he wanted.

I parted my lips so that our tongues could unite once again. He entered mine, and I entered his mouth, already tasting every corner of it.

"En...Xin Lei…"

A low grunt escaped his throat, and it made me tingle from within to feel as excited as him. He clasped my cheek a bit tighter and deepened the kiss until I felt his tongue reaching my throat.

Oh God, can this not stop?

As we were totally lost in our kiss, I heard someone clearing her throat.

"Ahum!"

We stiffened.

Damn! It was going so good.

Reluctantly, we parted, and I saw Liao Huifang awkwardly standing in front of us. Her face was scarlet red, and she looked away.

"I...I am sorry. I was worried why you both were taking such a long time."

I coughed.

Bai Li\'s expression seemed to be ugly. "Well, what else did you expect from a couple who didn\'t return? We were having so much fun."

I giggled.

"Shut up!" Liao Huifang puffed her cheeks up in dismay. "Can you show some little mercy to this singleton? Stop showering with the dog food already!"

"Nope." Bai Li lazily said. "Find yourself a boyfriend, and you will become just like us, unable to keep your hands off your partner."

Liao Huifang blushed.

"Heh! And at that time, I swear to interrupt your making out with him just like you did today. I am very vengeful."

"You...you...You are horrible!"

He shrugged. "You are not the first person to say that."

I rolled my eyes.

I typed. "Can we leave now?"

Bai Li seemed unsatisfied. He grumbled. "She ruined it…"

I pinched his waist hard.

"Hey! Pinch her waist, not mine! Wait, forget it. Don\'t get close to her, or else you will catch her stupidity."

"Bai. Li!" Liao Huifang yelled.

We laughed a moment later. I just hoped everything turned out to be fine tonight. This was the only chance to learn something about the gang, and it\'s the mastermind.

I felt Bai Li squeezing my hand. "Everything will be fine. We will do it."

I smiled and kissed his cheek.

I typed. "Yes, we will."