Chapter 184
by Need_More_SleepChapter 184: Happy Birthday
The wail of police sirens arrived belatedly, accompanied by the roar of helicopter blades circling overhead.
The nearby patrol cars had been sabotaged by mercenaries before the operation even began, cutting off any chance of backup. A small county like this wouldn’t have a permanent helicopter unit—this one had clearly been dispatched from Fanzui City.
They were only here for cleanup. Ironically, half of these officers had once worked under Wei Shi.
Hearing the jarring noise, Mi Xiaoliu tried to hoist Wei Shi’s massive frame onto her shoulders, only to be shoved away in disgust.
“Did I say you could leave?” His voice was as cold as ever, but weaker now.
Mi Xiaoliu shook her head and held out an apple.
“Scram!”
Wei Shi scooped up a handful of dirt and hurled it at her, finally making her flinch back.
Undeterred, she carefully brushed off the apple and offered it again—only for the old woman to grab her wrist.
Her arm was alarmingly thin, as if deliberately starved to model-like proportions, yet devoid of any pampered princess’s privilege.
What a heartbreaking little thing.
“Sweetie,” the old woman said, forcing a kindly smile across her wrinkled face, “Was it you who made those miracle herbs?”
No response.
“Eat.” Mi Xiaoliu stubbornly pressed the apple toward Wei Shi’s mouth.
He shoved her away again, harder this time.
The red apple tumbled into the dirt, a raindrop splashing against its now-grimy surface.
“Get lost! The farther the better. If you don’t scram right now, I’ll use you as a pincushion every damn day.”
“…”
“What, suddenly deaf? I’ll beat you black and blue right—” Wei Shi glanced around, as if searching for a weapon.
Mi Xiaoliu finally retreated—just as Yiwen arrived, drawn by the sirens.
“How cruel,” the old woman tutted, picking up the dirtied apple. “The child just wanted you to have something sweet.” She made no move to chase after them.
“Why should I care what a tool thinks?” Wei Shi’s eyelids drooped. “A tool that can brew cure-all herbs every week—must make your mouths water, huh?”
“Ohoho.” The old woman’s eyes curved into crescents.
“Where do you think she can even run?” Humpback Whale approached, cradling his severed arm. Medics had arrived, but he ignored them. “Her identity’s blown. Even her foster mother will be investigated.”
“We’ve locked down the area. Not even a rat working with you could slip through now.”
He dropped the detached limb and sat cross-legged, clumsily preparing a syringe one-handed. Gripping it between his teeth, he injected the contents straight into Wei Shi’s heart.
Black Element suppressant. This tiny dose costs half a year’s salary. No idea if it’d work, but it was too late for regrets.
A brute like him didn’t know the proper method for cardiac injections—but Wei Shi’s body would redirect the drugs as needed.
“Nostalgic, isn’t it?” Humpback Whale mused. “Five or six years ago, during the ability-enhancer craze, didn’t someone swear to eradicate that ‘scourge’?”
Wei Shi gave him a bleary side-eye.
The old woman sighed and hobbled off, leaving them to it.
No need to chase the girl. The white-haired one’s already on it. This old bag of bones just wants to sleep—gotta sell buns at dawn.
“Say your piece,” Humpback Whale said, stowing the syringe. Leaving it would just create extra work for forensics.
“You care about that kid. Even I can tell. You really think Night Hawk’s good for her? She’s too young—no sense of right or wrong yet.”
“Don’t upload her real data to the ID registry,” Wei Shi breathed. Whether from the suppressant or final adrenaline, his voice steadied.
“Why?” Humpback Whale frowned. “You know we can’t do that.”
“You’re dirty.” A loaded statement. Then, gripping his own arm: “Sorry about the arm.”
“Tch. Worth it.” Humpback Whale waved it off. “About what you just—”
Before he could finish, Wei Shi wrenched off his left arm at the joint and handed it over.
The motion seemed to drain his last strength. His head lolled forward.
“You old fox.” Humpback Whale’s smile was ugly.
—
“Mi Xiaoliu! Don’t run!”
