Chapter 91: Wang Kai Captured
At precisely 4:30 AM, Chen Xue Wen’s phone alarm rang.
The sky was still dark, an abyss of blackness where even an outstretched hand disappeared into the void. But in just over half an hour, street vendors would start setting up their stalls.
Chen Xue Wen immediately rolled out of bed and woke up Wang Zhen Dong. The two had slept in their clothes, so they skipped dressing and quickly retraced their steps back to the adjacent room.
This way, come morning, they would once again emerge from Room 305, leaving no trace that they had actually slept in 303.
Once back in 305, Chen Xue Wen did not lie down immediately. Instead, he waited for a moment before knocking softly on the wall. A few knocks responded from the other side.
Only then did he relax—Lai Hou and Li Tie Zhu had also made it back to Room 307. His biggest worry was that they would oversleep and exit from 309, rendering his carefully laid trap useless.
As the sky gradually brightened, Chen Xue Wen knew that the window for a potential attack had passed. He finally allowed himself to sleep again.
By the time they woke up, it was past 10 AM. After tidying up, they went out for a combined breakfast and lunch.
At the arcade, Chen Xue Wen had already hired a few clerks to handle opening and closing duties. His role, along with Lai Hou and the others, was primarily to oversee the financials. Everything else required little of their attention.
Besides, the morning crowd mostly played arcade games rather than slot machines. These players rarely spent much, meaning there was no need for them to supervise.
The real action—the slot machine gamblers—would come in the afternoon.
Chen Xue Wen flipped through the Peaceful City Daily as he ate, scanning for anything of interest.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Checking the screen, he saw that it was Li Er Yong. His expression darkened. He had already instructed Li Er Yong to avoid contact unless absolutely necessary. The fact that he was calling now meant trouble.
Chen Xue Wen answered, “What’s wrong?”
Li Er Yong’s voice was tense. “Brother Wen, something happened.”
“I can’t reach Wang Kai.”
Chen Xue Wen’s heart sank.
Wang Kai was one of He Fei’s men, hired specifically to deceive Hu Qian Qian, who would then invite Brother Tong to deal with Snake.
Everything had been carefully orchestrated so that Chen Xue Wen could remain in the shadows.
If word got out, it would look like Brother Tong had been brought in by He Fei’s subordinates and his girlfriend, making Chen Xue Wen seem like an innocent bystander, even a victim.
But if Wang Kai had been captured, things could take a turn for the worse.
If he talked, he would inevitably expose Li Er Yong, which in turn would point straight to Chen Xue Wen.
The consequences would be disastrous.
Everyone would realize that Chen Xue Wen had masterminded the entire scheme to set up Snake.
His reputation, carefully crafted through this plan, would be ruined.
Instead of tarnishing Snake’s credibility, it would be his own name that got dragged through the mud.
In a worst-case scenario, Snake’s reputation would even improve, making all of Chen Xue Wen’s efforts seem like he had been working for his enemy.
Silence stretched between them.
Li Er Yong’s voice cracked with guilt. “Brother Wen, I’m sorry… Did I mess everything up?”
Chen Xue Wen frowned. “Don’t panic yet.”
“Er Yong, disappear for now. Stay out of sight.”
“I’ll tell you what to do next.”
He then added reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I have a backup plan.”
Li Er Yong exhaled in relief. “Alright!”
After hanging up, Chen Xue Wen remained quiet for a long time.
Finally, he took out his phone and sent a message to Wu Li Hong.
“Change of plans. Proceed with Plan B.”
Wu Li Hong responded quickly. “Understood.”
Chen Xue Wen deleted the message and calmly resumed his meal, as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, at a hospital in Peaceful Capital City, Wu Li Hong sat in a private patient room.
Her younger brother was fast asleep.
She walked into the bathroom and dialed a number.
After a few rings, the call connected. “Sister Hong, what’s up?”
Wu Li Hong’s voice was soft but firm. “I need another favor.”
“Seventy thousand once the job is done.”
The man on the other end gasped. “Seventy thousand?!”
“Sister Hong, last time you took my bank cards and only gave me thirty grand.”
“What exactly do you want me to do this time?”
Wu Li Hong calmly laid out the details.
The line went silent.
After a long pause, the man spoke in a low voice, “Sister Hong, you’re asking me to die.”
“That’s Snake we’re talking about. I can’t afford to mess with him!”
“Seventy grand means nothing if I don’t live to spend it!”
Wu Li Hong’s expression remained unchanged. “Fifty thousand.”
“Sister Hong, this isn’t about money—”
“Seventy thousand. My final offer.”
The man hesitated. “Sister Hong, I really can’t—this is Snake!”
