184: Chapter 184 Sea Storm: The Final Chapter of Leaving the Country

The next morning.

Li Xin walked out of the hotel, and Sergei was already waiting quietly outside the door.

"Shall I take you to the airport?"

"Yes."

Getting into the car, Sergei started the engine immediately.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the gray-white light spilled onto the wet streets.

The rain had stopped, but the road was covered with water, and as the wheels rolled over it, they splashed up sprays of water.

The car drove all the way to the airport, and Li Xin pushed the door open and got out.

"Thanks! See you later."

Sergei waved his hand. "Come find me when you come back in the future."

"Okay."

Li Xin walked into the waiting hall, changed his boarding pass, and passed through security.

The security officer flipped through his backpack, glanced at him, and let him pass.

There were not many people in the waiting hall.

He found a corner to sit down, took out his phone, and sent a message to Qiang Zi: "Qiang Zi, I'm coming back today."

Qiang Zi replied in a second: "Really? What time do you arrive?"

"In the evening, I'll contact you when I arrive."

"Okay, I'll go pick you up."

"No need, I'll go back myself."

"That won't do, I must pick you up. Send me your flight number."

Li Xin sent the flight number over.

The broadcast sounded, signaling boarding.

He stood up and followed the crowd forward.

When the plane took off, he looked down through the porthole.

The silhouette of the city of Kaliningrad became smaller and smaller, and the sea was gray and hazy, extending to the horizon.

The plane passed through the clouds, and the ground was no longer visible.

He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

The experiences of these past days flashed through his mind: Yekaterinburg, Lake Baikal, Magadan, Chukotka, Cape Tolstoy, Kazan, and Kaliningrad.

He had been running for two months, from west to east, from south to north.

The dangers he encountered on the road—gunfights, avalanches, ice cracks, wolf packs, gangsters, military police, and thunderstorms.

Everything had already faded into the distance.

The plane landed in Moscow, and he waited for four hours.

The waiting hall was crowded and noisy.

He went to buy a cup of coffee, sat by the window, and watched the planes taking off and landing outside.

In the afternoon, he boarded the plane.

It was a flight to Shenzhen, lasting over nine hours.

By the time the plane took off, it was already dark.

Outside the porthole, it was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything.

He reclined his seat, covered himself with a blanket, and closed his eyes.

He couldn't sleep; his mind was a mess, thinking about this and that.

He thought of Li Jiayi, the pending matters at home, and the various investments.

Luo Maifa's wedding was about to be held.

Qiang Zi, Yang Hong, and Tie Zhu all appeared in his mind one by one.

His thoughts tossed and turned, and before he knew it, he fell asleep.

The next afternoon, the plane arrived over Shenzhen.

A light drizzle was falling from the sky, fine and dense, hitting the porthole.

Looking out through the porthole, the runway was wet, and the terminal building in the distance looked gray and hazy.

When the plane stopped steadily, he stood up, took his backpack, and left with the crowd.

Stepping into the hall, Qiang Zi was standing at the exit waiting.

With his neat short hair, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, he was holding a placard with "Brother Xin" written on it.

Seeing Li Xin, he put down the sign and walked up quickly.

"Brother Xin, you're finally back!"

"Haha, I'm here, let's go, let's get out of here first."

"Okay, the car is outside." Qiang Zi took the backpack and looked him up and down.

"You've lost weight."

"Have I?" Li Xin touched his cheek.

"Yes, there's no meat on your face anymore."

"Running around outside, I've been exercising a lot."

"Haha, let's go back and relax first; Tie Zhu has booked a place to welcome you tonight."

"That's great, you even arranged that? Let's go." Li Xin laughed.

The two walked out of the hall and sat into a brand-new black Maybach.

"Yo, Maybach, this car is nice. Did you just buy it?"

"Yes, picked it up last month. Xindun's business has expanded, and we often need to pick people up, so we bought one."

"How is the company?" Li Xin smiled and nodded.

