Chapter Forty-Five: He Is Mine

At lunchtime, in the cold, echoing cafeteria of the detention center, Chen Hongxu sat alone on a long bench, devouring his food with great appetite. Around his bowl, a dozen or more others were lined up, each filled with rice, and thirty or forty prisoners in their uniforms hovered at a distance, clutching their stomachs, watching him eat in silence and fear.

When he was finally sated, Chen Hongxu slammed his chopsticks down onto the table. Instantly, two quick-witted inmates stepped forward, offering him water to rinse his mouth and vigorously massaging his back and shoulders. The rules here had been explained to him by these very men: should Chen Hongxu find anything unsatisfactory, he could simply dump all the leftovers after his meal, or even beat the others for no reason. Thus, everyone was determined to serve him well, lest some tragic incident repeat itself—indeed, in the corner lay two strong men, immobilized.

Swatting away a cigarette offered with no sense of propriety, Chen Hongxu glanced at the inmates with a faint smile and said, "Meal time."

Hearing this, joy spread across their faces. The two prisoners who had just served him began timidly lifting their bowls, apparently intending for everyone to eat standing up—none dared sit with Chen Hongxu.

He frowned. Though this imperial, commanding life was unlike anything outside, it went against his own principles to oppress others so. Having tired of playing the overlord, Chen Hongxu rose slowly, maintaining his frown, and said with gravity, "Sit at the table and eat. Otherwise, no one eats at all."

Panic swept through the inmates. Unsure what their leader was up to, they saw his furrowed brow and dared not delay, rushing to the table like frightened rabbits. They ate quietly, watching their noses, their mouths, their hearts, chewing delicately as if they were refined ladies—no teeth, no sound.

Hands clasped behind his back, Chen Hongxu paced. Someone had just gleefully brought him news from outside; he knew the world beyond was in turmoil because of him. But with his growing understanding of the law, he realized these efforts would achieve nothing, and might even make the judicial authorities in HJ City feel their domain was threatened, causing matters to take a turn for the worse.

As he pondered how to persuade Xue Xizhi, the iron door to the cafeteria clanged open. A young man with yellow hair swaggered in, brushing his fringe from his eyes. In the next instant, as if jolted by electricity, his whole body spasmed, and his arrogant face twisted into one of abject misery.

Chen Hongxu watched Fan Caobao's theatrical entrance with amusement.

Fan Caobao, his face contorted, quickly locked eyes on Chen Hongxu and rushed over without a word, looking as though he’d suffered some great injustice. Chen Hongxu was baffled.

Seeing Fan Caobao approach with the intent to embrace him, Chen Hongxu blocked the gesture and laughed, "So, this matter is troublesome? You’ve suffered at home because of me?"

Fan Caobao pursed his lips, nodding and shaking his head in turn, like a resentful wife.

"I can't communicate with you," Chen Hongxu muttered, scratching his head. "You’re here now, so can I leave?"

Fan Caobao was about to nod when a voice rang out from behind him, "I'm afraid not!"

Chen Hongxu hated contrarians at critical moments. He turned to seek the source of the voice and saw a tall woman, her face icy as if Chen Hongxu were her mortal enemy, approaching slowly.

"And you are?" He recalled the oddity when Fan Caobao had blocked the door earlier—could it have been because of this woman? Such a refined girl, perhaps? For a moment, Su Xiaoxiao's image flashed in his mind; Chen Hongxu shook his head, lamenting how appearances can deceive.

"My name is reserved for those who matter," the woman replied coldly, her gaze challenging him.

"Oh," Chen Hongxu nodded, then shifted his attention to Fan Caobao. "Goodbye."

The woman was stunned, apparently unused to such responses. She quickly regained composure, swept her foot sideways, and kicked the hapless Fan Caobao away. Stepping forward, her height—about one meter seventy-five—put her eye-to-eye with Chen Hongxu. "You're very rude."

Chen Hongxu was unsure of Fan Caobao’s relationship with the woman, but seeing Fan Caobao rubbing his backside on the floor, it seemed there was no deep hatred between them. So he didn't intervene; if Fan Caobao secretly liked this woman and was letting her vent at him, then Chen Hongxu stepping in would only make him the villain and draw all of Fan Caobao's resentment.

More importantly, Chen Hongxu sensed this woman was formidable, certainly more so than the injured Su Xiaoxiao.

Seeing his odd expression, the woman grew annoyed. She pointed at Fan Caobao. "Your friend was beaten. Aren’t you going to stand up for him?"

"I really don’t know him well," Chen Hongxu replied earnestly.

But to the woman, his words took on a different meaning. Her gaze became colder, fixing him with a steely look. "Everyone brags about your exploits in Japan. I thought you were some great hero, so I came to see for myself. But you’re just an ungrateful scoundrel."

Chen Hongxu shrugged, unwilling to explain, while Fan Caobao looked helpless, not daring to speak.

"Take three punches from me, and you can go," the woman said, stepping back without haste.

"And if I can't?" Chen Hongxu shed his playful expression, recognizing her seriousness and persistence.

"Those who commit suicide out of guilt don’t need to know."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Chen Hongxu moved, his fist flaring crimson as he launched a direct, unreasoning punch at her face.

"You’re attacking me by surprise!" she snapped, her icy face now tinged with anger and vigilance, more convinced than ever that Chen Hongxu was a villain.

Chen Hongxu remained silent, feeling no remorse. Fighting, after all, was about the first move, and since he didn’t know this woman, why should he let her land three punches? The best defense is offense; this principle is never wrong.

Fan Caobao, sitting on the floor against the wall, quietly took out an unmarked pack of cigarettes, placed one in his mouth, and watched the exchange with relish. If not for his profound respect for both, he might have applauded.

As for the other prisoners, they had scattered as soon as the fight began. Anyone who dared challenge the prison overlord Chen Hongxu was not someone to be trifled with. Better not risk injury—medical expenses aren’t covered in jail.

Their repeated attacks seemed ineffective. Chen Hongxu, breathing lightly, watched the woman’s chest rise and fall with her forcibly controlled breaths and remarked, "Very beautiful."

The woman stared at him, as if she could see her own reflection in his eyes. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, fists clenched, she gritted her teeth. "I’ll kill you!"

Chen Hongxu lifted his eyelids, lips curled—a gesture he’d picked up from television, all about disrupting an opponent’s focus. He was about to tease her further when—

"He belongs to me!"

Another woman appeared! Clad in green, Su Xiaoxiao declared her claim over Chen Hongxu, then stuck out her tongue and licked her lips, shifting her gaze to the other woman. "Zhang Shufang, right? The famed Ice Queen. I never expected you’d be here entangled with a man—and that man happens to be mine."

As she spoke, Su Xiaoxiao strode confidently toward Chen Hongxu.

And thus, the chapter ends.