Luo Qing, standing in the corner with his slender frame slightly stiff, trembled faintly with unease. After a moment, he finally stepped out slowly from the shadows.
Even if Jiang Yan hadn’t noticed him, he likely would have come out anyway. He simply couldn’t stand by and watch someone beaten to death in front of him.
Jiang Yan glanced at Luo Qing as he approached, then at Han Lin’s despairing expression, and let out a soft laugh. "Next time, don’t treat people like they’re blind."
Han Lin felt cold all over—so cold his teeth chattered uncontrollably. It wasn’t from pain, but from sheer despair, his body reacting beyond his control.
Their last hope had been crushed, and he’d even dragged Luo Qing into this.
The moment Jiang Yan spoke, the men beating Han Lin stopped. But Han Lin remained curled on the ground, eyes red, tears spilling helplessly down his face—a pitiful, wretched sight.
Jiang Yan watched Luo Qing approach and asked lightly, "Going to plead for him?"
Luo Qing shook his head slightly, his voice low and hoarse. "No."
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise, then reminded him amiably, "I seem to recall he was the one you brought in."
"Conspiring with the police is a death sentence."
Han Lin, still trembling on the ground, tried to speak but only coughed up blood.
Luo Qing’s expression remained unchanged. Without responding to Jiang Yan, he checked Han Lin’s injuries. Finding them non-fatal, he turned to Jiang Yan and said calmly, "Want to work with us?"
"…Us?"
Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as it locked onto Luo Qing. "You’re a cop too?"
Luo Qing gave a faint "Mm," confirming his identity as police.
This time, it wasn’t just Jiang Yan who was shocked—Han Lin on the ground stared in disbelief.
He was a cop?
If Luo Qing really was police, then all the inconsistencies before made sense. No wonder he didn’t act like a human trafficker. No wonder he’d been coasting for over a decade. And no wonder he’d "abducted" them, fellow officers.
Though it was hardly the time, Han Lin couldn’t help feeling deep resentment toward Luo Qing’s superiors. Luo Qing had been only six when he infiltrated this criminal organization. Who in their right mind would send a six-year-old undercover?
It was downright inhuman.
No one in a criminal organization would falsely claim to be police. None present doubted Luo Qing’s words—not even Jiang Yan. His face unreadable, he silently reached a hand toward his bodyguard.
The bodyguards with Jiang Yan this time were all his own people, fiercely loyal to him. At his signal, they immediately dispersed, securing the perimeter to prevent anyone from approaching unexpectedly.
Once he was sure they wouldn’t be interrupted, Jiang Yan finally spoke, his tone casual, "What kind of cooperation are you proposing?"
Luo Qing met his gaze. "You want to kill Lin Xingyi and Lin Huaifeng. We can help you."
Jiang Yan couldn’t help but laugh—even letting out a low chuckle. "I do want them dead, but I’m not a fool."
"Working with you means you’d wipe out the Lin Group and the organization in one sweep. What’s the point of killing them then?"
As he studied the calm, composed face in front of him, Jiang Yan felt an odd itch in his chest. He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and continued leisurely, "Besides, even without your help, I can still kill them."
"And I can still get everything I want."
Luo Qing’s expression remained unreadable, his demeanor steady as he negotiated. "We can grant you immunity. Let you walk freely in the light."
That was something only the police could offer—their sole bargaining chip. But Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think I need that?"
"The police are powerless against the Lin Group, aren’t you? Without my help, you’ll never bring them down. I can step into the light on my own terms."
Luo Qing knew he was right. His fingers clenched subtly beneath his sleeves. From the start, he’d had no real leverage against this man.
He hadn’t outright begged because he knew pleading would hand all control to Jiang Yan, leaving every decision at his mercy. That was why he’d posed as a cop.
Yet even now, he had nothing to negotiate with. This man had no intention of turning back.
No—that wasn’t quite true.
If Luo Qing truly had no value, Jiang Yan wouldn’t be talking to him so calmly.
Their organization showed no mercy to traitors or cops. If he were useless, Jiang Yan would’ve already disposed of him.
He did have leverage. That leverage… was himself.
Luo Qing’s slender fingers tightened slightly before he finally spoke. "If you help us, I’ll go with you."
