Replacing the Evil Way

Chapter 100: Special Task

On a brightly lit night on Huxun Road by the lake, the pedestrian street was bustling with activity. At the end of the street, a black SUV was parked, its windows covered with curtains. In the driver’s seat, a young man wearing a cap rested his arms on the window and yawned lazily. His expression seemed casual, but he was actually keeping a close eye on the continuous flow of customers at the Arctic Star Club across the street.

Inside the SUV, equipment was set up, and Ke Dongrui’s eyes were fixed on the screen. The black-and-white footage kept moving, indicating that the owner of the pinhole camera was on the move. Cheng Zesheng, leaning against the window, asked, “How’s it going? Has He Wei entered?”

“He’s on his way. The manager is taking him to Tan Long’s private room.”

Le Zhengkai and Cheng Zesheng sat side by side, and Cheng Zesheng picked up a walkie-talkie. “Xiao Lin, the bait is about to enter the den. Keep a close watch and be ready to act according to my command.”

The doorman across the street discreetly adjusted his earpiece and replied, “Copy that.”

Guo Qi, who was driving the car, leaned in. “Ke-Jie, how many people are inside?”

“Four,” Ke Dongrui replied. “Two on the first floor, one on the second floor, and one in the kitchen.”

“No one assigned to the third floor?” Guo Qi was surprised. “Team Leader, there’s no one on the third floor. If something happens to He-ge, can we make it in time?”

“…” Cheng Zesheng didn’t answer, and Le Zhengkai added innocently, “It’s not that we refused to assign someone there. If He-ge hadn’t insisted on going alone, we would have. Don’t worry; he’s the one more likely to cause trouble for others than the other way around. Tan Long really messed up this time.”

Tonight, the task of the Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Team was to respond to the national call to crack down on organized crime and eliminate the black and evil forces in the area. According to the traditional approach, they could simply close down the notorious venues one by one. However, He Wei believed that this would easily tip off the hidden snakes and give them a chance to escape. He argued that they should first capture all of them and then close the venues to completely eradicate the problem.

The problem was that these gangsters rarely showed their faces, making it difficult to apprehend them. He Wei had a solution, though. He had received information from an informant that several gangsters were planning to meet at Tan Long’s club on Saturday night. All they needed to do was send someone in undercover.

The members of the Criminal Investigation Team exchanged glances and couldn’t help but think: You’ve only been transferred from Haijing for half a year, and you’ve already established such a network of connections?

But everyone recognized He Wei’s abilities. He had solved several major cases in the short time he had been there, and Deputy Chief Yan held him in high regard. Chief Huang praised him endlessly. He had almost caught up with Cheng Zesheng in terms of his position within the team.

While his investigative skills were undeniable, building a good relationship with He Wei outside of work was incredibly challenging. He Wei was a bit too aloof, rarely interacting with anyone other than the Cheng brothers. His personality was too calm, and his mere presence was intimidating, causing colleagues to naturally keep their distance and create a sense of estrangement.

Cheng Zhenqing, the Anti-Drug Division’s consultant, applauded this phenomenon: That’s right; it should be like this. No one should even think about getting close to the Cheng family’s daughter-in-law!

Since there was such a great opportunity, they had to make the most of it. The discussion in the meeting shifted to how to send someone in as bait. Some suggested infiltrating the gang as low-level members, while others proposed posing as club staff. He Wei, with a faint smile, vetoed all of these ideas.

He picked up a marker and circled three photos of individuals on the whiteboard. “These three have something in common.”

Cheng Zesheng had a bad feeling about this, and Le Zhengkai snapped his fingers. “Money Boy, these old foxes are all fond of this.”

Everyone suddenly realized, and in the next moment, all eyes were focused on Cheng Zesheng’s face.

In this kind of operation relying on looks, who else but Team Leader Cheng?

He Wei chuckled again, not the superficial smile he usually wore but a teasing one that reached his eyes.

