Chapter 286

Feng Bai Jin had originally planned to play games at home tonight, but when he returned home he found that the laptop he used specifically for gaming had been pulled off the desk by the little cat Hu Zi, who was playing with the network cable.

After raising it for a month, the originally skinny, underdeveloped kitten has grown plump like an inflated balloon, become sturdy and lively, and at home seems to have endless energy; Feng Bai Jin's computer is connected to the network cable, and Hu Zi pulling on the cable even did a "swing" move, causing the laptop casually placed on the desk, worth nearly twenty thousand, to be ruined just like that.

The computer had a problem; Aunt Li said just throw it away and get a new one, but nowadays the electronics industry changes rapidly, with constant upgrades, getting a new one would be more convenient, yet Feng Bai Jin couldn't bear to part with it, so he rode his bicycle to the place that repairs computers here; anyway, he only uses this computer for games, with no other secrets, so he doesn't fear information theft.

At the computer repair shop near the school, Feng Bai Jin ran into a classmate, who, seeing that he had nothing planned for the evening, directly dragged him to Triumph for drinks.

Just now there were five people drinking here, but when Zheng Tan ran into Feng Bai Jin, the other three were preparing to go to the downstairs venue to watch the performance, and also hoping to run into some girls or the like, so that their evening would be meaningful.

Feng Bai Jin wasn't interested in the performance at the downstairs venue; he had come out just to use the toilet, but the toilet in the private room was occupied by someone full of complaints, so he didn't contend for it and instead stepped out to get some fresh air, not expecting to run into Zheng Tan.

Zheng Tan sized up Feng Bai Jin's outfit, noticing a few suspicious small black footprints on the clothing that resembled cat paw prints.

While Zheng Tan was sizing up Feng Bai Jin, Feng Bai Jin was also sizing him up. Feng Bai Jin wasn't sure whether the cat at the stairwell was the one he knew, since there were many black cats of that appearance, and besides, it was in the VIP private room area of Triumph, so he didn't recognize Zheng Tan right away; after thinking, he tentatively called out, "Hei Tan?"

Zheng Tan looked at him like he was looking at an idiot.

"Wow, it really is you!" Appearance can be similar, but the gaze can't be faked. Up to now, Feng Bai Jin has only encountered this black cat looking at him with that gaze.

"How did you end up here? Is Professor Jiao here?"

Feng Bai Jin asked two questions. Zheng Tan couldn't answer.

Staying here any longer wouldn't do, so after glancing at Zheng Tan, Feng Bai Jin headed toward his classmate's private room.

Zheng Tan followed, intending to go see the liveliness. Anyway, he'd be bored alone in the private room. Moreover, he might even get to witness an adults-only live performance.

What a shame, Zheng Tan was disappointed—the private room contained only one young person about Feng Bai Jin's age. In the not-so-large private room, a single glance could take in everything; there wasn't a single girl, what a waste—was this just drinking to drown sorrows?

Before entering the private room, Feng Bai Jin also told a waiter to let anyone looking for the cat come over here; the waiter glanced at Zheng Tan, twitched the corner of his mouth almost imperceptibly, then nodded to Feng Bai Jin with a professional smile, though he had already started complaining inwardly—there's nothing they can do about it, as the boss had instructed that as long as the cat doesn't cause trouble, it can do whatever it wants.

Zheng Tan followed Feng Bai Jin into the private room; he knew this private room wasn't as good as the ones he and Er Mao, Wei Leng usually had, because there were no dedicated private rooms here—just the VIP customer reservation type—and you couldn't see the live performance downstairs; in short, to Zheng Tan this was merely a place for chatting, drinking, and doing adults-only activities, though its advantage was quietness and good privacy.

Listening to Feng Bai Jin and the man named Yang Bo, who was drinking his sorrows, Zheng Tan learned that Yang Bo's girlfriend had already gone with her best friend to the downstairs venue to watch a show, leaving just them few guys upstairs drinking; just now another three left, so now only Yang Bo and Feng Bai Jin remain here; as for things like live performances, Zheng Tan won't get to see them today.

Hey, Feng Bai Jin, where did you pick up that cat? Yang Bo saw the black cat following them in and asked.

It's the landlord's cat; I guess it followed us here to play, someone will probably come look for it later. Feng Bai Jin said.

Yang Bo, due to his mood, didn't pay close attention to Zheng Tan. As for the card hanging on Zheng Tan's neck, if you're not someone from Triumph, few would recognize it. Triumph — from its interior waitstaff to exterior security — all have a booklet listing various member VIP cards; you don't need to memorize them to work here nowadays, because only those who are just big-headed or have only a good face but no brains get weeded out.

Not recognizing that card, Feng Bai Jin and Yang Bo both assumed Zheng Tan was just carrying a regular cat-tag-type item.

Zheng Tan jumped onto an empty single-person sofa, there listening to the two chat. Said to be chatting and drinking sorrows, actually mainly Yang Bo was venting his frustration; after hearing just a couple sentences from Zheng Tan, he could imagine the situation's development and thus predict the upcoming outcome.

