TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 82

Chapter 80: Mysterious Man

The man in the suit sneered, took out a cell phone from his pocket, and threw it on the table.

“I’ve already found Qi Yanwang’s people. You better behave yourself.”

Xiao Zhu leisurely tore open the bread packaging, took a bite,

“What’s there to be afraid of? They don’t know you’re helping me hide.”

“You’re too naive.”

The man’s eyes were sinister, “What kind of person is Qi Yanwang? He’ll find out about me sooner or later.”

Xiao Zhu licked the bread crumbs from the corner of his mouth and suddenly smiled.

“That’s perfect. Haven’t you always wanted to get revenge on him?”

The man suddenly grabbed his chin,

“It’s not your place to talk about my business! Remember your place—you’re just a pawn I’m using to disgust Qi Yanwang.”

Xiao Zhu was forced to look up, but still smiled provocatively,

“Really? Then why did you react so strongly when I mentioned Zhuo Huaimo?”

The man’s fingers suddenly tightened. Xiao Zhu frowned in pain, but still managed to squeeze out a few words,

“You…you like him too…don’t you?”

“Shut up!”

The man threw him away. Xiao Zhu staggered and crashed into the wall, but laughed even more wildly.

“How interesting…”

He rubbed his reddened chin, “Qi Yanwang, you…you’re both infatuated with the same person…”

The man straightened his suit cuffs and his tone returned to calmness.

“There’s a boat to Vietnam tomorrow night. You better get on it obediently.”

Xiao Zhu tilted his head to look at him,

“What if I don’t?”

The man turned and walked towards the door, his voice cold,

“Then you can wait to be thrown into the river by Qi Yanwang to feed the fish.”

The warehouse door slammed shut, and the smile on Xiao Zhu’s face gradually disappeared.

He looked down at the phone screen—it was a live broadcast of Zhuo Huaimo’s latest movie release.

Qi Yanwang stood half a step behind Zhuo Huaimo, his eyes constantly following him. That focused and restrained look made Xiao Zhu mad with jealousy.

“Zhuo Huaimo…”

He softly said the name, his fingertip tracing the clear and handsome profile on the screen,

“Why does everyone love you?”

He opened his photo album and flipped to a blurry candid photo—

It was taken the night Qi Yanwang was drunk, when he took advantage of the other’s unconscious state.

In the photo, Qi Yanwang was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, and he was leaning over to get closer…

The “Early Spring” promotion tour was coming to an end, and the relationship between Zhuo Huaimo and Qi Yanwang finally showed signs of easing.

That night, Zhuo Huaimo was reading a script in the hotel room, and Qi Yanwang was sitting on the sofa not far away, processing documents. There was just the right distance between the two—

Not so far as to seem distant, but not so close as to make Zhuo Huaimo uncomfortable.

Qi Yanwang occasionally looked up at him, his gaze restrained and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing him.

Zhuo Huaimo had actually noticed, but he pretended not to, just lowered his head and continued turning pages, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

During this time, Qi Yanwang followed him almost every step of the way, but cautiously kept his distance, for fear of displeasing him.

He remembered what Qi Yanwang used to be like—bold, domineering, wishing the whole world knew that Zhuo Huaimo was his.

But now, he hesitated again and again even to touch him.

Zhuo Huaimo felt a little sour and a little amused.

“Tomorrow is the last promotion.” Zhuo Huaimo suddenly said.

Qi Yanwang immediately looked up, like a soldier waiting for instructions,

“Yeah, after it ends, we’ll go straight back to Jiang City.”

Zhuo Huaimo glanced at him and said faintly,

“You’ve been…very obedient lately.”

Qi Yanwang was stunned for a moment, then smiled wryly,

“I wouldn’t dare not to be.”

Zhuo Huaimo didn’t say anything more, lowered his head to continue reading the script, but the stuffiness in his heart inexplicably dissipated a bit.

—

The next day, the two walked out of the cinema one after the other after the promotion ended.

