Chapter 551: Guest

As the black thunderclouds gradually moved away, the torrential rain began to ease, and wisps of faint light shone through the clouds onto the street.

Chen Ling held an umbrella in one hand and a bag of melon seeds he’d bought from somewhere in the other, walking unhurriedly to the entrance of Jinghong Tower.

Seeing the two bedraggled figures who looked like rain-beaten eggplants, a faint smile curled on Chen Ling’s lips:

“Yo, you two are still here?”

The two of them, looking at the sky that had finally cleared, had tears in their cold, numb eyes, as if they were excited to have survived a desperate situation...

Hearing Chen Ling’s voice, the two of them shuddered, wiped their tears hard, and spoke with stubborn, ferocious expressions:

“You think a little rain could drive us away? Heh... keep dreaming!”

“Let me tell you, you’ve hit rock bottom by messing with us. You’d better hurry up and go beg Brother Hong for mercy, otherwise, we’ll make sure you suffer the consequences!”

Seeing the rain clear, their dead-ash hearts reignited bit by bit. Their words carried the familiar arrogant tone as they viciously waved their baseball bats at Chen Ling.

“Is that so? Then keep up the good work.”

Chen Ling waved his hand and walked straight back into the theater.

Kong Baosheng, who had been bored, stood up immediately. Seeing the bag of melon seeds in Chen Ling’s hand, he asked in confusion:

“Mr. Lin, if you wanted melon seeds, you could have just asked me to buy them... Why go out yourself in such heavy rain?”

“I didn't know what flavors were available, and I was bored, so I just took a stroll.”

Chen Ling bought this bag of melon seeds to deceive the two at the door. After all, they were Li Ruohong’s men. He had gone out in the heavy rain and returned empty-handed, and the dance hall had just happened to run into trouble... Although Chen Ling didn't think these two idiots were that smart, it never hurt to be careful.

Chen Ling sat leisurely on the rocking chair, casually opened the melon seeds, and looked at the dance hall not far away through the drizzling rain curtain outside the door.

Today’s performance should be enough to bring the dance hall into the police’s field of vision. However, Chen Ling didn't know to what extent the police and the [Floating Life Painting] were currently suspicious of the casino. If this suspicion was still only at a shallow level and they hadn't grasped any substantial evidence, the results of today’s performance should manifest soon...

“Let the bullets fly a little longer.”

Chen Ling cracked a melon seed, tossed the shell onto the table, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

……

The next day.

Casino.

Jian Changsheng slowly sat up from his bed, walked to the vanity mirror, looked at his bloodshot, haggard eyes, and let out a helpless sigh.

Ever since the casino was targeted, he hadn't had a good night’s sleep. Every night he was on guard against a sudden attack from the [Floating Life Painting], and even in his dreams, he was fighting. A day or two would be fine, but this had been going on for a long time, making his spirit increasingly exhausted and sensitive.

This casino was a property Chen Ling had specifically left for him, and it was perfect as a Twilight Society stronghold. Moreover, there were quite a few Twilight Society members hiding here now, and Jian Changsheng didn't want the place he had painstakingly managed for half a year to be destroyed just like that.

Jian Changsheng washed his face with cold water. After regaining his clarity, he pushed the door open and walked into the living room.

At this time, two people were already up in the living room: one was the bored Heart 9, and the other was the coffin-bearer Square 10, whom he had met when the Aurora City was destroyed.

Compared to the frantic Jian Changsheng, Heart 9 was much more relaxed. According to him, if they were exposed, so be it. At worst, they’d all have a fight, and whether they could escape would depend on their own skills... For senior Twilight Society members, they had experienced this kind of so-called crisis many times and wouldn't take it to heart.

“How is Senior Bai Ye’s condition?” Jian Changsheng tilted his head and drank the cold water on the table in one gulp, then frowned and asked.

“Still the same... won’t die, but won’t wake up either.”

“It’s been so many days, and he still won’t wake up...” Jian Changsheng paused for a moment. “Perhaps we should find a doctor to take a look.”

“At this point, where are we going to find a doctor? And with so many people watching outside, once a doctor comes, they’ll probably immediately associate it with Bai Ye, whom we snatched earlier... It would be no different from exposing ourselves.”

Hearing this, Jian Changsheng let out a long sigh and paced around the room. “That is indeed the logic...”

“Don’t worry, Bai Ye isn't that easy to kill. Don’t worry about him.”

Jian Changsheng walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and frowned as he stared at the casino entrance with people coming and going... He didn't know how much time had passed, but deep confusion and bewilderment appeared in his eyes.

“Strange...”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why do I feel like there are far fewer people staking us out today?”

“？”

The other Twilight Society members were also stunned for a moment, got up to peek at the situation below from the window, and looks of confusion appeared on their faces as well.

“Indeed, half of those stakeout spots have been empty.”

“Come to think of it, there are also fewer guests in the casino today who only watch and don't play. I guess some of the plainclothes officers didn't come?”

“Could it be that they don't suspect us anymore? That shouldn't be...”

“Where did all these plainclothes officers go??”

……

Great World Dance Hall.

“Huh, quite a few guests today?”

Li Ruohong stood in the second-floor private room, looking at the seats that were more than half full below, his eyes full of surprise.

After yesterday’s events, Li Ruohong had thought it would affect the dance hall’s reputation, leading to a sharp decrease in foot traffic today. He had even prepared various activities and discounts, and invited famous singers to boost the dance hall’s popularity... But he hadn't expected that as soon as they opened today, quite a few guests had come in.

And no police officers had come to inquire, let alone search for any corpses... Looking at it this way, yesterday’s events hadn't caused as much of a stir as he had imagined?

Thinking of this, Li Ruohong felt much more relaxed. Except for the few waiters who had run away last night and his other personal bodyguard who had left, everything was the same as usual. But these waiters and bodyguards weren't important; as long as he was willing to spend money, he could get as many as he wanted, right?

Li Ruohong was in a great mood. He called the manager over and waved his hand, saying:

“Tell the guests downstairs that all consumption today is 80%... no, 70% off!”

The manager was stunned for a moment. Although he didn't understand Li Ruohong’s thinking, he nodded, not daring to say anything more.

Just as he was about to leave, as if remembering something, he turned back and took an invitation out of his pocket: “Brother Hong, the invitation for the birthday banquet from the Beidou Consortium has been sent. It’s the day after tomorrow. What do you think...”

“What do I think? What is there to think about? This is my uncle’s birthday, of course I have to go!”

Li Ruohong put the invitation away, glanced at the opposite Room 001, and had a thought. He spoke again, “Also, get me two sets of bodyguard suits in the next two days, and arrange a better car.”

“Bodyguard uniforms? Have you already scouted out new bodyguards?”

“Don’t ask what you shouldn't.”

“...Yes.”