Chapter Thirty-Eight

At this moment, Xiao Jie spoke up, "Silly Zhou Yu, of course it’s not the same. Think about it—are there more people across the country who know the governor, or more who know the national leaders?"

Zhou Yu thought to himself, isn’t that obvious? Certainly, more people know the national leaders.

He replied, "Definitely the latter."

Xiao Jie continued, "Then let me ask you, within a province, are there more people who know the mayor, or more who know the governor?"

Zhou Yu answered, "The governor, of course."

Xiao Jie pressed on, "And in a city? Are there more people who know the district chief or county magistrate, or more who know the mayor?"

Zhou Yu, a bit exasperated, said, "Isn’t it all the same? The mayor."

Xiao Jie said, "Now you should understand, right?"

Zhou Yu shook his head, "I still don’t get it. What does your question have to do with what Zhao Yan said?"

Just then, Nian Yu burst out from the room and gave Zhou Yu a swift flick on the forehead.

Xiao Jie hurriedly said, "Nian Yu, go easy!"

Nian Yu retorted, "Go easy? Honestly, Xiao Jie, you’re a detective, why are you so gentle with him? You think he can understand reason if you spell it out?"

Zhou Yu, holding his head, cried out, "Damn it, I don’t like what you’re saying!"

Nian Yu turned and gave him another flick, "You don’t like it? Am I wrong?"

Zhou Yu said, "Damn it, so you mean you understood?"

Nian Yu scoffed, "Obviously. Of course I understood. You really think I’m as clueless as you, huh? Foolish as ever."

Zhou Yu cursed, "Oh, come on, you silly woman. How dare you insult me like that? Are you asking for trouble?"

Nian Yu replied, "Go ahead, hit me, fight me, kill me if you can."

Zhou Yu said, "Oh, really now? If I don’t show you what I’m made of, you’ll never know who’s the real boss between us."

As he spoke, Zhou Yu grabbed Nian Yu and tried to drag her into the inner room. The gesture startled Xiao Jie, who quickly rushed over to hold Zhou Yu back, preventing him from taking Nian Yu inside.

At the same time, Xiao Jie said to Nian Yu, "Nian Yu, hurry and explain things to Zhou Yu, don’t rile him up anymore."

He leaned closer to Nian Yu’s ear and whispered, "He really might rough you up now. Broad daylight, doing that kind of thing—aren’t you ashamed?"

Nian Yu glanced at Zhou Yu’s reddened eyes and thought to herself, he really could ravage me right now. But her lips refused to yield, "Hmph, as if I’m scared of him."

Zhou Yu heard this and said, "Oh, you little thing, still acting tough? Just watch how I deal with you."

He tried to push Xiao Jie aside.

Xiao Jie quickly called out, "Nian Yu, stop messing around, I can barely hold him!"

Nian Yu felt Zhou Yu’s grip on her arm tighten, and she quickly said, "You brute, let go, you’re hurting me."

Zhou Yu replied, "I won’t."

Though his words refused, Zhou Yu eased his grip, merely holding onto Nian Yu’s arm.

Nian Yu could feel the pressure lift from her arm, and her heart warmed a little.

Still, she said, "Hmph, I’m only giving Xiao Jie some face. Let me explain to this big dumb pig."

Zhou Yu, still fuming, demanded, "Who are you calling a dumb pig?"

Nian Yu ignored him and continued, "It’s just like you used to tell me about fighting. Once you’ve made a name for yourself, nobody dares mess with you. Same principle. If you want to make your mark, you need fame first. Without a name, how can you build a reputation?"

Zhou Yu pondered this and asked, "Then why doesn’t it work in the survivor base?"