Inside the Reception Room, under Director Chen’s orders, all the defeated and unconscious Scavengers who had lost the ability to move were tied up and gathered together.
Of course, Night Owl was not among them, because in He Anpai’s eyes, Night Owl had performed excellently—he was bound to become the Police Affairs Department’s Black Glove sooner or later.
That Scavenger named Lu Liang couldn’t possibly outdo Night Owl.
Given this, the command Director Chen gave to all Scavengers didn’t need to be applied to Night Owl.
Calm and relaxed, He Anpai lit a cigarette and took a drag, eyes half-closed in immense contentment.
“Leader, please don’t tie me up. I didn’t even fight just now.”
At this moment, Lu Ansheng, who had been tied up along with the others, nervously shouted at He Anpai.
Earlier, when Lu Liang faced off alone against the other Scavengers in the Reception Room, perhaps out of consideration for Lu Ansheng stepping in front of him, he spared only him.
But when the Police Affairs Department arrived en masse, they tied up Lu Ansheng without distinguishing between friend or foe!
Lu Ansheng’s face turned red with embarrassment, shame flooding him from head to toe.
He more or less understood the Police Affairs Department’s reasons—they just feared the Scavengers would make trouble—but being bound up without having done anything made Lu Ansheng feel his dignity slipping away—something his age group found especially hard to accept.
“No can do, it’s a leader’s order, and as subordinates, we must carry it out. Don’t make things hard for us, kid.”
He Anpai grinned, though strictly speaking, he’d already neglected his duties when it came to Night Owl.
But orders from the leader had a degree of interpretation: it’s not about disobedience, but about delaying, slowing down, being lenient to your own, and harsh to outsiders… That’s the art of execution.
He had let Night Owl go, but Night Owl was family. What did Lu Ansheng count for?
“Then, leader, could you at least loosen the ropes a little? They’re tied too tight. I promise I won’t cause trouble.”
Seeing there was no way to get released, Lu Ansheng compromised, humbly pleading for the ropes to be loosened.
He Anpai, like a grinning Maitreya Buddha, said:
“Tight? The tighter, the better. If it’s not tight, I’d be afraid you’d run off.”
He sneered inwardly. Did these foolish Scavengers really think Director Chen tied them up just because they were fighting?
With Director Chen’s temperament, he’d never do something so thankless.
Scavengers and the Police Affairs Department were like fire and water.
This Black Glove interview was always meant to rack up “performance”.
Letting the successful ones go was one thing; would they let the rest escape instead of claiming them as “performance”?
Yet, Lin Deqing, hearing Lu Ansheng’s plea, actually stepped forward and loosened his ropes a bit.
It wasn’t out of kindness—it was because Lu Liang had beaten all the other Scavengers but let Lu Ansheng go.
Lin Deqing felt that perhaps there was some camaraderie between Lu Liang and Lu Ansheng.
Maybe showing a little kindness to Lu Ansheng could ease things between himself and Lu Liang.
He didn’t know if it would work, but it was worth a try.
“Thank you.”
Lu Ansheng said gratefully.
The ropes were still snug, but Lin Deqing’s gesture made him feel much better, a little more respected as a person, and the burning shame on his face eased somewhat.
Seeing this, He Anpai pursed his lips, amused, but put on a concerned face and said:
“Dezi, even if your people don’t get the Black Glove this time, there’s no need to curry favor with a mere Scavenger. You’re still a Vice Director—if word gets out, how embarrassing would that be?”
It was obvious mockery. Lin Deqing smiled bitterly.
Although Lu Liang’s one-man rampage against dozens of people had opened Lin Deqing’s eyes and given him some unrealistic hope, when the initial excitement wore off, all that was left was a chill in his heart.
No matter how capable Lu Liang was, it wasn’t as if he would kneel down and lick boots!
His situation was already difficult enough. Once the Black Glove was chosen today, things would only get harder for him in the future.
Click!
Just then, the door opened. Director Chen’s interview with Lu Liang was over.
Everyone looked toward the door.
Lu Ansheng even awkwardly shuffled back, silently praying: don’t look at me, don’t look at me.
He really didn’t want Lu Liang—the “bro” he’d only just met—to see him in such a sorry state.
Director Chen glanced around the room, frowning, then suddenly said:
“Why isn’t he tied up yet?”
He Anpai thought he meant Lu Ansheng and quickly scolded Lin Deqing:
“Hey, Dezi, look at you—making the Director unhappy again. Hurry up and tie that Scavenger’s ropes tighter!”
Lu Ansheng and Lin Deqing both forced a bitter smile. Lin Deqing stood to tighten Lu Ansheng’s ropes.
“I’m not talking about him. I mean that Night Owl.”
Director Chen interrupted.
“Huh? Night Owl… Director, him too?” He Anpai was stunned.
“He’s one of us, isn’t it unnecessary to be so rigid?”
“Who’s ‘one of us’ with a Scavenger? Xiao He, you’d better reflect on what you just said.”
There was a subtle note of anger in Director Chen’s voice.
He Anpai was dumbfounded.
He didn’t know what had happened—why had Director Chen’s attitude changed after leaving the office?
The Director he knew, even if indifferent to Night Owl, wouldn’t be so ruthless!
