Chapter 10: One of the Few True Brothers

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Listening to the quarrel in the living room, Yang Hua instinctively buried her head under the covers. Her eldest brother Yang Guo and his wife Chen Ya had been married for eight years without children, so the family was almost constantly at odds—minor arguments every three days, major fights every two. Caught in the middle, Yang Hua had long since grown accustomed to it.

She originally intended to ignore the noise as usual, but recalling that Chen Fan still held incriminating evidence against her, she reluctantly slipped out of bed with a sigh.

"Damn it, Chen Fan really deserves this," she cursed under her breath, then craned her neck and shouted loudly toward the room outside, "Can you stop fighting already? Arguing back and forth in the middle of the night—aren’t you ashamed? Quiet down, will you? I want to sleep!"

The quarrel outside abruptly ceased, completely silenced by her single command. It was clear how much Yang Hua was favored at home. Since she was little, her parents and brother Yang Guo had revolved around her; whatever she said was law. She was absolutely, without question, the obedient one.

"Finally some peace," Yang Hua hummed softly as she lay back down, muttering to herself, “If my sister-in-law can avoid my parents’ barrage tonight, that’s thanks to me. Tomorrow, I’ll tell Chen Fan what happened earlier—he should cut me some slack. If not, I’ll just ask for more time; I’ll pay all the money back. He ought to agree…”

Putting on her headphones, Yang Hua tried to stop her wandering thoughts and drift off to sleep. But as soon as she closed her eyes, she couldn’t help but recall Chen Fan’s cold, emotionless gaze and his devilish smile. The sleepiness she had built up instantly vanished.

No matter how hard she tried to empty her mind or think of something pleasant, Chen Fan’s terrifying, impassive eyes and sinister grin hung over her like a dark cloud, refusing to lift.

"Is the Chen Fan who returned from that trip really the Chen Fan I know? Why does it feel so creepy…" she pondered. "He seems like a completely different person now—still smiles like before, but that smile looks like a killer’s from a movie!"

"Will he give me more time to repay the money?"

That night, Yang Hua was utterly sleepless.

…

The next morning, seven o’clock.

"Damn it… I always think about sleeping in when I have to get up early for school, but now that I’m on vacation, my internal clock’s as precise as a damn alarm clock!"

Chen Fan woke up groggily and lay in bed, muttering to himself. Since yesterday, after dealing with the biggest threat, Su Xue, and getting a handle on the scheming Yang Hua, he had slept soundly despite waking up promptly at seven.

Yawning and rubbing his eyes, Chen Fan habitually reached for his bedside table.

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Then he remembered he hadn’t smoked yet.

“Waking up without a cigarette feels like something’s missing.”

“Wow… I feel like a soaring roc early in the morning!”

Chen Fan smiled with satisfaction—being eighteen had its perks.

Ready to light up? Hell no! Who still toils as a craftsman after being reborn?

Adjusting to the chill outside the covers, Chen Fan quickly dressed and dashed to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, a confident smile curved his lips.

“Gotta say, this face… I really do look like the old Chen Fan before joining the police force!”

“Damn, with this looks and height, even the original master of deep emotions would have to call me ‘bro’!”

Chen Fan stared at his reflection, unable to resist a bit of vanity. But his messy hair was unbearable to look at—he’d have to find time to get a fade.

After washing up, Chen Fan put on his sneakers, grabbed his phone and headphones, and started warming up as he headed downstairs.

Morning runs and night jogs were good habits he’d kept since college in his previous life. Now, reborn, old habits came naturally, and he couldn’t resist going for a run.

Opening the shop? He hadn’t helped out since high school; messing up prices could cost him dearly.

As for studying or doing exercises? After waking up, he realized all his books and test papers were left at school; his desk was cluttered only with novels and comics.

Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to take a stroll.

Just as he stepped out the door, Chen Fan habitually glanced back to check if it was locked.

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder with a sharp clap.

“Son, your old man…”

Before the person could finish, Chen Fan’s eyes darkened, his reflexes razor-sharp as he grabbed the hand on his shoulder, sidestepped, and executed a swift hold, raising his hand to deliver a chopping strike.

“Damn it, Chen Old Dog, what the hell are you doing?!”

The young man caught off guard yelled in pain.

