The plaza was filled with densely packed sun umbrellas, and the tables beneath them were almost fully occupied.
Scenes like this were very common on a Sunday.
Luo Qiu walked through the gaps between the crowd and the tables and quickly spotted Song Ying.
She seed to have been there for a while, sipping iced black tea. The straw was slightly bent from being bitten, and she rested her cheek on her hand, watching a family of three at the next table with a faint distraction. Her legs kicked lightly under the table.
“Do you like drinking cold things in winter?”
“Are your conversation starters always this weird…” Song Ying turned around, slightly annoyed. “Yes, I like eating ice cream in winter. Any problem with that?”
Luo Qiu sat down calmly. “Girls should be careful to keep warm. Eating too many cold things in winter can lead to cold in the womb.”
Cold in the… womb…
Song Ying felt a sudden warmth behind her ears. As a woman, she naturally understood the implications of “cold in the womb”—but topics like this were usually discussed between won, or sotis between mothers and daughters.
Was he implying she might have trouble having children in the future?
Oblivious to Song Ying’s wandering thoughts, Luo Qiu glanced around and noticed her bodyguards seated nearby… and even a few unfamiliar faces.
“There seem to be more people.” Luo Qiu said casually.
“Huh? What, more people?” Song Ying was montarily surprised. Following Luo Qiu’s gaze, she realized, “Oh, a few more family mbers ca. A few more will co in a few days.”
“?” Luo Qiu blinked.
Song Ying crossed her long legs under the table and leaned forward on the table with her hands. “We plan to make so investnts here. It’s my grandfather’s idea. He’s been looking for suitable locations since yesterday.”
Luo Qiu paused. “The Song family plans to develop here?”
Song Ying nodded. “Exactly. It’s been my grandfather’s wish for a long ti, but it wasn’t possible before… You should know sothing about the Song family’s situation, right?”
Luo Qiu nodded.
The Song family had significant influence in South Arica. Publicly, the Song Dynasty Group ranked among the world’s top 500 companies, while privately, the family also maintained its own ard forces.
In more underworld terms, Old Master Song had always planned to retire and return to his roots, but the Song family background was too dangerous, and outsiders were kept at bay.
“This ti there’s a good opportunity,” Song Ying lowered her voice. “Song Haoran did sothing that sohow got the governnt to allow our funds in.”
Boss Luo remained silent for a mont… Song Ying probably didn’t know, but in just a few seconds, he had figured out the full situation.
Paid intelligence is ant to be used when necessary, and Boss Luo never hesitates in this regard.
The story traces back to the Mount Tai incident—when the Song family, the Zhang family, and Japan’s Suzuki family secretly cooperated to explore the imperial tombs.
Skipping the middle details, under Song Haoran’s orders, the Daoists and Demons who were captured by the Heavenly Heart sect to be used in the Mount Tai Lord’s Sacrificial Rite were saved because of him.
In just one night, most Daoists and Demons in Divine Land owed him a favor—a first in history.
After the Mount Tai event, Song Haoran acted under the guise of international humanitarian aid in the disaster area. The Song family’s opportunity to return ho was also partly due to the favors owed by others.
Several Daoist and Demon sects petitioned together, forcing the Managent Bureau to acknowledge the situation. After discussions, a resolution was reached, which is why Song Ying began looking for a new office location in this city.
“I see… why choose this place?” Boss Luo asked, curious.
Song Ying said, “Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to? Don’t you have any idea why it’s here?”
Luo Qiu smiled. “I like the life I have in my heart.”
Song Ying shrugged. “That’s your opinion, but my grandfather doesn’t see it that way. I called you out mainly to tell you that once the company matters are settled, you can start working. My grandfather said the new company is basically for you to manage, I’m just your deputy.”
Luo Qiu shook his head. “Thank you, but I have no plans for that. Besides, I’m leaving next month. The school there is about to start.”
Song Ying seed to anticipate his answer. “That’s fine. You can hold the position temporarily and return after finishing your studies. By then, the new company will already be on track. Besides… isn’t there ?”
Song Ying hadn’t ntioned that a large part of choosing this city was because Luo Qiu grew up here, and partly because of the Zhang family.
Since leaving Beijing decades ago, the Zhang family had operated mainly locally, and the family head Zhang Li Lanfang also lived here.
Though the Song family had strong finances abroad, they needed a foothold in China’s competitive environnt, and the Zhang family provided that platform and partnership.
First, the two families had business ties. Second, they had connections dating back to the chaotic last century.
“Looks like there’s no way to refuse.” Luo Qiu said calmly.
Song Ying teased, “Only you think it’s a loss. Wouldn’t anyone else be thrilled?”
Luo Qiu hadn’t accepted the position but didn’t formally refuse either. Declining now might still leave opportunities later, unless he actively severed ties with the Song family—but he had no plans to do that yet.
“Then we’ll do it as you said.” Luo Qiu nodded.
“That’s better!” Song Ying smiled sweetly. “Here, let get you sothing to eat~ By the way, which school are you going to again? I never asked.”
“St. Andrews University.”
Song Ying paused, then widened her eyes. That was the school Zhong Family’s “fox spirit” graduated from, and it was also where Song Ying had studied.
“Is there a problem?”
Song Ying laughed. “Don’t bla , you chose it yourself! I might be older, but calling you little brother wouldn’t make you happy… yet you voluntarily agreed to be the junior.”
It felt like a small victory.
Luo Qiu smiled.
“Starting a company is fine, and holding a position is fine, but I hope you don’t interfere with her life.”
“Ren Ziling?”
