Chapter 107: Times Have Changed

Zhang Can immediately grew anxious. Being caught naked and locked up was not only humiliating but also painful. He desperately tried to call Mr. Wang’s emergency number, but Su Xue was on the phone. When did he ever not answer calls—why now? If Su Xue confiscated his phone, it would be disastrous. So Zhang Can kept his eyes fixed on Su Xue, who was talking on the phone from a distance, while frantically dialing. Yet every time he called, the voice on the other end said the line was busy.

Sweat beaded on Zhang Can’s forehead. As Su Xue took the phone away and approached, his panic deepened. Then, suddenly, the call connected. At the same moment, Su Xue stopped, took out her phone, fiddled with it briefly, and pressed it to her ear.

Zhang Can’s call went through, and he quickly said, “Hello, I’m a friend of Mr. Wang Qianwang. There’s an urgent matter I need your help with!”

Fearing the other party might not understand, Zhang Can mentioned Wang Qianwang’s name outright and explained that he was in trouble.

There was a brief pause on the other end before a voice asked, “Where are you? What’s the matter?”

Zhang Can hurriedly replied, “I’m on Donghaibin Road, on the outskirts of Jincheng City. It’s urgent!”

His voice rose sharply from anxiety. After he shouted, he realized the voice in the receiver was that of a clear, crisp woman’s voice—somewhat familiar.

Zhang Can froze, thinking of the girls he knew with influential backgrounds. It had to be Zhou Nan, right? Could it be her? He glanced back at Su Xue, who was watching him, phone pressed to her ear.

“Donghaibin Road? What’s your name?” the woman asked again.

“I’m Zhang Can,” he answered quickly.

The moment he spoke his name, Zhang Can sensed something was off. Su Xue was now walking closer, her eyes locked on him, repeating the words he heard through the phone.

She approached slowly, staring coldly at Zhang Can in the car. After a long silence, she said, “Is that you?”

Suddenly, Zhang Can realized the phone number Mr. Wang had given him belonged to Su Xue.

Who was Su Xue to Mr. Wang? Why had he given Zhang Can her number?

Su Xue studied Zhang Can thoughtfully, remained silent for a moment, then picked up her phone and began dialing as she moved a little farther away.

Zhang Can strained to listen—she was probably calling Mr. Wang.

“Uncle, you and Zhang Can are…” Su Xue’s voice trailed off so quietly that Zhang Can couldn’t hear the rest. But from what he caught, Mr. Wang was probably Su Xue’s uncle. Thank heavens—Su Xue was a girl who listened to her uncle!

Still, Su Xue was a tough nut to crack—willful, wild, violent, and mysterious. Zhang Can had no clue about her background or status, but from their recent interactions, she was definitely someone not to be trifled with.

After finishing the call, Su Xue pocketed her phone and returned, her large eyes fixed on Zhang Can without a word. The sight unnerved him. Naked and vulnerable, he felt like a lamb awaiting slaughter, filled with regret for confessing to Su Xue. More than that, he regretted ever being greedy about that box of U.S. dollars. If all three boxes had been drugs, he wouldn’t have been tempted at all!

But hindsight was useless; no matter how much he regretted, the facts before him could not be changed. He could only leave it to fate.

Su Xue stared at him for a long while, then suddenly extended her hand. Zhang Can instinctively recoiled, expecting her to strike him. This woman, so different from her appearance, was known to be violent—when she acted, it was to hurt and draw blood.

But instead of hitting him, Su Xue used a key to unlock his handcuffs, then hummed softly, “Go put your clothes on.”

Zhang Can hurried down to the roadside, where he had tossed his clothes on the rocks by the sea. After dressing, he looked up at Su Xue standing by the road, who showed no signs of guarding against his escape. He thought it wiser not to run. If she truly wanted to catch him, escape was impossible. No matter how vast the world, once branded a fugitive, he would have no home. Escape was futile.

Back at the car, Su Xue coldly ordered, “Sit properly in the car. I didn’t say you could get out.”

Zhang Can didn’t dare run. Although Su Xue was some distance away, if he fled and took the car, she wouldn't be able to catch him. But even if he escaped now, how could he escape forever? The moment she spoke, he’d become a wanted man.

About fifteen minutes later, several armed police vehicles arrived swiftly, and sixteen or seventeen soldiers jumped out. They saluted Su Xue in unison.

Su Xue waved them off and pointed to the boxes on the rocks by the sea. “Load those three boxes into the car and take them back. Immediately have Wang Guohua summoned for investigation and documentation, prepare for transfer.”

