After Divorce, My Ex-Wife Became My Creditor - Chapter 49 - Speculation
Han Qian had just arrived at the General Affairs Department on the eleventh floor when Gao Lvxing was already waiting outside the elevator. Without needing to ask, it was clear it was about Guan Junbiao. But before Gao Lvxing could speak, Yang Jia darted into the elevator like an arrow, pressing the button for 13A to head to the fourteenth floor. Han Qian gave Gao Lvxing an apologetic smile, and Gao Lvxing gestured that it was no problem.
In fact, Han Qian really wanted to chat with Gao Lvxing. Rongyao treated its employees well, but internally it was a mess. Just as he reached the fourteenth floor, Guan the Goon called again, inviting Mr. Han to the café across the street for a chat.
Han Qian hung up the phone without saying a word and walked into Yan Qingqing’s office, frowning.
“Am I jumping from the frying pan into the fire?”
Yan Qingqing picked up a folder from the desk and threw it at Han Qian, frowning.
“I’m not in the mood for your nonsense. What does Guan the Goon want with you?”
It seemed Guan the Goon’s reputation was really that bad. Han Qian placed the folder back on the desk, frowning.
“We have a bit of a connection. How come everyone here knows Guan Junbiao? Is he that famous?”
“Not famous, infamous. Extortion, fraud, gang fights-there’s nothing he hasn’t done. When trouble arises, his underlings take the fall and go to jail, and he gets out in three to five years after pulling some strings.”
As they spoke, the phone rang again. This time, Guan the Goon got straight to the point.
“Mr. Han, name your price.”
Han Qian responded with a hum, thought for a moment, and then said, “Half an hour later, at the café across the street.”
After hanging up, Han Qian looked at Yan Qingqing and asked, “Do you know Tu Xiao?”
“I know of him, not well. We nod if we meet. He’s the big boss in the Eighth District, trying to go legit these past few years.”
“Do you think he wants to become a construction contractor?”
Yan Qingqing fell silent, staring at Han Qian with her fox-like eyes. She laughed, and Han Qian laughed too. Then Yan Qingqing slammed the table and stood up, angrily saying, “No way! Han Qian, who are you to make decisions for me? Are you my man or my boss? If you want to do someone a favor, it’s absolutely impossible!”
Han Qian couldn’t laugh anymore, frowning. “Why?”
“Tu Xiao comes from a criminal background. Even if he cuts corners, we at Rongyao have no way to deal with him. In the end, I’ll be held accountable. No way! Tu Xiao is absolutely out of the question.”
Yan Qingqing firmly refused, weighing the pros and cons. Han Qian also felt it was a bit unreliable after hearing her reasoning. But then he remembered something Guan the Goon had said downstairs.
He wanted to extort Gao Lvxing. Han Qian thought about it and decided to tell Yan Qingqing. After hearing it, her eyes lit up again, but Han Qian had no interest in listening to her chatter, so he turned and left, leaving Yan Qingqing to ponder on her own.
Han Qian didn’t care about whether Gao Lvxing was being extorted. What he cared about was whether this idea could make Yan Qingqing interested.
It was Tu Xiao who wanted to target Gao Lvxing, but from Guan the Goon’s behavior with Sun Ya, it didn’t seem like extortion. Tu Xiao probably wanted this guy to approach Sun Ya, with Han Qian as a backup plan. Guan the Goon had made his own decision.
At the café, Guan the Goon sat with his legs crossed by the window, exchanging flirtatious glances with a nearby office lady. Suddenly, the office lady got up and ran away, making Guan the Goon furious. When he turned his head, his face was full of smiles. He stood up, disregarding whether others needed peace and quiet, and shouted loudly, “Mr. Han, over here!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a waiter came over to remind him not to disturb others. Guan the Goon frowned, his temper flaring, and pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket, counting it out one by one into the waiter’s tray. He continued to shout at Han Qian, “Mr. Han, you’re finally here. If you hadn’t come, I would’ve been thrown into the sea to feed the fish.”
Seeing Han Qian approaching, Guan the Goon smiled and turned to the waiter, saying with a grin, “If you dare disturb me again, I’ll break your legs. Bring the best coffee, and if it’s not enough, cover it yourself. The rest is your tip. Now scram.”
