The hospital's iCu ward environment had extremely strict requirements, so visitors were generally not allowed for close proximity visits.
Although Li Chonglou was worried about Lü Yunxu, he could only watch from outside the window.
"Haozi, go back and investigate!" Li Chonglou knew he couldn't help anything at the hospital, so he took Wu Hao and left.
Back at the company, Wu Hao immediately instructed his subordinates in the technical department, excluding those responsible for database maintenance, to switch to search mode.
Hacking into city surveillance cameras was not difficult for these people who relied on technology.
Soon, the video footage from the accident scene was retrieved.
The person smashing cars and assaulting people was wearing a helmet, obscuring their face. While struggling with Lü Yunxu, police sirens were heard, and the man struck Lü Yunxu on the head with a club before fleeing.
"Track this person's motorcycle and keep investigating!" Wu Hao's forehead veins bulged with anger, and he gritted his teeth.
Seeing this, Li Chonglou knew that Lü Yunxu had truly entered his heart. If this matter was handled well, their relationship might significantly improve. It was also a good opportunity to witness Wu Hao's growth during this period.
Since arriving in Yong'an, too many events had occurred. Li Chonglou was well aware that with his own strength alone, he could not contend with those powerful figures with deep-rooted connections. Not only would he fail to ensure his own safety but would also endanger his friends and family. Especially now that he knew his father had been possessed and reborn by Wu Zetian, hidden somewhere, possibly plotting a restoration in secret. Establishing a foothold was no longer the primary goal; he had to find his father, whether alive or dead, and get closure. To achieve such a feat, he needed a sufficiently large network and the strength of unity.
Wu Hao's relationship with him was unquestionable, but in the past, his lack of experience and capability meant he couldn't handle major crises. That's why Li Chonglou had been reluctant to drag Wu Hao and the company into his affairs, even actively distancing himself. However, Wu Hao's growth rate was not slow. If he could uncover the truth behind the attack on Lü Yunxu this time, it would prove his ability to handle matters independently. With that, advancing into Yong'an would become a tangible possibility.
"Chonglou, what happened?" Jiang Yuxin from the finance department on the third floor seemed to sense something was amiss and walked downstairs, asking softly.
"Lü Yunxu was attacked and is still in the hospital, unconscious," Li Chonglou no longer concealed the truth. "Don't visit her now; visitation is not allowed. We'll wait until she wakes up. Wu Hao is currently working hard to track down the assailant."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxin's beautiful eyes filled with anxiety. Lü Yunxu's relationship with her had long evolved from collaborators to close friends. Hearing of her attack, how could she not be concerned? She finally understood that Li Chonglou and Wu Hao's hurried departure earlier was about this matter. Knowing she couldn't help for the moment and would only be a hindrance, she had to suppress her anger and worry, nodding and saying, "I'll wait for your news."
Jingle ding ding...
Just as she finished speaking, Li Chonglou's phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. When he answered, it turned out to be Huang Yongshou. His old phone had been broken, and after getting a new one, many numbers hadn't been added back.
In the phone call, Huang Yongshou sighed at length, "Boss Li, oh dear, I finally got through to you..." "Last month, no matter how I tried, I couldn't get through."
"Speak if you have something to say." Li Chonglou was in a terrible mood now and had no time for his rambling.
"Yes, yes, yes, it's like this, do you remember the tomb-raiding magnate I told you about before?"
Hearing this, Li Chonglou's pupils contracted. "I remember. You said he came to Qin Province before, and you were the one who received him, and Chen Zhenghe helped him and obtained that cicada pendant, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes! He came again last month and specifically asked for you. I was going crazy trying to find you." Huang Yongshou quickly replied, "Your East Forest store isn't open anymore. I looked for President Zhou at the Confucian Temple, but he didn't know where you were either."
Li Chonglou's eyelids twitched. During his mission in Zhonghai, his SIM card had been confiscated. But why would that tomb-raiding magnate be looking for him? He had once thought the magnate Huang Yongshou mentioned was Li Hanlong. But now it seemed they weren't the same person. Yet he absolutely didn't know this person; why would he be looking for him by name? Could it be that his reputation in the Qin Province antique circle, gained from that auction, had attracted someone's attention?
Regardless, he needed to figure it out first. So, he said calmly, "Give me his number, and I'll contact him."
"Okay, okay, okay, Boss Li, please take it down." Huang Yongshou immediately recited the contact number left by the person. The number was only seven digits, indicating it was a satellite phone, completely different from ordinary mobile numbers. Li Chonglou noted it down and hung up. He gave Jiang Yuxin an OK gesture, walked out of the company, and dialed the number.
After a few rings, the call was connected. The other party remained silent.
"I am Li Chonglou. Is it you who asked Huang Yongshou to find me? May I know your name?" Li Chonglou spoke first.
"I'm very curious about how much you've grown and wanted to see, but it seems I've caught you at an inconvenient time." A hoarse, low voice sounded from the other end of the phone. "But it doesn't matter, I've given you a meeting gift. That woman named Lü, I investigated and found she's your friend, but not exactly family. If you want to know who I am, investigate yourself. Let's see if you have the capability."
