drowning tide

At six o'clock the next morning, Yi Huai opened his eyes on time.

The hangover made his head hurt like it was about to burst, and he had to wash it down with cold water several times in the shower.

Luo Yi was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper in the restaurant, and when he saw him coming down, he said without looking up, "Come and have breakfast, let Mama An make soup for you, it will make you feel better after drinking it."

Yi Huai sat down next to him, picked up the soup bowl and drank slowly.The soup was simmered with pork ribs, traditional Chinese medicine and white pepper. After drinking it, his stomach felt a lot better, and he even became energetic.

An Ma, who came out of the kitchen, put a plate of radish cake in front of him, "Eat some staple food to fill your belly, if you don't have enough soup, there is still more."

"Thank you." He whispered thanks to the old woman, "I can do the rest myself."

Over there, Luo Yi put down his cup and picked up the sandwiches cut into small pieces from the saucer to eat. There was no sound at the table except for the slight sound of chewing.

Since when did he accept the absurd daily behavior of sitting at the same table with Luo Yi?

"Is what you said last night true?"

When the plate in front of him was empty, Yi Huai asked Luo Yi this question.

"I said a lot last night, which one do you ask?"

"I don't need to go to the company this morning."

"Oh, this sentence. It's true, do you want to go back to bed again?"

"No, I want to go out."

Luo Yi didn't show much curiosity about his going out.

"Do you want the driver to take you?"

"no need."

"Remember to come back to work in the afternoon."

"Ok, I know."

It's not easy to take a taxi in the rich area, so Yi Huai went to the garage to pick up the car.All the way he was carefully checking the rearview mirror to make sure no one was following him.

Luo Yi specially asked someone to teach him his anti-tracking technology - Luo Yi said that since he wants to work in Luo's family, these are necessary skills.Like many other things, his own wishes are not important, what matters is whether the results can satisfy Luo Yi.

Including the traffic jam, it took about an hour on the road.Almost there, he parked the car in a public parking lot not far away, then got out of the car and walked the rest of the short distance on foot.

Bogu Hutong in Suian District, this is his destination in the morning.

At this point, the sun rose, and the temperature gradually increased, but the alley was very shady, half of which was due to the green plants at the entrance of the alley and half of it was narrow and dark.

This alley is the most famous antique market in Rongcheng. Its origin can be traced back hundreds of years ago. It got its name because it only engaged in calligraphy and painting business at first. No relationship.

Today's Bogu Hutong is open to all kinds of business, legal or not, as long as you have enough money and connections, you can get what you want.

What he was looking for was the fourth store on the left after entering the alley, a rather inconspicuous three-story building with the three big characters of Taiguzhai written on the black wooden plaque.

After entering, Yi Huai found that the decoration inside was much simpler than he thought: the spacious lobby was illuminated by cold lights like daytime, and there were glazed porcelain and jade-carved Chinese cabbage on the black wooden shelves on both sides, all of which were strange. Valuable stuff.

"Do you have an appointment?"

The person who came out of the inner room was a dark-skinned man, his facial features were as deep as a knife, and he should have blood from Southeast Asia.He didn't look too young, with short gray hair, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were bunched up when he squinted, but he was full of energy, like a vigilant lion.

"Sorry, I don't have an appointment..." Seeing the man raise his eyebrows impatiently, as if saying that it's nothing to get out of here, Yi Huai took out something from his pocket, placed it on the pineapple wood counter and gently pushed it over, " But I have this."

"We don't accept individual customers today." The man was very contemptuous of the things he brought out, and he didn't even want to look at them. "Little friend, the things sold here are not things that fresh graduates like you can afford."

"If I were you, I would choose to watch before talking."

Seeing Yi Huai's insistence, the man stared at him for more than ten seconds, and reluctantly picked up the thing, "You can get out of here after seeing it..." After he saw what it was, his expression suddenly changed. Now, his suspicious eyes went back and forth between Yi Huai and that thing, "What do you want?"

"I want to see your boss, Chen Zijian. I know he is here. If I make an appointment, he will definitely run away early, so I can only come here unexpectedly."

What Yi Huai handed him was nothing but a dagger. The sheath made of soft leather was quite old, and the edges were worn out badly. The word Chen Zijian was crookedly embroidered on it. It is as sharp as ever, and it can be seen that the person who got it took good care of it.It was secretly given to him by the person who accompanied him before he was sent to Luo's house. He kept it for ten years, and every night when the people were quiet, he couldn't help but think about how to give him this parting gift. In order for him to end his life in pain?

