From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Pu Jian mentioned Chen Qianfan’s plan to host a dinner party.

Xu Chunliang didn’t care who was hosting it. While waiting, Liu Haiyu called him with new information. He had found out that Bai Lan was an orphan, adopted thirteen years ago. However, her adoptive father tried to assault her and she ended up killing him. It would have been understandable if she had just killed her adoptive father, but she also took out her adoptive mother.

Thirteen years ago, she was just an eleven-year-old child. It’s rare for someone so young to be that ruthless. Liu Haiyu urged him to be extra cautious.

Xu Chunliang wasn’t surprised, especially since he had witnessed Bai Lan confront Gordon with a kick aimed to ensure his lineage ended.

Xu Chunliang thought Bai Lan might have more secrets and asked Liu Haiyu to keep investigating.

Liu Haiyu asked if he had time to meet.

Xu Chunliang told Liu Haiyu he was at a meal and could only meet after dinner.

Liu Haiyu asked him to contact him after he finished.

Chen Qianfan arrived a little before six.

Pu Jian said mockingly, "Aren’t you supposed to be at the employee meeting, or attending a dinner? Why are you here so early?"

Chen Qianfan laughed, "I figured my presence at the employee dinner wasn’t necessary, so I postponed it to tomorrow. Our brotherly gathering is more important."

He greeted Gao Xiaobai and sat next to Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang said, "Old Chen, I heard you’ve become a fan of Bai Lan?"

Chen Qianfan replied, "I’m definitely a fan. After finishing the first episode of ’The Lady Doctor,’ I’m already impatient to read the next. It’s so well-written."

Gao Xiaobai couldn’t help but mention that ’The Lady Doctor’ is a comic book.

Chen Qianfan defended, "Even if it’s a comic book, it’s still her creative story. I never had any interest in comics before, but now I love them. Doesn’t that show how enticing the book is?"

Pu Jian said, "I’m not sure if the book is enticing, but the person sure is. Someone’s smitten."

Gao Xiaobai laughed.

Feeling awkward, Chen Qianfan said, "Stop joking around; Bai Lan is just a friend of Chunliang’s."

Pu Jian teased, "But are you still thinking of her?"

Chen Qianfan retorted, "What are you talking about? I’m not thinking of her like that, just admiring. And I have a wife."

Xu Chunliang wasn’t aware of Chen Qianfan’s marital status and was surprised to hear he has a wife.

Pu Jian pressed further, "Old Chen, I never heard you mention it before. When did you get married? Why haven’t we ever seen your wife?"

Chen Qianfan explained, "She immigrated and rarely comes back."

Pu Jian quipped, "You two have it all planned out: you’re earning in the country, she’s spending abroad, unwittingly transferring assets. Many are like you in our country."

Chen Qianfan replied, "I’m patriotic, don’t label me like that."

Time passed, and Bai Lan hadn’t arrived. Pu Jian asked Xu Chunliang to hurry her up, to avoid being stood up.

Xu Chunliang said, "Let her come if she wants; I’ve informed her anyway."

Pu Jian nodded, agreeing, "Right, can’t spoil women." Then realizing Gao Xiaobai was present, he quickly added, "Classmate Xiaobai, I didn’t mean you."

Gao Xiaobai replied, "I understand; you’re not targeting me specifically, but the entire female group."

Pu Jian raised his hands in surrender, "Miss Gao, spare me. If word gets out, I’d be pummeled by feminists."

Xu Chunliang checked the time on his watch; it was past six-thirty. He reckoned Bai Lan might have encountered something. Even if she couldn’t make it, she should at least inform him, given he organized a group to support her at the signing. Are the Peninsula people that ungrateful?

Xu Chunliang suggested, "Why not start serving the food?"

Chen Qianfan suggested, "Let’s wait a bit; she might arrive soon."

Just then, Bai Lan called, confirming she faced a situation with sudden stomach pain and had gone to the hospital for a check-up.

Upon hearing she was ill, Xu Chunliang didn’t force her to come, advising Bai Lan to rest and offering help if needed.

After the call, he shared the situation with the others. Chen Qianfan was visibly disappointed and wished he hadn’t rushed over.

Pu Jian commented it was a typical strategy; women often act coy, and a novelist like Bai Lan is likely adept at such tactics.

Gao Xiaobai disagreed with Pu Jian, accusing him of conspiracy thinking, as women indeed face more physical issues than men.

Although Bai Lan didn’t come, the meal continued. Chen Qianfan, having promised to treat, faced the gentleman’s commitment of keeping his promise. The meal proceeded quickly, wrapping up in a little over an hour.

When Chen Qianfan went to pay, he learned Xu Chunliang had already settled the bill. Chen Qianfan said, "Chunliang, didn’t we agree I’d take care of it?"

Chunliang said, "Let’s not argue about it today. You all went to the book signing to help me, so this meal should be on me. Everyone should go back and rest; it was exhausting enough lining up this afternoon."

