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Chapter 36: Look Into Him

After dinner, Chengdu waved to them and said, “Come on, this young master will send you all home one by one.”

“No need, I’m heading back to the old house tonight,” Duan Qingyu refused, taking out his phone to call the driver.

The Duan family’s old residence was where Duan Haohong and his people lived. He rarely went back there unless it was something serious. Chengdu nodded, “Alright, then I’ll take Lili.”

“No need either, I have to rush out to film a night scene,” Ji Xueli covered her mouth and yawned.

“You busy people, tsk, not like I wanted to send you anyway,” Chengdu shouted back, then angrily opened his car door and slammed it shut.

“This guy…” Ji Xueli clenched her teeth and swung a fist in the air.

Duan Qingyu looked at her. “Until what time are you filming?”

“Around three or four in the morning,” Ji Xueli sighed. No choice—it’s work.

“You know you made it to the hot search?” he asked.

“Yeah, I even caught a cold because of it…” Ji Xueli said, then deliberately coughed a few times.

Silence.

She slowly looked up and met Duan Qingyu’s indifferent eyes, as if they were saying: Cut the act.

He glanced at her slightly red nose from the wind. “Didn’t fight back?”

Such a heartless man. His focus was always on the strangest things. Ji Xueli stared at him. “She almost drowned me. Happy now?”

She said it without any reservation.

Duan Qingyu was quiet for a moment. Then a slight smile finally appeared on his otherwise expressionless face.

“But the hot search is all condemning Guan Ru. I think we can take advantage of this…” Ji Xueli continued sharing her thoughts.

Suddenly, warmth spread over her shoulders and back—a familiar, pleasant scent enveloped her.

She instinctively looked toward the source of the warmth. It was a suit jacket, belonging to none other than Duan Qingyu.

She looked over at him. He was wearing a black silk shirt, slightly unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a glimpse of skin below his collarbone. He exuded an air of elegance and detachment.

“Well done,” he said casually.

Ji Xueli was slightly stunned. Was he referring to her suggestion… or her counterattack against Guan Ru?

Just as she was about to ask, a car horn sounded. Two cars pulled up in front of them.

The window rolled down, revealing the handsome face of Fu Yunfan. “Senior, Han Chen told me. I was nearby, so I came to pick you up.”

“Ah… oh…” Ji Xueli nodded, not thinking too hard about the slip in his words.

“Then I’ll go first. I’ll return your jacket another day,” she said to Duan Qingyu.

Fu Yunfan then noticed the man next to her—no jacket, just a black shirt, broad shoulders, long legs, tall and lean, with refined and indifferent features like a pale, cold moon.

Duan Qingyu met Fu Yunfan’s gaze, noting the subtle hostility in it, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Actually, forget it. I’ll give it back whenever you visit the set,” Ji Xueli changed her mind. Shameless persistence is how you chase a man, after all.

Fu Yunfan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Duan Qingyu nodded. “Alright.”

He had a few free days ahead. Since she asked, it’d be rude not to play along.

“I’m leaving then. Text me when you get there,” Ji Xueli waved to him as she got in the car.

“Okay, stay safe,” Duan Qingyu said lazily, tilting his chin slightly.

As he watched the car drive off, the driver finally ran over and opened the car door respectfully. “Young Master.”

Duan Qingyu casually fiddled with a lighter in his hand and said offhandedly, “Look into Fu Yunfan.”

“Yes, sir.”

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The Duan family’s old house was in one of the earliest affluent neighborhoods in Shangjing District. The Duan family had lived there for generations, and the property value had increased many times over.

Duan Qingyu got out of the car and looked at the villa, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes before he walked in.

“Young Master, you’re back,” the butler greeted him happily.

“Mm, Uncle Fang.” Duan Qingyu’s expression softened. Uncle Fang had been with the family since his mother and grandfather’s time. He respected him more than Duan Haohong.

“Are you hungry? Want me to make you some butterfly pastries?” Uncle Fang asked, noting the thinness of his face.

Butterfly pastries were a treat his mother used to make. She was from the south, and her pastries were southern-style.

“No need. I’ll be leaving soon.” Duan Qingyu shook his head. If it weren’t for Duan Haohong saying there was something important, he would never have stepped foot back in this house.

Someone inside spoke up after hearing the commotion, “Uncle Fang, is the young master back?”

“Yes, he is.”

Duan Qingyu walked in and saw Duan Haohong upstairs looking at him. Sitting on the sofa watching TV was Guan Jingru.

“Qingyu, you’re back,” Guan Jingru stood and smiled at him.

Duan Qingyu ignored her and walked straight upstairs. “What do you want?”

Guan Jingru looked at Duan Haohong with a hurt expression.

“Your aunt greeted you. Why didn’t you respond?” Duan Haohong frowned.

“What kind of thing is she supposed to be?” Duan Qingyu said casually, as if the person greeting him wasn’t even human.

Duan Haohong wanted to reprimand him, but met his eyes and ended up saying nothing.

He turned and walked into the study. “How’s the Haitang Bay project going?”

“We’re already in talks with Ji Yanzhou. Land reclamation is expected to start next month,” Duan Qingyu replied as he followed him in and sat down.

“The four big families seem cooperative, but behind the scenes, each has their own agenda. If the Haitang Bay project succeeds, the land there will be worth at least two billion. Since the Ji family provided the research team, they’ll ask for a large share,” Duan Haohong said seriously as he looked over the proposal and contract Duan Qingyu had sent.

“We’re putting up the money and manpower, so we can’t let them get too greedy. If they don’t cooperate, we’ll just replace them. We have the bid documents and research in hand.” Duan Haohong handed him a folder.

Duan Qingyu took it and glanced through it. It contained the research results and reports on the Haitang Bay project. He said, “If the project succeeds, don’t forget what you promised me.”

“Don’t worry. Everything your mother left behind—I’ll give it all to you,” Duan Haohong assured him.

“Anything else?” Duan Qingyu stood up without hesitation after hearing the answer.

“Stay the night. I’ll have Uncle Fang prepare your old room,” Duan Haohong said, softening his tone.

“This house is full of filth. Staying here makes my skin crawl.” Duan Qingyu’s voice was cold and emotionless.

“You! What nonsense are you talking about? How could this house be—” Duan Haohong pointed at him, furious.

Duan Qingyu looked downstairs, lips curling into a mocking smile. “Isn’t that it right there?”

He went straight downstairs and walked out without a trace of hesitation.

Duan Haohong clenched his fists. That boy had become more and more disobedient—ever since he stabbed him once at the funeral.

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