Wu Li Hong took a slow breath. “Qi Qi’s first time. You took it, didn’t you?”
“And Wen Yue? Fang Ling? You had them too, didn’t you?”
“They still have evidence.”
“If they press charges, do you think you’ll get a lighter sentence than He Fei?”
The silence was absolute.
After what felt like an eternity, the man gritted his teeth. “Seventy grand. I’ll do it.”
“But I need the money as soon as it’s done.”
“And I want all the evidence gone. No one can ever use it against me.”
Wu Li Hong’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Deal.”
She hung up and immediately sent a message to Chen Xue Wen.
“It’s done.”
Back in Peaceful City, Chen Xue Wen finished his meal and headed back to the arcade.
Seeing Wu Li Hong’s confirmation message, he finally smiled.
Deleting the text, he called Li Er Yong and gave further instructions.
Once everything was set in motion, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
By the time he arrived at the arcade, the place was bustling more than ever.
Even though it was just after lunch, more than a dozen people were already at the slot machines.
Most of them were regulars from Electronic Dynasty—but now, they were here, filling Brothers Game Arcade with energy and cash.
Last night’s big winner, Brother Ling, was also present. The moment he spotted Chen Xue Wen and his crew entering, his face lit up with excitement.
“Brother Wen, Brother Hou, you made it!”
“I brought a few friends along today,” Chen Xue Wen responded casually.
The people around Brother Ling quickly greeted Chen Xue Wen and Lai Hou, their respect evident. They were all regular slot machine players and had heard plenty about Chen Xue Wen’s reputation.
Pulling out a pack of cigarettes, Chen Xue Wen smiled as he distributed them among the group. “Thank you all for coming to support me!”
Then, turning to Lai Hou, he instructed, “Give each of them 500 chips on my tab.”
The men’s eyes gleamed at the gesture, one of them hesitating slightly before saying, “Brother Wen, that’s too generous…”
Chen Xue Wen chuckled, “This is your first time coming to support me—it’s an honor. How can I, as the boss, be stingy?”
The group broke into broad smiles, feeling they had made the right choice by coming here. They couldn’t help but compare this to their experiences at Electronic Dynasty, where Snake barely acknowledged anyone outside his circle of wealthy patrons.
Here, however, Chen Xue Wen not only treated them well but carried no airs despite his growing fame. The contrast made them feel an immediate sense of camaraderie.
Seeing their expressions, Brother Ling laughed, “I told you, didn’t I? This is the right place to play!”
The others nodded in agreement. “No doubt!”
“Let’s call the rest of the crew over later!”
Before long, Chen Xue Wen’s slot machines were nearly full, his business booming and even beginning to outshine Electronic Dynasty.
Meanwhile, at Electronic Dynasty, Snake sat fuming, his face dark as he surveyed the nearly empty gambling hall. Only a dozen or so customers lingered, far fewer than the usual thirty to forty at this hour.
“Where the hell are the customers?!” he barked.
Leopard, who had long recovered from his injuries, stood by his side, his expression venomous. “Snake, I checked. They’ve all gone to Chen Xue Wen’s place!”
With a furious slam of his fist on the table, Snake cursed, “That bastard dares to steal my customers?!”
Leopard clenched his teeth. “Snake, do you want me to take some guys and wreck his place?”
Snake’s expression darkened as he pondered. Then, after a moment, he shook his head. “Not yet. Back at Chen Ji Grand Restaurant, I said I wouldn’t move against him like this. If I act now, it’ll make me look like a liar.”
Leopard was growing desperate. “But if we do nothing, he’ll take all our business!”
Waving a hand dismissively, Snake muttered, “Let’s wait for now.”
Half an hour later, a rugged-looking man strode into the room, his forehead marked by a scar that made it look like he had a third eye. This was Three Eye, one of Snake’s most trusted men.
Grinning, Three Eye announced, “Snake, it’s done!”
Snake’s eyes lit up. “Really? You found him?”
Nodding, Three Eye smirked. “I got wind that Wang Kai was hiding out in a county nearby. We caught him, and on the way back, he spilled everything—he admitted that Chen Xue Wen was the one who ordered him to do it!”
A triumphant grin spread across Snake’s face as he slammed the table. “Ha! Chen Xue Wen, I’d like to see you talk your way out of this one!”
Turning to Leopard, he commanded, “Go to Chen Ji Grand Restaurant and have them clear out the place tonight.”
Then, his expression turning lethal, he added, “And get all the guys we had last time. I’m inviting Chen Xue Wen to dinner again!”
His gaze was cold, his face murderous—this time, he had made up his mind. Chen Xue Wen would not leave Chen Ji Grand Restaurant alive.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation