Chapter Sixty-Four: Stubborn to the Core

“How are you feeling?” Qin Yang gazed at the still frail and weary Qi Mengwei, his concern evident.

Qi Mengwei’s voice was even weaker, barely audible, “I’m exhausted. How is Yang Feng?”

“He’s dead.” Qin Yang narrowed his eyes. “Dead and gone, beyond any doubt.”

“I…” Qi Mengwei wanted to speak about what Yang Feng had said before he died, but Qin Yang interrupted her, “Come with me. Let’s go to Haitian City. You’re too tired, you need proper rest.”

Qi Mengwei said nothing more, nor did she refuse him. She simply nodded quietly.

After comforting Qi Mengwei and ensuring she rested again, Qin Yang carefully left the hospital room. Huang Zequn was crouched in a hidden corner, smoking, wary of the nurses. When he saw Qin Yang emerge, he stubbed out his cigarette and approached, saying, “Old Qin, the way Yang Feng died is too strange, a bit shady. What do you make of it?”

“What’s there to make?” Qin Yang rolled his eyes. “He’s dead. If I keep investigating him, Qian Yafang, that supreme queen, will probably come after me. I can’t match her now. You’d better keep helping me find out who examined the car wreck back then. Now that I’m out, whoever wants to harm me won’t let me go so easily.”

Huang Zequn nodded in silence.

From here on, things became much simpler for Qin Yang. With evidence proving Qi Mengwei was not the culprit behind Yang Feng’s demise, everything fell into place. As for the true murderer, most people believed that was a matter for the police. Yang Feng’s death could not be concealed from the public. Qian Yafang wisely chose to explain her son’s death as a sudden heart attack, misleading the masses. The blow to her was not just personal—it struck Fenghua Technology as well. The death of the crown prince left the succession in turmoil, and the company’s stock would endure a series of shocks. Qian Yafang would certainly seize the opportunity; anyone who tried to cause trouble after her son’s death would learn that the queen’s reputation was well earned.

Hailong Real Estate’s bid for ** went ahead smoothly, easily winning with the prestige and abundant resources of the Hailong Group. They held a press conference announcing their partnership with Tianfeng Mall. Once all matters were settled, Qin Yang brought two beauties back to Haitian City. But accompanying him was a tagalong, and not a simple one—the renowned Old Han.

“He really is following us,” Huang Zequn said, glancing in the rearview mirror and spotting Old Han’s car tailing them. “That old man is dead set on recovering his family heirloom. Qin Yang, what treasure did you take to drive him so mad? Don’t tell me you stole his wife’s underwear? That would be shameless—especially since he’s so old.”

“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll throw you out—not just on this highway, but even into outer space.” Qin Yang kicked the back of the driver’s seat.

“Don’t kick it, it’s genuine leather,” Huang Zequn protested. “I spent half a year convincing my old man to buy it for me. Not everyone’s as rich as your boss, the heiress of Tianfeng Group. Qin Yang, you really are something.”

Anyone else would think Huang Zequn was saying Qin Yang had landed a big fish, but both he and Qi Mengwei knew he was mocking Qin Yang. Despite his family fortune, Qin Yang worked as someone else's driver—a level of fickleness beyond cure. Liu Molan, who had been reviewing documents, looked up with a frown, “What does this have to do with me?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Huang Zequn replied with a mischievous grin.

Qin Yang, irritated, kicked the seat again, prompting Huang Zequn to beg for mercy and shut up.

Qi Mengwei, after several days of recuperation, looked much better. The police had talked with her, confirming she was not the killer. Fenghua Technology no longer pressed the matter. With things calming down, Qin Yang brought everyone back to Haitian City. Now, Qi Mengwei hardly spoke, only exchanging a few words with Qin Yang in private. Liu Molan, unaware of the grievances between them, did not pry. From Qin Yang’s tone, she could tell this woman had suffered greatly—pitiful, really—though she wasn’t pleased that Qin Yang brought her back.

Qin Yang was too lazy to bicker with Huang Zequn. He closed his eyes, appearing to sleep, but in fact, he was sifting through Yang Feng’s memories.

The butler had laid out every scene related to him. Aside from the segment framing Qin Yang, the most useful were Yang Feng’s interactions with several strangers. Their faces were blurred in the memory—according to the butler, Yang Feng had deliberately tried to forget them, hence the haziness.

