After Luo Yang left, Qi Yun picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, then looked at Zhang Dayong with a heavy gaze.

"The thing I need your help with is related to this case too. I suspect the old ghost was likely secretly taken away by people from the government office."

Zhang Dayong's expression froze momentarily: "What do you mean?"

Qi Yun sighed, picked up a cigarette from the table, lit it, and took two hard drags before slowly saying, "I had the old ghost deliver something to Deputy Squad Leader Zhou's house a while ago. I think they might have discovered him through some clue."

"Deliver something? What was it?" Zhang Dayong pressed him.

Qi Yun stared at Zhang Dayong for a few seconds without directly answering the question. Instead, he asked, "Do you remember the last project bid at the New District Branch?"

The question reminded Zhang Dayong of the situation last time.

Originally, everything was arranged for that project, and the bid was practically guaranteed for Qi Yun. But at the last minute, during the bidding announcement, he received a call from Deputy Squad Leader Zhou, and the bid ended up going to some big shot instead.

"Does it have anything to do with the two of them?"

Qi Yun nodded, choosing not to hide it: "Those two have a deep connection."

"I have a grudge with that Re Lijiang. Last time I got into trouble with the authorities, it was because of him pulling strings behind the scenes. Later, I inadvertently found out that he has a ledger documenting some secrets between him and that person."

"So the old ghost secretly borrowed that ledger and placed it in that person's study."

Qi Yun gave Zhang Dayong a brief overview in just a few sentences, and upon hearing it, Zhang Dayong immediately furrowed his brow tightly.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "If that's the case, then the old ghost might indeed have been taken away by people from the government office, as you suspect."

"So you're asking me to gather some inside information?"

Qi Yun nodded: "Yes, first confirm the situation. If the old ghost was indeed taken away by people from the government office, then I hope you can think of a way to get him out of there."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dayong's brows furrowed even tighter.

He also picked up a cigarette from the table, reluctantly saying, "Brother, this might not be easy to handle. After all, the person in question is the city's second-in-command. If he arranged it, my words... might not be very useful."

He spoke conservatively, actually wanting to say it probably wouldn't work at all.

"I know, just help me find out first. If it's confirmed to be arranged by him..." Qi Yun paused, "I have a piece of information that I'm sure your superior would be very interested in."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dayong's hand, holding the cigarette, hung in mid-air, looking at him in surprise.

Qi Yun gave him a faint bitter smile: "Don't look at me like that. I don't want to get involved with your government matters. Even if I pass on the information, you'd better find a suitable reason."

"I understand." Zhang Dayong nodded.

...

As Qi Yun left the teahouse, the sky outside was already turning dark.

Just as he got into the car, a call came in from Zhao Qing, asking when he'd be home.

"I just finished up some things, I'm heading back now."

Hearing he was coming back soon, Zhao Qing was immediately happy and said, "Then I'll go make you dinner. What would you like to eat tonight?"

"Hmm... how about braised chicken with mushrooms."

"Alright, Boss Qi, I'll make it for you right away." Zhao Qing responded with a smile.

It was the evening rush hour, the streets were terribly congested, and it took Qi Yun more than an hour to get back to the Golden Collar Villa.

Once inside, his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, eagerly leaped into his arms, joyfully shouting, "Daddy!"

He hadn't seen her in almost a month, and the little girl seemed to have grown taller. Children this age really do change daily.

Qi Yun smiled and bent down to pick up his daughter, kissing her cheek: "Nuannuan, did you miss Daddy?"

"I did! Daddy, I missed you so much!" The little girl wrapped her arms around Qi Yun's neck, her braids brushing against his chin, "Some friends came to play with me earlier, but I didn't go, I stayed home just to wait for you."

Qi Yun beamed with joy, raising a hand to gently tweak the little girl's nose: "Yes, you're really Daddy's little sweetheart."

"Hehehe." The little girl giggled, leaned close to Qi Yun's ear, and in a gossipy tone, whispered, "Daddy, I have a little secret for you."

"Hmm?" Qi Yun looked at his daughter with curiosity, playfully asking, "What's the secret? Tell Daddy."

"Sister Qing..."

"Nuannuan!" The little girl was interrupted by Zhao Qing, who came out with a plate, "You promised not to tell anyone."

Seeing this, the little girl shrank her neck, made a grown-up gesture, and spread her hands toward Qi Yun: "Sister Qing won't let me say, so I won't tell you."

Qi Yun didn't mind, laughing as he pinched his daughter's cheek: "Okay, okay, if you won't tell, you won't tell. I'll ask Sister Qing later."

"You two, wash your hands and get ready to eat." Zhao Qing put the freshly cooked dishes on the dining table, giving the father and daughter a glance.

Qi Yun quickly responded, carrying his daughter to the bathroom to wash their hands.

By the time they returned to the dining room, Zhao Qing had already served them rice. Qi Yun had been busy since getting off the plane in the morning and was famished, so he picked up his chopsticks and started eating heartily.

Zhao Qing kept adding food to his bowl, speaking softly, "You didn't eat well while out again, did you? Look, you've lost weight."

Qi Yun shook his head: "I'm not used to foreign food, it's always either bread or Western dishes."

"Home-cooked meals are the best."

Zhao Qing smiled and wiped the corner of his mouth: "Was the trip smooth this time?"

"Smooth." Qi Yun didn't want her to worry and only spoke about the interesting parts.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.