Reborn in 1993, Dark Sea

"Are you really going to do this?" After listening to An Xiaohai's story, 073 remained silent for a long time before finally asking.

"Yes," An Xiaohai answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Could you explain why?"

"I think you know why."

"I still want to hear you say it yourself."

"First, he has ways to coerce you, but he can't coerce me; second, you can't do whatever you want with him, but I can; third, you probably have some other demands of him, but I don't. I just want him to never be a threat to my family and friends again."

Fourth, never mind, there isn't a fourth one.

"I'd rather hear this fourth reason that you're unwilling to say aloud."

"I don't want to see him lower his proud head and become a groveling beggar!" An Xiaohai paused for a while before finally saying it.

"Your feelings for him..."

"No! No!"

An Xiaohai interrupted 073: "To be honest, apart from disgust and hatred, I do admire him a little. Therefore, I don't want even this last bit of goodwill to disappear in the end."

I hope he holds his head high as he faces his final judgment!

"I... I roughly understand. Why... did you choose to tell me the truth? Aren't you afraid I'll stop you?"

"Don't be afraid. I believe in you, I believe you can understand me, and I believe you will support my choice. Everyone needs to be able to believe in something, and there need to be certain people and things worth believing in. Otherwise, this world would really be too boring."

"Aren't you going to reconsider?"

"I've thought about this for a long time, and this should be the best ending for both of us."

"Okay, I hope you get what you want."

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Didn't we agree that we don't say thank you between us?"

"Yes, it's a promise. I'm just afraid that I won't have the chance to say thank you in the future."

"Don't say that. You are still young and have a long road ahead of you."

"I know I will keep going steadily, please don't worry!"

"Why are you unwilling to stay with us and walk this path together? Can you tell me the reason?"

"I don't want to be the one wearing shackles and laying down my sword when new demons appear."

"We are hunters, specializing in fighting demons."

"But what if the hunters become demons? What if the other defenders of the forest become demons?"

"A demon is a demon, no matter who he came from, our duty is to destroy him."

"But what if the Lord of the Forest falls into a deep sleep?"

Will that day ever come?

"Hopefully not!"

"Okay, I understand what you're thinking. I don't know how to answer your questions. Never mind, let's not talk about this anymore. Good luck!"

"I will do my best... Tell me, if I leave, will we ever see each other again?"

"I think it's possible; there will always be a chance to meet again. Don't forget, your communication channel will always be there, as long as I don't cancel it."

"I understand. Well then... goodbye."

"goodbye."

073 hung up the phone and stood there for a long time before taking a deep breath and turning around. He was surprised to find 027 standing at the door of the conference room, smiling at him.

"senior…"

"Coming here so early in the morning to secretly make a phone call—is it someone you like?"

"No...no! I don't have any sweetheart. Please don't make fun of me, senior."

"You're lying! I think Xiaoyu is quite nice!"

"Senior, that's not true. She and I are just superior and subordinate!" 073 was startled and quickly explained.

"You don't need to explain. I've been there, and I can see through that girl's eyes! She's a very nice girl, so we absolutely can't let her slip away."

Don't give me that superior-subordinate thing. That's easy to solve. I can just take her over and have her work for me.

"No... Senior, it's not because of that. I... I'm not good enough for her. She deserves a better partner. I'm not suitable..."

"Not good enough!" 027 slowly uttered these three words and nodded gently: "Yeah, still not enough love! If you really love someone, why would you consider whether you're good enough or not?"

That's just how people are; they often don't learn to cherish what they have until they lose it and then they regret it too late.

That's how I was back then, but in the blink of an eye, youth was gone, and the person who loved you seemed to have vanished without a trace...

027 glanced at 073 with a smile, then turned and left: "That poor kid An Xiaohai, he's never experienced a father's love in his life. You can't let him down!"

"..."

------

Xingfuyuan Community

Mai Xiaoyu and Zhou Xun returned home exhausted, only to find the house empty. Mai Xiaoyu frowned and immediately dialed An Xiaohai's number.

Where are you?

"I'm at the club with President Kang."

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have had Chen Xun go with you!" Mai Xiaoyu's brows furrowed even more.

