Chapter Index

    “Young Master Wang, the car is outside. Shall we go now? The hotel is booked.”

    A middle-aged man holding a sign spoke respectfully to Wang Zhanhang.

    Wang Zhanhang looked behind him, frowning. “Where’s Song Jie?”

    “Young Master Wang, Yunzhou City has a significant temperature difference between day and night recently. Our boss caught a cold and is waiting for you at the hotel to welcome you.”

    The middle-aged man faced Wang Zhanhang’s doubts with a slightly ingratiating smile, calmly responding.

    Wang Zhanhang squinted, speaking in an unhappy tone, “That Song Jie, not even a word about his cold beforehand? Acting distant with me. I must give him a good talking to today.”

    As he spoke, he took out his phone and then dialed Song Jie’s number.

    He observed the middle-aged man’s expression from the corner of his eye, but the man stood respectfully without any changes.

    “Young Master.”

    The call connected quickly, and a somewhat hoarse voice came from the phone.

    Hearing this familiar voice of Song Jie, Wang Zhanhang’s vigilance relaxed. “I heard you caught a cold. What’s going on? Is it serious?”

    “Just a slight cold, can’t expose myself to wind. I trouble you with worries, Young Master. Cough, cough, cough. I apologize for not greeting you in person, I’ll self-punish with three cups as an apology.”

    Song Jie’s voice sounded hoarse and weak, interspersed with intermittent coughing and mild tremors.

    Wang Zhanhang’s suspicion was completely dispelled, feeling reassured. “Okay, I’m coming over now. Ending the call.”

    After hanging up, Wang Zhanhang nodded at the middle-aged man who came to pick him up. “Lead the way.”

    “Young Master Wang, please.” The middle-aged man slightly bowed, making a respectful gesture to invite him.

    Wang Zhanhang nodded and then spoke to the foreign old man beside him. “Professor, let’s go.”

    The middle-aged man holding the sign led the group outside.

    Where a row of imposing Mercedes cars awaited.

    ………

    Yunzhou Grand Hotel.

    Private Room 8.

    “Beep~ Beep~ Beep~”

    Hearing the busy tone from his phone, Song Jie, sweating profusely, stuttered, “Chen…Chen Second Young Master, how…how did I do?”

    “Hmm, not bad. You have a talent for acting.”

    Chen Dongqiu, legs crossed and swirling a glass of red wine, nodded in approval of his recent performance.

    “Then…then could you…” Song Jie cautiously pointed to the gun pressing against the back of his head, continuing, “If it accidentally fires, it’s…it’s too dangerous.”

    “Didn’t think you were so afraid of death.” Chen Dongqiu said with a hint of mockery and waved his hand casually.

    A bodyguard withdrew the gun from the back of Song Jie’s head.

    “Phew—”

    Song Jie let out a sigh of relief, regaining some composure, he said to Chen Dongqiu, “Chen Second Young Master, who isn’t afraid of death nowadays? Especially after living a life of public grandeur, that fear only grows.”

    “Old Song, didn’t expect you to be a part of Tianqing. Why don’t you tell me about this Tianqing? I’m quite curious.” Chen Dongqiu looked at Song Jie with an expression full of curiosity.

    He truly hadn’t expected this Yunzhou entrepreneur, with whom he’d done much business, to be part of Tianqing.

    Indeed, as Mr. Xu said, Tianqing’s members span every industry and hold various identities.

    Song Jie didn’t answer this question. Instead, he asked, “There’s an insider in Tianqing, and their status isn’t low, right?”

    “Otherwise, you wouldn’t know Young Master was coming to Yunzhou or the specific flight. Without this info, you couldn’t have kidnapped the pick-up person at the airport or extracted my identity from them.”

    Chen Dongqiu shook his head, leaning slightly forward, looking seriously at Song Jie:

    “Old Song, you’re a prisoner now. A prisoner should have a prisoner’s mindset. You can only answer my questions, not ask them to me.”

    As he spoke, he gestured.

    The earlier bodyguard once again pointed the gun at Song Jie’s head.

    Song Jie’s body stiffened, as if his blood had frozen over.

    “Old Song, can you properly answer my question now?” Chen Dongqiu smiled gently, akin to a spring breeze.

    Feeling the cold touch of the gun, Song Jie’s face turned pale as he swallowed a gulp of saliva with difficulty. “Chen Second Young Master, if you want to know, why not ask Mr. Xu?”

    “Smack!”

    Chen Dongqiu casually slapped him across the face, smiling. “I just want to ask you. I’m deeply attached to you. Is that answer satisfactory?”

    Feeling the burning pain on his face, Song Jie was both shocked and angry, biting his teeth as he closed his eyes, staying silent.

    “You’re not afraid of death anymore?” Chen Dongqiu looked at him curiously.

    Song Jie opened his eyes and said through clenched teeth, “I’m organizing my thoughts about how to explain Tianqing to you because my understanding is limited.”

    Chen Dongqiu: “…………..”

    He thought this guy suddenly wasn’t afraid of death anymore. To admit defeat so boldly has potential.

    “Can we begin?” Chen Dongqiu made a gesture of invitation. “Please start your performance.”

    Song Jie sighed and began slowly, “Tianqing is a huge organization. I’ve never been to the headquarters. My role is to earn money for Tianqing and then deposit it into a designated account at regular intervals. As for what this money is used for, I’m completely ignorant.”

    “So, to you, Tianqing is just a vampire. Why did you join this organization then? Is giving money fun for you?” Chen Dongqiu asked.

    Song Jie shook his head. “Initially, my company faced bankruptcy, and it was Tianqing’s people who saved it and allowed my company to rise to greater heights.”

    Chen Dongqiu nodded thoughtfully. It was a transaction, akin to Tianqing buying shares and helping Song Jie eliminate the bankruptcy crisis.

    What Song Jie is doing now is giving back to Tianqing.

    “Why did Wang Zhanhang come to Yunzhou, and who is the person who came with him?” Chen Dongqiu asked again.

    Song Jie shook his head like a rattle, “I don’t know. As I said, I’m like Tianqing’s Yunzhou branch, an external subordinate. How would I know headquarters’ affairs?”

    ……………

    Meanwhile.

    The convoy pretending to be Song Jie that went to the airport to pick up Wang Zhanhang already arrived at the Yunzhou Grand Hotel entrance.

    “Young Master Wang, please step out.”

    A bodyguard in the passenger seat got out first, diligently opening Wang Zhanhang’s door.

    Wang Zhanhang exited with the foreign old man.

    Then, under the bodyguards’ escort, he walked into the Yunzhou Grand Hotel.

    Chapter Summary

    Wang Zhanhang arrives in Yunzhou City and finds out Song Jie is unavailable due to illness. A tense dialogue follows between Chen Dongqiu and Song Jie, revealing internal tensions. Song Jie's reluctance to divulge details suggests an underhanded scheme involving the Tianqing organization. Meanwhile, the convoy reaches the Yunzhou Grand Hotel, escorting Wang Zhanhang and his foreign professor. Suspense mounts as further intentions unfold with a mystery behind the characters and their true affiliations.

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