342: Chapter 341 Heading to the Airport

Meanwhile, at Villa No. 19 in Tangong.

In the second-floor bedroom, Si Yao was 'admiring' her outfit for the day in the full-length mirror.

Her usual cool, edgy, androgynous style was completely gone. She wore a casual black skirt that reached just above her knees, paired with a pure white T-shirt. A wig rested on her head, with long black hair draped over her shoulders, the tips naturally curled.

She checked herself out three times, pinched the hem of her skirt to spin a small circle, sighed helplessly, and then turned to head downstairs.

In the first-floor dining room, Si Wenruo was fussing with the plates.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up as he shouted, "Finally down! If you didn't get up, I was about to go up and call you. Come over quickly, a delicate breakfast prepared by your brother personally! Quickly see if you like it!"

As he spoke, he spread his arms in a "behold" gesture. The moment he looked up, his eyes went wide.

"Uh..."

Si Wenruo stood up straight with a "whoosh," walked quickly over to Si Yao, circled her twice, and clicked his tongue in amazement. "Oh my! Did the sun rise from the west today? Yaoyao, how long has it been since you wore a skirt? Is this the power of love?"

"Pfft, can't be bothered with you." Si Yao rolled her eyes at him and walked past him to the dining table. Seeing the heart-shaped fried egg and carved tomatoes on the plate, she frowned.

"Flashy and useless, Si Wenruo, are you bored? Just making all this useless stuff." She grabbed a piece of toasted, fragrant bread, stuffed it into her mouth, and turned to grab her bag by the door.

Seeing her about to leave, Si Wenruo, who was just about to sit down, stood back up and hurriedly shouted, "Hey! Where are you going? Isn't the flight scheduled for 9:30? It's only 8:00, no need to go so early, right?"

"None of your business." Si Yao didn't even look back. "By the way, buy your own ticket back to the Southwest."

"Wait, why?" Si Wenruo panicked.

"No reason, I just feel like it." Si Yao opened the door, then turned back to add, "Clean up the dining room after you finish eating! If I see a mess when I get back, you know what I'm capable of."

Before she finished speaking, the door had already slammed shut with a "bang."

Immediately after, the engine roar of a SSC Tuatara came from outside. With a "vroom," the wine-red supercar streaked away like a blur, disappearing from Si Wenruo's expectant gaze.

Si Wenruo rolled his eyes and sat back down at the dining table with a helpless expression.

Looking at the breakfast he had painstakingly prepared, he felt like slapping himself twice.

But thinking about it, what choice did he have? This was his own sister. If his own body wasn't so useless, his sister wouldn't have had to inherit the family Cultivation Technique and turn into the person she was today.

Thinking of this, he picked up his fork and viciously stabbed the fried egg. Chewing, he opened the ticket booking app on his phone—great, he had to pay for his own plane ticket again.

Why is my life so miserable!

At this moment, it was the Monday morning rush hour, and the road was already jammed with a long line of cars.

However, as soon as Si Yao's supercar turned onto the main road, the surrounding cars seemed to have a tacit understanding and automatically gave way.

As the wine-red car drove by, a "vacuum zone" opened up around it; even cars trying to cut in didn't dare to get close.

In less than twenty minutes, the car pulled up in front of Xing Zhenkun's Wanhao Car Dealership.

Brother Kun had arrived at the dealership as promised and was already waiting at the entrance.

Seeing Si Yao arrive, Xing Zhenkun immediately stepped forward to open the car door for her, his face full of smiles.

As soon as she got out, Si Yao tossed the car keys to Xing Zhenkun and said, "Brother Kun, I'm leaving the car to you. Make sure you modify it well for me."

"Rest assured! Next time you come back, I guarantee the modifications will be eye-catching." Xing Zhenkun took the keys, but his eyes were glued to Si Yao and couldn't move away. "Hey, Yaoyao, you're not acting like yourself today! This outfit, this temperament—totally goddess vibes!"

