The long-planned gang led by Fang Zhiyi naturally gained the upper hand. With Fang Zhiyi himself being exceptionally fierce, the enforcers from Xing'an quickly fell one after another. Seeing Fang Zhiyi, Xie Xiaoli clung to him as if he were her savior.
"Save me! Fang Zhiyi! It's me, Xie Xiaoli!"
Fang Zhiyi glanced at her, while Luo Chenghui also rushed forward. "Me, Luo Chenghui, your neighbor—remember?"
Fang Zhiyi looked at them, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Help me out, and I'll do whatever you say," Xie Xiaoli pleaded desperately, her eyes fixed on the towering, intimidating thug wielding a steel pipe.
Fang Zhiyi crouched down. "Times are tough for everyone these days. Don't always rely on others." He stood up to leave. "You owe money, don't you? Instead of hoping for rescue, you'd be better off figuring out how to make more."
He walked away, leaving the two in despair.
Fortunately, after Fang Zhiyi left, the Xing'an gang scattered like frightened birds, and for a while, no one came after them. When the door to the room where they were held swung open again, they were rescued.
That evening, the news reported that authorities had obtained evidence and dismantled an organization posing as a loan company but was actually a criminal syndicate. The group had long been involved in fraud, kidnapping, human trafficking, organ trading, and drug trafficking.
The boss watched the news and gave Fang Zhiyi an approving look.
"Not bad. You've learned to use others' strength against them." When Fang Zhiyi first proposed the plan to use the authorities to eliminate their biggest rival, the boss had hesitated. But now, seeing the results, he was pleased.
Fang Zhiyi waited, but no further instructions came. It seemed the boss was determined to let him take the fall and had no intention of entrusting him with more significant operations.
No matter—he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
Deploying his informant, "Little Black," Fang Zhiyi obtained details about several upcoming drug deals. Without hesitation, he passed the information to Old Yu. As the boss's inner circle was arrested one after another, suspicion grew that someone among his trusted men had betrayed him. But it couldn't be Fang Zhiyi—he wasn't even involved in the drug trade, and the boss's spies reported nothing unusual about him.
After several such incidents, the boss grew restless.
This was his retirement fund at stake!
After much deliberation, he turned to Fang Zhiyi again. Gambling on his loyalty, he revealed his drug operations, watching the young man's shocked reaction before flaunting his wealth.
Fang Zhiyi quickly agreed.
He had finally infiltrated the inner circle.
While busy with this, Fang Zhiyi didn't neglect the other drama unfolding. Xie Xiaoli and her husband had lost their home, forced to sell it to pay debts. Though their Xing'an loans were wiped out, their credit card debts remained.
The couple moved into a shabby prefab house, their days of luxury long gone.
"Only one left now," Fang Zhiyi mused, narrowing his eyes.
Wang Xiaoqiang had returned home after mandatory rehabilitation, now withdrawn and cold, even toward his doting grandmother. Fang Zhiyi knew the boy's antisocial tendencies were worsening.
Even when facing Fang Zhiyi, Wang Xiaoqiang no longer showed fear—only hatred.
But Fang Zhiyi had prepared. He spoke with Li Tiantian's parents, who had considered moving after the last incident but lacked the funds. Fang Zhiyi generously offered his company's loan services. Skeptical at first, they listened as he meticulously explained the terms, assuring them it was a legitimate loan.
Father Li gritted his teeth and agreed. The Li family moved away. Watching them leave, Fang Zhiyi smiled as Tiantian pressed a piece of candy into his hand. Then he turned and met the venomous glare from Wang Xiaoqiang, watching from behind the second-floor balcony railing.
Fang Zhiyi flashed a twisted grin and waved mockingly.
Wang Xiaoqiang's hatred burned hotter than ever. That night, he acted—piling cardboard at Fang Zhiyi's door, intending to set it ablaze. But before he could light it, Fang Zhiyi kicked the door open and sent him sprawling, followed by a brutal beating.
Neighbors, drawn by the commotion, panicked upon hearing Wang Xiaoqiang had tried to burn the place down. They called the police.
Wang Xiaoqiang was taken away again. Granny Wang wailed and pleaded, but nothing stopped it. She confronted Fang Zhiyi: "He's just a child!"
"A child? Does that excuse arson? You old hag, sleep lightly tonight. I might just pour gasoline at your door and warm myself with a fire too."
Granny Wang paled at Fang Zhiyi's menacing expression and retreated home without another word.
For attempted arson, Wang Xiaoqiang was sent to a "youth correctional facility."
Meanwhile, the Li family, settled in their new home, saw Fang Zhiyi on the news—dressed in defendant's clothes, standing in court.
"This city's most notorious criminal syndicate has been dismantled after extensive investigation. We've gathered overwhelming evidence of their crimes."
A long list of charges followed.
"Brother Fang!" Tiantian pointed at the screen.
Father Li sighed. "Fang was a good man—just took the wrong path."
Mother Li nodded. "With no family, life was hard for him."
They exchanged glances and decided to visit Fang Zhiyi in prison. His boss had been sentenced to death, while Fang Zhiyi, as an accomplice, received an eight-year term.
But at the prison, they were told Fang Zhiyi claimed not to know them and refused to see them. Father Li left money and supplies, asking the guards to pass them along.
Years later, Tiantian, now in middle school, was cornered in an alley by a group of delinquents.
"So you're the one, huh? My boss wants to date you, and you refuse?" One of them grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
Tiantian glared. "Move! Or I'll call the police!"
"Go ahead! Who do you think—OW!" The thug was kicked to the ground. He spun around, furious. "Who the hell—?"
His voice died in his throat. Behind him stood a man smoking a cigarette, flanked by seven or eight burly men.
"Who's your boss?" The man's tone was calm.
"Y-you... you..." The thug stammered.
The man gestured. "Teach him a lesson. Ask him why he isn’t in school." He paused, then pointed at the others. "All of them. Together."
He glanced at Tiantian and turned to leave.
"Brother Fang!"
Fang Zhiyi froze, then slowly looked back. "Kid, go home. You’ve got the wrong person."
Tiantian stared at his familiar silhouette, biting her lip. She couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t acknowledge her.