Chen Fan finally recognized the “black rat” in his hand—it was his good friend Wei Xun.

Wei Xun was a close buddy from middle school. In the previous life, he was one of the few who suspected Su Xue’s pregnancy was fake. But back then, Chen Fan was so blinded by Su Xue’s supposed condition he ignored Wei Xun’s warnings.

Moreover, after Chen Fan was discarded by Su Xue, Wei Xun was one of the few who didn’t kick him when he was down but instead helped him.

All in all, Chen Fan remembered Wei Xun’s kindness even in his final moments.

The coldness in Chen Fan’s eyes melted away; he released his grip and laughed, teasing, “Wei Old Dog, what’s wrong with you? Why sneak up on me like that?”

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“Damn, I just wanted to scare you. Didn’t expect such a big reaction!”

Wei Xun rubbed his aching shoulder and gave Chen Fan a mock glare. Seeing him ready to go for a run, he looked puzzled.

“Damn, you’re not staying home sleeping in? You actually want to go jogging? What’s gotten into you? Is this really the Chen Fan I know? You sure you’re not possessed?”

“Get lost, you’re the one possessed.”

Chen Fan laughed and cursed, then changed the subject: “Aren’t you grounded at home for doing poorly on your finals? Why are you suddenly here?”

“Hell, don’t you have the nerve to ask? Did you get into another fight with Su Xue? She texted me all night last night, begging me to find you. Said if you didn’t respond, she’d never talk to you again.”

“For your sake, I rushed over early while buying breakfast. Didn’t expect you almost beat me up. Who else am I supposed to complain to?”

Wei Xun handed over his phone, innocent expression on his face: “Look, she sent me a message just an hour ago! But… how did you piss her off so badly that she stayed up all night looking for you?”

Then, suddenly stunned, Wei Xun stared at Chen Fan in shock. “Damn, Fanzi, you didn’t… did you get her pregnant or something?”

“Get lost, what nonsense are you imagining?”

Chen Fan glared at his wildly imaginative friend, pushing the phone back. “Listen, no matter what Su Xue texts you from now on, just ignore her.”

“Alright, alright. You two handle your own mess. I gotta go buy breakfast. If I’m any later, my old man’s gonna beat me to death with a belt!”

“Go on then. Once I clear you, bring all your sports team buddies. Ice rink, soda, my treat!”

“No problem!”

Wei Xun gave a thumbs-up by his bike and pedaled off toward the market.

After watching him leave, Chen Fan put on his headphones, opened his music player, and hummed as he jogged toward the county park’s lake.

Though a smile tugged at his lips, it was hard to suppress…

After waking, Chen Fan had already seen Su Xue’s texts—from capitulation and pleading to desperation—but hadn’t expected her to seek Wei Xun’s help after he’d turned off his phone last night.

As for Su Xue staying up all night…

It was probably because he ignored her, and since her parents’ new trap had failed, they vented their anger on her, causing her to be furious and sleepless.

“A sleepless night, huh… not so bad after all! Such a shame! If I were her father, Su Dacheng, I’d make her kneel on the tiles all night. Who told her to waste such a golden opportunity? Ha ha ha!”

But Chen Fan wasn’t in a hurry; there would be plenty of chances to torment Su Xue and the others later. This was just collecting some early interest.

Soon, his thoughts shifted to Yang Hua. She probably lost sleep last night too.

After all, he’d pinned the heavy crime charges on her. Anyone would be anxious and unable to sleep.

Especially a pampered girl like Yang Hua, who likely spent the night in a state of fearful confusion.

Thinking of these two women’s fates and situations, Chen Fan’s grin couldn’t be contained—it twisted like the crooked Dragon King’s smile!

Six or seven minutes later.

“*Huff… huff…*”

Chen Fan, flushed and drenched in sweat, appeared at the park’s lake entrance, hands on his knees, gasping heavily.

“Damn, I look strong, but my overall fitness and endurance are terrible! All thanks to the gym teacher calling in sick all of sophomore year and first semester junior year…”

Complaining about his chronically ill gym teacher, he adjusted his breathing and walked toward the lake.

Just as he stepped inside, a clear, bell-like voice rang out behind him.

“Ah, Chen Fan!”