Kill Me In The Last Minute (GL) - Chapter 7

“I’ve waited three years for this chance—not to prove I’m better than others, but to prove that what I lost, I’ll take back!”

The TV was playing a cop-and-robber movie. Luo Qiying and Shen Peng sat down on the sofa. Su Zhaoyin placed a bowl of freshly cut fruit on the coffee table. In the living room, Mu Bai was pretending to be a character from the movie, running around with a foam toy gun, shouting, “Sir, copy that!”

Su Zhaoyin took her eyes off Mu Bai and sat down on a single armchair. She looked at the two guests and apologized, “I’m sorry if she startled you. She had a nightmare last night, which is why she might’ve acted out earlier.”

“It’s totally fine. She’s your little sister, right? She’s got a lot of energy—kind of like a little boy,” Luo Qiying smiled as she glanced at Mu Bai, who had just tossed the toy gun into the bedroom like a grenade.

Su Zhaoyin nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her fair face. “Yes, her name is Mu Bai.”

“So is her full name Su Mu Bai?” Shen Peng asked.

Su Zhaoyin shook her head. “No, just Mu Bai. That’s what I’ve always called her.”

“I see. Oh, and you don’t have to keep calling us ‘officer’ this and ‘officer’ that. I’m Luo Qiying, and he’s Shen Peng. But you’ve got to keep our identities a secret,” Luo Qiying said with a playful wink.

Su Zhaoyin chuckled. “Then please just call me Zhaoyin.”

Luo Qiying’s eyes wandered again to the girl group posters on the wall. She looked back at Su Zhaoyin and teased, “Alright then, beautiful fairy sister Zhaoyin.”

Zhaoyin nearly choked on her fruit from laughing at that. The two quickly hit it off and fell into an easy conversation.

Shen Peng, surprised by how well they were getting along, checked the time and turned his attention to the TV. He got caught up in the movie and started muttering excitedly, “The boss is coming! The boss is coming!” Just as he was about to poke a piece of pear with a toothpick, someone snatched it from his hand. He looked up—it was Mu Bai.

With the toothpick dangling from her mouth, her youthful face suddenly took on a mischievous air. But her expression was serious and focused. She said in a low voice, mimicking the film, “Officer, I haven’t been the boss in a long time.”

Shen Peng froze. Su Zhaoyin and Luo Qiying both looked over. Luo Qiying’s eyes sparkled—Mu Bai was quoting the exact lines from the movie playing behind her. Su Zhaoyin’s fingers sank into the apple in her hand. She stared at Mu Bai, momentarily dazed. But soon, she masked her surprise and calmly said, “Mu Bai, don’t bother Captain Shen.”

Shen Peng quickly waved it off, saying it was fine.

At her sister’s words, Mu Bai’s serious face immediately melted into a bright grin. She took the toothpick out of her mouth and tossed it in the trash, then hopped over to Su Zhaoyin’s side. “Got it, got it! Sorry, Uncle Policeman!”

Luo Qiying, now thoroughly charmed, said to Mu Bai, “I didn’t know you liked doing impressions! Can you imitate me sometime too?” Her deep dimples made her look extra friendly and sweet.

“If sister says yes, then Mu Bai will do it!” Mu Bai leaned against Su Zhaoyin like a little koala.

Su Zhaoyin ruffled her hair and gave Luo Qiying an apologetic smile. “She’s always like this. I hope she didn’t bother you too much.”

“Mu Bai is adorable. And so pretty, too,” Luo Qiying praised warmly. But Mu Bai didn’t seem too interested in compliments about her looks.

Just then, the phone rang. It was a call from Fu Bin. Shen Peng picked it up, and after answering, he turned to Luo Qiying and said, “Qiqi, time to go.”

Luo Qiying knew that meant their next task was starting.

Su Zhaoyin glanced at the time. “I have a themed class meeting for dance this afternoon. I should head to campus now and finish preparing my notes.”

“Where do you teach, Zhaoyin-jie?” Luo Qiying asked.

“Southwest Hai Cheng University in Yucheng.”

