Cat 314: Don’t Be Afraid

Chapter 314 Don’t Be Afraid

Upstairs, Tang Yan was holding a pen, just uncapped, not yet having started to flip through the agreement in his hands, when he faintly heard someone calling his name.

At first, he thought it was an illusion, but then he heard it again—he hadn’t imagined it. He truly heard Qi Feng’s voice.

“Xiao Yan, help!”

At the sound of his name called in distress, Tang Yan immediately tossed aside the pen and rushed to the window. Outside the thin wall of the red-brick building, a dog was leaping at a figure. With his sharp eyesight, Tang Yan recognized from the clothing, stature, and voice that this was indeed Qi Feng.

That husky was biting Qi Feng. There was only one dog in District Nine—Tian Yuan’s dog!

Without hesitation, Tang Yan dropped the pen and dashed downstairs, barely looking back as he shouted to Zhou Renyi, “Uncle Zhou, I’ll sign it for you later!”

Just as Zhou Renyi was about to get the agreement signed: “…”

After Tang Yan ran off, a guard entered. “Mr. Zhou, visitation time is over.”

Zhou Renyi, holding the agreement with merely a single black mark on it, smiled, “Very well.”

When Tang Yan reached the ground floor, the husky was still pinning Qi Feng down, its jaws gripping his collar. Just as Tang Yan was about to kick at the dog, Qi Feng fished a small bun from his pocket and blindly tossed it behind him.

Before Tang Yan’s leg could land, the husky had already bolted after the bun.

Tian Yuan came running over, panting. “Qi Feng, are you all right?”

Tang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, shooting Tian Yuan a cold glare. “Why didn’t you keep your dog leashed? Next time, I’ll skin it myself.”

Tian Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words—he hadn’t signed Qi Feng up for this scene!

Qi Feng understood the full story and spoke up for Tian Yuan. “It’s not his fault. I get hungry fast so I’m used to keeping snacks in my pocket—maybe the dog smelled them and wanted a bite. You’d better go feed your dog.”

Tian Yuan leapt on the excuse Qi Feng gave him and hurried off after the dog. Any slower, and his dog really might lose its hide.

Tang Yan said, “You really are quite compassionate.”

Qi Feng stood and patted the grass from his clothes. “Of course, I have to be. He has his dog, you have your cat—I’m kind to all animals.”

Tang Yan gave him a quick once-over. “Did you get bitten? Maybe you should get a rabies shot.”

Qi Feng could see Tang Yan was concerned for him. “Just the collar got bitten a few times, but I wasn’t touched. The dog had some restraint.”

“If it didn’t, Tian Yuan couldn’t keep that dog—he’d have been thrown out long ago.” Tang Yan spoke with distaste. “If you’re fine, go change those dog-smelling clothes.”

“Understood.” Qi Feng knew Tang Yan likely disliked the scent of other animals—after all, he was a cat. Taking the opportunity, he changed the subject. “Did you just meet that Uncle Zhou?”

Tang Yan nodded, not hiding it from Qi Feng. “He wanted me to sign a contract. If I hadn’t heard your cry for help, I’d have signed already—not sure if I’ve delayed his project.”

Qi Feng said, “If he comes next week, you can sign then.”

Tang Yan replied, “Not necessarily. Uncle Zhou is quite busy. When I first arrived, he worried I’d be unhappy, so he applied every week to visit. Now it’s about every other week, or even monthly.”

“Often at first, less frequent later. But you still have business ties with him?” Qi Feng walked alongside him, speaking naturally.

“Not really. It should be just my dad’s past business connections.” Tang Yan said, “I don’t really handle business, I only collect dividends—Tang Qing runs it all now.”

Qi Feng remarked, “I heard Tang Qing and your Uncle Zhou don’t get along. Why’s that, if there’s no business link?”

Tang Yan paused. “Now that you ask, I never really looked into it. But it doesn’t matter—Uncle Zhou would never lie to me. It’s Tang Qing I have to watch, he might try to cheat me out of my shares in the company.”

Qi Feng withheld comment. Tang Yan now trusted Zhou Renyi unconditionally—if he wanted to uncover the truth, he would have to ask Tang Qing himself.

After changing clothes, the two played with the black cat sent back by Lan Tou and, after drinking, Tang Yan got drowsy. Qi Feng, however, did not sleep. He got up and went to find Tang Qing.

Tang Qing kept a low profile, residing in an inconspicuous second-floor room near the lake—a man who knew how to enjoy life.

As Qi Feng entered the area, all the doors near the elevator stood open, with several burly men watching Qi Feng like he was a thief, their gazes unfriendly.

Qi Feng wasn’t fazed in the least, stating his request, “I want to see Tang Qing.”

The man in front, with a dragon tattooed on his right arm, said, “Boss Tang isn’t seeing anyone today.”

Qi Feng, sincerely, pressed, “I come for Tang Yan’s sake—I have some things to ask.”

At that moment, a young man stepped through the wall of muscle. “Let him in—Boss Tang wants to meet him.”

Qi Feng had bet on Tang Qing’s concern for Tang Yan—and won.

There was nothing fake about Tang Qing’s care for Tang Yan, but Qi Feng needed to observe him personally.

The young man escorted Qi Feng into a parlor.

Tang Qing was seated at a card table, shuffling a deck casually, though there was nothing casual about the man himself.

