Chapter 137: My Plan
I sat by Uncle Wing’s bedside and gently patted him.
He slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice, “A-Jin? What’s wrong?”
“Uncle Wing, come outside for a moment.” I glanced at Auntie, who was fast asleep beside him, and lowered my voice. “There’s something I need to ask you.”
I walked into the living room and was about to head out when something suddenly occurred to me.
It was cold on the rooftop, so I needed to put on my jacket.
I clearly remembered hanging it on the coat rack, but I found it on the sofa instead.
Not that it mattered much to me—clothes like this didn’t mean anything. Even if I lost them, it wouldn’t matter.
I slipped on my jacket and went to the rooftop to wait for Uncle Wing.
He took a while to come up, looking like he hadn’t fully woken up.
“What is it, A-Jin? So late.” He wrapped his pajamas tighter and sniffled. “Did you run into some kind of trouble?”
“Yeah, I’ve run into something really, really difficult.” I gritted my teeth and asked, “Uncle Wing, why do you need money?”
Uncle Wing paused for a moment, then said, “I’ve told you before. I want to wash my hands of this life, so I need to save up enough for my coffin.”
“Then why did you have to borrow money from Uncle Tong? Your own savings should be enough to support you in retirement.”
He was silent again for a while before saying, “At this point, I’m not afraid to tell you, A-Jin. I took money from the gang’s coffers to gamble in Macau. I lost over eight hundred thousand.”
“Is that so…” I lowered my head silently.
Last time Uncle Wing lost money, he got hacked by over thirty men, and I bailed him out.
This time I wasn’t there. Who could bail him out?
“Before this comes to light, I have to find a way to plug the hole in the gang’s funds,” Uncle Wing said calmly. “No matter who I asked to borrow from, I couldn’t repay it, so I had no choice but to go to Fat Tong, who I’ve had a grudge with.”
“You stole gang money to gamble. Didn’t Kau Jai stop you?” I asked.
“Ah Kau…” Uncle Wing’s gaze wavered. “If it weren’t for Ah Kau… I would’ve made back my losses in Macau that day! It was him who wouldn’t let me gamble! Who does he think he is?”
A sharp pain stabbed through my heart.
Who does he think he is?
He’s my brother.
“A-Jin, Ah Kau was definitely bought off by Fat Tong!” Uncle Wing said through gritted teeth. “He kept stopping me when I tried to borrow the money, and after I got it, he pressured me to pay it back as soon as possible. Why did I raise such an ungrateful bastard? If it weren’t for me, would he even be alive today?”
I nodded and asked, “You said Kau Jai kept urging you to pay back the money. Did he do that on the rooftop, or at home?”
“That woman is always at home. I told him not to talk about this stuff there, so we could only meet on the roo—”
He trailed off.
My eyes stung, like something was about to spill out.
“Uncle Wing, Kau Jai was hacked to death by Uncle Tong on the road while fleeing to Guangdong. So how could he have come here to urge you to pay back the money?”
I covered my forehead, feeling a deep ache inside.
Every single day for the past four years, I had dreamed of reuniting with Uncle Wing and Kau Jai.
I never imagined the reunion would end like this.
Before I could say anything else, I suddenly felt a cold chill in my lower abdomen.
Something had pierced into my gut.
I reflexively reached out with my right hand to grab the attacker’s Adam’s apple, while my left hand pressed down to lock their wrist.
But who else was here?
Only Uncle Wing could have stabbed me.
Uncle Wing’s eyes were wide open, burning with rage.
But why was he angry after stabbing me?
And my fingers, gripping his throat, were trembling too.
Why did everything have to be like this?
Slowly, Uncle Wing pulled a necklace out of his pocket.
It was a copper medallion with the character “Tong” engraved on it.
“Jinglan was right… A-Jin, you’re selling me out too?!”
I stared at that copper medallion for several seconds before finally recognizing what it was.
“You’re carrying Fat Tong’s token. Did you come here tonight to take my head?!”
All the strength drained from my body. Gradually, I let go of him with both hands.
This life belonged to Uncle Wing. If he wanted it, I’d give it back to him.
I slowly moved Uncle Wing’s hand away from the dagger, then wiped my fingerprints off the blade with my own clothes. Finally, I pulled the dagger out and tossed it to the ground.
I didn’t look at Uncle Wing again. Instead, I walked step by step to the edge of the rooftop.
Kau Jai’s silhouette appeared again, standing shoulder to shoulder with me.
“A-Jin, aren’t you going to keep living with my smile?” he asked.
“I’m hurting too much. I can’t smile anymore.” Something kept streaming from my eyes. “Kau Jai, if there’s a next life, I’ll smile then.”
Before I could jump, the entire rooftop suddenly began to shake violently.
I tried to steady myself, but on second thought, there was no point. So I leaped forward and dove down.
Just then, Uncle Wing rushed over and grabbed my wrist.
I swung in midair like a pendulum, then looked up dazedly at Uncle Wing.
He was crying.
“A-Jin… why… why is everyone selling me out?!” His tears fell onto my face, making me feel deeply uncomfortable.
I didn’t want to answer that question.
I thought I came to repay a debt of gratitude, but I was too stupid. I made Uncle Wing misunderstand.
“Uncle Wing, let go. That way, I’ll die from the fall, and it won’t be your fault.”
Uncle Wing held my hand and sobbed loudly. I had no idea what was going through his mind.
“Uncle Wing, I’ve repaid your kindness.”
In the midst of the violent shaking, Uncle Wing eventually let go.
I felt myself crash into a giant billboard, as if every bone in my body had broken.
If there really is a next life, I’ll find Kau Jai first, then go back and thank Uncle Tong.
I think I misunderstood Uncle Tong.
If I could choose again, I wouldn’t take the fall for Uncle Wing.
That way, Kau Jai wouldn’t have died.
And I wouldn’t die either.
No, if I really could choose again, I’d go back to the year I was eleven.
I’d snatch the knife from Kau Jai’s hand and teach him not to kill that local thug.
Then we could have lived normal lives, right?
…
When I woke up again, I still couldn’t understand the situation in front of me.
What was all this?
Were they making a movie?
Those men and women dressed way too fashionably.
And that man in the mask, wearing a suit.
“Good morning, the nine of you,” the masked man spoke. “I’m glad to meet you all here. You’ve been sleeping before me for twelve hours.”
If this really was a movie, they should take a few lessons from “The Terminator.” His costume and props were pretty shabby.
But what was I supposed to do now?
I was too stupid to understand this place.
I couldn’t understand what he said, and I couldn’t understand the questions everyone else asked.
“A-Jin, learn from me—say ‘Ngau!’ It sounds more aggressive like that. ‘Ngau!’ Don’t like it? Then how about ‘Ham ga chan’?”
“A-Jin, if one day I’m not around, find yourself another ‘brain.’”
“A-Jin, if you can’t find a ‘brain,’ just keep smiling. At least die laughing.”
Yeah. When it comes down to it, I should listen to Kau Jai. His plans were never wrong.
How about I add one of Uncle Tong’s catchphrases to make myself more intimidating?
“Ham ga chan! I don’t care how many of you are here—” I slammed the table and pointed viciously at the masked man. “Fan cheong, I suggest you wise up. You have no idea how serious it is to mess with me. I really will kill you.”
Good thing they didn’t know me. Otherwise, they’d see through the act in a second.
I never used to say “Ham ga chan” or “Fan cheong.” I never wanted to kill anyone.
Until I find my new “brain,” I’ll keep pretending like this.
I am Kiu Ka-king.
I’m going to start lying.