Chapter 112: Surprise Turns to Shock

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Da Fei said that Li Momo was very harsh to everyone, but Mo Fei felt that although Li Momo appeared fierce, he never sensed any real malice. He was completely the opposite of Da Fei. After learning about the shady dealings under Da Fei’s command, Mo Fei could somewhat understand Li Momo’s purpose. The intention was to scare off the younger crowd with a fierce demeanor. Truly, one had a kind face but a wicked heart, while the other had a stern face but a kind heart. Mo Fei didn’t know why Li Momo had made such a choice. Perhaps she had her own hardships, unable to escape but unwilling to see others get involved. Or maybe Mo Fei was simply mistaken. Many possibilities existed, but none were matters he could intervene in.

While talking to him, Da Fei subtly probed into his background, family, and work situation. He was an old hand, skillfully using storytelling to guide the conversation without asking directly. Without suspicion, Mo Fei might have inadvertently revealed more than intended. He was still thinking about Li Momo and the youths. Li Momo was doing what he also wanted to do. The girl was braver than him.

Seeing Mo Fei distracted, Da Fei suddenly laughed, “Still thinking about Momo?”

“Momo isn’t the prettiest, but she’s definitely the most charming,” Da Fei said, glancing toward Li Momo grilling meat. “A few of the guys who came here have a crush on her. Honestly, I wonder if they’re masochists.”

Forget it. Whether or not they were masochists didn’t matter; Mo Fei definitely wasn’t. Li Momo’s intention was to scare them off, not to encourage their perversity. Throughout the night, Li Momo was cursing all around, Da Fei played the peacemaker, and Mo Fei quietly kept to himself. When the party ended, Da Fei didn’t ask him to stay nor set up a next meeting.

When Long Er came to pick him up, he found no bugging or tracking devices on Mo Fei. “He’s given up on you,” Long Er concluded. “You’re hard to fool; Da Fei realized you’re a tough nut to crack, so he abandoned the idea of turning you into an ally.”

“Should I thank him for his recognition then?” Mo Fei sighed. “Last night was an eye-opener; it turns out not everyone in their group is rotten.”

“You mean Li Momo?” Long Er pursed his lips. “Don’t get your hopes up. Li Momo was among the first batch Da Fei converted.”

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“They couldn’t even find her past; the name Li Momo itself was changed later. And she’s not exactly Da Fei’s subordinate, more like a liaison.”

Mo Fei pondered, “You mean Li Momo is a liaison between another faction and Da Fei?”

“Yes, and this Li Momo has blood on her hands.”

Long Er started packing his things.

“Wait, what are you doing?”

“Leaving here for the next place,” Long Er said seriously. “If we linger, Da Fei might notice and see it as a provocation.”

He opened his phone to a movie ticket page, showing Director Wang’s film, The Great Escape. “Although your role isn’t big, you’re still a potential risk.”

“The poster doesn’t even have me,” Mo Fei muttered quietly.

“If your face were on the poster, I’d have had to rescue someone last night.”

Long Er was unmoved. “Better safe than sorry. Let’s go, superstar. Or maybe I can take you to see how poppies are grown.”

“That’s even more dangerous...” Mo Fei could never understand Long Er’s definition of danger and safety. Did carrying a gun into a poppy field make it safe? No. It had nothing to do with guns; a poppy plantation was never a safe place.

“No one dares cause trouble in the fields. That’s the consensus,” Long Er warned. “If anyone messes with the plantation, from the elders in the Myanmar community to three-year-old kids, no one will let them off.”

“Poppies are their life and their money.”

This symbiotic relationship with poppy cultivation was twisted but longstanding. Again, profit drives everything, even to the point of risking lives.

Mo Fei shook his head helplessly. “Interesting. I read about this theory in Das Kapital.”

“Das Kapital? What’s that?”

“It’s a book I saw in a dream.” Mo Fei stood and headed out.

Long Er, having packed everything, stood and asked, “Where are you going?”

“To say goodbye.”

And maybe see if he could rescue someone. At this point, saving even one was worth it.

When Mo Fei arrived at the bar, the warm and cozy atmosphere remained, only now with louder laughter and chatter.

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“Are you here looking for someone?”

“Who? If you tell Brother Fei, maybe he can help. Fei is well-connected in Yun City.”

“Why isn’t she speaking? Shy, maybe?”

He passed through the front hall to the fire pit area, and among the crowd, he immediately spotted the most conspicuous and least expected person here.

“Xiao Ji?” Mo Fei could hardly control his expression.

Ji Xingyu approached him like a savior and whispered, “Finally found you.”

Da Fei sat near the door, surprised as he looked at them. “So you were looking for Xiao Fei.”

Mah, carrying heavy bags, was also surprised. “So you really know Brother Mo? That motorbike driver wasn’t lying.”

“This really is the center of Yun City. Every outsider passes through here at some point.”

Zhong Yan wore a hat, his head bowed, saying nothing.

“Since you all know each other, why not sit and talk?” Da Fei invited. “It’s fate, after all.”

Mo Fei raised a hand to refuse outright. “No need. They’re here to discuss work with me. You guys talk; we won’t disturb.”

At once, Zhong Yan stood.

Mah tried to protest, “I think it’s pretty lively here—”

“It’s pretty hot,” Zhong Yan half-pushed him out. “Go outside and talk. We don’t want to hold up their business.”

Ji Xingyu hurriedly squeezed out as well.

“Don’t rush,” Da Fei stood. Several people who looked like customers blocked the doorway, their expressions hostile.

“I said don’t rush,” Da Fei chuckled behind them. “Mo Fei? Actually, I quite like Director Wang’s movies. Think you could get me his autograph?”

Mo Fei closed his eyes, sensing trouble.

Mah hadn’t yet grasped the situation, or perhaps he had but couldn’t believe it, nervously laughing, “Getting an autograph is easy. How about we finish our work first and talk later?”

“Later?” Da Fei turned and waved to the young men. “Take the newcomers to the back. Don’t scare them.”