Chapter 792: Chapter 792: Don’t Put Yourself in Danger

Yin Mo’s request did not receive a direct response from Li Qiao.

With only two hours to clear the Parliament Building, she paced down the stairs, occasionally glancing through her notebook for clues.

Such national historical buildings are often renovated and refurbished, even the indoor Scripture Pavilion is regularly maintained.

If Jing Yilan had truly hidden something well, it would certainly be in an extremely secretive and unexpected place.

Otherwise, after so many years of history, a major renovation would have been enough to expose the secret.

Li Qiao looked around and then stopped on the stairs. She glanced at her watch, there were only forty minutes left until the end of the clearing, “Has the Scripture Pavilion ever been renovated before?”

Yin Mo next to her thought seriously but had no deep impression, “The Scripture Pavilion is not open to the public, even if there were renovations, they wouldn’t be widely reported. Is there a problem?”

Footsteps approached from behind them on the stairs, and the two turned their heads in unison. It was He Chen and Shang Yu, taking long strides and walking leisurely.

He Chen’s narrow eyes focused unwaveringly on Yin Mo. Even without any extra movement, he still exuded strong aggressiveness.

Shang Yu came to Li Qiao’s side, his deep gaze fixed on her. He leaned in slightly to close the distance between them, “Why did you stop looking?”

Li Qiao looked up at him and with a crooked smile she said, “Could you check the renovation records of the Scripture Pavilion from recent years?”

“I can.” The man looked around the pavilion, his handsome profile tinged with a slight smile, “What did you think of?”

Li Qiao tapped her notebook, raising her chin towards the towering bookshelves, “The bookcases and carpet are new, the steps and desks and chairs also show signs of repairs. We can only look at the renovation records to see which places haven’t been retouched.”

If the object was indeed in the Scripture Pavilion, it was basically possible to exclude any corner that met the eye.

Everything had been refurbished, there was no need to waste time searching any longer.

Shang Yu raised his thin lips and, hooking her shoulder, turned back towards the staircase entrance.

Yin Mo, not understanding, subconsciously followed their steps but was stopped halfway by He Chen grabbing her wrist.

She struggled with a cold face, glancing ahead and asking in a low voice, “What are you doing?”

At that moment, He Chen leaned casually against the staircase’s mahogany railing, his tone frivolous, “What do you think?”

Yin Mo did not want to fight him, firstly because she could not win, and secondly because it would be a spectacle.

She stood without moving, her expression growing colder, “Let go, I still have things to discuss with Qiaoqiao.”

He Chen’s lips curled playfully, his thumb pressing down maliciously on Yin Mo’s pulse point. He applied a little pressure and, seeing her wince in pain, felt considerably satisfied, “Beg me.”

“Are you crazy?” Yin Mo looked at He Chen with indescribable weariness. Just as she spoke, the pain on her wrist intensified, “He Chen, you son of a…”

At this time, Li Qiao, walking in front, looked back faintly, “Big sis.”

Yin Mo collected her composure, not wanting Li Qiao to see anything amiss, while He Chen also released the pressure, rubbing her fingers gently, “Baby, she’s calling you.”

He was simply a man with split personalities and neurotic tendencies.

Yin Mo shook off He Chen and climbed the steps two at a time.

She returned to Li Qiao’s side, nodded to Shang Yu as a greeting, then asked, “Are you two leaving now?”

“Yes.” Li Qiao responded indifferently, sweeping a glance over He Chen down the stairs. She pursed her lips, admonishing, “Be careful on your own. If there’s any trouble, tell Brother Chen, he’ll contact us.”

Yin Mo nodded, lifting the corners of her mouth in an understanding smile, “Okay.”

Li Qiao let go of Shang Yu’s hand, stepped forward to hug Yin Mo, whispering something into her ear that visibly shook her. Yin Mo’s expression turned extremely complex, “Qiaoqiao…”

Li Qiao patted her shoulder, then turned and left the Scripture Pavilion with Shang Yu.

Yin Mo wanted to follow, but she rationalized and stopped herself.

Just now, Li Qiao had whispered in her ear, “Don’t risk your life, protecting yourself is the best thing you can do for us.”

…

Leaving the Parliament Building, Li Qiao leaned against the car window, staring blankly at the street scene.

Her fingertips felt warm as the man’s tepid palm covered the back of her hand.

Li Qiao glanced at the gradually shrinking building and squinted her eyes, asking, “Where are the renovation blueprints usually stored?”

“At the General Bureau of Construction,” Shang Yu turned his head to look at her, his voice steady and magnetic, “in a hurry?”

Li Qiao leaned back in her seat, raised an eyebrow, and smiled, “Not really.”

Seeing this, the man rubbed her fingers, his tone probing, “What’s your plan if we can’t find it?”

“Go back to the South Sea,” Li Qiao sighed softly, turning her face to look at the street corner, “It would be best to find them, but it doesn’t matter if we don’t. After so many years, whether the things are still there or not, even if we do find them, who can guarantee they are still valid?”

Speaking, she turned her gaze to meet Shang Yu’s, her eyes brimming with cunning, “I actually hope to personally take down the Xiao family.”

It would be easy to get what is within reach, but with so much time passed, the Chairman Family, knowing full well that Jing Yilan had the evidence, wouldn’t just sit and wait for the end.

She had originally held high hopes for that document, but now that she had learned more of the inside story from Yin Mo, she had other strategies in mind.

…

On the other side, Xi Luo, with Gu Chen in tow, got out of the car in the affluent district of West City.

In front of them was a standalone villa with a small front garden that servants were tending to.

Xi Luo glanced at the conspicuous government official vehicle by the road, slammed the car door, and walked in, while the servant on seeing her, called out with surprise, “Miss, you’re back.”

She nodded, not minding Gu Chen, who was following behind her adjusting his magazine, and headed straight for the living room upon entering.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Mr. Xi and Xi Ze were sitting on the same side, facing a man blowing smoke rings with his cigar.

Their expressions varied when they saw Xi Luo, with a trace of anxiety appearing on Mr. Xi’s face, “Xiao Luo, go upstairs, your mother is in the tea room.”

Xi Luo ignored Mr. Xi’s words, turned her head to look at the smoking man, her tone cold, “Mr. Ai Bo, what brings you here?”

This man, a confidant of the Second Crown Prince, was the executive deputy secretary of the government.

Ai Bo, over forty, was a classic smiling tiger.

He took a puff on his cigar, looking Xi Luo up and down, “Miranda, long time no see.”

Ai Bo’s gaze made Xi Luo feel repulsed, despite her good relations with Princess Margaret, she couldn’t stand anyone associated with the Second Crown Prince.

While talking, Gu Chen also entered, standing behind Xi Luo to act as her protector.

The moment Ai Bo saw Gu Chen, he narrowed his eyes and turned away to take a puff, the smile at the corner of his mouth sinking a notch, “Mr. Xi, please consider my suggestion carefully. I hope to have your answer within three days.”

Xi Luo inwardly sensed trouble; every move Ai Bo made was closely related to the Second Crown Prince.

His words were evidently a veiled threat.

Ai Bo tossed the remaining half of his cigar into the ashtray, stood up with his potbelly, straightened out his suit jacket, and feigned a smile, “Ladies and gentlemen, until next time.”