Chapter 63

Chapter 63

"Mr. Yan, have you considered the terms I proposed?"

In the car, Shang Guanhong stared unblinkingly at Yan Shiqi from behind his glasses.

Yan Shiqi's hair was slicked back with precision. He had maintained this mature hairstyle since he took over as the Yan Group's general manager in his twenties.

"Mr. Shang, there seems to be some misunderstanding. After I became the head of the Yan family, all cooperation agreements related to the Top Star Group became void."

"Hmph, so you're saying once you're dead and the next head takes over, the Yan Group and Top Star can cooperate?" Shang Guanhong's words carried a meaningful tone.

"No need for threats. If I fell for that, we wouldn't be in this situation," Yan Shiqi said coldly.

"Actually, I don't even need to lift a finger. What if, just hypothetically, your two younger brothers discovered that the elder brother they revere is actually the son of their father's murderer?"

Yet, the other man's expression didn't change in the slightest; it even held a hint of mockery aimed at Shang Guanhong.

"What makes you think I'd let myself be controlled by an unverified, inconclusive matter?" Yan Shiqi sneered. "On the contrary, I've heard quite a few tales about you."

Shang Guanhong eyed him suspiciously.

Suddenly, a third voice cut in abruptly from within the car: "Shang... no, don't kill me! You can't! I swear I don't know anything!"

In an instant, Shang Guanhong's face turned pale. He watched as Yan Shiqi took a voice recorder from the breast pocket of his suit.

The name "Pi Jiu" was clearly labeled on it.

"I never imagined the general manager of Top Star Group would stoop to murder, silencing witnesses, and robbery."

The tension drained from Shang Guanhong's body the moment he saw the recorder, and he laughed. "You think you can threaten me with this?"

"There are countless people with the surname Shang in this world. What does this prove? I wouldn't use this to threaten you."

Shang Guanhong pressed the gun against Yan Shiqi's head. "Mr. Yan, coming alone to this meeting with something like this... you must think pretty highly of yourself."

Yan Shiqi looked up at him. "A month ago, I had someone investigate the matter concerning Miss Lin Wanchu and the truth behind Pi Jiu's death. If I am incapacitated in any way—death, paralysis, or a coma—someone will immediately make this evidence public."

Shang Guanhong's face darkened. He didn't know whether to believe Yan Shiqi. "You're too cunning."

"Don't worry. You're not the big fish I'm after."

Shang Guanhong slowly lowered the gun in his hand.

After exiting the garage, Xie Yunshen's sports car roared onto the main road ahead, crossing two intersections.

Yi Wuyi's phone rang.

"What's the situation?"

"Nothing. We checked the cameras opposite the garage. The car with plate 6866K exited but disappeared at the turn of the intersection."

"Disappeared?"

"Yes, vanished."

Yi Wuyi hung up and said calmly, "The car must have entered a large truck right at the intersection."

But on this road, in just the past few moments, no fewer than twenty trucks large enough had passed.

He looked at Xie Yunshen, whose eyes were fixed ahead, a sharp gaze piercing through the night.

Yi Wuyi saw an unexpected calm and imposing aura in that look.

Only someone who had weathered storms and feared no death could possess such eyes.

Xie Yunshen's gaze swept over the passing vehicles, as if he had made a firm decision. "They must still be behind us!"

He suddenly jerked the steering wheel hard. The sports car executed a 470-degree spin mid-road, then drifted sharply around the bend, turning back onto the avenue they had come from.

Yi Wuyi felt like he was about to be flung from the passenger seat.

A cold winter rain suddenly swept across City A. Under the rapidly spinning wheels, the rainwater spread out like misty curtains.

"There!" Yi Wuyi alerted him.

From the opposite side, Xie Yunshen spotted the eight-meter-long container truck, its red container tightly closed.

On this avenue, this was the only truck maintaining a steady speed, and it was flanked by two motorcycles—highly unusual.

But with a guardrail dividing the road, Xie Yunshen couldn't turn around immediately.

He floored the accelerator, weaving through the dense traffic, constantly overtaking and drifting. Amidst thousands of vehicles, he avoided even the slightest scrape, his speed never dropping. Under these conditions, the onrushing rain formed a bullet-like stream over the car's hood.

Yi Wuyi gripped the handhold tightly. When did this guy learn such impressive drifting skills?

