Chapter 938 - 904: Preventing Panic

Xu Chunliang clinked glasses with Bai Lan. Although Bai Lan clinked glasses with him, she still didn’t drink the wine, proving she hadn’t let down her guard from start to finish.

Xu Chunliang knew Bai Lan couldn’t turn over all her cards for him to see, and said softly, "So writing a biography is a facade, and collecting materials about the Qingshan Mine is real. The goal is to find the secret Lee Sang-pu left back then?"

Bai Lan said, "Speaking of this matter, I have to thank you for your help."

In the darkness, Xu Chunliang stared into Bai Lan’s eyes and said, "Lexus initially wanted to seize the land from our hospital, and the real reason is because our hospital is very close to the Qingshan Mine. Perhaps the secret Lee Sang-pu left is under the new hospital site."

Bai Lan said, "The mine tunnels extend in all directions. Even if Lexus didn’t succeed, they would still invest in China-Korea Industrial Park, just taking some detours. One thing I can be sure of is that the map of the hidden treasure must be in Li Bingxing’s hands. We could join forces to take away the thing he wants." Only then can we be proactive and gain the bargaining power against Li Bingxing.

Xu Chunliang’s newly bought phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Liu Haiyu. Xu Chunliang immediately realized that Liu Haiyu’s call was probably related to the explosion incident today.

He didn’t answer the phone, and after a while, Liu Haiyu sent him a message — I’m waiting for you in the hotel lobby.

Bai Lan seemed to sense something, and softly said, "I’m leaving, think about it carefully."

Xu Chunliang said, "How can I contact you in the future?"

"You don’t need to contact me; I’ll find you." Bai Lan opened the room door. She had already disabled the surveillance on this floor and quickly entered the safety passage, following the stairs down.

Once Bai Lan’s figure disappeared, Xu Chunliang also dressed and went down by elevator to the hotel lobby.

Liu Haiyu sat in the lobby drinking free tea and eating free snacks, being quite adept at taking advantage of such small benefits.

Xu Chunliang came to sit beside him, sizing him up, "At this hour, are you still here for free snacks and drinks?"

Liu Haiyu’s expression was somewhat solemn as he put down the teacup in his hand: "It’s not convenient to talk here; let’s change locations."

Xu Chunliang said, "To my room?"

Liu Haiyu picked up a black plastic bag and followed Xu Chunliang back to his room.

After entering the room, Liu Haiyu first checked to confirm there were no eavesdropping or hidden recording devices in the room.

Xu Chunliang sat to the side watching him; actually, he also worried Bai Lan might have left surveillance devices in the room; having Liu Haiyu, this professional, help check was more reassuring.

Once Liu Haiyu confirmed safety, he took out some small dishes from the plastic bag.

Xu Chunliang looked at him with mixed feelings, "What’s the meaning of this?"

Liu Haiyu said, "For some drinks with you." This plastic bag was a real treasure trove, with even a bottle of Erguotou inside.

Xu Chunliang told him to wait a bit; he had two bottles of Chen Qianfan’s Chen Lao Dao’s Sauce Wine, perfect for trying.

The two sat near the coffee table, and Xu Chunliang opened a bottle of wine, instantly filling the room with fragrance. Liu Haiyu looked at the golden wine and praised, "This wine is nice, really fragrant."

Xu Chunliang looked at the few small dishes Liu Haiyu brought: a serving of peanuts, a serving of garlic sausage, a pig’s foot, and a roast chicken.

Liu Haiyu put on gloves and tore up the roast chicken, "From the Great Red Sect."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "The peanuts alone are enough."

Liu Haiyu said, with some casualness, "To calm your nerves. I heard if your reaction were just a bit slower today, you’d have been caught in the barbecue restaurant."

Xu Chunliang raised his glass to clink with him, took a sip of wine, and said, "You came for just this matter? Did you find out anything?"

Liu Haiyu said, "Externally, they claim it was a gas leak causing the explosion. In reality, someone planted a bomb in the shop. What exactly is your relationship with Che Shixiong and Jin Xinhui? How did things become so entangled?"

Xu Chunliang understood that the truth was probably covered up to avoid causing unnecessary panic and replied calmly, "Jin Xinhui was ill, and I treated her using my ancestral remedy. She’s improved, so they both invited me to dinner as thanks."

Liu Haiyu said, "I wonder if this explosion was aimed at you or them."

Xu Chunliang said, "Naturally, it was aimed at them. I just happened to be in danger by coincidence."

Liu Haiyu said, "Shortly after the explosion at the barbecue restaurant, another car self-ignited and exploded nearby. A burnt corpse was found inside; upon investigation, the car was registered under the Mingde Group. Recently, a female writer was using it—the same Bai Lan you previously commissioned me to investigate."

Liu Haiyu showed Xu Chunliang a photo of Bai Lan.

Xu Chunliang said, "Are you suggesting the corpse in the car is her?"

Liu Haiyu shook his head and said, "The deceased in the car is male; the autopsy results aren’t out yet. The car’s parking spot was cleverly chosen, just avoiding roadside surveillance, proving the driver had considerable counter-surveillance experience."

