Chapter 98

As night fell, a streak of lingering light remained on the horizon.

One of them grinned widely, showing his white teeth, while the other smiled faintly, his lips curling up silently.

Both fell silent, leaning against the car, smoking one puff at a time, letting the night breeze brush their faces. The two men's demeanor was unusually calm, their gazes drifting towards the distant night sky, their thoughts returning to those passionate and fiery years, the years of intrigue and the underworld.

Inside the car, Qiao Yun remained motionless, turning her head to look at the two men outside. She didn't know why these two men had suddenly become quiet, but she sensed an atmosphere she couldn't understand, something far from her, something she would never experience, the atmosphere between real men!

"Jiangzi, how have you been?" Lin Zixian flicked the cigarette butt away and asked calmly, looking into the distance.

"Forgetting the world, how many flowers fall in dreams, good to eat, good to sleep, isn't it good?" Yuan Gang laughed and turned his head, looking at his friend, or rather, his brother. He hadn't expected to meet again here and subconsciously touched his lame leg.

Before his leg was injured, due to his parents getting old, he had planned to retire and return to China. However, he wanted to make one last big score before retiring.

So he and Romm and others accepted the employment of the Sierra Leone army to seize a diamond mine. They were surrounded by a large number of rebel forces, and a bloody battle ensued. All the team members were trapped and unable to break through the encirclement, facing the danger of total annihilation at any moment.

In a critical moment, everyone thought of seeking help from Caesar, who had initially opposed taking this job. After calling Caesar, he didn't say any nonsense, just calmly said, "Try to hold on, I'll think of a way!"

No one could have imagined that this man would somehow get a powerful fighter jet and fly a long distance to rescue them. He fought fiercely in the air, taking down three armed helicopters on the spot, and used the machine guns and missiles to clear a path on the ground, helping everyone break through the encirclement and find a way to survive. After confirming everyone's escape, he gracefully flew away.

The scene of that fighter jet cutting through the smoky sky left a lasting impression on Yuan Gang, often appearing in his dreams.

If Lin Zixian hadn't appeared in time to rescue him, the already injured Yuan Gang might never have returned, as Romm had already ordered the injured and burdensome team members to be abandoned, which was a matter of life and death.

"I also go online to keep up with the underground world. I heard that the old timers have all retired, and the International Freelancers have officially organized, with Romm becoming the new leader?" Yuan Gang asked softly.

Qiao Yun, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't help but move closer to the window. Unfortunately, Yuan Gang's voice was very soft, like a murmured memory, and she only caught a few words, not understanding their meaning.

Lin Zixian 'hmm'ed, acknowledging it, but didn't say more on the topic. He patted Yuan Gang and said, "There's someone in the car, let's talk while I ask for your help."

"Someone? Who?" Yuan Gang was taken aback, thinking an old acquaintance had come with Lin Zixian. He quickly turned and peered through the window.

He was shocked to see a woman inside the car, pointing and exclaiming, "She... the Queen Bee! How is this possible?"

Qiao Yun's eyes flickered. This was the second time she had heard someone call her the 'Queen Bee.' She wondered what it meant and what it had to do with her, her eyes filled with doubt.

"Stop talking nonsense!" Lin Zixian dragged Yuan Gang to the side.

In the corner, the two men leaned in, gesturing and whispering. Qiao Yun could vaguely see Yuan Gang's uncertain gaze occasionally directed at her.

After discussing, Yuan Gang nodded and said, "Got it, follow me." He turned and led Lin Zixian to a nearby corridor.

As they climbed the stairs, they suddenly heard the sound of vegetables being stir-fried in a hot pan. Lin Zixian paused, staring at a room behind the stairs where a little boy, just learning to walk, was holding onto the wall.

"Anping! Don't run around," a young woman shouted, running out and picking up the little boy, her body covered in cooking oil.

Turning, she saw the two men on the stairs, her eyes filled with confusion, as she had never seen them before. The little boy, however, called out to Yuan Gang in a baby voice, "Daddy, pick me up."

Lin Zixian was stunned. Yuan Gang jumped down the stairs, despite his large size and lame leg, still moving nimbly.

He picked up the little boy and smiled at Lin Zixian, "Brother Xian! This is my son, Yuan Anping." He then pointed to the plump, ordinary-looking woman, "My wife, Liu Chunlan."

