The long-faced man was also slightly surprised. The girl in front of him was beyond his expectations in both appearance and demeanor. He did not expect that the chairman of the Yang Group would be a young and beautiful girl. Judging from her age, she was probably about the same age as his child. What surprised him even more was that when the girl saw him pointing a gun at her, she did not show much panic.
"You're Yang Yuqi, the chairwoman of the Yang Group?" To avoid mistaking someone, the long-faced man asked casually. Actually, he only asked this out of caution; it was unnecessary. Of course, only the chairwoman of the Yang Group could work in this office. However, this was the first time the long-faced man had seen Yang Yuqi, and the instant he saw her, he felt a mixture of amazement and unease. The amazement stemmed from Yuqi's beauty and youth, but the unease was harder to pinpoint. Based on his years as an assassin, this unease often signified a threat.
Logically, he should have shot Yuqi dead on the spot immediately and then fled quickly—that's the smooth, efficient killing process a ruthless assassin should perform. And that's always been how the long-faced giant had always acted; his actions were always clean and decisive. But today, for some reason, his years of experience as an assassin told him that this girl was not to be trifled with, and that if he killed her, he would likely regret it terribly.
The long-faced, burly man suddenly regretted taking the job, and was also puzzled as to why he felt hesitant before his final murder, which was completely unlike his usual style.
Yuqi had completely calmed down. She suddenly had a feeling that even if the other person fired bullets, she could completely block them with her mental energy field, as if the other person was just holding a toy gun and plastic bullets. This feeling was strange; it seemed completely impossible, but it was there nonetheless.
"I am Yang Yuqi. Are you here to kill me?" Yuqi said calmly, her mind racing as she considered who was behind this. "Do it."
The long-faced man was truly astonished. Could it be that this little girl was fearless and didn't even care who killed her, or that she had already planned everything here and was just waiting for him to walk right into her trap?
Remembering his employer's instructions, reason and calmness returned to the long-faced man's mind. He suddenly raised his gun: "I'm sorry, Chairman Yang, I'm an assassin. I only know how to obey my employer's orders. Please have a safe journey."
Yuqi smiled slightly: "Please go ahead."
Her clear voice echoed in the empty office. In a daze, she suddenly felt the gap between herself and the world. It was an indescribable feeling that could only be understood intuitively. It was so wonderful and so illusory, yet it felt incredibly real. She never expected that the transformation of her mind would happen at this moment. Strictly speaking, the assassin did help her. Otherwise, it would have taken Yuqi a long time to adapt to the transformation from an ordinary person to a superhuman.
The long-faced, burly man's finger rested on the trigger. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and pulled it.
With a crisp snap, as if a spring had been compressed to its lowest point and then suddenly released, the pistol not only failed to fire a bullet but also jammed, the trigger snapping back after being pulled.
The long-faced man and Yuqi were both taken aback.
The long-faced, burly man's face immediately showed disbelief. He held the pistol to his eyes, examining it closely as if he had seen a ghost. The gun had actually discharged? How could this be? Even without checking, just by feel, he knew there was nothing wrong with the gun. The magazine was full, the safety was off, and the firing pin was properly positioned. Anyone could have fired a bullet simply by pulling the trigger. How could it have jammed in his hand?
He turned the gun towards the ground again and pulled the trigger once more. Strangely, no bullets were fired, as if the gun was empty.
"What happened?" The long-faced man was sweating profusely. Just as he was about to kill her, the gun suddenly jammed, and no problem could be found. This was incredibly bizarre. Was it fate protecting the girl, deliberately sabotaging her at the very moment he pulled the trigger? Or was it all the girl's doing? No wonder she seemed so calm and collected; she had it all planned out. Thinking this, the long-faced man couldn't help but glance at Yuqi.
Seeing this, Yuqi shrugged her shoulders and smiled, spreading her small hands as if to say: Please don't blame me, this wasn't my doing.