"Sigh," Si Yao sighed, reached out to tug at her skirt hem with a look of disdain. "Brother Kun, stop teasing me. I don't want this either. It's just that the old man called last night and said my grandfather is also going to the airport to pick someone up, so he told me to dress properly so I don't raise his blood pressure or make him sick with anger."

"Hahaha, so that's how it is." Xing Zhenkun laughed out loud and asked, "Have you had breakfast? Want to eat something together?"

"I've already eaten. I think it's about time, Brother Kun, if you're free, just take me to the airport."

"Sure!" Xing Zhenkun pressed his car key, and the lights of the rolls-royce cullinan in the distance flashed twice.

He walked quickly to open the car door, bowed in a "please" gesture, and playfully acted like a gentleman: "Goddess Yaoyao, please get in."

Si Yao gave a wry smile, shook her head helplessly, and bent down to sit in the passenger seat.

As soon as the car drove off, Si Yao turned her head and asked, "Brother Kun, how is your progress with Chu Muyun? Have you scored yet?"

Xing Zhenkun's grip on the steering wheel faltered, and he was amused but helpless: "Wait, Yaoyao, you're dressed like that today, is it appropriate to say such things?"

"Avoiding the question." Si Yao raised an eyebrow. "I don't need you to tell me, I know it definitely didn't happen. Otherwise, you would have already been showing off your romance in front of me without me even asking. But seriously, are you for real this time? I've known you for so long, and I've never seen you put so much heart into any woman."

Xing Zhenkun sighed, his eyes softening: "How should I put it... There's a line of poetry that says 'Love arises from nowhere, yet runs deep.' I feel that's how I feel about Mu Yun."

"Hahaha, Brother Kun can recite poetry now?" Si Yao laughed out loud. "And what about her feelings for you? Is she interested?"

Xing Zhenkun shrugged: "That you'd have to ask her. But I've decided, from now on, I'll just hang around her whenever I'm free, and strictly prevent other men from getting close—of course, excluding the ones who aren't as good as me and pose no threat. After all, love also needs space."

"Hypocritical..." Si Yao retorted mercilessly.

"Hey! How is that hypocritical? That's called deep affection!" Xing Zhenkun argued, unconvinced. "Don't tell me you wouldn't mind if you saw someone you liked getting close to someone else?"

Si Yao spread her hands, looking indifferent: "I wouldn't mind. Love is something that can be faked anyway. Love or not, it makes no difference to me, as long as I'm happy in the moment."

"Damn, Yaoyao, your view on love is really something else." Xing Zhenkun clicked his tongue.

"It's the truth." Si Yao leaned back against the chair. "For example: You love me, that's your business; I love you, that's my business."

"If loving you makes me happy, I will pursue you relentlessly. Even if you don't agree, I won't dwell on it; at least I had my fun. But if you love me and I don't love you, no matter how hard you pursue, it's useless—you get tired, and I get annoyed, why bother? A person only lives for about thirty thousand days; isn't it better to find more happy things to do? Why insist on pursuing something that doesn't belong to you!"

"Profound! Looks like I'll have to call you the Great Master of Love from now on." Xing Zhenkun laughed. "But, I'm still quite happy pursuing Mu Yun."

"Mm, as long as you're happy." Si Yao curled her lips. "Actually, being a simp isn't all that bad; at least there's a chance to lick the goddess."

"Oh, damn! Who's a simp?" Xing Zhenkun panicked. "Yaoyao, if you talk nonsense again, I'll modify your car until even your own mother won't recognize it!"

"Hahaha, just kidding. Don't get angry..." Si Yao laughed until she was doubled over, and the atmosphere in the car suddenly lightened up.

Unlike the relaxed atmosphere with Si Yao and Xing Zhenkun, inside the director's office at the Modu Public Security Bureau, the air was thick with gravity.

