After finishing, I had the security guards release Dafei and signaled him that he could make a call.
With the restraint removed, Dafei didn't hesitate. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and skillfully dialed a number.
What was even more crucial was that he had the speakerphone turned on.
It was clear he wasn't bluffing; he truly had someone backing him.
After a brief ringtone, the moment the call connected, I heard a woman's voice on the other end.
"What is it?"
Judging by the voice, it was indeed Queen Bee Yu Shuang.
Upon hearing her, Dafei immediately spoke, "Boss Yu, the thing you asked me to do... it's leaked!"
"Leaked!?"
Although it was a rhetorical question, Yu Shuang didn't seem overly surprised.
It was as if she had already anticipated Dafei's potential slip-up.
Perhaps it was Yu Shuang's calm tone that gave Dafei a false sense of security, making him believe she could cover for him.
After a brief exchange, Dafei, no longer flustered from being suddenly apprehended, spoke in an orderly manner, "Boss Yu, it's like this..."
"I've been held by Chen Xiang, and now he wants to take revenge and chop off one of my hands and feet!"
"What do you think about this matter..."
Dafei didn't explicitly state the rest.
People who had reached his level weren't foolish; they knew what to say directly and what to imply.
Especially when facing someone superior, one had to maintain a balance.
Dafei first pointed out that he was acting on Yu Shuang's behalf, making it clear to us outsiders the cause and effect.
Then, he paused at the point where the matter had leaked, kicking the ball back to Yu Shuang.
After a moment of silent pause, Yu Shuang directly said, "Hand the phone over to Chen Xiang. I'll talk to him."
Hearing Yu Shuang's words, Dafei immediately handed the phone to me.
At the same time, a sinister smile appeared on his lips.
All intelligent people knew this was Yu Shuang's signal that she had officially taken over the responsibility.
If she had no intention of helping Dafei, or if she considered him a pawn, the script after her silence would likely have been her distancing herself and finding an excuse to hang up.
Silence spoke volumes.
It was evident that Yu Shuang had made her stance clear.
Taking the phone, I didn't engage in any pleasantries and got straight to the point, "I am Chen Xiang. What do you want to say?"
"Turn off the speakerphone!"
This was the first sentence Yu Shuang had spoken to me since our encounter in An Hai.
Before I could object, she continued, "Don't rush to refuse me! I believe there's no way you'd want a second person listening to our conversation."
Hearing this, I first let out a disdainful snort, then pressed the button to turn off the speakerphone and said in a deep voice, "What exactly do you want?"
"Heh heh!"
After a peculiar chuckle, Yu Shuang said in a light tone, "Apart from Ying Baolin, I'm now considered the second boss of Tiandu!"
"It's a very official reason for the second boss to test the strength of her manager... and it's also very reasonable, wouldn't you agree?"
"I didn't have Dafei set this up outside because I didn't want the venue to suffer any losses!"
"Let everyone go! As for Ying Baolin, I'll explain it to him personally."
Yu Shuang's casually spoken words instantly darkened my expression.
I knew she was playing games. Her request to turn off the speakerphone wasn't just to exchange pleasantries; she wanted to firmly control the negotiation.
So, I coldly retorted, "Stop playing these low-class tricks. If you don't give me a real reason, I'll expose everything that happened here to Boss Ying immediately!"
Hearing my extremely assertive tone, Yu Shuang chuckled after a brief silence, "Heh heh! Chen Xiang, do you think I don't know you joined Tiandu to investigate me and Yun Jin?"
"Don't tell me you genuinely believe that what you did at the Jin Chun Tea House was completely leak-proof?"
"To tell you the truth, the tea house owner leaked the information to me the very night you brought people to gather intel!"
"From his description of your appearance, I knew it was you who followed!"
Upon hearing this, I was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.
Honestly, I had considered the possibility of the tea house owner leaking information, but I never expected it to happen so quickly!
And the most crucial part was that he had leaked it proactively!
It was clear the tea house owner wanted to profit from both sides.
That scoundrel was a true opportunist.
Seeing my silence, Yu Shuang on the phone continued, "The content you heard through the eavesdropping device was exactly what I wanted you to hear."
"While you were looking for me, wasn't I also searching for you everywhere? I deliberately leaked that information to you because I wanted you to come to Tiandu!"
"Haven't you always wanted to have a fair showdown with me? I accept! Tonight... is my first move to counter you!"
"Let me tell you, Chen Xiang! For me, there's never been a concept of home turf or away turf!"
"See? I don't even need to make a move myself; there are a hundred ways to screw you over!"
"I know your true target is the Thousand Kings Token. Let me tell you... I know exactly where Yun Jin has hidden it!"
"This time, I'm not playing games with you!"
"As long as you help me with one thing, I'll tell you all the clues related to the Thousand Kings Token!"
"Don't even think about refusing me! If you dare to refuse, I'll reveal the news about the Thousand Kings Token to Ying Baolin!"
"The reason I've gotten involved with him is to prepare for any eventualities concerning that matter in advance."
"If Ying Baolin were to find out about the Thousand Kings Token, whether you'd still have a chance or not... you better weigh it carefully!"
Hearing this, my face instantly turned ashen with anger, my eyes burning with fury, and my right hand holding the phone clenched so hard it creaked.
As expected!
Yu Shuang had indeed come for me, and she had me cornered once again.
Taking a deep breath and gradually calming my emotions, I said in a deep voice, "Can you tell me what this matter is?"
"Before, I couldn't tell you because I wasn't sure of your identity. Now I can tell you clearly: your master verbally agreed to this matter with me!"
"This is the real reason why I kept a close eye on you in An Hai."
"Since I couldn't find him, I had to find you."
"Now that your master is dead, even though it shouldn't be you, you're the only one left!"
"As for what this matter is, I'll find an opportunity to tell you once you agree!"
"Alright, now release the people first!"
"Oh, right! I don't want a repeat of the eavesdropping incident!"
"If I discover it again, it won't be such a harmless minor incident as tonight!"