Pu Jian called for a designated driver, and Chunliang asked him to send Xiaobai back first.

Before Xiaobai left, she reminded him not to forget about going to her aunt’s place tomorrow night.

Chen Qianfan asked Chunliang if he wanted to leave with him, but Chunliang waved his hand, saying he still had things to do. After everyone else had left, he called Liu Haiyu.

Liu Haiyu was nearby, and when he received Chunliang’s call, he strolled over, still holding a box of unfinished soybean paste noodles.

Chunliang teased, "Lao Liu, you’re quite frugal, aren’t you?"

Liu Haiyu said, "I figured you wouldn’t take long, so I just ate a bowl of soybean paste noodles nearby."

Chunliang glanced at his half bowl of noodles, "Let’s go somewhere else; my treat."

Liu Haiyu said, "Thanks, but I’ll just chat for a bit and then go," pointing to a green space not far away.

The two walked over together. Liu Haiyu quickly finished his noodles and tossed the container in the trash.

Chunliang went to a nearby vending machine and bought two bottles of water, handing one to Liu Haiyu.

After drinking a few sips, Liu Haiyu said, "Did you hear about the person who jumped off the top of Jingfu Building a few days ago?"

Chunliang said, "Yes, Chen Jianxin. I even went there the day he jumped."

Liu Haiyu said, "He’s already the second one."

Chunliang was taken aback, "What?"

Liu Haiyu said, "Two months ago, another person fell from the top of Jingfu Building."

Chunliang hadn’t heard about this. Typically, if something like that happened, it would have been widespread.

Liu Haiyu said, "The news was sealed. The one who died was one of my people."

Chunliang asked, "Suicide or murder?"

Liu Haiyu said, "On the surface, it looks like suicide, but I suspect something’s fishy."

Chunliang said, "With such a good opportunity, why don’t you apply for a thorough investigation of Jingfu Building?"

Liu Haiyu said, "You’ve been to the rooftop of Jingfu Building, right? You should be familiar with the layout there."

Chunliang said, "I didn’t see anything special when I went last time. It was Wang Jiancheng who took me there. Those Koreans built a few ancient-style buildings on top, claiming it’s some kind of Little Jingfu Palace. I wonder, with so many city management officers in Capital City, why doesn’t anyone take care of this?"

Liu Haiyu said, "Chen Jianxin jumped from the 53rd floor. My colleague jumped from the 59th floor. Actually, they never truly got to the rooftop. From the 60th floor up belongs to Mingde Group Chinese Division. Below the 60th floor is leased externally, and many are South Korean trading companies. The actual ownership of this building belongs to Lexus Group."

Chunliang said, "Chen Jianxin committed suicide. The police tried persuading him for a long time, but he still jumped. What’s the situation with your colleague?"

Liu Haiyu said, "His goal was to infiltrate the rooftop of Mingde Group. But after climbing just one floor, he somehow became mentally confused and jumped from above in a daze."

Chunliang asked, "He wasn’t mentally stable?"

Liu Haiyu shook his head and said, "People in our line of work have very strong mental resilience. He had no mental issues, so I suspect he may have encountered a sudden situation causing temporary mental confusion, leading him to jump."

Chunliang asked, "Do you suspect it has something to do with Mingde Group?"

Liu Haiyu nodded.

"Since you suspect it, why not investigate? I just don’t get it. No matter how powerful Mingde Group is, it’s an external company. How can they strut around Capital City?"

Liu Haiyu said, "We have to consider the diplomatic issues. If handled improperly, it could trigger a diplomatic incident."

Chunliang had heard Lin Sijin say this before, and now Liu Haiyu was echoing it; it made him a bit frustrated. "I refuse to believe that just a Mingde Group can cause such a stir?"

Liu Haiyu said, "Mingde Group is nothing, but behind Mingde is Lexus Group. When Lexus stomps its feet, the whole Peninsula quivers. Lexus Group’s output accounts for more than a sixth of South Korea’s GDP, so we can’t initiate an investigation without concrete evidence."

Chunliang said, "If you all don’t dare to investigate, what do you want from me?"

Liu Haiyu said, "Since you could enter once, you could do so again. Huang Youlong has designs on dragon bones. If you use this as a breakthrough, you might find evidence of Mingde’s illegal activities."

Chunliang thought to himself that he didn’t need to offer two pieces of dragon bones to deal with Huang Youlong.

Liu Haiyu said, "If you help me, I can provide you with more information on Huang Youlong."

Chunliang looked at Liu Haiyu meaningfully, realizing this guy had always been holding back and there might be many things he’s hiding.

Liu Haiyu looked at Chunliang with anticipation. "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated. At least in dealing with Mingde Group, we’re on the same side."

Chunliang said, "Lao Liu, you! You’re not straightforward. Our goals don’t align; I’m just a regular guy, so don’t bother me with this anymore."