"Mr. Zhou, being so close to this luxury car is stressing me out."
Wang Er'dan, also known as Mr. Dan, had never felt this way before. Perhaps in the face of wealth, anyone would become meek, even those who could support themselves.
"Don't be nervous, it's just a luxury car. I know a lot about luxury cars. Let me see how much this one costs." Mr. Zhou craned his neck, looking at the sleek black luxury car driving beside them.
With its graceful lines and jet-black body, the car was undeniably handsome.
"Oh no!"
At that moment, perhaps by fate, or perhaps because Mr. Zhou was too engrossed in looking, his steering wheel veered to the right. Bang! The minivan collided with the luxury car.
Both vehicles stopped at the roadside.
The surrounding onlookers gasped. With global warming upon us, no one is innocent.
"He's screwed. That driver's going to have to sell his house."
"Sell his house? I think he'll have to sell his wife too."
"When we encounter these luxury cars, we keep at least ten meters away, not daring to get even a centimeter closer. This minivan driver, on the other hand, not only drove alongside but also initiated a kiss. Based on my deduction, the minivan driver must be a beautiful woman trying to climb the social ladder. That's how it always goes in TV dramas."
"You mean those dramas where a naive, innocent girl bumps into a cold and aloof CEO who dislikes beautiful women and only likes those with personality?"
"You've seen them?"
"Yeah, they're somewhat interesting."
The onlookers discussed amongst themselves, some taking out their phones to snap pictures. While not a major incident, it was still quite intriguing.
Inside the minivan:
"Mr. Zhou, what do we do?" Mr. Dan gulped, genuinely panicked. He didn't dare get out of the car, fearing a beating. If a beating could resolve the matter, he'd gladly take it. If they were asked to compensate, they'd be truly finished.
The orders they took recently were all for naught; the client had disappeared.
"Don't panic."
Mr. Zhou leaned back in his seat and silently lit a cigarette, then offered one to Wang Er'dan. The two sat in the car, silent, enveloped in smoke. Their hearts were heavy.
A feeling of dread hung in the air.
Wang Er'dan glanced at Gargamel sitting in the back.
If they couldn't afford to pay, they could only sell Gargamel.
At least it would be worth something.
Mr. Zhou patted Wang Er'dan's head. "Don't think like that. He's our employee."
Soon, they finished their cigarettes and opened the car doors, prepared for the worst. Then, they saw several bodyguards in black suits emerge from a fleet of cars, walking towards them with cold expressions.
Zhou Hu and Wang Er'dan leaned against the minivan, sweat dripping down their foreheads.
These newcomers looked menacing.
They had both been involved in shady dealings in the past. Early on, they were street thugs, wielding knives. Later, they went solo, specializing in kidnapping the wealthy. While they weren't exactly prominent figures, they had seen the world.
But this situation terrified them.
The bodyguards surrounded them, their icy gazes making the two men's hearts pound, as if tigers were about to devour them.
"Brothers, let's talk this over. We really didn't do it on purpose. I had a seizure just now. I have intermittent infantile paralysis, see..."
"Oh, oh..."
Zhou Hu tilted his head and raised his arm, feigning an epileptic fit, trying to convince these big guys that he was indeed ill, otherwise, he wouldn't have crashed into them.
"Make way!"
Xiao Bao waved his hand, and the bodyguards parted, creating a path. He led Lin Fan straight to Zhou Hu. The damage to the car was insignificant; it was just a toy.
"The scent of money is approaching," Zhou Hu said gravely. Due to his past profession, he was sensitive to the aura of wealth. Even before Xiao Bao appeared, he could sense it.
Xiao Bao wore a well-tailored suit, his slicked-back hair a symbol of his rich-kid status. He raised his head, his thick eyebrows furrowed.
"I think we've met somewhere before."
He found these two men familiar.
He had definitely seen them before.
When Zhou Hu and Wang Er'dan saw Xiao Bao, they almost choked, then whispered:
"Mr. Zhou, we kidnapped him before."
"Mr. Dan, what are you talking about? That was the first time. The second time, we unclogged his drains."
Zhou Hu said respectfully, "Young Master Xiao Bao, I was the one who unclogged your drains. You even praised our skills. Have you forgotten?"
He absolutely couldn't let Xiao Bao remember the kidnapping.
They had transformed from ruthless kidnappers into company bosses. Although their company currently consisted of only the two of them and Gargamel, it was a good start.
The future was bright.
If they were exposed as kidnappers, these bodyguards would throw them in jail.
"Oh, you're the plumbers." Xiao Bao remembered, but still couldn't recall their names.
Lin Fan smiled at the two men. This was their third encounter.
