Chapter 85: I Can't Hear What You're Saying

Qin Chuan had originally intended to greet Lan Jin and the others by the business vehicle before leaving, but unexpectedly, A-Wei was the first to approach him.

“A-Wei, take Lan Jin and the others back to the old house first. I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll explain everything when I return,” Qin Chuan said with a smile.

A-Wei had already sized up Mo Qingqiu and her group from the corner of his eye, sensing a dangerous aura from them. However, seeing the relaxed expression on Qin Chuan’s face, his anxiety gradually subsided.

“All right, Mr. Qin. Do you need me… to accompany you?” A-Wei ventured, testing the waters.

Qin Chuan understood A-Wei’s true concern: was he being threatened?

“No need. Just let Lan Jin and the others know there’s nothing to worry about. I should be back by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, certainly in time for the banquet.”

Qin Chuan’s calm response finally set A-Wei’s mind at ease.

“Let’s go.”

With that, Qin Chuan climbed into Mo Qingqiu’s car, while Lu Qingdi was carried into another vehicle—still unconscious after all this time.

“Don’t worry. I was careful—he won’t die,” Qin Chuan said lightly, noticing the faint concern on Mo Qingqiu’s face.

Relieved by his words, Mo Qingqiu considered telling Qin Chuan about the Dragon King’s situation, but before she could speak, he had already closed his eyes to rest, exuding an air of utter indifference.

“Captain, isn’t this guy a bit much?” A subordinate in the passenger seat signed in Dragon Fang’s unique hand language.

“Exactly, Captain—we ought to teach him a lesson when we get the chance,” the driver signed in agreement.

Mo Qingqiu’s curiosity was piqued. “And how do you plan to do that?”

She’d noticed before that her subordinates used sign language, but had been too preoccupied with asking Qin Chuan for help to pay it much mind.

“We’ve got it planned—fifty of us, using the joint attack formation to gang up on him.”

“That’s right—even the Dragon King would struggle to handle that.”

“Captain, if you’re not confident, you could bring in a few more captains as backup.”

“Good idea—the others are your admirers, after all. They wouldn’t stand by and let you fall into someone else’s hands.”

As the conversation grew livelier, their hands flew faster and faster. Bored, Mo Qingqiu soon joined in.

“Aren’t you worried the joint attack formation might fail and bring shame to Dragon Fang?”

Just as their conversation reached its peak, a new sign abruptly cut through the excitement, throwing cold water on their plans. They all looked to see whose hand had made the gesture.

A moment later, the Dragon Fang driver slammed on the brakes. If not for the quick reflexes of the two cars behind, a collision would have been unavoidable.

Mo Qingqiu and the other two special forces members were equally stunned. The one who had made that sign was—Qin Chuan?

Wait...

Qin Chuan actually knew Dragon Fang’s exclusive hand language?

And his gestures were even more precise than theirs?

How was this possible?

“Why are you all staring at me? Drive. Or do you not care about your Dragon King anymore?” Qin Chuan continued, signing fluently.

At last, the others realized this was no hallucination.

The driver hurriedly hit the accelerator—the car shot forward like an arrow, but his mind was still reeling, his eyes repeatedly glancing at the rearview mirror.

“How do you know this hand language?” Mo Qingqiu couldn’t restrain herself.

Qin Chuan smiled slyly. “What if I told you I invented it? Would you believe me?”

The group shook their heads.

“Such times we live in—honesty is wasted on the world,” Qin Chuan said, feigning deep anguish.

Mo Qingqiu pressed him, “This is serious. Can’t you give a straight answer?”

She wasn’t exaggerating—Dragon Fang’s sign language was vital for their operations. If it was deciphered by someone with ill intent, the consequences could be dire.

“Say, ‘Please, good brother,’ and I’ll tell you the truth,” Qin Chuan teased.

A blush flashed across Mo Qingqiu’s face. Though reluctant, she had no choice but to comply for the sake of clarity.

But first...

She shot a warning glare at her fellow Dragon Fang members. They caught on instantly.

“Captain, a mortar shell made me deaf during training.”

“Captain, I accidentally ruptured my eardrum cleaning my ears yesterday—I can’t hear a thing.”

“You guys…”

The last member, desperate, scratched his head. The excuses were all taken; he had to think fast.

“Captain, I’m asleep!” After half a minute’s frantic thought, he finally blurted out the best excuse he could muster, even faking a snore for effect. Unfortunately, his twitching eyelids betrayed his eagerness to hear Mo Qingqiu call Qin Chuan “good brother.”

Seeing her subordinates so cooperative, Mo Qingqiu nodded in satisfaction. Yet, when she met Qin Chuan’s smug gaze, her cheeks flushed again.

“Go on, give us your performance!” Qin Chuan encouraged in fluent Dragon Fang sign language.

Mo Qingqiu bit her lip, waging an internal battle. She finally imagined Qin Chuan as a heinous drug lord, her words merely a means to gain his trust and fulfill her mission.

“Good brother, please tell me,” she whispered, voice barely audible.

Cupping his ears, Qin Chuan pretended to strain to hear. “What? I couldn’t hear you!”

The remaining “deaf” team members nearly burst out laughing, but quickly stifled it—this was not the moment to risk their captain’s wrath.

All they allowed themselves were a few suppressed coughs.

Mo Qingqiu’s face burned. But since she’d already said it, why not say it louder? Besides, she couldn’t let Qin Chuan enjoy his little victory. If he wanted to pretend not to hear, then she’d make sure he did.

Feigning shyness, she leaned closer to Qin Chuan’s ear. He, as expected, leaned in as well, his triumphant expression only strengthening Mo Qingqiu’s resolve to teach him a lesson.

She drew a deep breath, gathered her energy, and let out a piercing, shrill cry.