1940, Europe, Sicily.
Time flew like a white stallion darting past a crevice; years flowed by like fallen blossoms drifting on running water.
Dressed in a tailored suit, Liu Ren, now past forty-five, stood watching the azure waves wash against the embankment.
Standing beside him was Vito Corleone, who had by now become the "Don." Vito offered a warm smile. "How is it? Coming out here to clear your head is much better than staying in New York, isn't it?"
"It really is quite nice, Vito. Thank you!"
Liu Ren smiled as he spoke to Vito Corleone.
Yet as soon as he finished, Vito arched an eyebrow. "You truly are a curious case. So many years have passed, yet you still look so young!"
Hearing Vito's remark, Liu Ren raised an eyebrow of his own. "Perhaps I simply don't show my age!"
Resting his hands on the coastal stones, Vito said, "Do you truly intend to move all our operations away?"
"Mussolini has gone mad. It's no longer suitable to carry on here. Our businesses must be relocated!"
Liu Ren spoke with certainty. He knew full well that Italy would enter the war in June, though it had nothing to do with him—their combat capability had always been an utter mystery!
Twice they had allied with partners, yet both times they ended up among the victorious nations!
Germany suffered the most from this, having placed their trust in them twice in a row.
And what was the result? Old Italy simply couldn't be carried, collapsing wherever they fought!
If Germany hadn't relied on sheer brute military might to fight across all of Europe, Old Italy probably would have turned on a dime and backstabbed their allies long ago!
Hearing Liu Ren's words, Vito also recognized how dangerous the winds were blowing, so he intended to liquidate and pull their assets out as soon as possible.
Yet as the two were chatting, more than a dozen black sedans sat parked along the nearby road.
Puffing on a cigarette, Han Hu seemed to notice something. He immediately sprinted over to Liu Ren's side. "Senior Brother, Senior Brother, look quick! There's a beauty over there—an absolute stunner walking this way!"
"What are you making a fuss about, Junior Brother? I'm discussing business development with Vito! Don't interrupt me, will you?"
Liu Ren stared at Han Hu, exasperated. Although he wanted to commend his loyalty, this was clearly not the time.
That said, Liu Ren still dutifully turned his head to look.
Yet the moment he caught sight of the young woman walking in the distance, his eyes widened. She was breathtakingly beautiful!
"Holy crap?"
Cigar clamped between his fingers, Liu Ren froze on the spot.
The last time a woman had made his heart flutter like this was when he met his current wife, Aline Bernstein!
*Genius*!
Back then, Liu Ren had been strolling down Broadway when he happened to run into her. The two began dating and were married ten years ago.
Yet now, he had run into someone who stunned him all over again.
"Liu, your heart was stirred!"
Beaming at Liu Ren, Vito glanced over at Malèna and couldn't help chuckling.
*Malèna*!
After all, even with his composure, seeing such an exquisite beauty compelled him to heap praise on her. One could only imagine how gorgeous she was.
Watching Malèna walk along the roadside, everyone present forgot their work and turned to stare at her.
Lowering her head shyly, Malèna quickened her pace, visibly a bit frightened as she hurried away.
Watching her silhouette disappear, Liu Ren clicked his tongue. "Good God, she looks just like an angel!"
One had to remember that the actress had been thirty-seven when she played the role, but right now? She was twenty-one, in the prime of her youth!
"Where were we just now?"
Snapping back to his senses, the corner of Liu Ren's mouth twitched. He seemed to have forgotten that he had a jealous wife at home.
Ever since marrying Aline, Liu Ren had significantly cut down on the time he spent showing benevolence to all living beings, because she didn't like sharing her husband!
Even so, Liu Ren had never abandoned his wish: to love everyone equally!
A Chao: *You mean fair-skinned, gorgeous, and young?*
Liu Ren: *Shut your mouth! This is called kindness!*
Seeing Liu Ren's regretful expression, Han Hu gave him a thumbs-up. "Senior Brother, should I go ask for her name?"