The night breeze was slightly cool. Zhuo Huaimo pulled his coat tighter. Qi Yanwang immediately took off his overcoat and handed it over.

“Put it on, don’t catch a cold.”

Zhuo Huaimo hesitated for a second, but still took it.

Qi Yanwang’s eyes lit up instantly, as if he had received a great reward.

Zhuo Huaimo couldn’t help but laugh, but kept a straight face,

“What are you laughing at?”

Qi Yanwang shook his head, but couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up,

“It’s nothing, it’s just…I’m happy.”

Zhuo Huaimo snorted softly and ignored him, but the arc of his mouth betrayed him.

The two walked along the sidewalk towards the hotel, the night lights stretching their shadows very long.

Just then—

A black car suddenly lost control and rushed towards the sidewalk!

“Huaimo—!”

Qi Yanwang instinctively lunged forward and pushed Zhuo Huaimo away!

“Bang—!”

The ear-piercing sound of brakes and the crash sounded at the same time. Zhuo Huaimo staggered and fell to the ground. When he looked back, his pupils suddenly contracted—

Qi Yanwang was hit and flew out, heavily falling on the ground a few meters away, and blood instantly stained half of his arm red!

“Qi Yanwang—!”

Zhuo Huaimo’s mind went blank. He scrambled over and tremblingly picked him up,

“Qi Yanwang! Wake up! Qi Yanwang!”

Qi Yanwang opened his eyes slightly, his blurred vision focusing on Zhuo Huaimo’s face. He even forced a smile,

“You, you see, you still care about me!”

Zhuo Huaimo’s eyes instantly turned red, his voice trembling,

“Are you fucking stupid! Who told you to jump over!”

“Hehe, I’m happy, I’m happy!”

Qi Yanwang had a silly smile on his face, making Zhuo Huaimo suspect that his brain was damaged!

The smell of disinfectant in the hospital was pungent. Qi Yanwang had gauze wrapped around his forehead, but still insisted on sitting by Zhuo Huaimo’s bed, holding his hand tightly.

“You lie down and rest.”

Zhuo Huaimo frowned, trying to pull his hand back, “The doctor said you might have a slight concussion.”

Qi Yanwang shook his head, his eyes unusually clear,

“Huaimo, there was something wrong with that car just now.”

Zhuo Huaimo was startled, “What do you mean?”

“When it accelerated and rushed over, there was no sign of braking at all.”

Qi Yanwang’s voice was low, “And…”

He hesitated for a moment, but still said, “I think it’s related to the things we’ve been investigating recently!”

Zhuo Huaimo’s pupils shrank slightly,

“You mean…”

“I suspect someone doesn’t want us to continue investigating.”

Qi Yanwang squeezed his hand, “This car accident is probably not an accident.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s breath caught, his fingers icy cold.

“I’ve already called the police and arranged for bodyguards.”

Qi Yanwang gently stroked the back of his hand, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Zhuo Huaimo looked at the injury on his forehead and frowned.

“I’m fine!”

Qi Yanwang grinned, but it pulled at the wound, causing him to “hiss” in pain,

“It just hurts a little. Only a kiss from Director Zhuo can make it better.”

“…Get lost.”

In the dimly lit underground parking lot, the truck driver rubbed his hands, his eyes flickering as he looked at the man in the suit,

“Mr. Lin, the money…did you bring the money?”

The man took out a kraft paper bag from his inner suit pocket and threw it on the ground casually.

“Remember, leave Jiang City tonight.”

The driver hurriedly picked up the paper bag, his fingers trembling as he counted the banknotes,

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it right away…”

Before he could finish speaking, the man suddenly grabbed the back of his neck and slammed him against the wall.

“If you dare say another word…”

The cold muzzle of a gun pressed against the driver’s waist, and the driver’s legs immediately went weak in fear.

“N-no! I don’t know anything!”

The man released his hand and straightened his cuffs leisurely,

“Get lost.”