Unless…
He Anpai stared at Lu Liang behind Director Chen, his heart sinking.
Did this kid really manage to impress the Director?
Unlike the anxious He Anpai, Lin Deqing’s heart also skipped a beat, but it was from excitement, not fear.
Wang Er—no, Brother Lu Liang—could it be that he truly moved the Director?
“Deqing.”
After instructing He Anpai, Director Chen turned to Lin Deqing:
“Go bring out that Great Good Citizen Certificate and give it to this young man.”
Director Chen, as a high-ranking leader, had sharp eyes—he could see who had connections and who were in the same camp at a glance.
Assigning Lin Deqing to present the Great Good Citizen Certificate was his subtle way of expressing his attitude.
“Yes! Director, I’ll get it right away!”
Excitement made Lin Deqing’s voice tremble; his heart nearly leapt from his chest.
Even his title had changed! From Dezi to Deqing—this was already very obvious!
Haha! It’s done! Truly done! Brother Lu Liang didn’t let him down!
Lin Deqing felt his spine straighten instantly. He quickly found the Great Good Citizen Certificate and handed it to Lu Liang:
“Do your best—we, Director Chen and I, both believe in you.”
Lin Deqing kept a solemn face, speaking gravely to Lu Liang, silently warning himself to hold back—now was not the time to laugh out loud.
Lu Liang accepted the Great Good Citizen Certificate, put it away carefully, and glanced at the group of bound Scavengers (mainly at Lu Ansheng, who kept dodging his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes):
“Director Chen, what about them?”
“Oh, they’re all ‘performance.’”
Facing his now ‘Black Glove’ insider, Director Chen didn’t avoid the topic, stating bluntly:
“Since they didn’t pass the interview, they’re just ordinary Scavengers. We in the Police Affairs Department have maintained order for years—of course we can’t let a bunch of Scavengers go free.”
The implication was clear—they needed the performance numbers.
Upon hearing this, Lu Ansheng’s eyes widened.
It’s over!
He dared not resist, only feeling that the way those leaders looked at them was like seeing pigs waiting for slaughter.
He felt like a filthy animal wallowing in a muddy pigsty.
The little yellow-haired youth was instantly overwhelmed with despair, his future bleak.
Lu Liang’s face twitched—even he was caught off guard by the Police Affairs Department’s slick methods.
He glanced at Lu Ansheng, thought for a moment, and suddenly asked:
“Director Chen, I know someone here—could you let him go?”
“Sure, whichever one you know, just take him with you.”
Director Chen agreed readily—with so much “performance,” he could spare one.
Leaving the Police Affairs Department, Lu Ansheng half-ran, half-walked to keep up behind Lu Liang—wherever Lu Liang went, he followed, stopping when Lu Liang stopped.
After a few turns, Lu Liang noticed something strange. He turned and asked:
“Is there something you need?”
“I… bro.” Lu Ansheng blushed.
He’d wanted to ask why Lu Liang had saved him, but was too embarrassed to use words like “save”, so he changed it at the last second, saying:
“Congratulations, really, for becoming Black Glove, bro—you’re amazing.”
“Mm.”
Lu Liang replied indifferently.
The main reason he saved Lu Ansheng was because the latter had stepped out for him among the Scavengers.
Even though Lu Liang could have handled things himself, since someone was willing to speak up for him, he didn’t mind helping in return.
A favor for a favor.
But since Lu Ansheng didn’t mention it, Lu Liang said nothing more.
“Bro, now that you’re Black Glove, is there anything I can help with?”
Lu Ansheng asked. Afterward, he felt he was overreaching and his face flushed even redder.
“Uh, no… Maybe forget it. I just mean—I owe you a favor. If you ever need me, bro, just reach out.”
After all, Lu Ansheng was just an ordinary Scavenger, while Lu Liang had become an unofficial temp worker for the Police Affairs Department—one word from Lu Liang had saved Lu Ansheng’s life.
Even Lu Ansheng could see that a gulf had opened between them—they were no longer from the same world.
But Lu Liang, upon hearing his words, thought for a moment and suddenly asked:
“Bro, do you know a lot of people?”
“Lots! If you need anything, just ask—over on North Alley Street, almost everyone knows me, Lu Ansheng.” Lu Ansheng patted his chest.
“Are you interested in working with me? Find a few trustworthy people… let’s work together.”
“Really?”
Lu Ansheng was shocked—happy, ashamed, but mostly confused and self-conscious:
“Would that really be okay? I feel like you could do this just fine on your own, bro.”
“Strength in numbers.”
Lu Liang said coolly.
Now that he’d won the Black Glove position, Lu Liang was determined to make it big and earn a fortune.
He picked Lu Ansheng because this yellow-haired kid was decent, loyal, kept promises, and was grateful—already rare qualities.
“Alright.” Hearing this, Lu Ansheng didn’t hesitate anymore:
“Bro, wait here, I’ll go call the other bros I can trust.”
“Mm.”
Lu Ansheng ran off toward North Alley Street. Halfway there, with no one else around and Lu Liang out of sight, he suddenly stopped, turned toward where Lu Liang had been, and bowed deeply.
“From now on, bro, you’re my big brother.”
He muttered softly, then turned and ran off again without stopping.
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