The Same Fate Awaits All Sins Chapter 70

Final Part – 11

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Chen Chen's original plan was to take advantage of his high alcohol tolerance to get Chang Le completely wasted first and then take the opportunity to make his move. But who knew that after three rounds of drinks, Chang Le would remain completely unfazed, while he himself was starting to feel the effects. Or perhaps Chang Le's skin was just too dark for any signs of intoxication to show? Either way, Chen Chen couldn't detect even the slightest hint of drunkenness in him.

Chen Chen grew anxious. If he kept drinking, he'd be the one getting drunk first, what a disaster that would be! In Chang Le's eyes, he was already here for a hookup. If he ended up failing the mission, he'd end up getting screwed.

Yet Chang Le was still enthusiastically urging him to drink, leaving Chen Chen no choice but to steel himself and take the glass.

This wasn't a viable strategy. Chen Chen knew his limits, three to five more drinks, and he might pass out. He had no choice but to wave his hand and say, "Brother Chang, you've got an insane tolerance, I really can't keep up! If I drink any more, I'll pass out, and then I'll have to trouble you to carry me back to my dorm, how embarrassing would that be?"

"Haha, it's fine!" Chang Le waved his hand. "You're so skinny, what's there to carry? Besides, your dorm is so close, even if I had to carry you for two whole miles, I wouldn't mind!"

"That... that'd be too embarrassing!" Chen Chen mumbled. "What if Captain sees us..."

Chang Le thought about it, Indeed, they were here in Xia County on official duty, if word got out that the two of them had secretly gone out drinking together, it wouldn't look good in the eyes of their colleagues.

"Then... how about..." Chang Le's mind worked quickly. Was this kid hinting at something? The fact that he'd agreed to come out meant he had at least some interest, otherwise, he wouldn't be here in the first place. Since the atmosphere is already heating up, why not just go with the flow? It has been a long time since I've had any action, and this kid is easy on the eyes. If I kill the mood now, I'll be the one being dense!

"How about coming home with me?" Taking advantage of his liquid courage, Chang Le boldly placed a hand on Chen Chen's shoulder.

"Well... that's fine..." Chen Chen's cheeks flushed, and he leaned into Chang Le's shoulder, thinking, Son of a bitch! I've sacrificed a lot this time! Gu Yanta, Lu Zheng, you two bastards! Nothing you do can ever make up for this!

Chang Le tactfully helped Chen Chen, who was already a little dizzy from drinking, to his feet, and the two of them left the restaurant. Flagging down a taxi, Chang Le helped Chen Chen into the back seat and climbed in after him.

"Go to Yunjin Garden," Not a trace of drunkenness could be heard in Chang Le's tone.

The taxi driver turned his head and gave the two young men in the back a strange look, and sighed in his heart, These days, gay couples are everywhere! I just sent one pair off, and now here comes another... When the driver met Chang Le's sharp, unfriendly gaze, he quickly turned back around, slammed his foot on the accelerator, and drove off.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination. Chen Chen flopped onto Chang Le like a boneless cat and whined, "Brother, I drank too much. I can't walk any more!"

"I'll carry you, come!" Chang Le crouched down and lifted Chen Chen onto his back.

In truth, Chen Chen wasn't so drunk that he couldn't walk, but since Chang Le was willing, he had no reason to refuse. Besides, this was a good opportunity to get closer, making it easier to strike when the time was right and try to complete the mission while preserving his dignity. Thinking of this, Chen Chen rubbed his face against the crook of Chang Le's neck. Chang Le's heart practically burst with joy, and he walked with even more enthusiasm.

Although Chang Le was tall and well-built, Chen Chen was still a grown man, carrying him all the way home was somewhat exhausting.

Once they got inside, Chang Le placed Chen Chen on the sofa. By now, they had reached this point, Chang Le figured their intentions were obvious enough, so he saw no need to beat around the bush any more.

"Who's going to shower first?" Chang Le asked with a grin. "Or should we shower together?"

