Chapter 969 - 935: Everyone Has Secrets

Xu Chunliang was about to leave when he received a call from Liu Haiyu. His tone was somewhat serious, telling Xu Chunliang that, according to the current technical department’s deciphering of Black Swallow’s phone, they discovered she is connected to multiple smuggling and theft cases. Their criminal organization has committed numerous crimes, and all six people arrested with her have criminal records.

Xu Chunliang thought Liu Haiyu’s call was somewhat unnecessary. He was only responsible for providing intelligence, not his partner. Xu Chunliang only cared about when Wu Yuanyi could be brought to justice. As for Black Swallow and her group, they’re just small fries, capturing them is just a means to locate Wu Yuanyi.

Liu Haiyu said, "Remember the Taibai Ghost Market?"

Of course, Xu Chunliang remembered. Back then, Liu Haiyu tricked him onto that ship. It was on that ship that he met Black Swallow: "Lao Liu, just say it, don’t beat around the bush."

Liu Haiyu said, "This group might be excavating relics from the Underwater City."

Xu Chunliang was slightly taken aback, Underwater City? Isn’t it just the ancient city ruins beneath Weishan Lake?

Liu Haiyu briefly explained that recently, some Western Han artifacts were discovered on the market. These artifacts are very valuable. He was undercover in Taibaiwa at the time, and made several trips to the Taibai Ghost Market because of this.

Xu Chunliang said, "Then interrogate them properly, and if you find evidence, arrest the lot of them."

Liu Haiyu asked, "Do you know Xue Renzhong?"

Xu Chunliang had never heard of this name.

Liu Haiyu said, "Then you must know Bai Mushan, right?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Yes, he’s a professor in the history department at Nanjiang Normal University. I’ve mentioned him to you before. He specializes in researching dragon bones, and he went to Jizhou to buy dragon bones from Shi Taiping."

Liu Haiyu said, "This Xue Renzhong specializes in antiques trading. In their line of work, there’s the saying ’Nan Xue, Bei Xie’. ’Bei Xie’ refers to Xie Boxiang, also known as Master Xie, and ’Nan Xue’ is Xue Renzhong. The history of these two isn’t that clean. One mainly deals in dry pit business, and the other in water pit business. Xue Renzhong is in the water pit business. His son, Xue Anliang, is studying for his doctorate, and Bai Mushan is his mentor."

Xu Chunliang now understood. He didn’t expect Xue Anliang would have such a background. No wonder his father wanted him to study history and archaeology—seems like it’s for preparing to take over the family business. Even the shady business now requires professionalism, and expectations for academic qualifications are rising.

Liu Haiyu said, "Bai Mushan’s financial backer is Luan Yuchuan from Equatorial Capital. I heard your hospital is negotiating a partnership with Equatorial Capital. Whether as a friend or partner, I want to remind you that Luan Yuchuan’s background is somewhat complicated, so be cautious when dealing with them."

Xu Chunliang asked, "Lao Liu, are you hinting that you’ve already got your eyes set on them?"

Liu Haiyu replied, "I wouldn’t say that. It’s just that the way he rose to power is very mysterious, and there’s no evidence of any criminal activity against him so far. By the way, aren’t you familiar with Mo Han from Equatorial Capital? If you get a chance, maybe ask her about it."

Xu Chunliang realized Liu Haiyu was laying a trap for him, using his curiosity to lead him towards his intended target. Xu Chunliang said, "Alright, I’ll contact you if I discover anything."

Xu Chunliang and the others went to a nearby lobster restaurant for a casual meal. By the time they left, it was already 10:30 PM.

Chen Qianfan had the driver drop Xu Chunliang off at the hotel. Tomorrow would be the last day of their intensive training. Chen Qianfan planned to go back to Dongzhou with Xu Chunliang for field studies, so Xu Chunliang didn’t need to book a train ticket and could join him in his business car.

As Xu Chunliang was heading towards the hotel, Xu Ying called.

She sounded a bit apologetic, "Xiaoxu, I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but I’ve been thinking and I’d still like to have a good conversation with you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Sure, you set the time."

Xu Ying said, "The sooner, the better, if it doesn’t disrupt your rest..."

Xu Chunliang sensed that she wanted to meet right away. After some thought, he said, "How about this, I’ll wait for you in the hotel’s executive lounge."

Twenty minutes later, Xu Ying arrived at the place. Xu Chunliang, who had ordered drinks in advance, waved to her.

Xu Ying smiled and came in front of him. Xu Chunliang stood up to help her pull out the chair.

Xu Ying thanked him as she sat down.

The reason Xu Chunliang agreed to meet her is because Xu Ying is quite rational about things. If it wasn’t for something urgent, she wouldn’t have approached him. Of course, Xu Chunliang had thought about it, and the reason Xu Ying was looking for him was most likely related to Zhao Feiyang. If she was seeking his help, Xu Chunliang wouldn’t agree; he wouldn’t interfere in Zhao Feiyang’s affairs.

Xu Ying ordered a glass of lemon water and took a sip of the chilled lemon water. She apologized again, "Sorry for disturbing you so late."

Xu Chunliang smiled, "Sister Xu, why are you being so formal with me? You didn’t come find me this late just for a chat over drinks, did you?"

Xu Ying said, "Tang Tianyi is dead."

Xu Chunliang was startled; the sudden news shocked him. He had just heard that Zhao Feiyang and the Tang Family had reached a reconciliation, and he was no longer pursuing Tang Tianyi’s responsibility. The several perpetrators who hit him had also changed their testimonies. He thought the matter was settled, but it seems there’s another unexpected turn.