The desk in front of Ye Qingcheng was already in complete disarray. On her open notebook, blue and black handwriting was densely packed together, with annotations filling even the margins of the pages. Beside it lay three or four empty energy drink cans scattered about, with brown liquid still leaving residue at the bottom of the cans.

Her fingertips pressed against her aching temples, rubbing hard, before she slowly took the last cassette tape out of the player. A hint of exhaustion flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by excitement.

This all-night battle had yielded far more than she had expected.

Just counting the people recorded in these tapes who bribed Li Bing, there were a full 15 of them.

From officials with sway in Modu to heads of major enterprises controlling millions in turnover, the list, when spread out, could almost cover half a desk.

What surprised her even more was a recording of a call between Li Bing and a leader at the General Bureau; the depth of the implications sent a chill down her spine.

But the most crucial part was a conversation between Li Bing and Boss Lei of Hongmen.

The recording began with the voice of Boss Lei of Hongmen, dripping with deliberately softened obsequiousness, like a needle wrapped in sugar: "Congratulations, Director Li, on your promotion to the head of the Modu Branch. I hope you'll look after us in the future."

"Haha!" Li Bing's laughter immediately followed, his smugness practically spilling out of the recording. "You're too kind, Boss Lei. It's just a small post; you didn't have to go out of your way to call."

"It's only right; we're friends, after all." Boss Lei paused, then shifted the topic, his probing tone impossible to hide. "To congratulate you on your promotion, I've prepared a small gift. I wonder if Director Li has received it yet?"

"A gift?" Li Bing's voice was instantly filled with confusion, as if he had no recollection of it.

"The one sent by courier this morning. I figured you must be busy with your new appointment and haven't opened it yet," Boss Lei chuckled.

"Oh, oh! I remember now!" Li Bing's voice sounded suddenly enlightened. "I did receive an anonymous package this morning. Hold on a moment, let me open it and take a look."

Immediately after, a "rip" sound came from the recording as the courier packaging was torn open, followed by the rustling of paper.

Not long after, Li Bing's voice sounded again, with a hint of feigned surprise and hesitation: "Boss Lei, why is there a bank card in here? And the name on it isn't mine. Did the courier send it to the wrong person?"

"Oh! Look at my brain!" Boss Lei's voice immediately carried an apology, though there wasn't a shred of sincerity in it. "You're right, I must have gotten it mixed up when I had someone send it."

"No problem. Just give me an address later, and I'll have someone send it back to you," Li Bing replied readily.

"That's unfortunate; I already left Modu last night." Boss Lei paused, as if considering how to make it sound natural. "How about this? I don't need the card for now, so could you hold onto it for me, Director Li? Please don't mind the trouble. I opened this card when I was abroad in Switzerland last time. The password is the last six digits of the card number. Could you help me check the balance later? Those foreigners are full of tricks, and I'm afraid they might be secretly deducting my money."

There was a silence of a few seconds in the recording before Li Bing's voice was heard: "This... alright then. I'll keep it safe for you for now. I'll return it to you next time we meet."

"Then many thanks, Director Li!" Boss Lei's voice brightened immediately. "Next time, next time I will definitely make up for it with a big gift!"

"Ahem, we're all friends here, no need to talk about gifts." Li Bing's voice sounded smug and satisfied. "In the future, if you need anything, Boss Lei, just say the word. As long as it's within my power, I'll certainly help."

"Director Li is truly straightforward! I won't disturb your work anymore. If I have the chance to come to Modu again in the future, we brothers will have a few drinks together."

"Easily done, easily done."

The recording ended abruptly there.

Ye Qingcheng, however, stared at the player, her brows knitting tighter and tighter—"If I have the chance to come to Modu again"? She flipped out her notebook and checked the date on the tape; it was when Li Bing was promoted to the head of the branch, which was four years ago.

In other words, Boss Lei of Hongmen had been to Modu four years ago.

She leaned back in her chair, her mind racing.

Previously, Huang Hansheng confessed that he had sent his son to Australia six years ago and was set up by Boss Lei to get involved with Hongmen five years ago.

