Chapter 26: I'll Make You Some Noodles

Chen Xuewen slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky. When he finally opened his eyes, it was already past ten in the morning. He hurriedly dressed and pushed the door open to step outside.

The sound of the television drifted from the living room. As Chen Xuewen walked in, he saw a figure reclining on the sofa—it was Fang Ru, dressed in a silk nightgown. Though the world outside was locked in a frozen, snowy grip, the interior of the house was warm and inviting. Fang Ru lay at an angle, her graceful, curvaceous figure accentuated by the well-tailored pajamas, a sight so alluring it was difficult to look away.

Noticing he was alone with her, Chen Xuewen stepped back slightly. "Sister Ru, where is Fifth Master?" he asked.

Fang Ru turned her head, a charming, seductive smile lighting up her beautiful face. "You're awake! Fifth Master has gone out with his men."

"Gone out?" Chen Xuewen repeated. "Then... what about my situation?"

Fang Ru gestured toward the television. "Look, it's on the news right now."

Chen Xuewen turned his attention to the screen, where the Pingcheng news was playing. The headline reported that a fire had broken out in a detached villa in the suburbs of Pingcheng due to the improper use of heating equipment, resulting in three deaths. Chen Xuewen’s heart skipped a beat; that was precisely the villa belonging to Zhou Wancheng.

Had the incident really been officially classified as a fire? And with only three deaths reported—the toll had been significantly downplayed. Chen Xuewen had killed eighteen people that night; by reporting only three, the gravity of the situation was immediately and drastically reduced. He felt a jolt of shock. Fifth Master Hou’s connections were truly formidable. It was not something an ordinary person could achieve, managing to frame the narrative so effectively in just a single night.

"They only reported three deaths? What about the other fifteen?" Chen Xuewen asked, bewildered.

"Most of those fifteen were fugitives living in the shadows," Fang Ru explained. "No one cares whether they live or die, so their bodies were simply disposed of. As for the remaining few, it's easy to stage other accidents—a car crash here, a drowning there. Once the autopsy reports are finalized, no one will look any deeper. Once Fifth Master spends a bit of money to settle their families, there won't be any issues at all."

Chen Xuewen came to a sudden, chilling realization, his heart trembling with awe. It seemed Fifth Master Hou had handled such matters many times before; he was well-versed in this dark craft. For a subterranean titan like Fifth Master Hou, who could cover the sky with one hand, taking a few lives was truly nothing of consequence.

Seeing Chen Xuewen staring at the screen, Fang Ru patted the sofa beside her with a smile. "What are you standing there like a fool for? Come over and sit." She shifted slightly, leaving a space for him.

Chen Xuewen looked at her and shook his head. "Thank you, Sister Ru, but I'm fine standing."

Fang Ru smiled faintly. "Why? Are you afraid Fifth Master might see? Don't worry, there's only you and me in the house right now. Everyone else went out with him. The only other people near here are the security guards at the gate, and they won't come in unless I call them."

The words were heavy with implication, suggesting they were alone together. Yet, Chen Xuewen did not move a step forward. He replied calmly, "No need. I've slept all night, and I'd prefer to stand for a while."