Chapter 592: Peril at Every Turn

That night, the police arrested four suspicious individuals, each assigned a small task. From the current situation, it seemed Zhou Tiannan planned to kill Qu Jingli with a bomb, but the most crucial piece—the bomb itself—had yet to appear.

It was already 11 PM. Lin Dongxue suggested, “Let’s head back. The signing ceremony is tomorrow morning. We need to be alert.”

Chen Shi, staring at the deserted street, said, “This feels too easy. Zhou Tiannan’s plans were unraveled so quickly? Could he have another trick up his sleeve, or is this all a distraction?”

“Haha, you’re overthinking. Just because things are going smoothly, you’re uneasy? Zhou Tiannan isn’t omnipotent. He got lucky last time; he won’t succeed this time.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Returning home, Chen Shi saw that KK had sent several messages, stating that Yan Ke had visited the building that evening but left after circling it. Chen Shi figured Yan Ke had been spooked and decided not to walk into the trap.

It seemed Zhou Tiannan’s plan had failed, but was it really that simple? Chen Shi felt uneasy. While he hoped to thwart Zhou Tiannan, he also wanted to see what grand scheme he had in mind.

That night, Chen Shi slept fitfully, dreaming of Qu Jingli being shot at the signing ceremony. He woke up early, had breakfast with Tao Yueyue, who then went to watch TV. “Aren’t you going to school?” he asked.

“It’s the weekend!”

“Oh right, I forgot.”

“Do you have an important case today? Can I come?”

“Not today, maybe next time.”

Chen Shi headed to the signing ceremony. By 8 AM, many cars had already arrived, and Lin Dongxue and the others were in position. The police, in plain clothes, patrolled the area. Seeing Chen Shi, Lin Dongxue said, “No suspicious persons spotted. If only it stays this quiet.”

“Are they still investigating the Dahong Group?”

“The economic police are on it. They found evidence of economic crimes on Qu Jing’an’s computer, but he’s dead now…”

“I bet his brother is scapegoating him. Nothing more convenient than blaming a dead man.”

“We know, but the evidence is airtight. If this continues, Qu Jingli should secure his position as CEO… if he survives today.”

“If he survives?” Chen Shi pondered the implications, considering another possibility.

Lin Dongxue’s radio crackled, and a colleague reported, “Dongxue, there’s a suspicious man taking photos from the building across the street. Check it out.”

“Let’s go!”

Across the street, they found a man with a high-powered digital camera, who quickly hid in the bathroom. “Come out! What are you doing?” Lin Dongxue demanded.

“I’m a… journalist!” the man stammered.

“Credentials?”

He couldn’t produce any. Chen Shi examined the camera and whispered to Lin Dongxue, “This guy is good. He’s found all our undercover officers… Who are these photos for?”

The man, trembling, handed over a laptop. All the photos were sent via social media to an account with no details.

“Who put you up to this?” Chen Shi asked.

“A man… don’t know his name.”

“What did he look like?”

“He wore a black hat.”

“Of course,” Chen Shi said. “I guess you know Zhou Tiannan too?”

At the mention of Zhou Tiannan, the man shook his head frantically, “No, no!”

“Enough… Dongxue, take him away! And notify everyone to change their outfits; we’ve been compromised.”

As Lin Dongxue handcuffed the man, Chen Shi gazed out the window. Over twenty police officers and sixty of Qu Jingli’s bodyguards were present. The fire safety, elevators, power, and surveillance were all secure. Could Zhou Tiannan really break through this defense?

Qu Jingli emerged from the building, surrounded by bodyguards, heading for his car. Chen Shi said, “Why is he leaving? Dongxue, stay here. I’ll check it out.”

Chen Shi rushed downstairs as Lin Qiupu, in plain clothes, stopped Qu Jingli, asking, “Why the sudden change of location?”

Qu Jingli sighed, “The Z Company representative insisted the place I arranged wasn’t safe. They want to sign at their hotel.”

“This place isn’t safe? We spent two days securing it with so many people. Moving now puts the police at a disadvantage.”

“I never asked for your protection. You insisted on it.”

Qu Jingli pushed past Lin Qiupu and got into his car, ordering the driver, “Go!”

Watching the cars leave, Lin Qiupu fumed, “Why can’t he just stay put and let us protect him?” He ordered everyone to follow the convoy.

On the road, bodyguards’ cars flanked Qu Jingli’s vehicle, followed by police cars. “What a grand procession!” Chen Shi remarked, driving.

After half an hour, a truck suddenly veered into their path, nearly colliding with the lead car. Lin Qiupu ordered Xiaodong to check it out. Xiaodong intercepted the truck, reporting, “A tired driver.”

“Detain him!”

As they neared the hotel, Chen Shi heard a buzzing overhead. A drone was approaching Qu Jingli’s car. Lin Qiupu, sensing danger, called Qu Jingli, telling him to stop.

The drone exploded with a bang, shattering windshields and causing several police cars to collide. The front cars sped away in panic.

“Chen Shi, don’t lose sight of him!” Lin Qiupu ordered.

“Got it!”

Chen Shi skillfully avoided a collision, speeding up to catch Qu Jingli. Lin Qiupu stayed to manage the aftermath. Lin Dongxue noted, “The drone’s explosion wasn’t lethal.”

“I think it was meant to break the convoy, making it easier to target Qu Jingli.”

Chen Shi kept a close watch on the car ahead. Suddenly, Qu Jingli’s car stopped, and he jumped out, yelling for the police.

He hurriedly got into Chen Shi’s car, trembling. His driver had suddenly started foaming at the mouth, possibly poisoned. After a series of “accidents,” Qu Jingli was terrified. “The signing ceremony is off. Someone is trying to kill you, and nothing is more important than your life.”

“No, the signing must proceed. We’ve worked three years for this partnership with Z Company. We can’t just abandon it!”

Chen Shi stared at him, “Are you still not being honest? Did you receive a death threat?”

Terrified, Qu Jingli admitted, “Zhou Tiannan threatened to kill both me and my brother!”