Chunliang thought to himself that Bai Lan’s true identity was that of a female assassin disguised as a writer, a highly professional one at that. This time, by disobeying the employer’s order, she would definitely be hunted down. From now on, her days wouldn’t be easy. Even if the domestic security agencies couldn’t trace her immediately, the employer wouldn’t let her go.

Liu Haiyu, seeing him not speaking, whispered, "Could this explosion case be targeting you?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t think I’m that important."

Liu Haiyu said, "Chunliang, if this explosion case is targeting you, then your situation is extremely dangerous. The best solution is to reveal the truth. I promise to help you investigate while keeping it confidential and arrange personnel to protect your safety."

Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but laugh, "Come on, I don’t need your protection. I really don’t know the situation. Didn’t you just say this car is registered under Mingde Group? Then go investigate. Maybe Huang Youlong planned all of this, and as for Lexus Group, I’ve done some things in Dongzhou that didn’t sit well with them. Could it be because of this reason they’re targeting me?"

Liu Haiyu said, "Do you know where Bai Lan is?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t know."

Liu Haiyu realized he couldn’t get any useful information from Xu Chunliang, and staying any longer had no significant meaning. So he got up to leave without finishing the bottle of wine.

After sending off Liu Haiyu, Xu Chunliang pondered over the matters involving the Lexus Group. Since these Koreans had already started a feud, he had to respond in kind. Aren’t you planning to build a China-Korea Industrial Park? I’ll find a way to sabotage it. Also, Mingde Group, Huang Youlong, I’ll settle both new and old scores with you.

Huang Youlong looked at Che Shixiong, his expression ambiguous, "Why are you leaving suddenly?"

Che Shixiong said, "President Huang, thank you for taking care of me all this time, but Xinhui doesn’t have much time left. I’m leaving Mingde to spend her final days together properly."

This was the excuse he and Jin Xin Hui had agreed upon. After the explosion at Han Shangyuan, they lost their last ties in the Capital City and planned to leave, staying away from disputes.

Huang Youlong said, "Is it because of the barbecue restaurant? Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the losses. If you want to continue the barbecue business, I can help you open another one."

Che Shixiong said, "Thank you for your kindness, President Huang. It’s not because of that."

Huang Youlong said, "Shixiong, you’re a person of deep emotions and righteousness. I should help you fulfill your wish."

Che Shixiong pressed his lips and said, "Thank you for understanding, President Huang."

Huang Youlong shook his head and said, "But you shouldn’t lie to me."

"What do you mean, President Huang?"

Huang Youlong said, "Clearly, you have been secretly associating with Xu Chunliang, yet you pretend nothing happened."

"President Huang, things aren’t as you imagine. He’s just a regular customer at the barbecue restaurant. I’ve never disclosed any company matters to him."

Huang Youlong said, "No need to panic. I didn’t say you betrayed me or the company’s interests. I’m just curious what method Xu Chunliang used to win you over?"

Che Shixiong said, "Nothing."

Huang Youlong laughed and pulled out a stack of medical reports from the drawer, "Someone provided me with Jin Xin Hui’s latest examination report. If this CT report is correct, I should congratulate you."

Che Shixiong’s face turned extremely grim. He couldn’t keep this matter from Huang Youlong after all.

Huang Youlong said, "I understand your concern for Jin Xin Hui and your desire to cure her. Even if you seek help from Xu Chunliang, it’s okay, but you shouldn’t have hidden it from me."

Che Shixiong lowered his head, "I’m sorry."

"No need to apologize unless you’ve done something to wrong me."

Che Shixiong said, "President Huang, I haven’t."

Huang Youlong lit a cigarette, took a drag, and said unhurriedly, "I can pretend everything didn’t happen."

Huang Youlong was hinting for Che Shixiong to abandon the idea of leaving and was giving him another chance.

Che Shixiong said, "I hope President Huang understands."

Huang Youlong nodded, took out two stacks of money from the drawer, tossed them to Che Shixiong, which he caught and placed back, then bowed deeply to Huang Youlong and left without looking back.

A cold gleam flashed in Huang Youlong’s dark eyes. He picked up the phone and dialed Li Changyou’s number, "I found something out..."

Early in the morning, Ye Qingya drove to the Star Hotel. Today, she and Xu Chunliang had arranged to go to Du Yun Temple. There were fifteen minutes left before the agreed time, so Ye Qingya didn’t urge Xu Chunliang to come down early and sat in the car listening to music.

Last night, her father talked to her, mainly about her personal matters. Her father thought she was still young and couldn’t be alone for life. Ye Qingya made it clear that after this failed marriage, she had lost interest in marriage.

Ye Qingya enjoyed her current freedom. She didn’t like to impose constraints on others, nor did she like to be constrained by others. Although quiet, she inherited her father’s unruliness at heart. The reason Ye Changyuan and Lin Sijin’s marriage came to this point was that neither liked to be constrained by the other.