If this is the case, he has let Uncle Chen down, because even in the most painful moment, he never thought of dying.

Only by living can I see that person again.

The man kept staring at the dagger without speaking, as if trying to identify its authenticity.

"It's true, who would deliberately imitate this kind of thing." Yi Huai can't wait too long, he only has one morning, "It's your boss' dagger, if you don't believe it, you can go up and ask him."

I don't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that this person didn't want to take him up there at all.

Was there something on it that he didn't want him to see?The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was possible, "If it's not convenient, I can wait here for your boss to come down."

"Forget it, I believe it's true." The man handed the dagger back to him after seeing enough, and waved to him to signal him to follow, "Follow me."

·

In front of the VIP room on the second floor, a man knocked on the door, "Old Chen, can I come in? There are guests looking for you."

After a while, a familiar voice came from inside, "Come in, the door is unlocked."

The man pushed open the door, and the strong smell of smoke came over his face, making Yi Huai cough from choking.

"Tsk." The man saw that he was coughing heart-piercingly, and his tone was a little mocking and helpless, "Are you a woman? You can't even stand the smell of cigarettes, you are so fragile."

Yi Huai wanted to refute, but opened his mouth and inhaled another puff of smoke, coughing until his fair cheeks became sickly flushed.

"Zhou Rong, I remember that there were no guests in the morning."

"This one is quite special." Zhou Rongpi put his hands into his trouser pockets with a smile, "Have you finished coughing? Really, it's not that I wasted your time, it's that you don't live up to it."

"How special is it? So special that you came here to bother me? I think you are..." Seeing that no one came in for a long time, the people inside came over to check the situation in person.

"Long time no see, Uncle Chen. I'm Yi Huai, do you still recognize me?"

Yi Huai, who finally stopped coughing, slowly stood up straight, and called him very politely.His voice was a bit hoarse due to the severe cough, but this did not affect Chen Zijian's recognition of who he was.

Chen Zijian stiffened imperceptibly for a moment, "It's you."

"How did you find this place?"

Chen Zijian stood at the door, and Yi Huai couldn't look past him, "I used a little trick... I actually searched for a long time. You don't live on the street before. I inquired for a long time without any results. Yue Luoyi received a jade vessel, and I recognized the words on the greeting card, so I kept an eye out for it, and after a long search, I finally found out that it was indeed you."

"Your thoughts are still as meticulous as before." Uncle Chen's words could not be discerned from the tone of praise, but his expression relaxed a little, "Come in. Zhou Rong, make a cup of tea and serve him to moisten his throat."

"okay."

This reception room is much more humane than the lobby, the lighting is no longer cold to the bone, and the antique pineapple wood furniture is decorated with custom-made cushions, which are not hard enough to hurt your bones.

Yi Huai noticed that there were two cups on the coffee table, and there were still half of cigarette butts in the ashtray, and then his eyes moved to the other side, and he saw a small closed door—the goods for guests to watch should be put away. In it, as for now... It shouldn't be a big problem to hide a person.

Who was Uncle Chen seeing before?If he walked over and pushed the door open, would he be silenced on the spot?He thought, not funny at all, it's better to let them save each other's face.

"Do you have anything to do with me?" Uncle Chen saw his every move but didn't intend to explain.

Yi Huai looked away, sat opposite him, and carefully adjusted his sitting posture, "Uncle Chen, Nie Xicheng is back."

Uncle Chen was noncommittal, "Really?"

"Forget it, you must have known it a long time ago." Yi Huai sighed, with a somewhat desolate look, "What is he going to do? What are you going to do?"

When he couldn't fall asleep, he thought over and over the words Nie Xicheng said to him.

Why are you so gentle with yourself?It's as gentle as if you were telling your last words.Don't wait for him.Why not wait?Could it be that he already knew that he would die, so he specially came to cut off all his thoughts.

"Yi Huai, to be honest, I never thought you were still alive."

"To be honest, I didn't think of it myself."

Everyone who knew his past would say this to him, and he was a little impatient to hear it.

Even his life does not belong to him, such a life is chosen by himself, so there is nothing to say.

"You have changed a lot, the old you..." Uncle Chen didn't continue.

"Life will change, not just me, everyone has changed, but there are good and bad."

"It's good to be alive, and you don't want to get involved in some things."

Uncle Chen's answer was not too different from what he thought, "Are you still by Luo Yi's side? Since that's the case, it's better for you and us to do less things that make him angry."

"He's back for revenge."

