C40 Interrogation

Director Zhu snapped, "If you hadn't held back, I'd have fired you too. Now apologize to him, and make it quick!"

Yee Qingsong's mouth twitched repeatedly.

He raised his head, expecting Zhang Chen to refuse, but instead found him standing there, smiling faintly, seemingly awaiting an apology.

Yee Qingsong seethed with anger.

After a long hesitation, he finally stood up, fists clenched, and said darkly, "Mr. Zhang Chen, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interfered with you."

Before he could look up, Director Zhu's voice rang out again, "Mean it!"

Her command sent a wave of tension through Yee Qingsong.

Lin Zhiqing was giving Zhang Chen meaningful glances, urging him to speak up. They still needed Yee Qingsong's help to find the Godly Doctor, after all.

But Zhang Chen acted as if he hadn't noticed.

Taking a deep breath, Yee Qingsong managed a smile and said, "Mr. Zhang Chen, I apologize. It was my mistake. Please forgive me."

Zhang Chen responded with a grin, "You were just looking out for me, weren't you? How could I let you apologize for that?"

Yee Qingsong was nearly suffocated by his fury!

Zhang Chen, you jerk!

Zhang Chen, still smiling, asked, "Young Master Yee, may I go now?"

Yee Qingsong forced a smile. "Yes."

"Thank you."

With a nod, Zhang Chen turned and walked out of the company.

He had only intended to resolve some shareholding issues, not expecting to waste so much time.

Shortly after, Zhang Chen vanished from view.

The others, already dismissed, wouldn't be attending any parties, leaving Yee Qingsong to storm off in a huff.

Ultimately, Lin Zhiqing left the Dafu Group, disheartened.

After departing from Dafu Group, Zhang Chen headed straight for the Lin's compound by taxi.

The issue with Chen Dafu's shares would take more time to resolve, so returning to the hotel now would be pointless.

Besides, Zhang Chen had laid down the law, and for the foreseeable future, no one would dare break it.

Before long, as they neared the villa, Zhang Chen had Loong San take off.

He made his way back to the villa on foot.

After knocking on the door to no avail, it seemed clear that Lee Fengqin had once again gone out for her card games.

Zhang Chen sighed in resignation and rummaged around the entrance for the keys, but despite a lengthy search, they were nowhere to be found.

He was locked out.

While Zhang Chen was debating whether to head over to Su Mang's villa, a taxi pulled up to the gate.

He looked up, surprised to see Lin Zhiqing stepping out of the vehicle.

She had returned sooner than expected.

A knot formed in Zhang Chen's stomach; he had yet to come up with an explanation for his earlier actions, which Lin Zhiqing had witnessed.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Lin Zhiqing had already entered the villa.

Upon seeing Zhang Chen, her expression grew icy.

The sinking feeling in Zhang Chen's chest deepened. He forced a smile, though it came out more pained than pleasant.

"You're back," he said cheerfully, rising to his feet involuntarily.

Lin Zhiqing ignored him, her gaze icy as she approached.

Zhang Chen's helplessness swelled.

They stood in silence, Lin Zhiqing's cold stare fixed on him, making Zhang Chen squirm.

Finally, Lin Zhiqing broke the silence, "You're quite impressive."

Confused, Zhang Chen responded, "What do you mean?"

With a frosty smirk, Lin Zhiqing probed, "The man you brought in is quite capable. Who is he?"

To Lin Zhiqing, Zhang Chen seemed shrouded in mystery, as if he were keeping secrets from her, which unsettled her.

Zhang Chen offered a sheepish grin. "He's a bodyguard someone loaned me."

"Bodyguard?" Lin Zhiqing's brows knitted together, her eyes still glinting with frost.

Rushing to clarify, Zhang Chen said, "He's actually here to keep an eye on me. He's worried I might run off or get hurt by someone."

As he finished, Lin Zhiqing's expression grew more perplexed.

Zhang Chen's mind raced as he added, "He's the same guy I mentioned before, the one who's making me work off a debt. He's concerned I might flee, so he's got someone watching me."

After he finished speaking, Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel a bit impressed with himself.

Lin Zhiqing's gaze grew even icier as she demanded, "You're working for someone else, and they have to hire a bodyguard to protect you?"

Zhang Chen's face twisted into a picture of misery. "Yes. We're in debt, aren't we? The job's dangerous, and they can hardly find anyone willing to take it, so they turned to me."

"He's worried I might take off, so he's got someone keeping an eye on me," he added, his expression one of agony, though inwardly, he was smirking.

Lin Zhiqing's stare sharpened as she fixed her eyes on Zhang Chen. As time passed, Zhang Chen began to feel a creeping sense of guilt. Had Lin Zhiqing seen through his lie?

While he was pondering his next move, Lin Zhiqing spoke up, "Fine, I'll take your word for it on this issue."

Zhang Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

But then Lin Zhiqing's frosty voice cut through the air again, "However, what about the search for the Godly Doctor?"

Her abrupt exclamation jolted Zhang Chen.

Confused, he asked, "What about the search for the Godly Doctor?"

Lin Zhiqing's voice was icy as she rebuked him, "I was close to finalizing the arrangements with Yee Qingsong and the others. They were nearly ready to agree to help me find the Godly Doctor, and then you went and threw everything into chaos!"

As she spoke, Lin Zhiqing struggled to keep her own rising anger at bay.

Zhang Chen felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He knew Lin Zhiqing was backed into a corner.

Yet, he couldn't fathom how someone as intelligent as Lin Zhiqing could make such a blunder with something so important.