“So why did He-ge end up being the bait later?” 

Le Zhengkai asked, putting his arm around Cheng Zesheng’s shoulder. “You don’t know, right? Initially, it was decided that our team leader would go in, but guess what? He lasted only one day before he was persuaded to leave! They weren’t satisfied!”

“Huh?” Guo Qi was bewildered. “Team Leader Cheng’s looks…aren’t satisfying?” What kind of beautiful celestial men does Tan Long come into contact with?

Ke Dongrui laughed, and Cheng Zesheng’s face turned dark, making Le Zhengkai shut up. Le Zhengkai was on a roll, “Later when we analyzed what kind of person Tan Long preferred, we found out that just being good-looking wasn’t enough. They had to be gentle and obedient, like a little rabbit.”

“…Uh?” Guo Qi was once again puzzled. He glanced up at the third floor. He-ge and these qualities didn’t seem to match, did they?

“Some people you just can’t compete with. Anyway, Tan Long had He Wei as his drinking companion for the past few days, and he ordered him again tonight. Our bait is working well.”

Cheng Zesheng’s expression grew darker, and his fists clenched unconsciously. Ke Dongrui reminded, “He’s entered the private room.”

In the car, everyone perked up and crowded around the screen. After He Wei entered, the man with a crew cut and a small mustache in the middle beckoned him over, grinning and waving. His loud, rough voice came through the earpiece, “Xiao He, come over here!”

On another part of the screen was the view from a pinhole camera hidden in a vase. It clearly showed He Wei taking small steps toward Tan Long, who pulled him closer, putting an arm around his shoulder, and pulling him into his embrace.

“Hey, A-Long, is this your new flame? Xiao He, right?”

Tan Long’s hand reached across his shirt, pinching He Wei’s chest with a lecherous smile. “Little lotus just starting to bloom, huh?”

He Wei blushed on cue and even resisted a little, half-pushing against Tan Long’s hand, a look of shyness mixed with coyness. Laughter filled the private room as He Wei took turns pouring drinks, but he eventually stood up and playfully patted the hand that had appeared from somewhere.

“…” The three people in the car had various expressions. Le Zhengkai restrained Cheng Zesheng’s hand and whispered, “It’s a mission, remember!”

Cheng Zesheng knew that, of course. He was already thinking about what to do after they captured Tan Long and returned to headquarters. And, of course, there was the matter of settling scores with He Wei at home.

He silently counted the people; they were still missing one person. When Zhao Yanfei arrived, they could move in for the arrest.

Suddenly, one of the surveillance screens started to spin and shake wildly. Someone might have gotten too drunk and started playing with a vase. Then, a hand reached for the pinhole camera hidden in He Wei’s shirt button, and the screen went black, losing signal.

Cheng Zesheng’s brow furrowed instantly, and Le Zhengkai was also surprised. “Exposed?”

The earpiece signal hadn’t been cut off, and they could still hear He Wei’s soft voice, “Hey, you… don’t take off my shirt…”

“…”

Le Zhengkai held onto Cheng Zesheng’s waist and stopped him from getting out of the car. “It’s a mission! Remember, it’s a mission!”

To hell with this bait operation. Cheng Zesheng was frustrated and glanced toward the private room on the third floor, where He Wei was. The shadows cast by the lights inside the room suggested that the people were enjoying themselves. He felt tortured inside and wished he could rush up and see who dared to touch He Wei’s clothes so recklessly.

“Stop touching. Long-ge! Long-ge, help me!” He Wei, with a voice that sounded delicate and helpless, was on the verge of tears.

“Oh, tonight I’ll send you to Da Biao. Play with him as you wish!”

“…” Cheng Zesheng couldn’t sit still anymore. He was about to open the car door when he suddenly heard He Wei’s low voice coming through the earpiece, cutting through the chaotic background noise.

“The team isn’t assembled yet; don’t come up.”