The waiter ran off with a seven-hundred-yuan tip, and none of the café’s patrons dared to provoke this oddball. Han Qian walked over with a smile, and as he sat down, the coffee was placed on the table. Han Qian crossed his legs and smirked.
“I’m not really interested in this bitter stuff. Mr. Guan! Your persistence doesn’t seem to be just about Lin Zongheng, does it? Besides, you should be able to tell my current financial situation. I’m not the right target for your extortion.”
Guan the Goon was a bit unsure about Han Qian, but he smiled broadly and said, “Mr. Han, what are you talking about? Don’t say that Lin Zongheng wants to mess with you. Just say the word, and I’ll make sure he’s covered in filth today. We’re like brothers at first sight, no need for formalities. If you don’t like coffee, we can switch to alcohol.”
“Haha, Mr. Guan, your jokes are quite amusing. But if you keep joking, it’s not good for me to skip work. I should head back.”
Hearing that Han Qian was about to leave, Guan the Goon quickly stood up, looking a bit anxious. Seeing this, Han Qian suddenly laughed.
“Hahaha, Mr. Guan, you’re too easy to tease. You acted with me at the company earlier, so how can I leave? Right? I hope Mr. Guan can be a bit more honest. Did little Tu Kun tell you about my good relationship with Yan Qingqing, or did you have someone investigate me?”
Since it was already out in the open, Guan the Goon stopped pretending and slumped into his chair with a sigh.
“Ah, I told you I’m not cut out for this. I’m good at killing and arson, but I don’t even want to talk to you brainy types. It was the master who called the young miss, but I hope Mr. Han can believe me when I say I have no intention of harming you. I’m worried someone might say I, Guan the Goon, can’t win a fight and resort to tricks.”
Han Qian took a sip of coffee. It was too hot, making a sound like an old man sipping tea back home. Seeing Guan the Goon’s bewildered expression, Han Qian smiled.
“Drinking coffee, but I can’t quite get the vibe. Actually, I prefer tea leaves over this foreign stuff. My friendship with Mr. Guan was forged through fighting, a bond at first sight. If I don’t trust you, should I trust Pinocchio?”
“Pin… what? Alcohol?”
Han Qian didn’t bother explaining to Guan the Goon and continued with a smile.
“If Mr. Guan is just here for a chat, I definitely don’t believe it. If I’m not mistaken, Tu Xiao’s target is Sun Ya, right? But you have more faith in me, Han Qian, and then realized I’m harder to deal with than Sun Ya. You also found out about the discord between Sun Ya and me. Getting involved with me directly got you a death sentence from Sun Ya, which wasn’t what Tu Xiao wanted. So you’re in a tough spot. Am I right?”
Cold sweat dripped from Guan the Goon’s forehead as he pretended to calmly pick up his coffee cup. Han Qian chuckled again.
“Tu Xiao’s days are tough, right? He needs to transition, needs a foolproof opportunity. The only ones he can confidently invest in are Rongyao and Changxiang. Changxiang hasn’t made any moves, so he chose Rongyao. Tu Xiao wants to become a construction contractor?”
Pfft!
A mouthful of coffee sprayed out, landing on a man who was about to leave. Guan the Goon acted as if he hadn’t seen it, staring wide-eyed at Han Qian.
“Mr. Han… you’re amazing!”
Han Qian didn’t give Guan the Goon an answer, handing a handkerchief to the unfortunate man, who refused it and tried to grab Han Qian’s shoulder.
Swish!
A cold flash, and Guan the Goon drew a half-meter-long short knife from his waist, pinning it to the table. The unfortunate man turned and left without hesitation. This scene was clearly witnessed by Yan Qingqing, who had just arrived at the café.
Outside, she didn’t know what had happened, only seeing Guan the Goon suddenly draw a knife, staring intently at Han Qian. Yan Qingqing crossed the street and jogged to the café, while Han Qian merely shrugged, speaking softly.
“Put it away. We’re all decent people here. Mr. Guan, aren’t you curious if I, Han Qian, have the ability to persuade Yan Qingqing?”
Guan the Goon put away the knife, sighing.
“Ten seconds ago, I had my doubts. Now I believe. Mr. Han, you’re truly a remarkable person. Vice President Wen from Changxiang, General Manager Yan from Rongyao, you’re quite fortunate.”
Han Qian suddenly turned his head, seeing Yan Qingqing dragging a chair towards them.
Why is the fierce madam here?