---

“I have enough to last you a lifetime…”

“I don’t want it.”

It was only at this moment that I realized—he was preparing to dump me.

“Why can they follow you, but I can’t?”

“Don’t you trust me? Do you think I’m a latecomer, a traitor?”

“Alright, Zhou Shaobo, then take a good look—who is more willing to risk their life for you, me or your other men?”

Saying this, I started to put my hand into the continuously running tea leaf mixer beside us.

In that instant, my heart was pounding at full speed. I had even thought about how to report a workplace injury if my hand really got mangled.

But then, in a flash, the man rushed over and pinned me to the ground.

That was the first time I saw him get angry.

“Goddamn it, Zhou Lin! Do you even realize whose body you’re playing with?”

“Can you stop messing around?”

“How could I ever let you join me? Do you know what I’m doing?”

“Do you know it could cost your life?”

His voice was almost frantic as he asked.

But I knew very clearly in my heart.

Of course, I knew what you were doing.

I came here precisely to make sure you lose your head for it.

But what I said out loud was:

“Brother, let me help you.”

“I’m already a mess, my life is ruined.”

“You might as well keep me, let me be your burden for life.”

---

7.

Zhou Shaobo never realized I was an expert at emotional manipulation.

When it came to making a scene, he couldn’t outmatch me.

Maybe feeling helpless, he slowly began letting me into his business.

Saturday night, they planned to raid the nightclub in the south of the city.

This was my first task—

Lead a group to kick down the nightclub door and smash everything in sight.

Before we left, Zhou Shaobo squeezed my wrist.

“Skinny arms and legs.”

“Do you even know how to fight?”

…

I wanted to tell him I ranked top at the police academy, capable of taking down a dozen like him.

But in the end, I just grinned at him.

“Brother.”

“Just watch.”

---

8.

As night fell, the city seethed with an uneasy scent of blood.

I led the charge, kicking down the front door of the enemy headquarters.

It quickly turned into a full-blown gang fight.

This was the first time I’d seen real violence—people wielding machetes and hacking each other. It was nothing like the brawls we had at the academy.

Several times, I barely dodged fatal blows, stumbling around in panic.

Suddenly, I heard someone shouting my name.

Instinctively, I looked up.

Just then, I was shoved, tumbling out of the street.

“You wanted me to watch you, right?”

“Watch you get yourself killed?”

It turned out, just moments earlier, if Zhou Shaobo hadn’t pushed me out of the way, that machete would’ve sliced through my carotid artery, turning me into a human blood fountain.

Now, the man who saved me let out a pained grunt.

…

Bright red blood darkened his clothes.

He wasn’t supposed to be here, but he took a hit for me.

As I stood there, I thought:

You better not die.

I’m here to send you to jail, not to hell.

“Why are you standing there? Run.”

“Damn it, Zhou Lin, I actually believed in your nonsense.”

“You should’ve stayed at home like a good boy.”

“…”

Annoyed, he pushed me away, just like when we were kids and he’d yell at me for getting bullied.

“You’re useless, get out of the way. I’ll beat them up.”

But unfortunately, adult gang fights aren’t child’s play.

As the police sirens blared, that thought crossed my mind.

---

9.

This area was remote, too remote.

The cops showed up unnaturally fast.

It was obvious someone tipped them off.

Both gangs scattered like panicked rats.

But even so, many were caught.

Zhou Shaobo and I escaped, but his men suffered heavy losses—not just physically, but in terms of manpower and influence.

It was clear the police’s operation was a huge success.

In the car, I bandaged his wound.

He reached out, ruffling my short hair in a playful yet restless manner.

“Lin, without me, you’d be dead today.”

I averted my gaze. He really was something—he didn’t even flinch as iodine soaked into his wound.

“I’m a good fighter.”

“I won’t be so scared next time.”

I tied an ugly little bow on his bandage and responded.

He tilted his head, his dark eyes locking onto mine, then he suddenly smiled.

“Lin.”

“I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”

“This escape route we used today, I only told you about it.”

“But…”

“The cops still managed to block it perfectly.”

His hand lifted my chin, his rough fingers stirring something strange within me.

“So, tell me…”

“Do you really think I’ll give you another chance?”

“Little traitor?”

---

10.

“…”

I looked him straight in the eyes.

Then I shook off his hand.

“Don’t fucking touch me.”

“You suspect me? Zhou Shaobo, how could you call me a traitor?”

“Do I not look like your loyal dog yet, huh?”

I don’t know why, but in that moment, anger surged through me.

For a second, I even convinced myself of how loyal I was to him.

The man stared at me, saying nothing.

But I knew very well what the bulge in his pocket was.

If he got annoyed, he could pull it out and send me to the afterlife in an instant.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“Get out.”

Huh?

I didn’t react, because the car was still speeding at 80 kilometers per hour.

He suddenly opened the door and threw me out.

As I tumbled painfully across the ground, I finally came to my senses, counting my fractures as I stumbled to my feet.

The car was already far away, leaving me nothing but its exhaust fumes.

I kicked the tree next to me.

“Damn it.”

I was totally innocent.

Because from start to finish, Zhou Shaobo’s escape route—

I never reported it to the police.

---

11.

I knew Zhou Shaobo too well.

This guy was definitely setting me up.

All that talk about brotherhood—he’s exactly the kind of person who fears betrayal from those closest to him.