"Are you out of your mind? What's the point of asking her name? If you ask, will she follow me back to New York?"
Glancing at Han Hu with utter disdain, Liu Ren turned back around and resumed chatting with Vito.
Hearing Liu Ren's words, a massive lightbulb seemed to go off over Han Hu's head.
A few days later, a luxury cruise liner set sail from the shore.
Standing on the deck, Liu Ren sighed with regret. By now, Malèna was probably already engaged to Nino, wasn't she?
"What a damn shame!"
Thinking of Nino, that doomed fellow who would lose an arm the moment he went to the battlefield, Liu Ren couldn't help muttering complaints.
Yet just as he was pondering whether to kidnap Malèna back to New York, he suddenly slapped his own forehead. "Wait, how could I do that? That's wrong, way too immoral!"
Even as he said it, Liu Ren immediately countered himself: "Wait, no, I'm a gangster! Why should a gangster care about morals?"
Half an hour later, when Liu Ren received the news that Malèna and her family had vanished, his eyes went wide. "What the hell? Vanished? How could living, breathing people just vanish?"
At that thought, Liu Ren rested his hand warily against his waist. Could someone else be competing with him for Malèna?
Inside a luxurious stateroom aboard the cruise liner.
Bound tightly from head to toe, Malèna struggled constantly.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Staring at Han Hu in terror, Malèna's eyes were filled with pure dread.
Beside Malèna was her father, who was inching his body forward, attempting to shield his daughter.
Seeing this, Han Hu crouched down and spoke in broken Italian: "Calm down. I don't want to hurt you, but you must behave, understand? Otherwise, I'll get very angry!"
With that, Han Hu drew the revolver from his waist to drive the point home.
Nodding like chickens pecking at rice, Malèna and her father quickly acquiesced. After all, under another's roof, one has to bow one's head!
"This room has a bath. Someone will bring three meals a day. But if you're thinking of escaping, forget it. Everyone on this ship is one of ours, understand?"
Han Hu offered Malèna and her father a deeply meaningful grin.
Half a month later, New York Harbor.
Once the luxury liner docked, Liu Ren returned home by car.
Aline threw herself happily into his arms, beaming. "You've worked hard!"
"It's nothing. It's all for the family!"
Embracing Aline, Liu Ren smiled warmly.
Just then, the nanny leading his son over said respectfully, "Sir!"
"Caesar! Have you been behaving lately?"
Patting his son's head, Liu Ren smiled.
"I've been very good, but Mother won't let me eat candy. I hate her!"
Pouting, Caesar Liu looked thoroughly aggrieved.
"Caesar, you shouldn't say that, you know that?"
Scolding her son, Aline took on a stern expression.
Seeing Aline reprimand their son, Liu Ren turned on his heel and slipped away, knowing full well that he would be the next one in line for a lecture.
A few days later, outside a villa.
Liu Ren looked suspiciously at Han Hu. "Junior Brother, why did you bring me here?"
"Senior Brother, you'll see in a second!"
Beaming at Liu Ren, Han Hu pushed open the door and said excitedly, "Surprise, Senior Brother! A huge beauty!"
"Huh? Why is she here?"
Staring at Malèna in disbelief, Liu Ren froze instantly.
"I kidnapped her, Senior Brother! Quite a surprise, right?"
Han Hu gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Liu Ren whipped around and slapped him upside the head. "You absolute genius! Who told you to kidnap her?! No wonder I couldn't find her back then—you were the one who snatched her!"
"Huh? Senior Brother, you wanted to kidnap her too? Why didn't you say so earlier! Why did I have to go through all that trouble!"
Staring at Liu Ren in disbelief, Han Hu's eyes went wide in utter astonishment.
A Chao: *Truly trained by the same master!*
Head Coach Han: *Dammit, my old age is completely ruined!*
Chapter 56