“We’re heading toward Qingjiang Dock, so we can drop you off at the university gate,” Shen Peng offered.

Zhaoyin didn’t refuse. “Then I’ll gladly accept your kindness.”

Mu Bai puffed up her cheeks and pouted. “Is sister going to dance again?”

Zhaoyin gently pinched her soft cheeks. “I’ll be back soon. You just have to be a good girl while I’m gone, okay?”

Mu Bai blinked and let go of her. She nodded seriously.

“Let’s head out then,” Shen Peng said, walking to the door. As they reached the elevator, Luo Qiying picked up Mu Bai’s face in her hands and gave her a big kiss. “Next time, Super Pretty Qiqi-jie will visit again and bring you some meat to eat!”

Just as the three reached the elevator, Su Zhaoyin remembered something. “Please wait a moment,” she said, then turned back.

She opened the apartment door and saw Mu Bai sitting on the floor, facing the entrance, hugging her knees with her head resting on them. When she heard the door open, she looked up and gave a silly smile. “Mu Bai will wait for sister to come home, just like always. Go dance without worry.”

That sentence made Su Zhaoyin’s nose sting. Over the past five years, she’d hardly let Mu Bai leave the house. She stepped forward, bent down, and reached out her hand. “You… why don’t you come to school with me this time? But you have to promise to behave.”

The smooth floor reflected both of their shadows. Sunlight streamed in through the window, highlighting the fine fuzz on Mu Bai’s cheeks—soft and warm.

Mu Bai grinned dumbly and took her sister’s hand. “Okay. Mu Bai will listen to sister.”

In the basin region, plains, hills, and low mountains spread out in layers. Numerous small rivers scattered or converged through the mountain streams and across the land, eventually flowing into the midsection of the Xueyang River. Some of these natural landscapes had become scenic spots where people could take photos, sketch, and enjoy the view. As fishing boats passed through narrow mountain gorges, the boatmen often sang loudly to each other. Their bold, echoing voices bounced off the cliffs, drawing curious looks from tourists on the dams.

A cargo ship sounded its horn, prompting the fishing boats on both sides to stop singing and steer out of the way. On the deck of the cargo ship, aside from the crew, stood a young man in a white suit. He wore a black tie and black leather shoes, and he was casually fiddling with a model flintlock pistol. On his thumb was an emerald thumb ring, scratched with a few old marks. His face, which had a handsome but mature look, was darkened at the corner of one eye. His tanned skin looked oily under the sunlight.

“Ah Deng,” the young man called to the attendant who had been standing beside him the whole time.

“Yes, Mr. Lin,” Ah Deng bowed his head slightly, waiting for instructions.

Mr. Lin reached out his hand, and Ah Deng handed him a white handkerchief. After wiping the sweat from his face, Lin looked toward the natural beauty on one side of the gorge—the impressive ridges, towering cliffs, and the famous “Welcoming Pine” growing out from the rock face.

“You think people in ancient times ever hid in places like this during war just to win a battle?” he asked.

Caught off guard by the off-topic question, Ah Deng hesitated. He looked at the steep cliffs and jagged rocks, then slapped his own forehead and said, “Pfft, hiding in a place like this? You’d die before the enemy even showed up. Just look at how steep it is—people probably fell to their deaths or got washed away by floods all the time.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Lin replied calmly. “If you’re bound to lose, then you’re the one who’s going to die. But if you’re sure you can crush the enemy, why worry whether you’re standing on gravel or quicksand?”

As he spoke, the cargo ship passed by a tourist viewing area. On the front-right side of the ship was a clear commercial logo—“MAXL”—and a string of serial numbers.

MAXL, the Lin Family Consortium, was co-founded by Max Varnolin of Fangsheng in the Ao Hua continent (to the west of Hualun Continent) and his wife, Lady Noah. It was a household name across Ao Hua. Rumor had it the Lin family once pressured a mayor to change his pet project—“Garden Avenue”—into a major highway and had openly opposed backward government policies. Their business spanned multiple sectors. In 2001, they entered the Amu Kingdom market in northern Hualun and achieved major success. Soon, MAXL swept across the continent, setting up companies with local partners in places like Canglang, Hanming City, and the Diwa Kingdom. They even began eyeing the entertainment industry.

