Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Chapter 1303 What's the matter

Li Xiangqian sat at a table in the corner, stroking the empty coffee cup in front of him. His eyes were a little empty, staring at the scratches on the bottom of the cup. He still couldn't calm down, and the faces of He Yuzhu and Xu Damao kept appearing in his mind, especially the eye contact between them at that moment - the alertness and determination that could not be ignored, like a storm about to erupt, almost made him breathless.

At this moment, footsteps sounded at the door. Li Xiangqian raised his head and his eyes flashed. A man in an ordinary suit walked in. He was tall and had a cold temperament. It was his former colleague, Wang Chen. Wang Chen walked towards him, and Li Xiangqian motioned for him to sit down.

"What would you like to drink?" Li Xiangqian asked, his voice calm, but with a barely perceptible hint of nervousness.

"Black coffee." Wang Chen did not sit down, but stood in front of the table, his tone a little dull, "There are some things I think you should know."

Li Xiangqian's heart moved, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me, what's the matter?"

Wang Chen looked down at the table, then looked up and looked directly into Li Xiangqian's eyes. "What you saw last night was more than just a simple transaction." His tone was a little hesitant, but his eyes flashed with anxiety that could not be concealed. "Xu Damao and He Yuzhu have decided to involve you."

"Involve them?" Li Xiangqian frowned, his voice carrying a hint of sneer, "How could they possibly attack me? We don't have any deep hatred."

Wang Chen shook his head. "You don't understand, Li Xiangqian. This is not just a personal grudge. Your relationship with them has long gone beyond your imagination. In their eyes, you are no longer an ordinary person."

Li Xiangqian was silent for a while, his eyes gradually became sharp, "What do you mean?"

"It means that they are targeting you." Wang Chen's voice was low and solemn. "I investigated and found that your transaction with them had quietly started several months ago. They used some of your resources to pull you into their game. Now, you are a bargaining chip for them to compete for interests."

Li Xiangqian's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and the intuition in his heart became clearer. It turned out that he did not see that scene by accident - everything had been carefully arranged, and someone had long been controlling his actions behind the scenes.

"So," Li Xiangqian asked in a low voice, "you're saying that He Yuzhu and Xu Damao want to frame me?"

Wang Chen glanced at him, his eyes revealing a trace of guilt, "They are not just framing you. They want to use you, your reputation and everything you have, to achieve their goals. Every contact between you and them is part of their plan. And you are completely unaware of it."

"How do they know that I know?" Li Xiangqian's tone became increasingly cold.

"Because they knew from the beginning that you would know." Wang Chen sighed, "You seem to not care about these things, but in fact, you have already become part of their plan. At every step, they are testing your reaction, waiting for you to make the final choice."

Li Xiangqian's thoughts were in a mess, and his chest began to ache. All his calmness and rationality seemed to be broken at this moment. He suddenly realized that he was not an outsider at all, but had already been dragged into the vortex of this conspiracy.

"What should I do?" Li Xiangqian's voice was a little low, but he was no longer the indifferent bystander before. Every word he said carried a firmness that could not be ignored.

Wang Chen frowned, "You must find evidence and find out their trump card. Otherwise, not only you, but also the people around you will be implicated."

Li Xiangqian's fingers tapped the table unconsciously, his eyes deep. He knew that Wang Chen was right. If he continued to let this game develop, he might really become their victim without knowing it. Without evidence, he would never be able to fight back.

"Wang Chen, do you know what I should do now?" Li Xiangqian asked in a calmer tone, "If you really know something, you'd better tell me now."

Wang Chen paused, looking a little embarrassed, but soon, his eyes became firm, "I can help you, but there is a condition. You must stay calm and don't let your emotions control you. Only in this way can you find their loopholes and break this dilemma."

"Calm down?" Li Xiangqian smiled bitterly, "I have always been calm, but what should I do now to protect myself?"

"You can start with the transaction between Xu Damao and He Yuzhu," Wang Chen frowned. "You just saw the bag they exchanged. The things inside are not ordinary items. You have to figure out their plan and see what is in the bag. Then, trace back to every link you came into contact with and find their flaws."

Li Xiangqian's eyes flickered. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly stood up and looked at Wang Chen firmly. "Thank you, Wang Chen. I know what to do now."

Wang Chen nodded, with a hint of mixed emotions in his eyes, "Remember, Li Xiangqian, not everyone can get out of this game like you. Be careful of them."

Li Xiangqian said nothing more, but turned and walked out of the cafe. The night wind outside was still cold, and the streets gradually became deserted. Walking on the street, he had already decided in his heart that he would not wait passively, but take the initiative. He Yuzhu and Xu Damao must have revealed some flaws, and he must find that flaw.

This night is destined not to be peaceful.

Li Xiangqian walked into the night and returned to the old building where He Yuzhu and Xu Damao had traded before. When he stood at the entrance of the alley, he deliberately lowered the sound of his footsteps, quickly scanned the surroundings, and after confirming that there was nothing unusual, he quietly sneaked into the deep alley.

This time, he was no longer just observing from a distance. He wanted to know what He Yuzhu and Xu Damao were planning, especially the secret hidden in the black leather bag. He took a deep breath and tried to relax his nerves. The alertness accumulated over the years told him that he had to stay calm at this time, and every decision was crucial.

He walked slowly along the wall, trying to hide in the shadows as much as possible. The walls of the building were mottled, and the air was filled with dampness and mold. Several windows were closed, and only one window had a little light. Through the crack in the window, Li Xiangqian saw that there seemed to be a figure swaying in the house.

He approached the window carefully, and with the help of the stains and dust on the windowsill, he adjusted his position and could barely see the situation inside the house. The furnishings in the room were messy, with a few cardboard boxes piled in the corner, emitting a stale smell.