Li Chunfeng saw that Song Renqiang seemed genuinely angry and didn’t dare to talk back anymore, instead, he apologized and admitted his mistake honestly.
Song Renqiang was still fuming.
"I’m telling you, if it weren’t for the life-and-death friendship I had with your father back in the day, I wouldn’t have gone through such trouble to promote you. For the time being, you better behave yourself and especially maintain a good relationship with Commander Zhao, do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand. Don’t worry, godfather!"
Only after Li Chunfeng repeatedly assured him did Song Renqiang leave.
After he left, Li Chunfeng, unable to vent his anger, unexpectedly turned his wrath towards Zhao Ya.
"Damn it, it’s all your fault, you Zhao, for getting me slapped. Just wait, one day I’ll trample you underfoot, and even that woman of yours will be mine!"
Li Chunfeng cursed and ranted before leaving.
Little did he know, as soon as he left, Zhao Ya emerged from behind a cluster of flowers.
He had heard the conversation between Song Renqiang and Li Chunfeng, including Li Chunfeng’s final outburst.
This Song Renqiang indeed has a sense of the bigger picture, but Li Chunfeng...
Calling him a waste is a compliment.
Zhao Ya gazed deeply in the direction where Li Chunfeng had left, then quietly disappeared back into the flower bushes.
Night fell.
Li Chunfeng, drunk to the point of being staggering, was making his way back to his residence after drinking with some disreputable friends.
"Stretch out your hands, touch sister’s head, sister’s head smells like osmanthus... "
Li Chunfeng hummed and sang "The Eighteen Touches," while contemplating which woman to visit that night.
Should he try his luck with Xia Hongyu again?
So much time had passed, perhaps the person who ambushed him had already forgotten about it.
The more Li Chunfeng thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and his steps unconsciously veered towards the Laundry Workshop.
Next to the Laundry Workshop was a large pond, into which the dirty water used after washing clothes was dumped, along with water from cleaning toilets. It reeked in the summer.
Even in the dead of winter, the water didn’t freeze, and an acrid odor was still noticeable when nearby.
When Li Chunfeng reached the pond, it was already late, and he began to ponder how to lure Xia Hongyu out.
Just then, someone suddenly patted his shoulder.
Li Chunfeng was startled, and when he turned, he saw Zhao Ya standing behind him.
"Zhao... Commander Zhao, what are you doing here?" Li Chunfeng suppressed his fear and forced a smile.
"Oh, I was just passing by and saw you here, so I came to say hello," Zhao Ya smiled.
"But why are you wandering around here so late instead of sleeping?"
"Oh, I had too much to drink and took a wrong turn, I’m heading back now!" Li Chunfeng explained, turning to leave.
"Did you really take a wrong turn, or are you here looking for someone?" Zhao Ya said calmly.
"Huh? Commander Zhao, what are you saying?" Li Chunfeng looked puzzled.
Zhao Ya chuckled lightly, his tone playful: "I’m guessing you came looking for Xia Hongyu, right?"
Li Chunfeng looked as if he had been struck by lightning, his face turning pale instantly.
"That... that night... "
"That’s right, I was the one that night!"
Li Chunfeng suddenly felt his hair stand on end, the drunkenness frightened right out of him, and he tried to run.
But it was too late; Zhao Ya grabbed his neck from behind, stifling his screams in his throat.
Li Chunfeng was weak to begin with, and his indulgence in alcohol and sex had further drained him, so he was no match for Zhao Ya.
Being short in stature, Zhao Ya easily lifted him like a chick to the edge of the pond.
Li Chunfeng instantly realized his fate and struggled desperately in fear.
"To be honest, if you had listened to your godfather and behaved yourself from now on, I might not have killed you, but it’s your own doing that invites self-destruction; you can’t blame anyone else," Zhao Ya said.
As he spoke, Zhao Ya used one hand to choke Li Chunfeng’s neck, while with the other hand he took out a small bottle and poured the contents straight into Li Chunfeng’s mouth.
Li Chunfeng struggled desperately, but he was no match for Zhao Ya.
The bottle’s contents went halfway down his throat, and soon Li Chunfeng felt dizzy, limp, and completely powerless.
"How does it feel? Familiar, isn’t it," Zhao Ya said quietly.
Li Chunfeng was filled with despair.
Indeed, the feeling was familiar, as he often used the knockout drug on women who wouldn’t comply.
But he hadn’t expected to end up like this himself.
Seeing Li Chunfeng was completely powerless, Zhao Ya released his grip.
Plop!
Water splashed everywhere.
Li Chunfeng tried to struggle but was unable to muster any strength, unable even to call for help, and could only let the icy water gradually engulf him.
The last scene he saw was Zhao Ya standing on the shore, smiling.
At this moment, Li Chunfeng finally regretted.
He should have listened to his godfather and maintained a good relationship with Zhao Ya.
But now it’s too late for regrets.
The pond water soon completely engulfed him.
Zhao Ya didn’t hurry to leave, instead calmly waited on the shore, silently counting.
One, two...
Finally, by the time he counted to nearly sixty, bubbles began to appear on the surface of the water, but after just over a minute, they disappeared.
After a while, Li Chunfeng’s body finally floated to the surface.
Once sure he was dead beyond any doubt, Zhao Ya turned to glance at the distant Laundry Workshop.