45: Chapter 45 Before Entering
Four forty-five in the afternoon, Company Name Company.
The office area of the Planning Department was enveloped in that subtle atmosphere unique to the late afternoon, poised between busy and relaxed. Keyboard clicks were sparse; some people chatted in low voices, while others discussed where to go for dinner later.
Qiao Yichen saved the last document, glanced at the bottom right corner of the computer: 16:52, then shut down the screen.
He picked up his phone, tapped the pinned conversation, typed, and sent:
"Time is a bit tight, I need to leave first."
Almost the second the message was delivered, the status bar displayed "The other party is typing...", and immediately, a reply popped up:
"Okay."
He put away his phone, grabbed the black backpack from his workstation, and got up to leave.
Back at Ruiyuan Residential Area.
He quickly took off his outer layer and walked into the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of trickling water came from inside. The hot water washed away the fatigue of a day's work.
Ten minutes later, he walked out wiping his hair. He had changed into a clean, dark gray tracksuit, grabbed his phone, and left the room.
17:35, Third Floor, Yintai Mall, inside the 'Cloud Corridor' store.
The shop lights were soft, and a faint scent of fir floated in the air. Qiao Yichen pushed the door open. The middle-aged clerk immediately recognized him, a perfectly measured professional smile appearing on his face, bowing slightly: "Mr. Qiao, the clothes you ordered for alteration are ready."
The fitting room door was gently closed. The space was quiet, only the low sound of the central air conditioning blowing air.
Qiao Yichen pulled open the zipper of the dust cover. The navy blue suit with subtle texture, the light gray-blue shirt, the dark blue silk tie, and the black Oxford shoes were revealed in sequence.
The clothes had been meticulously ironed; every crease looked sharp and precise, emitting the very faint, crisp scent unique to high-end fabric softener.
He took off his tracksuit and put on the shirt.
The fabric felt cool and smooth to the touch, and the tailoring fit his shoulders and back perfectly.
Next were the suit trousers, which had excellent drape. When he put on the suit jacket, the shoulder line was firmly supported, and the waist was neatly cinched. The silhouette of the person in the mirror instantly became upright and restrained.
When tying the tie, his fingers were steady and skilled; a full Windsor knot formed under the collar.
Finally, there were the black Oxford shoes. The leather was soft, and the fit was just right.
He stood in front of the full-length mirror.
The person in the mirror looked unfamiliar and cold. The navy blue made his complexion appear even clearer, and the subtle texture flowed with a low-key, introverted luster under the light.
"It fits perfectly, Mr. Qiao." The clerk's voice sounded softly outside the door, carrying a hint of admiration, "The modification details Ms. Liu requested have been completely matched."
Qiao Yichen gave the reflection of himself one last scrutinizing look and nodded. He handed out the tracksuit he had changed out of: "Please keep this for me; I will retrieve it another day."
"Certainly, please rest assured."
He glanced at his phone: 17:48. The timing was just right.
...
17:54, Mall Entrance.
The clamor of the evening rush hour rushed toward him. Qiao Yichen stood by the roadside and selected the "Premium Ride" service on the ride-hailing APP.
Three minutes later, a black sedan with paint as smooth as a mirror silently slid to a stop in front of him.
The driver, dressed in a standard uniform and wearing white gloves, got out to open the rear door for him. The car interior was spotless, with only the faintest scent of leather and fragrance. Qiao Yichen sat inside and stated his destination: "West City, Jiayi Xuan Auction House."
"Yes, sir."
The car started smoothly, merging into the river of colorful lights that was the traffic.
...
The vehicle stopped on a secluded side road about a hundred meters from the destination. "Sir, it's just ahead; it's not good to park here for long," the driver explained.
"That's fine, thank you." Qiao Yichen got out of the car.
The surrounding environment suddenly became quiet. Tall, dense roadside trees cast continuous shadows in the twilight. The air was fresh and slightly cool, like a different world from the hustle and bustle of the city center. He straightened the hem of his suit and stepped forward.
The ancient-style building with white walls and black tiles of 'Jiayi Xuan' revealed its outline ahead. The lanterns under the eaves and the interior lights were already lit, appearing like a floating island emitting a gentle halo against the calm gray-blue sky.
Vehicles were arriving one after another in the driveway at the entrance.
Black sedans, dark SUVs, and occasionally low-slung, elegantly shaped luxury cars slid in like dark shadows. Security personnel, dressed in crisp uniforms, guided the vehicles to the dedicated parking area on the side with concise and professional gestures.
The people getting out of the cars were all impeccably dressed. Chinese-style cross-collar shirts, perfectly tailored custom suits, or cheongsams or dresses made of fine materials.