"It's okay, Chen Hu is leading it for the time being; he has a lot of his own business, but he can take care of both sides."

"Is there enough manpower?"

"The team has now expanded to over fifty people, all kinds of equipment are in place, and the training ground has been completed. You can go and check it out when you have time."

"Not bad, not bad. It's finally on the right track; I'll go take a look when I have time."

Once on the highway, the car headed straight for the city center.

The windshield wipers moved back and forth, and the world outside was gray and hazy.

Qiang Zi turned his head to look at him and asked, "You've been running around outside for two months, what exactly have you been busy with?"

"Nothing major, just running around, talking about some cooperation."

"Running around for two months, it seems like it's not a small cooperation."

"It's alright, running back and forth between places delayed quite a few days."

The two chatted idly, and before long, they arrived at Shenzhen Bay No. 1 and parked the car.

"Tie Zhu booked it for seven o'clock tonight, at the old place for barbecue. You rest for a while, and I'll come to pick you up."

"The old place is still the best. I'll rest up first then."

Li Xin went upstairs and opened the door.

The room was still the same—clean, but cold and lonely.

The curtains were drawn, and the light was dim.

He put down his backpack, washed his face, and lay on the bed.

Li Jiayi sent a message: "I heard you're back?"

"Yes, I'm back, just got home."

"The documents for the family business are all ready. When you have time, come and sign them."

"How about tomorrow? I'm having a small gathering with the brothers tonight."

"Okay, see you at the company tomorrow then."

His phone vibrated again, and Luo Maifa sent a voice message in the group: "Brother Xin is back? Let's gather tonight? My treat!"

Li Xin replied: "Come to the old place tonight, Tie Zhu and the others just booked the spot."

"Okay, got it!"

He put his phone on the nightstand and closed his eyes.

The rain outside the window was still falling.

At seven o'clock in the evening, at the old barbecue place.

Everything was the same as before.

Qiang Zi, Yang Hong, Luo Maifa, and Tie Zhu were all there, all dressed casually, and you couldn't tell they were wealthy bosses at all.

Li Xin walked into the shop, and several people waved at him.

Luo Maifa was the first to speak: "Damn, you're finally back. We missed you to death."

Li Xin looked disgusted. "Go, go, go... No gay stuff here, go miss your little wife."

Yang Hong pushed up his glasses. "You've lost weight."

Li Xin looked at Yang Hong and smiled. "You all say that."

Tie Zhu grinned from the side. "Brother Xin, sit. I ordered your favorites: lamb skewers, oysters, and grilled kidneys."

"Haha, Tie Zhu is still the most reliable."

They sat down and sighed with emotion, and the boss lady brought over a plate of peanuts and glanced at Li Xin. "Handsome, you haven't been here for a long time."

"Yeah, I went on a long trip. Boss lady, you're getting more and more beautiful."

"Hehe~ Handsome knows how to talk. Since you're back, eat more today."

"Okay, I've been craving the taste here for a long time."

Luo Maifa opened the beer and handed a bottle to everyone.

"Come on, brothers, let's have a toast first."

They clinked glasses and took a gulp.

Luo Maifa put down the bottle and looked at Li Xin. "Where exactly did you go these past two months? You didn't even say anything in your messages."

"I went to Russia."

"Russia? What did you go there for?"

"Went there to talk about some business, and did some sightseeing while I was at it."

"Yo, you went to Russia to travel alone? That place is freezing; what's there to have fun with?"

Luo Maifa had a lewd smile on his face. "You didn't go there to find some foreign women, did you?"

Li Xin rolled his eyes. "I just went to look at the scenery and handle some business."

"Yo, yo, yo... We almost believed you, buddy."

Yang Hong interjected from the side. "Next time you go out, take someone with you. Running so far alone makes us worried."

"Okay, I'll take someone."

Tie Zhu held his cup, not saying anything, just smiling.

Qiang Zi was grilling skewers on the side, flipping the lamb on the rack. The flames flared up, making him squint.