Everything was going smoothly—until five years ago, when their Diwa-based company was caught for illegal operations. It faced heavy sanctions and had to withdraw completely from the Diwa market. Since then, any Lin family personnel entering or leaving Diwa were subject to strict inspection.

The young man playing with the flintlock was Lin Peichuan, one of the executives of the Lin Family Consortium in Hanming City. He was now on his way to become the new head of the consortium’s revived Diwa division.

“Mr. Lin!” A big, burly man with a square face and round cheeks emerged from the ship’s cabin. When Lin Peichuan turned to him, the man said, “We really owe you this time. Ever since we left the snowy region of Rongya, you’ve been keeping things in order. My guys? Useless—just thinking about booze and mahjong, not a single one actually helpful.”

“You flatter me,” Lin Peichuan replied with a casual smile. “The Helian Gang’s men aren’t exactly weak. I’m just a businessman making sure the cargo is safe.”

The burly man laughed heartily. “We’re almost at Qingjiang Dock in Huayu. You’ve been standing out here too long. Why not head inside and rest a bit? I’ll come get you when we arrive.”

“No need,” Lin said, still smiling. “Since we’re almost there, I’d like to see how much Huayu has changed.”

“Of course, of course. Once we dock, take your time to look around.” The big man lit a cigarette with a nod.

Lin Peichuan added, “But how can I ‘take my time’? The dock security police will definitely be guarding the checkpoint. As soon as they see the company logo, they’ll connect the dots. If it weren’t for the Xueyang River passing through Qingjiang, I would’ve taken another route.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Lin—they’ve already been reassigned.”

“Reassigned?” Lin Peichuan was stunned for a moment, then slowly began to smile. “They were actually transferred?”

“Yep. Ever since the Helian Gang started doing business openly and river trade got more active, it only made sense,” another Helian Gang member chimed in.

“Truth is,” the burly man added proudly, “not just the dock cops—security officers at every port, train station, airport… they’ve all been pulled out. That’s why the Helian Gang and the Chen Sheng Association have started connecting with folks outside the city. Everyone’s aiming big now!”

“What a shame for the guy who worked so hard back then,” Lin Peichuan clicked his tongue.

The burly man’s hand trembled, dropping ash from his cigarette to the floor. “You… you mean that guy?”

“Of course. That legendary police officer who made criminals shake in their boots,” Ah Deng spoke up. “Six years ago, he cracked down on major domestic and foreign joint ventures, sent out waves of security forces, and nearly wiped out the gangs. Back then, the Chen Sheng Association and the Helian Gang were running for their lives.”

“But then he stepped on the Lin family’s toes and cost us our biggest market,” Lin Peichuan said coldly. His eyes gleamed with cruelty as he slammed the flintlock into his palm. “And he paid the price—with his life.”

“Back then, just hearing that person’s name was enough to scare all of us like mice seeing the king of cats. I guess heaven has its justice—those nine lives of the cat king were all taken away in the end,” the man from the northwest said, taking a deep drag of his cigarette.

“Speaking of her death, there’s someone we really ought to thank…” Lin Peichuan said slowly, a mysterious look in his eyes.

“The world changes… Mountain springs, water birds flying into empty valleys. Back in the old days, even humble homes raised scholars…” On both sides, boatmen started singing again, using the local dialect—earthy and familiar.

“A tiger falls into a narrow canyon, and monkeys claim the crown. Bananas are prized over gold robes. Birds scatter, dead dogs stink, and one day, the spirit welcomes Wuerlang!”

“What kind of messed-up poetry is that?” the man from the northwest muttered as he tossed his cigarette onto the deck and stomped it out.

Lin Peichuan looked toward the boatmen.

One of them was talking to someone on the cargo ship, using the dialect: “Brother, you’ve come a long way. There’s a dock ahead—Qingjiang Port. You all should stop and get some rest.”

