VESSEL - Extinction Countdown 975: Plight of Beasts

For a whole week, You Long’er and Vanilla barely slept.

The two usually bickered nonstop, but these seven days, they quieted down, comforting each other instead.

At 2 a.m., the noise from A-Qiang’s Game Parlor next door grated on You Long’er’s nerves.

Ye Shisan had spent six months building Shisan Bakery, only for it to be sold off cheap in half a day. Now renamed A-Qiang’s Game Parlor, it drew all sorts—shady types yelling past midnight, sparking street fights several times.

By all logic, You Long’er had no need to open a new Shisan Bakery. Yet a strange urge drove her. Money wasn’t an issue, but she kept thinking how upset Ye Shisan would be to see his shop ruined.

Why am I even thinking about him?

Even she found it odd. She’d planned to use Ye Shisan’s strength, so why was she worrying about his future?

Or was it Vanilla’s tearful face that stirred her pity?

Either way, no matter how much A-Qiang’s Game Parlor annoyed her, You Long’er couldn’t act—not with Ye Shisan’s mother and stepfather living there. That connection held her back.

Poor Vanilla hadn’t eaten much in days. She sat by the door, watching cars and crowds, hoping to see Ye Shisan’s tall, thin figure.

“Yo, Vanilla, little sis! Is that cop, Yi Qing, in today?” A sleazy voice came, followed by He Qiang’s bulbous red nose and pockmarked face.

Vanilla ignored him, heading inside and closing the door.

He Qiang didn’t give up. For days, he’d dreamed of Yi Qing’s figure—a one-in-a-million beauty, like a fairy.

He brazenly tried pushing the door, only to be stopped. You Long’er’s disgusted face appeared. “Got something to say? If not, get lost!”

“Yi Qing’s my brother’s girlfriend—my sister-in-law! What’s wrong with wanting to see her?”

“Dream on! With your looks, no one’s meeting you!”

“Ha! Got it—you’re jealous, stopping me from seeing Yi Qing, right? Come to my room tonight…”

You Long’er had never seen such shamelessness. Her voice erupted in an unprecedented shriek. “Get lost!”

Her shout brought He Dali, sitting at A-Qiang’s Game Parlor’s entrance. “Girl, you looking down on my boy Qiang? Say what you want, but that Ye Shisan you followed isn’t half as good as Qiang!”

“What? Old man, you confused? Without Ye Shisan, you’d be nothing!”

“You can’t put it that way. Ye Shisan’s bakery barely made enough to eat! Look at Qiang—smart, connected. His parlor’s doing way better. If Qiang likes you, that’s your luck!”

He Qiang grinned at his father’s support. No Yi Qing? Fine. You Long’er was a beauty too. If he could…

You Long’er’s anger flared. “You’re all ungrateful! Ye Shisan’s taken by the cops, and you’re still talking! The son’s shameless, the father’s unfair—Ye Shisan shouldn’t have claimed you!”

He Dali snapped. “What? I’m his stepfather, sure, but Li Fang’s his mother! Shouldn’t he care for us? He broke the law, got arrested—blame me? Ye Shisan’s not fit to carry Qiang’s shoes. That fool broke the law—serves him right!”

His shouting drew Li Fang, who rolled up, ready to argue. She never let go, especially with her twisted logic.

“Pretty girl, you talk ugly! I’m Ye Shisan’s mother. No matter how bad I am, he’s got to care for me, no complaints! My blood’s in him—I carried him ten months! A worthless shop? I wouldn’t take it!”

Their shouting drew a crowd at the door.

You Long’er, alone, couldn’t match them. She shook with rage, unable to believe Ye Shisan had lived with these people.

Then, Vanilla ran downstairs, yelling, “Uncle Shisan’s back!”

You Long’er brightened. “Where?”

“That car at the street corner—the one that took Uncle Shisan to the airport!”

Hearing Ye Shisan’s return, He Qiang and He Dali paled. Li Fang stayed calm. “Why panic? It’s just a new sign. I’ll talk to Shisan—I’m his mother. He’ll listen.”

You Long’er cleared the crowd. A black sedan pulled up, stopping at the shop.

A woman in her thirties, in a black business suit, stepped out. With small, graceful steps, she opened the car’s street-side door. “Mr. Lin, this is it… Wait, it’s next door now…”

A thin middle-aged man in a suit, hair slicked back, stepped out. “Secretary Hu, you can’t remember a shop’s address?”

Secretary Hu blushed. “No, I remember… but…”

“You can’t handle this simple task?”

“Sorry, Mr. Lin!”

Secretary Hu took the blame.

The man was Lin Changrong, senior director of Xiehe Medical Group.

Vanilla’s face fell—not Ye Shisan. Lin Changrong and You Long’er shared a silent glance.

As he moved to enter Shisan Bakery, He Qiang jumped out. “You… Mr. Lin Changrong, right? Hi, I’m Ye Shisan’s brother, He Qiang!”

Before Lin could reply, He Dali added, “I’m Ye Shisan’s father, He Dali! Thanks for helping my boy!”

Li Fang wheeled up. “Mr. Lin! You’re our savior! Without you, we’d be done!”

She set her wheelchair aside, knelt with a thud, and kowtowed.

Whether a beggar’s reflex or true gratitude, the three groveled, nearly calling Lin their patron—He Qiang tried, but Lin stayed quiet.

Finally free, Lin Changrong entered the new Shisan Bakery.

You Long’er signaled Vanilla. “Close up!”

Vanilla lowered the metal shutter, leaving Li Fang, He Dali, and He Qiang outside, still bowing and praising.

Two bodyguards stood at the door. Secretary Hu was told to wait outside.

After Lin’s scolding, Secretary Hu fumed with a scowl, glaring at the groveling family. He Qiang was sneaking looks up her skirt.

Disgusting trash! They’re not Ye Shisan’s family!

She stepped aside, recalling Ye Shisan’s face. She was sure she was right.

Shisan Bakery was next door—now A-Qiang’s Game Parlor.

This new Shisan Bakery? Renovated recently.

So, this family took Ye Shisan’s shop!

Secretary Hu planned to check the lease contract. She overheard He Qiang whisper to He Dali and Li Fang, “I bet Mr. Lin’s got something with Ye Shisan’s little girlfriend. Rich men love that!”