556: Chapter 556 Why not just work it out?

"What a coincidence?" Ye Chen felt completely uneasy. "So you're calling me now, it's not to ask me to go rob it, is it?"

"How can you call it robbing?"

"It's clearly going to fetch it!"

Xuanyuan Huo spoke as if it were only natural. "After all... whether the bronze key falls into Japan's hands or the hands of those people from the Kunlun Ruins, it wouldn't be good."

Ye Chen said irritably, "Then why don't you send the people from the Dragon Group or Bureau 749? Why does it have to be me?"

"They can't go."

Xuanyuan Huo's voice grew a bit more serious.

"Japan has local experts guarding it; ordinary members would just be sending themselves to their deaths."

"Moreover, among the One Clan, Three Sects, Five Gates, someone has already contacted the experts over there, preparing for a joint ambush."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. "There's a Japanese sect among the One Clan, Three Sects, Five Gates?"

"Yes."

Xuanyuan Huo took a deep breath and said calmly, "Among the Five Gates, there is a power called the Emperors Gate, which is a Japanese force."

Ye Chen nodded. "I see. But there must be another reason you're asking me, right?"

He always felt...

The old man was digging another pit for him.

Sure enough.

Xuanyuan Huo chuckled. "I just love talking to smart people like you."

"Cut the crap."

"Cough, the main reason is... anyway, you've already offended enough sects, so you won't mind one more."

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. "Impressive."

Xuanyuan Huo laughed loudly.

"I'll have someone send the intel to your phone in a bit. Take a look and then decide."

"But I'm warning you, the people from the One Clan, Three Sects, Five Gates are already heading to Japan!"

"Plus, they have insiders. If you go late, the key will belong to someone else."

Ye Chen rubbed his brow. "Fine, fine, give me the green light for the flight."

"I knew you'd go."

Xuanyuan Huo gave a playful smile. "I've already had someone prepare the ticket for you—a chartered flight straight to Tokyo."

Ye Chen: "???"

Good grief!

So the chartered flight was already ready?

Then why the hell bother discussing it with me...

Ye Chen's face turned dark.

"You old man, are you acting first and reporting later?"

"What's wrong with acting first and reporting later? I'm your superior!" Xuanyuan Huo hung up the phone righteously.

Ye Chen listened to the busy tone coming from the phone, the expression on his face quite a sight.

This old man is getting more and more out of hand.

Just as he was about to put his phone back in his pocket, the screen lit up again.

This time it was a message from Yan Qingwu.

The content was simple...

[The intel has been sent to your email. 4 PM flight, Xiamen City airport, we'll go together.]

[Also, the time for my dad to see you has been changed from 3 PM to 12 PM!]

Yan Qingwu is going too?

And the time was freaking changed...

Then he couldn't buy any local specialties and had to rush back immediately!

Ye Chen was even more speechless.

And so.

Ye Chen miserably booked a ticket and flew directly back to Xiamen City.

When he arrived, it was already past 11 AM.

As soon as Ye Chen walked out of the airport, he saw Yan Qingwu at a glance.

He couldn't help it.

Who told her to be so conspicuous?

Today she wore a white short-sleeved shirt, dark blue jeans, and white sneakers. She looked fresh and neat, like a recent college graduate.

Moreover.

She was at the level of a campus belle!

Yan Qingwu leaned against the car with her arms crossed. Seeing Ye Chen come out, she raised her hand and waved. "Over here."

Ye Chen stepped forward. "Why are you dressed like this?"

"What's wrong?" Yan Qingwu looked down at herself. "Doesn't look good?"

"It looks good, but it's just not like you."

Ye Chen spoke the truth. "Don't you usually like to wear those... um... tighter clothes?"

Yan Qingwu glanced at him. "Tight, my foot! I'm seeing my old-school cadre of a father now, how can I wear that?"

Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"Old cadre? That's a fitting description!"

Yan Qingwu's face darkened, and she raised her foot as if to kick him.

Ye Chen dodged nimbly and circled to the passenger side, opening the door and sitting inside.

Yan Qingwu pulled back her foot, snorted, sat in the driver's seat, and started the car.

The car drove out of the parking lot and merged into traffic.

Yan Qingwu held the steering wheel, eyes fixed ahead, and suddenly asked, "Are you ready?"

Ye Chen leaned back against the seat and asked lazily, "Ready for what?"

"To see my dad."

Ye Chen rolled his eyes. "It's not like I'm meeting the parents, what's there to be afraid of?"

Yan Qingwu's earlobes turned slightly red, but she quickly returned to normal.

"Who said anything about meeting the parents?"

"I'm just afraid you'll speak without thinking and offend my father."

"Am I that kind of person?" Ye Chen looked innocent.

"You are," Yan Qingwu said without hesitation.

Ye Chen: "..."

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a private club.

Yan Qingwu turned off the engine and unbuckled her seatbelt. "We're here."

