Chapter 22: Giving You a Chance

Zhang Xiaorui didn’t get angry; she just offered a harmless smile. At this moment, only one thing occupied her mind: money. As long as there was money to be made, she didn’t care about anything else. In that regard, Zhang Xiaorui was truly a cut above the rest. Besides, the stench inside Meng Shan’s apartment was something most people wouldn't be able to stomach.

"Hey there, murderer. I’ve finally found you. My, my, you sure hid yourself well, didn't you? Gave me quite the chase."

When Meng Shan heard those words, his heart instantly turned to ice. Only one thought echoed in his mind: *I’m done for. I’ve been exposed.* This damn brat was actually here to make trouble for him.

"You’ve got the wrong person. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Whose daughter are you? Shouldn't you be heading home for dinner? I haven't lit the stove, so I can't keep you for a meal. Bye."

Meng Shan moved to close the door. This was terrifying—if a young girl could find him, the police certainly could too. He had only one thought: this place was no longer safe. He had to run—immediately, quickly, right now—or he would inevitably end up behind bars. Damn it, this girl was too eerie. He had been hiding here for so long, and no one had realized he was a wanted fugitive. How did a mere slip of a girl manage to track him down? It was utterly baffling and beyond comprehension.

"Come on now, buddy! I’ve gone to all the trouble of finding you, why are you acting like this? Shouldn't you ask if I’m willing to leave before trying to kick me out? Honestly, that’s so rude! Is that how you treat a guest? I’m so hurt!"

Meng Shan was stunned. He stood there with his mouth agape, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief. *What the hell? Is this girl crazy?* She was just a kid, yet she kept calling him "buddy" at every turn. Was that any way for a young girl to talk? He was a wanted criminal whom even the police couldn't track down—didn't this brat understand what that meant? The way she kept calling him "buddy" was giving him a heart attack.

"Rude? Who cares about manners? I don't even know you! If you don't leave now, don't blame me for stabbing you to death. Aren't you afraid?"

Zhang Xiaorui didn't want to waste any more time. She had already found him, so that reward money was as good as hers. Fearing that things might spiral out of his control, Meng Shan turned and headed deeper into the room to grab a weapon. He had to finish this girl off, otherwise, he would eventually be dragged to prison by this innocent-looking, naive little brat.

Seeing him rush into the room, Zhang Xiaorui wasn't about to give him the chance. She stepped forward, grabbed him by the hair, and with a sharp tug, hoisted him up. Before he could even utter a word, she delivered a side kick that sent him flying three meters away. With a loud *thud*, Meng Shan hit the floor, his face making intimate contact with the tiles.

"You... damn..."

Before he could even scramble to his feet or finish his sentence, Zhang Xiaorui pounced on him again. With a swift "dragon tail" kick to his backside, Meng Shan felt a searing, fiery pain. Before he could react, she was in front of him again, launching a new wave of attacks—left hooks, right hooks.

"I’ll teach you to be a delinquent! I’ll teach you to commit such heartless crimes! You’re nowhere to be found when it comes to good deeds, but you’re always right in the middle of the bad ones. How can you be such a failure at life? I’ll teach you not to be a good person! I’ll teach you to be a fugitive! Is it fun being a wanted man? People like you are just a waste of oxygen while you're alive and a waste of land when you're dead. You’re the fighter jet of trash!"

Meng Shan was beaten into a daze. "Heh, heh, heh... what’s a 'fighter jet of trash'?"

Zhang Xiaorui was speechless. She delivered one final right hook. "Still trash."

*Thud.* Meng Shan hit the floor again, his face once more meeting the tiles. The stinging sensation was indescribable. Those who knew, knew; those who felt it would never forget. At this moment, Meng Shan felt his ankles, knees, hands, and face throbbing with pain, and he could only curse in fury.

Zhang Xiaorui looked at him with an innocent expression. "Buddy, you’re such a big guy, but you’re so fragile. How come you’re already on the floor and can't get back up after just a few hits?"

Meng Shan could have cried. If he had known it would end like this, he would never have opened the door to let this little ancestor inside. "You bitch, just you wait! One day, I’ll have my revenge. Watch your back—one day I’ll stab you to death!"

Seeing he was at the end of his rope, he tossed out a few hollow threats to save some face. Zhang Xiaorui dropped a dagger right in front of him. "I don’t want to say I didn't give you a chance. There’s the dagger. I’d love to see how you intend to stab me to death."

Meng Shan stared at the glistening blade right before his eyes. He could have reached out and grabbed it, but his body wouldn't obey. "Bitch... you just wait! I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you!"

Zhang Xiaorui shook her head helplessly and clapped her fair, delicate hands together. "See? I gave you the dagger, but you’re just useless. You don't even have the strength to hold it, and you’re blaming me?"

Meng Shan nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. *Is that human language?* What did she mean he didn't have the strength to hold it? Was that the point? The point was that she had just beaten him to a pulp! Forget lifting a hand to stab someone—even moving a finger felt like agonizing torture. It wasn't that he couldn't lift the dagger, but rather that his hands, body, and head were hurting too much to make the effort worth it.

Seeing him in such a half-dead state, Zhang Xiaorui sighed helplessly once more. "I gave you a chance, but you’re just not up to the task."

Too lazy to bicker with him any further, she took her new phone out of her pocket and called the police station.

"Hello, this is the local police station. How can I help you?"

"I’m calling to report a crime."

"Report a crime? What’s going on?"

"My name is Zhang Xiaorui. I saw your posters all over the streets, and I’ve caught one of the wanted fugitives. That’s why I’m calling."

Once the police heard it was a wanted criminal, their tone became significantly more serious.

"Citizen, please tell us where you are. We are dispatching officers immediately."

Zhang Xiaorui provided the address and hung up. Suddenly, her stomach let out a loud rumble. She was hungry.