Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Xie Yunshen spotted right away that Yan Shiqi’s eyelashes weren't that long, but in the moonlight, their shadows stretched and fell upon his lower eyelids, flickering in and out of view as the dim streetlights passed by.

“Your eyelashes look like spiders trying to escape,” he remarked with mock seriousness.

“…Thanks.”

Yan Shiqi took it as a compliment.

The driver up front let out a quiet snort of laughter.

Xie Yunshen turned to look at the moon outside the window. Before transmigrating into this book, he’d occasionally read romance novels, and at that moment, he suddenly recalled a line from one of them: eye contact is the prelude to a kiss.

But shouldn’t that rule only apply to the male and female leads?

The car gradually drove into the bustling city center. Up ahead, traffic police were conducting vehicle checks at an intersection.

It was nearly dawn, yet over a dozen officers were inspecting cars one by one—highly unusual, likely related to the recent livestream incident.

Xie Yunshen took off his reversible black hoodie and turned it inside out.

He also stuffed his goggles and black mask into the side pocket.

As the car drew closer,

Xie Yunshen instinctively glanced at Yan Shiqi.

True to his status as a big shot, Yan Shiqi showed no trace of alarm, even finding the mental space to joke, “Serves you right for running off.”

A traffic officer approached. The driver rolled down the window and routinely underwent an alcohol test.

“Hello, please have the passengers in the back step out for inspection.”

“Sure.” The seasoned driver agreed surprisingly easily.

The officer walked to the rear of the car, then suddenly halted. Staring at the occupants inside, he exclaimed in surprise, “Oh, it’s you, Mr. Yan.”

Yan Shiqi acknowledged him, “Hello.”

“My apologies for wasting your time.” The young officer looked genuinely remorseful, almost ashamed, and quickly signaled to the driver upfront. “No need for further checks. You’re free to go.”

The driver pressed the accelerator, starting the car and gradually leaving the busy intersection behind.

Xie Yunshen stared blankly at Yan Shiqi. He reached out with trembling hands, grabbed his shoulders, and exclaimed dramatically, “Mr. Yan! Is this the charm of the wealthy?”

“…” Faced with Xie Yunshen’s unabashedly bright eyes, Yan Shiqi found them too dazzling and closed his own in mild disdain.

“Such a secure man… can I get a hug?” Xie Yunshen posed a bold question.

Yan Shiqi hummed in acknowledgment.

Immediately, an enthusiastic puppy-like figure crashed into his embrace.

Just as Yan Shiqi was about to raise his hand, Xie Yunshen suddenly pulled away from the hug.

He’d forgotten—the driver and Lao Wu were both in the front seats.

Though they made no sound, they were definitely holding back laughter, no doubt about it.

Yan Shiqi’s hand hovered mid-air. Calmly, he said, “Let me ruffle your hair.”

Xie Yunshen dumbly leaned his head forward, feeling his head being firmly ruffled twice.

Hmm, that’s the feeling—both satisfying and comfortable.

By the time Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi returned to the Yan residence, it was already late at night.

Yan Shiqi granted them special permission to shower first before coming up to his study.

While taking his shower, Xie Yunshen used his phone to browse the internet briefly.

In just this single day, due to the dramatic reversal of events, the online world was abuzz.

Yang Zhongxu was still being bombarded with criticism.

As for the identity of the livestreamer, netizens had coined two fitting nicknames: Black and White Impermanence.

Because when he and Lao Wu appeared on camera, one happened to be dressed in black, the other in white.

One particular post caught Xie Yunshen’s attention.

“From a professional perspective, analyzing the elevator mystery man’s combat skills and core strength—where would he rank on the expert list?”

Xie Yunshen clicked on it. He was curious too—with his current abilities, just where would he stand on that expert ranking?

“Green Mastiff is currently ranked 75th on the expert list. Judging from the surveillance footage, Green Mastiff was no match for the mystery man. So, we’ll start our deduction directly from the 50th position.”

