Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 175: Not One of Li Wanshan’s People

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Not One of Li Wanshan’s People

Half an hour later, the art studio.

As the code was entered, the door opened, and Zhao Renjie immediately placed two bundles of hundred-yuan banknotes on the long table.

"Master, this is what that kid gave."

"Keep it if it’s given to you."

This outcome had been anticipated by Leng Lingxiao, so he showed no surprise.

Yet Zhao Renjie was filled with anger.

He had no intention of taking the money and went straight to stand meticulously behind and to the right of Leng Lingxiao.

"You really plan on keeping that kid around?"

"Oh? Do you have objections?"

"He only mentioned his name, Lei Ziyi, and didn’t even bring up the subject of code names. I reckon he doesn’t plan to admit it."

"It doesn’t matter, it’s just a code name."

Leng Lingxiao glanced at his palette and noticed he was running low on green, so he added some more.

About this ’W’ code name, he had heard of it six months ago, knowing it belonged to a rising star but hadn’t expected him to be so formidable.

Timed so precisely!

Such a person, if used well, is a top-tier talent; if mishandled, a super calamity.

At this moment, seeing Leng Lingxiao unperturbed, Zhao Renjie grew restless inside, suspecting that he had been deceived by ’W’, so he stepped forward two paces.

But he didn’t dare to speak the words on his lips.

Having served as master and servant for many years, Leng Lingxiao could tell Zhao Renjie had something to say just by looking at him, so he put down his brush and looked intently at him, "If you have something on your mind, just say it."

His tone was calm, without any blame.

"Master, Lei Ziyi is clearly lying. It’s impossible that Li Wanshan hasn’t seen him. I think he has ulterior motives and is deliberately getting close to us. You should be wary, don’t be deceived by his... smooth talk."

He spoke the word ’deceived’ very softly.

Leng Lingxiao shook his head, "He is not Li Wanshan’s man, maybe... he truly hasn’t seen him."

Zhao Renjie expressed surprise, "Not?"

"What I mean is... it’s true he was summoned to Jin City, but he is certainly not his man, I guess... he might be from the big troublemakers’ side," said Leng Lingxiao thoughtfully.

He wasn’t certain if his judgment was correct.

But his intuition told him that this man had to be kept around; there might be some big conspiracy behind it all, potentially involving Tang Xiaowan and Grandma Tang.

Zhao Renjie was familiar with the term ’big troublemaker’, hearing Leng Lingxiao cursing about it every few days.

Ruthless and twisted!

In short, whatever ugly words there were, Leng Lingxiao would use them to describe that ’big troublemaker’.

What the person’s name was, Zhao Renjie didn’t know, but he was aware that Leng Lingxiao had a very special note in his phone, just one character, ’Endure’.

So at this moment, he suddenly became anxious.

"Master, should we assign someone to watch over Lady Tang? What if the heart of that big troublemaker is colder than we imagine? Could it pose any... danger to Lady Tang?"

"A few books only, the drunkard’s intent is not the wine; I guess Li Zishen is going to be busy again."

"Still, we should warn Lady Tang!"

"No need, first go and check into that... murderer; investigate him thoroughly, including his family. It might be that they intentionally leaked information to us."

"Yes, I’ll arrange it right away."

After Zhao Renjie left, Leng Lingxiao had no desire to paint anymore, his mind preoccupied with the night attack at Mei Garden.

He paced around in his room, the brass lighter flipping continuously between his fingers, now opening, now closing.

The metallic sound was very crisp!

What are you trying to do this time?

What exactly is your relationship with Grandma Tang, and why would she protect you?

Better keep your distance from Tangtang, otherwise...

Leng Lingxiao stood in front of the painting, reviewing the events at Mei Garden over the past two months, including collecting water caltrop in the morning, and himself and Li Zishen being secretly photographed and splashed across the headlines.

Even though he had the trending search removed immediately, preventing major impact, something felt off.

In the photos, there was no Tangtang!

"But from that angle... there ought to be something, why deliberately remove it?"

He worried that he might have missed something.

Hours passed, and Leng Lingxiao opened a bottle of wine, stood by the window, and gazed at the unfinished painting, his turbulent emotions slowly calming down.

It was a pond shimmering with ripples.

A young girl held a fishing rod, her floral dress subtly lifted by the breeze, with a small basket full of various fruits by her side.

"What a peaceful afternoon!"

"There should be a boy by the pond... then it would be perfect, right, just over there, that would be the right place."

"Water caltrop? Yes, one fishing, the other collecting water caltrops, right here, just perfect..."

On that thought, Leng Lingxiao hurriedly walked to the lounge area, picked up his phone from the sofa, and made a call to Mei Garden’s butler, Li Fugui.

He had spent the whole night dealing with hackers.

It was only now that he suddenly realized what he had overlooked.

"Mr. Leng, what’s the matter so late at night?"

Li Fugui yawned as he answered the phone.

"Old Li, pay close attention to those people who go collecting water caltrops early in the morning, I suspect that among them... there could be an issue, Li Zishen and I were secretly photographed, and we hit the trending searches after we left this afternoon."

"That’s impossible, those four were specifically employed by the old lady..."

"Old Li, people can change."

Leng Lingxiao’s voice grew deeper and he let out a sigh midway.

He did not have much certainty in this matter.

However, by deducing from the angle of the photography, it should be in the direction of those collecting water caltrops.

Everyone in Mei Garden had been following Tang Mei for at least five years, but now, two months after her passing, nothing ensured that there wouldn’t be any unexpected developments.

"Does the young lady know?"

"She already knows about the trending search, but as for those people... let’s not talk about it for now, so as not to worry her."

"Alright, I’ll keep an eye out. If they dare to betray us..."

Li Fugui turned to glance at the long sword hanging on the wall, he clenched his teeth tightly, "Mr. Leng, rest assured, I won’t let them off lightly."

"Don’t be rash, to avoid startling the snake, we’ll communicate by phone if anything comes up."

"Okay, got it."

After hanging up, Li Fugui didn’t even bother to change his clothes and went directly to the kitchen in his pajamas.

It was already past eleven at night.

The entire Mei Garden seemed to be fast asleep, quiet everywhere, except for the small two-story building behind the garden.

There was a training ground, a card room, and a swimming pool there.

"No cheating, do push-ups instead."

"Come on, man up."

"Surrendering is also an option, right, guys?"

Cheerful laughter spilled out from the card room.

Several men were egging each other on when Li Fugui entered, raising the bag in his hand up high and swaying it back and forth in the air several times.

"I knew you guys would be in here!"

"What’s up, Old Li, can’t you sleep either?"

The tallest one stood up; he had just lost at cards and was looking for a way to bow out gracefully.

"How did the battle go?"

"Don’t ask, they all ganged up against me. You’re here just in time, come play a couple of rounds for me, shake off this bad luck."

"It’s hunger, have some food."

"Is there any liquor?"

"And we’ve got beef, cucumber, and dried radishes."

Hearing there was meat and liquor, the others instantly abandoned their cards and crowded around.

In no time, the card game turned into a drinking session.