"How could this be possible? Wasn’t he detained?"

Xu Ying’s face turned pale and said, "He was sent for drug rehabilitation, and something happened at the Detoxification Center; he committed suicide by slitting his wrist."

Xu Chunliang picked up his wine glass and took a sip. He needed to digest this information. From his understanding of Tang Tianyi, the guy didn’t have the guts to commit suicide, which meant there were many suspicious points about this incident.

Someone like Tang Tianyi was living a hedonistic life, a total societal scum, but with his death, the impact on Tang Jingwei would undoubtedly be tremendous. Losing his beloved son might provoke an unprecedented reaction from Tang Jingwei, potentially causing him to lose his mind.

Xu Chunliang understood what Xu Ying was afraid of. She feared Tang Jingwei would blame Zhao Feiyang for this incident. Even though Tang Jingwei wasn’t as influential as before, he could still easily deal with Zhao Feiyang.

Xu Ying was visibly tense, took a sip of wine, and put the glass down: "I shouldn’t have come to you, but I don’t know what to do. I received a threatening phone call today."

Xu Chunliang said, "Did you call the police?"

Xu Ying shook her head, "I don’t dare to report it; he knows where my daughter goes to school."

Xu Chunliang asked, "Why are they threatening you?"

Xu Ying bit her lip, and after a while, she said, "My daughter is actually... should be carrying the Zhao surname."

Xu Chunliang looked at Xu Ying in shock.

Xu Ying dared not look at Xu Chunliang, her fingers intertwined painfully: "He doesn’t know. We were young then, and he was on a business trip to Neon; we drank too much."

Xu Chunliang didn’t want to hear the details. Although the incident was somewhat provocative, it seemed to be a one-night stand after a passionate reunion of old classmates. However, it wasn’t a fleeting fantasy but accidentally resulted in a secret pregnancy.

No wonder Xu Ying stuck by Zhao Feiyang. Zhao Feiyang wasn’t any good either; he already had three kids, but it also proves his reproductive capability from another perspective.

Xu Chunliang quietly said, "You mean the person threatening you might know this secret?"

Xu Ying nodded and drank some lemon water to soothe her chaotic nerves, "Xiaoxu, Feiyang doesn’t know about my daughter, and besides you, I’ve never told anyone."

Xu Chunliang thought to himself, thank you, but what does this have to do with me?

Xu Ying said, "I really don’t know what to do. Chunliang, I feel like Feiyang is being used. You know what he’s like, blindly confident. He thinks that saving Qiao Rulong has found him a patron, but he has no qualification to play games with them."

Xu Chunliang said, "Then you can help him face reality."

Xu Ying shook her head, "I’ve tried, but it’s useless. I thought that if he stopped pursuing the fight issue, the matter would be over. But I never expected Tang Tianyi would die. Xiaoxu, this is not as simple as it seems on the surface. I suspect that those people beat Feiyang as bait; they are deliberately escalating the conflict, using this incident to draw Qiao Rulong into the game. Tang Tianyi’s death is also not simple; Tang Jingwei must have gone mad and will stop at nothing to go against Feiyang."

Xu Chunliang thought to himself, you’re overestimating Zhao Feiyang. The person Tang Jingwei hates most now should be Qiao Rulong; he would think Qiao Rulong caused all this. As for Zhao Feiyang, Tang Jingwei probably can’t suppress his urge to attack; he should be sharpening his knife.

Xu Chunliang said, "Sister Xu, you’re right. Zhao Feiyang isn’t qualified to play this game, nor can he afford it. By the way, what did that person threaten you with?"

Xu Ying said, "That person wants me to make my daughter’s paternity issue public; otherwise, he will harm my daughter."

Xu Chunliang asked, "If it’s made public, would Zhao Feiyang have to resign in disgrace?"

Xu Ying said, "I don’t know; I only know that even if I make it public, they won’t let Feiyang go. I’ve thought it over and over; this issue isn’t centered around Feiyang."

"What are you planning to do?"

Xu Ying bit her lip and said, "I’m planning to return immediately to Nanjiang and take my daughter abroad as soon as possible. I can’t let her be affected by this matter."

Xu Chunliang thought, apart from getting away from this mess as soon as possible, Xu Ying doesn’t have many options left.

Xu Ying said, "I don’t have many friends, and after thinking it over, I still need to tell you. If possible, I hope you can reach out to the Qiao Family and remind them. Only the Qiao Family has the power to quell this matter. I’m worried that Qiao Rulong will try every means to cover it up."

Xu Chunliang instantly understood Xu Ying’s purpose. It’s not the Qiao Family that has the power to settle this but Elder Qiao. As long as the Qiao Family resolves this matter, Zhao Feiyang might be able to get through this crisis. If Qiao Rulong, for some reason, hides this matter and misses the opportunity, things might get bigger. By then, even if Elder Qiao steps in, it might be impossible to settle.

Xu Ying’s mind is much clearer than Zhao Feiyang’s. She sees the problem and knows how to solve it, but she has no way to reach Elder Qiao. After thinking it over, she could only find Xu Chunliang, knowing well that he wouldn’t easily get involved in Zhao Feiyang’s affairs. But Xu Chunliang, for the sake of Mei Ru Xue, wouldn’t ignore the crisis of the Qiao Family.

Xu Chunliang picked up the wine glass and softly said, "Sister Xu, is it worth it for such a person?"

Xu Ying said, "Feelings are unreasonable; the more rational a woman is, the more painful she becomes. In this regard, Mei Ru Xue should feel the same."