Dai Zhiqiang's frown deepened as he fell deep into thought.
'Is he speaking the truth? Or is this just a bluff?'
This was his first experience interrogating someone. He wasn't sure what to think when the intruder started begging him and kept saying he didn't know anything.
His train of thought was interrupted when he heard a small voice from behind him.
"Hngg, why is it so noisy?"
Dai Zhiqiang's body tensed. He looked back to find Ye Zhong, who sat on the couch while rubbing his eyes. "Is it morning already?"
"Don't speak a word, or you know the consequences, right?" Dai Zhiqiang hissed in a low voice to the intruder. His tone was full of threat and malice, so the intruder clamped his mouth shut, lest he would provoke Dai Zhiqiang and get another hole in his body.
"Little Zhong, it's still the middle of the night. Go back to sleep, or you'll never become taller."
"But, I want to grow big to win against Big Brother Zhi and Grandpa," Ye Zhong murmured in a daze, seemingly couldn't discern which was reality and dream. Dai Zhiqiang was grateful that the kid had his eyes shut, or he would see how the floor was drenched in a pool of red.
"Yeah, that's why you should sleep more. Now lie down and go back to sleep."
"Yeah, I'll do that. I will become strong…and then…me…." Ye Zhong spouted some indecipherable words before his body fell to the couch again.
,m Dai Zhiqiang heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the kid's peaceful breath. After ensuring everything was fine, he glared down at the person beneath him.
"Stop yelling and screaming, or you'll disturb his sleep."
The intruder couldn't believe what he had just heard. Dai Zhiqiang stabbed him in the thigh, yet he told him not to yell or scream. What an absurd thought. He was convinced that the younger man was a sadist now.
"I-I'll try, but my answer will remain the same no matter how many times you ask. Not because I don't want to tell you, of course! But it's because I really don't know anything. How can I tell you about something that even I don't know myself?"
"Then how did he give the task to you? Didn't you meet him?"
"No, I didn't meet the person directly. Or at least, the person I met claimed that he was also only a person ordered by the mastermind to relay the task's details to me."
Dai Zhiqiang frowned hard. The testimony was similar to the other troublemakers from the Rose Bar the other day. The person they luckily apprehended also said the same thing when he was interrogated.
Then, the group who attacked their base today was the same as those who sent those troublemakers then.
Dai Zhiqiang didn't know if this person would be helpful or not, but he had no intention to let this information slip away just like that. He chopped the nape of the intruder hard with his hand, making him sprawled motionlessly on the floor.
Dai Zhiqiang checked on his facial expression. After ensuring the intruder had been completely knocked out, he slowly released his hold on him. He let the knife remain buried in his thigh to not cause too much blood to spill.
Dai Zhiqiang tied the intruder's hand and leg using his tie and curtain holder before leaving him lying down on the cold floor. He rose from his seat while trying to dial Lin Xiang's phone.
After some time, the call was connected, and he quickly reported the situation to his senior.
Lin Xiang cursed out from the other side before saying he would send some men to Dai Zhiqiang's way. And he also asked him to keep an eye on the intruder as he would need to 'talk' with that intruder later.
Dai Zhiqiang hung up after finishing what he intended to do. He locked the window and covered it with a curtain. He hoped no one would swing down from the roof and catch him off guard again.
He didn't notice that someone had been watching him from a certain spot on the lawn all these times.
That dark figure slowly slipped out after the curtain was closed and left with a cold glint in his eyes.
***
The amount of profit from the sales of her books baffled Li Caiyi. She had to repeatedly rub her eyes to make sure he didn't see it wrongly.
It had been two weeks since her book was published, but the amount of her net income had reached 6000 yuan. She didn't expect her first book to perform so well!
"Ji-Jingfei, are you sure you aren't mistaking my report income for someone else?" Li Caiyi glanced at the boy sitting beside her.
Shao Jingfei nodded his head furiously. "I understand your feelings. My jaw also hung down in surprise when I first checked it. I'm your editor, and I'm confident with your writing skill, but still, this is really an amazing start."
"I don't have words to say. I'm happy and shocked at the same time."
"Haha, why wouldn't you be? You can be proud of this. Of course, the banner you got played a big role in this significant start, but if your book is not interesting enough, then I doubt anyone will buy it in the first place."
Her heart warmed up to the brim. She was lost in her own thoughts. How many people were currently reading her book outside her little room or thought about buying her book? Just imagining that thrilled her.
"Isn't this good? With how strong your book performance is, I reckon you will be able to move into a new place next month." Shao Jingfei grinned.
"You are right. I have to look at more places starting from now."
"If you want, you can always ask Senior Meng for help. With his resources, you can find a new place easily and possibly at a lower price."
Li Caiyi's light mood suddenly dampened at the mention of Meng Renshu. "No, I won't do that."
"Why? I think it's faster that way." Shao Jingfei tilted his head in confusion.
"Well, I mind! I don't need his help with anything." Li Caiyi huffed angrily, catching the boy beside her off guard.
"Okay, if you don't want to ask for his help, but why are you angry?"
"I'm not angry. I'm very calm right now."
Shao Jingfei's mouth curled down in doubt, but Li Caiyi only stood up in a hurry. "I just remember I still have homework to do. Thanks for the income report. I will go back to my room first. Good night, Jingfei."
"Oh, yeah. Good night." Shao Jingfei replied automatically while looking at her retreating back strangely.
"Why did she always flinch whenever Senior Meng was mentioned? Poor Senior Meng. He will have a long and difficult road ahead."