Xie Yunshen hadn’t expected their so-called professional analysis to involve eliminating candidates one by one starting from rank 50.

It seemed they would never uncover the real truth.

At that moment, Yi Wuyi surprisingly took the initiative to seek him out.

Clearly, Lao Wu’s unusual enthusiasm today was simply because he didn’t want to face the boss’s probing gaze alone.

As the two passed by a living room on the second floor,

Third Uncle happened to be watching the news. “Back already? Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Xie Yunshen walked past him from behind, then backtracked. The TV news was replaying the events at the hospital from that afternoon.

And it was showing exactly the part where he fought in the elevator…

“Yang Zhongxu never imagined he’d have a day like this!”

After saying this, Third Uncle specifically turned to glance at Xie Yunshen’s attire—he was still wearing the same suit from the morning.

“Xiao Xie, the person in there has a build somewhat similar to yours.”

“Really?”

So his disguise still wasn’t good enough, Xie Yunshen thought guiltily.

“Yes, but the moment I saw him fight, I knew it wasn’t you,” Third Uncle said with a laugh.

“…”

Hearing that, Xie Yunshen felt relieved again. In this world, Xie Yunshen was a complete novice.

No one would ever know he was Black Impermanence.

————

Xie Yunshen took the stairs two at a time.

Yi Wuyi watched Xie Yunshen's back, not getting why seeing Mr. Yan was such a happy occasion, something worth rushing upstairs for.

It wasn't that Mr. Yan was bad; it was just that his innately intimidating presence kept people at a distance.

However, with Xie Yunshen around, Mr. Yan's attitude would always mellow out a bit, and his aura was easier to handle.

The study door was slightly ajar, clearly waiting for them.

Xie Yunshen let Yi Wuyi knock first before they went right in.

Yan Shiqi sat behind the desk, looking up at him; the force of his gaze made Xie's heart rate spike.

The thick, heavy silence in the air made one's skin crawl.

Despite feeling the same tension, Xie Yunshen still had enough left in him to give Yi Wuyi a reassuring look.

Yi Wuyi was sometimes amazed by this guy's incredible thick skin.

"Was this planned for a long time?" Yan Shiqi looked at Yi Wuyi, getting straight to the point.

"Two or three days," Yi Wuyi blurted out, before Xie Yunshen could even react or intervene.

"..."

Xie Yunshen felt Yi Wuyi was like a Yan-family-built robot, hardwired for loyalty.

He'd never dream of lying to Yan Shiqi.

"Did Xie Yunshen make you do this?"

"...No, I joined on my own accord."

To keep Xie out of it, Yi Wuyi was willing to lie to Yan Shiqi, so Xie Yunshen's earlier conclusion was shot down right away.

This was important proof that Yi Wuyi was not a robot, Xie Yunshen thought.

"Mr. Yan, you must know it was me who pulled Lao Wu in." Yi Wuyi was being loyal, so Xie couldn't be ungrateful.

Yan Shiqi looked at Xie Yunshen: "Let's skip the formalities. I just want to ask, how did you find out about Yang Zhongxu's identity?"

Xie Yunshen's stomach dropped. In this world, hardly anyone but Yan Shiqi knew Yang Zhongxu's true identity, let alone him knowing Yang's rank in Top Star Gate.

How was he going to talk his way out of this on the spot?

At that moment, Yi Wuyi was also looking at him: "Not just this. You knew about that serial killer at Third Uncle's place too. It's like you have that ability..."

Lao Wu, you really have a knack for touching a nerve.

"What ability?" Xie Yunshen gave a faint smile, his eyes carrying a warning glint.

Yi Wuyi thought for a moment and finally remembered: "It's very much like the 'early access' feature in TV dramas."

"..."

So, when I said I dreamed about it, none of you believed me, right?

"Forget it." Yan Shiqi, perhaps deciding to let him off, didn't have a piercing or inquisitive stare.

Rather, it seemed Yan Shiqi had never dug too deep into the strange doubts surrounding him; it was always just a formality.

"Since the police have already found Yang Zhongxu, let's drop the matter."

