After getting into the car with Hao Qi, before the vehicle even started, the bodyguard in the driver's seat suddenly pointed out the window and said, "Brother Qi, Shen Mengqing is coming."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the car, including myself, turned their gaze towards the window.
There stood Shen Mengqing, dressed in a pink dress and black high heels, blocking the car from the side.
Although no one was with Shen Mengqing, the charming and graceful woman had abandoned her usual smiling demeanor. Her eyebrows were sharply furrowed, and the cold glint in her eyes was unconcealed.
Honestly, seeing Shen Mengqing standing alone in front of the car, a strange emotion unexpectedly arose within me.
Previously, regarding the Yang Yuan Yuan incident, Shen Mengqing had unhesitatingly and resolutely chosen to believe in friendship, which I felt made her somewhat biased. But seeing this scene now, I understood.
I hadn't expected that on the treacherous, ever-changing, murky, and muddy path of the Qianmen Landao, Shen Mengqing would still be guarding a sliver of purity in her heart.
She must be the type of person who judges matters, not people, and who would go to great lengths for a friendship she believes in.
In the Yang Yuan Yuan affair, Shen Mengqing had chosen to firmly believe the other party. Now, after falling out with me and seeing me in trouble, she had set aside our past grievances and come alone to save me!
This is a woman who prioritizes friendship above all else!
With Ying Baolin clearly intending to target and retaliate against me, and Yun Jin choosing to stay out of it, Shen Mengqing still stepped forward…
Just based on her attitude tonight, even if I were to completely fall out with Yun Jin and become adversaries in the future, I would never push things to the absolute extreme!
…
Upon seeing that it was Shen Mengqing blocking the front of the car, Hao Qi's brows immediately furrowed.
He got up from the passenger seat, opened the door, and then turned to another bodyguard, saying, "I'm going down for a bit. Keep an eye on him!"
With that, Hao Qi got out of the car.
After Hao Qi left, the bodyguard sitting in the back seat with me, fearing I might escape, directly signaled the driver to lock the car doors.
In fact, if I had chosen to have Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun continue to follow me after leaving Rui Chi, I would have already escaped by now.
But just as we were leaving the gate, I had already let them go ahead.
The reason for doing so was that I knew that even if Cheng Minglang possessed the ability to take down an enemy general amidst a thousand troops, he was no match for Ying Baolin, the undisputed overlord of the underground casinos in Wenzhou.
Moreover, I knew that as a professional gambler, the most crucial thing was not to expose all your cards to your opponent.
Having Cheng Minglang and the others follow discreetly from the shadows would definitely be more effective than having them follow me directly.
This was because I was certain that Ying Baolin was unlikely to harm me.
In other words, I was probably not in any mortal danger from this trip. If he truly wanted to deal with me, he wouldn't have sent people to Rui Chi to cause trouble first.
Therefore, I didn't stop the bodyguards from locking the car doors. Instead, I feigned helplessness, smiled slightly, and then turned my gaze back out the window…
Since the car windows were tightly shut and extremely loud dance music was playing inside, I couldn't hear what Hao Qi and Shen Mengqing were saying.
However, it was certain that their exchange and communication were not very pleasant.
I saw Hao Qi gesturing wildly, spitting as he unleashed a barrage of words at Shen Mengqing.
After what seemed like an eternity of rapid-fire talking…
It wasn't until Shen Mengqing's expression grew increasingly grim and she raised her hand, revealing a steel plate between her fingers, that Hao Qi stopped speaking in astonishment.
Although I didn't know the outcome of their negotiation, judging by Shen Mengqing's final demeanor, it seemed she hadn't succeeded in rescuing me from the car.
The negotiation ended, Shen Mengqing slightly raised her head and looked at me, who was sitting quietly in the car, with an extremely complex gaze.
After staring for a good minute or two, she finally withdrew her gaze, turned, and left.
After Shen Mengqing left, Hao Qi got back into the car.
Bang!
As the car door was violently pulled open from the outside, Hao Qi angrily cursed, "That damned bitch! She even dared to threaten me!"
"Sooner or later, I'll get my hands on her!"
With that, Hao Qi signaled the bodyguards to drive.
Less than five seconds after Hao Qi and I left, a Buick Enclave parked not far away followed closely behind…
After leaving Rui Chi, the car headed west along the main road.
About thirty minutes later.
On the outskirts of Wenzhou, in the affluent villa area of Heyuan.
The car stopped in front of a four- or five-story detached villa in the central area of Heyuan.
Judging by the location and design, this villa was likely the prime property within Heyuan.
High-end, grand, and sophisticated!
After parking and turning off the engine, I was escorted out of the car by two bodyguards, following Hao Qi towards the villa's main entrance.
As we reached the door, it suddenly opened from the inside.
An elder, in his early sixties, emerged from behind the door with a bodyguard.
Upon seeing the elder, Hao Qi's expression changed dramatically. He bowed forward and said with a smile, "It's a great sin for Steward Ling to personally open the door for me!"
"Please have a cigarette to relax, sir!"
With that, Hao Qi took out a pack of Black Lily cigarettes from his pocket, offered one to Steward Ling, and even lit it for him.
His demeanor was that of a complete sycophant!
I could clearly sense that Hao Qi was deliberately trying to curry favor with this elder, referred to as Steward Ling.
Although he was merely a steward, it seemed this old man held considerable authority.
Hearing this, Steward Ling did not decline. Smiling, he took a puff of his cigarette and led Hao Qi into the villa.
Upon entering the living room on the first floor of the villa, the two bodyguards who had been holding me on either side suddenly released me.
They likely assumed that once I reached this place, I would no longer be able to cause any trouble.
After lightly stretching my arms, and before the main host appeared, I took a moment to survey the hall.
All the furniture was made of huanghuali wood.
Huanghuali, scientifically known as Dalbergia odorifera, is one of China's precious rosewood species, and along with zitan, chicken-wing wood, and ironwood, it is considered one of the four great timbers.
To have all the furniture made of huanghuali wood was beyond simply being "rich."
Just as I was silently feeling shocked and amazed by Ying Baolin's "extravagance"…
I saw a middle-aged man, dressed in Montcler menswear, walking down from the second floor.
Judging by his appearance, the middle-aged man looked to be in his early forties. Although he was not tall, he appeared very energetic.
Most importantly, the middle-aged man was holding a newly released Vertu phone from Nokia.
Without a doubt, he must be the overlord of Wenzhou's underworld – Ying Baolin!