Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Yan Shiqi noticed the scene and the strange man. His eyes narrowed slightly as he sized up the other with a gaze that exuded mature masculinity.

He then glanced at the time. "It's about to start. Let's go."

There were still two hours until the symposium. They had to leave now.

As Yan Shiqi stood up, it felt like a reprieve. Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi shot to their feet instantly.

The group headed for the door.

Out of the corner of his eye, Xie Yunshen spotted Bai Le Bai through the restaurant's glass window—sure enough, he was following them.

So, this guy had definitely spotted them.

Exiting the buffet restaurant, there was a long, circular corridor before reaching the entrance.

Inside the enclosed hallway, only their footsteps echoed, along with Bai Le Bai's deliberately heavy, thudding steps.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The footsteps created a gloomy echo from all four walls of the corridor.

Occasionally, the two could catch a glimpse in the long wall mirrors of the inhuman, smiling face following behind them.

Yes, he maintained that fleshless, grinning expression the entire time.

Even someone as fearless and tough as Yi Wuyi felt his scalp prickle.

Bai Le Bai's footsteps grew increasingly rapid. He was gradually closing the distance.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi exchanged a look. They had already decided that if Bai Le Bai took one more step closer, they would join forces to take him down, even if it meant killing him.

At that moment, Yan Shiqi, walking ahead, suddenly stopped. He slowly turned around; his eyes, naturally intimidating, stared directly at the man without flinching, as if at a rabid dog.

Xie Yunshen's heart tightened. His gaze remained wary of the man, and he couldn't help but worry about Mr. Yan's current situation.

Yan Shiqi looked straight at him. "Whoever you are, get out of my sight immediately!"

Though the words were restrained, the authority carried in his gaze and the thunderous anger he exuded were startling. This was far more than just a warning.

Mr. Yan was genuinely furious.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi stood sideways, both tensing their nerves, ready to act the moment Bai Le Bai moved.

The man mechanically froze on the spot, somewhat bewildered by the situation.

His eyes flickered with a hint of surprise and amusement. "Oh, you must be Patriarch Yan..."

Yan Shiqi didn't even bother to respond, merely gesturing to the two beside him. "Let's go."

He finished speaking and left without looking back.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi followed behind, seeing Bai Le Bai standing still, no longer pursuing them.

The two exchanged a look of surprise.

Was he really handled just like that?

For this symposium, an official vehicle was arranged to pick up Mr. Yan.

Just outside the hotel, they saw a driver and two escorts waiting at the entrance. Judging by their gait and demeanor, they were military personnel.

"Mr. Yan, we're here to escort you to the venue."

Even after getting into the car, Xie Yunshen felt a sense of unreality.

"Mr. Yan, are you a deity reincarnated? Do you really have the power to ward off evil?!"

His admiration for Mr. Yan had surged from a torrent to an unstoppable flood.

"People like that are like stray dogs. The more you fear them, the more excited they get. You have to confront them head-on." Yan Shiqi looked at his openly worshipful gaze.

His words were a wake-up call.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi were both amazed.

Indeed, they had been too mentally afraid of that guy. In terms of physical strength, the two of them combined might not necessarily be at a disadvantage.

"He could identify my status, so he probably has some reservations about me too," Yan Shiqi said.

Xie Yunshen asked, "Then how did you know he was following us?"

From the meal to the corridor, Yan Shiqi hadn't had direct contact with him, and along the way, Mr. Yan hadn't looked back at him either.

Yan Shiqi frowned. "During the meal, didn't you notice him harassing you?"

"Did he?" Xie Yunshen was taken aback. Was that harassment?

Hmm...

Though, to be precise, they were the ones who had "disturbed" him last night.

But that guy was definitely a pervert.

Yi Wuyi said, "A Xie, harassment isn't limited to physical contact."

Xie Yunshen looked at Mr. Yan with a horrified expression. "Then, Mr. Yan, what does what we did before count as?"

Yan Shiqi asked, "What?"

"A mommy hug, what does that count as?" Xie Yunshen even gestured.

"It counts as you being young." A slight smile touched Yan Shiqi's eyes.

Xie Yunshen: "..."

Yi Wuyi could barely hold back. "Yeah, A Xie really is getting younger by the day."

Xie Yunshen had initially wanted to burrow into his arms for a sense of security, but seeing this impeccably tailored, expensive suit made him hesitate.

