Chapter 253: An Algorithm? (Third Update, Please Vote)

Three years had passed, and Chen Shi had long grown accustomed to this identity. When others mentioned “Song Lang,” it felt like they were talking about someone he knew very well, but that person wasn’t him.

Chen Shi calmly said, “Life is short. As long as I’m comfortable, the identity doesn’t matter.”

“If I die someday, take care of my girl… you’re getting a good deal. But you can’t let her know you’re not me. As long as she thinks I’m still alive, it’s fine. Here’s a card, the password is the last six digits of my phone number. It’s got about a million in it, spend it as you like.”

“What are you doing? Making a will?”

“When you live this life, you’ll pay the price eventually. I’ve been in this game since I was sixteen, and making it this far is already a bonus!”

“Why keep playing this game? Can’t you find a place where no one knows you and live a peaceful life with your wife?”

“Heh, take it, take it! My WeChat is linked to the card. I can withdraw money anytime, it’s convenient.”

Chen Shi reluctantly accepted the card and said, “Are you hiding something from me?”

“Can’t I have a little privacy?”

“By the way, about Yuhua Pharmaceutical, do you really have no more leads?”

“Hmm…” Wang Daji pondered. “I need a drink to remember. Drink with me.”

“I’m driving!”

“One beer won’t hurt.”

“Forget it!”

When the food arrived, Wang Daji insisted on drinking, so Chen Shi had to toast him with a soft drink. After three shots of baijiu, Wang Daji’s face looked more animated. Observing closely, Chen Shi noticed that Wang Daji’s face was a bit puffy with a few unnoticed pimples, likely due to an irregular lifestyle.

“I had my guys tail them recently. They said they heard something about arithmetic… or a formula?”

“Algorithm?”

“Yeah, algorithm! What’s an algorithm?”

“What algorithm?”

“They mentioned the company and profits, but I didn’t get it.”

Algorithm? Algorithm!

Chen Shi had always wondered: if the drug formula was problematic, why did they keep using it and keep paying lawsuits every year?

Yuhua Pharmaceutical’s drug was the most widely used in the country, costing half as much as similar imported drugs. Almost every hospital used it. Despite being sued five years ago, it didn’t seem to affect them much, and the incident had faded from public memory.

After the meal, Wang Daji wanted to take a walk, saying he hadn’t been back to Long’an in years. Chen Shi had to accompany him.

Passing by a toy store, Wang Daji bought a Barbie doll. “This is for your little girl. I didn’t bring anything when I came over yesterday.”

“She doesn’t play with these.”

“Really? What does she play with? I get it, she likes electric toys…” Wang Daji said with a lewd grin.

“I’ll punch you!”

“I meant remote-controlled planes. What were you thinking? Boss, add a remote-controlled plane to that order and wrap it up.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“To be honest, I think you’re a good friend. The guys I used to hang out with always talked about loyalty but were quick to stab you in the back. That’s the nature of street life. Meeting Officer Song is an honor!”

“We’re friends now? Your standards for friends are pretty low!”

“We’ve met before, you probably don’t remember. You were a rookie cop raiding an underground casino, and I…” Wang Daji suddenly fell silent, staring ahead.

They saw the skinny guy from yesterday, leading a group of thugs into the restaurant they had just left, flipping tables and causing a ruckus.

“Damn it,” Wang Daji said. “That dog’s back for trouble! I’ll skin him alive!”

“Let’s go, quick!” Chen Shi dragged Wang Daji into an alley. One of the thugs spotted Chen Shi and pointed with his bat, “Boss, he’s over there!”

Chen Shi thought, What a mess. He walked towards them while dialing his phone. Standing before the group, he held up his phone. “I’ve called the cops. Leave now!”

“No way!” The skinny guy laughed. “When did you become such a coward, calling the cops? Did I hear that right?”

The group laughed along with him.

Chen Shi hesitated to show his badge, knowing it would complicate things.

Just then, a man wearing a plastic Pigsy mask and wielding a chair leg burst out of the alley, hitting a thug on the head and kicking him away.

No need to guess, it was Wang Daji.

Wang Daji yelled, “Boss, reinforcements are coming!”

“You tricked me! Get him!” the skinny guy shouted, raising his bat.

Chen Shi had no choice. He grabbed a pot of braised food from a nearby stall and flung it at the thugs, burning them and covering their faces with duck legs and tofu. He kicked the leading thug, knocking him into the others.

Wang Daji had already taken down two men. The thugs were in disarray, and Chen Shi quickly kicked down several more.

The skinny guy, enraged and humiliated, charged at Chen Shi with his bat. “Today, it’s either you or me…”

Before he could finish, Chen Shi kicked him a meter away. Wang Daji rushed over, beating him with the chair leg until the skinny guy begged for mercy. “Chen, I won’t do it again!”

“Let’s go!” Chen Shi shouted.

Reluctantly, Wang Daji landed a few more blows before running.

In an alley, Wang Daji laughed, “These street punks have no rules. Ten years ago, fights had honor—either one-on-one or gang fights. These days, they gang up on one person. No honor at all!”

“I really don’t want to deal with your mess. Hopefully, the police don’t catch those guys, or we’re busted!”

“You really called the cops?”

“I didn’t. But people on the street might have.”

“Haha, that was a good fight. Let’s find another place to drink!”

“Let’s go home, don’t wander around.”

“Alright, let’s drink at your place.”

That night, Wang Daji stayed over again. His snoring kept Chen Shi tossing and turning. Early the next morning, Chen Shi went to the station and saw Lin Dongxue hesitating at a pancake stall.

“What’s wrong, didn’t bring money?” Chen Shi asked.

“I want to add a crispy layer, but I’m afraid of gaining weight. Without it, it’s not as good.” Lin Dongxue tilted her head, considering, then noticed Chen Shi and made a funny face.

It seemed she had reset her mood overnight, no longer upset about yesterday.

Chen Shi told the vendor, “Give her the deluxe version and a cup of soy milk.”

The vendor responded cheerfully, “Coming right up!”