Jiang Yan let out another soft laugh. "You still don’t understand your position, do you? Do you really think you have a choice?"
Luo Qing’s chest tightened, but his face betrayed nothing. "If you want me, then I have a choice."
Jiang Yan shook his head. "No, you don’t. You’ll belong to me regardless—whether I cooperate or not."
Jiang Yan made no effort to hide his desire for Luo Qing. His tone was full of domineering certainty, as though he wasn’t seeking Luo Qing’s opinion but simply informing him of a foregone conclusion.
Luo Qing didn’t respond directly. Instead, he met Jiang Yan’s gaze and said coolly, “Our plan is set for when Lin Huaifeng arrives. Whether you cooperate or not, we’ll act then.”
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, unsure why Luo Qing was revealing the plan to him, but he didn’t interrupt.
“If this mission fails and all my teammates die, I’ll kill myself.”
Luo Qing stared straight at Jiang Yan. “Even if you stop me, I’ll find a way to escape—or take you down with me.”
His beautiful eyes were filled with unwavering resolve. There was no hint of jest in his words; he meant every one of them.
Jiang Yan’s smile faded. His expression darkened, radiating a dangerous aura that sent chills down the spine.
Luo Qing, seemingly oblivious to the threat, shifted his tone. “But if I go with you willingly…”
“I won’t kill myself. I won’t run. And I won’t try to drag you to your death.”
“Once this mission is over, I’ll resign and leave with you.”
He paused, pressing his lips together before speaking again, slightly awkwardly. “I could… belong to you forever.”
Jiang Yan’s gaze sharpened, scrutinizing Luo Qing as if weighing the truth of his words.
He had to admit—he was tempted.
No one could refuse Luo Qing’s offer. At least, Jiang Yan couldn’t. He pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth and replied flatly, “How do we cooperate?”
His words were tacit agreement. Luo Qing loosened his clenched fingers, which had begun to ache. “Pretend you don’t know our identities. Help us expose Lin Huaifeng’s true nature. We’ll contact you when needed.”
Jiang Yan nodded. “Done.”
With the deal struck, Jiang Yan soon left with his men, leaving the two alone.
Han Lin had been badly beaten. Bruises and blood covered his body, and one of his hands was broken. Without immediate medical attention, he might lose use of it permanently.
But Han Lin couldn’t go to the hospital—nor did he want to. He had to stay and support the mission. All Luo Qing could do was tend to his wounds roughly.
As Han Lin watched Luo Qing, guilt twisted in his chest. He thought of the terms of Luo Qing’s deal with Jiang Yan and hung his head. “I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me…”
"Nothing." Luo Qing cut off Han Lin's words. As he treated Han Lin's wound, he spoke, "I did it for myself."
And he really did mean for himself. The police had come because of him—there was no way he could wash his hands of the matter. If he hadn’t lied about being a cop earlier, Jiang Yan would have forcibly taken him away by now.
"Contact your team. Tell them Jiang Yan is willing to cooperate."
Han Lin immediately nodded, picking up the earpiece he had thrown aside earlier and relaying the message to his teammates.
Only after finishing the call did Han Lin belatedly look up at Luo Qing. "Why didn’t you contact them?"
Luo Qing leaned weakly against the railing, rubbing his temples with a weary expression. "I’m not a cop. How could I contact them?"
"...Huh?" Han Lin was stunned, stammering, "Y-You’re not a cop?"
Luo Qing found Han Lin’s reaction overly dramatic. "I joined the organization when I was six. How could I possibly be a cop?"
He had simply gambled on Jiang Yan not knowing much about him.
He had always been a marginal figure in the organization, practically invisible, with no notable "achievements" to his name. If he claimed to be an undercover agent, it was easy to believe.
Han Lin, who had already fallen for the lie and even cursed him earlier, awkwardly muttered, "Right… We’re not monsters who’d send a six-year-old kid undercover."
***
10 PM. Lately, it had been raining every night, but tonight was an exception—the downpour hadn’t started yet.
But it was only a matter of time. The air was stiflingly hot, the kind of oppressive stillness that precedes a storm.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the entire abandoned factory in a flash of white light.
Tonight, the rain would come in torrents.
