"Hey, if it isn't War God Chen, long time no see. What made you think to call me all of a sudden?" Lin Shuang held the phone, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
The person on the other end of the phone was clearly someone Lin Shuang knew. Throughout Yanxia, there was only one person named 'Chen Bu'e', and that was Yanxia's very own War God Chen.
"Ancestor, how come you're back in Yanxia again?" came War God Chen's voice, laced with complexity and helplessness. "Back then, you promised me you wouldn't step foot in the East to cause trouble again."
Lin Shuang, phone in hand, replied cheekily, "I'm here to investigate some personal matters this time; besides, I haven't caused any trouble."
On the other end of the phone, War God Chen Bu'e was almost cursing. He barely contained his anger, saying coldly, "Ancestor, you call that not causing trouble? Two hours ago, the intelligence department found out... you secretly flew into Jiangnan and settled in Hai City. Many citizens saw it! Lots of them even got it on their phones, how do you explain that?!"
"Cough cough." Realizing the jig was up, Lin Shuang could only clear his throat, "Well... War God Chen, there's been a misunderstanding. They didn't mean to, I assure you, they haven't made any trouble in Hai City, rest easy! I stake my reputation on it. And I've already had them pull out."
War God Chen let out a cold snort on the other end, "With such a huge impact already caused, what's the use of pulling them out now?? So many people have captured footage, how do you expect our PR department to handle it?"
Lin Shuang, still gripping the phone, replied with a forced smile, "War God Chen, what's our relationship, eh? Remember the times we fought side by side on the battlefield, guns in our hands, loyal brothers in arms. Could you help me smooth this over, please? Make sure no one traces it back to me."
Chen Bu'e snorted coldly again, "To think I had to know such an ancestor like you, must've been from doing evil in my past life. Eh! Alright, I'll handle the situation. But listen up, Lin Shuang, don't you dare stir up any major trouble in Jiangnan! I do not want a repeat of what happened back then."
Lin Shuang offered a full face of sheepish smiles, "You can count on me, War God Chen, I promise not to stir things up. Oh, and please keep my identity confidential."
On the other end, War God Chen hung up the phone abruptly.
...
Thousands of kilometers away, Imperial Capital.
Intelligence department, office number one.
Chen Bu'e sat in his chair, lighting a cigarette in gloom.
Right now, looking at the top-secret file about Lin Shuang on his desk, Chen Bu'e felt a headache coming on.
This madman, Lin Shuang, is currently the number one wanted criminal globally, pursued by the entire world. What in the world was this ancestor doing suddenly heading East?
This unsettled Chen Bu'e deeply.
After thinking for a long time, Chen Bu'e finally issued an order, "Contact the intelligence department immediately! Deploy secret agent Shen Huang! Send her to Hai City! Have her covertly surveil Lin Shuang! If he makes any move at all, report back to me at once!"
...
Come evening, Su Wanqiao finally woke up.
Upon waking, the first thing she did was check herself, relieved to find she had not been violated.
Before Su Wanqiao passed out from the aphrodisiac, all she remembered was seeing several helicopters hovering outside the Ye Corporation building...
What happened after that, she couldn't recall at all.
Su Wanqiao questioned Lin Shuang about the helicopters.
Lin Shuang explained, "Those helicopters? They're my old mercenary comrades from overseas. I worked as a mercenary abroad... this morning, there was no other choice, so my comrades overseas came to help me."
Lin Shuang casually concocted a false identity to gloss things over. And he went through the story of how his comrades rescued him that morning. Naturally, he left out some of the key details.
Hearing his explanation, Su Wanqiao was taken aback with wide eyes. This man, he had actually been a mercenary?
No wonder his combat skills were so exceptional?
It turned out that Lin Shuang's overseas comrades had come to his rescue.
Su Wanqiao thought to employ Lin Shuang's mercenary friends for a generous fee but was turned down by Lin Shuang.
"Sorry, they generally don't take on protection jobs; they mainly handle overseas transport missions. Like escorting goods, they aren't capable of combat," Lin Shuang made up an excuse, declining Su Wanqiao's offer of employment.
"By the way, President Su, how do you know Grandma Xu? Are you, 'Little Soda'?" Lin Shuang's gaze grew intense as he suddenly asked with depth.
Judging by this woman's reactions that morning, Lin Shuang was almost certain she suffered from hemophobia. She would faint at the sight of blood, her face going pale and breaking out in a cold sweat.
And this woman's overall behavior bore a striking resemblance to a girl from twenty years ago known as 'Little Soda'.
Little Soda?
Su Wanqiao.
In both the name and the nickname, the character 'Su' was present, making Lin Shuang wonder.