They walked with composure, conversing in low voices, their smiles reserved. The air carried the cool undertones of high-end perfume and the faint scent of mild cigars.
Qiao Yichen did not head for the main entrance but chose to stop under a sturdy, ancient ginkgo tree about twenty meters from the side door. This spot offered an open view, allowing him to clearly observe incoming traffic and pedestrians, yet it was discreet enough not to attract attention.
Just then, at the main entrance, a familiar figure was seeing a guest out.
It was Xu Wenyuan. He was still wearing a well-fitting dark suit, bowing respectfully as he said goodbye to a guest at the bottom of the steps. As he turned to go back in, his gaze habitually swept over the area in front of the door, and then, as if drawn by a magnet, it firmly fixed on Qiao Yichen under the ginkgo tree.
"Mr. Qiao?" He stopped three steps away, his tone carrying just the right amount of familiarity and inquiry, "What a coincidence, we meet again. What brings you here tonight...?"
"Manager Xu." Qiao Yichen nodded slightly, "Invited by a friend, just here to observe."
"I see." Xu Wenyuan's smile deepened, his eyes like the most precise scanner, sweeping over Qiao Yichen from head to toe—this attire was truly a world apart from the inquirer of last Saturday. "Then you are most welcome. It seems Mr. Qiao has found a suitable guide."
"I appreciate my friend's consideration." Qiao Yichen's reply was brief.
"Has your friend not arrived yet? Why don't you come in and sit for a while? Tea and refreshments are prepared inside." Xu Wenyuan extended an invitation smoothly.
"Thank you, I'll just wait here."
The moment the words fell—
Buzz.
His phone in his palm vibrated clearly.
Qiao Yichen looked down; the screen lit up, and the name "President Wu Guodong" jumped into view. He politely gestured to Xu Wenyuan: "Excuse me, I need to take a call."
"Please do." Xu Wenyuan immediately understood, his smile unchanging as he stepped back half a pace, naturally turning around, "Then I won't keep you. I look forward to seeing you in the venue later."
With that, he walked towards another distinguished-looking guest who had just arrived.
Qiao Yichen swiped to answer and brought the phone close to his ear: "President Wu."
In the receiver came President Wu Guodong's signature, steady, emotionless voice: "Arrived?"
"Arrived."
"Teacher Song's car will be here shortly, a black Audi A8, license plate ending in 668. When he gets out, go straight over."
"Understood."
"Mm."
The call ended cleanly and concisely, without a single superfluous word.
Qiao Yichen put away his phone and looked back toward the end of the road.
18:40.
The deep, rich roar of an engine came from far to near. A black Audi A8, with smooth body lines and paint reflecting a dim sheen under the streetlights, slid smoothly into the driveway in front of the 'Jiayi Xuan'.
License plate ending: 668.
The driver's side door opened silently. An elderly man, about sixty years old, dressed in a light gray stand-collar Chinese-style top, stepped out of the vehicle.
He was slender and upright, his full head of silver hair meticulously combed. His face was clear and sharp, his eyes broad, and he wore a pair of thin-rimmed glasses—the look of an old-school scholar.
After stepping out, the old man's gaze did not search around but fell directly onto Qiao Yichen under the ginkgo tree. A gentle smile appeared on his face, and he nodded lightly toward Qiao Yichen.
Qiao Yichen immediately stepped forward, stopping steadily about a meter in front of the old man, leaning slightly forward with a respectful posture: "Teacher Song, I apologize for the trouble."
A gentle smile appeared on the old man's face, and he nodded slightly toward him.
"Xiao Qiao, is that right?" Teacher Song spoke, his voice mild, possessing a rhythm that calmed the heart, "Guodong mentioned you to me. Let's go in."
The two turned and walked side by side toward the main gate of 'Jiayi Xuan'.
Xu Wenyuan seemed to have been paying attention to this area; he now hurried forward to the porch, his smile several degrees warmer and more attentive than when greeting any previous guest: "Teacher Song! Long time no see, your spirit is even better than before. Mr. Qiao, please come in; everything is prepared."
Teacher Song gave him a slight nod, but his pace neither quickened nor slowed, merely responding lightly: "Manager Xu, long time no see."
The three walked through the main gate one after another.
Instantly, the twilight, breeze, and dust of the outside world were completely shut out.
Warm, soft light enveloped them as if it had substance. Faint classical instrumental music flowed in the air, and the tip of the nose was graced by the light fragrance of aged timber and the pure essence of high-grade tea leaves.
The real night, at this moment, had just begun.