The next time he woke up, he looked again at the familiar white ceiling. His whole body felt hurt and heavy.
"You're finally awake."
Dai Zhiqiang instinctively tried to turn his head but found himself unable to do so. Thankfully, he didn't need to look to know who was beside him.
"Boss, what about the Young Master?"
"Little Zhong made it out unscathed, thanks to you. You covered him using your body to get past the fire. I couldn't thank you enough for what you have done."
Dai Zhiqiang paused briefly. He hesitated to ask, but curiosity got the best of him. "And Senior Lin?"
"....Sadly, he couldn't make it."
Dai Zhiqiang: "...."
Lin Xiang was really gone for good. There would be no one to nag him and scold him from now on.
Dai Zhiqiang thought he hated him as much as he hated Ye Wang and Ye Huizhong. Yet, when the news of his death was delivered to him by someone else, the sadness he felt was almost numbing.
If it weren't for Lin Xiang trying to save him, he probably wouldn't have lost his life like that.
"I'm saying this just in case. Don't blame yourself," Ye Huizhong spoke firmly as if he could read his mind. "Lin Xiang died honorably in the place he chose, in a way he deemed worthy of sacrificing his life. Don't insult him by thinking it's your fault."
Dai Zhiqiang didn't know if he was trying to reprimand or console him. What would something like honor matter? Either way, Lin Xiang died and would never come back again.
"What about Huang Zhen?"
"There's been no news from him since then. However, since we couldn't find his body, it's better to assume that he's still alive somewhere."
Dai Zhiqiang sneered. That man was really as slick as a snake. There was no way he could get out of that burning mansion safely after receiving a bullet to the abdomen. Someone must have helped him.
"You got a severe burn mark all over your body. When our men found you, you were only a step away from facing hell. I can arrange a plastic surgeon for you if you want."
"No, there's no need for that." Dai Zhiqiang couldn't care less about how he looked. At this juncture, he could become a murderer or monster with a burn mark as long as he could make Huang Zhen pay for everything he did.
"Those are some vengeful eyes you got there. Are you planning to kill Huang Zhen?"
"Aren't you glad? Now we truly have the same goal in mind."
Ye Huizhong chuckled. "I guess birds of the same feather flock together, after all. You should wait another few weeks before you can get out of bed. I bet you feel stuffy, being bandaged all over like that, but deal with it."
So he couldn't move his neck because he was tightly bandaged.
"Will it be okay if I take sick leave like this? Now that Senior Lin isn't here, I'm the only one who can command the others."
"It will be a problem if the enemy attacks us at their full strength when we severely lack in manpower. But since we also dealt a big blow to them, things should calm down for now. Lin Xiang bought us this time to prepare for our next move."
"....Has the funeral already been held?"
"We held it a day after the body was found. It was a week ago."
Dai Zhiqiang didn't know he had been unconscious for a week. No wonder his whole body felt sore. "I see."
"Go back to rest. I will work you to death once you recover."
"Work, huh?" Dai Zhiqiang stared emptily at the white ceiling. "Boss, I swear I will take revenge on Huang Zhen if it's the last thing I do. I will even risk my life to do so."
Ye Huizhong's brows raised interest. "Are you making a pledge to me now? If I know you well, your words must have a deeper meaning. Tell me, what is it that you want?"
Dai Zhiqiang didn't hesitate and answered, "I want to retire and take my father someplace far away after this. Please permit me to do that."
There was silence looming in the air after he said that. Dai Zhiqiang was curious about Ye Huizhong's thoughts, but he couldn't even turn his head to see his reaction.
"Zhiqiang, your life has drastically changed after getting involved with me. I understand why you want to get away from everything. Honestly, in the short time we spent together, I have come to trust you more than I could do any other person.
Little Zhong also had grown attached to you; he treated you like you were his real brother. That's why I found it hard to let you go. If there's any way I can hold you back, please do tell me."
Dai Zhiqiang was surprised. Did the mighty and fearsome Ye Huizhong just plead to him? He had prepared for him to refuse, but not in a humble way like this.
This might be the first time he had ever heard his boss bow down to someone except for his grandson.
"I have always wondered, but why me? You didn't even act this way towards Senior Lin."
Ye Huizhong sighed. "Because you reminded me of my late son when he was young. Call this an old man sentiment or what you like, but that's my honest thought. I have always regretted what happened to your brother. Due to my greed, I robbed you of the chance to save him. I apologize."
After pleading, now he was apologizing? Dai Zhiqiang even suspected that the Ye Huizhong beside him was Huang Zhen in disguise again.
Nevertheless, he felt the need to respond genuinely to his heartfelt confession.
"Stop it. I don't want to hear words of apology for you because I will never be able to forgive you," Dai Zhiqiang said in neither a cold nor warm tone.
"You are free to think as you like, but I'm not your son and never will be one. My father's name is Dai Bolin, and someday I will take him far away from you and the people who targeted you."
Ye Huizhong smiled bitterly before bursting out in boisterous laughter. "Hahaha, I knew you would say that! You didn't give this old man a face at all. Merciless as always!"
"I need to draw the line so you won't get a wrong idea. If you are thinking of leaving Ye Wang in my care so you could drop dead, then forget it. I'm not a trash bin where you could dump your problems. Eliminate your enemies and live long for Little Zhong's sake."
Ye Huizhong was stunned for a moment. Even from their first meeting, Dai Zhiqiang never ceased to surprise him.
Even though his soul was still as fierce as always, his body couldn't win against the passage of time. If he must die, he wished to see someone beside Ye Zhong as his light beam. So at the end of his long journey, he could finally rest in peace.
But Dai Zhiqiang brazenly rejected his offer and even told him to wipe his own ass by himself. Ye Huizhong felt ashamed now for acting weak.
Giving up like that wasn't like him at all.
"Haha. Good. Very good! Let's burn our life candles to the max and see who will be the last one standing! I accept your condition!"
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