Song Ying paused, recalling that night when Luo Qiu’s gaze was so intimidating that she couldn’t breathe freely…
He looked mild-mannered, but also undeniably MANLY.
……
Outside the rehabilitation center, Zhao Le was helping Zhang Xiaoqin down the steps, carefully supporting her. Though it was difficult, she could walk on her own legs. Sweat streaked her face, but she smiled.
At the bottom of the steps, a young man walked by. He stopped, staring at the siblings.
Zhao Le was surprised, then said happily, “Mingming, what are you doing here? This is my classmate, Chen Mingming.”
“Just buying sothing, passing by,” Chen Mingming greeted simply.
Of course, he wasn’t just “passing by” by chance—he simply chose to walk by at this exact ti.
“Your sister seems to be recovering well.” Chen Mingming glanced at Zhang Xiaoqin and nodded politely.
Although Zhao Le’s situation hadn’t been widely publicized, there had been so rumors at school after Zhang Xiaoqin’s accident.
So quite a few students knew about Zhao Le’s family issues, especially classmates. In fact, after Zhang Xiaoqin’s accident, Zhao Le had missed a week of school, during which the class counselor organized a visit and gave so consolation money. Chen Mingming had been part of that.
“Thank you.” Zhang Xiaoqin smiled faintly.
Zhao Le said, “I didn’t expect to see you… I saw in the class group yesterday that the counselor said you had completed your withdrawal… I heard you’re going abroad soon? Have the dates been set?”
“Flight’s next Wednesday.”
“So soon…” Zhao Le sounded a little regretful.
He didn’t have many close friends at school, and recently, taking care of Zhang Xiaoqin had left him with even less ti for socializing.
Chen Mingming, however, was one of the few people Zhao Le felt he could approach—several recent incidents, directly or indirectly, had been mitigated thanks to Chen Mingming, helping him avoid being bullied by Dong Shaofeng a few tis.
“You’re Luo’s classmate, right? Why not co over for dinner tonight?” Zhang Xiaoqin suggested.
She knew Zhao Le had few friends, and seeing a classmate with whom the relationship seed fine, she took the initiative to invite him.
Zhao Le smiled and replied, “Sure, I’ll co over tonight. Consider it returning the favor, since I don’t know when we’ll et again.”
Many people are like this. After graduating, they might never et again. We only hear about them occasionally through classmates’ casual chatter—maybe that they got married, had children, or fell on hard tis.
Chen Mingming nodded.
……
In the conference room, Sir Ma propped a pen with his lips, staring hopelessly at the energy-saving light above the ceiling that seed ready to be replaced.
When a case sees no major breakthroughs, everyone looks like this—Zhou Yusheng drumd his fingers absentmindedly on the table.
Other colleagues either searched for information online or stared at docunts.
“Sothing’s strange.” Suddenly, a female colleague muttered.
Ma Houde, with sensitive ears, looked up. “What’s strange?”
The colleague said, “I checked Wang Liang and Wu Rong’s travel records again, rged them, and found that on November 19 last year, they both bought train tickets to City X.”
Sir Ma frowned. “Wasn’t that already known? They left the day after Wu Rong had a big fight with Wang Liang. And Wang Liang returned a few days later.”
The colleague continued, “Yes, Wang Liang returned from City X on November 23, and Wu Rong on November 25. Then on November 29, Wang Liang left alone again.”
“And?”
“Why didn’t they return together on November 23?”
“Maybe Wang Liang had sothing to attend to and ca back first. What’s strange about that?” Ma Hound shook his head.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded. Lin Feng entered, holding a docunt. “Captain Ma, Captain Zhou, we’ve determined Wu Rong and Wang Liang’s ti of death.”
Everyone imdiately perked up.
Lin Feng said seriously, “According to Departnt Chief Nan, Wu Rong died between November 18–22 last year. Because the body was frozen too long, there’s so discrepancy, but it should be within that period. Wang Liang’s estimated death is between December 1–2.”
“So Wu Rong was killed before Wang Liang?” Zhou Yusheng frowned, then glared at the female colleague.
Sir Ma jolted, looking at the colleague. “You said… Wu Rong returned on what date?”
“November 25, by bus.”
“And left again?”
“November 29…” The colleague hesitated. “But based on the forensic estimate, Wu Rong should have already been dead. Could it an Wang Liang did it? But… shouldn’t the killer be the sa person?”
Ma Hound and Zhou Yusheng exchanged a glance. Zhou Yusheng said first, “Old Ma, it seems our initial investigation direction was wrong.”
Ma Hound nodded. “These two cases probably shouldn’t be combined…”
……
“At ho it’s small, don’t mind.” Zhang Xiaoqin, using her cane, handed Chen Mingming a cup of hot water. “Sit down first, I’ll put so things away in the room.”
Zhao Le was in the kitchen preparing the groceries bought earlier, ready to cook for the evening.
Chen Mingming looked around the modest but tidy ho, feeling comfortable.
Zhang Xiaoqin entered her room, presumably to change clothes.
Chen Mingming stood and walked around the living room casually, observing the decorations.
From the kitchen ca loud chopping sounds. Chen Mingming went to the doorway and casually asked, “What are you making?”
“Chopping ribs for rib soup.”
Zhao Le turned with a smile, holding a cleaver stained with bits of bone. A few red spots marked his hand from blood and marrow.
Bang!
The cleaver chopped again, clean and precise.
(End of Chapter)
(Note: Apologies for translation mistake from previous chapters. Ma Houde was translated to Ma Hound because I thought he was nicknad as that.)
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