Chapter Thirty-Six: The Old Fox’s Scheme

At this moment, Ye Dong and the others were focused entirely on the "plan" that Officer Li had mentioned, paying little attention to whom he might have been chatting with.

Nian Xue asked, "Officer Li, do you already have a comprehensive plan?"

Officer Li put away his phone. "Of course there was a plan, but now it's been deliberately adjusted to fit Ye Dong's situation. I've named it 'The Old Fox Plan.'"

Liang Lingzhi inquired, "Is this the plan designed for the top three undercover elites, and now you've modified it for Ye Dong?"

A sly and enigmatic glint flashed in Officer Li's eyes as he gave Ye Dong a subtle smile. "This is a plan that I've meticulously crafted just for you. I have faith that you will become the most outstanding undercover agent."

Ye Dong narrowed his eyes. "The most outstanding undercover agent!?"

In his mind, a grand and secretive figure emerged. "Chen Yongren!? So I’m Chen Yongren! Am I shooting a real-life version of Infernal Affairs!?"

"Ahem!" Officer Li cleared his throat, snapping Ye Dong out of his fantasy. "You are the core of the entire plan. Huiyan will act as your secretary to protect you—and, of course, she will also serve as your personal bodyguard. Dachun is your driver, and Xiaobao will also be your bodyguard. As for Liang Lingzhi, I have designed a special plan just for you."

Ye Dong quickly started plotting in his mind. "Huiyan is my personal bodyguard? Personal!?" He suppressed his restless excitement. "Ye Dong, calm yourself! Settle down!"

Liang Lingzhi was delighted to hear that Officer Li had given him special treatment. "A plan tailored just for me!? Am I playing a powerful role? Do I get a gun?"

Officer Li stroked his chin. "It’s a pretty significant role, quite impressive. But let's focus on Ye Dong’s part for now."

He gestured to Huiyan to continue.

Huiyan put away her smile and looked seriously at Ye Dong, Xiaobao, and Dachun. "I've designed a detailed and scientific special training plan for the three of you. It will start tomorrow and continue until Officer Li assigns your mission. I will be your special training instructor. Understood?"

Ye Dong was overjoyed. "Understood! Oh—no, I mean yes!"

He glanced at the Qinggang in his hand and asked, "What about Zhengzheng?"

Officer Li explained, "Zhengzheng has a whole team of bodyguards at home, and Nian Xue will personally protect her. You don’t need to worry about her safety."

Zhengzheng nodded enthusiastically. "Just focus on your special training! Nian Xue will look after me."

Ye Dong gave her an apologetic smile. "I really am the classic example of accepting a gift but not fulfilling my duty!"

Nian Xue reassured him, "Don’t worry. With me here, I guarantee Zhengzheng will be perfectly safe."

Listening to all this, Liang Lingzhi grew anxious. "Ye Dong has Xiaobao, Dachun, and the martial arts master Huiyan. Zhengzheng has Nian Xue. But I’m all on my own? Won’t I be fighting solo!?"

Officer Li responded, "We'll assign two undercover agents to you, don’t worry. This role is made for you—absolutely essential."

Liang Lingzhi’s worries vanished with Officer Li’s reassurance, and pride surged in his heart. "Wow, Officer Li really believes in me! I must do well and impress Nian Xue!"

Xiaobao and Dachun were surprised to be part of the undercover operation. Xiaobao asked, "Officer Li, surely there are more skilled bodyguards and drivers at the police academy than us. Why pick us?"

Officer Li answered without hesitation, "You two may be a bit lazy, but you’re clever and adaptable. You might be a bit timid, but people who fear death are more cautious and less prone to mistakes. Plus, you’ve worked with Ye Dong for a long time, so your teamwork far surpasses others. That’s why I chose you."

Faced with Officer Li’s explanation—which was both praise and criticism—Xiaobao and Dachun could only force a bitter smile. "Yes, sir!"

Xiao Wang asked, "What’s wrong? Getting cold feet?"

Dachun shook his head. "Not scared, just a little shaky."

Officer Li checked the time. "It’s getting late. Everyone should get some rest. Tomorrow, Xiao Wang and Xiao Yang will explain the plan in detail."

"What? That’s it?" Ye Dong panicked. "Officer Li, why does this all feel so slapdash?"