Lin Zixian quickly walked over and nodded at Liu Chunlan, smiling, "Sister-in-law, I'm Lin Zixian, an old friend of Gangzi's."

Although Yuan Gang called him Brother Xian, he was actually older, so calling her sister-in-law was appropriate.

"Hello," Liu Chunlan smiled and nodded, somewhat reserved.

Yuan Gang handed the child back to his wife and sent them off with a few words.

Yuan Anping, Anping... Lin Zixian glanced at the little boy, realizing that Yuan Gang had a family. If he had known, he wouldn't have come to disturb him.

"Jiangzi, forget it, I can handle this small matter. I'll visit you another time," Lin Zixian patted Yuan Gang's shoulder and turned to leave.

Nothing in life is foolproof. If something happened to Yuan Gang, he couldn't face his family.

"Brother Xian!" Yuan Gang grabbed his arm, turned around, and laughed, "I haven't moved my bones in a long time. Since it's a small matter and you're already here, how can I not join in the fun? That would be too inconsiderate." He patted his lame leg, "Do you think I'm useless because of my leg? Don't worry, I can still run and jump, and I won't let you down."

Lin Zixian shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Jiangzi, you know that's not what I mean."

"If you still consider me a brother, don't say that." Yuan Gang laughed, grabbed the stair railing, and leaped up the stairs, moving lightly. He walked briskly upstairs.

Lin Zixian was speechless and silently followed him up...

When they came down, Yuan Gang ran to the repair shop and quickly worked on his pickup truck.

Lin Zixian quickly got into the car, reversed, and turned around, speeding out of the repair shop and heading back the way they came.

As he got into the car, Qiao Yun noticed a new men's pin on Lin Zixian's chest. What she didn't see was a small device in his left ear.

Holding the steering wheel with one hand, he dialed Hong Tao's number with the other, putting the phone to his mouth, "Hong Tao, where are you? ... Head to the western suburbs to meet us!" He hung up after getting a response.

About ten minutes later, Lin Zixian parked the car at the fork leading to the abandoned fertilizer plant and turned to Qiao Yun coldly, "Get out!"

Qiao Yun didn't understand but got out of the car as instructed.

As soon as they stood at the fork, a convoy arrived and stopped in sequence. Lin Zixian called out the bodyguard from the bulletproof car, instructing him to drive the BMW back to the Qiao family villa. He then had Qiao Yun get into the bulletproof car.

The convoy turned around and quickly returned the way they came.

About ten minutes later, a pickup truck roared up, the engine sounding like a sports car. No one would have thought someone would modify a pickup truck like this, whether it was low-key or not.

The pickup truck and the bulletproof car drove side by side at high speed, like a synchronized dance.

A hurried voice came from the front of the bulletproof car's walkie-talkie, "Mr. Lin, be careful, there's something strange about that pickup truck!"

"It's fine!" Lin Zixian grabbed the walkie-talkie and replied, then hung it up.

The window of the bulletproof car slowly lowered, and the window of the pickup truck also lowered, revealing the short-haired Yuan Gang.

"Soft laughter, bringing warmth to me, you inject joy into me. Softly saying, the long road is almost over, finally walking through the bright sunny day..."

The theme song of the movie "A Better Tomorrow," "When We Were Young," drifted from the lowered window of the pickup truck, cutting through the fierce wind between the two cars, and entered the bulletproof car.

The two men driving side by side turned their heads to look at each other, both expressionless, and nodded in unison.

"Qiao Yun, give me the box under your seat," Lin Zixian said, looking in the rearview mirror.

Qiao Yun was slightly startled. She knew the box contained spare guns and ammunition, but didn't think much of it. She bent down and dragged out the box. Being trained in taekwondo, she had some strength and pushed the box forward.

Lin Zixian grabbed the box and, without a word, threw it out the window, accurately landing it in the pickup truck.

Yuan Gang caught it and placed it on the passenger seat, tapping the box twice and giving a thumbs-up through the window.

The windows slowly closed, and the pickup truck's engine roared even louder, its speed increasing. It quickly separated from the bulletproof car and sped past the convoy, disappearing into the night.

After the bulletproof car's window closed, Qiao Yun, who had been watching the silent drama, finally couldn't help but ask, "Who is he?"

"Friend!" Lin Zixian's eyes flashed with a deep, intense light, his face resolute as he looked ahead, "A friend who can trust his back in the midst of danger!"