“Wow, officers, you’ve arrived just in time! Over there, right over there—that shop, The Fortune Teller’s Place! Three gangsters are fighting!”

Temple Street was always bustling, especially at this hour when tourists flocked to relax and grab a meal. Lin Jianyi and Sun Zhaoqian rushed over, following the directions of a passerby pointing toward the commotion.

Sun Zhaoqian was startled. “Oh no, I hope Xiao Gu and the others aren’t in trouble!”

“Don’t jinx it! Xiao Gu is capable; nothing will happen to her,” Lin Jianyi replied, though a hint of worry crossed his face. He gripped the holster at his waist and quickened his pace alongside Sun Zhaoqian.

At the entrance of The Fortune Teller’s Place, chaos ensued.

Lin Zheng, Sun Lehu, and Wan Qi were locked in a ferocious brawl.

Wan Qi, who had been indulging in luxury for years, was far from the fighter he once was. Combined with his excesses, his skills were a shadow of their former self. As for Sun Lehu, the schemer, he relied on his brains more than his fists.

The two of them were utterly outmatched, getting pummeled by Lin Zheng, who ground them into the dirt.

When Lin Jianyi and Sun Zhaoqian arrived, they saw Gu Xicao and Wang Laoshi standing by the shop entrance, casually munching on sunflower seeds and enjoying the spectacle.

Seeing them, Wang Laoshi waved enthusiastically. “Xiao Lin, over here!”

Lin Jianyi hurried over, panting. He checked on Gu Xicao and, seeing she was unharmed, let out a sigh of relief. He glanced at the three men still fighting and asked, “You’re okay? What’s going on with these three?”

“Yeah, Wang, didn’t you call and say some gangsters were here causing trouble?” Sun Zhaoqian scratched his head, utterly confused.

Wang Laoshi gestured toward Gu Xicao. “Don’t ask me; ask her. This is all the boss’s doing!”

Still munching on sunflower seeds, Gu Xicao noticed Lin Jianyi and Sun Zhaoqian’s curious gazes. She waved dismissively and said casually, “Oh, it’s nothing. I just told the Sanlong Gang’s Red Pole that his boss was sleeping with his wife and that Sun Lehu was the matchmaker. Then they started fighting.”

Sun Zhaoqian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, stood next to Gu Xicao, and said in amazement, “Sleeping with his wife? That’s a huge taboo in the underworld! If word gets out, Wan Qi won’t be able to show his face!”

“It’s not just sleeping with his wife. That White Paper Fan, Sun Lehu, also embezzled tens of thousands from the gang’s funds,” Wang Laoshi added with a sigh.

Lin Jianyi’s lips twitched. He coughed and said, “Even if they weren’t here to cause trouble, we need to take them in. Brawling in the streets—do they think we’re dead or something?”

Realizing he was still technically on duty as a police officer, Sun Zhaoqian blushed, stuffed the remaining sunflower seeds into his pocket, and rushed toward the fight with Lin Jianyi. “Freeze! Police!”

---

Meanwhile, on the film set, Lin Xingyue was inspecting her nails, smirking at Zhou Minwen.

“So, Ah Wen, still hesitating?”

The crowd of onlookers had grown larger. Word had spread that Lin Xingyue was making things difficult for Zhou Minwen. Some came out of sympathy; others came purely for the drama.

Even the director rushed over after hearing about the commotion. Seeing Zhou Minwen’s pale face and Lin Xingyue’s smug expression, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. Trying to mediate, he said, “Miss Lin, Ah Wen is known for being a bit foolish. Is there really a need to make a fuss? Oh, by the way, I’ve been discussing with the screenwriter about giving you more scenes. What do you think? Shall we talk it over?”

The manager’s eyes lit up with hope. If the director could appease Lin Xingyue by offering more scenes, it wouldn’t matter how many were added as long as Zhou Minwen was spared.

But Lin Xingyue scoffed. “Director, whether you give me more scenes or not doesn’t matter to me right now. Zhou Minwen, if you don’t kowtow to me soon, I can’t guarantee what might happen to that little girl. Let me be honest: Brother Qi told me he’d personally ‘teach her a lesson’ this afternoon.”

“No!!”

Zhou Minwen’s lips trembled. She bent her knees slightly and whispered, “I’ll kowtow.”

“Ah Wen!” her manager cried, her eyes reddening.

“It’s not a big deal,” Zhou Minwen said softly to her manager. “It’s just kowtowing. If I kneel today, I’ll stand taller tomorrow.”

The director’s gaze reflected both admiration and sorrow, knowing he couldn’t do anything to help Zhou Minwen.

“Wow, Miss Lin is truly domineering.”

“Rumor has it Lin Xingyue has connections with gangsters. Looks like it’s true. She’s even forcing Zhou Minwen to kowtow.”

“This is big news. I wonder how much a tabloid would pay for this story.”

Zhou Minwen pretended not to hear the murmurs. She closed her eyes, about to kneel, when someone suddenly pointed at the set’s TV and shouted, “Hey, something big happened! Come look—Sanlong Gang has been arrested!”

The crowd gasped in shock.

The manager, immediately remembered that the Sanlong Gang was Lin Xingyue’s backer. She ran to the TV and stared at the screen.

At that moment, the news anchor was reporting live:

“Dear viewers, behind me are the leaders of the Sanlong Gang in Kowloon, being taken into police custody. About half an hour ago, these three leaders were engaged in a brawl outside a fortune-telling shop called The Fortune Pavilion. Our reporter is about to interview one of the shop’s staff members.”

The female reporter, holding a microphone, approached Wang Laoshi.

Gu Xicao, not wanting to be interviewed, left Wang Laoshi to handle it.

