LV Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Dream and Pain

 

“At 7:05 this morning, a collision between two vehicles resulted in one person being trapped. The traffic police and fire department quickly responded, using a loader to assist in the rescue, while also notifying the nearest…”

 

Today, Feng Tang didn’t turn off the broadcast, but he could tell that the radio station had changed announcers. The voice was delicate yet powerful, reminiscent of the female teacher who taught him natural science in his childhood. He lay with his eyes closed, munching on a few packs of dried mangoes while listening intently.

 

“The police remind all drivers that recent continuous rainfall has made travel hazardous with steep slopes and sharp turns. Please be cautious to avoid accidents…”

 

He rubbed his face as he got out of bed, his eyes barely able to open from sleepiness. It had been almost a day since he last contacted Feng Lulin.

 

Feng Tang knew he was busy, working night shifts these past few days, getting soaked in the rain. Fortunately, he was healthy, or else a serious illness could befall him, potentially causing a severe fever.

 

After some contemplation, he couldn’t help but worry. Feng Tang took out his phone and searched for news on Weibo. It was reported that a truck driver was trapped in the cab, and the traffic police were using a steel cable to pull him out.

 

Feng Tang found a video posted in the news updates, warning viewers that the driver’s condition might be disturbing due to the position of his leg in the cab.

 

Curiosity got the better of him, and he scrolled back up to watch the video.

 

The footage was shaky at first, with voices in the background shouting to save the person, several men working bare-chested. However, only professionals dared to work up close in such accidents. The crowd of onlookers, numerous and anxious, stayed at the periphery, making Feng Tang worry that the loader’s chain might fall and hit someone.

 

The truck’s front end was badly smashed, and the driver was stuck inside.

 

Among the traffic police closest to the accident scene, Feng Tang had to squint at the screen to see that the tallest one was Feng Lulin.

 

The crowd made way as Qiao Ce stood outside, using a loudspeaker to shout, “Make way, everyone, please make way. Do not crowd around, do not crowd around!”

 

Though the crowd didn’t move much, the few traffic police officers maintained order. The footage continued to shake as Feng Tang’s eyes fixed on the blurry figures, recognizing a familiar male voice.

 

“One, two, three—pull!”

 

Feng Lulin raised his hand, directing the loader to forcefully pull open the deformed cab. The sound of hard objects colliding was dull and intense, and the crowd’s excitement grew, “He’s coming out, he’s coming out!”

 

The last cheer cut off the video, lasting a full four minutes.

 

Feng Lulin, drenched in sweat and barely recognizable, stood still, panting… this was the video’s ending scene.

 

Feng Tang, after watching, flopped back onto his bed, clutching the blanket in a daze.

 

Four minutes might not seem long or short for an accident, but it felt nerve-wracking to him.

 

Even though he had experienced such scenes firsthand before.

 

Apart from commuting, handling accidents, patrolling the roads, helping citizens, and issuing tickets, what else did Feng Lulin do daily? What did he do in his free time? Feng Tang was completely in the dark. He thought of the things Feng Lulin usually did: playing cards, grocery shopping, riding his motorcycle, taking walks, going to bars, and climbing through his window.

 

Feng Lulin was probably a gecko in a past life.

 

The more Feng Tang thought about it, the more nervous he became. He pulled out his phone and sent a WeChat message to a friend working at the police station.

 

Wan: Bro

 

Wan: Introduce me to a traffic cop

 

There was no reply for about ten minutes, then three people added him. Feng Tang was stunned. Why so many?

 

Wan: What the heck, setting up a traffic regulations conference?

 

A voice message came through: “Tang Shao, didn’t you ask for it? These guys are quite discreet! They’re really good, really genuine. They’re all not out of the closet yet. Check them out, see if you get along, and if it works out, just treat me to a meal…”

 

Feng Tang, exasperated, replied: Can’t I just make a simple friend?

 

After sending it, he put his phone back in his pocket, feeling a bit disoriented. Was that how everyone saw him? What about Feng Lulin?

