Mr. Ruan returned to the car, casually turned on the recording device, and drove away from Futong Company.

The car had just started and had gone less than a hundred meters.

Screech!

Mr. Ruan slammed on the brakes.

He turned his head and stared intently at the recording device.

There's a problem with the conversation on the recorder!

Could it be that Director Yang discovered something?

He quickly parked the car by the roadside and listened carefully.

Minutes later, he finished listening.

Mr. Ruan narrowed his eyes.

It can now be confirmed that Director Yang indeed discovered something unusual.

Finding Peng Xingrong was to confirm this suspicion.

Peng Xingrong revealed his identity and his suggestions to Director Yang!

The plan has been leaked!

Mr. Ruan took a deep breath, feeling a tightness in his chest.

He did not hesitate and immediately called Zhu Qiushui: "Miss Zhu, the plan has been leaked, Director Yang knows..."

He promptly detailed the situation.

After listening, Zhu Qiushui was silent for a few seconds and then said, "Hold Director Yang's wife and child."

"Understood!"

...

Noon.

Restaurant private room.

Director Feng asked, "Director Yang, what do you need from me?"

What's going on, why suddenly invite me for lunch?

"No rush, no rush."

"Come, have a cup of tea first."

Director Yang cheerfully picked up the teacup and glanced at the waiter: "You may leave."

After the waiter left, Director Yang put down the teacup, his expression gradually becoming serious, and lowered his voice: "Old Feng, do you know who's backing Zhu Qiushui?"

Director Feng was momentarily stunned and after thinking for two seconds, shook his head: "You've stumped me, Zhu Qiushui's identity is quite mysterious."

"Why suddenly ask about her?"

Seeing Director Yang's solemn expression, Director Feng exclaimed in surprise: "Did you offend her?"

Director Yang shook his head, smiled bitterly, and said: "Old Feng, you and I, we're caught up in something big."

You and I?

How does this involve me too?

"Sigh."

Director Yang sighed long and said: "Do you know how many reports of tax evasion the Tax Bureau received today?"

"How many?"

"Over a hundred reports!"

"That many?"

Director Feng quickly thought: "Something's not right."

"More than just not right."

Director Yang said: "I'll tell you, Zhu Qiushui..."

Buzz buzz!

Before he could finish, his phone suddenly vibrated.

He glanced at it, his heart skipped a beat.

A call from Zhu Qiushui!

"I, I need to take this call."

He swallowed nervously and immediately answered.

"Hello, Miss Zhu..."

"Director Yang, where are you?"

"I, I'm having lunch."

"Lunch? With whom?"

Zhu Qiushui's smiling question suddenly filled him with fear.

Why is she asking who I'm having lunch with?

Usually, when she seeks me out, she directly assigns tasks and never asks these questions.

Could it be...I've been exposed?

He immediately pretended dissatisfaction and said: "Miss Zhu wants to control even who I have lunch with? What, caught something on me and won't let go?"

"Haha, Director Yang, quite bold indeed."

Zhu Qiushui chuckled lightly, saying: "I heard you went to see Peng Xingrong this morning?"

These words struck Director Yang like a bolt from the blue.

She really knows!

She truly knows!

My intuition was indeed correct!

Though he didn't understand how she found out, that wasn't the point.

The point was, what would she do to him?

"Miss Zhu..."

"Director Yang is quite smart."

Zhu Qiushui said: "I didn't expect you to discover it."

"I, I don't know..."

"Director Yang, what time is it now?"

"What?"

Director Yang was bewildered, glanced at the time: "It's 11:45."

Zhu Qiushui said: "Lunchtime."

"Do you know whom I'm having lunch with?"

This sentence first stunned Director Yang, then an intense panic surged inside him.

"Miss Zhu..."

"Mrs. Yang, I'm on a call with Director Yang, would you like to say a few words?"

Soon, from the other end of the line, came the trembling voice of his wife: "Honey."

Director Yang's mind went into chaos, utterly confused.

She's actually holding his wife captive!

"Director Yang."

Zhu Qiushui's voice came through: "I hope not a second person will know about this."

"I understand, I understand, I won't say a word!"

"You'd better not."

Zhu Qiushui said with satisfaction: "Work well, and resolve the reports soon. Do as I instructed, and don't delay."

"I definitely will follow Miss Zhu's instructions."

"Director Yang, cooperate well, your wife and child will stay with me for now."

"If the news leaks, hehe, Director Yang should know the consequences."

With that, Zhu Qiushui hung up the phone.

Director Yang gripped the phone, unable to calm down for a long time, his back already drenched in sweat.

Director Feng asked: "Zhu Qiushui's call?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

Director Feng found it quite odd, Director Yang's reaction was so big.

This appearance seemed like he was terribly frightened.

He was very curious, what exactly did Zhu Qiushui say on the phone?

"Nothing much." Director Yang forced a smile.

Seeing his absent-minded state, Director Feng, no matter how curious, felt it inappropriate to press further.

"By the way, Old Yang, just now you were about to say something to me?"

"Nothing, nothing, just wanted to have a drink with you."

He stood up and said: "I suddenly remembered something hasn't been dealt with, you go ahead and eat, I'm leaving. By the way, the matter of us meeting today, don't tell Zhu Qiushui, absolutely don't tell!"

Before leaving, he added: "Absolutely don't tell! I'm saying this for your own good!"

Watching Director Yang hastily leave, Director Feng's curiosity was piqued to the extreme.

Leaving a story half-told, damn it!

This guy, being this scared, just how much dirt does Zhu Qiushui have on him?

Director Yang indeed wanted to tell him, but didn't dare.

If Zhu Qiushui learned he was speaking out, whether his wife and child would survive was uncertain.

Back at the office, Director Yang was engulfed in extreme fear.

After handing over the report materials, he leaned back in his chair, trying hard to think, seeking a way to resolve this.

However, he couldn't think of one.

Just before getting off work, he suddenly opened his computer and wrote an email.

The recipient was Director Feng.

He set it to send at a scheduled time, exactly a week later.

He felt he had to do something beforehand.

Although Zhu Qiushui hadn't acted against him yet, what if?

What if she feared he'd talk and went after him?

Hence, he had to find a way to protect himself!

If Zhu Qiushui were to target him, then this scheduled email would be his leverage in negotiations with her.

The following Saturday.

Director Yang worked overtime, visiting all the reported companies as instructed by Zhu Qiushui, telling them the city intended to take the severest actions against them, even prosecute.

As soon as he left, Mr. Ruan followed in to inform them of the city's current situation and the troubles they faced.

Persuading one by one, asking them to leave Lingjiang.

Sunday.

Song Guanchao received a call from Lu Feng.

Tang Zhengqiang had completed his observations and invited him to meet for formal negotiation.

Still at the same club private room as last time, Song Guanchao and Lu Feng, wearing masks, met Tang Zhengqiang once more.

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