Chapter Fifty-Seven: Invitation

As they reached the entrance of the teahouse and basked in the bright sunlight, both men stretched lazily. However, Qin Yang, ever vigilant, quickly noticed that more people had appeared nearby. These individuals seemed to be watching the teahouse, either deliberately or covertly, as if protecting someone in secret. Thanks to his experience in the underworld and Han Mufeng’s training, Qin Yang’s awareness had grown sharper. Though these people hid themselves well, they could not escape his notice.

Huang Zequn, oblivious to all this, lit a cigarette and said, “So, what’s your plan? Still going to play assistant to that stunning beauty of yours? I mean, you’re going pretty far just to pursue a woman, aren’t you? If you really just want to have some fun, just go for it. Sure, it’s a one-off, but it works. And you’ve nearly perfected this tactic—why waste all this effort?”

“Get lost,” Qin Yang shot him a glare. “Don’t compare me to you and your shameless ways.”

“Hey!” Huang Zequn cursed. “I shell out the cash for my fun—that’s not the same as you, is it? At least I actually pay for what I get. You? You mess around, don’t spend a dime, and then just walk away. Even I look down on that kind of behavior.”

“Old Huang, you don’t understand. After that brush with death, I can’t be bothered with casual affairs. If I’m really going to be with a woman, it has to be someone I truly like, and who genuinely likes me in return.” Qin Yang took the cigarette from Huang Zequn’s hand and lit one for himself. “She doesn’t have to be stunning, but she has to truly move my heart.”

“Like Qi Mengwei?” Huang Zequn sneered.

Qin Yang rolled his eyes. “Is it really necessary to bring her up every time? Could you die if you didn’t mention her?”

Huang Zequn shrugged, flicked his cigarette butt away, and said, “Whenever you talk like this, it sounds so fake coming from you. But to be honest, I don’t know what Qi Mengwei thinks of you, but your feelings for her are plain as day. I was there when you put Yang Feng in his place, saw everything clearly. Don’t try to deny it—your gaze when you look at her is different from the way you look at other women. Even just saying this gives me goosebumps.” As he spoke, he scratched his arm and went on, “Love at first sight is a fairy tale, especially for people like us who play the game with power. We don’t believe in it, and we’re no good at it either. If you really like her, pursue her openly. Real feelings are built over time, not decided at first glance.”

“When did you become such an expert on relationships?” Qin Yang asked with a laugh.

Huang Zequn grinned slyly. “I’m just trying to change up my approach. I’ve realized that physical intimacy alone doesn’t satisfy me anymore. I want to try something on a spiritual level, so I’ve been learning a bit—applying it as I go.”

“Let’s go. I’ll think about it,” Qin Yang sighed.

“Qin Yang, now that you’re back, don’t let me bet on the wrong horse.” Huang Zequn looked at Qin Yang’s back and said, “I’ve staked my life on you. There must be someone supporting Yang Feng from behind—the kind of person who’d go to such lengths to harm you is no saint. Don’t let yourself be taken down again, or I’ll lose everything.”

Qin Yang smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. As he strolled back to the hotel, his mind was occupied with the question: Who was really behind Yang Feng, orchestrating his downfall? He racked his brain on the way but couldn’t figure it out—not because there were no clues, but because the notorious former playboy had made too many enemies. Anyone he had offended could be the mastermind. The thought left him frustrated by the endless troubles left behind by his predecessor.

“Even though I have the blessings of the underworld, I still don’t have much influence,” Qin Yang reflected as he lay on the sofa in his hotel room. “I have yet to accomplish anything significant. Never mind pleasing the old man—even I feel my progress is too slow. Maybe I should set up a shell company, dedicated to gathering all kinds of lost information. That way I could build my own power base. At the very least, when I face the representatives of Heaven, I won’t be at such a disadvantage in the outer conflict.”

“That’s it.” Qin Yang sprang up, excitement flashing in his eyes. “Not only could I absorb souls and fulfill their last wishes, but I could also reap real benefits, maybe even uncover more hidden truths. Then, even when facing the envoys of Heaven, I’d have a fighting chance.”

With this plan taking shape, Qin Yang started plotting out his own organization. It couldn’t be too ostentatious, or it would certainly attract the attention of Heaven’s agents. Anyone who could uncover the secrets of the dead would surely be someone marked by Hell, and he was far from matching their strength for now—especially since he had no idea how powerful this generation’s Heaven’s representatives had become.

“Most of the world’s secrets die with the dead, and I’m the one who can unlock them all. I’d be a fool not to use that to my advantage.”

“What are you thinking about?” Liu Molan’s voice sounded behind him. She set a glass of water next to Qin Yang and asked, “You look so serious—pondering life’s great mysteries?”

“I’m just thinking about how to marry a capable and beautiful wife like you,” Qin Yang replied with a mischievous grin. “The New Year’s almost here, and I’ll have to give my family some kind of answer. Otherwise, they’ll line up a whole slew of blind dates for me—so much trouble.”

“You sound like you’re thrilled at the prospect,” Liu Molan snorted. “Isn’t meeting beautiful women exactly what you want?”

“Come on, not every woman is as beautiful as you,” Qin Yang replied.

As the two bantered and flattered each other, there was suddenly a knock at the door. Qin Yang opened it to find a stranger, dressed as a hotel attendant, who handed him an invitation. “Good evening, sir. A lady asked me to deliver this to Miss Liu Molan.”

“That’s me.” Liu Molan took the invitation and thanked him. After closing the door, she opened the envelope and exclaimed in surprise.

“What is it?” Qin Yang asked.

Liu Molan handed him the card. “The Jianghai Business Club is holding its year-end gathering tonight—they actually invited me.”

Qin Yang was rather surprised. After all, this was a local event in Jianghai, and Liu Molan, coming from Haitian, shouldn’t have any standing to be invited. But the invitation was genuine. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Maybe it’s their custom—inviting a group of out-of-town businesspeople as guests, all in the name of boosting the national economy.”

“You actually believe that?” Liu Molan replied. “How many people in the business world truly care about the country’s economic development? Myself included—everyone’s just trying to maximize their own profits.”

“Well, since there’s an invitation to dinner, we should go,” Qin Yang said, tossing the card aside. “I was just wondering where to find something good for dinner, and worried about spending too much. If someone else is footing the bill, we’d be rude not to accept.”