 

Feng Tang thought about Feng Lulin’s past flirtatious looks and felt an unprecedented discomfort.

 

Damn… Changing his image was really going to be tough. Even if he behaved for a while, wouldn’t people still say old habits die hard?

 

The more Feng Tang thought about it, the more depressed he felt. That evening, he picked up Liu Lizhu after work and dropped her home. Then he went out again to buy some late-night snacks and drove them to Feng Lulin.

 

He even specifically asked around. The team said that after handling the accident this morning, Feng Lulin had already gone home to rest.

 

The black Audi parked by the roadside near the main gate, with all the interior lights off. Feng Tang stared at the still-warm snacks on the passenger seat, wrinkling his nose. Even he found the smell too dry and spicy.

 

But he had asked around, and Feng Lulin’s hometown folks loved this kind of taste!

 

“Hey, I’m here.”

 

Feng Tang fiddled with the lighter in his palm. He continued over the phone, “I’ll give you five minutes. Hurry downstairs. The night snacks are getting cold! Besides, this delivery guy thinks it’s not safe to linger here.”

 

“Alright,” Feng Lulin gripped his phone tightly, “Wait honestly, or I’ll give you a bad review.”

 

“Give me a bad review, and I’ll poison you,” Feng Tang retorted before hanging up and tossing the phone into the armrest box. He felt much better.

 

Less than ten minutes after Feng Lulin took the call, he was climbing over the iron gate from the backyard of Peony Mansion’s community.

 

He was relieved that he hadn’t parked his car directly at the community gate, otherwise, if Feng Tang had seen it and intercepted him, he would have been in real trouble…

 

The iron gate wasn’t high, but Feng Lulin, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, leaped over it, scraping his arm lightly. Once he landed steadily, he dusted off his hands and rolled up his pants to check.

 

It was fine, no mud.

 

Feng Lulin let out a long breath and then turned to lock the SUV parked by the roadside.

 

With the homeowner card given by Bai Yangyue in his hand and an earphone line draped over his shoulder, he walked quickly to the front gate’s security booth, pointing to the Audi A6 parked by the roadside.

 

As soon as Feng Lulin swiped the card and left the community, Feng Tang’s car started, its headlights suddenly illuminating, outlining both of their faces.

 

Feng Tang, dissatisfied with his sluggish movements, said, “You really made me wait to death… The food’s already cold.”

 

“You notified me just twenty minutes ago.”

 

Feng Lulin was still panting.

 

“What are you panting for? If you keep panting, you’ll cause trouble. What were you doing upstairs? Is little Chang’e at home?”

 

“Who’s little Chang’e?” Feng Lulin was confused for a moment before realizing it was likely Bai Yangyue, “Did you get mad out of confusion?”

 

Feng Tang watched as Feng Lulin got into the car and mentioned the night snacks. He didn’t argue further, obediently starting to list the dishes: “Fish head with pancakes, roasted lamb from the hanging oven, dancing chicken… Hurry and eat! Your colleagues said you went home without eating! Are you going to ruin your stomach? Can you stand the hunger?”

 

Feng Lulin laughed, “Why didn’t you buy a stripper?”

 

“Afraid you’d be too mesmerized to eat. Day and night with fried chicken, who am I going to trouble?” Feng Tang bit a piece of pancake and stuffed it into his mouth.

 

You already rely on me, and you still want to see a stripper? I’ll dance for you tomorrow!

 

Feng Lulin continued to tease him, “Aren’t you famously known as ‘Feng the Trace-less’ in the underworld?”

 

Feng Tang scoffed, “Now there’s a trace. I’m a tornado.”

 

“A tornado. So you’re going to take everything with you?”

 

After listening to Feng Lulin’s words, Feng Tang grabbed a napkin and roughly wiped the man’s mouth, saying sinisterly, “Officer Feng, even you are mine… What should I leave you?”

 

Feng Lulin clearly saw that Feng Tang was angry.

 

He grabbed Feng Tang’s hand, which was lightly pressing on his collarbone, and said slowly, “Leave me a life.”

