Lin Ran took Wu Zhishang with him without a second thought and got into the Rolls-Royce.
Wu Zhishang sighed in admiration.
"Brother Lin, you're really something. You change luxury cars like they're toys."
Lin Ran replied, "If you can handle Chen Qingtian, you can do the same. She earns enough from one acting gig to buy several of these."
Wu Zhishang blushed but still retorted, "What are you talking about? I would never betray my girlfriend. Besides, who am I to someone like Chen Qingtian? She’d never look at me twice."
Lin Ran smirked, "You never know. I never thought I’d have a day like this either."
Wu Zhishang: "..."
The car soon arrived at Jiaodong Road, a place far from the city's glamour. It was a dirty, chaotic old alley, home to migrant workers from all over the country.
Number 38 was located in a very narrow alley. Lin Ran and Wu Zhishang walked ahead, followed by Wang Bao.
When they reached the door of number 38, they found a small, warehouse-like structure with no yard and windows so dirty that nothing inside could be seen.
Just as Lin Ran was about to knock, he heard noises from inside.
"Dad! Please, don’t give my sister away. I’ll work hard to get you the money you need."
Inside, Zhang Dahai slapped Zhang Xiaolong to the ground.
"Damn it! How did I end up with such worthless kids? My leg’s broken, and you two didn’t even come back to see me. I had to send someone to bring you here."
"Boss Wang will be here soon. That girl is leaving today, no matter what."
Amidst the faint sound of a girl crying, there was also an eerie laughter.
Without hesitation, Lin Ran kicked the door.
With a loud "bang," the door didn’t budge.
Lin Ran awkwardly scratched his head and looked at Wang Bao, who was trying hard not to laugh.
"Mr. Lin, let me handle this," Wang Bao said.
Lin Ran nodded, and with one kick, Wang Bao sent the door flying open.
Inside, a man in a wheelchair glared furiously at the broken door and shouted, "Who the hell dares to kick my door?"
Then he saw two young men and a burly man entering the room.
As soon as they stepped inside, Lin Ran, Wu Zhishang, and Wang Bao were all stunned.
Lin Ran realized he had underestimated human depravity—and the madness of a scumbag.
He hadn’t understood before why Zhang Xiaolong, a young man, could be controlled by his father. Now he saw it clearly.
There were four people in the room.
Zhang Dahai in the wheelchair.
Wait, Lin Ran recognized him.
Wasn’t he the guy who got his leg broken at Brother Dao’s gambling den last time?
In his past life, it was also this man who betrayed Wei Xiang, leading to Wu Zhishang losing his legs. What a coincidence.
Besides Zhang Dahai, there was Zhang Xiaolong, kneeling on the floor.
When Zhang Xiaolong saw Lin Ran, he was shocked but then relief washed over his face. He knew he was saved.
Apart from them, there was a middle-aged woman with sunken eyes and a skeletal frame, chained to an iron pipe. She was squatting on the ground, inhaling something and giggling foolishly.
Lastly, there was a frail-looking girl, about four or five years younger than Lin Ran, with delicate features. She was also chained to the same iron pipe, her eyes hollow and filled with despair. It was hard to imagine such a youthful, pretty face bearing such a lifeless expression.
The two women looked like slaves.
Zhang Dahai clearly recognized Lin Ran too. Last time, Lin Ran had been with Brother Dao, likely a guest of his.
Pointing at Lin Ran, Zhang Dahai stammered, "You... you... you..." but couldn’t finish his sentence.
Zhang Xiaolong immediately turned to Lin Ran and kowtowed.
"Boss, please save my sister. I’ll do anything to repay you, even if it means being your servant for life."
Zhang Dahai laughed.
"So you’re a boss, huh? Well, that makes things easier. If you can outbid Boss Wang, the girl is yours."
Lin Ran narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath.
In his mind, Zhang Dahai was no different from Lin Tianba.
Both were scumbag fathers.
And now he wanted to sell his daughter?
"Where’s the key?"
Zhang Dahai smirked.
"Show me the money, and I’ll give you the key."
Without another word, Lin Ran kicked Zhang Dahai, sending him and his wheelchair crashing to the ground.
If he couldn’t kick open the door, he could at least kick down a cripple.
"Kid, I don’t care who you are, but you’ve messed with the wrong person," Zhang Dahai growled.
At that moment, a pot-bellied middle-aged man appeared at the door, flanked by two thugs.
"Zhang Dahai, what’s going on here? I thought you had the goods ready for me."
Zhang Dahai quickly said, "Boss Wang, don’t misunderstand. I don’t know where these guys came from. Just give me the money, and the girl is yours."
Boss Wang glanced at the girl in the room and grinned lecherously. He had been eyeing Zhang Xiaonuan for a long time, manipulating Zhang Dahai to get his chance.
Boss Wang walked into the room, tossing a black plastic bag filled with money at Zhang Dahai’s feet. He then slowly approached Zhang Xiaonuan, completely ignoring Lin Ran and the others.
Zhang Dahai, still on the ground, didn’t bother getting up and started counting the money from the bag.
Boss Wang cooed, "Oh, Xiaonuan, what’s wrong? Come with Uncle Wang. I’ll take good care of you. My bed is big and warm."
Zhang Xiaonuan’s eyes were filled with despair. She had already decided to kill herself at the first opportunity rather than be humiliated.
"Do you really think you can ignore me like I’m nothing?"
Lin Ran’s voice echoed coldly.
Both Boss Wang and Zhang Dahai turned to look at him. Zhang Dahai couldn’t help but laugh.
"Haha! Kid, do you even know who Boss Wang is? He’s the king of Jiaodong Road."
Boss Wang looked at Lin Ran and the two young men, along with the burly man behind them, and sneered.
"Get rid of them."
At his command, the two thugs moved forward. They were professional enforcers, working for Boss Wang and doing all sorts of evil deeds over the years. The neighbors were too afraid to speak out.
Lin Ran thought to himself, "This old bastard has some nerve, playing these twisted games."
Lin Ran stepped outside, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.
"Wang Bao, I’m just going to smoke this one cigarette."
Wang Bao understood. Mr. Lin was giving him the time it took to finish one cigarette to deal with everyone inside.
Wang Bao blocked the two thugs, and soon the sound of fists hitting flesh filled the room—thud after thud.
Lin Ran leaned against the wall and took another drag.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Wu Zhishang teased, "Brother Lin, if you can’t smoke, why pretend?"
Lin Ran chuckled, "You know I’m faking it, and yet you still call me out?"
Wu Zhishang asked, "Brother, is the guy you brought really capable?"
Lin Ran put a finger to his lips and said, "Listen. Do you hear any more noise from inside?"
Wu Zhishang was stunned.
"That fast?"