On this busy city highway, Xie Yunshen drew a chorus of curses, then ignored a red light at the next intersection, turning sharply into the lane.

Through the rain curtain, the tail lights of the large truck grew closer.

The two bikers had long noticed this crazily approaching sports car and deliberately slowed down, blocking its path.

Xie Yunshen sneered. Look at that familiar, death-defying, neurotic style—it had to be Top Star Group.

He didn't care what these guys were trying to do. With a sharp turn of the wheel to the left, he directly rammed one motorcycle, sending it skidding and sparking across the wet road.

The other biker behind tried to interfere, but Xie Yunshen executed a nimble drift, forcing him to crash.

Finally parallel with the truck, the truck driver immediately accelerated, crossing solid lines to force a lane change, charging toward a right-side fork in the road.

Xie Yunshen gave relentless chase.

In the heavy rain, the two vehicles sped along, relatively motionless to each other, like a large and a small fish madly pursuing each other across the sea's surface.

They reached a road with lighter traffic.

"Old Five! Now!"

Yi Wuyi seized the moment, opened the passenger door, and leaped onto the truck's driver-side door, grabbing the side mirror with one hand.

The driver tried to shake him off, but Yi Wuyi simply elbowed through the glass, reached in, and grabbed the steering wheel. "Stop!"

The truck slammed on its brakes. Yi Wuyi hauled the driver out.

Xie Yunshen also got out of the sports car and opened the rear container door.

Sure enough, a black sedan was inside.

"Mr. Yan!"

The black sedan's headlights lit up as it slowly drove down the ramp from the cargo hold and came to a stop on the road.

Xie Yunshen first saw the Yan family driver in the driver's seat. He anxiously looked toward the back seat but didn't see Mr. Yan's face as he had imagined—instead, he saw Shang Guanhong's snakelike, cunning face.

Xie Yunshen wore an expression that screamed "this is terrible luck."

He grabbed Shang Guanhong by the collar, about to drag him out of the car.

"A-Shen."

Yan Shiqi's voice came from inside the car with a note of warning that immediately calmed him down.

The driver quickly got out, opened an umbrella, and walked around to the other side to open the rear door for Yan Shiqi.

Yan Shiqi appeared under the umbrella, his expression as composed as ever. "I'm fine. I was just discussing some matters with Mr. Shangguan."

Only then did Xie Yunshen slowly release Shang Guanhong.

Shang Guanhong adjusted his glasses, looking at Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi with a faint smile. "Mr. Yan, having two subordinates who would risk their lives for you like this is truly enviable."

Yan Shiqi gazed at him coldly, offering the slightest of smiles. "I envy you as well, having a young woman in her prime willing to carry your child for ten months."

Xie Yunshen witnessed the mask on Shang Guanhong's face instantly shatter. Shang Guanhong lowered his head and said, "Mr. Yan, see you next time."

Then, Shang Guanhong's black sedan disappeared into the curtain of rain.

The cargo truck also drove away.

The group stood on the road.

The wind was strong, the rain heavy, and cold, biting raindrops splashed against Yan Shiqi's trouser legs.

Even with the umbrella, his leather shoes and the cuffs of his suit pants were soon soaked.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi were drenched, silent.

Yan Shiqi looked at the two of them and said, "Let's talk when we get back."

The problem was, Lin Jin's sports car only had two seats.

Yi Wuyi said, "A-Xie, you take Mr. Yan back to the Yan residence first. Old Qi and I will take a taxi back."

Old Qi was the Yan family driver.

Xie Yunshen didn't object, opening the passenger door for Yan Shiqi.

Yan Shiqi saw Xie Yunshen give his head a shake before getting into the driver's seat, flinging off the heavy rainwater from his hair.

Then, still dripping wet, he got into the car and cranked up the heat.

Yan Shiqi suddenly remarked, "Just like a big dog."

"What?" Xie Yunshen focused on driving as he replied.

Raindrops pattered against the windshield, only to be swept away by the wipers.

Yan Shiqi said, "When dogs get wet, they shake their heads just like you did."

Xie Yunshen paused for a moment. "...But it's the most efficient and effective way."

He even explained it earnestly.

"Only suitable for someone like you without any neck problems."

Xie Yunshen asked, "Mr. Yan, did Shang Guanhong give you any trouble?"

Yan Shiqi gazed out the window, his eyes cold. "He wants to continue the cooperation, hoping the Yan family will contribute half of its annual profits to the Top Star Group as before."