 

Feng Tang took in half of those three words, then, remembering that Feng Lulin didn’t refute the phrase “even you are mine,” felt much better.

 

He reached out to pinch Feng Lulin’s cheek and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

 

Feng Lulin noticed the implication about the bedroom but didn’t argue much. Seeing Feng Tang smiling with arched eyebrows, he also smiled.

 

Bedroom? We’ll see. He had almost forgotten about his encounter with Feng Tang. But over the past few months, Feng Lulin clearly felt that Feng Tang was gradually becoming subdued after emotional excitement.

 

Feng Tang was unknowingly being “conquered” by him, which excited Feng Lulin yet made it hard to control his impulses.

 

Seeing Feng Lulin reach for the seatbelt, Feng Tang quickly said, “My mom’s at home. I need to go back early today.”

 

“Didn’t you say you were going clubbing and just brought me snacks along the way?”

 

Feng Tang said righteously, “I lied to you.”

 

He actually wanted to tell Feng Lulin that a five-star love hotel had opened by the Second Ring Road and asked if they should try it sometime when they were free.

 

The more he looked at Feng Lulin, the more… he felt his butt hurting, and his waist aching. He was almost having hallucinations.

 

When the time truly came, he would have to ask the front desk for some S&M tools, tie Feng Lulin up, and go all out! Make him beg for mercy, bow down “to the wind,” and submit for life!

 

Seeing him dazed with a sinister smile on his face, Feng Lulin couldn’t help but ask, “What are you scheming now?”

 

Feng Tang casually lied, “At parting, allow me to compose a poem: I live by the moat, you live in the Peony Mansion. Day by day, I think of you but can’t see you, drinking the moat water together. When will this water end, this road is mine…”

 

Feng Tang hesitated, forgetting the next line. His mind was filled with memories of holding a stick at the kindergarten gate as a child, shouting in a childish voice, “This road is mine, this tree is mine, if you want to pass, leave a toll.” He suddenly regretted being a “local bully,” a failure that tarnished his image at a critical moment.

 

Feng Lulin’s heart stirred and he asked, “What comes next?”

 

He actually knew and vaguely remembered that the next line was “I only wish your heart is like mine, never to be betrayed.”

 

But Feng Lulin didn’t say it.

 

Seeing Feng Tang confused, he leaned closer, pinched his soft earlobe, and deliberately asked, “What do these lines mean?”

 

Feng Tang rolled his eyes, “Don’t ask. I hate you.”

 

The next few days, it rained in the city. With the arrival of April and May, the rainy season followed. The city, near the mountains and rivers, couldn’t expel the humidity, leaving the air thick with a sticky smell.

 

Recently, Feng Tang spent entire afternoons at the car wash, smoking and playing cards with He Qing. The two youngsters were so animated that even the cleaning auntie couldn’t help but laugh.

 

After winning all afternoon, Feng Tang was in high spirits. He pushed open the conference room door, leaned against a car in the showroom, and boasted, “I won ten thousand yuan this afternoon, enough to…”

 

He was about to say, enough to buy a flashy helmet for Feng Lulin, when he realized He Qing was also there, so he quickly stopped himself.

 

He Qing, losing and fuming, cursed him, “Stand straight! Don’t lean on the car, isn’t a second-hand car still a car? It’s worth millions, and if you damage it, you can’t afford to pay!”

 

He suddenly remembered the half-finished sentence and grinned, “I see, who do you want to give it to? Officer Feng, right?”

 

Feng Tang stepped off the steps, approached, patted his cheek, and chuckled, “Buy He Qing a diamond-studded tape to shut his mouth.”

 

“Qing, Qing, Manager Qing, that…” The manager, holding a phone, stood at the front desk, “The employees handling the accident today went to…”

 

He Qing didn’t catch on, “Is there a new order?”