"It doesn't matter, the club is just a short walk from home anyway; the Wild Men and the others are with me, nothing will happen. Chen Xun is with you, so let him stay with you. Don't worry about me."

"You're just being ridiculous! What good are those savages? Do you remember what you promised me?! I'm sending Chen Xun over there right now!"

"Okay..." An Xiaohai hung up the phone and shrugged helplessly at Kang Lianhai.

"I called you over, is Secretary Xiaoyu angry?" Kang Lianhai said apologetically. He had called An Xiaohai early in the morning and invited him to the club.

Without the powerful CEO Chen by his side, Kang Lianhai always felt unsafe and couldn't sleep soundly.

"No, that's not true. She's just a little worried about my safety. Didn't we mess with that An Xiaohai last time? She's worried that he might come after me."

"So that's how it is. I'm so sorry!" Kang Lianhai apologized repeatedly.

"It's nothing, we've already provoked them anyway, but if we don't resolve this, it'll always be a problem."

"Yes, yes, that An Xiaohai is too arrogant!" Kang Lianhai wholeheartedly agreed.

"By the way, now that Secretary Xiaoyu has arrived home, Jiaxiang will be back soon. He must have been in meetings with Secretary Xiaoyu all day."

Jiaxiang told me he has something very important to discuss with you, so I'd better excuse myself for now.

"There's no need to avoid him, he's your son, boss!" An Xiaohai frowned deeply. After Zhan Weiting died, Kang Lianhai was like a headless fly.

"No, no, no, I'd better avoid it!" Kang Lianhai shook his head quickly. "Brother Chen, don't laugh at me, but I'm really scared! My heart is pounding as soon as I hear what you guys are discussing!"

I'd better hide! I'll hide!

Kang Lianhai ran away in a panic. He was terrified but powerless to escape his fate, so he could only choose to run away. Seeing him trembling all over, An Xiaohai couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.

Without Zhan Weiting, Kang Lianhai might have lived a completely different life...

The private room quieted down. The wild man pushed open the door and poked his head out. An Xiaohai gently shook his head at him, indicating that nothing had happened.

After mouthing the words "Wild Man Chong An Xiao Hai," he closed the door. Zhou Xun had already arrived; she came really fast!

Kang Jiaxiang did not appear as quickly as Kang Lianhai had said. An Xiaohai waited for a full half hour before Kang Jiaxiang finally appeared in a flurry.

"Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry!"

After the meeting with Mr. Mai and the others, I was supposed to rush back immediately, but I suddenly had to meet with someone very important, so I was delayed for so long. I'm so sorry!

"It's nothing," An Xiaohai waved his hand. "We didn't make any plans, but I have to remind you, I think President Kang seems a bit off. He's overly nervous. You'd better spend more time with him if you have the chance."

"Yes, my father was frightened!" Kang Jiaxiang sat down opposite An Xiaohai, took the tea set from An Xiaohai's hand, and began to brew tea for An Xiaohai.

"Mr. Chen, there's no need to worry too much. My father is just like that. He's timid and lacks ambition, but he understands the principles in his heart. Give him some time, and I believe he will get better soon."

"Let's not talk about that, Mr. Chen. Have you considered my suggestion from last time?"

Kang Jiaxiang stared at An Xiaohai, pouring him tea as he asked questions. An Xiaohai picked up the teacup, took a sip, smiled slightly, but did not answer.

"President Chen is indeed a cautious person!" Seeing that An Xiaohai remained silent and noncommittal, Kang Jiaxiang smiled slightly: "However, this makes me even more determined to cooperate with President Chen!"

How about this, Mr. Chen, give me an overseas account, and I'll transfer 5,000 million US dollars to you first. This way, it will both express my sincerity in cooperating with Mr. Chen and provide him with some security. Does Mr. Chen think this is in line with your wishes?

"Mr. Kang, aren't you afraid I'll run off with the money? 5,000 million US dollars!"

"Haha! No way! I bet Mr. Chen isn't that kind of person. Even if Mr. Chen really does run away, it doesn't matter. Mr. Chen saved my father's and my lives; this little bit of money is nothing!"

