Chapter 47: Disappointment

Grizzly drained his glass in one swift gulp, unable to suppress a sense of triumph. If this deal went through, the financial prospects would be unstoppable; even if the old man's associates caught wind of it, it would matter little, for he had the backing of the third-ranking member of the "Angel Corps." At worst, he could sever ties with the gang and establish his own faction.

"What are you laughing at, Grizzly?" asked Buck, wearing sunglasses and speaking in halting Mandarin.

"Oh, nothing much, Brother Buck. I just recalled some rather amusing incidents," Grizzly replied, pausing his meaningless musings.

"Care to share?" Buck tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Although Grizzly was reluctant to reveal his thoughts, he recognized that the man before him was a notoriously suspicious and ruthless drug lord. Any hint of hesitation on his part could lead to a bullet fired from the shadows, so he wisely opted to unveil a portion of his thoughts.

Upon hearing Grizzly's true intentions, a glimmer of insight flashed behind Buck's sunglasses. "I want you to know, Grizzly, whatever happens, I will stand by you! If you find yourself in a bind, you can always return to the Golden Triangle with me. I promise to secure you a position that suits you well."

"Thank you, Brother Buck. Here's to you!" Grizzly raised his goblet.

"Cheers!" Buck clinked his glass against Grizzly's.

They downed their drinks, and Buck asked, "Are you sure those students won't spill the beans?"

"Absolutely! Those students are timid and risk-averse; they wouldn't dare breathe a word. Besides, we've employed certain methods to ensure they remain tight-lipped," Grizzly boasted, completely unaware that he was already under scrutiny.

"Then I can rest easy! But be cautious in the coming days; don't let anything go awry at the last moment. That'll be all for today; keep me posted on any developments."

"Of course!"

"Hey, they're leaving," Iron Wan remarked as she noticed the rogue still acting nonchalant.

"I see," Xiang Ri waved her off, his impatience evident. Typically, he would have trailed the targets and eliminated them in a secluded spot, but now, knowing their true strength, he had no intention of engaging in such folly.

"Teacher, what are you discussing?" Shiqing, having finished two portions of food, and with the slight flush from the small glass of red wine Xiang Ri insisted she drink, inquired with curiosity.

"Oh, nothing much! By the way, Shiqing, are you full?" Xiang Ri smoothly shifted the topic.

"I'm quite full," she affirmed, and as if to validate her statement, she let out a loud belch, causing her to blush deeply. Years of rigorous upbringing had instilled in her a strict sense of propriety, and such behavior in public was deemed exceedingly rude.

"Ha ha," Xiang Ri laughed lightly.

"Teacher," Shiqing looked up, her expression imbued with a rare pout. Despite having experienced this once before, Xiang Ri nearly lost himself in her charm; the power of her demeanor was overwhelming.

Iron Wan found it perplexing that these two, who appeared to be lovers, addressed each other as disciple and teacher, titles laden with academic connotation. Did this only serve to heighten their excitement?

As Grizzly and Buck rose to bid farewell, Iron Wan hastily nudged the lost-in-thought Xiang Ri, signaling whether they should pursue.

Xiang Ri shot her a bemused glance, dismissing her without further consideration. Pursue them? That would be folly of the highest order. Knowing the risks yet charging ahead was either the mark of a fool or someone powerful enough to handle any ensuing complications. Xiang Ri had not yet deluded himself into believing he was invulnerable; such perilous endeavors were far from appealing.

Iron Wan nearly ground her teeth in frustration. If they weren't going, did she really need to look at her that way? Just as she was about to erupt, her phone chimed with a melodious ringtone, prompting her to abandon her original plans and answer it.

The moment she heard the first few words, her expression changed dramatically. She muttered a few hurried confirmations before abruptly hanging up, grabbing her bag and sprinting away.

"Hey, you haven't settled your bill yet," Xiang Ri called out, taken aback by her abrupt departure. If not for the stormy look on her face, he might have suspected she was trying to dodge the check.

"Teacher, it's fine. Let me handle the bill," Shiqing interjected.

"It's not a matter of who pays; it's the principle! She offered to treat us, yet she leaves without explanation, expecting us to cover her tab. What does that even mean?" Xiang Ri replied, his irritation palpable. He didn't care about the money itself, but her dismissive exit without a word rankled him greatly.

"What do you suggest we do then, Teacher?"

"Never mind, I'll cover it this time. I'll make sure to get it back from her next time!" Xiang Ri smirked, envisioning a scenario where a certain female officer begged for forgiveness, tears streaming down her face.

"Teacher, do you have enough cash on you?"

"Shiqing, I've noticed you've been rambling quite a bit today."

"Ah!" Shiqing was taken aback and dared not speak carelessly again.

"Waiter, the bill, please!" Xiang Ri called over to the server who was watching from a short distance away.

"Certainly, sir. The total is…"

As they exited the restaurant, Xiang Ri glanced at his disciple, who walked closely beside him, a faint smile gracing his features. It seemed this experience had deepened her infatuation and instilled a sense of dependency she had previously lacked.

"Shiqing, aren't you returning to school?"

"Teacher, what about you?"

"I, of course, will be heading back."

"Then... shall we go together?" After mustering her courage to utter those words, Shiqing eagerly awaited his response, only to realize he was not listening but rather conversing in front of a sleek black Mercedes.

"Shiqing, you head back to school first; I need to attend to something," Xiang Ri said, opening the car door and gesturing for her to proceed.

"Alright, I understand!" Watching the Mercedes drive away, Shiqing kept her hand in a waving gesture, feeling a twinge of disappointment in her heart.