Outside the door, Xiao Xue nearly got knocked over by Lin Chuan.

"Asshole, are you in a rush to die?" Xiao Xue, holding a stack of documents, almost fell to the ground.

Lin Chuan didn't argue with the young girl, but quickly descended the stairs. Xiao Xue entered Tang Yumeng's office resentfully and complained, "Secretary Tang, look at Lin Chuan, this jerk, no respect for seniors or juniors, completely disrespectful. A person like him should be driven away."

"Forget it." Tang Yumeng smiled.

"Secretary Tang, you're too indulgent with him," Xiao Xue muttered. "The more you indulge him, the more arrogant he will become in the future."

"Lin Chuan was just being thoughtless," Tang Yumeng said after looking at Xiao Xue, "Hand me the documents from the Vanguard Chemical Factory."

"Okay!" Xiao Xue nodded.

This young girl, just over twenty years old, was already a master's graduate student. She used to be known as a prodigy. Now, with her own strength in the national examinations, she defeated tens of thousands of people to obtain the position of the City Committee assistant—a bona fide civil servant with a limitless future ahead, especially being close to the Secretary of the City Committee.

......

Upon leaving the City Committee building, Lin Chuan saw Li Minghua waiting at the entrance. Likely some leader was about to leave.

"Lin Chuan." Li Minghua hurriedly intercepted Lin Chuan.

"What's the matter?" Lin Chuan looked at Li Minghua coldly.

"I know that I am weak," Li Minghua slapped his own face, saying, "But the Song family's two bastards are simply inhumane. They even hired people from the underworld to beat Old Luo to that state. I admit I am afraid, after all, I have elders above and children below me."

"Alright, I understand you," Lin Chuan nodded his head.

"Lin Chuan, don't oppose the Song brothers anymore," Li Minghua grabbed Lin Chuan's arm and said, "Offending them never ends well. Several ex-soldiers who didn't yield to them were severely dealt with; either crippled or kicked out of the City Committee. I know I'm being cowardly, but I'm genuinely worried about you."

Lin Chuan's heart softened, he patted Li Minghua's shoulder, and said, "I appreciate your concern. But I will not submit to anyone's tyranny. I understand you, and I respect you."

After saying this, Lin Chuan turned and walked away.

Li Minghua looked at Lin Chuan's receding figure, appearing a bit sad. He too was from a military background and had a sense of pride. However, as time passed and with the reality of society, that pride was suppressed, and his sharp edges gradually worn away. When he met Lin Chuan, he realized how similar the current Lin Chuan was to his former self.

Jiangbei City Center Hospital.

Luo Guoqing was lying in the intensive care unit, his body wrapped up like a mummy, with two cuts on his head and over ten on his body. One of the cuts had just missed his heart, nearly costing Luo Guoqing his life, but King Yan did not dare to take him, and he came back from the brink of death.

Old Luo's wife and children were there, with his wife, a woman in her forties, busily tending to Luo Guoqing. The two children, a boy and a girl, stayed by his side. The boy appeared to be fifteen or sixteen years old, and the girl looked about seventeen or eighteen, blossoming into a graceful beauty, with the potential to be a true stunner in the future.

"Uncle, hello," under the woman's encouragement, both children shyly greeted him.

"You make me feel old," Lin Chuan said with an embarrassed smile, "I'm only twenty-four, call me brother."

"Brother," the children quickly nodded.

Lin Chuan walked over and sat down by Luo Guoqing's bedside. Luo Guoqing's eyes were open, but his head could not move, he was nearly immobile due to the bandages, and even had to relieve himself in bed, which made it difficult for his wife.

"Old Luo, how are you feeling?" Lin Chuan asked.

Old Luo glanced at him, his voice very weak: "Okay, nothing serious, right?"

"Heaven bless, you old rascal, you're finally alright," Lin Chuan smiled.

"Had a walk by the gates of hell," Old Luo said with a bitter smile.

"Want one?" Lin Chuan offered a cigarette to Old Luo, then placed it in his mouth.

"Only a brother like you knows me," Old Luo smiled.

The old lady next to him wanted to say something but ended up staying silent. She carried Old Luo's chamber pot and went out. However, the girl kept her curious gaze fixed on Lin Chuan, wondering why this not-much-older man could call her dad brother.

"You know who did it?" Lin Chuan's smile faded.

"Of course," Old Luo nodded, seemingly without resentment, "Besides the Song brothers, who else could it be?"

"Any evidence?" Lin Chuan asked.

"None," Old Luo said with a laugh, "In my life, Luo Guoqing has been transparent and never offended others. Except for the Song brothers, there's no one else who would wish me dead."