The office door suddenly opened automatically, and an ordinary-looking young man walked in with two stunningly beautiful girls who looked like models. He said with a smile, "Old Liao, stop looking, or the gun might accidentally go off and shoot you again."
Chapter 272 The Young Master Appears
"Lingyun!"
"Young Brother Lingyun!"
Two equally joyful exclamations came from Yuqi and the long-faced man, respectively. After speaking, they both paused, exchanging a surprised glance, both wondering how the other could know Ling Yun.
Yuqi glanced at the long-faced, burly man, then involuntarily turned to look at the two stunningly beautiful girls behind Ling Yun. Upon closer inspection, she didn't recognize either of them, but their exquisite and captivating beauty left a lasting impression. Her heart, initially filled with joy and surprise, suddenly skipped a beat. An unspoken sixth sense arose within her. Could it be that Ling Yun's sudden departure was due to encountering these two women? Judging from their demeanor, they seemed quite familiar with Ling Yun, yet she had never heard him mention them before… A slight, bittersweet feeling of loss involuntarily welled up within Yuqi.
Xia Lan and Xiao Rou were also carefully observing Yu Qi. Women are often very sensitive to each other, especially when beautiful women look at each other. They often do so with a critical and appreciative eye. In Xiao Rou and Xia Lan's eyes, Yu Qi, this beautiful young woman dressed professionally, also amazed them. Not only was she stunningly beautiful, but she was also noble, elegant, gentle, and kind. Her breathtaking beauty was complemented by an unparalleled temperament, making it impossible not to fall for her.
Both women couldn't help but secretly admire her: "What a beautiful woman!" Xia Lan glanced at Ling Yun with surprise. She genuinely couldn't understand what charm this guy possessed that allowed him to know so many beautiful girls. Moreover, the girl's expression of surprise and delight upon seeing Ling Yun was clearly one of infatuation. Xia Lan couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "Sigh, Ling Yun, why do you seem so honest and unassuming, yet you're actually such a womanizer?"
Xiaorou remained expressionless, but inwardly she couldn't help but sigh helplessly. Although she wasn't worried that Lingyun's feelings for her would change, in any relationship, a woman always wants to perfectly possess her partner. Seeing other equally beautiful girls liking her sweetheart, even knowing her boyfriend was trustworthy, inevitably made her uncomfortable. Xiaorou's greatest strength lay in knowing what to say and what not to say at crucial moments, ensuring she would never embarrass or upset Lingyun.
Ling Yun had no idea about the complicated feelings between the three girls. He just smiled and said, "Old Liao, it's been a long time. Luckily I arrived in time to stop you. Otherwise, would you have been able to bring yourself to lay a hand on a beauty like Yuqi?"
Old Liao laughed heartily, walked to Ling Yun's side, gave him a deep bear hug, and then patted him on the shoulder affectionately, saying, "Brother, how was I supposed to know that Miss Yuqi was your girlfriend... friend? If I had known, I would have already killed the person who hired the thug. Luckily you arrived in time, otherwise, if I had accidentally hurt Miss Yuqi, I would have had to pay for it with my worthless life."
He walked up to Yuqi and bowed deeply: "Miss Yuqi, I am so sorry. It is all my fault for not investigating properly beforehand and offending you. I deserve to die. Fortunately, Brother Lingyun arrived in time, otherwise I would not have the face to live to face Brother Lingyun again. I, Lao Liao, apologize to you here. If Miss Yuqi is still not happy, you are welcome to use this gun to kill me. My life was saved by Lingyun and it no longer belongs to me. Even if Brother Lingyun takes it now, I, Lao Liao, will never repent. I can see that you are not ordinary people. It is my great fortune to meet so many extraordinary people today."