Logically, when Boss Lei came to Modu, there was no reason for him not to seek out Huang Hansheng, his "own man," yet Huang Hansheng hadn't mentioned this at all during the interrogation!

Ye Qingcheng tapped her fingertips against her notebook, her gaze becoming resolute—it seemed she had to re-interrogate Huang Hansheng later; this clue absolutely could not be missed.

Afterward, Ye Qingcheng categorized the tapes into different file bags and meticulously listed on her notebook the names of those requiring investigation assistance from the Modu Public Security Bureau, noting the direction of inquiry next to each name.

After finishing this, she picked up her phone and dialed Han Hao's number, giving him detailed instructions on tracking Li Bing's Swiss bank card.

As for the recording of the conversation with the General Bureau leader, Ye Qingcheng put it away separately, thinking it would be safer to hand it over to Director Xu personally when she returned to Beijing.

Having completed all this, Ye Qingcheng finally stood up from the sofa and stretched.

With a "crack," a numb, aching pain shot through her waist, and she couldn't help but frown—she hadn't moved all night, and her body was nearly stiff.

She rubbed her waist and was just about to pour a cup of hot water when her phone suddenly rang.

The name "Ye Ziming" flashed on the screen. Ye Qingcheng smiled helplessly, the coldness in her eyes softening instantly, and she pressed the answer button.

"Sister! Where are you? Jianan has already picked me up, and we're getting ready to head to the airport!" Ye Ziming's voice was full of joy, with a hint of childlike excitement.

Ye Qingcheng looked up at her watch and realized the hands were already pointing past eight. She froze for a moment, then said, "I am still at the Modu Public Security Bureau."

"Should we come and pick you up? Aren't you going to the airport today too?"

"No need. I'll arrange for someone else to handle the airport transfer." She paused and urged, "Be safe on the road. Tell Jianan that someone will contact her when you arrive in the Southwest."

"Oh, alright then."

Immediately after, Shen Jianan's voice came through the phone, sounding a bit worried: "Sister Qingcheng, have you not rested all night? Your voice sounds a bit tired."

"Mm, it's fine, I can handle an all-nighter." Ye Qingcheng's tone softened. "Look after Ziming for me."

"Don't worry, I will protect him well!"

"That's good. It's getting late, hurry off now, and call me when you arrive."

After hanging up, Ye Ziming said somewhat unconvinced: "Jianan, don't listen to my sister. I've been practicing the 'Basic Body Forging Art' taught to me by Young Master Qin for the past few days, and I feel my strength has improved quite a bit! Don't worry, I'll definitely be able to protect you on this trip to the Southwest!"

Shen Jianan glanced at Ye Ziming in the passenger seat and looked him up and down—indeed, his demeanor seemed to have changed slightly; he didn't look like the pampered young master he was when they first met.

However, regarding Ye Ziming protecting her, she couldn't help but smile. Putting on a look of disbelief, she nodded: "Alright, then I'll be counting on you, Young Master Ye."

How could Ye Ziming not tell that Shen Jianan was mocking him? But he wasn't annoyed; instead, he went along with it, patted his chest, and promised earnestly: "Jianan, don't worry! Whoever it is, if they want to bully you, they'll have to step over my body first! I absolutely won't let you suffer any grievances!"

"Alright, then sit tight, I'm turning!" Just as Shen Jianan finished speaking, she jerked the steering wheel.

The car swerved at high speed with a "whoosh," followed by a dull "thud" as Ye Ziming's head slammed solidly against the car door.

"Ouch!" Ye Ziming cried out in pain, hurriedly clutching his head, and looked at Shen Jianan aggrievedly. "Jianan, what are you doing? That's so dangerous."

Shen Jianan raised an eyebrow, a smile curling at the corner of her lips: "I just wanted to test Young Master Ye's reaction speed. It seems the 'Basic Body Forging Art' still needs more practice."

Ye Ziming: "..."