Feng Jin's panicked demeanor didn't escape the notice of his subordinates, who exchanged bewildered glances. Their usually unshakable leader now seemed like a spooked rabbit.
"Yeah, I was just saying," Tang Ze shrugged casually, as if amused by Feng Jin's mounting frustration. Feng Jin's face darkened further, but Ding Feng silently lamented the unpredictability of this deliveryman-turned-killer.
Still smirking, Tang Ze pressed on: "But I'm starting to suspect you don't actually have those eleven crates of water."
"Impossible!"
"Then show us."
Feng Jin almost snapped back, "And what about you?" But then he remembered how Tang Ze had already seized Dong Fei's supplies, so he swallowed the retort.
"You lot, go fetch the water from my place."
The minions scurried off toward Building 2, leaving everyone else waiting. Meanwhile, Tang Ze let his gaze linger on Ye Qingyi, who felt the weight of his stare. Unlike other men's lecherous looks, his gaze carried an odd intensity—as though she were something rare and valuable.
Soon enough, the minions returned lugging crate after crate of mineral water. Tang Ze chuckled. "Looks like you're still short."
"From today's haul, I'm entitled to four crates, which brings the total to exactly eleven."
Tang Ze tapped his temple theatrically. "Trying to bamboozle me with faulty arithmetic? You've only got six crates here."
"That can't be right—I definitely have seven at home!" Feng Jin barked, immediately recounting them. But no matter how many times he counted, the number stubbornly stayed at six.
He turned sharply to his minions. "Did you forget one? Go check again!"
As they scrambled back, Tang Ze leaned back with a satisfied grin, even winking at Ye Qingyi, leaving her momentarily flustered.
What did he mean by that? Was he helping me? For the first time since this nightmare began, Ye Qingyi felt a flicker of hope—a glimmer of justice in a cruel world.
Moments later, the minions reappeared, one clutching a crate, accompanied by a thirty-something woman in pajamas, looking harried.
"Honey, what's going on?" she asked, confused. When her eyes landed on Ye Qingyi atop the car, realization dawned—and with it, fury.
"Boss, we brought the water, but..." One minion hesitated, unsure how to break the news.
"But what?" Feng Jin snapped.
The minion awkwardly rotated the crate to reveal its torn-open contents—only two bottles remained inside.
Feng Jin froze, stunned. "Who touched my water?!"
The woman rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Weren't you the one complaining about my smell? I took a quick shower, alright?"
"You—" Feng Jin sputtered, rooted to the spot, while murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Someone actually used water for a shower?
Tang Ze drew out a long, exaggerated "Ohhh." "So you don't have eleven crates—you have ten crates and two bottles."
"I do! I'll borrow more if I have to! Wait here!" Feng Jin started moving when a sharp gunshot rang out, echoing through the tense air. A shell casing clattered to the ground.
Feng Jin froze mid-step, eyes wide, before collapsing with blood pooling from his forehead.
Tang Ze blew lightly on the smoking barrel of his gun and remarked coolly, "Lying isn't becoming of anyone."
Beside him, Ding Feng wrestled with conflicting emotions—joy that another rival was gone, yet fear that he might be next. Cold sweat trickled down his spine. In mere minutes, Tang Ze had eliminated both Feng Jin and Sun Youqing. Did that make him the new boss—or was Ding Feng merely next on the list?
"Husband!" The woman shrieked, rushing to Feng Jin's lifeless body. Her shock quickly gave way to outrage.
"What are you all standing around for? He killed your boss! Kill him!" she screamed, pointing at Tang Ze.
Another deafening shot cut through the air. The woman crumpled onto Feng Jin's corpse, her finger still trembling accusingly. It was clear she hadn't grasped who held the real power here.
Tang Ze sighed dramatically. "Must everything resort to violence? Can't we coexist peacefully?"
His words ignited a storm of silent indignation. Who was responsible for all this bloodshed? Who fired the first shot? Yet no one dared voice these thoughts aloud. Anyone foolish enough to step forward would meet the same fate.
Ye Qingyi studied Tang Ze curiously. He exuded the cold efficiency of a killer, yet his words dripped with sarcasm. Such contradictions intrigued her—but gratitude outweighed confusion.
"Eleven crates," Tang Ze said, turning to Ding Feng. "Still want to keep playing?"
Ding Feng shook his head frantically. To continue was suicide.
"Anyone else?" Tang Ze scanned the crowd, his tone deceptively light. Dead silence greeted him; fear hung thick in the air.
With a bored shrug, Tang Ze declared, "Fine then. Let's wrap this up."
"Yes, yes! Congratulations to the boss of Building 3 for acquiring such a fine prize." An underling hurried over, handing Tang Ze the rope binding Ye Qingyi, along with her tattered clothes and phone.
Tang Ze slapped his forehead. "Ah, almost forgot—I haven't paid for the water yet. Can't freeload forever."
"I eliminated two bosses, so logically, their resources belong to me now, correct?" Tang Ze raised an eyebrow at the group.
Ding Feng forced a laugh. "Absolutely! Makes perfect sense!"
"In that case, deduct the cost from their shares. Since I'm feeling generous today, consider any surplus a gift—a round of drinks on me."
A collective thought bubbled up in everyone's minds: Never had they encountered someone so brazenly shameless, arriving empty-handed and walking away with a breathtaking beauty without lifting a finger—well, except to pull the trigger three times.
Suddenly recalling something, Tang Ze glanced at the leaderless faction. "If I were you, I'd pick a new boss pronto."
Ding Feng's lips twitched. Was Tang Ze preemptively blocking his rise to power? Watching Buildings 2 and 5 huddle together, Ding Feng's brow furrowed deeply. Just when two rivals fell, were two new ones rising to challenge him?
Damn that deliveryman, he seethed. I'll make you regret this.
Inside the elevator, Ye Qingyi ventured timidly, "Can I put my clothes on?"
Tang Ze smirked. "You look better without them. Why bother?"
"Uh..."
"All torn up anyway. Fine, go ahead. What a hassle."
"Could you untie me?"
Tang Ze clicked his tongue. Am I your personal valet now?
Even fully clothed, Ye Qingyi's appearance struck Tang Ze as oddly appealing—a kind of rugged beauty. Grateful, she murmured, "Thank you for saving me."
Tang Ze merely grunted, stepping into the elevator as the doors slid open. Ye Qingyi hesitated, biting her lip, before following.
Back at the apartment, Tang Ze clapped his hands loudly. "Wakey-wakey, kitties! We have company."
An Bai and Sun Ting stirred groggily, blinking at Ye Qingyi. Sleep vanished instantly, replaced by astonishment.
"Where did you find her?" An Bai blurted, incredulous. This neighborhood truly hid gems among its ruins.