Watching the driver flee in panic, the man lit a cigarette, his eyes in the smoke were terrifyingly sinister.

“Zhuo Huaimo…”

He softly said the name, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fist, “You’re lucky! I couldn’t get rid of you when I borrowed Gu Chen Zhou’s hand last time, and you escaped again this time…”

He took out his phone, and the screen showed the surveillance footage at the entrance of the hospital—

Qi Yanwang’s back as he hugged Zhuo Huaimo and walked into the emergency room.

“Next time…”

He murmured at the screen, “There won’t be such a good opportunity.”

The cigarette butt was crushed hard on the wall, sparks flying everywhere.

Qi Yanwang’s phone suddenly vibrated late at night.

A message from an unfamiliar number popped up on the screen:

[Brother Qi, I want to see you one last time—Xiao Zhu].

He frowned and quickly replied:

[Impossible].

Three seconds later, a photo was sent.

In the dimly lit hotel room, Qi Yanwang was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, his shirt disheveled, and Xiao Zhu was leaning over, the angle ambiguously disgusting.

Qi Yanwang’s knuckles turned white instantly, and the phone screen creaked as it was squeezed.

[Tomorrow at 12 noon, abandoned factory in the west of the city. If you don’t come, I’ll post the photos online. You know, netizens nowadays love to see this kind of gossip~]

Qi Yanwang forced himself to calm down:

[What do you want?]

[I want you~]

Followed by a disgusting emoticon,

[Come alone, if I find out you brought someone…hehe, you know].

While dealing with the messages, Qi Yanwang quickly sent a message to Liu Jinchen:

[Locate this number immediately].

“What’s wrong?”

Zhuo Huaimo’s voice suddenly came from behind him, scaring Qi Yanwang so much that he almost dropped his phone.

“N-nothing…”

Qi Yanwang subconsciously hid the phone behind his back, but gave in to Zhuo Huaimo’s sharp gaze.

Zhuo Huaimo reached out,

“Give it to me.”

Qi Yanwang opened his mouth, but finally dejectedly handed over the phone.

He watched Zhuo Huaimo’s expression change from doubt to shock, to terrifying calm.

“When did this happen?” Zhuo Huaimo’s voice was unnaturally calm.

“Just now…”

Qi Yanwang was like a child who had made a mistake, “Huaimo, I really didn’t that night…”

“I know.”

Zhuo Huaimo interrupted him, “I’m asking, when did he ask you to meet?”

Qi Yanwang was stunned,

“You…aren’t you angry?”

Zhuo Huaimo sneered, “Is being angry useful?”

He swiped the phone screen,

“Tomorrow at noon? Agree to him.”

“No way!”

Qi Yanwang stood up abruptly, “Who knows what he’ll do!”

“That’s why we need to go even more.”

Zhuo Huaimo threw the phone back to him, “This kind of handle must be resolved cleanly in one go.”

“I can have Liu Jinchen bring people…”

“He said he wants you to go alone!”

Zhuo Huaimo had already started putting on his coat, “So we have to ‘arrange’ it properly.”

Qi Yanwang suddenly hugged him from behind, his voice muffled,

“I’m sorry…this is probably retribution. I always lied to you before, and now I’m getting retribution…”

Zhuo Huaimo turned around and pinched his chin,

“If you know it’s retribution, then just endure it.”

He glared at Qi Yanwang, “You’re already a boss, and I still have to clean up your mess for you!”

Qi Yanwang’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he stole a kiss,

“I promise not to cause trouble anymore, as long as you don’t abandon me…”

Zhuo Huaimo pushed him away, “Did Liu Jinchen reply?”

Qi Yanwang looked at his phone, “It’s located, in a rental house in the west of the city.”

He frowned, “But Xiao Zhu said tomorrow at the abandoned factory…”

“A feint to the east and attack to the west?”

Zhuo Huaimo sneered, “He’s making progress!”