"Hmm!" Lin Chuan puffed on the cigarette, squinting his eyes, engulfed in smoke.

Luo Guoqing's daughter was even more curious now, this man who was only a few years older than herself did not appear to be worn by life, but in his eyes, she could see a world of deep emotions. They say girls mature early, and clearly, she already understood a lot. She knew how to observe, to think...

"Lin Chuan, you'd better be careful too." Luo Guoqing suddenly spoke up: "After they're done with me, you might be the next target."

"Heh heh..." Lin Chuan, with a sly smile, said: "I can't wait for them to come for me."

"Sigh, those two beasts." Luo Guoqing cursed and said: "If it weren't for Vice Secretary Song covering for them, they would have been beaten to death long ago."

"There are two methods." Lin Chuan suddenly raised two fingers.

"What methods?" Luo Guoqing asked.

"First, remove their protective shield; second, find a stealthy way to take them down." A fierce look crossed Lin Chuan's face.

Luo Tingting looked at Lin Chuan in amazement, clearly frightened by his expression. The friendly smile had vanished in a flash, replaced by an incredibly gruesome face. Luo Tingting quickly lowered her head, no longer daring to look at Lin Chuan. How could this handsome big brother suddenly change like this?

"That..." Luo Guoqing frowned.

"The first one is probably tough," Lin Chuan said with a cigarette dangling from his lips, blowing out a thick puff of smoke: "But the second one is much easier."

"Murder needs evidence," Luo Guoqing chuckled: "We need to find dirt on the Song brothers first."

"Don't worry, leave that to me," Lin Chuan smiled coldly, saying: "You just focus on recovering here."

"Thanks for your hard work," Luo Guoqing replied: "Let me have another couple of puffs."

Lin Chuan placed the cigarette in his mouth, and Luo Guoqing took the opportunity to puff away eagerly, seeming to enjoy it immensely.

After staying a few hours at the hospital, Lin Chuan said his goodbyes.

"Tingting, go see Lin Chuan off," Luo Guoqing glanced at his daughter.

"Okay," Luo Tingting nodded.

"No need," Lin Chuan waved his hand, saying: "This isn't some other place, no need to see me off."

"Brother Lin, I'll walk you down," Luo Tingting said shyly.

"Alright," Lin Chuan nodded.

So it went that Lin Chuan walked ahead, and Luo Tingting followed behind in a plain white dress covered with a snug little cotton jacket. The girl had a nice figure, mature earlier than boys, both physically and mentally.

After going downstairs, Lin Chuan smiled and said: "Girl, go back up, take good care of your dad."

"Brother Lin," suddenly Luo Tingting called out to Lin Chuan.

"Hmm?" Lin Chuan was startled.

"Can I have your phone number?" Luo Tingting's face turned red.

"Sure," Lin Chuan nodded, quickly gave her his number, and reminded: "If you have any problems later on, or if someone bullies you, just tell me, and I'll teach them a lesson."

Young girls are prone to fuzzy and fanciful thoughts during their youth. They often attract attention, especially pretty girls like Luo Tingting, who likely have many suitors, including some unsuitable characters with ulterior motives. It's against such people that one should mete out a harsh lesson.

"Thank you, Brother Lin," after Luo Tingting noted Lin Chuan's number on her phone and gave him a call to confirm, she hung up and then quickly ran upstairs, light as a white butterfly.

Lin Chuan watched Luo Tingting's retreating figure, smiling: "What a cute little girl."

Returning from the hospital, Lin Chuan started to collect evidence and leverage against the Song brothers. The first person he contacted was Li Minghua, and the two sat in a café, exchanging glances. Having served in the military, Li Minghua's sharp instinct already hinted at Lin Chuan's agenda this time.

"Actually, after last time, Song Wen approached me," said Li Minghua, head down.

"What did he say?" Lin Chuan asked, puzzled.

"He asked me to take sides," Li Minghua took a puff of his cigarette, his facial expression darkening: "Back then, I was on good terms with Guan Yue and Old Luo. After we fought with chairs against the Song brothers, they approached me to take sides. That's when I gave in."

"And then?" Lin Chuan asked again.

"Then... Then I crawled through their crotch," Li Minghua said these words with anger blazing in his eyes. His body trembled, his face contorting with fury. Li Minghua gritted his teeth and said: "If it wasn't for my family's situation, I would have fought those bastards long ago."

"Calm down first," Lin Chuan patted Li Minghua on the shoulder.

After a moment, Li Minghua finally settled down, quickly adjusting his attitude, appearing resigned.

"Lin Chuan, actually, I knew you would come to see me," Li Minghua said with a smile looking at Lin Chuan.

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