After the dinner ended, Chi Luyang drove Hui Ji back to the set. Once Hui Ji got out of the car, Chi Luyang glanced at the rearview mirror and asked, “Minister, should I take you home?”

“Go to this place first.” Tui Buliu sent over an address.

“Lin’s Real Estate?” Chi Luyang was a bit surprised and tentatively asked, “Are you going to see Lin Su?”

“It’s for something else.” Tui Buliu said, closing his eyes, seemingly not planning to explain further.

The evening rush hour was a bit congested, with the car stopping and starting through countless red lights until it finally arrived at the entrance of Lin’s Real Estate building.

Tui Buliu said, “Find a parking spot where we can see the entrance.”

Chi Luyang was a bit confused but complied. Cars came and went at the entrance, and soon Tui Buliu’s voice sounded again, “Follow that Rolls-Royce.”

Following someone? Chi Luyang excitedly stepped on the gas. Half an hour later, the Rolls-Royce entered a high-end villa community. Chi Luyang, gripping the steering wheel, was full of excitement, “Minister, should we go in?”

Tui Buliu said, “Wait for now.”

Weren’t they here to find Lin Zheng? Why not go in?

Chi Luyang was puzzled but didn’t ask further. Not long after, a black Volkswagen drove out from the community entrance. Tui Buliu said, “Follow it.”

Chi Luyang, still in a fog, followed the car and saw a stranger pick up a cake from a bakery and then drive to a mall. Soon, a woman with a little girl came over.

“Daddy,” the girl ran to him with open arms, “I’m done with class!”

“How’s your ballet practice?” The man bent down to hug his daughter, his face full of affection, “It’s your birthday today, Daddy bought you a cake.”

“Wow,” the little girl smiled sweetly, “Thank you, Daddy!”

“Let’s go home for dinner.”

“Hey, you two, slow down, watch out for cars.” The woman followed behind, unable to hide the smile in her eyes.

The black Volkswagen left the mall, and Chi Luyang glanced back, a bit confused, “Should we keep following?”

Tui Buliu said, “Continue.”

Another ten minutes passed, and they followed the car into a community, watching the family of three enter an elevator.

Chi Luyang found a parking spot and tentatively asked, “What do we do next?”

“Wait,” Tui Buliu opened a tablet to work, instructing, “Let me know when that man comes out.”

“Got it,” Chi Luyang nodded, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Why are we following him?”

After a while, Tui Buliu stopped his work and said lightly, “What impression do you have of that man?”

“He seems like a very ordinary middle-aged man,” Chi Luyang thought for a moment and continued, “Judging by his attitude towards his daughter and wife, he should be a good dad.”

Tui Buliu didn’t comment on this, only saying, “His name is Xu Zhitang, and he’s the one who had Hui Ji beaten up.”

Xu Zhitang’s information wasn’t hard to find; the key was who was behind him.

“He had Hui Ji beaten up?” Chi Luyang blinked, a bit confused, “But why? They don’t have any grudges, do they?”

Tui Buliu said, “Xu Zhitang drives for Lin Zheng.”

Lin Zheng? Lin Su’s brother?

Chi Luyang finally realized, surprised, “So Lin Zheng had someone beat up Hui Ji to stand up for his brother?”

“Not exactly standing up, since Hui Ji and Lin Su didn’t have direct conflict,” Tui Buliu speculated, “It’s more likely they felt Hui Ji threatened Lin Su’s position.”

“That’s so underhanded! If you can’t beat him, you resort to these tactics!” Chi Luyang clenched his fists, indignant, “So are we going to stand up for Hui Ji?”

Tui Buliu shook his head, “Wait for now.”

“But he’s already gone home, what are we waiting for?” Chi Luyang said regretfully, “We should have stopped him earlier; with the two of us, he wouldn’t have gotten away.”

Tui Buliu said, “His wife and child are there, it’s not a good time.”

But he’s already home, what’s the point of waiting downstairs?

Chi Luyang absentmindedly stayed in the car, not knowing how long had passed until he suddenly heard Tui Buliu’s reminder, “He’s coming down.”

Xu Zhitang actually drove away again.

Tui Buliu said, “Follow him.”

Half an hour later, they followed the black Volkswagen to a bar entrance.

Chi Luyang was a bit confused, but Tui Buliu had already opened the car door and got out, reminding him, “Wait for me in the car.”

Recalling the events of the night, Chi Luyang vaguely guessed something, swallowed, and tentatively asked, “Minister, can I go in with you?”

Tui Buliu glanced at him and, after two seconds, agreed, “Don’t get in the way.”