Yan Shiqi lowered his head, pressing his fingers to his temples quite hard.

Xie Yunshen asked, concerned, "Mr. Yan, do you have a headache?"

Yan Shiqi looked at him, finding that people really do laugh when they're at a loss for words.

He chuckled.

Xie Yunshen: "..."

Yi Wuyi: "..."

Both kept their mouths shut. After all, it was kinda scary.

Just then, the butler's voice came over the desk phone: "Mr. Yan, there's a call for you."

Yan Shiqi gave them a look, then picked up the receiver, hitting the speakerphone too.

A clipped, icy voice came through: "Mr. Yan, let's be direct. What do you want us to do?"

Xie Yunshen recognized it as a voice run through a voice changer, undoubtedly someone from Top Star Gate.

Although he didn't know who it was, it was at least a higher-up of the same rank as Yang Zhongxu.

Yan Shiqi placed his fingers on the desk: "Who are you?"

"You don't know who I am?"

"I'm busy. I don't have time for riddles."

Yan Shiqi hung up directly.

Xie Yunshen rooted for him inwardly, imagining the person on the other end was totally confused.

Sure enough, the phone rang again quickly.

Yan Shiqi leaned back in his wide chair, waiting for twenty seconds before finally picking up the receiver again.

"Hello."

"Just tell me where Shang Guanhong is. Regarding today's incident, I guarantee Top Star Gate will let bygones be bygones."

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi were both stunned.

What did that mean?

What did Shang Guanhong have to do with them?

They had only streamed to Shang Guanhong and then called the police, nothing more.

Yan Shiqi said calmly, "If you have any needs, please file a report with the police. I can also assure you that I will fully cooperate with any investigation at any time."

There was a long silence on the line; they clearly had no evidence.

Although Yan Shiqi was the only one in the Southern Province who dared to oppose them,

he was a classically silent, rational conservative. Such a fierce, all-or-nothing move was completely out of character.

Therefore, when they made this call, they weren't fully confident either.

"I'll give you 24 hours to think it over. After 24 hours, the situation will be completely different," the other party threatened.

Yan Shiqi said, "I wish Mr. Shangguan well. Goodbye."

With that, he hung up with a click.

Before Yan Shiqi could say anything, Xie Yunshen blurted out, "That guy Shangguan Hong's disappearance has nothing to do with us."

That guy is a hot potato; who would dare to take him on?

"This doesn't rule out the possibility that Dingxing Gate is testing my reaction. It's also possible someone else kidnapped him."

Xie Yunshen looked at him blankly and said sincerely, "Right, it might be a bluff. As expected of you."

Yan Shiqi closed his eyes. Xie Yunshen’s direct hits could always catch a person off guard.

Yi Wuyi, meanwhile, looked at Xie Yunshen with a gaze full of admiration.

After all, the only one who could make Yan Shiqi feel so helpless anytime, anywhere was probably this guy.

"Dingxing Gate will surely monitor every move of the Yan family. The two of you need to be careful these next few days."

After saying this, Yan Shiqi stood up and grabbed his suit jacket. Xie Yunshen followed, asking, "Where are you off to now?"

Xie Yunshen always had a way of asking Mr. Yan improper questions as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

What surprised Yi Wuyi most was that Mr. Yan actually answered him: "To have dinner."

Xie Yunshen glanced at the clock; it was already eight. "So late? You haven't eaten? Were you so worried about us you couldn't eat?"

Such a matter-of-fact, presumptive interjection.

Yan Shiqi: "..."

"Old Five and I haven't eaten either," Xie Yunshen suddenly remembered.

Yi Wuyi was about to refuse; he had absolutely no intention of dining with Mr. Yan.

Yan Shiqi said, "Let's go."

Xie Yunshen grabbed the retreating Yi Wuyi and dragged him along without a word.

The "abducted" Yi Wuyi felt that, in a certain sense, Xie Yunshen was already approaching invincibility.

Author's Note:

----------------------

I really want to press their heads together and make them kiss.