Yan Shiqi silently watched his conflicted expression, then closed his eyes, pretending not to notice.

Xie Yunshen had no choice but to tilt his head over and gently nuzzle against his shoulder.

"After the event is over, it'll be fine," Xie Yunshen muttered to himself, practically soothing his own nerves.

Yan Shiqi was amused by him.

The symposium went on from noon until well past five in the afternoon.

City C was even colder than City A, and winter nights came on fast. The sky was gloomy, the wind biting cold.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi had been waiting outside the venue the whole time.

"It's so cold. Hey, Lao Wu, let's ask Mr. Yan to have hotpot tonight." Since transmigrating into the book, Xie Yunshen hadn't had hotpot even once.

He'd either been eating those exquisitely presented meals with Mr. Yan or the nutritionally balanced, albeit somewhat bland, dishes at the Yan residence.

"Mr. Yan doesn't like hotpot."

"Nonsense, how can anyone in this world not like hotpot..."

As soon as Xie Yunshen said it, he suddenly remembered Mr. Yan's loss of taste.

Yi Wuyi remained standing ramrod straight. "If you ask Mr. Yan, he's guaranteed to agree."

"Good point." Xie Yunshen said without a hint of humility.

"However, make sure you don't add wasabi to Mr. Yan's bowl again," Yi Wuyi reminded him.

"Lao Wu, am I that kind of person?" Xie Yunshen turned his head.

Yan Shiqi and his assistant emerged from the brightly lit hall and suddenly stopped.

At the bottom of the steps outside the building, Xie Yunshen was tilting his head back, exhaling a warm breath towards the sky. The warm air met the cold, turning into a visible mist.

"What's wrong, Mr. Yan?" the assistant asked, puzzled.

"It seems winter has arrived," Yan Shiqi said with a smile.

The assistant was somewhat surprised. After all, Yan Shiqi wasn't one to smile often. And what in this cold winter could possibly elicit such a smile from him?

Hearing Yan Shiqi's voice, Xie Yunshen ran up the stone steps, about to speak.

Just then, a man suddenly rushed out from the side. "Mr. Yan! Mr. Yan! I'm a biology PhD from Sanzhou University! My name is Gao Langdong."

He looked haggard, with sunken eyes and numerous mosquito bite marks on his face. Clutching a briefcase tightly, he tried to approach but was stopped by Yi Wuyi.

Yan Shiqi was no stranger to such scenes. "Mr. Gao, what can I do for you?"

"I have a medical research proposal here. Please take a look. I need your help."

"I'm sorry, Yan's Group is not involved in medical research. I can't help you." Yan Shiqi was about to turn away.

"No, Mr. Yan, this isn't ordinary research. Among the entrepreneurs in the southern provinces, I only trust you! Only you can help me!" Seeing Yan Shiqi about to leave, he shouted excitedly.

Xie Yunshen knew this guy—Gao Langdong, the mad scientist from the novel. He held dual PhDs in biology and medicine and was dedicated to researching ectogenesis technology.

But in the novel, major corporations were deeply wary of such research due to its controversial nature.

In order to secure funding, this mad doctor joined the Top Star Group, working tirelessly until he finally succeeded in cultivating an ectogenetic fetus.

However, Gao Langdong accidentally discovered that the Top Star Group was merely offering the cultivated children as sacrifices to cruel high-level capitalists.

Furthermore, his research had never undergone national review or certification. His legal status had long been revoked, meaning he was now working for the underground black market.

After learning the truth, Gao Langdong sought help from various factions. But ultimately, due to his erased identity and finding no avenue for rescue, he was killed by the Top Star Group, and his technological achievements were taken.

But this plotline should have occurred before Lin Jin went to the auction.

Yet, judging by the situation, Gao Langdong seemed to have just escaped from the Top Star Group's underground research facility.

"Mr. Yan, if you don't help me, the Top Star Group will kill me!"

Hearing the words "Top Star Group," Yan Shiqi finally stopped. He turned and scrutinized the man.

Sanzhou University was also a renowned and excellent institution in the country. Logically, a PhD shouldn't need to be in such a wretched state, stopping cars here.

Yan Shiqi looked at Xie Yunshen. "What do you think?"

The sudden question left Xie Yunshen stunned for a moment. "Ask me?"

Why ask him about this all of a sudden?

"Do you think I should help him?"

