(8 Fresh Coins) Chapter 15 (Part 1) I'd Go Through Fire and Water for You
While getting the dishes, Xu Yi secretly dialed someone's number.
A few minutes later, Xu Yi's expression changed. The pleasant female voice on the other end told him that the number didn't exist. In fact, the owner of this number had spoken to him on the phone three days prior, spouting incoherent nonsense—the person had been drinking, and he'd assumed it was just drunken rambling. Could it be…?
"Ah Yi?"
Xu Qi's voice sounded from behind, startling Xu Yi. He quickly put away his phone, casually picked up his bowl and plate, turned around, and gave the man a rare, bright smile: "I haven't smelled such an enticing aroma in a long time."
"Really? So my cooking skills haven't deteriorated yet." Xu Qi smiled with delight, took the plate, pointed to the rice cooker, and said, "Go get some rice."
Xu Yi nodded in response and quickly turned to serve the rice. His expression and tone were normal, but his movements were a little stiff due to his ominous suspicion. Normally, Xu Qi might have noticed, but he was distracted by Si Qiang's matter and naturally failed to notice his unusual behavior.
Forcibly suppressing his anxiety, Xu Yi finally endured what should have been a delicious lunch. Leaving Xu Qi's private villa, Xu Yi drove slowly towards his and Su Xibai's home. He couldn't let Xu Qi suspect anything—at least not yet. A disconnected phone number wasn't enough to prove that something had definitely happened to Si Qiang, so he had to find out the truth first. If there was nothing wrong, letting his brother know would only cause more trouble. In any case, Xu Yi hoped that he was just overthinking things.
However, Xu Yi soon discovered that things seemed to be developing in the worst possible direction. That very evening, Xu Yi received news that the California Fuqing Gang had announced that Yao Jinghan would take over the entire organization and become its new chief representative. Meanwhile, the current successor, Si Qiang, had vanished without a trace within a single day.
Xu Yi's face turned pale. Needless to say, her brother must have known the news as well.
Thinking of this, he suddenly jumped up, grabbed Feng Chuyi's collar, and gritted his teeth as he asked, "Where is my brother?"
Feng Chu stared straight at him, his face showing a look of resignation: "Let's go."
"Who's with them?" Xu Yi's pupils contracted, and he tightened his grip.
"Wei... Lan." Feng Chuyi was having some difficulty breathing because of his grip, but he didn't dare to move and just responded cautiously.
Xu Yi paused, then slowly released him, muttering to herself, "Wei Lan? I guessed it too..."
Wei Lan, like Qiangwei, has always been one of Xu Qi's confidants, so it's no surprise that he's following Xu Qi this time. Wei Lan's abilities are undeniable, but his personality is a bit eccentric; he shouldn't cause any major problems.
California at this moment was a pot of boiling oil, seemingly calm on the surface but churning beneath, just waiting for someone to peel back the thin film. Although Si Qiang had only controlled the Fuqing Gang for two years, his pawns were scattered among various forces, not something Yao Jinghan could control in a short time. This was a golden opportunity—for many. As for those outside this pot of oil, they wisely stood by and watched, awaiting the final outcome.
Of course, the man who was frantically jumping into the oil pan at that moment had no intention of escaping unscathed. Xu Qi sat on the plane to California, his face calm, but his tightly clenched right fist betrayed his unease.
Sitting nearby, Wei Lan glanced at him and couldn't help but frown. This wasn't a good sign. They were going to fight a war without gunfire, and it wouldn't do for the person in charge to lose their composure first. Although he was also worried about Si Qiang's safety, he could at least maintain his normal intelligence. But the man beside him... that was another story.
With a silent sigh, Wei Lan stood up, quickly brewed a pot of tea, and brought it over.
"Young Master, have some water."
Xu Qi looked up at him. This was one of the few people he trusted. At this moment, the worry subtly present in the man's refined and handsome eyes touched his heart. It seemed that his condition was truly bad, to the point that the other person was so worried that they were determined to disrupt his current state. Yes, he was facing an unknown and dangerous situation, and in this state, it was clearly suicidal. Suppressing his unease, he reached out and took the cup from the other person's hand.
The warm tea soothed his clenched heart as it flowed down his throat. For the first time since receiving the news, he felt truly alive. His mind went completely blank; he acted purely on instinct. During his journey from home to the airport, he kept thinking about where that person was and how he needed to find him immediately.
He exhaled softly, and in the rising steam, Si Qiang's graceful figure seemed to appear before his eyes. Xu Qi squinted, his right hand resting on his left chest. There lay the wooden carving Si Qiang had made, feeling its uneven texture and the almost scorching heat—perhaps it was an illusion, perhaps not. He gripped the small piece tightly through his clothes and closed his aching eyelids.
Wei Lan lowered his eyes, bowed, and returned to his seat. He knew he should give Xu Qi some time, some time to process his emotions. An hour later, the man would have to bury these feelings deep inside—the situation they faced allowed no room for weakness or hesitation.
Author's Note:
The title is so funny! ORZ I'm terrible at naming things.
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