"Brother Xin, Chen Hu told me about the security company. Do you really intend to expand overseas?"

"Yes, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa all have demand."

"Then you'll have to recruit a lot of people."

"No rush, one step at a time. Build the framework first, then recruit people slowly."

Luo Maifa chimed in from the side. "I don't understand what you guys are talking about. I just know that Brother Xin is back, and we have to drink more tonight."

"Drink."

They clinked glasses.

The barbecue was served plate by plate. Lamb skewers, oysters, grilled kidneys, chicken wings, chives, and eggplants. The table was full.

They chatted while eating. Luo Maifa talked the most, talking about his logistics company, his father's health, and his girlfriend—no, that's not right, his fiancée.

"The wedding is next month, you all have to come. If you don't, I'll break ties with you."

Yang Hong asked: "Where are you holding it?"

"Shenzhen, the hotel is booked, you guys have to come and be my groomsmen."

Tie Zhu laughed from the side. "Haha, then I have to give a red envelope."

"What red envelope? Just come. We're brothers, we don't do that."

Li Xin held his cup, didn't speak, and listened to them chat.

Halfway through the meal, Qiang Zi put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Xin.

"Brother Xin, are you still going away after you come back this time?"

"I have to go out again."

"Where to?"

"Going to India to look around."

Everyone looked at him.

Luo Maifa was the first to speak: "India? What are you going to India for?"

"Tourism."

"Are you addicted to traveling? Russia wasn't enough, and now you're going to India?"

Yang Hong pushed up his glasses. "It's chaotic there, be careful."

"I know."

Tie Zhu asked from the side: "Brother Xin, are you going alone?"

"Yes."

"You should take more people with you, just in case something happens, so you have some support."

Li Xin thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll take a few people then."

Qiang Zi said: "Brother Xin, how about I go with you?"

"You don't need to; I need you to stay here and keep an eye on the company. Just send a few people."

Qiang Zi didn't insist anymore.

By the time they dispersed, it was almost early morning.

Several people stood at the entrance of the barbecue shop; the streetlights were dim, and there was no one on the street.

Luo Maifa was drunk and was supported by Qiang Zi. Within a few minutes, their respective drivers arrived in luxury cars.

Qiang Zi helped Luo Maifa into the car and turned to look at Li Xin.

"Brother Xin, I'll take you back."

"No need, I'll go back myself, it's not far from here."

"That won't do, you've been drinking, I'll drop you off on the way."

"It's just a few steps away."

Qiang Zi ignored him and opened the car door.

Li Xin smiled helplessly and got into the car.

A few minutes later, the car stopped in the basement, and Qiang Zi said.

"Brother Xin, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it, go ahead."

"Chen Hu has been busy recruiting people lately. This batch of people is unusual; they all have a background in actual combat."

"I know, is there anything wrong with that?"

"No, I just feel, can we control those people? Will we be bitten back?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Since they can be recruited, we have the ability to handle them; they have their own tasks. You just need to be responsible for your company's business."

Qiang Zi was silent for a while.

"Okay, I won't ask anymore."

Li Xin patted his shoulder.

"Go back and rest early."

"Okay."

Li Xin got out of the car and went upstairs.

Opened the door, turned on the lights. The room was empty.

He took a shower and lay on the bed.

Not long after, Chen Hu sent a message: "Boss, everything in India is arranged. It's at the royal residence in Jaipur. When you arrive, the butler Surendra will come to pick you up."

"Good, thank you for your hard work."

"The guide has also been contacted, his name is Amit, he is a local cultural guide, he's tight-lipped and very reliable."

"Okay."

"The security team will enter the country in three batches, led by Liu Mo for the first batch, departing the day after tomorrow."

"After he arrives, he will first conduct an on-site investigation, fully grasp the situation around the castle, and ensure the safety of your itinerary."

"Good, such an arrangement is very thorough."

Li Xin put his phone on the nightstand.

He pulled the curtains shut.

He closed his eyes.

The rain outside the window was still falling.

He fell asleep quickly.