Fishing Livestream

"Awake?"

"Yeah, damn it, can't drink with you old Hu anymore, I've slept all afternoon!" Han Luofeng rubbed his back, the sofa was too soft, and the sleep was uncomfortable.

"Han bro, Little Zheng bro, afternoon, I competed with team Leng on fishing, won a float from him! Come on, let's go out to eat, my treat, and tonight the bill is covered by Hu brother's winnings!"

"Sounds good, how about team Leng? Let's call him along, have dinner tonight, can't drink baijiu, just a beer for courtesy!" Zhao Zheng chimed in.

Hu Changsheng shook his head: "I called him, but no answer! His car isn't at the club; he must have gone out for something! Losing to Xiaomin because of letting weight really got to him!"

"Then let's go out ourselves! Tonight, we eat big, Xiaomin's such a stingy guy, never treats anyone!"

"Alright!" Hu Changsheng felt complicated but still forced himself to agree.

…

Han Luofeng and Wang Xiaomin, winning the fishing competition felt good, and were organizing to go out for barbecue, while the other team members at the club didn't feel as cheerful.

In the club cafeteria, everyone was eating dinner with trays at the tables when a young lad walked over quickly.

"Did you hear? In the afternoon team Leng competed with that Wang Xiaomin in fishing, let weight and lost, even lost a float to Wang Xiaomin!"

"What? Team Leng lost? Good riddance! I paid attention when they weighed the fish, seemed about the same, team Leng should have had some advantage! No reason to lose!"

"Told you, it was letting weight that caused the loss! I asked team Hu, it's true!"

"Damn, this guy's younger than me and a master at fishing! If only I had his skills!"

Listening to team members chat about the afternoon's fishing competition while eating, inconspicuous Xiaogang sitting in the corner couldn't stop his hand from trembling as he held his chopsticks.

Don't mind Leng Xiaojun not being friendly since arriving, but Xiaogang didn't resent his captain, quite the contrary, he felt grateful.

Xiaogang and Leng Xiaojun came from the same place, getting into Tianyuan did somewhat involve Leng Xiaojun, but Leng Xiaojun was very ambitious and demanded high standards from team members, so his usual communication might seem a bit inhuman, but during meetings, never actually implemented things, always blocked by old Hu.

Previously when they were in the same team, one played the good cop, the other the bad cop, as a leading strategy, Xiaogang understood.

Zhu Lin was still recovering in the hospital after being attacked; today team Leng got offended and lost, in Xiaogang's view, Wang Xiaomin was utterly despicable.

His natural team allegiance colored Xiaogang's perspective, not as mature as Hu Changsheng's.

After dinner, Xiaogang left the cafeteria alone; normally it was free activity time in the evening, but leaving the club wasn't allowed.

Xiaogang returned to his residence, changed clothes, and sneaked over the wall to leave the club.

Stubborn and highly loyal, Xiaogang sunk into a bullheaded obsession.

Why are you still free after attacking my brother? How did you win against the captain in fishing? If I can't reclaim the dignity face-to-face, I'll reclaim justice in my way.

He overheard team members chatting earlier that captain Hu and Han Luofeng went to eat barbecue at a local renowned place, frequently visited by old Hu with team members; Xiaogang knew the location, likely there.

After sneaking out and walking a while, he quickly hailed a cab headed for the authentic barbecue.

Alighting a street away, he walked over and soon spotted Wang Xiaomin and others sitting at a table roadside.

Seeing them, Xiaogang instinctively tightened his grip on his pocket.

In the pocket, a small dagger, a self-defense weapon Xiaogang carried ever since leaving home, a cheap roadside item of tens, sharp but rarely used.

Xiaogang's first time tailing someone, but he wasn't dumb, knew better than to show instantly, patient for an opportunity for revenge.

Unluckily for Wang Xiaomin, celebrating the fishing win, mood high and cabbing here, naturally drank quite a few beers while eating skewers.

These small open-air stalls at city-rural junctions lacked toilets; relieving oneself typically happened in alleys, giving Xiaogang the chance he waited for.

From across the street, Xiaogang saw Wang Xiaomin rise and stroll to an alley to the side, gritting his teeth, Xiaogang lowered his head and followed briskly.

Wang Xiaomin was easing himself when he heard rapid footsteps behind, instinctively turning his head, saw a dark figure charging at him.

Reacting to the rush, Wang Xiaomin reflexively raised his hand to block, only to feel a chill on his right forearm, suddenly making the entire right hand go numb.

"Damn it! Zheng bro, help!" Wang Xiaomin was quite clear-headed, shouting for help while retreating, failing to step squarely, tripping over a brick landing on his butt, narrowly avoiding the shadow's further attack.

It was only a few steps away; hearing the commotion, Zhao Zheng immediately rushed over, but seeing the situation, Xiaogang dashed into the shadows at full speed.

Zhao Zheng wanted to chase but got anxious hearing Wang Xiaomin's words.

"Bro, I can't move my right hand!"

Han Luofeng used his phone's flashlight feature, illuminating Wang Xiaomin's right wrist above, slashed diagonally by a sharp weapon, blood gushing out plentifully.

"Don't panic, as long as major vessels aren't cut, we'll be fine; I'll take you to the hospital! Little Han, call 120!" Zhao Zheng grabbed Wang Xiaomin's upper arm tightly, hauling and dragging him to the roadside.

…

Half-past eleven at night, Yue Feng just returned home; hanging out with friends for barbecue and beer earlier had his head a bit dizzy.

Shirtless, heading to the washroom for a shower before resting, when suddenly the phone on the table rang.

"Fengfeng, your phone!" the buddy reminded.

"Who is it? Answer for me!"

"Little Zheng bro, answering then!"

Less than five seconds after connecting, the buddy's cup dropped with a smack onto the floor.

"Fengfeng, little... Xiaomin got stabbed in Han City, his right hand tendon seems severed!"

Usually mature despite her demure appearance, the buddy was losing composure this time, voice carrying a sob.

"What?"

Upon hearing this, soaking wet Yue Feng rushed out, grabbing the phone.

Three minutes later, hair still dripping water, Yue Feng hastily dressed and took the buddy downstairs, not in his usual small car but rolling out the buddy's big ride from the garage.

The Lamborghini sports car, like a phantom streaking through midnight city streets, cruised out of downtown onto the highway, Yue Feng unconcerned with speeding, flooring the pedal relentlessly headed for Han City.