About an hour later, inside Tan Mingzhao's office.

"I'm counting on you for this." Tan Mingzhao patted Yu Mingyuan's shoulder. "I'll treat you to a drink when you're done."

Yu Mingyuan waved his hand. "We're all family, no need for formalities. I'll head back first; Lao Kong is waiting for me downstairs."

Tan Mingzhao nodded. "Okay, I'll have the guards escort you…"

Yu Mingyuan waved him off. "No need, Lao Kong has people too. No need to trouble your men."

"Alright then." Tan Mingzhao thought for a moment. "Remember to call me if anything comes up."

"Okay."

After saying goodbye, Yu Mingyuan left the office and walked out of the headquarters building alone. As he reached the courtyard, he saw several business vans parked at the entrance.

"Whoosh!"

The door of one of the vans slid open, and Kong ZhengHui, sitting inside, waved at him. "Mingyuan, over here!"

Yu Mingyuan nodded and quickened his pace to get into the van. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long." Kong ZhengHui asked softly, "What did Tan Mingzhao want to see you about?"

"Nothing major." Yu Mingyuan waved his hand. "Something about the garrison. What's up with you suddenly looking for me?"

Kong ZhengHui looked around. People were coming and going in the headquarters, and there were patrolling soldiers everywhere.

After a moment of silence, he said slowly, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's find somewhere quiet."

Yu Mingyuan glanced at his watch and then at Kong ZhengHui's hesitant expression, sensing that something was on his mind. He nodded. "Alright, you decide."

Kong ZhengHui looked up and called out, "Drive."

"Got it."

The car started, and the Kong family's convoy drove out of the headquarters compound.

…

About ten minutes later, the convoy stopped in front of a bar in Zha Nan.

This bar was one of the Kong family's properties. It wasn't a noisy, licentious place; on the contrary, it was quite quiet, with refined and stylish decor.

It was daytime, so there weren't many people in the bar. Only a singer with a guitar was sitting on the stage, singing one song after another.

Kong Zhengqi stayed with his men in the lobby on the first floor, while Kong ZhengHui and Yu Mingyuan went straight upstairs to a secluded private room on the second floor.

The room had a comfortable sofa booth. After the two sat down, the manager immediately came in, bowed to Kong ZhengHui, and asked, "Mr. Kong, what would you like to drink today?"

"The usual." Kong ZhengHui waved his hand. "Just bring the drinks; I need to talk to my friend about something."

"Yes, yes." The manager nodded quickly in agreement.

In less than two minutes, several bottles of red wine were delivered upstairs. Then, the door of the private room was gently closed, leaving only Kong and Yu inside.

Kong ZhengHui picked up a bottle and filled their glasses.

Yu Mingyuan glanced at him, a little concerned. "You haven't been out of the hospital for long. Drink less."

Kong ZhengHui said quietly, "It's just the two of us today. A little won't hurt."

Yu Mingyuan pressed, "How's the recovery going?"

Kong ZhengHui raised his right hand, looking at the stump where his hand used to be, and sighed. "It's okay, I guess. I just feel a little disoriented sometimes. It's like my right hand is still there, and it hurts a lot."

Hearing this, Yu Mingyuan was silent, unsure what to say.

"Enough about that, let's drink." Kong ZhengHui raised his glass.

"Yeah, let's drink." Yu Mingyuan clinked glasses with him, and they both took a big gulp of red wine.

Kong ZhengHui's alcohol tolerance wasn't particularly good. Among the Five Dragons of Long City, he was the worst. After a mouthful of red wine, his face flushed slightly.

He put down his glass and asked, "How is Xiao Yu?"

Yu Mingyuan shook his head. "He's at the hospital, still in surgery. I don't know the specifics either. I'm waiting for news too."

Kong ZhengHui nodded and didn't say anything, just poured more wine into their glasses.

Yu Mingyuan, watching him, felt that something was off and asked softly, "Lao Kong, you suddenly brought me here, and now you want to drink, it's making me uneasy… What's wrong? We're brothers; just tell me what's on your mind."

Kong ZhengHui took a big gulp of wine and, after thinking for a long time, said slowly, "Actually, ever since my dad's funeral, when I invited you guys to dinner, there was something I've been wanting to say, but I didn't have the chance."

Yu Mingyuan studied Kong ZhengHui's expression and asked, "What is it?"

Kong ZhengHui hesitated for a long time, then took another big gulp of wine, and finally said, "Mingyuan… I want to pull out…"

Yu Mingyuan was stunned, not snapping back to reality for a while. Actually, when the other party called him here today, he had a strange premonition about this.

However, bringing it up at this time… was somewhat inappropriate, and a little strange.

Yu Mingyuan picked up his glass and took a big gulp of wine as well.

The wine tasted a little bitter.

After thinking for a long time, he turned to look at Kong ZhengHui and asked, "Lao Kong, tell me the truth… After leaving here, where do you plan to go?"

…

District One, Hua Fu, a high-end clubhouse.

Inside a private room, the two girls had already left, replaced by Xiao Yan.

At this moment, Yuan Biao's eyes were bloodshot as he pinned Xiao Yan down, tearing at her clothes as if venting his frustration.

Xiao Yan's face was pale as she pushed Yuan Biao with all her might, shouting repeatedly, "Get up! Get off me!"

Yuan Biao didn't budge, as if he couldn't hear her, and began kissing her forcefully.

Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with anger. In the arms of such a burly man, her strength was no match.

"Slap!!"

Unable to endure it any longer, she raised her right hand and slapped Yuan Biao hard across the face!

Yuan Biao seemed to be awakened by the slap, and he froze there, stunned.

Xiao Yan gritted her teeth and told him, word by word, "I'm not a whore! Get out!"

Yuan Biao stood there dumbfounded, his grip loosening, and he subconsciously backed away.

Xiao Yan immediately stood up, clutching her torn clothes, and shouted, "…I'm not Lu Zhen's minion, let alone his social butterfly!! This is my workplace; you be polite to me, or I'll make you wish you were dead! Understand?!"

Yuan Biao fell back onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling, thinking for a long time.

"Creak—"

After a while, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Lu Zhen strode in.

He had just met with a friend and returned, unaware of what had happened earlier.

Seeing Yuan Biao lying on the sofa with a blank stare, Lu Zhen couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you?"

Yuan Biao remained lying there, not speaking for a long time.

Lu Zhen sat on the sofa, not urging Yuan Biao, and lit a cigarette for himself.

Neither of them spoke, and the air was filled with the smell of alcohol and smoke.

After a long time, Yuan Biao finally spoke. His eyes landed on Lu Zhen, and he said slowly, "I'll take less money, but after it's done, let me take Xiao Yan away."

Lu Zhen was dumbfounded when he heard this.