Zhou Hu noticed Lin Fan's smile and nervously lowered his head, a chill running down his spine.
Had they been recognized?
Xiao Bao pointed at the car. "So, what are we going to do about this?"
"We have no money." Surrounded by bodyguards, Zhou Hu and Wang Er'dan helplessly spread their hands. If there were fewer people, they would have run without hesitation, abandoning the minivan and Gargamel. They needed to escape.
Behind the car:
The Evil Rooster had appeared before Gargamel at some point.
The two evil creatures stared at each other.
The Green-furred Gargamel lowered its head.
The Evil Rooster held its head high.
"Not bad. So ugly, yet you found humans to take you in. You must have some tricks up your sleeve. Do you know who I am?"
Although it couldn't compare to Gargamel in size, the Evil Rooster held its head high, exuding an air of arrogance.
Evil Gargamel: "A lowly Level Three compatriot."
Evil Rooster: "???"
Many questions arose.
Buddy, what are you talking about? You probably don't know who I am, and you dare to talk to me like that? Step outside and let's see if my terrifying human won't smash your green, furry gorilla head.
Evil Rooster: "Do you know who I am?"
The Green-furred Gargamel didn't speak, but continued to stare at the Evil Rooster, seemingly surprised that there was another of its kind hiding in the human world.
It was an ambitious evil creature, living in the human world, far from the darkness of the evil realm. It was living a good life and had long since grown accustomed to it.
The Evil Rooster was waiting for the other to ask who it was, so it could proudly announce its identity:
An Evil Hero.
An undercover agent living among humans, infiltrating human society.
But the Green-furred Gargamel didn't ask, giving it no chance to show off. This annoyed it, so it had to reveal its identity.
The Evil Rooster put its wings on its hips. "Forget it, I'll tell you straight. I'm a hero among the evil creatures, undercover among humans. Look at those humans outside; they're completely under my control. I eat the best food, ride in the most luxurious cars. With a single stomp of my foot, those humans tremble. I've successfully infiltrated the human special department, and they haven't even noticed. Want to join me?"
"I can bring you along."
After saying these words, the Evil Rooster felt a surge of pride.
It realized that this Green-furred Gargamel seemed to have some brains, unlike the foolish ones it had encountered before. Perhaps they could cooperate.
Bringing you into the fold, making you a pseudo-Evil Hero, is the greatest benefit I can bestow upon you.
The Green-furred Gargamel realized that the Evil Rooster before it seemed to have a few screws loose.
It wasn't very bright.
It lived hidden in the human world, harming no one, even using its strength to help humans with their work. Everything seemed to be going well.
Of course, occasionally it encountered unfriendly evil creatures, resulting in a battle. With its strength, it could crush most of them, so it had always been peaceful.
The Green-furred Gargamel said kindly, "Lowly Level Three compatriot, leave the human world. It's not suitable for you. You're too weak, too foolish, too lowly."
The Evil Rooster was stunned.
The other's three "toos" ruffled its feathers, feeling deeply insulted. Damn it, no one had ever dared to speak to it like that.
The Evil Rooster said in exasperation, "You've disappointed me greatly."
It wanted to teach the Green-furred Gargamel a lesson, but the other was too massive. Although it seemed somewhat goofy, as a fellow evil creature, it could sense the explosive power within it.
Forget it.
I, the Evil Rooster, am not easily provoked.
Initially, seeing a somewhat promising evil creature, it felt a pang of appreciation for talent.
But now it seemed...
Uncherished.
In the distance:
A handsome young man with a quiff, a flower dangling from his lips, leaned against a wall with one hand, hooking a girl's chin, gazing deeply into her eyes.
"Beautiful lady, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?"
This handsome young man had come from the special department headquarters. His father wouldn't let him come, but he wanted to, and who could stop him? Not even God himself.
As he put it... Yanhai City is in deep trouble, facing dangers that only I can suppress. Who else but me?
The woman wore a long dress, her skin snow-white, with only a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
Xu Zihao was very confident.
His handsome face, coupled with his unique hairstyle, was incredibly dashing.
"Mom, who is he?" At that moment, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy approached, looking at the man warily.
A bolt from the blue.
Xu Zihao stared wide-eyed, looking at the beautiful woman and then at the boy.
"Mom?"
"Son?"
The woman smiled and nodded.
No!
Xu Zihao straightened up abruptly and bowed apologetically. "Auntie, I'm so sorry. I mistook you for someone else."
Then, he fled in embarrassment.
Damn it!
Her son is this old, so she must be at least thirty-something, forty!
I'm only in my twenties.
Robbing the cradle!
He didn't relax until he reached the corner.
Damn it.
He had been deceived by appearances.
"Huh?"
"The scent of evil."