If Wen Siqiang was truly a venomous snake, was he frozen or had he awakened now?
Although Wen Siqiang and I had a past conflict, we had been working together since then. Apart from his past drug use, which I couldn't forgive, there were no disharmonious aspects in our interactions.
He had been quite dedicated to me, showing no hesitation when we faced dangerous situations together, always taking the lead or covering our backs. By all accounts, he was a subordinate with unwavering loyalty.
But why had Lan Ya repeatedly warned me to guard against him and her? The Demoness was a different story; she had harmed my father and my entire family. However, with Wen Siqiang, I felt a sense of ambiguity, unsure of how to handle our relationship.
I had entrusted him with my entire fortune and my life. My safety, my food, my clothing, my shelter, and my daily commute were all in his hands. Yet, I was also told to be wary of him. It was difficult to find the right balance.
As the saying goes, "If you use a person, do not doubt them; if you doubt them, do not use them." If he truly harbored rebellious intentions, I could simply stop employing him. But since I was using him, I couldn't harbor doubts. At least, for as long as he was with me, I had to treat him like a brother.
Lan Ya and Jing Lei were in my office. I returned to my seat and sat down. Lan Ya said, "We've added Mr. Zhang's name. Let Sister Jing Lei handle the bidding. I'll hold our own when the time comes."
I replied, "I received a call from the Crown Prince earlier. His tone was very aggressive. It seems he's determined to acquire that piece of land at all costs. We're in for a tough fight."
Lan Ya said, "We saw him when we were processing the paperwork. He was walking in with a group of people, acting all swaggering. He spat in our direction when he saw us, it was disgusting."
The Crown Prince was nothing but a spoiled brat and a scoundrel. Such behavior was entirely in line with his nature. Let him spit. There would come a day when he wouldn't be able to spit anything but blood!
Lan Ya stated, "If the Crown Prince isn't dealt with, he will always be a menace."
I responded, "Very soon. If he wants my life, he'd better prepare to give up his own first!"
At that moment, Wen Siqiang called to inform me that the stone had been unloaded and all the machinery and equipment were ready. I instructed him to lock the door and give me the key later, telling him not to worry about anything else.
Wen Siqiang said nothing and hung up.
I thought about that matter again and cautioned myself not to overthink it. Although he wasn't qualified to be my brother, he was a diligent subordinate.
Lan Ya said, "I'll leave first. The Grand World hasn't been very peaceful these past few days. I need to get back."
I asked, "Do you want me to escort you?"
Truthfully, I knew I couldn't leave this place for even a moment, but Lan Ya mentioned it wasn't peaceful, and I wanted to help her.
Lan Ya replied, "I can handle it. You focus all your efforts on handling matters here. Don't split your attention."
After she finished speaking, she went downstairs. Jing Lei escorted her to the stairwell and watched her descend.
I said to Jing Lei, "Why don't you go back too? I have to work overtime tonight and probably won't be back until late."
Jing Lei said, "I'll stay with you. You've just recovered, so you shouldn't be alone."
I remained silent. She closed the office door, took my hand, and motioned for me to sit on the sofa. I was indeed a bit tired, and as soon as I sat down, I realized my whole body felt like it had fallen apart.
Jing Lei went to make me a cup of tea, brought it over, and placed it on the coffee table. Then she went behind the sofa and began to massage my shoulders to relax them.
I suddenly remembered that my master had mentioned earlier that he would be working in the workshop to repair the stone and didn't want anyone else involved. I could use this opportunity to send Wen Siqiang away. Sorting the raw stones could be handled by Master Zhang and the workers.
I took out my phone and called Wen Siqiang. Jing Lei had gotten Wen Siqiang a mobile phone while I was hospitalized, making it much easier to find him.
I told Wen Siqiang to pick up my master from the stone gambling shop later and then to go to the Grand World tonight to help Lan Ya keep an eye on things there. I told him to call me if anything happened.
Wen Siqiang acknowledged with a sound and said he understood.
Jing Lei said, "Close your eyes and rest for a bit. I'll wake you when master arrives."
I nodded. I really wanted to sleep for a while. Although my body had completely recovered, the intensity of the workload was still a bit overwhelming.
Jing Lei had me lie down on the long sofa and found a piece of clothing to cover me with. She didn't sit next to me, but quietly sat down at the desk, not speaking to me anymore.
To be honest, I really wanted to sleep, but even though my eyelids were closed, my mind was exceptionally active. With so many things piling up, I couldn't possibly fall asleep.
Especially with Wen Siqiang mentioning the matter of the Demoness and Principal Sun, it made me feel even more uneasy. I should have dealt with this matter long ago, but I had kept procrastinating, which gave them more time and space to deal with us. My father had already suffered a fatal blow; if he were to receive another blow, he would likely collapse completely.
No, I had to resolve this matter quickly. It concerned my father's life and death, and even more so, the life and death of my entire family.
This was more fatal than the retaliation from Bo Gang Kang Gong or even the Crown Prince.
The three of them might only want my life, but the Demoness and her associates wanted the lives of my entire family.
Not to mention risking our lives, but also the reputation my father had cherished for a lifetime.
That was more important than life itself.
I swore that after the opening of the raw stone trading market, the first priority would be to handle my father's affairs. I couldn't delay any longer.