Raindrops automatically deflected within six meters of Yiwen. She didn’t need to control each one—just maintaining a barrier around herself was enough.
This 360-degree shield might not hold up against attacks, but it was more than sufficient against heavy rain.
She remembered one time when Mi Xiaoliu stayed at her place during a downpour just like this. Yiwen had “forgotten” her umbrella on purpose, refusing to use her ability so she could share one with Mi Xiaoliu.
Comparing those sweet memories to how Mi Xiaoliu had just deceived her to escape made Yiwen’s heart ache even more.
Mi Xiaoliu ran far, far away, only stopping when she reached a construction crane. She crouched at the very edge, arms wrapped around her knees—a precarious position.
“Master…”
Master is sad now… but if she knew what’s likely going to happen to Papa Wei Shi, she’d be even sadder.
“Xiaoliu… are you crying?” Yiwen landed in the middle of the crane, stepping closer.
She didn’t know what had happened. She’d just followed the helicopter’s sirens, spotted Xiaoliu fleeing, and chased after her.
Their little pursuit was just like old times—no police interference.
Honestly, Yiwen felt herself softening again. Her hand almost reached out on its own.
But…
I won’t believe another word out of this little liar’s mouth.
She just plays the victim, milks sympathy, then uses people’s kindness for her own goals.
Step by step, Yiwen closed the distance—then grabbed Xiaoliu’s wrist.
“You used me,” she said flatly.
“Didn’t use you.” Mi Xiaoliu’s voice was barely audible over the rain.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
Silence.
Fine.
Even without handcuffs, Yiwen uttered the words: “Mi Xiaoliu, alias Black-Clothed One, you’re under arrest.”
Mi Xiaoliu didn’t move.
“Master, run! If you get arrested now, Papa Wei Shi will be furious!” Sasha panicked.
That’s exactly why he sent you away—to keep you from the police!
“Mm.”
Mi Xiaoliu struggled, but Yiwen held firm.
“So you do still want to use me.” Yiwen laughed coldly. “Honestly? I don’t want to see you ever again.”
Mi Xiaoliu stopped struggling and just… looked at her.
Then Yiwen let go.
“Go. Consider this thanks for helping me during the cyberbullying… Let’s just never meet again.”
She’d only wanted to confirm the real face of this little liar one last time.
And she meant it—she was grateful Mi Xiaoliu had saved her from the online hate. But now, that was all that remained.
No uniform. No handcuffs. Who was she to arrest anyone?
“Yiwen.”
“Go away! I never want to see you again!” Yiwen turned her back, voice breaking.
Let this… first love end here.
What even happened to the governor? I was supposed to be saving him…
She wiped her damp eyes.
The downside of rainproofing? No way to hide tears behind the storm.
Behind her, she didn’t see what Mi Xiaoliu did next.
Did she run? Something else?
All Yiwen heard was a muffled gunshot.
Distant. Faint. But no silencer could ever truly erase the sound of a bullet.
She whirled around—
—just in time to see the girl topple from the crane, a bloom of red bursting from her chest.
“XIAOLIU!”
“MASTER!”
Yiwen flew, catching her midair.
Why? Who shot her? WHY?
Warm blood mixed with icy rain, staining Yiwen’s brand-new clothes.
Mi Xiaoliu touched her chest.
It hurts… feels bad…
She remembered this. The white-coated doctors sometimes “shut her down”—this was the same feeling.
Then she’d forget… so many things…
So sleepy…
“Yiwen.”
With the last bit of strength in her system storage, Mi Xiaoliu pulled out an item.
“Happy birthday.”
“XIAOLIU!”
Yiwen clutched her helplessly.
Even through the rain barrier, she could feel Mi Xiaoliu growing cold.
“You’re still lying? You’re too much!”
Frantic, Yiwen scanned for a hospital.
“Wake up! You fooled me, you win, okay?!”
“It’s not my birthday today, remember?!”
“DOCTOR! SOMEONE!”
“You promised to give it to me next birthday! How can you—”
“…”
[Translator’s Note: See the index page for this Novel if you want to see the Amazon Link for the eBooks.]
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