“Do you want Qin Yang dead?”

Perhaps because of the raw mockery and contempt at the time, Yang Feng’s expression twisted with hatred at the mention of Qin Yang’s name. “I’d love nothing more than to see him die with no grave.”

“Then do as we say.” The stranger wore black-rimmed glasses, looking like a pampered young master. Those with him had an unruly air, regarding Yang Feng as if he were a dog.

What followed was the detailed plan to frame Qin Yang. From tampering with the car, luring Qin Yang into a street race, setting obstacles to provoke an accident—all meticulously laid out. Yang Feng, after hearing it, agreed with manic enthusiasm. Then came persuading Liu Xi and baiting the other young heirs to join the race with the promise of Qi Mengwei. Afterwards, Yang Feng had no further contact with those men, until the day Qin Yang returned to Jianghai City and Yang Feng received a mysterious call: “Qin Yang isn’t dead. If you see him, tell him—either disappear without a trace, or prepare to die.”

Yang Feng didn’t believe their words—until he saw Qin Yang again. But he never got the chance to deliver the message.

“I don’t recall having any grudge with those people,” Qin Yang pondered, baffled. “Why are they targeting me? The young heir’s memories don’t even mention them. Damn it.”

Meanwhile, in the car behind.

Old Han was reading a file detailing Qin Yang’s various activities—at least, those that could be investigated. Seated beside him was Cheng Ye, who had once launched a covert attack on Qin Yang.

“Did the kid really take on a master? National martial arts are so profound—how could he gain such skill in just half a month?” Old Han was equally perplexed. “You know Xiao Yi’s strength, but he was helpless before Qin Yang. Cheng Ye, if you faced him head-on, what chance would you have?”

Cheng Ye smiled bitterly. “Almost none. I’m certain—even those more skilled than him would suffer. He’s ruthless; anger him and he’ll pursue vengeance at any cost. I think he’s a madman—a stubborn, unyielding madman.”

“Is he truly mad?” Old Han tossed the file aside.

Cheng Ye nodded with conviction. “I guarantee, if we don’t satisfy him, the Thirteen Gun techniques will end up as a common trick performed on street corners.”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Old Han said coldly.

Cheng Ye glanced helplessly at Old Han. “He really would. He once risked Han Tian’s life for mutual destruction—he’s capable of anything. Old Han, one man must answer for his own actions. Qin Yang believes in blood for blood. At most, he’d inflict the same wound on me—he has no reason to monopolize the Thirteen Gun techniques.”

Old Han sighed. “It’s not up to me. I’ll contact Qin Lie. If Qin Yang tries to throw his weight around, surely he won’t defy his father’s words.”

Cheng Ye looked at Old Han with gratitude.

But—could Qin Lie really persuade Qin Yang?

In fact, when Qin Lie received Old Han’s call, he felt utterly frustrated.

He had thought that setting traps for Qin Yang would force him to reform, but instead, he got caught himself. First, he sent people to test Qin Yang, only for Qin Yang to discover their interference in his personal affairs, forcing Qin Lie to agree to the partnership with Tianfeng Mall. Even Boss Cao’s headquarters nearly got destroyed. If he intervened in Qin Yang’s affairs again, he had no idea what demands the boy would make.

There was nothing he could do.

He had once promised never to meddle in Qin Yang’s business, nor would Qin Yang be allowed to rely on the family’s power. If Qin Yang failed to achieve satisfactory results, he would inherit nothing from Hailong. Qin Yang never sought his help again—when Wang Zhibing offered a hundred thousand for the wedding, Qin Lie seized the chance to make arrangements, but Qin Yang soon retaliated. Now, Qin Lie couldn’t bring himself to force Qin Yang to do anything.

For the first time, Qin Lie regretted his decision.

Who could have predicted this troublesome boy would play so far outside the rules, leaving everyone perplexed?

So when Old Han made his request, Qin Lie could only answer bitterly, “Old Han, it’s not that I won’t help, but that the boy may not listen to me.”

Old Han was helpless as well.

He didn’t dare demand too much—especially since Cheng Ye had struck so hard before, nearly crippling Qin Yang’s arm. Even Qin Yang’s mother objected, so how could he shamelessly make further requests? At his age, he couldn’t afford to be so brazen. After hanging up, he sighed, “Let’s retrieve the purple-gold box first, then talk.”