Anyone who can get a private room to drink at Triumph, even if their status and background don't match Er Mao's, surely has plenty of money. As for Yang Bo, because his father has connections outside — more than one — and now even has an illegitimate child, he's currently having people look for more evidence; today he's in a bad mood, dragging a few buddies to Triumph to squander money, splashing cash for a psychological thrill. The result: upon arriving, he finds many people more impressive than him — wealthy, well-connected, and many who are both wealthy and well-connected. Summed up in one sentence, today he's "pretending to be cool only to be stepped on, showing off wealth only to be shown up," which makes Yang Bo even more unhappy, and it's no wonder he's now guzzling those bottles of high-end liquor like water.

Zheng Tan watches this guy, guessing he's learning from those big heroes on TV who drink heavily, directly blowing from the bottle; half the bottle leaks straight from his mouth. It must take a lot of heartache to do something like this.

After wasting another bottle of wine, Yang Bo set the empty bottle heavily on the coffee table, then sank into deep thought for a moment, lifted his head with a solemn face and asked Feng Bai Jin: "Feng Bai Jin, although situations like mine rarely happen in families like yours that are moderately well-off, I want to ask you something."

Zheng Tan: "……"

Moderately well-off family… Feng Bai Jin calling his family moderately well-off, the country has long since raced into the ranks of super-superpowers.

It seems Yang Bo also hasn't figured out Feng Bai Jin's family situation, or perhaps Feng Bai Jin is just really low-key in daily life.

Yang Bo still thought he'd spoken rather tactfully, not feeling he'd said anything wrong. And Feng Bai Jin didn't mind the mistaken way of addressing his name nor the somewhat inappropriate remark, and simply said: "Go ahead and ask."

Yang Bo let out a long sigh: "Feng Bai Jin, you say, when you're in your fifties nearing sixty, your hair is almost gone, your belly can hold another person, and spots start appearing on your face, you're drinking at a hotel bar when suddenly a beautiful woman less than half your age approaches, holding a hotel room key and looking for you — what's the first thing that comes to mind, or what would your first words to her be?"

"How much money." Feng Bai Jin said seriously.

Yang Bo gave a thumbs up, then lowered his head, clenched his fists and swung them twice in the air, then lifted his head with somewhat hysterical meaning: "Exactly! Ah! Obviously this woman is either not a special service provider or has ill intentions; you say how could my old man think she fell for him at first sight?! He clumsily stumbles into the trap she dug, totally deserves to be screwed! Stupid as a pig!" He paused, then added: "Thank goodness I didn't inherit his deficient intellect!"

Zheng Tan: "……"

Yang Bo had drunk too much, perhaps thinking only Feng Bai Jin could listen to his venting, so he let it all out, listing his father's faults; Feng Bai Jin could only listen, not saying much, and even if Yang Bo roped him in to curse together he wouldn't speak, because being able to curse one's father is a matter between them, and as an outsider he shouldn't interfere.

While Yang Bo was listing his father's faults, the phone resting on the coffee table began to ring.

"Your phone." Feng Bai Jin pointed at the coffee table.

Yang Bo was in the middle of his tirade, not even glancing at the phone, he waved a hand and said, "Wait till I finish."

From the sofa, Zheng Tan could see the caller ID displayed on Yang Bo's phone.

Golden Turtle?

Zheng Tan looked at the name displayed, searched his memory, and then recalled that he had heard this name when Liuba was talking on the phone to someone; at the time he thought the name was quite distinctive, so his impression was a bit deeper. As for whether that Golden Turtle is the same person, Zheng Tan couldn't say. However, that Golden Turtle seems to be in the same line of work as Liuba — a private investigator of sorts — hearing Yang Bo's earlier words, he had someone surveil his father and the people outside; thinking about it, it really could be the same person.

The phone rang, stopped, rang again, stopped again; by the time Yang Bo finished speaking and looked at his phone, it was the third incoming call.

Upon seeing the caller ID on his phone, Yang Bo immediately picked up and answered, glanced at Feng Bai Jin, didn't go to the restroom to call, just spoke from the sofa; however, after hearing just a couple sentences, his expression worsened: "Fine, I'll add money, you handle it, I'm just waiting for the result!"

After hanging up, Yang Bo slammed the phone hard onto the coffee table, "Damn it!"

It was obvious things weren't going well; Feng Bai Jin wasn't foolish enough to go over and ask.

Seeing that it was already late, Zheng Tan left their private room, walked out of Triumph, not intending to go back right away; he planned to go out for a run.

One stimulating activity Zheng Tan found was "wall-running and roof-leaping"; saying that wall-running and roof-leaping is a bit exaggerated, but relying on a cat's innate body structure and jumping reflexes, as long as he finds a suitable spot he can perform wall-running and roof-leaping.

What Zheng Tan chose were some houses around the old residential community. There are few people at night, unlike the bustling, brightly lit scene here; it's much quieter over there. The distance between buildings isn't too great; running a lap on the rooftops there, Zheng Tan doesn't fear falling; at first he was a bit hesitant, but after getting used to it he grew bolder, and running felt quite thrilling.

Under the night sky, the scattered lights of the community can't draw attention to any movement upstairs.

After running a lap, feeling his mood eased, Zheng Tan walked along the community's dark little path.

As he was walking, Zheng Tan heard a familiar voice — one he had heard just over an hour earlier.

It's that kid involved in the problematic milk tea powder case who wanted to have a good talk with Jiao Yuan and the others. (To be continued…)