344: Chapter 343 Various Forces Surge Towards the Southwest (Part 1)

Meanwhile, in the underground parking lot of Shenjiangwan Community, Qin Yi was saying goodbye to his parents and a group of friends and family.

"Dad, Mom, you guys should go back. I'll call you when I arrive in the Southwest." He waved his hand, turned around, and got into the car with Xu Qian. The engine started, and the car slowly drove out of the parking lot.

The road was relatively smooth. Qin Yi gripped the steering wheel, tilted his head, and said to Xu Qian in the passenger seat, "Qianqian, Second Brother Xu Chao should be returning to Modu in the next two days. Please take care of him and Fatty when the time comes. If it's inconvenient for the three of them to live in one house, just take him to see other houses. Let him live in whichever one he likes. Also, regarding President Xu, we previously promised him that the employees' salary cards for our company would be handled through him. Now that the recruitment for both companies is almost finished, let President Xu arrange the salary card matters."

"Mm, don't worry, I'll keep that in mind. After I get back from the airport, I will organize the employees and contact President Xu." Xu Qian nodded, responding crisply.

"Thank you for your hard work. While I'm away, I'll have to rely on you for company matters." Qin Yi's tone carried a hint of apology.

"I'm not afraid of hard work." Xu Qian shook her head, but her voice lowered, carrying a hint of uncertainty. "It's just that I suddenly feel the responsibility on my shoulders is very heavy. I'm afraid I won't do well and will cause you trouble."

"Don't think too much." Qin Yi freed one hand and gently patted the back of her hand, his tone firm. "Just go ahead and do it. Even if problems arise, I'm still here to hold them up. If you encounter difficult matters and can't make a decision, and you can't reach me, then look for Brother Kun. He is also a company shareholder now, and with his many years of business experience, he has a sharp eye and can help you vet things."

Just as he was speaking, Qin Yi's phone suddenly rang.

Both of them looked over, and they saw the three characters "Ye Qingcheng" on the screen, which were particularly conspicuous.

Xu Qian's eyes dimmed slightly. She didn't speak, silently turning her head to look out the window, but her fingertips tightened quietly. It wasn't that she didn't know about the entanglements between Ye Qingcheng and Qin Yi; she remembered the abnormal appearance Qin Yi had yesterday clearly even now.

Qin Yi caught a glimpse of Xu Qian's reaction and muttered to himself—why did this woman suddenly call? Could it be that she wanted to bring up the fact that she forcibly kissed him yesterday? If this were mentioned in front of Xu Qian, it would be too awkward.

However, if he didn't answer, wouldn't it make it seem more like he had a guilty conscience? Qin Yi hesitated for a moment, then pressed the speakerphone, praying incessantly in his heart: Don't mention that, please don't mention it!

"Hello, Captain Ye." Qin Yi tried to keep his voice as calm as possible.

"Mm." Ye Qingcheng's cold voice came from the other end of the phone, showing no ripples. "Qin Yi, have you left for the airport yet?"

"I left about ten minutes ago. The road is quite smooth." Qin Yi's voice came through the receiver, carrying a deliberate ease, but he asked tentatively, "Is there something you need to instruct me on, Captain Ye?"

Ye Qingcheng naturally heard the tentative meaning in Qin Yi's words. She let out a helpless, bitter laugh, and after a pause, she spoke, "Qin Yi, don't be nervous. I didn't call for any other reason… As for yesterday's matter, just pretend it never happened."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a tightness in her chest—that phrase "pretend it never happened" felt like she was cutting her own heart.

The palpitation from when she forcibly kissed him yesterday was still lingering on her lips and teeth, and her heart had been beating so fast it felt like it would explode when she saw his shocked expression. But now, she could only use "pretend it never happened" to mask all her emotions.

Qin Yi was stunned at first, and then he inexplicably felt relieved. Asking himself, Qin Yi did have a good impression of Ye Qingcheng, but that kind of impression was more out of appreciation.

Moreover, he already had Xu Qian by his side. For other women, unless it was to complete the favorability task given by the System, Qin Yi instinctively wanted to avoid them.

"Uh, haha, okay, I'll listen to Captain Ye." Qin Yi came back to his senses, laughed foolishly, and then returned to the previous question. "Then why did Captain Ye call? Is there something else?"

Ye Qingcheng's heart sank again, but she forced herself to regain her composure, her tone becoming serious instantly. "It's about Hongmen. I just received news that, including Zhang Yu, we have already pulled out all the hidden stakes that Hongmen planted in the Dragon Kingdom. Given Hongmen's ruthless nature, there will definitely be a counterattack soon. You must be careful when you go to the Southwest."

When she said "be careful," her voice softened involuntarily, carrying a hint of unhideable worry. "Zhang Yu alone was already very difficult to deal with. The next people Hongmen sends will only be more powerful."

She paused and deliberately emphasized her tone, as if she were admonishing him, or perhaps convincing herself. "In all your actions in the Southwest, you must put your own safety first. If you really encounter danger, the Southwest Branch of the Security Bureau will cooperate with you. Don't try to hold on by force."

Hearing "Zhang Yu" and "Hongmen," Qin Yi immediately felt nervous—this matter couldn't let Xu Qian know too much, lest she worry.