As he spoke, he turned the gun over, preparing to hand it to Yuqi. Yuqi took a step back, her face slightly flushed. She had never seen such a ruthless nature in these江湖人 (jianghu people) who didn't value their own lives. In the blink of an eye, Lao Liao had transformed from a cold-blooded killer into a loyal friend in the gang. This change made Yuqi feel a little uncomfortable, and she involuntarily looked to Ling Yun for help.
Ling Yun laughed, walked over and took the gun from Lao Liao's hand. He twirled the gun in his hand with a flourish, and with a few snaps, all the bullets in the magazine were unloaded. "Lao Liao, don't scare Yuqi. She's still a student. How could she have ever dealt with you gangsters on the run? Don't worry, I can speak up for her. Yuqi won't blame you. Actually, I'm quite curious. Who has such a deep grudge against Yuqi that they would specifically send a top assassin like you to kill her?"
Old Liao scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm a top-tier assassin? Brother Ling Yun, don't be so modest. My skills are nothing compared to yours. I just don't know who Miss Yuqi is..." He couldn't help but glance at Xiao Rou and Xia Lan, then winked at Ling Yun, secretly giving him a thumbs up, and whispered in Ling Yun's ear, "Brother, you're really something, managing to get three wives, and they're all so good-looking. I wonder if they're jealous of each other? How did you do that? I don't have that kind of ability..."
Ling Yun was both amused and exasperated, and pushed him away: "Get lost, Lao Liao, what kind of joke is this? Yuqi is my friend, but she's the acting chairman of the Yang Group. Don't talk nonsense."
Although Lao Liao was whispering in his ear, none of the three girls present were ordinary people. Even Yuqi, who had the weakest ability, had far superior senses than ordinary people. In addition, the quiet and spacious top-floor office made it clear to all three of them. They blushed and looked at each other, then focused their attention on Ling Yun. They bit their lips, unable to describe the feelings in their hearts.
After the group sat down, Ling Yun introduced them to each other. After some pleasantries, before Ling Yun could bring it up, Lao Liao took the initiative to say, "Brother Ling Yun, Miss Yuqi, if I may say something I shouldn't, even if I can't kill Miss Yuqi, I should return the money to the employer and explain the reason. But under no circumstances should I reveal the employer's information. Actually, I think Miss Yuqi is kind and so young and beautiful, she shouldn't have any enemies. It could only be someone with a vested interest in her. You are all so smart, you can easily guess who would hire someone to kill her."
Ling Yun nodded, knowing that Lao Liao had already made a great concession. If an assassin accepts a bounty but fails to carry it out, regardless of the reason, it means that the assassin's career is over. No employer will hire such an assassin again, and the assassin's reputation will be ruined. In fact, top assassins are often earned through bloodshed and death. If they fail to complete a mission or the mission fails, the fate of the assassin is very cruel.
Touched, he patted Lao Liao's hand and said, "I'm sorry, Lao Liao. I know this is already putting you in a difficult position. I'm very happy that you could give me some hints. If I didn't have other important matters to attend to, I would definitely keep you here and we would have a good drink. It's a pity that Jingjing didn't come with you this time, otherwise we could have gotten together again."
Old Liao laughed heartily: "Brother Lingyun, you saved my life. I've said before that you can take this life back anytime. Besides, after this incident, I will no longer be an assassin. The young master has already promised to give me a sum of money. I will take my wife and children abroad to retire and live out the rest of my life in anonymity."
He suddenly said with some emotion, "I never thought I would see you again in my lifetime, brother. Actually, you are both people with special abilities. Although I am a rough guy, I can still feel it. I really hope that Jingjing and my young master can also be here and meet you. My young master is actually about the same age as you and has a very forthright personality. You will definitely get along well with him."
Ling Yun smiled gently, nodded without saying a word. The last time he met Lao Liao in the underground passage, Lao Liao recommended that he meet with his behind-the-scenes boss. However, Ling Yun had no interest in these underworld tycoons and refused without thinking. This time, Lao Liao brought up the old matter again, and Ling Yun was not very interested. He just didn't want to refuse to his face. But out of respect for Lao Liao, if that young master came, what harm would there be in meeting him?
