Rebirth Of Chen An

Chapter 152: Identity Revealed

In the past, he liked sleeping alone. But since he had the experience of having someone he trusted by his side all night, Chen An kind of fell in love with the safe feeling of having someone to lean on at night.

In the tender darkness of the night, Chen An related to Chen Yang the story of his and Changle’s life: how they started in an orphanage and came to the United States, how they went from sleeping on the streets to arms trafficking, and then from a small arms dealer became an internationally renowned arms lord.

And, losing Changle, plunging into despair, finally taking his own life after ten years of misery.

Chen Yang knew what happened after that, so Chen An didn’t repeat that part.

“What Ding Sheng said today really stirred up something in me. I’d known what it was like to lose someone you love, and how hard it was…” letting out a sigh, he seemed to have plunged into the loneliness he felt after he lost Changle. He edged closer towards Chen Yang, putting his cheek on the young man’s chest.

“Before I was reborn, I never thought about those people who lost their families because of war. I found myself an excuse: even if I don’t sell weapons today, tomorrow somebody will fill in my place, like Ivanov, or the European and American arms dealers.”’

“Uncle, I think what you said is true.” Cheng Yang naturally wanted to be on Chen An’s side.

Chen An laughed bitterly. He was like Chen Yang when he was young. But after all the things he went through, all the life and death, joy and sorrow, trust and betrayal…

“Ding Sheng was right in saying that I was a selfish man who kept finding excuses for myself. Does it mean I could do something if the others did it? Underneath it all, I was obsessed with my own achievements, and didn’t want to let go of the power I had.”

In his past life, it was excusable: If he let go, he’d be liquidated by his enemies or unwilling subordinates.

What about now? Why had he chosen the same path when he was given a second chance?

Countless people had died under the arms and ammunition he sold, including the one person he loved, and in the end he himself.

The primary rule of selling weapons: Do not get killed by the goods of your trade.

But the fact was, in all known history, how many arms dealers avoided getting killed by their own goods?

God sent him back, probably not just to travel the same damned path.

Chen An thought to himself, after the affair with the western division was dealt with, he should probably have a talk with Lu Feng.

“Chen Yang, if I asked you to step away from firearms, would you do that?”

“Uncle… whatever you ask me, I will do it. If you don’t want me to be involved in arms again, then I won’t.”

“Chen Yang, it may feel like to you that I got agitated because of Ding Sheng’s words. But I don’t want to lose you too, like I lost Changle.”

Whether it was just familial duty or simple elder’s affection, Chen Yang felt there was nothing he wouldn’t give up when he heard those words from Chen An.

Be it arms or anything else. He became involved because of Chen An in the first place, to make Chen An happy.

In this moment of intense emotions, Chen Yang almost blurted out what he’d managed to held back so far——his love for Chen An. But it was not the right time, so he gritted his teeth inwardly and waited.

…

…

The most difficult part of the western division problem had been worked out: the Red Fox’s daughter was sold in Las Vegas to pay off gambling debts many years ago. Later she ended up in the hands of an old couple who were unable to have children themselves. Actually, if people of the western division hadn’t threatened her, she would have been quite happy with her current life.

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing her daughter on the screen, the Red Fox collapsed and knelt on the floor, tears gushing from her eyes.

Chen An had guessed right; the Red Fox came under the control of the western division because of her daughter, and she helped them hijack the batch of goods in Syria.

The western division also intended to use her influence to get Lu Feng to suspect the eastern division, so that there would be more upheaval in the Group, and Lu Feng could possibly be toppled. They’d never dreamed Lu Feng could find the Red Fox’s daughter through Interpol.

“I don’t blame you. But you need to work with me and help me eradicate the rebels of the western division, both for the Group and for your daughter.”

Lu Feng took out a picture of the girl from his pocket and handed it to the Red Fox, “I promise you I won’t hurt your daughter afterwards.”

This conversation between Lu Feng and the Red Fox went on in the study, while Chen An and Chen Yang watched in the next room.

The western division couldn’t possibly know they were the reason behind Interpol’s actions. Now with Interpol intervening, it would be difficult for them to act. Besides, after Chen An got the information, he immediately told Lu Feng to send people to protect her.

Now that they’ve got all the evidence they needed from the Red Fox, rooting out these traitors was only a matter of time.

“Uncle, are you really going to forgive the Red Fox?” Chen Yang was a little worried: if the Red Fox could betray them once, she could do it again.

Chen An sighed, as they watched through the security camera the woman crying with her daughter’s picture in hand, he said with a rueful smile, “However tough she is, she’s a mother. How many mothers could stand by while their child is being threatened? I think I can understand how she felt.”

Then he turned to Chen Yang and patted the young man’s shoulder, “if someone threatened me with your life, I would probably compromise too.”

“Uncle——” Chen Yang became nervous on hearing this, and said, “I will never be your burden.”

“I know. I’m only saying, try to understand how she felt. Just like if somebody threatened you with me, what would you do?” Seeing the look of horror on Chen Yang’s face, Chen An added at once, “all right, all right. No need to get yourself worked up; I was only kidding.”

Cheng Yang took his real identity better than Chen An had expected. Admittedly Chen An was a bit slow on matters concerning the heart, but he was beginning to understand after everything he went through.

And he sensed, that somehow Chen Yang’s feelings towards him weren’t that pure and simple.

Yet he couldn’t say anything before he was sure of it.

What if Chen Yang had feelings for him like those of Changle?

Well, well, he would think about that problem for another day.

“We’ll fly to Syria in a few days, and take back the batch of hijacked weapons; I don’t want them to fall into the wrong hands.”

And after that, Chen An thought they should have a family meeting, and work out future plans for everyone.