In Chen Chen's eyes, Chang Le's smile had already twisted into something wicked, but he had to play along. "You go first, I want to rest for a bit. Can you get me a glass of water?"

"No problem." Chang Le got up, poured a glass of water for Chen Chen, and even thoughtfully added some honey before handing it over. "Here, drink some honey water, it'll settle your stomach."

"Thanks." Chen Chen grabbed the cup and took a sip, thinking, Why aren't you going to shower yet?! If you weren't my mission target, I might actually believe you were a thoughtful guy!

"I'll go wash up then." Chang Le casually pulled off his shirt as he walked toward the bathroom, revealing a solid, muscular upper body.

Chen Chen could hardly bear to look, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Alright."

As soon as he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom, Chen Chen, who had been slouched on the sofa, immediately perked up. Chang Le's bag was right there on the hallway cabinet. Chen Chen tiptoed over and had just unzipped it when the bathroom door lock turned with a click.

No way, my luck can't be this bad! Chen Chen bit his lip and quickly put Chang Le's bag back.

The door to the bathroom was right next to the hallway. Chen Chen didn't have time to return to the sofa, so he had no choice but to rush to the bathroom door instead.

Just then, the door swung open. Chang Le stood in the doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist, looking at Chen Chen in surprise, his hand poised as if he had been about to knock.

"I... wanted to get more water, but I didn't know where to find it... so I thought I'd knock and ask..." Chen Chen awkwardly retracted the hand that was pretending to knock.

Chang Le chuckled, thinking, This kid couldn't wait, huh? He pulled Chen Chen into an embrace and whispered teasingly in his ear, "Don't be so impatient, little sweetheart, Brother will be there soon!"

Chen Chen was both mortified and furious, his mind screaming in despair, It's over, there's no way I'm getting out of this with my dignity intact!

But to Chang Le, Chen Chen's flustered state only made him seem even more shy and endearing. Chang Le could hardly wait to shower him with affection...

Chen Chen had no choice but to change the subject. "You're not done washing up yet? Why did you come out all of a sudden?"

"Not yet, I realised I ran out of body wash halfway through, so I came out to grab some," Chang Le let go of Chen Chen and headed to the cabinet by the bathroom to grab some shower gel.

"You could've just told me, I would've gotten it for you!" Chen Chen said.

"Little fool!" Chang Le affectionately scratched Chen Chen's nose. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't know where it was. Or, were you trying to take advantage of me? To sneak a peek at me?"

"I... I..." Chen Chen felt goosebumps all over, but he pretended his plan had been exposed and played along, feigning shyness.

"Relax," Chang Le laughed. "Just five minutes."

Chang Le turned back into the bathroom, and the sound of running water resumed. Chen Chen finally let out a breath of relief and returned to the hallway.

Chen Chen took Chang Le's phone from his bag. He was a professional after all, and quickly installed a bugging device before discreetly putting everything back in place as if nothing happened.

Then, he sent a message to Lu Zheng.

"Mission accomplished. What's next? I'm already at Chang Le's place! He's in the shower, can I leave now? If I don't leave now..."

"If you leave now without saying goodbye, Chang Le will definitely get suspicious, won't all your effort be in vain?"

"I know! But what am I supposed to do? Am I really going to have to sacrifice myself?!"

"Relax, keep playing along and stall for time, we'll find a way to get you out!"

As soon as Chen Chen put his phone down, Chang Le emerged from the bathroom. Drying his hair as he walked over, he gave Chen Chen a warm smile. His muscular back exuded an overwhelming masculine charm.

Chen Chen froze for a moment, his mind suddenly flooded with images he didn't dare entertain. Startled, he shook his head. Oh my god! What's happening?! Why am I reacting like this? This was just supposed to be a mission, but now I'm thinking, since I'm already here, I might as well... No! He's still the prime suspect! But then again, if he isn't the traitor, wouldn't he make a great one night stand partner? At the very least, those eight chocolate-like abs were definitely real!