One officer, apparently of higher rank, nodded. “Is there evidence?”

Su Xue finally smiled. “These three boxes were sunk underwater by Wang Guohua. I found them today.”

The officer’s face lit up. The soldiers cheerfully hoisted the boxes onto the roadside and opened them. Two boxes were intact packages of drugs; the third was full of U.S. dollars, all laid out before them.

The soldiers erupted in joyful cheers. This was the largest single drug bust they had ever made. How could they not be thrilled?

“Captain Chen, conduct an immediate surprise inspection. I have other matters to attend to,” Su Xue instructed, then climbed into Zhang Can’s car.

The soldiers glanced at Zhang Can but didn’t question him, seemingly considering him one of their own.

Zhang Can immediately realized his freedom and safety had been restored. Su Xue wouldn’t make things difficult for him. This Mr. Wang was indeed influential. But Su Xue’s expression was still stern; best not to provoke her or risk suffering.

In a whirlwind, the soldiers loaded the boxes and roared away.

Zhang Can was restless, gazing at Su Xue, unsure what to say or whether to leave.

“Let’s go back—to the home at Tianxin Plaza!” Su Xue finally spoke.

Relieved, Zhang Can sighed and turned the car toward the city. Though he didn’t know what Su Xue intended, it was clear she had no plans to throw him in jail—likely thanks to Mr. Wang.

Throughout the drive, Zhang Can dared only drive in silence, fearing to anger Su Xue. He was no longer the same as before. Back then, without evidence, Su Xue hadn’t dared be too harsh. Now that he’d confessed and handed over the evidence, he deeply regretted it.

Returning to the seventeenth floor of Tianxin Plaza, Zhang Can held the key, wondering which room Su Xue wanted. He didn’t ask and simply opened his rented room.

Su Xue followed silently, and when she slammed the door shut with a bang, Zhang Can jumped. But once inside, he calmed himself. Whatever would happen, would happen. If she intended to arrest him, she would have done so already. If not, it wasn’t kindness but because of Mr. Wang. No need to fear her wrath.

Relaxing, Zhang Can poured a glass of water, tilted his head back, and drank it down, then slumped onto the sofa, exhaling deeply.

Su Xue, surprised by his sudden boldness, sat opposite him and asked, “Tell me, how did you get those three big boxes from over a hundred meters down at the sea bottom?”

Zhang Can touched his face, masking his expression. He’d anticipated this question but had been too shocked earlier by Su Xue’s words to think of it then. Now that the urgent matters were settled, she really wanted to discuss this.

He thought quickly for a few seconds, then calmly said, “I wore a diving suit.”

“Where’s the diving suit?” Su Xue asked, staring at him, disbelief plain on her face.

Zhang Can replied evenly, “I threw it into the sea. It’s been so long; how would I know where it is?”

“Lying!” Su Xue said coldly. “Do you not understand, or are you being deliberate? Even with a diving suit, you can only go down thirty or forty meters. Only specially trained experts can go deeper—up to sixty or seventy meters. The sea bottom there is over a hundred twenty meters. Who are you trying to fool?”

Zhang Can knew Su Xue was tough to deal with, but he had no choice but to keep lying. After a pause, he said, “I don’t know. I just know I wore the diving gear and reached the bottom. Believe it or not, that’s the truth.”

Su Xue gave him a hard look, frowning. Seeing Zhang Can less afraid was strange. After hesitating, she said, “Good, you have a stubborn mouth.”

With that, she nodded and added, “Since you’re stubborn, you’d better be stubborn to the end. I prefer dealing with people who are tough as nails. Hope you can be as tough as an underground party member!”

Though her tone was light, Zhang Can’s heart shuddered. If this woman used torture or violence, it would be a serious problem. She was a pure violent fanatic, impossible to reason with. Yet she seemed to obey Mr. Wang, so he’d better call Mr. Wang.

Thinking of this, Zhang Can regretted not calling Mr. Wang directly earlier and using the number given to him instead.

Suddenly inspired, Zhang Can pulled out his phone to find Mr. Wang’s number.

Seeing this, Su Xue laughed coldly, “You’re going to call my uncle Wang Qianwang, right? Save your energy. He’s almost here, taking a private plane from Beijing. He’ll be here in two hours!”

Exposed, Zhang Can thought it over and put his phone away. No call.

Su Xue seemed to recall something, removing a string of rosewood Buddhist beads from her wrist. “You wanted these beads, right? Fine, I’ll give them to you—for three million.”

Zhang Can glanced at them and replied nonchalantly, “I’ll only pay fifty thousand for those beads.”