Hong Kong variety show: Hung Hing, are you contributing to society?

Li Zhusong felt this statement was too coincidental at the time, but couldn't find any flaws in it.

He clearly remembered that the men who were with Lin Yaodong at the time seemed to be carrying rather large backpacks or travel bags.

It was only because Lin Yaodong had a special status and was a "helpful citizen," with so many neighbors testifying at the time...

If a conflict had occurred at that time, or if he had forcibly taken Lam Yiu-tung back to the police station, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

In the end, the backpacks were not thoroughly inspected...

Is it...

Li Zhusong's heart sank.

If Lin Yaodong really took the money during the chaos, then Huagulong's situation is even more dangerous now.

The assassin was convinced the money was in Huagulong's hands, but Huagulong had no money to his name, and his mother...

"Sigh!" Li Zhusong sighed heavily. Things were more complicated and troublesome than he had expected.

He was about to speak with Huagulong to analyze the situation and discuss countermeasures.

A sleek, black Bentley sedan with a sophisticated sheen glided silently down the somewhat run-down street and came to a stop in front of the McDonald's.

The car door opened, and the first person to get out was Xiao Fu, who was dressed in a black suit and had a sharp build. He quickly scanned the surroundings and then opened the back door.

Lin Yaodong stepped out of the car.

His gaze calmly swept across the McDonald's restaurant, instantly locking onto the two down-and-out, sleazy figures, Li Zhusong and Huagulong.

When Hua Gulong saw Lin Yaodong, it was like a drowning man seeing a piece of driftwood; his previously ashen and desperate face suddenly burst forth with intense hope.

"Brother Dong! Brother Dong!"

He practically sprang from his chair, staggered towards Lin Yaodong, and cried out incoherently, "Brother Dong! Brother Dong! Save me! No... save my mom! Please save my mom!!"

The sound cracked.

"Save me—no, save my mom! Please save my mom!!"

His eyes were red-rimmed, but the tears were hanging in the air. He sniffed hard, as if trying to force the surging emotions back into his lungs.

Lin Yaodong looked at him, his brows furrowing slightly.

It wasn't annoyance, nor was it being moved; it was just a slight frown, as if watching something that had suddenly gone wrong but was still within expectations.

"Take your time."

The sound was steady.

Explain clearly.

The Bone-Melting Dragon nodded frantically.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out at first. His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and then the words poured out like water bursting from a dam.

The hitman's phone call, the kidnapped mother, US dollars, ransom, the US dollars are missing, the money was definitely there, he doesn't understand why it's gone, he really did go to get the money but he swears he didn't—

The word order is messed up, the timeline is messed up, he goes back to fill in the details halfway through his story, and when he talks about US dollars, he jumps back to the killer's original words.

He was afraid that Lin Yaodong wouldn't understand, and he was also afraid that if Lin Yaodong understood, he would abandon him. So he kept repeating himself, as if he wanted to lay out all his fear, anxiety, and desperation from the past twenty-odd hours in front of Lin Yaodong.

Lin Yaodong listened quietly.

Throughout the entire process, his face remained expressionless.

His gaze occasionally drifted to Li Zhusong beside him—the gaze was light, as if he were just glancing over him, but each time it landed precisely on his target.

Li Zhusong did not evade the question.

His expression was solemn, his fingers still loosely clenched, but his gaze had already shifted from the chaotic account to Lin Yaodong, carrying a weight of weighing and observation.

"The money was there to begin with..."

Hua Gulong finally finished speaking and stood there as if all his strength had been drained.

Li Zhusong's voice came in at this moment, unhurried and unhurried.

"Besides Mr. Lin being at the scene, the police also cordoned off the area... but the money is gone." He paused, "It's a bit strange."

The words seemed to be addressed to Huagulong, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Yaodong.

means something.

"So what if it was me..." Lin Yaodong thought to himself, realizing that Li Zhusong suspected him.

He smiled faintly, as if he were just responding to a trivial remark.

"Hard to say."

The tone was relaxed.

"If the police cordon was effective, how did Huagulong get into the scene last night?" He tilted his head slightly. "Maybe he was an accomplice of the killer, or perhaps a companion of the deceased, who took the money."

Li Zhusong's expression froze.

He opened his mouth, but the word "you" was interrupted by the Bone-Melting Dragon.

"Oh dear! The most important thing right now is to save my mom!"

Hua Gulong didn't catch the subtle meaning in the two men's words, or rather, he did, but he couldn't care less.

He turned around, unsure of what to do with his hands, and finally clenched his trouser seams tightly.

"Brother Dong."

He called out.

His Adam's apple bobbed again.

"Now only you can help me."

Lin Yaodong looked at him.

This glance lasted longer than the previous one.

The Bone-Melting Dragon met that gaze without flinching.

It wasn't that he wasn't guilty; he was in debt from gambling, constantly on the run, living like a cockroach in this city.

But now...

"You said you'd be with me."

Lin Yaodong's voice fell, "Then as the boss, I'll definitely help you."

His tone was sincere, even carrying a hint of elder's kindness.

The Bone-Melting Dragon's eyes reddened again.

"Brother Dong," he said, his voice hoarse, "from now on you will be the boss of my Bone-Melting Dragon, my only big brother."

He paused for a moment, as if he had made some momentous decision.

"You can be my dad, that's fine."

Although I have a preference for married women... but not for your mother... Lin Yaodong nodded.

He turned to Jiang Xin, who was standing a few steps away, and his voice returned to its usual calm: "Go back and get the money."

"Yes."

Jiang Xin turned around without hesitation.

Lin Yaodong took a few steps to the side and took out his phone.

He didn't avoid the crowd, nor did he deliberately lower his voice. He simply turned his back and said a few brief words to the person on the other end of the phone.

"...Xiao Fu. Yes... at the ** dock. Take that..."

Reel in the line.

He walked back to the car and opened the Bentley's door.

"I want US dollars, Brother Dong," Huagulong said, chasing after him.

Lin Yaodong did not turn around.

Hua Gulong and Li Zhusong then got into the car.

The car door closed.

Li Zhusong sat next to Lin Yaodong without speaking immediately.

He had no intention of calling for backup; the assassin had made it clear that he couldn't call the police. More importantly, this was his chance to solve the case on his own.

He is already fifty-seven years old.

There are few police officers his age still working on the front lines, and the window for promotion is getting narrower every year.

My wife brought up divorce again yesterday. It wasn't a scene; she calmly listed things off: the kids' college expenses, the mortgage in Canada...

She said, "Li Zhusong, you choose for yourself."

Did he have a choice?

"Mr. Lin."

Li Zhusong spoke.

"What are you planning to do?"

Lin Yaodong did not answer immediately.

He leaned back in the back seat, his face turned towards the car window, watching the scenery outside slowly recede.

"Officer Lee," he countered, "what's the plan?"