The other boatman entered the cabin, where two plainclothes officers sat dressed casually.

“Thanks, old man. We know.”

“This is the boat for sure?” one of the officers asked.

The boatman squatted down, his movements sharp and practiced. “Brothers upstream saw this one. Its markings are unforgettable.”

Without another word, the officer picked up his radio. “Reporting in! This is the Danxia exit, code 9897. The cargo ship is entering the midstream area—estimated twenty minutes until arrival at Qingjiang Port.”

On the other end of the radio, another plainclothes officer was sitting in the driver’s seat. The voice over the radio filled the car. Sitting behind him, Fu Bin said, “Tell him to keep watching at Danxia Waters. Also inform the midstream team to prepare for the next phase of surveillance.”

The officer in the driver’s seat relayed the orders.

Fu Bin picked up the radio again and switched channels.

A gray Citroën drove along the overpass. Su Zhaoyin’s phone rang. She picked it up and, at the same time, pulled Mu Bai—who was trying to scan her ID card on every surface—over to her side, yanked the card away, and blocked her from smearing foundation on Luo Qiying’s head, who was focused on driving.

After Mu Bai had opened and closed her makeup kit a few times, Su Zhaoyin finally finished the call. She pretended to glare at Mu Bai in frustration. Mu Bai, realizing she was in trouble, quietly returned the foundation, eyeshadow palette, powder compact, giant brush, and lipstick into Su Zhaoyin’s bag, looking like a guilty puppy.

Su Zhaoyin couldn’t help but laugh.

She said to Mu Bai, “That was Professor Guo. He wants me to take you for another checkup tomorrow. It means no breakfast again in the morning. As a reward, I’ll make you steak for lunch.”

“Steak?!” Luo Qiying exclaimed, turning her head. “Can I come too?”

“Of course! You’re always welcome,” Su Zhaoyin smiled.

Luo Qiying hummed a happy tune. Mu Bai pouted and said to Su Zhaoyin, “But I don’t want to see Professor Guo. He looks scary.”

“We can’t judge people by their looks, Mu Bai. Professor Guo is actually very patient,” Su Zhaoyin said, patting her head.

Mu Bai puffed out her cheeks. From the rearview mirror, Luo Qiying thought her mouth could hold a whole teapot.

Just then, Luo Qiying felt her radio vibrating in her pocket. Her expression turned serious as she answered the call.

“You and Shen Peng, head straight to Qingjiang Port. There’s suspicious activity from the Helian Gang. Go undercover and check it out. Bring your earpieces,” Fu Bin’s voice was fast and clear, loud enough for everyone in the car to hear.

After getting the order, Luo Qiying looked a bit troubled as she glanced at Su Zhaoyin and Mu Bai in the back seat.

“Qingjiang Port is just ahead. Don’t worry about us—do your job. We’ll take a taxi to the school,” Su Zhaoyin said.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Luo Qiying apologized.

“Big sis,” Mu Bai tugged at Su Zhaoyin’s sleeve and asked with wide eyes, “Are the officers going to catch bad guys?”

“Yes,” Luo Qiying replied, finding Mu Bai irresistibly cute. She felt a sudden rush of motherly affection. “But not officers uncle—officer auntie, okay?”

Mu Bai stared at her, paused, then smiled brightly. “Okay, officer uncle!”

Luo Qiying: “…”

Su Zhaoyin gave an awkward chuckle.

Shen Peng, however, burst out laughing. “Little Mu Bai is too cute! That’s the first time I’ve seen Qiqi get stumped like that—hahaha!”

Luo Qiying rolled her eyes at him, then turned to Su Zhaoyin. “Be careful on your way to school, okay?”

“I’ll protect big sis!” Mu Bai said in her soft voice, hugging Su Zhaoyin’s arm tightly and resting her head on her shoulder.

Luo Qiying gave her a thumbs up. “Then we’re counting on you.”

“Don’t worry!” Mu Bai gave a thumbs-up back. Beside her, Su Zhaoyin smiled gently.

The car turned onto Qingjiang Road, speeding toward the dock.