I said, "I'm still reporting to the Chairman, Godfather. Is there something you need? Shall I relay it to the Chairman?"
Xie Jiabao quickly said, "It's nothing major, just wanted to let Godfather know that the cargo transport is proceeding normally, so he can rest assured."
The cargo transport being normal was something I didn't need you to tell me; you were clearly just making conversation.
I replied, "Okay, I'll inform the Chairman."
After hanging up, I said to my senior, "It seems I'll be disappearing from Ruili for a while. Sheng Hao will stay here to handle things with them."
My senior nodded, "Yes, it's easy to expose yourself when you're playing two roles. Having Li Hua leave Ruili is a good idea."
I said, "Then I'll make a grand exit, preferably after a showdown with Principal Sun, and leave under everyone's watchful eyes!"
Senior: "Excellent plan! Let's do that!"
I said, "Last night he was convinced I was Li Hua and almost exposed me on the spot. I need to have a confrontation with him as Li Hua to completely dispel his suspicions."
I called Wen Siqiang to come up.
While waiting for him, I told him, "Ask Zhou Yingying about Principal Sun's schedule for today."
Wen Siqiang didn't say anything and directly made a call.
I told my senior, "I'm going down now. Have Jing Lei meet me outside, I'm returning to the base."
After Wen Siqiang finished his call, he told me, "Principal Sun is at the hotel right now. He didn't mention any specific plans for today."
I said, "Alright, then you two monitor him in the lobby today and keep in constant contact with me."
After making these arrangements, I bid them farewell and left alone.
I went downstairs and pretended to take a casual stroll, walking out leisurely.
I reached the middle of the lobby and, as if suddenly remembering something, turned back to see if anyone was following me.
I walked back a few steps and saw no change in anyone's behavior. Finding nothing, I patted my forehead and continued my way out.
I reached the outside of the lobby and stood there blankly, with no particular purpose.
After a while, I took out my phone and called Jing Lei, asking her to pick me up at the usual spot.
I returned to the lobby and struck up a conversation with the hostesses, simply to pass the time out of boredom.
The hostesses patiently listened to my nonsensical chatter, nodding continuously and explaining my absurd questions.
I figured enough time had passed, so I said goodbye to them and headed out again.
Once outside, I confirmed no one was following me before crossing the street to where Jing Lei would pick me up.
After walking for a bit without spotting any tails, I quickened my pace. I saw my phone ringing; it was Jing Lei. She had arrived.
I was still about a hundred meters away, so I didn't answer her call and turned a corner to reach her.
Getting into the car, I told Jing Lei, "The usual place." She drove with one hand while the other held mine. I squeezed her hand tightly, knowing how worried she had been about me for days we hadn't been together.
I said, "Drive. This is a critical time, I can't stop now."
She whispered, "I really wish you could stop all this. Let's build our estate, gamble on stones, travel. I just don't want you to live this kind of life."
I knew that the procedures for the farmland had been completed, and the design blueprints would be out in a few days, with construction starting soon.
Yet, I was still stuck in this vortex, unable to escape.
Although Lan Ya and Jing Lei could handle these things, they were women after all. They needed a shoulder to lean on, but I was working myself to death, to death, to death!