"Don't let me see you again," Ye Qiu said coldly. "If I find out you're still going against the Tang Group or Tang Buyi and his daughter, I will make sure all your secrets are exposed. Also, our organization won't let you off the hook."
As Ye Qiu spoke, he increased the pressure on Jin Haili's hand. The cracking sound of bones breaking filled the room as he twisted his leg, snapping Jin Haili's fingers one by one.
Ye Qiu dropped the gun onto the floor but carefully folded the tissues he had used to hold it, placing them in his pocket. Then, he walked out of the room without a backward glance.
It wasn't until he heard the door slam shut that Jin Haili collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. A torrent of emotions—shock, humiliation, fear, and anger—washed over him, leaving him shivering to his core.
Yes, he should never let that man see him again. Jin Haili mentally vowed to himself.
Scanning the room, Jin Haili struggled to stand, using his uninjured hand for support. From his inner jacket pocket, he pulled out a small silver handgun—his last line of defense. He hadn't drawn it earlier, knowing it would have been futile against Ye Qiu. Perhaps this restraint had spared his life.
Jin Haili moved to where his secretary, Qian, lay unconscious. He wanted to examine the injury but stopped, recalling Ye Qiu's chilling smile. Overcoming his curiosity, he raised the gun and shot Qian in the head.
Bang!
Blood and brain matter sprayed as Qian died instantly. The two bodyguards, who had been feigning unconsciousness, leaped up. One ran for the door while the other lunged at Jin Haili. Two more quick shots, and both were dead.
Jin Haili looked at his left hand in surprise. He had never expected his aim to be so accurate, perhaps triggered by the desperation of the situation.
The remaining bodyguards, who had been knocked out by Ye Qiu, met the same fate as Jin Haili systematically executed them. The man who had begged for mercy moments ago had transformed into a ruthless killer, eliminating his loyal subordinates.
Ye Qiu's revelations had been too damning. The people mentioned were powerful enough to destroy Jin Haili if they ever found out. To protect his secrets, everyone in that room had to die, whether they had heard Ye Qiu or not.
With the last guard dead, Jin Haili finally allowed himself a grim, strained smile. He was lucky to be alive.
---
After leaving the Jinxiu Club, Ye Qiu didn't head directly back to Blue Apartments. He found a bathhouse, took a sauna, and declined the masseuse's offer for additional services. Lying on a bed, he reflected on the day's events and potential future developments.
His master had always preached self-reflection, and Ye Qiu maintained this habit.
The cold night air in Beijing, filled with dust particles, created a thin layer of grime on his skin. Some said that while you could clean your shoes monthly in southern cities, in Beijing, you'd need to clean them multiple times a day—an apt description of the city's severe air pollution.
By the time Ye Qiu returned to Blue Apartments, it was late. He laughed to himself, realizing he had fallen asleep in the bathhouse. The exhaustion from using the ring had caught up with him, draining his energy like nothing else.
Entering the courtyard, he noticed the lights were out in the apartments. Only one room on the second floor was lit—Shen Monong's room. Through the purple curtains, he could see a shadow.
Hearing someone at the door, Shen Monong pulled the curtain aside slightly. The light from her room spilled into the night, and her eyes met Ye Qiu's.
Their gazes locked for a brief moment before the curtain fell back, and Shen Monong's room went dark.
"Is she worried about me? This woman would make a great mother," Ye Qiu murmured, still entranced by the fleeting glance of her beauty.
---
Morning.
Ye Qiu was deep asleep when loud music suddenly woke him. After a moment of confusion, he realized it was his cell phone, which had been silent since he got it. The ringtone blared, "That night, you didn't reject me! That night, I hurt you..."
"Hello, Uncle Wang? What's up?" Ye Qiu answered, seeing the caller ID.
"Ye Qiu, Master wants to see you. I'm at the villa gate. Can you be ready in ten minutes?" Wang Bo's stern voice came through.
Five minutes later, Ye Qiu was washed and ready, yawning as he exited the gate to find a black Mercedes waiting. Wang Bo stood by the car, impeccably dressed.
"Why does Uncle Tang want to see me so early?" Ye Qiu asked as he got into the car.
"I don't know. Master will tell you himself," Wang Bo replied sternly.
Realizing Wang Bo wouldn't reveal anything, Ye Qiu sat back, pondering why Tang Buyi needed him so urgently. Was it related to the Jin Haili incident?
Sure enough, as soon as Ye Qiu entered Tang Buyi's office, Tang Buyi asked, "Ye Qiu, do you know about the Jin Haili incident?"
"What incident?" Ye Qiu asked, nonchalantly sitting in a chair.
Tang Buyi scrutinized Ye Qiu before laughing heartily. "A young hero indeed. You're as remarkable as your master. If Chief Guo from the police station hadn't called, I wouldn't have known Jin Haili was nearly killed. Now, everyone in Beijing knows about it."
"Is it going to be a problem?" Ye Qiu asked, yawning again. This seemed like a question that could have been asked over the phone.
"Don't worry. Jin Haili himself doesn't know who attacked him, so what can the police uncover? I'll take care of any loose ends that might expose you," Tang Buyi said, his face lit with joy.
Ye Qiu smiled, not denying or confirming anything. He let Tang Buyi think what he wanted.
"I know young people need their sleep. I didn't mean to disturb you so early, but I was too excited. You can rest now. School starts in a couple of days, and I trust you with Guo Guo's safety," Tang Buyi said kindly. "By the way, are you sure you want to study archaeology? Don't you want to discuss it with your master?"
"No need," Ye Qiu replied firmly. The other subjects didn't interest him, but the mystery of the ring had always intrigued him. Solving it would bring him peace.
"Alright then. I've communicated with the school, and they'll send a new notice soon. I'll have Wang Bo deliver it when it arrives," Tang Buyi nodded.
A student, huh?
Thinking about his encounter with Lan Kexin and the sleazy man on the train, Ye Qiu smiled. It might be interesting.
*(End of Volume 1. In Volume 2, Ye Qiu will join Tang Guo and Lin Bao'er at school. Can he fit in with the elite students? The story truly begins in Volume 2.
Bring on the votes!)*