"I'm not really sure," Xie Yunshen said, somewhat troubled. Although the other party seemed like a conscientious person, getting involved in this matter could easily implicate the Yan family and Yan Shiqi.

Yi Wuyi handed Yan Shiqi the documents Gao Langdong had taken from his briefcase.

As soon as Yan Shiqi saw the research project was about ectogenesis, he roughly understood. "So you're the PhD whose identity was revoked?"

Gao Langdong looked at him incredulously. "How did you know?"

Being declared "dead" was the most galling thing in Gao Langdong's life.

Yan Shiqi simply said, "Go to City A first and find the general manager of Yan's Group."

"You're really willing to help me?" Gao Langdong asked, dazed.

"I can only temporarily spare you from being killed."

"Thank you," Gao Langdong murmured, suddenly shedding two tears.

According to him, after escaping the research facility, he had been hiding in greenbelts, feeding mosquitoes.

Official entrances were also being watched by people from the Top Star Group.

He had secretly called various major corporations in City C that he had previously collaborated with, but as soon as they heard "Top Star Group," everyone hung up the phone, wanting nothing to do with it.

Hearing that the chairman of Yan's Group from City A was coming to City C for a meeting, he had been lying in wait here.

Originally, he hadn't dared to hope too much, but he never expected Yan Shiqi would actually be willing to help him.

After hearing this, Xie Yunshen marveled that this guy was truly something, able to escape from the clutches of the Top Star Group.

Subsequently, Gao Langdong was taken away by the assistant.

Halfway there, he suddenly turned back and said, "Mr. Yan, actually, I have research experience in many areas of pharmacology. If you ever need it, I... I can help you."

Yan Shiqi didn't offer polite platitudes. "Alright."

After seeing off Gao Langdong, Xie Yunshen could finally get to his main topic. "Mr. Yan, what are you planning to eat tonight?"

"Do you have any good suggestions?"

"How about hotpot?"

Yan Shiqi said, "Dig in."

C City was a major tourist town, and with the cold weather, around dinner time, the hotpot restaurants were doing a booming business.

The driver drove around the block but couldn't find a single hotpot restaurant without a wait.

Xie Yunshen said sheepishly, "We could eat something else, you know."

Yan Shiqi said, "Have Lao Wu go and handle it."

Yi Wuyi got out of the car, and in no time, he returned with a number: "Mr. Yan, our table's ready."

The group walked past the waiting customers and, under everyone's watchful eyes, took the elevator straight up.

Xie Yunshen asked Yi Wuyi, "How did you manage that?"

"I paid the first person in line for their spot."

Simple and direct, as expected.

It was a chain hotpot restaurant, with the second floor featuring a semi-private booth layout.

Xie Yunshen watched Yan Shiqi sitting in the smoky, bustling restaurant, looking a bit out of place.

The split pot, with its clear and spicy red broths, was now loaded with ingredients.

Xie Yunshen felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity. Amidst the smoky, fiery atmosphere, he was actually eating from the same pot as Mr. Yan.

Although everyone was using serving chopsticks.

Xie Yunshen oversaw everything: the doneness of the ingredients, the seasoning, and even the dipping sauce mixes.

That slice of marbled beef went through three different dipping sauce plates before finally, after all that trouble, being placed in Yan Shiqi's bowl.

Yan Shiqi picked up the beef and put it in his mouth.

Xie Yunshen looked at him expectantly. "How is it?"

Yi Wuyi was also watching him.

Yan Shiqi smiled but didn't say anything.

Yi Wuyi saw Xie Yunshen put a piece of meat heavily coated in chili into his own mouth.

"Could you eat this much spice before?"

"I... couldn't eat spicy food?" Xie Yunshen swallowed the meat, looking at the two of them with hesitation and guilt.

Mr. Yan lowered his head to eat, offering no comment.

Yi Wuyi said, "Maybe I remembered wrong."

Undeterred, Xie Yunshen continued cooking ingredients for Yan Shiqi and preparing dipping sauces.

Mr. Yan accepted it all without a word.

According to Xie Yunshen's reasoning: Whether Mr. Yan's tongue could taste it or not, his stomach would surely feel the deliciousness.

And Mr. Yan had never clarified whether his sense of taste was impaired, nor had he ever commented on the flavor.

Yi Wuyi suddenly realized that Mr. Yan was now in a difficult position, having backed himself into a corner with that small lie.