Seeing Chen Chen staring at him in a daze, Chang Le assumed he was mesmerised by his physique. Grinning, he gave Chen Chen a playful shove. "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you go in and take a shower?"

"Ah..." Chen Chen snapped out of it. "I'll go now."

"Have you sobered up a little?" Chang Le looked at Chen Chen's face with concern. "The bathroom floor is a bit slippery, be careful not to fall."

"I'm fine," Chen Chen was about to get up.

Chang Le suddenly grabbed Chen Chen's hand. "How about... I help you wash up?"

"Ah?!" Chen Chen was pulled back onto the sofa by Chang Le. "That... that would be embarrassing... I..."

"Haha." Chang Le laughed. "We've come this far, what's there to be shy about?" 

"I..." Chen Chen was speechless, unsure of what to do next.

Suddenly, the sharp ringing of a phone echoed from the hallway, Chang Le's phone was ringing.

"Who's calling at this hour? Such a buzz kill!" Chang Le let go of Chen Chen's hand in frustration and walked towards the hallway.

"Hello? Ah, Captain Jiang!"

"Yes, yes... I'll be there right away!"

Hanging up the call, Chang Le returned with an unhappy expression. "Captain Jiang said he needs me at the bureau immediately, he says there's a new lead on the gas station incident..."

Before he could finish, Chen Chen's phone rang as well. "It's Captain Gu!"

"Hello? Understood! I'll be there at once!"

"Let's go," Chen Chen said to Chang Le. "Same situation on my end!"

"Ai..." Chang Le let out a long sigh. Just when the timing was perfect, these people had to ruin it! Who knows if I will ever get another chance like this? Even though Chen Chen wasn't quite on the same level as the other two who had come down from Yuchuan, a handsome man like him was still a rare sight in Xia County.

Despite his reluctance, Chang Le had no choice but to obey orders, he could only quickly get dressed and prepare to leave.

"Why don't we go separately?" Chen Chen suggested before stepping out. "We're already arriving late, if the others see us walking in together, wouldn't it look a bit suspicious?"

"It's fine!" Chang Le dismissed the concern. "Who would think like that? Let's go!"

The two took a taxi together to the city bureau. Sure enough, everyone was already waiting in the conference room. As soon as Chang Le and Chen Chen pushed the door open and walked in, more than a dozen pairs of eyes instantly snapped to them.

"Ahem..." Chen Chen couldn't hide his embarrassment. "I ran into Team Leader Chang at the entrance, so we came in together."

Gu Yanta secretly laughed in his heart, Chen Chen ah, Chen Chen, are you just trying to cover up your mistake? No one would have thought anything of it, so why the unnecessary explanation?

The team quickly refocused on the new lead. This wasn't just a smokescreen Gu Yanta had set up to help Chen Chen out, it was the real deal.

"We just received a report from the traffic police. A vehicle suspected to belong to the perpetrator was spotted at the entrance of the Yuling Expressway." Jiang Ziyu said, pointing at the large screen. In the surveillance footage, a black Volvo sedan with a swapped licence plate was seen passing smoothly through the highway toll station.

"Then how do we explain the destroyed vehicle found in the remote mountainous area?" Chang Le stared intently at the black Volvo on the screen.

"It was a decoy," Jiang Ziyu replied. "After days of careful examination by the forensics team, they found that the destroyed car didn't match certain characteristics of the suspect's vehicle, even its age didn't line up."

"Who's the driver?" Gu Yanta asked. "Has an interception been initiated?"

"The pursuit is still ongoing," Jiang Ziyu nodded. "The identity of the driver has been verified, his name is Pang Yun."

"What does he do?"

"He's just an ordinary bank clerk," Jiang Ziyu continued. "A week ago, he reported his car stolen. The police hadn't even reached a conclusion on the case yet, and now he's brazenly driving it onto the highway." 

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: February 23, 2025 by Angel

Edited: February 26, 2025 by Angel