Chapter 141 — Old Buffon's Origins

"Come on, Dadong, can't you see? Your little Sister Lin and her boyfriend are making up lies together to make a fool of you," Zheng Zetao said sourly.

"That's not true, Big Dong. Everything I said is real." Seeing herself doubted, Lin Yanhe grew a little anxious.

"Then let's go. Dadong, let's all go take a look—see what this so-called company is really like." Zheng Zetao was convinced this was all just a lie cooked up by Yang Ce and Lin Yanhe—or rather, that even Lin Yanhe was a victim. He had been lamenting that he had no chance to get his revenge, and now he felt his opportunity had come: he meant to embarrass Yang Ce.

Though Yaoyang said nothing, his thoughts were much the same. Hearing Zheng Zetao's words, he nodded in agreement.

"In that case, let's all go together." Yang Ce glanced at Zheng Zetao and Yaoyang. How could he not know what they were thinking? But he did not call them out on it.

To be continued.

700. Transformation

"Big Dong, this—" Lin Yanhe looked somewhat troubled. She had meant to invite him alone, yet these two men whom Yang Ce so disliked insisted on tagging along.

"Zhiyun, if they want to come, let them come." Yang Duoran understood what these two fellows were up to, and seeing Li Dadong's awkward expression, he simply went along with their wishes.

"Sorry about this," Li Dadong said with a bitter smile.

Yang Ce said nothing, took Lin Yanhe by the hand, and walked out of the alley.

"We're not taking the bus, are we?" Zheng Zetao said in that sneering, insinuating tone from behind. The direction Yang Ce was heading was not the main street, and under normal circumstances no taxis passed that way. That was why Zheng Zetao made the remark: "We're not squeezing onto a bus. How about you just tell us the address, and we'll grab a taxi ourselves?"

"Zetao, oh." Li Dadong felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do. Zheng Zetao had changed. He was no longer the loyal, big-hearted Zheng Zetao of their school days. The present Zheng Zetao had grown thoroughly overbearing and insolent.

Yang Shuoxuan paid him no mind. Once out of the alley mouth, he simply pulled out his car remote and unlocked the BMW.

Zheng Zetao and Yaoyang were visibly stunned, and even Li Dadong was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Yang Ce to own a car—and a luxury BMW X5 at that. Lin Yanhe, however, knew Yang Juehuan's background well and showed not the slightest awkwardness.

He opened the passenger door first and let Lin Yanhe get in, then said to Li Dadong and the other two: "Big Winter Melon, get in. Oh, that's right—weren't you two going to take a taxi?"

Zheng Zetao's face was now full of disbelief, but at this point he had no choice but to admit that he had misjudged things earlier. No wonder Yang Ce had been so calm—the man had the capital to be calm.

Zheng Zetao was the type who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Now that he had witnessed Yang Moyi's strength, he began to worry again. He had been sneering and mocking for quite a while—Yang Yongjin had probably already taken note of it and would hold a grudge, wouldn't he? Right now, the pressing matter was to find out Yang Juehuan's background and see just how capable he really was.

With that thought, even Yan said, "Since there's a car, why would we take a taxi?"

In truth, Zheng Zetao had far too high an opinion of himself. As for holding grudges against a nobody like him—Yang Ce would not think such a person worth his resentment.

A man without shame is invincible. Yang Shuoxuan had not expected Zheng Zetao to change his tune so quickly. It was odd, but there was no point in saying anything more; a few more bodies squeezed in the back made little difference, so let them squeeze.

"Bro, what does your company actually do?" On the road, Zheng Zetao could no longer hold his tongue. He had been the one jumping about most wildly earlier, so if Yang Ce wanted to pick a fight, he would surely be the first to be cut down. Yaoyang had barely said a word.

So he began to feel out Yang Juehuan's background. He had seen Yang Juehuan's luxury car, and that told him the company Yang Ce spoke of was most likely real.

Yang Ce curled his lip and said dismissively, "You have eyes. Look for yourself in a moment."

Zheng Zetao swallowed the rebuke and did not dare show anger. He usually worked at his elder brother's bathhouse, where he had seen plenty of ruthless men and plenty of their methods, so he no longer dared feel any resentment toward Yang Shuoxuan.

Yang Ce parked the car in the lot in front of the jewelry company on the commercial street, then stepped out.

"Brother Yang!" Several young men in black greeted Yang Yanchuan in unison.

These men were the security guards sent over by Qingshuang; they had already been shown Yang Juehuan's photograph. But even without knowing Yang Ce, they could still recognize this car—Hou Lin's former ride.

Yang Yuting nodded and smiled. "Thanks for your hard work."

In the bitter cold of the third nine-day period, these men were freezing outside for the sake of the jewelry company's safety. Yang Duoran felt he ought to show them some concern.

"Only doing our duty, Brother Yang," said the lead man in black. Clearly he had some vague inkling of Yang Juehuan's status, and being praised by Yang Juehuan seemed to delight him enormously.

"What's your name?" Yang Yanchuan asked.

"Yang Guolong," the man in black said.

"Same surname as me. Keep up the good work—I won't treat my brothers badly." Yang Ce patted Yang Guolong on the shoulder.

"Yes, Brother Yang!" Yang Guolong answered hastily, his eyes full of excitement.

At this moment, Yang Ce set off towering waves in Zheng Zetao's heart. He now truly believed that Yang Ce was no ordinary man—but he also began to worry. It seemed Yang Juehuan's strength was by no means weak.

"Over there—those are our brothers too?" Yang Ce asked, glancing at the men in black pacing back and forth in every direction.

"Yes, all sent by Brother Bao to protect the company," Yang Guolong replied.

"So many people—there's no need." Yang Ce thought for a moment. "How about this: let some of the brothers go rest first."

"Brother Yang, how can we do that? The company's security comes first!" Yang Guolong said.

"If they go rest, they can still rush back in time if something happens. Have them keep their walkie-talkies on them at all times, and reinforce immediately at the first sign of trouble." Yang Ce instructed, "Rotate shifts like this, and no one gets too exhausted. Agreed?"

"But—" Yang Guolong knew Yang Yanzhou was right, but Brother Bao's earlier order had been for everyone to stand ready and not slack off.

"What is it? Some difficulty?" Yang Ce glanced up at Yang Guolong, then said, "Is it Baolin?"

"Yes. Brother Bao instructed us to stand fully on guard," Yang Guolong said.

"Didn't Baolin tell you that once you're here, you follow my arrangements?" Yang Ce's voice turned sharp.

"Yes, Brother Yang. I know what to do now." Yang Guolong said repeatedly, "Brother Yang, on behalf of the brothers, thank you."

"It's I who should thank you. What you're protecting now isn't even my company yet." Yang Ce waved his hand and smiled.

Li Dadong did not know who this "Brother Bao," Baolin, was supposed to be, so he felt nothing in particular. But Zheng Zetao was different. His brother ran a luxury bathhouse and often came into contact with underworld affairs, so the name "Baolin" was thunder in his ears.

So Zheng Zetao was instantly stunned. If this Baolin they spoke of was that Baolin, then crushing him would be the work of minutes.

After Yang Guolong left, Zheng Zetao crept trembling to Yang Juehuan's side and said in a low voice, "Brother—Brother Yang, the Baolin, Brother Bao, you just mentioned—is that the—the Brother Bao?"

Yang Ce looked at Zheng Zetao's expression and smiled. "Probably the one you're thinking of. Nightless Sky's."