Sister Flower shrugged. "Hmph. Living in the Free Man is not a long-term solution. It’s not a home."
"I have to tell you something, but don't freak out." Qin Feng looked at her carefully.
"What's the matter?"
"This morning when I woke up, Zhao Jun, Kun and Zhao Hu were at the club." Qin Feng snorted disdainfully. "He heard what I made Li Faxian do and came to confirm the truth of the matter. I gave him a piece of my mind. He wanted to leverage me for his own agenda, but that coward doesn’t deserve any face from me."
"Did he tell you that he was trying to find some contact who could get you out of lockup or something?" Xiao Jinhua shook her head in frustration. "I know Zhao Jun too well. He’s very selfish, and hypocritical. He will promise whatever you want, and then lure you into his trap. When the time comes to fulfill his end of the deal, he will give you an in-depth list of all kinds of complaints and reasons why he can’t, leaving you with nothing to say back to him. If it weren’t for him giving me a hand when I was at my lowest point, I would have changed jobs years ago. He has a lot of the markers of success, but he is not a great man. His people can’t feel that particular kind of ambition in him. He lacks courage. His business always felt like a small workshop."
"Why are you still trying to dig up good things to say about him? He gave you a job because he saw that you could be useful to him. He owes you, not the other way around, understand? It’s obvious that the money you made for him, the fame you earned, and the power you consolidated far exceed what he gave you over the years. You’ve done more than Ru Ru and Pei Xiang combined! Isn't that enough?" Qin Feng said, puzzled.
"You can’t say that. Without him, I might never have discovered my talents in this industry. I could still be a simple waitress, a foot masseuse, a receptionist... I think it’s important to be grateful in life. It won’t do to forget the people who were there for you in your most difficult times," Sister Flower said. "The universe provides the opportunities, but it’s up to us to take advantage of them. I'm glad I took this opportunity. I'm happy with what I’ve achieved."
Looking at the smile on Sister Flower's face, Qin Feng suddenly realized a problem. Perhaps, as she said, he was being too narrow-minded. Even if Zhao Jun was no longer able to do it, at least he stood up for her when Sister Flower needed him most, and this was a great kindness…
It was too late for Qin Feng to voice these thoughts now. The three fingers on the floor could not be put back in their place, and parting with Zhao Jun was now unavoidable.
"But this life isn’t so happy, is it? You can have a better life. Why not fight for it?"
"I am doing well in life, what more do I need to fight for? I’m quite content." Sister Flower seemed to suspect something. Her eyes narrowed. "Is there something more you have to say? You don’t need to hide from me. Just say it."
Qin Feng sighed, and explained the details of what happened earlier that morning.
When he reached the end of his story, Sister Flower’s eyes widened sharply. She looked at Qin Feng with disbelief, "Wh-what did you say? You cut off three of his fingers? How could you do that?!"
"He was asking for it! He thought he was such a big shot I’d never dare to lay a finger on him. He thought I’d be his ‘little brother’ all my life. He thought I would be scared of him... I needed to prove that he was finished. When I wanted to raise him up, he was all high and mighty, but when I tried to actually get something out of him, he was a piece of shit." Qin Feng breathed sharply and continued, "Sister Flower, you shouldn't be around someone like him! All he does is keep you down. You can go much higher without him."
"How could you do this without even asking me first?! Everyone knows we’re in the same boat now, and now you’ve left me no room to maneuver! What right do you have to represent me? Zhao Jun may have a thousand bad qualities, but at least he’s always respected me. I never got involved in his other underground dealings, and he never forced me. What am I supposed to do now…?" Xiao Jinhua got up and grumpily went into her bedroom. "Tidy yourself up while I get changed. We’re going to the hospital."
Qin Feng got up and shouted. "You want to see him? Are three fingers not enough to make you leave him? Do need me to kill him outright?"
Sister Flower stopped and turned around sharply, with an incredulous face. "Why are you like this? What's wrong with him? Is this all because he didn't save you when you were at the police station? Why are you so vindictive?"
"I am worried about you! If you stick with him, sooner or later he will use you as a bargaining chip to benefit himself. He’s not what he used to be, and he will soon begin fading away into obscurity. When that happens, it won’t be Ru Ru, Pei Xiang or Kun he’ll count on to help him, only you. And you are so decent, you’ll do whatever he asks! Then he would walk away, but you? You could lose everything."
"Even if things one day happen as you say, I will not complain. I owe him everything I have, and I’ll gladly repay him. It’s the moral and good thing to do. I have nothing to complain about," Sister Flower said confidently.
Qin Feng threw up his hands, fervently shouting, "Damnit, you’re just like your brother! Always worrying about other people’s problems but never… Oh."