America: Starting from collecting corpses, leveling up to godhood

"Twenty?" Chen Ming frowned.

"For a crime of this magnitude, instead of ending up in federal prison, he's brazenly buying drugs from gangs in West Hollywood?"

"You clearly don't understand the American justice system very well..."

Michelle chuckled and waved to the bartender next to her for a refill.

"He hired a dream team of lawyers and paid an exorbitant out-of-court settlement. Because the incident happened when he was young and doing volunteer work at a school, the victims were generally very young, and the police couldn't find any conclusive evidence... As long as he can still make money, there will always be a public relations firm to help him get rid of trouble."

Chen Ming took a sip of whiskey, feeling somewhat speechless.

In my previous life in China, the last person involved in this kind of crime was already in prison, his sewing machine sparking everywhere. But in California, he's still able to throw parties in the back alleys of bars...

"So you intend to bypass the law and try him?"

"I guess so... My job is just to cut off his commercial sponsorships through exposure. Once he can no longer afford the exorbitant legal fees, the victims whose lives he ruined will naturally stand up and send him to where he deserves to go."

Michelle rested her chin on one hand and stirred her wine glass with the other, her gaze sweeping down Chen Ming's Adam's apple.

"You must have thought of me as a gossip paparazzi who only chases after traffic... Chen, you obviously don't know me well enough." She lowered her voice, her tone becoming more ambiguous and probing.

"In every aspect."

Faced with such blatant flirting, Chen Ming remained unfazed—the wine he had just drunk had already made his face flush.

"It often takes a lot of effort and experience to truly understand a woman, and I lack both, so I'll pass."

"What if I were to pay for it?"

Michelle magically produced a cash check, filled in the amount, and pushed it in front of Chen Ming.

"This is a small token of my gratitude for the medical expenses you incurred today because of the gunshot wound I sustained... In addition, I can guarantee that if I ever need your services again, the price will never be less than this amount."

Chen Ming glanced at the check—ten thousand US dollars.

What else is there to say?

"I must admit... you have a good eye for people."

Chen Ming calmly put away the check and then raised his glass.

"Haha... what if I also ask for close protection?" Michelle said with a mischievous grin after clinking glasses.

"That's a separate fee."

……

The drink is over.

The streets of Los Angeles were much quieter in the early morning. Michelle drove Chen Ming back to his apartment building in a black Range Rover.

Goodnight, take good care of yourself and get well soon.

Michelle rolled down the car window.

Just as Chen Ming was about to nod and say goodbye, Michelle suddenly leaned out and grabbed his shirt collar.

"What are you doing?" Chen Ming paused.

Michelle didn't answer, her fingertips quickly fastening the two unbuttoned buttons on his shirt, just enough to cover the outline of his strong chest muscles.

"Hmph...it's nothing." Her gaze lingered on her collar for two seconds.

"There are some good things that people don't want others to see casually."

After saying that, she winked at Chen Ming and disappeared at the end of the street with a roar.

Chen Ming stood under the streetlight and sighed.

"Women are such a hassle..."

He shook his head and turned around, but as soon as he looked up, his movements froze instantly.

On the second-floor balcony railing, Sophia was leaning half her body out, holding up her phone. The screen light shone on her face, which was so excited it looked like a human face, and the camera was pointed at Chen Ming downstairs.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Sofia pressed the button to end the recording and then leaned against the rusty iron railing, laughing wildly.

"So what's this? A Hollywood action blockbuster wrapped up with a late-night romance scene?"

Chen Ming rolled his eyes at her, annoyed, and limped toward the stairwell.

"Stop talking nonsense and come down to open the door for me."

"Do you know how terrified I was when I heard the gunshots?"

Sofia jogged all the way to the stairwell.

"If I knew how to drive, I would definitely start your beat-up food truck and ram through the junkyard gate to rescue you."

"Come on, you can even ride your bicycle into a roadside trash can..."

"Anyway, not only are you completely unharmed, but a young lady even personally drove you home..."

Sofia smiled and opened the dilapidated security door of the apartment for him.

"A very fruitful harvest indeed."

"You're absolutely right, it was very fruitful."

Chen Ming plopped down on the sofa and pointed to his right leg, which was wrapped in bandages.

"I used my thigh muscles to successfully acquire a 9mm brass bullet worth thirty cents, in exchange for you laughing at me here tonight."

Upon hearing that Chen Ming had been shot, Sofia's smile vanished instantly.

She strode to the sofa, squatted down, and stared at the bandages.

"You really got shot? How serious is it? I still have a few boxes of antibiotics in my cabinet... they shouldn't have expired yet."

"I've finally heard you say something sensible." Chen Ming shifted into a more comfortable position and leaned back.

"It's just a flesh wound; I removed the bullet myself."

Sophia breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that Chen Ming was indeed alright.

"But I've always had a question," Chen Ming said, looking at Sophia.

"You can jump-start a car in five seconds by removing the undercarriage panel and using jumpers, so how come you can't even drive a car?"

"Ah...this story is quite complicated."

Upon hearing this, Sofia sighed, helplessly spreading her hands in front of her chest, deliberately tugging at her already extremely impressive shirt.

"I actually took my driving test back then, and I got a perfect score on the written test. But something unexpected happened during my last road test..."

Chen Ming glanced at her following her movements and vaguely guessed what was going on.

"During my driving test, a Latin American kid on a skateboard suddenly darted out of an alley." Sofia pouted, looking annoyed.

"The examiner screamed at me to swerve sharply to avoid it, but due to some physical obstruction... my arm got stuck while I was crossing the steering wheel, which prevented me from turning the steering wheel all the way."

"So you killed someone in a car accident?" Chen Ming raised an eyebrow.

"No, but the car went straight onto the sidewalk, smashed a fire hydrant on the corner, and shattered the glass door of a taco store."

Sofia spread her hands.

"The high-pressure water jet hit the examiner directly in the face, and he immediately banned me from taking the exam for life..."

"He was clearly a responsible examiner." Chen Ming nodded and didn't press the matter further.

Early the next morning.

Chen Ming first sent Professor Evans a message that the problem had been resolved.

Less than half a minute later, the professor replied with a prayer-like emoji, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well all night.

Then, he dialed Sean's number.

"I've even arranged for a black cab to escape to Tijuana," Sean said as he answered the phone.

"Don't tell me that female reporter is going to put us on the front page of the Los Angeles Times tomorrow."

"Let's return the unlicensed taxi," Chen Ming said while frying an egg for himself.

"I've already taken care of her... In exchange, she won't touch our business anymore."