Tang Qing bore a noticeable resemblance to Tang Yan—one could easily see the family connection.

As Qi Feng approached, Tang Qing asked, “You play cards?”

Qi Feng sat opposite him, open and direct. “Dou dizhu, blackjack, tractor, san gong—they’re all fine.”

Tang Qing had no intention of playing cards. He smiled. “You seem to play everything, but Xiao Yan never liked cards. Do you know what he does enjoy?”

It was a pointed question.

Qi Feng almost felt as if he’d come to meet a parent-in-law. “Are you asking as a senior, President Tang? As you know, Xiao Yan has a rather different view of you.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Tang Qing’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “He’s told you about his parents, then. He really values you. But he only knows half the story.”

“You never told him the rest,” Qi Feng said.

Tang Qing rose. “Do you think he’d want to hear it? Did he tell you he believes I killed his parents?”

Sincerity is the greatest bridge in communication. Qi Feng had come sincerely, and Tang Qing answered without putting on airs.

“Yes, that’s right,” Qi Feng nodded—it was no secret.

Tang Qing sighed. “How could I harm my brother and sister-in-law? They were closest to both me and Xiao Yan. I wasn’t a naive youth back then—our family assessed every job for risk.”

That didn’t match what Qi Feng had pieced together.

Qi Feng stated simply, “But that isn’t the truth Xiao Yan knows.”

Tang Qing wasn’t surprised. “I know. It was an accident. Someone wanted my brother and his wife dead. At the time, I was in a coma for a month, and when I came back, Xiao Yan already hated me. All he had beside him was Zhou Renyi.”

“And your relationship with Zhou Renyi…” Qi Feng deliberately trailed off.

“Xiao Yan trusts him, but he doesn’t know what Zhou Renyi does behind his back,” Tang Qing said, going to the cabinet for a good bottle of whisky. “Want some?”

Their conversation was companionable, but Qi Feng remained watchful—trust was not given lightly here.

He politely declined, “Thank you, but no. If I come back smelling of alcohol, I’ll get caught.”

Tang Qing nodded. “Indeed—best not to drink outside. I suppose you didn’t just come about the old incident.”

Qi Feng hadn’t. He was here to observe Tang Qing, and to learn about Zhou Renyi.

“That’s only part of it. I mainly want to know what kind of man Zhou Renyi is.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll be biased?” Tang Qing didn’t answer directly, instead throwing the question back at Qi Feng.

“I have my own judgment.”

“You want to mediate between Xiao Yan and me, but does he really need your help?” Tang Qing doubted Qi Feng could succeed—he’d sought countless go-betweens, none of whom could change Tang Yan’s mind. “What makes you think you’re special to him?”

In truth, Qi Feng didn’t want to ease relations—but, since Tang Qing had pinned that purpose on him, he decided to go along with it.

“What makes you think I’m not special?” If his counterpart liked to ask, Qi Feng would ask back.

Tang Qing hadn’t anticipated Qi Feng’s clarity—his tone was already pressing, but Qi Feng wasn’t easily cowed.

“Fine, I’ll tell you what I know of Zhou Renyi. Rest assured, I’ll stick to the facts.”

“Thank you,” said Qi Feng.

Tang Qing began, “Zhou Renyi was my brother’s friend—as Xiao Yan probably told you.”

Qi Feng nodded.

Tang Qing went on, “But he doesn’t know Zhou Renyi’s grandfather was also in our line of work. Later, after robbing a client during a job, his grandfather lost a hand—let’s say he ‘retired’ from that point. Zhou Renyi used my brother to try and re-enter our business.”

Qi Feng was surprised by the background—this made sense, far more than Zhou Renyi’s emotional manipulations to sign an agreement.

“And then? Outwardly, he runs a company now, but behind the scenes, has he been carving out a share of your old field?” Qi Feng guessed.

“You’re exactly right. A façade out front, another act behind. The Tang family’s reputation is unmatched—first in skill. I suspect Zhou Renyi was behind the tragedy that year, but I’ve never found proof.”

“By the way, does your brother have any joint projects left with Zhou Renyi? He’s trying to get an authorization from Xiao Yan right now.” Qi Feng decided to give Tang Qing this tidbit, letting him investigate.

“Projects? I run all family businesses now. As for any joint projects, I’m unaware—but I’ll check.” Tang Qing was surprised once more. “You really know a lot. Thank you for looking out for Xiao Yan. He hasn’t signed yet, has he?”

Qi Feng recalled how quickly Yan Jiyun dashed out to save him. “Not yet.”

Tang Qing was about to say more when the young man who’d led Qi Feng in reappeared. “Boss Tang, Tang Yan is here.”

Qi Feng stayed calm. Being caught shouldn’t be a problem, he’d come openly. It was Tang Qing who suddenly straightened, tidied his collar and his hair. “How do I look now?”

“You look sharp,” Qi Feng replied.

Just then, the half-shut door swung open with a kick, and Tang Yan, dressed in silk pajamas, strode in. He looked ready to drag Qi Feng away, only to find a gun pressed to Qi Feng’s forehead.

Tang Yan’s eyes blazed with fury. “Tang Qing, let him go!” He turned to Qi Feng, “Don’t be afraid.”

Qi Feng: “…” He wasn’t afraid, just unsure what scene Tang Qing was playing at.

He quickly spoke before Tang Qing could respond, “Xiao Yan, I’ve found the traitor.”