———

It was well past nine o’clock when Zhao Yanfei finally arrived, hearing that he had initially refused to come and that his subordinates had taken the wrong car, inadvertently delivering him to the doorstep of the Arctic Star Club. Zhao Yanfei thought, that since he was already here, he might as well catch up with old friends. Little did he know that he hadn’t checked his calendar today and that once he entered, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

When He Wei’s soft “gather” came through, Cheng Zesheng didn’t waste a second and rushed into the Arctic Star Club’s third floor, leading the way with a determined stride. After dealing with a few underlings at the entrance, he impatiently kicked open the door of the private room. Inside, he found the room’s occupants lying in various states of disarray, crying out in pain.

He Wei’s clothes were disheveled, with the buttons of his silk shirt undone down to his navel, revealing a large expanse of glaringly white skin. His hair was still damp, with water droplets trickling down his bangs and falling precisely onto his chest. Whether it was due to alcohol or not, there was a hint of blush on the corners of his eyes. His gaze, filled with allure, left several of Cheng Zesheng’s colleagues dumbfounded.

“You arrived just in time. Let’s take them all back together.” He Wei said, rubbing his wrists. He picked up a glass of beer from the table and forcibly opened the mouth of a bald guy who had been beaten to a bloody nose, pouring the beer down his throat. “You said there was no drug, right? Then please, have a drink.”

The bald guy’s hands were tied behind his back, and he choked and coughed after being force-fed a glass of ice-cold beer. He Wei took a cigarette from the table, lit it leisurely, and squinted his eyes like a tiger that had just finished its meal.

Tan Long stared at He Wei with wide eyes, unable to believe that the guy who had been accompanying him for drinks the past few days was a cop? And he had such incredible combat skills? They were no ordinary thugs, yet they were beaten like blood oranges by a seemingly fragile youngster, unable to put up any resistance.

Cheng Zesheng walked over, took off his coat, and threw it at He Wei. He cast a menacing glance over the criminals, and He Wei, who had just put on his coat, tugged at Cheng Zesheng’s sleeve, trying to please him. Cheng Zesheng ignored him but didn’t shake him off either.

“Take them all back! Interrogate them overnight! Don’t spare any dance halls, clubs, or underground casinos; close them all!” Cheng Zesheng ordered.

His colleagues began to handcuff the criminals one by one. Tan Long, grinding his teeth, had originally been crouching on the floor, but when he was lifted up, he summoned courage from somewhere, pulled a gun from his pants, and pushed Xiao Lin away. He pointed the gun directly at Cheng Zesheng and He Wei, who were talking.

“Damn it! This bastard has a gun!” Le Zhengkai shouted loudly. “Team Leader, be careful!”

Cheng Zesheng and He Wei turned around together, facing the ominous barrel of the gun. Cheng Zesheng’s mind raced, and he felt an unexpected surge of panic.

It wasn’t fear that gripped him but rather a flood of images flashing through his mind—darkened, rundown building, shadowy figures, and bloodshed. He Wei stood beside him, yet He Wei also held a gun. He Wei was both a victim and an assailant.

“You son of a bitch, dare to play tricks on me! Go to hell!”

A gunshot rang out. Almost instinctively, Cheng Zesheng grabbed He Wei, shielding him entirely, and rolled to the ground with him. Le Zhengkai kicked Tan Long to the ground and was fuming. “Quick, quick, handcuff him! Search them all thoroughly! If anyone is hiding a gun, I’ll make sure they rot in jail!”

The scene was chaotic, with the second team arriving to apprehend the dangerous criminals. Le Zhengkai and Xiao Lin were anxiously huddled around the two people on the ground. “What happened? Any injuries? Xiao Lin, call an ambulance quickly!”

Xiao Lin fumbled for his phone, but Le Zhengkai grabbed his wrist. “Call an ambulance? None of them even got hit; their marksmanship is terrible.”