 

“Yes, yes, yes. At the exit of the First Ring Tunnel, there’s a rear-end collision involving a Rolls-Royce! This is the agency right of the Gabe Group! The accident address is…”

 

Before the manager finished reading, He Qing slapped Feng Tang’s butt, “Brother Ai Tang! You need to repay me now.”

 

Mainly because… he had an appointment with his partner later.

 

Feng Tang wanted to roll his eyes.

 

No choice, He Qing was still his boss in terms of shares. Besides, he had won money from He Qing today, so he had to pamper him. Also, given He Qing’s intelligence, Feng Tang was afraid he might rush to get the accident repair order and end up paying money instead.

 

“Okay, let’s make it impressive,” Feng Tang said, “Give me the keys to your multimillion-dollar car. This represents our car wash’s status! I need to be quick and stylish, you understand?”

 

He Qing, now entirely unbothered, handed over the car keys, fist-bumped him, and said smoothly, “Brother! Hit the road.”

 

“Farewell.”

 

Feng Tang left without looking back. He grabbed the measuring tape, camera, and called an assistant to carry a case of water, then drove to the accident site, faster than a rabbit.

 

The repair fees at 4S shops were notoriously high, and He Qing, as the city’s Rolls-Royce sales agent, naturally had the right to a share of the profits. Though these were assessed by insurance companies, Feng Tang had to first approach the car owner to secure this deal. What’s the concept of hitting a Rolls-Royce’s rear end? It’s tens of thousands upward, all added up, a significant sum.

 

Driving hurriedly to the scene, Feng Tang saw that a small, unlicensed repair shop had already arrived. As soon as he got out of the car, he saw the car owner standing by the vehicle, coughing and sighing with a worried face.

 

He quickly urged his assistant, “Get the water, get the water!”

 

The assistant quickly retrieved two cans from the car and handed them over, saying earnestly, “Hello, hello, here’s some water!”

 

“Ahem, hello.” Feng Tang rubbed his nose, about to introduce himself, “We are…”

 

“The Fourth Traffic Police Brigade of the Hucheng River District Traffic Police Station.”

 

Feng Tang was cut off. He looked up and almost choked.

 

Wasn’t that Feng Lulin? Why did he have to run into him everywhere?

 

Feng Lulin glanced at him, cleared his throat, and continued speaking to the car owner, “We’ve already reviewed the dashcam footage. Now, please come over here to sign and record. The other party has already admitted full responsibility.”

 

Handling the accident this quickly? Feng Tang scanned the surroundings. This was right in front of the traffic police station, in Feng Lulin’s jurisdiction. A police car was parked across the street.

 

Such efficiency! No need to call, just shout and they show up. Quite a spot to have an accident.

 

The car owner went over to sign and record, and the responsible driver was also dealt with. Next up was the insurance and repair battle. Historically, accident scenes on the roadside were always prime territory for 4S repair shops.

 

Feng Lulin straddled his motorcycle, slowly putting away his pen, preparing to watch the scene unfold.

 

The car owner, seemingly convinced by the shady repair shop, frowned, “But my car wasn’t bought from your shop… Are all Rolls-Royce 4S shops in the city connected? Are they all the same?”

 

The shady shop’s person said, “Yes, yes, they’re all the same.”

 

Feng Tang, standing nearby, earnestly corrected, “No, no, they’re not.”

 

Feng Lulin suppressed a laugh, one hand resting on the handlebars, with his police radio still crackling. He couldn’t take it anymore and interjected, “Hey, your Jiabei repair shop does a pretty good job.”

 

“Not bad, not bad,” Feng Tang said humbly, almost bowing. “Officer, if you have time, come over for a 50% discount.”

 

Feng Lulin raised an eyebrow, “Alright.”

 

The car owner, feeling reassured by the authority, was stunned, “Officer, do you know them?”

 

Feng Tang and Feng Lulin exchanged a glance and almost simultaneously said, “No, we don’t!”

 

It’s tough doing business these days.

 

T/N: This might be abrupt guys but I will be dropping this series due to some recent irl issues. I hope for your understanding. Furthermore any other translator may pick up this series if they’re interested. Thank you.