“The List won’t go after just anyone,” Xiao-Xiao said. “What did your parents do to get targeted?”

Very slowly, Weiran sank back into his seat. He was trembling. “They were trying to bring down the List,” he spit out. “They got close, too. The List had accepted them and everything, and they were putting together information, and then somehow the List found out and everything came crashing down. The List destroyed their company and framed them for embezzlement, and then they killed them in prison.”

“And you’re…supposed to continue their work?”

Weiran glowered at Xiao-Xiao. “Yes. It was their dying wish.”

“Is it your dying wish?”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Xiao-Xiao pointed at Xingyu. “I know he’s willing to die for this. He’s also willing to and fully capable of killing for this. But you? Someone else’s dying wish isn’t enough to motivate you to go against the most powerful organization you’ll meet in your life.”

“It’s my dying wish. Happy?”

Xiao-Xiao dragged his bottom lip through his teeth. Weiran kept glowering at him. “Fine,” said Xiao-Xiao. “So what was the plan, exactly?”

“How do we know you aren’t going to just tell the List and get us caught?”

“Are you an idiot?”

Xingyu’s grip tightened around Weiran, holding him down as he tried to lurch upward again. “Xiao-Xiao, please.”

“You’ve already been caught. Both of you, red-handed. The fact that you aren’t dead yet and that Xingyu is still dear Ba’s little favorite is a testament to my character. Just tell me what the plan was.”

Liu Xingyu laid it out for him: he would be working the top while Weiran ensured they got all the lower members of the List too as well as being the technical support that both covered their tracks and ensured that, even if they got caught, the evidence could not be erased like it was after Weiran’s parents were killed. Xiao-Xiao took this all in silently and expressionlessly. When Xingyu was done, he nodded, thought a moment, and then said, “I’ll help you.”

Xingyu and Weiran looked at each other. Xingyu said, “What?”

“I’ll help you bring the List down, but only if you change something.”

“We don’t need your help,” said Weiran, throwing the words at Xiao-Xiao like a weapon.

“You do, because if you continue to go about revenge like this, you’ll both be dead by the end of the month. It’s only one change—that Zhang Weiran does not make any more public appearances.”

“What?”

“Weiran,” Xingyu said, “just listen, and then we can respond.”