Cheng Zesheng sat up, still holding He Wei in his arms. Surprisingly, they were both unharmed—not even a scratch. Le Zhengkai let out a sigh of relief. “So, why didn’t you guys get up sooner? You scared the hell out of me; I thought one bullet took both of you out.”

Cheng Zesheng gestured to He Wei in his arms, placing his index finger to his lips, and then waved for them to leave quickly, granting the couple some privacy after their ordeal.

“…” Le Zhengkai looked at He Wei, whose face was buried in Cheng Zesheng’s arms, and covered his eyes. The world was declining, and he couldn’t see it anymore. Whoever wanted to see it could see it.

After the commotion had settled, the private room was in a state of chaos, but it eventually quieted down, leaving only Cheng Zesheng and He Wei. Cheng Zesheng held He Wei in his arms and asked in a soft voice, “Are you okay? You’re fine, right?”

When Cheng Zesheng pushed down He Wei, He Wei clung to him, frantically searching him all over for injuries, his expression filled with anxiety. After confirming that there was no blood or wounds, He Wei hugged Cheng Zesheng tightly, not wanting to let go.

Cheng Zesheng caressed his black hair, feeling a sense of relief. He couldn’t help but think: My wife can be unexpectedly cute at times, making it hard for me to stay composed.

After a while, He Wei’s emotions gradually calmed down, and he looked up, returning to his usual calm demeanor. “Cheng Zesheng, let me tell you again, never joke about your own life, no matter what happens.”

He didn’t know how terrifying it had been for him when this familiar scenario played out once again. He had been through too much, and each loop left behind an indelible scar, and this sudden revelation had also unleashed deep-seated fear.

He Wei didn’t ask for much; he only hoped that Cheng Zesheng would always be safe and sound.

“Again?” Cheng Zesheng held his hand. “Have you said this before?”

He Wei didn’t directly answer but just wanted Cheng Zesheng to remember it well. No matter how dangerous the situation, he wasn’t allowed to do such reckless things in the future.

Relieved after this false alarm and properly “punishing” his wife when they got home, Cheng Zesheng had a strange and vivid dream that night. In the dream, he and He Wei were in different worlds, neighbors who couldn’t see each other. They had met through a murder case, and their paths had twisted and turned in the labyrinth of fate.

Cheng Zesheng opened his eyes, and the night outside was still deep in slumber. He noticed that He Wei was also awake. He sat up, and He Wei’s hand reached out, resting on his arm.

Cheng Zesheng leaned over and hugged him, his chin resting on He Wei’s shoulder. “Guess what I dreamt about?”

“Hmm?” He Wei, still half-awake, made a vague questioning sound from his nose.

“I dreamt… that we were in different worlds, and it was rare for us to have a chance to meet. We were both police officers, but we were investigating each other’s murder cases.”

He Wei’s eyes suddenly opened wide, with a glint of excitement in them. He held Cheng Zesheng’s face and touched their foreheads together, locking eyes. “Do you remember?”

“It’s like the first time we met, and you asked me the same question.” Cheng Zesheng kissed his cheek. “Can you tell me what’s going on? My dream was confusing, but it felt so real.”

He Wei’s heart, which had been racing, gradually calmed down. He realized that Cheng Zesheng only had a vague impression but hadn’t remembered the crucial part. He smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember. It’s fine the way it is now.”

However, his expression didn’t quite match his words, and Cheng Zesheng could clearly sense He Wei’s emotional fluctuations. The sudden joy that had ignited in that moment couldn’t be concealed.

What exactly had he forgotten…? Cheng Zesheng massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on. There were too many chaotic images in his mind, and he couldn’t sort them out, making him feel frustrated.

He Wei leaned in and kissed his forehead, let out a yawn, and nestled against his arm to go back to sleep.

Cheng Zesheng made an effort to remember, but the dream’s images remained fragmented and increasingly unclear.

But it didn’t matter; he believed that there would come a day when he would remember everything.