...
About two minutes later, the phone call finally ended.
Huang Youjun's hands trembled slightly as he returned the phone to Qin Ning.
"Young Master Qin... I am truly sorry. I... I shouldn't have taken matters into my own hands..."
Before he could finish, Qin Ning waved his hand impatiently. "Get out. Have someone bring the food over, and don't ruin our mood for eating."
"Yes, yes, Young Master Qin, I will take care of it right away."
Hearing this, Huang Youjun finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling as if he had been granted amnesty, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and scurried away.
Before long, several waiters brought the dishes over. Qin Ning and his companions did not pay much mind to the minor episode that just occurred, chatting as they ate.
Meanwhile.
In another private dining room just opposite.
Several middle-aged men had arrived. Huang Youjun was also there, looking a bit absent-minded, clearly not having fully recovered from what had just transpired.
Leading the group was a potbellied middle-aged man.
Jiang Xingzhou, the director of the provincial Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
Beside Jiang Xingzhou stood a young man around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old named Shi Wenjie. He was his liaison and secretary. Holding a briefcase, he frowned at Huang Youjun and said, "Little Huang, why did you arrange such a small private room?"
"Director Jiang, Secretary Shi, I am truly sorry. It was my poor arrangement. The largest private room was booked in advance by someone else, so I have to ask you to make do with eating here today," Huang Youjun said with an apologetic smile.
His mind was still completely preoccupied with wondering just what kind of background that Young Master Qin had.
"Then can't you just go over and ask them to switch rooms?"
Shi Wenjie spoke up, "Director Jiang finally managed to find the time to visit your Nanxi County, and this is how you host him?"
"This..."
Hearing this, Huang Youjun found himself in a dilemma, and sweat beaded on his forehead once more.
Having no other choice, he carefully recounted the incident that had just occurred to them.
"Oh?"
After listening, Jiang Xingzhou was slightly taken aback. "Are you saying that the person in that private room knows your Secretary Yu?"
He was a little surprised. Who was Yu Yongchang?
He was the top official of Shuishan City.
For someone to be acquainted with him, it was highly likely that they possessed an extraordinary background as well.
However, if that was all there was to it, he still wouldn't think too highly of the other party.
After all, he was from a provincial bureau. In terms of rank, he was on equal footing with Yu Yongchang.
What he was curious about now was, who could the person in that private room be?
Could it be another leader from the province?
With this thought, Jiang Xingzhou stood up and said, "Let's go. Come with me to see which comrade it is. We might even know each other."
With that said, the group walked right out of the private room.
At the same time, Qin Ning and the others, who were eating and chatting, were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.
He frowned slightly and said, "Come in."
Then, Jiang Xingzhou and his group walked in, with Huang Youjun following behind, whispering something into the other man's ear.
After listening, Jiang Xingzhou's gaze couldn't help but size up Qin Ning with curiosity before he said, "I am Jiang Xingzhou from the provincial bureau. I wonder..."
"Is there a problem?" Qin Ning looked at him.
Seeing that the other party had directly interrupted him, Jiang Xingzhou immediately frowned, a look of displeasure appearing on his face.
At this moment, Qin Ning turned his gaze to Huang Youjun and said indifferently, "Did I or did I not just say not to come over and disturb our meal?"
"This..."
Hearing this, Huang Youjun immediately looked troubled.
He felt like he was caught in the middle, unable to please either side.
On one side was someone who could directly converse with Yu Yongchang, and on the other was a leader from the province whose rank was equal to Yu Yongchang's.
When immortals fight, mortals suffer.
Today, he truly experienced this firsthand.
"Heh, we just came over to say hello. There's no need to be so cold, is there?" Jiang Xingzhou's temper was starting to flare up.
Although he didn't know the exact background of the other party, at the end of the day, it was just a young man.
Even if he really was a relative of Yu Yongchang, he shouldn't be so arrogant, right?
He was, after all, an existence on the same level as Yu Yongchang. When had he ever been treated like this by such a young man?
"Say hello? Am I familiar with you?"
Qin Ning looked at him. Judging from his facial features, this man was an absolute parasite through and through. Since they had crossed paths, the man could only consider himself unlucky.
Without waiting for Jiang Xingzhou to say anything, he pulled out his phone and made a call right in front of him.
"I heard you're keeping Brother Tang company on a tour. Why did you suddenly think to call me?"
The puzzled voice of Elder Zeng came through the phone.
Qin Ning didn't waste any words and directly said, "Jiang Xingzhou of Xi Province is unfit for his position. A parasite like him needs to be removed."
Hearing this, Elder Zeng nodded. He never doubted Qin Ning's words in the slightest and said, "Alright, I understand. I'll have someone handle it immediately. You shouldn't just call me every day; when are you coming to the capital to have a few drinks with me and Elder Liu?"
"Ha, once I'm done with things here and have some free time, I'll make a trip over. I was just planning to visit Yun Shan and the others anyway. Yes, alright, we'll talk more when we meet."
After chatting casually with Elder Zeng for a few more sentences, Qin Ning finally hung up. He then swept his gaze toward Jiang Xingzhou and said indifferently, "Get lost. You can call your family to say your goodbyes."
"Heh, what a big tone for a young man. I'd like to see what you can do to me with just a single phone call."
Jiang Xingzhou scoffed disdainfully. Leaving behind that sentence, he had no intention of staying any longer. He turned around and led Huang Youjun and the others back to their own private room.
Back in their private room, Shi Wenjie frowned slightly, feeling a sense of unease in his heart. He couldn't help but say, "Director Jiang, that kid didn't look like he was joking. Why don't we..."
"I'll make a call and ask," Jiang Xingzhou said.
With that, he took out his phone, found Yu Yongchang's number, and dialed it directly.
"Old Jiang? Why are you looking for me all of a sudden?"
Yu Yongchang, who had just spoken on the phone with Qin Ning ten minutes ago, was currently dealing with some documents. Seeing the caller ID, he asked curiously.
"Haha, Old Yu, I've arrived in your Shuishan City. It's been quite a while since we last saw each other, so I was wondering when we could grab a drink." Jiang Xingzhou started with some pleasantries, not mentioning the matter directly.
"Oh? You're in Shuishan City?"
Yu Yongchang was immediately stunned upon hearing this. Just as he was about to say something, as if he suddenly thought of something, his brows furrowed. "You aren't in Nanxi County right now, are you? Together with Huang Youjun?"
"Heh, yeah, we were just about to eat. However, we ran into a bit of a situation just now, and I wanted to ask you about it," Jiang Xingzhou said with a smile.
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