Click!
After speaking, the call was hung up. When he tried to call back, it was unreachable, either blocked or rejected. Li Chonglou's pupils contracted sharply, his hand gripping the phone turning white with bulging veins. If he hadn't lacked true qi, the phone would have been crushed. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with rage. Although he felt something was wrong, he hadn't expected Lü Yunxu's incident to be directly related to him. It was a "meeting gift" from this magnate! Now he finally understood why such things hadn't happened when he wasn't in Qin Province, and Lü Yunxu was attacked the day after his return. This was a warning, a "killing the chicken to scare the monkeys." But he had picked the wrong target!
"Beast, if I don't turn you completely upside down, I, Li Chonglou, am not human!" Li Chonglou's fury surged, and he vowed silently. In the next second, he turned and rushed back into the company. He roared, "Haozi, have you found that scum yet?"
Wu Hao, who was engrossed in searching for clues, was startled. "Not yet. In some places, the surveillance is broken, and the clues are lost. We need to expand the search, but motorcycles are too small and not as conspicuous as cars. We lost track of him on Zhongshan Road..."
Previously, he had seen Li Chonglou calm and unhurried, but now he was agitated and didn't know what had happened.
"Keep investigating. I need to go out!" Li Chonglou said without any unnecessary words and drove straight to the Confucian Temple.
At the same time, Xu Lie also received a call and rushed to the Confucian Temple to meet him. He had intended to ask Xu Lie to spend a few days with Qianqian after his return, not to always worry about his affairs. But now, it seemed that leisure was out of the question.
"Chonglou, did something happen?" Xu Lie asked with concern, seeing Li Chonglou's grim expression.
"Lü Yunxu was attacked. The mastermind knows me, but I don't know who he is," Li Chonglou truthfully told him, looking at Huang Yongshou, who was running over with a fawning smile from a distance. Before he could even greet them, Li Chonglou grabbed his collar. "Huang Yongshou, tell me all the information you have about that magnate. If you dare to hide anything, I guarantee you'll regret it beyond measure."
His emotions rarely flared up like this; even when in grave danger in Zhonghai, he remained as calm as Mount Tai collapsing before him. But now, he couldn't. That person had used Lü Yunxu as a pawn, claiming it was to test his growth. A nameless rage erupted in his heart, making him too lazy to control his emotions any longer.
"Li... Boss Li, what are you doing? I'll... I definitely won't hide anything from you..." Huang Yongshou was so scared his face turned green. Seeing that Li Chonglou had not even brought his brother Zhuzi and was facing the ferocious Xu Lie alone, he was lucky not to have peed himself.
Hearing this, Li Chonglou finally let him go. They went to Huang Yongshou's mistress's jewelry store, closed the door, and sent the mistress away. He respectfully brewed tea and then said, "Boss Li, that person is elusive; I still don't know his name. I only know he's around fifty years old, has a small goatee, and is quite thin. High cheekbones, yes... his eyes are very frightening; I don't dare to look at him... Every time he comes to Qin Province, he contacts me, and always in desolate places. Besides the phone number he left you, I have no other contact information for him. I'm telling you the truth; I dare not lie to you..."
Huang Yongshou trembled. Li Chonglou stared into his eyes and found that besides fear, there were no other expressions, suggesting he wasn't lying. So, he said coldly, "Can you draw? Draw his likeness!"
"This... I can't draw. If I draw it, it will surely be distorted and unrecognizable..." Huang Yongshou looked troubled.
"I'll find someone, and you describe him to her to draw!" Li Chonglou still didn't give up. He called Qi Yu, who was in Zhonghai.
"Little Uncle-Master?" Qi Yu's voice was full of surprise. "Are you done with your business?"
"Not yet. I need you to do something. I'll have someone talk to you, and you draw whatever he describes. Once it's done, take a picture and send it to me," Li Chonglou said directly, with no time for pleasantries.
"No problem!" Qi Yu agreed readily. Huang Yongshou took the phone and racked his brain to describe the person's appearance, doing his best to articulate it with words. Soon, Qi Yu sent a portrait. The face was thin, with high cheekbones, a sharp nose, and sunken eyes. The gaze was sharp as a knife, exuding a chilling aura. The hairstyle was a simple side part.
"Does it look like him?" Li Chonglou held his phone out to Huang Yongshou.
"Yes, yes... it's exactly like him!" Huang Yongshou's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.
"Alright, he didn't scare you too much, right? I'll treat you to a meal later." Li Chonglou patted his shoulder to comfort him. Then, he stood up and left with Xu Lie. On the way, he directly called Fan Lei.
"Fan Da, I need your help again. A friend of mine was attacked, and we're tracking the assailant. That person is very good at counter-surveillance, so we might have to use unconventional methods," Li Chonglou stated upfront.
"You kid, you really treat me like a servant?" Fan Lei feigned anger. "Send over the portrait, and wait for news."