Even without Lao Liao's hints, Ling Yun and Yu Qi already guessed who it was. Besides Yang Ling, no one else had an irreconcilable conflict with Yu Qi. Moreover, Yu Qi was kind and always put others first; she was also beautiful. Who would have the heart to harm such a good girl? They just hadn't expected Yang Ling to be so heartless as to hire someone to kill, even disregarding their uncle-nephew relationship.
Their eyes met, and they instantly understood each other's meaning. Yuqi suddenly felt a pang of sadness and couldn't help but choke up, "I really can't believe it, Fourth Uncle... Fourth Uncle would be so heartless as to kill me? We were always so close when we were little, how could everything have changed like this?"
Old Liao sighed heavily and fell silent, his gesture implicitly acknowledging who his employer was. Ling Yun gave Xia Lan and Xiao Rou a look, and the two women understood, sitting down beside Yu Qi and gently comforting her. While gently comforting her, Xia Lan silently channeled her mental energy field into Yu Qi's body. Since Ling Yun had recommended her to join the Superpower Headquarters, it was necessary to assess the girl's strength beforehand.
Ling Yun couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. While Yuqi's family was undoubtedly wealthy and privileged, providing her with a life of luxury and comfort from a young age, making her a true darling of heaven, the immense wealth also concealed the breakdown of family bonds. Her close uncle from childhood had become a cruel stranger, even willing to hire an assassin to kill his own niece for the sake of immense riches. This showed that being born into wealth wasn't always a good thing; at the very least, it meant far less genuine family affection compared to ordinary families.
Ling Yun couldn't help but think of his parents, and a pang of sadness struck him. He realized he hadn't seen them for a whole semester. He'd only made a few phone calls during the school term. His parents were honest, hardworking laborers who painstakingly saved money each month to send him living expenses. Although Ling Yun had already told his parents they didn't need the money anymore—that he could earn his own living expenses and tuition by working—he didn't dare tell them that Sihai Group was paying him 100,000 yuan a week. Telling them such a huge surprise would only disrupt their lives. So he lied and said it was for his part-time job. But his stubborn parents refused to believe their son had actually become someone else entirely. While they verbally agreed, they still cut back on their own spending each month to send him the money.
The New Year is almost here. Maybe when the New Year comes, I can find a suitable reason to give my parents some money and then take Xiaorou back home. My parents will be so happy... Lingyun thought to himself, and couldn't help but look at Xiaorou. Their eyes met briefly, and they were immediately filled with deep affection.
Ling Yun turned his head, a cold decision already made in his mind. The last time he let Yang Ling go, it was because Yang Ling was, after all, Yu Qi's fourth uncle, and there was no reason to kill him at the time. Besides, Yang Wei and Yang Jun were also present, and killing a member of the Yang family would have very negative consequences. If Yang Ling had simply given up and behaved himself, then Ling Yun and Yu Qi would have ignored him. But heaven's sins can be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins cannot be escaped. Since Yang Ling still wanted to cause trouble, Ling Yun didn't mind granting his wish. Just because Yu Qi couldn't do it didn't mean Ling Yun couldn't.
Old Liao stood up: "Brother Lingyun, Miss Yuqi, and the two ladies, I'll be leaving now. I'm so sorry to have disturbed your office..."
Just as Ling Yun was about to reply, he suddenly frowned and turned to look at the door of the top-floor office. Not only him, but Xia Lan, Xiao Rou, and Yu Qi also turned to look at the door in surprise. Old Liao also turned around in astonishment, obviously having heard the hurried footsteps and the urgent attempts and constant shouts from the Yang Group staff at the door.
The group immediately stood up and focused their attention on the doorway. Since the top floor was all office space, the elevator lobby and stairwell were right outside the door.