Shen Bao immediately frowned.
"You know this is their conspiracy?"
Looking at Ye Fan in surprise, Shen Bao's face was filled with disbelief.
Ye Fan smiled faintly, "They ask me for help for no reason; there must be a conspiracy. When something is abnormal, there must be a demon. With Lin Yue's and Zheng Zhiyuan's personalities, they would never let such a good thing benefit me for free."
Leaning back in his seat, Ye Fan stretched.
Having lived two lives, if he couldn't see through such a small trick, he would have been reborn in vain.
"Then you..."
Shen Bao frowned, looking at him with confusion in his eyes.
"Play along with their plan and see what their conspiracy is."
If he didn't get involved, he wouldn't know their purpose, so Ye Fan could only play along with their plan.
Nodding, seeing the cold smile in Ye Fan's eyes, Shen Bao knew that Ye Fan already had a plan in mind. With that, he had nothing else to worry about.
"Since you've made up your mind, I have nothing to worry about. However, you must remember never to fall into their trap. After all, that Lin Yue is cunning and not simple. You must not try to steal a chicken and end up losing the rice."
Ye Fan nodded, "Don't worry, and besides, aren't you here? I think Lin Yue won't let you off for such an important matter. At that time, he will definitely entrust you with an important task."
Lin Yue would never hide the relationship between Shen Bao and Ye Fan, so Shen Bao couldn't escape this matter.
"Everything must be handled properly, and you must never put yourself in danger," Shen Bao exhorted before parting ways with Ye Fan.
The next day, Lin Yue sent a message asking Ye Fan to gather at the City Lord's Mansion the following morning.
Ye Fan had only this short day left.
After thinking for a moment, Ye Fan first went to Tianyin Pavilion and briefly explained the situation to Shen Tianyin.
After all, the Liu family had just come to cause trouble. Although they didn't gain anything, Ye Fan was worried they would return, so he instructed Elder Ji to be vigilant.
Afterward, he chatted with Shen Tianyin for half a day, and at noon, he left Tianyin Pavilion for Bowang Pavilion.
Ye Fan was most at ease with Liu Piaoxu.
Now, Bowang Pavilion had entered the regular operations, and Liu Piaoxu indeed had her ways. In just a few days, she had managed Bowang Pavilion in an orderly fashion.
More than a dozen shop assistants were busy, so much so that when Ye Fan walked in, no one greeted him.
Ye Fan just smiled faintly at this and walked directly to the counter.
Liu Piaoxu was looking at the account book with her head bowed. She looked up when she heard the sound.
"Something wrong?"
Still so indifferent, she glanced at Ye Fan and then continued to look at the account book.
"I will be leaving for a while on official business. During this time, be careful of retaliation from the Liu family," Ye Fan reminded her in a low voice.
Liu Piaoxu did not look up, merely nodded, indicating that Ye Fan knew.
Seeing Liu Piaoxu like this, Ye Fan gave a wry smile and then turned to leave.
"Wait a moment."
Just as Ye Fan was about to step out of Bowang Pavilion, Liu Piaoxu suddenly called him.
"Something else?"
Ye Fan stopped, looking at Liu Piaoxu with confusion.
Liu Piaoxu took a small box from the drawer and walked over to hand it to Ye Fan.
"What is this?"
Looking at Liu Piaoxu in confusion, Ye Fan reached out and took it.
"Be careful outside. This is for your self-defense."
After saying that, she turned back and continued working.
Looking at the woman's indifferent back, Ye Fan smiled wryly, shook his head, and put the box in his pocket.
Since Liu Piaoxu gave it to him, it must not be ordinary. He should open it back at his place.
After preparing some necessities, Ye Fan returned to his residence.
He opened the box Liu Piaoxu gave him, and inside was a miniature pistol.
It was only half the size of his palm and could be hidden in his sleeve.
There were five bullets, clearly left for Ye Fan to save his life.
Looking at the miniature pistol in his palm, Ye Fan smiled. This woman always had a cold exterior but a warm heart.
The next morning, Ye Fan arrived at the City Lord's Mansion as scheduled.
By the time he arrived, the sun was high in the sky, and everyone else had been waiting for a long time.
Seeing Ye Fan walking over with his backpack, Liu Yuan couldn't help but snort.
"He really has a lot of face, making us all wait like fools."
His words were full of disdain.
Elder Lei on the side tried to mediate, "Since everyone is here, let's go in."
Obviously, Elder Lei was also invited to this operation.
But Liu Yuan snorted, "As far as I know, Ye Fan has been stripped of his appraisal rights, so why should he participate in this operation? Are we supposed to protect a cripple's safety?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Liuding also jumped out.
"Well said. Make us play with a cripple? Is this operation being treated like playing house?"
Both of them had suffered at Ye Fan's hands before, so naturally, they would not let go of this opportunity.
Looking coldly at the two of them, Ye Fan's gaze was filled with contempt.
"If you have problems, go to the higher-ups. Don't make personal attacks here. Besides, with your skills, you are probably no match for Ye Fan, right?"
Seeing the two of them babbling incessantly, Elder Lei's face immediately darkened.
He had originally planned to ease the relationship between them, as they were companions, not enemies, this time.
But Liu Yuan and Wu Liuding were too much. Even with Elder Lei's esteemed status and noble position, he could not restrain them.
"The Jiangnan Antique Association, what is that? You dare to lecture us?"
Liu Yuan snorted, his eyes filled with anger.
For a moment, the atmosphere became tense, and the two sides were at daggers drawn.
"Everyone, the City Lord has ordered that from now on, you are all companions on the same boat, not enemies. I hope everyone can let go of past grievances and complete this arduous task together. If there are grievances, you can resolve them after the matter is over. The City Lord will never obstruct you."
This was Lin Yue's territory, so he had some say.
Hearing Zheng Zhiyuan's words, Liu Yuan and Wu Liuding snorted and turned their heads away.
Zheng Zhiyuan then walked slowly to Ye Fan and Elder Lei.
"Both of you, the City Lord has requested our presence. Let's go in."
Nodding, everyone followed Zheng Zhiyuan into the City Lord's Mansion.
In the main hall, everyone took their seats. At this time, Ye Fan leisurely observed the participants in the operation.
Besides the four from the four great families, each of them brought three people. One was an elder, and the other two were strong and robust, likely bodyguards to ensure their safety.
Besides the people from the Dark Alliance, the rest were recruited by the City Lord's Mansion.
Elder Lei, Ye Fan, and highly respected figures from Jiangcheng's antique trade.
Shen Bao was indeed present, as Ye Fan had said, responsible for protecting everyone's safety, a heavy responsibility.