Officer Li chuckled, "We have plenty of time ahead—no need to rush. As for the detailed profiles on Miao Miao and Hua Hua, I’ll send those another day. You don’t need to go to the orphanage tomorrow. Just focus on preparing for your special training!"

Xiao Yang stopped Ye Dong from asking more questions. "We all trust the boss. His decades of experience in the field aren’t just for show."

With a wave of his hand, Officer Li walked out, leaving Huiyan, Xiao Wang, and Xiao Yang inside. No sooner had he stepped outside than he dialed a number.

"Officer Li, hello."

"Boss Wan, I hope I didn’t disturb your rest?"

"No need for pleasantries. Let’s get straight to the point."

Officer Li laughed heartily. "Ye Dong won’t be able to protect Zhengzheng for the time being, but with Nian Xue personally guarding her, she’ll be even safer. I hope you won’t bother Ye Dong during this period."

There was silence on Boss Wan’s end for about seven or eight seconds before he replied, "You clearly have your reasons for this. But I have one request: when you encounter my men, can you make things a bit easier for them?"

Officer Li considered for a moment. "That’s easy enough. In fact, I need them to help protect Zhengzheng. I apologize for disrupting your plans to marry well, Boss Wan!"

Boss Wan sneered, "Officer Li, you certainly have a sharp eye. Anyway, I need to rest now. That’s all."

The call was abruptly ended. Boss Wan was one of the few who dared to hang up on Officer Li. But Officer Li seemed unfazed. Sitting in the taxi, he gazed at the cityscape outside and ran through his search for flaws in the plan once more.

...

The next morning, before dawn, while Liang Lingzhi was still dreaming sweetly of his beloved Nian Xue, he suddenly felt a chill on his backside and a sharp pain on his face as he was slapped awake. "Get up! Get up!"

He opened his drowsy eyes. The red and green hues before him made him shut them again. "Where am I?"

Unable to see clearly, he sniffed the air. "Such a strong perfume!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Wake up! Police business!"

Liang Lingzhi’s heart sank at the words "police." "Police!?"

He snapped his eyes open and was dumbfounded. Along the left wall squatted a row of scantily clad, glamorous women; along the right wall squatted a row of naked men.

"An anti-vice raid!? This is a raid!"

Looking down, Liang Lingzhi was relieved to find he still had his underwear on! And socks, too—an odd combination indeed.

But aside from those two things, he was completely naked.

"What are you looking at? Get over there and squat!" barked a burly officer in uniform. "Hurry up—don’t interfere with police business!"

Liang Lingzhi tried to explain, "But I..."

Before he could finish, someone dragged him aside. "Squat properly!"

He racked his brain, but couldn’t recall how he’d ended up here. "How did I get here!? Last night I was eating and drinking with Ye Dong and the others! This is a setup! Absolutely a setup!"

A police officer entered. "This isn’t your first time, is it? You all know soliciting is punishable by fines and detention, right?" He glanced at the pensive Liang Lingzhi, scolding with both shock and anger, "Liang Lingzhi, you again!? Every time there’s a vice raid, you’re involved! Why are you so incorrigible?"

"What!?"

Liang Lingzhi’s eyes widened as he noticed the admiring glances from the other detainees, as if to say, "Comrade, you’ve worked hard!"

The officer retorted, "What do you mean, 'what'!? Tell me—where haven’t you been? You’re at the high-end massage parlors, the street salons—are you never satisfied!?"

"Innocent, officer!"

But before Liang Lingzhi could finish, the officer cut him off. "About to say you were drinking with friends last night and woke up here, right?"

Liang Lingzhi was startled. "How did you know what I was about to say?"

The officer scoffed, "Please, Liang Lingzhi, I’ve memorized your excuses. Can’t you be a bit more original when lying to the police? Please have some respect for my profession. Wherever there’s a vice raid, there’s always a story about you!"

Before Liang Lingzhi could explain further, he was pushed by the police and herded into the police van with the other detainees.

"This is bad, how did this happen? What about Ye Dong and the others? If Nian Xue finds out I got caught in a vice raid, I’m doomed!"

Elsewhere, as Ye Dong, Xiaobao, and Dachun opened their eyes, they realized that everything had changed...