The New Year holiday officially ended on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, and the working class returned to their daily grind. Over the past few days, the police acted swiftly based on the confession of the tattooed man they apprehended at the hospital. They established a special task force, led by the beautiful policewoman, and launched a lightning strike, taking down the loan company's criminal organization in one fell swoop. They even found crucial evidence on a computer within the company, which was a significant achievement, removing a major threat from Jiangcheng. However, they still couldn't find the company's boss and his three key subordinates.
Chen Qiang in the ICU still hadn't woken up, barely hanging on. If it weren't for Chu Yuxuan's generous financial support, the medical expenses over the past few days alone would have been enough to overwhelm the two frail women.
At Jade Lake Villa, early in the morning, not even six o'clock, Chu Yuxuan got up, went downstairs, lazily brewed a cup of tea, and then leisurely headed to his study, shouting, "Third Brother!"
After a while, the big guy rushed out of his room, wearing only a pair of boxers, sleepily looking at Chu Yuxuan and asking, "What's up, Big Brother?"
Chu Yuxuan replied, "Just a reminder, it's still early. You can go back to sleep."
Third Brother: ???
"Do you even hear yourself?"
After being teased like that, Third Brother lost any desire to sleep. He went back to his room, threw on a robe, and followed Chu Yuxuan to the study.
Third Brother was well aware of the reason for his big brother's recent worries and mumbled, "Big Brother, don't worry too much. Everyone has their own fate… Besides, Fifth Brother has been keeping an eye on Chen Qiang for so long and hasn't found anything. I think he really doesn't know his cousin Chen Hong's whereabouts."
Chu Yuxuan sat in a chair, casually opened the drawer in front of him, and took out a stack of photos. He flipped through them disinterestedly, saying, "The three siblings have relied on each other since childhood, growing up together through hardships. Their bond is even stronger than the one we brothers share. How could they not be in contact?"
Third Brother looked at the pile of photos. Besides a few old group photos of the three siblings, the rest were all personal photos of Chen Hong. In fact, not just Chu Yuxuan, but even he had looked through these photos dozens of times.
"Big Brother, I'm not trying to be negative, but the world is so big. Trying to find him is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Chu Yuxuan squinted his eyes and said in a low voice, "I have a feeling he's still in the country, maybe even in Jiangcheng! Whenever I mentioned him to Chen Qiang in the past, Chen Qiang's eyes would flicker almost imperceptibly, or rather, he seemed a bit afraid of me."
"Afraid of you? He didn't know your identity back then, so why would he be afraid of you?" Third Brother asked, puzzled.
"Chen Qiang didn't know, but Chen Hong did. He used to be my mother's driver and had seen me many times."
Third Brother's eyes gradually brightened, "That means the two brothers have been in contact! Big Brother, aren't I clever?"
Chu Yuxuan: Ah, yes.
So clever.
Just then, there was a faint sound of footsteps in the living room, heading toward the kitchen—probably Xiao Qing.
Third Brother's eyes darted around, and he smiled sheepishly, "Big Brother, I won't disturb you while you're thinking. I'll just… say hello."
Chu Yuxuan gave him a sidelong glance, "Going to flirt with Xiao Qing again?"
Third Brother waved his hands, "No, no… I'm just… just saying hello."
"Third Brother, do you have feelings for that girl?" Chu Yuxuan smiled, his eyes fixed on the big guy without blinking.
"How could that be! Don't talk nonsense!" Third Brother scratched his head, his large face turning crimson. "I… I haven't even thought about romance yet!"
Chu Yuxuan chuckled, but his expression quickly darkened, "I heard from Fifth Brother that on New Year's Eve, you got drunk and talked a lot about our past with Xiao Qing. Is that true? Hmm?"
Third Brother's expression froze instantly, and he stammered, "Big Brother, I… I was just drunk, and I mentioned it casually… Xiao Qing isn't an outsider, so it should be fine, right?"
"You idiot!" Chu Yuxuan glared at him, annoyed. "Before we returned to the country, I repeatedly warned you not to mention anything about our past to anyone! Did you forget so soon?"
Third Brother lowered his head and muttered, "I didn't forget, I was just too drunk."
"And that's your excuse? Go, offer incense to Guan Yu."
"Oh…"
"And kneel for half an hour to remember this lesson!"
"Oh…"
Half an hour later, Third Brother's loud voice echoed from the living room, "Xiao Qing, what are you making for breakfast? Next time, could you make me a bowl of spicy hot soup from our hometown? When I was a kid training at the Shaolin Temple, I would sneak back home every few days just to have a bowl of spicy hot soup. It was the best! But then I'd usually get beaten by my master…"
Chu Yuxuan: …
Just as he was feeling speechless, Zhao Yanan unexpectedly called.
Chu Yuxuan raised an eyebrow. For his nominal wife to remember him, it had to be either business or a favor to ask.