"That's bold! Cooperating with you isn't out of the question, but I have some concerns."

"Please, Mr. Chen, speak freely! Since I have chosen to cooperate with you, I will naturally share everything I have to say."

"Then I'll just say it directly."

"Please go ahead, Mr. Chen. I'm listening attentively."

"Why choose me? I remember you told me last time that as long as I cooperated, I would definitely be able to get rid of that god, that nun..."

"Nemesis".

"Yes, Nemesis. Why is it that if I cooperate, I can definitely lure him out?"

"Well...hehe!" Kang Jiaxiang chuckled, then leaned closer and whispered mysteriously, "Because President Chen looks a lot like someone!"

"Do I look like someone?" An Xiaohai stroked his chin. "Are you saying I look like that An Xiaohai?"

"correct!"

"That can't be right. I saw him from afar when we clashed at the club last time, and I felt there was still a big gap between us."

"When you stand next to him, of course there's a big difference, but if you look at them separately, they're extremely similar! Haven't quite a few people mistake him for someone else?"

"That's true... Because of him, I'm constantly being stopped by the police for no reason and having my ID checked... Damn it! What a nemesis!"

"Haha, that's right! I know of at least two or three times, haha!"

"But what does it have to do with that Nemesis that I look like An Xiaohai?"

"Of course it's related!" Kang Jiaxiang leaned closer again, this time even closer. The scent of his cologne made An Xiaohai frown, but he could only endure it.

"Because Nemesis's real name is An Cheol-ho!"

"You mean An Zhehao and An Xiaohai are brothers?"

"No, closer than brothers! This An Xiaohai is An Zhehao's illegitimate son!" Kang Jiaxiang nodded proudly: "An Zhehao is like a stud horse. He ruined many respectable women when he was young. These women were foolish enough to willingly have children for him."

As a result, after they gave birth, they were all killed by Ahn Cheol-ho himself. Isn't that tragic?

However, Ahn Cheol-ho has inexplicably gained quite a few children; we estimate that he has at least this many illegitimate children living outside the home!

Kang Jiaxiang made a cross with his fingers: "An Xiaohai is one of them. As long as President Chen appears disguised as An Xiaohai, An Zhehao will definitely take the bait!"

"That's not right. I just investigated An Xiaohai not long ago, and it seems his father is already dead."

"No, the one who died wasn't his father. It was all a fabrication by Ahn Cheol-ho! As for exactly how Ahn Cheol-ho did it, my organization isn't entirely clear either, since it's his private matter."

However, there is no doubt that An Xiaohai is An Zhehao's biological son. The organization would never make such a statement if it were not certain.

I guess Nemesis, also known as Ahn Cheol-ho, probably knew he had done too many bad things and was afraid that the retribution would fall on his own children, so he didn't dare to bring these children with him and could only let them wander outside and grow up on their own.

If these children grow up to be ordinary people, he will not bother them, considering it as continuing his lineage; but if these children grow up to be similar to him, or if he thinks they are promising talents, he will appear and recruit them back.

Yeah, I think that's exactly what he thinks!

Kang Jiaxiang's words surprised An Xiaohai slightly, as he had never considered the issue from this perspective before.

But now that we've come this far, none of that matters anymore.

"Jiaxiang, I still don't have any confidence. Most of your information comes from the organization behind you. It's clear that you trust your organization a lot, but to be honest, I don't trust them!"

I've been wandering abroad for so many years, and I've seen countless organizations of all kinds. Quite a few have invited me to join, and I've even joined one or two myself. But in the end, I realized it's all the same. They either want to profit from me, or they want me to be cannon fodder. It's really boring.

"That depends on what kind of organization it is. Our organization is definitely different from other organizations!"

"Really? Now that you mention it, I'm quite curious to know what kind of organization you trust so much. But if it's inconvenient to say, then never mind."

An Xiaohai finished his tea, leaned back on the sofa, and said with a smile.

Kang Jiaxiang frowned and hesitated for a long time before finally nodding: "Alright! Although this doesn't comply with organizational regulations, I can explain it to you briefly!"