Ye Chen pushed the door open and got out, looking up.

The club wasn't large, and there was no conspicuous sign at the door, only a wooden plaque carved with two words—'Ting Lan.'

It was low-key but possessed an air of elegance.

Yan Qingwu led Ye Chen into the club and arrived at the door of a private room.

She knocked on the door.

"Come in."

A steady male voice came from inside.

Yan Qingwu pushed open the door, and the two walked in.

Before the coffee table in the room sat a Middle-aged Man.

As soon as Ye Chen entered, the man looked up and stood up with a smile. "Mr. Ye, I have long heard of your name."

Ye Chen waved his hands quickly.

"Uncle Yan, please don't call me Mr. Ye!"

"Call me Xiao Ye or A-Chen. Besides, I should be the one saying I've heard so much about you."

Correct!

The person in front of him was the head of the Yan Family, Yan Huifeng.

Yan Huifeng laughed and patted Ye Chen's shoulder. "Sit, sit, don't just stand there."

The three sat down.

Yan Qingwu sat next to Ye Chen, and Yan Huifeng sat opposite them.

A waiter came in, poured tea, and then left.

Yan Huifeng picked up his teacup, blew on it gently, took a sip, and then put it down, his gaze falling on Ye Chen.

"A-Chen, you don't mind if I call you that, right?"

"Not at all."

Ye Chen nodded with a smile. "Uncle Yan can call me whatever he likes."

Yan Huifeng nodded and got straight to the point. "I've asked for you today mainly for two things."

Ye Chen sat up straight. "Please, go ahead."

"The first thing is official business." Yan Huifeng's expression became more serious. "You should already know about Qingwu going to Japan."

Ye Chen nodded. "I know, the old man told me."

"Do you know why she's going?"

"For the bronze key."

Yan Huifeng shook his head.

"The bronze key is just a pretext."

"The real reason is..."

"The Dragon Group's intelligence network in Japan has had a major problem, and someone needs to handle it."

"Qingwu is going there ostensibly to chase the key, but actually to reorganize the intelligence network."

Ye Chen's brow furrowed slightly. "There's a problem with the intelligence network?"

"Yes."

Yan Huifeng didn't go into detail. "Qingwu will tell you the specifics once you're there. I'm looking for you because I want to ask a favor."

"Please say it."

Yan Huifeng looked at Ye Chen and said word for word, "Protect her well."

The room fell silent.

Yan Qingwu's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

Then.

She took a sip as if nothing had happened.

Ye Chen looked at Yan Qingwu, then turned back and nodded seriously. "Don't worry, Uncle Yan. As long as I'm there, no one can hurt her."

Yan Huifeng looked at him, silent for two seconds, and then smiled.

"Good, I believe you."

He picked up the teacup and took another sip.

"The first thing is finished. Now for the second thing."

Ye Chen nodded. "Please."

Yan Huifeng looked at him and suddenly smiled, a smile with a bit of profound meaning.

"The second thing... is a private matter."

Ye Chen's heart skipped a beat, vaguely feeling something was wrong.

Sure enough.

Yan Huifeng put down the teacup, folded his hands on the table, and looked at Ye Chen with a smile.

"A-Chen, what do you think of our Qingwu?"

Ye Chen was stunned for a moment. "She's quite good."

"Good in what way?" Yan Huifeng pressed.

Ye Chen thought for a moment. "Capable, serious in her work, and good-looking..."

"Then do you like her?"

"Pfft—"

Yan Qingwu sprayed a mouthful of tea, coughing.

Ye Chen was also stunned, looking at Yan Huifeng in a daze.

Good grief!

This uncle couldn't be here to play matchmaker, could he?

However.

Yan Huifeng remained calm, looking at the two with a smile.

Yan Qingwu coughed for a while before recovering, her face flushed red, though it was unclear if it was from coughing or embarrassment.

"Dad! What nonsense are you talking about?"

Yan Huifeng looked at her, looking innocent. "What did I say? I'm just asking."

"Is that how you ask?" Yan Qingwu wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Yan Huifeng sighed and spoke earnestly.

"Qingwu, you're not a child anymore. You'll be twenty-five after the New Year."

"When your mother was your age, you were already old enough to go buy soy sauce."

Yan Qingwu's face turned even redder. "Dad! Is now the time to talk about this?"

"Why isn't it the time?"

Yan Huifeng was righteous.

"Since you came to Xiamen City, your mother and I can only wait for you to return in Beijing. We probably don't see each other more than a few times a year."

"Today we finally have a chance, shouldn't I ask?"

Yan Qingwu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Dad, we're not in that kind of relationship."

"You're not now, but you can be later."

"Between people, there always needs to be some breaking-in!"

"Won't things be fine once you've smoothed things out?"

Yan Huifeng looked at Ye Chen with a smile. "A-Chen, what do you think?"