"What nerve."

"Otherwise, he'll arrange for my 'accidental' death and appoint a new family head."

Xie Yunshen was somewhat puzzled. "That doesn't make sense. Before, the Top Star Group always wanted to kill you. Why are they hesitating now?"

"Times have changed. He's wary of my current influence. Recently, the provincial government mentioned me online, and the state broadcaster also reported on me. He probably thinks that even if I'm not afraid of death, I'd still bargain with him."

Xie Yunshen knew Yan Shiqi would never agree.

"And then? You refused, and he did nothing?"

"He held a gun to my head."

Xie Yunshen slammed on the brakes. Suddenly remembering the gun in Yan Shiqi's car, he immediately envisioned a thrilling gunfight. "Then what about your gun? Did you point yours at him at the same time?"

Yan Shiqi said, "He was holding my gun." Shang Guanhong had found it a while ago.

"..."

That raised another question. "Then... how did he open the car door?"

As long as Mr. Yan didn't open the door, that bulletproof-level car would have kept Shang Guanhong at bay for a while.

"I opened it."

"..." Xie Yunshen grew more confused the more he heard.

"I wanted to ask him some things, and at the same time, remind him that I have something he's wary of in my possession."

Yan Shiqi took out the voice recorder.

The rain gradually lightened, and the sleek sports car sped along the freshly washed road.

By the time they reached the Yan residence, the rain had stopped.

Yan Shiqi got out of the car first.

"Mr. Yan..." Xie Yunshen suddenly called out to him.

Yan Shiqi turned around. Xie Yunshen walked up to him. "What happened today was entirely my failure in duty."

Yan Shiqi extended his arms.

Xie Yunshen was taken aback for a moment, then immediately hugged him. He hugged so tightly that Yan Shiqi nearly stumbled backward, taking two unsteady steps before regaining his balance.

Realizing he had used too much force, Xie Yunshen quickly steadied Yan Shiqi by the small of his back, holding him firmly.

This way, the two were pressed too close together. Xie Yunshen's clothes, still half-damp, clung to Yan Shiqi's suit, and his hair glistened with moisture.

Yan Shiqi reached out, initially intending to ruffle his hair, but seemingly wary of the surgical wound, he instead gripped Xie Yunshen's shoulder. "Actually, you've done better than anyone else."

At that moment, Xie Yunshen accidentally hit the button on his key fob.

*Bang!* Heart-shaped petals sprayed out like confetti, getting all over both of them.

The two of them just stared, completely dumbfounded.

The sports car's trunk had popped open, and bunches of heart-shaped balloons floated out.

"Maybe it's just a feeling I have about you~

Suddenly I realize~ I've fallen deeply in love with you~

It's really simple~ I don't care if love turns the world dark or the sky black~"

A beautiful yet bizarre melody began to play out of nowhere.

Then, a large banner unfurled with a *poof* right in front of them: "I love you, marry me!"

Yan Shiqi stared at this sudden, romantic setup.

Xie Yunshen was at his wit's end. He tried to press down on the trunk with his body while explaining, "It's not what it looks like, Mr. Yan. I borrowed this car from Lin Jin."

"Right or wrong, I can't choose~ No regrets, day and night I follow for love~ That crazy person is me..."

The stereo kept singing.

Oh my god, who knows how much stuff Lin Jin crammed in there. Once opened, the trunk just wouldn't close.

Under the boss's unblinking stare, Xie Yunshen was truly dying of embarrassment.

He slammed his elbow down hard. Finally, the trunk lid slammed shut.

I'm toast. Before lending the car, Lin Jin had warned him not to mess up the surprise he’d prepared. So this was it.

Now, Lin Jin was definitely going to kill him.

Yan Shiqi said with a slight smile, "A-Shen, the trunk is dented."

Xie Yunshen stared in horror at the dent his elbow had made.

"..." Now I'm really dead.

"Achoo!"

Meanwhile, Lin Jin sneezed several times. He had a bad feeling and was desperately hoping Xie Yunshen hadn't opened the trunk.

At the same moment, his phone suddenly received over a dozen traffic tickets from the traffic department in rapid succession: "..."

"Xie! Yun! Shen!"

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Author's Note: 4,000 collections! If I have time tomorrow, I'll add an extra chapter. Thank you, everyone! [Owl]