Yi Huai interrupted Uncle Chen and smiled, but the smile didn't enter his eyes, and his expression was cold and indifferent. It didn't feel like reuniting with an elder after a long absence, but rather like being at the negotiating table, " Since you won't tell me, I'll tell you what I know."

"After Uncle Nie's death, the property under his name basically fell into the hands of one person. This person is Wen Zhengting. Wen Zhengting used to be Uncle Nie's business partner. Well, it's not accurate to say partner. It's more like a younger brother who followed Uncle Nie. I picked up the spot that leaked out from Uncle Nie's fingers, and lived until after Uncle Nie died..." Yi Huai, who was feeling uncomfortable in his throat, stopped, "Because Uncle Nie's body was cremated too quickly, there was no way to do the second one again. An autopsy, so what follows is my own guesswork."

Uncle Chen still looked calm, playing Tai Chi with him in a leisurely manner, "Let's listen."

"Uncle Nie didn't die of illness but was murdered. Besides Xu Laodao, the other murderer who killed him was Wen Zhengting."

Xu Laodao wanted to take advantage of Nie Yuansheng's arms smuggling channel to transport drugs from Southeast Asia, and Wen Zhengting was the one who responded most positively to this matter, so Nie Yuansheng, who wanted to get away with nothing, became a thorn in their side.

How ironic it took him so long to figure out something so simple.

"Now Nie Xicheng is back, and he came back to avenge this group of people." Yi Huai's voice dropped, "He not only wants to continue the failed assassination ten years ago, but also wants to bring down the Wen family." giant."

Today's Wen Zhengting is no longer the little character who followed Nie Yuansheng back then, so the question is what to do with Nie Xicheng.

No matter how he thinks, the result is impossible to complete.

"It's wonderful." Uncle Chen actually applauded, "You really have a talent for drama, Yi Huai."

"Uncle Chen, do you and I have to do this?" Yi Huai smiled wryly, "I'm very frustrated by you doing this."

"It's still the same sentence, this is not something you should get involved in. Whatever you say, I won't tell you." Uncle Chen knocked on the table, his old face showed no joy or anger, "You don't want to be like this, then we To be more practical, can I tell you what is the use? Not only is it useless, but there is also a risk of exposure. You have lost all your value in ten years. You are Luo Yi's people, how do you prove to us that You won't turn around and tell others our secret?"

These words were like a naked humiliation, the last bit of blood faded from Yi Huai's face, and because of too much force, the knuckles of his clenched fingers turned blue and white, "...you are right. I have already sold myself to Luo Yi No, people without freedom really can’t help you. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t inquire about such things.”

"I have another business to come here today." He stood up, just when Zhou Rong came back with tea, the two faced each other, Zhou Rong frowned suspiciously, looked at Uncle Chen who was sitting, and silently asked about such a small question. what will happen.

Yi Huai saw the teacup in his hand, "I don't need the tea. Uncle Chen, tell him for me that Wen Zhengting is investigating him. I don't know what he has to do with the United States, but the delay is too late. It will be sooner or later." matters." When he said this, his eyes kept falling on the closed small door.

"Is it alright if you come from Luo Yi?"

Uncle Chen suddenly asked an irrelevant question, and Yi Huai's attention returned to him, "That's what I'm going to say next, Luo Yi already knows that he is Nie Xicheng."

"You told him?"

"Of course not." Yi Huai lowered his eyelashes, "I don't know Luo Yi, and I never did, but there's nothing wrong with being vigilant.

Uncle Chen stared at him sullenly for a long time, as if trying to tell if he was lying, but he just let him see it calmly, "It's too obvious, Uncle Chen, it's really too obvious, so I feel scared. I I don’t want to see him die, he said he would collapse if something happened to me, has he thought about how I will live?”

After a long time, Uncle Chen turned pale and hissed, "I will convey your advice to him truthfully."

"Thank you." Yi Huai brushed past Zhou Rong who was standing, and took his dagger from him by the way, "I'm leaving."

Zhou Rong stood there holding the tea pestle, Uncle Chen was thinking about something, his chest heaved violently.

To ensure that Yi Huai would not turn back, he suddenly raised his head and shouted over there, "You can come out now."

A handsome man walked out of the small door. Uncle Chen looked at him for a few seconds and shook his head, "Master, you are really softer than I thought. What did you say to him in a roundabout way? So cruel?" Thinking of some old things, his expression became a little sad, "You are exactly like your father in this regard, you want to hide it and want to reassure the other side, but it is self-defeating several times."