Li Chonglou remained silent for a long time.
At this moment, soft music began to play in the quiet bar. As it was still early, only a few pairs of guests were scattered around. Under the soft lighting, they listened to the music, drank their wine, enjoying a leisurely and comfortable atmosphere.
However, in such a pleasant environment, Li Chonglou's mood was complicated.
To make him understand his predicament, Lin Qianqian revealed everything she knew about the Green Gang. It was then that Li Chonglou realized he had stumbled upon a situation in Shangjing akin to a brewing storm before a great event.
According to Lin Qianqian, Shangjing's deeply entrenched grey industries had always been a focal point of government attention, and the Green Gang had risen under these circumstances.
Just as the net was about to be closed, the news had somehow leaked prematurely. The once relatively docile underground forces had become desperate. Now, with even traitors to the nation appearing, if the situation were allowed to continue, Shangjing would inevitably descend into chaos.
The Central Bureau, noticing someone fanning the flames from behind the scenes, dispatched Lin Qianqian to Yian, where Qiao Sen had been active, to investigate and apprehend the mastermind.
What was dire for Li Chonglou was that the evidence they had gathered pointed to an internal mole within the Green Gang. And since Li Chonglou was a member of the Green Gang, his identity had suddenly become sensitive.
Involving a traitor, which implied foreign influence, meant that his identity as a member of the Xiong Ying Special Forces would hardly be able to protect him.
Crucially, Li Chonglou was merely a figurehead in all of this.
It was only then that Li Chonglou understood the threat posed by Lin Qianqian's senior brother.
A person with a higher standing in the Central Bureau, if they insisted he was involved with foreign forces, given the current situation, he would have no way to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
"The situation in Shangjing is far more complex than you can imagine, and there are many things I cannot disclose. In short, remember what I said: act cautiously during this period, regardless of whether you agree with me or not. Consider it my apology."
After speaking, Lin Qianqian once again drained her freshly refilled glass of wine and stood up. "Please help me settle the bill later. I was just transferred and haven't received my salary yet."
Lin Qianqian left, as self-righteously as she had spoken, leaving a helpless Li Chonglou behind.
His helplessness wasn't due to Lin Qianqian drinking without paying, but because of her previous statement, "Consider it my apology."
"So, you admit it's because of you that I'm implicated..." Li Chonglou felt utterly speechless.
The events of today had been one disaster after another for him. Everything should have been resolved; he just needed to help complete three major cases in his spare time. But now, a situation had suddenly arisen, similar to Feng Zheng's, but far more severe, like a man consumed by jealousy.
"Don't cause trouble during this period." But how long was "this period"? He still had the matter of the transit pass to handle. How could he not cause trouble?
"This is giving me a headache. Fortunately, the exchange and auction haven't happened yet, but that transit pass..."
Li Chonglou sat there, picked up the wine glass Lin Qianqian had left, poured himself a full glass, and drank it down in one gulp.
The transit pass issue had to be resolved within two weeks, otherwise, the longer it dragged on, the more likely complications would arise. Zhou Tong had also reminded him that basically everyone in the circle was scrambling to buy this item, making it extremely difficult to obtain. Missing this opportunity might mean never getting another chance.
But therein lay the problem: he couldn't act now.
Just as Li Chonglou was brooding, a strong fragrance wafted past him, followed by a soft body pressing against him.
"Handsome, can I buy you a drink?"
Li Chonglou turned his head to see a woman dressed provocatively, with heavy makeup, her arm around his shoulder, her beautiful eyes casting seductive glances.
"Sorry, I have a wife."
Li Chonglou pulled his arm away and stood up to leave, but unexpectedly, the woman suddenly cried out and lunged towards him.
However, just as he instinctively caught the woman, a harsh reprimand sounded from behind him.
"I knew you slut would come to hook up with men, damn it!"
A tattooed social man, with his arms bare, charged forward, cursing. He held an empty beer bottle and was about to smash it down on Li Chonglou's head.
Li Chonglou's eyes narrowed. With one hand supporting the woman, he met the wine bottle with his other hand. A slight turn of his wrist deflected the full force of the bottle, sending it sliding to the side.
The tattooed man was also tilted along with the bottle's momentum, but midway, he suddenly felt the bottle loosen in his hand. By the time he stumbled to a stop, the beer bottle was already in Li Chonglou's hand.
"Waiter, the bill."
Li Chonglou said this, pushed the woman away amidst her cries of surprise, and then settled the cost of the drinks.
The tattooed man stood there for a long time with a bewildered expression. How did my bottle end up in his hand?
It wasn't until Li Chonglou had paid and was walking out that he finally reacted.
"Stop right there! You seduced my wife and now you think you can leave?"
The tattooed man, looking furious, strode forward quickly. The few scattered guests in the establishment all turned to look. Li Chonglou suddenly stopped, directly pulled out his phone.
"Hello, I want to report a crime."
The man abruptly froze. Hearing the word "report," his expression flickered. In the end, he said no more, dragged the woman away, still muttering curses.
"Is this... a warning?"
Li Chonglou chuckled softly, put down the phone which he hadn't actually dialed, and thought about how he had just met Lin Qianqian, and then someone immediately sought trouble with him, and it seemed so deliberate.
It was clear someone was sending him a message.
"I've always hated trouble," Li Chonglou said with a light smile, his expression gradually turning cold.
"But that doesn't mean I'm afraid of trouble."
Stepping out of the bar, Li Chonglou directly dialed Lin Qianqian's number.
"What is it?"
"You said you agreed to help me with my task. When should I come to see you tomorrow?"
"Ah?"
Lin Qianqian's extremely surprised voice came from the other end of the phone, but Li Chonglou didn't explain, pressing for the time.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Qianqian, already in a taxi, subconsciously gave her work hours and then the call was hung up.
Lin Qianqian stared in astonishment. "Didn't he say it was impossible? How long has it been?"
This shouldn't be right. Based on the personality he displayed, it wasn't likely he would agree. Could it be...
Lin Qianqian's eyes suddenly widened, and she dialed a number.
"Senior Brother! Did you do something just now?"
A calm voice came from the other end: "I don't know what my junior sister is talking about. It's late, so get some rest when you get back to the dormitory."
The call was then hung up again, enraging Lin Qianqian to the point where she threw her phone onto the seat behind her.
Perhaps it was him hanging up on her twice, or perhaps it was due to her senior brother's actions.
"He must be nearby, otherwise how would he know I haven't returned to the dormitory yet."
After her anger subsided, Lin Qianqian felt a sense of helplessness. His words just now were undoubtedly intentional, designed to let her know that yes, I acted again.