So, taking advantage of the gap at a red light, Qin Yi quickly turned off the speakerphone and held the phone to his ear. "I understand, Captain Ye, we will be careful. By the way, regarding Zhao Lintai, has your Security Bureau reached a conclusion?"

"Qin Yi, I know what you want to do. But as of now, we haven't found out whether the relationship between Hongmen and Zhao Lintai is purely based on interests or if there is a deeper connection. So if possible, I hope you can hand Zhao Lintai over to the Security Bureau to handle, and don't take risks yourself."

Hearing Ye Qingcheng say this, Qin Yi also understood the Security Bureau's meaning. Thinking about it, it made sense; after all, Zhao Lintai had the Zhao family behind him, and it was only natural that they wouldn't dare to take measures against him lightly.

"Haha, I understand what you mean. I will consider it accordingly." Qin Yi did not respond directly, only giving a light laugh, but it was enough for Ye Qingcheng to hear his dissatisfaction.

After a pause, Qin Yi slowly reminded her, "However, Captain Ye, have you ever thought that now that Hongmen's hidden stakes are being pulled out one by one, as long as they aren't stupid, they should have guessed that Zhao Lintai has already been exposed."

"What do you mean?" Ye Qingcheng asked vigilantly.

"Nothing, I just think that based on Hongmen's previous style of operation, they might send someone to assassinate Zhao Lintai." Qin Yi's voice had a bit more analytical calmness. "After all, none of us knows how much Zhao Lintai has participated in or how many secrets he knows. If I were the boss of Hongmen, in order not to expose myself, I would also eliminate those who are threats one by one—only in this way can the clues for the Dragon Kingdom to investigate Hongmen be cut off."

"What you said makes sense." Ye Qingcheng's voice carried a bit more agreement. "And, regarding Zhao Lintai, I have already let people from the Southwest Branch watch him. Once someone from Hongmen approaches, they will report it immediately. We have done what we should do. Even if something happens to Zhao Lintai in the end, the responsibility won't fall on you."

"Then I hope he has great fortune," Qin Yi said lightly.

"Mm. There is one more thing I want to ask of you." Ye Qingcheng's voice suddenly softened, carrying a hint of pleading.

"Go ahead." Qin Yi's heart stirred, guessing what she was about to say.

"Help me take good care of Ziming." Ye Qingcheng's voice was full of concern. "He is my only younger brother, and I don't want anything to happen to him."

"Don't worry." Qin Yi's tone became solemn instantly. "Ziming is also my good brother. Even if you didn't ask, I would protect him."

"Mm, you also need to be careful. Have a safe trip." Having said that, Ye Qingcheng hung up the phone. Until the sound of the call ending came to her ear, Ye Qingcheng murmured to herself, "I also don't want anything to happen to you… I really don't."

On this side, just as Qin Yi put down his phone, Xu Qian beside him turned her head impatiently.

Her eye sockets were already red, and her hands, which were originally resting on her knees, were clutching the corners of her clothes tightly. Her voice was even trembling slightly. "Young Master Qin, tell me the truth, is there really no danger for you going to the Southwest this time? Is that person named Zhang Yu the one who caused your accident yesterday?"

Just now, when Ye Qingcheng mentioned "Zhang Yu" and "Hongmen," her heart had been clutching.

Although Qin Yi had turned off the speakerphone, the scattered words still made her unable to stop her wild imagination. She had seen faint bloodstains on Qin Yi's clothes when he returned yesterday. Although he said it was accidentally brushed against, she couldn't set her mind at ease no matter what.

Qin Yi looked at her red-rimmed eyes, and his heart softened. He freed one hand and gently placed it on the back of her hand—her hand was ice-cold and still trembling slightly.

Qin Yi comforted her gently: "Don't let your imagination run wild. That person yesterday was indeed Zhang Yu, but he has already been locked up by the Security Bureau and can't cause any trouble. There is no danger in going to the Southwest this time. Captain Ye just wanted me to look after her younger brother more; there's nothing else."

"Then what about Hongmen?" Xu Qian was still worried, her voice carrying a clear sob, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I just searched on my phone; Hongmen is the largest underground organization on the Blue Star, and its members are all over the Blue Star! That Zhang Yu is a member of Hongmen. You helped the Security Bureau catch him, how could they not retaliate against you? Young Master Qin, why don't we not go to the Southwest? Tell Young Miss Si Yao that you won't act as her boyfriend anymore, okay?"

Looking at Xu Qian who was so anxious she was about to cry, Qin Yi felt both warm and sour in his heart. He gently patted the back of her hand, his tone firm yet gentle: "Qianqian, don't worry, I promise you that when I return from the Southwest, I will definitely stand in front of you safe and sound. Besides, Si Yao is a member of the Supercar Club, a friend of Brother Kun, and now a shareholder of the company. I've already promised her, how can I go back on my word temporarily? Trust me, nothing will happen."

He knew that his words might not completely dispel Xu Qian's concerns, but what he could do was give her a solemn promise.

Xu Qian wanted to say something more, but looking at Qin Yi's firm gaze, the words that reached her lips were swallowed back in the end.

She nodded heavily, and tears finally couldn't help but slide down, her voice carrying a sob: "Then you must promise me, you must return safe and sound."

"I will." Qin Yi promised solemnly.

And so, three cars set off from different directions in Modu, carrying their respective concerns, driving towards the airport.