Appearing stiff and uneasy, Wang Laoshi kept tugging at his sleeves and collar.

“Excuse me, sir. Can you tell us why those three leaders were fighting outside your shop? We’ve heard they’re prominent figures in the Sanlong Gang. Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s true,” Wang Laoshi replied after clearing his throat. “They got into a fight because of internal disputes.”

“Internal disputes? That’s odd. It’s said that the Red Pole beat their boss and the White Paper Fan to a pulp. Isn’t he afraid of retaliation?”

The female reporter’s curiosity deepened.

“Afraid? Of what? The boss slept with his wife, and the White Paper Fan embezzled tens of thousands. By their own rules, getting beaten to death would’ve been justified,” Wang Laoshi replied.

“Wow!”

The people watching the broadcast were stunned by the explosive news.

“Ah Wen, you don’t need to kneel anymore!” The manager rushed back and grabbed Zhou Minwen’s hand, sneering at Lin Xingyue. “Miss Lin, here’s some good news for you. Your backer, Wan Qi, has been arrested. Looks like he won’t have time to ‘teach anyone a lesson.’”

“What?!” Lin Xingyue’s face turned pale.

“Really? Ah Li, you’re not lying to me, are you?” Zhou Minwen asked, her voice trembling with hope.

“Why would I lie? It’s all over the news. All three leaders of the Sanlong Gang have been arrested. With them gone, who knows if the gang will even survive,” the manager said, visibly elated.

Hands on her hips, she looked at Lin Xingyue with a sneer. “Miss Lin, your backer’s downfall marks the end of your good days too.”

Lin Xingyue suddenly rushed to the television, pushing aside the others. Her eyes widened as she stared at the screen.

At that moment, the TV broadcast showed three men in handcuffs, wearing paper bags over their heads as they were escorted into police cars. Although the footage was blurry, Lin Xingyue immediately recognized Wan Qi’s Rolex watch.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

It’s over.

Everything was over.

Zhou Minwen and her manager looked at Lin Xingyue’s pale face, feeling a sense of satisfaction as if they’d just exhaled a long-held breath of frustration.

Zhou Minwen had no intention of deliberately taking revenge on Lin Xingyue. But just considering the number of people Lin Xingyue had offended in the entertainment industry over the years, it was enough for her to face a reckoning.

In the past, no one dared to retaliate against her because of the Sanlong Gang. But now, with the gang leaders arrested, what was there to fear about Lin Xingyue?

“Do you think the Sanlong Gang’s arrest has anything to do with Master Gu?” the manager whispered to Zhou Minwen.

After a moment of thought, Zhou Minwen nodded. “It must be. Who else could pull off something like this? We underestimated Master Gu before, thinking she was just joking. But she really managed to eliminate the threat completely!”

“Ah Wen, we need to show our gratitude,” the manager said with a sigh. “We absolutely must hold on tightly to our connection with Master Gu.”

“Achoo!”

Gu Xicao rubbed her nose, packed up her belongings, and said to Wang Laoshi, “Uncle Wang, let’s call it an early day. I’m heading home; you should go home early, too.”

“Alright. Got plans at home?” Wang Laoshi asked casually.

Gu Xicao smiled. “It’s Xiao Yuan’s birthday today. I secretly ordered a cake to celebrate.”

“Eh? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I didn’t prepare anything!” Wang Laoshi exclaimed in surprise.

He rummaged through his pockets, pulled out a twenty-dollar bill, and handed it to Gu Xicao. “Here, take this. It’s a small gift from me. Give it to Xiao Yuan for me. I won’t intrude on the celebration.”

“Then I’ll thank you on his behalf, Uncle Wang,” Gu Xicao said, taking the money without hesitation. After expressing her thanks, she left.

She had ordered a ten-inch strawberry-flavored cake from a nearby bakery, which cost eighty dollars—a significant amount of money. Carrying the cake home, she hadn’t even knocked on the door when Lin Yuan opened it.

“Sis, you’re back,” he said.

“Yep,” Gu Xicao replied, holding up the cake. “It’s a special day today, after all.”

As she said this, she noticed a young girl standing next to Lin Yuan. The girl looked about eight or nine years old, with a neat bob haircut and an innocent, well-behaved demeanor. “Hello, big sister,” the girl greeted politely.

“Oh, is this your classmate?” Gu Xicao asked with a smile. “What a pretty little girl.”

Lin Yuan scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. “She’s my deskmate. She came over specifically to help me with my English. Her name is Zhang Jiali.”

“Jiali? What a lovely name,” Gu Xicao said warmly. “Xiao Yuan, since today is your birthday, why not invite Jiali to join us for some cake?”

“My birthday?” Lin Yuan paused, momentarily confused. After checking the calendar, he realized it was his birthday. His face flushed with embarrassment. “I-I don’t need a birthday celebration. Buying a cake is such a waste of money.”

“Well, it’s already bought, and besides, I want some cake,” Gu Xicao said, knowing her brother’s frugal tendencies. Despite her improved financial situation, Lin Yuan was still very thrifty, even saving up all the pocket money she gave him. “Also, Jiali was kind enough to help you with your homework. It’s only right to show some appreciation.”

“Big sister, this is just my duty,” Zhang Jiali said earnestly. “Our teacher told us that deskmates should help each other, and my dad said not to take advantage of others. Since your sister is back, I should be heading home.”

Lin Yuan hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Gu Xicao sighed at her timid brother. She grabbed Zhang Jiali’s hand and said, “Jiali, I was hoping you’d stay and help us finish the cake. It’s so big, there’s no way we can eat it all. Throwing it away would be such a waste. Be kind and help us out, okay? Didn’t your teacher say wasting food is bad?”