"Accidental killing. During a mission, I mistakenly killed a hostage. Although the military didn't pursue my criminal responsibility, for a sniper, one mistake means permanent failure. I had no choice but to seek discharge," Fu Junsheng said with a dimmed gaze, speaking slowly.
Ye Qian was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Fu Junsheng to have been a sniper in the Wolf Fang Special Forces. In a special forces unit, a sniper is indispensable, often determining the outcome of a battle. For this reason, a sniper must never make a mistake, not even once. Ye Qian silently nodded, not saying anything further.
"And you? Which unit were you with before?" Fu Junsheng asked.
Ye Qian was taken aback for a moment. It was a difficult question to answer. To these regular forces, he was at best a rogue. He smiled faintly and replied, "I didn't serve in any country's military."
Fu Junsheng looked at Ye Qian, seemingly guessing something, but remained silent. He took a deep breath and continued, "After I retired, I found this job and also visited the family of the hostage I killed. I never expected they would forgive me. I've wronged them; without my mistake, their lives wouldn't be like this now."
"Who else is in their family?" Ye Qian asked.
"A wife and a child. The child is only years old and still in kindergarten. It's my fault they are left as widows and orphans," Fu Junsheng said guiltily.
Ye Qian quietly patted his shoulder and said, "It's not your fault; you didn't mean to make a mistake, did you? What impresses me is that they forgave you. You should forgive yourself too; otherwise, wouldn't you be dismissing their kindness? I think they don't want to see you perpetually guilty."
Speaking of the killed hostage's wife and child, a slight smile finally appeared on Fu Junsheng's face. "She really is a good woman," he said.
Ye Qian looked at him, sensing something more, but smiled slightly without saying anything. Fu Junsheng had been taking care of the mother and child, possibly developing feelings over time, changing from a sense of debt repayment to true love, willing to do anything for them.
"I'm home now, the fourth floor. Do you want to come up?" Fu Junsheng asked as he stopped at the door.
Ye Qian looked up to see the light still on in the room. A woman in her early thirties stood at the window looking anxiously into the distance. When she saw Fu Junsheng downstairs, a slight smile appeared on her face. She must be the hostage's wife, Ye Qian thought.
"No need, you better go up now, they must be anxious," Ye Qian said with a slight smile.
Fu Junsheng looked at Ye Qian's smile and shook his head slightly. "See you tomorrow then."
Zhao Tianhao never imagined that, with the World Expo about to begin and the city under strict law enforcement, someone would dare to send an assassin after him. The old city renovation project had attracted bids from hundreds of companies, but only three or four, including himself, truly had influence. Although he didn't yet know who had sent the person, Zhao Tianhao was not going to let this go easily.
He glanced around; those men had not yet caught up with him, giving Zhao Tianhao some peace of mind. He had just left a meeting with city officials at a hotel when someone shot at him. Fortunately, he had bent down to pick something up at that moment, or he might be dead now.
It was very late, and the street was deserted, close to a slum area. There was not a private car in sight, let alone a taxi. With no other options, he had to walk home cautiously, as the assassins might still be searching for him.
Was it Wei Dongxiang of Dongxiang Group or Du Liancheng of Qingyun Group who had sent the killers? Zhao Tianhao's brow furrowed as he analyzed which of them was more likely. Qingyun Group had gone from being a gang to legitimate business recently, dominating many of SH city's service industries, making it highly probable they sent the assassin. Wei Dongxiang of Dongxiang Group was a newcomer whose background was unclear but had quickly risen by winning several major construction bids and had close ties with the city government. He was known as a smiling tiger, making him a likely suspect too.
The profit from the government's old city renovation project was substantial, and while Tianya Group had the financial capability, Zhao Tianhao felt it unnecessary to take this risk. However, Zhao Tianhao was not a man to be trifled with. Having climbed to his position in such a challenging environment as SH city, he had proven his mettle. He could withdraw from the bidding for the renovation project, but he was not willing to swallow such an affront lightly.
Thinking of his daughter Zhao Ya, Zhao Tianhao hesitated. It seemed his opponents were determined to push him to death, and it would be disastrous if they targeted his daughter. After a moment's thought, Zhao Tianhao decided it was time to find a bodyguard for her.
Tianya Group had its own security department, which employed many talented individuals, not just the patrolling security like Ye Qian, but also ex-military personnel and top graduates from martial arts schools hired specifically to protect Tianya Group's high-level executives.
This assassination attempt had failed partly due to luck and partly due to the indispensable role of his bodyguards. However, he wondered whether they were still alive.
Having lost his phone during the escape, Zhao Tianhao was on his own. As long as he could make it back to Tianya Group or home, he would be safe. He doubted the assassins could breach those defenses, as many bodyguards were protecting those places.
Suddenly, Zhao Tianhao spotted a man rushing towards him, wearing a mask and unrecognizable. But Zhao Tianhao clearly remembered that this was the man who had shot at him outside the hotel. He hadn't expected the assassin to catch up so quickly, suggesting his bodyguards had likely met a grim fate, which saddened him. Although Tianya Group paid its bodyguards well, no amount of money could bring back a life. They had died protecting him, and Zhao Tianhao felt naturally guilty.
Watching the assassin approach step by step, Zhao Tianhao felt a surge of anxiety. He wasn't afraid of dying; he just didn't want to die in such an unclear, unjust way.