“I promise I won’t hold you back! But Minister…” Chi Luyang lowered his voice, cautiously following, “What exactly are we doing tonight?”

“Looking for dirt on Xu Zhitang,” Tui Buliu found a seat, his gaze falling on Xu Zhitang behind him, “I suspect he has a mistress outside.”

A mistress?

Chi Luyang reflexively turned his head, only to have Tui Buliu press his head down.

“Don’t move,” Tui Buliu warned him, “Don’t look at him.”

“Huh? Oh, oh!” Chi Luyang finally realized, quickly lowering his head and promising, “Got it, got it, I won’t mess it up!”

“No need to be nervous,” Tui Buliu withdrew his hand, his expression calm, “Just act normal.”

Chi Luyang nodded randomly; he wanted to act normal, but he had never been to a bar before and didn’t know what normal behavior was.

“But this Xu Zhitang, coming to a bar right after his daughter’s birthday…” To avoid showing his nerves, Chi Luyang had to distract himself by talking, “I didn’t expect him to seem so good to his family, yet he’s actually a big jerk.”

Tui Buliu didn’t respond, sipping a drink as he leaned back in a single sofa, casually scanning the crowd, only briefly pausing on Xu Zhitang.

As the night deepened, the bar gradually became lively.

Xu Zhitang drank, and his intimate conversation with a woman grew louder.

“Brother Xu, Mr. Xu,” the woman, drunk, leaned into Xu Zhitang’s arms, “We’ve known each other for so long, when will you introduce me to a job?”

Xu Zhitang was already half-drunk, slurring, “Soon, soon, I’ve already talked to them…”

“What’s the use of talking? You always say that,” the woman pushed him angrily, suddenly turning hostile, “You promised to introduce me to Lin’s, but so many days have passed, and you always just talk. Are you lying to me? Do you actually not have the ability?”

“Who’s lying to you?” After a few drinks, Xu Zhitang had forgotten his own name, confidently assuring, “I’m Lin Zheng’s assistant, the whole Lin’s Real Estate has to give me some face, introducing you is no big deal!”

“Really?”

“Absolutely genuine!”

“Then it’s settled! You can’t lie to me again this time!”

“Don’t worry, when have I ever lied to you?”

After that, the two became lovey-dovey, with no more valuable conversation.

“So this Xu Zhitang is using the title of assistant to the president to abuse power outside?” Chi Luyang was shocked, “A mere driver dares to do this?”

Tui Buliu wasn’t surprised, “Lin’s Real Estate is so vast, people like Xu Zhitang are just the tip of the iceberg.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Zhitang eagerly stood up, holding his female companion as they walked out.

Tui Buliu put down his drink and stood up, “Follow them.”

Both Xu Zhitang and his female companion had drunk quite a bit and didn’t notice they were being followed.

After leaving the bar, Tui Buliu said to Chi Luyang, “Go buy me a mask.”

“Now?” Chi Luyang was a bit confused, “Aren’t we about to take action? What will you do if I leave?”

Tui Buliu said, “Get the mask first.”

Is it to cover his face? After all, in TV shows, villains always wear masks.

“Okay, I understand,” Chi Luyang suddenly felt a heavy responsibility, quickly promising, “I’ll be back soon!”

But Tui Buliu didn’t wait for him and continued to follow Xu Zhitang.

As they approached the hotel entrance, Xu Zhitang suddenly said he had something to do, letting the woman go in first.

Tui Buliu continued to follow Xu Zhitang, discovering he returned to his car and took out a small bag of blue pills from the glove compartment.

“Almost forgot this.”

Xu Zhitang chuckled, clumsily pocketing the blue pills, and hummed a tune as he returned to the hotel.

However, just as he was about to reach the hotel, a hand suddenly reached out from a nearby alley and pulled him in.

Before Xu Zhitang could resist, his hands were pinned behind him, and he was pushed against the wall.

The person had great strength, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free from the grip behind him.

“Who are you?” Xu Zhitang’s cheek was pressed against the rough, cold wall, genuinely scared, “What do you want? Do you know who I am? Dare to touch me, and Lin’s Real Estate will retaliate against you!”

The man behind him was unmoved, only a cold voice came, “I’ll ask you a few questions, cooperate and I’ll let you go.”

Xu Zhitang, intimidated by the other’s aura, spoke weakly, “What do you want to ask?”

“This afternoon, outside the ‘JUST ME’ recording site, a contestant was attacked. Upon inquiry, the attacker claimed you were the instigator.”

Xu Zhitang’s heart sank immediately, warily asking, “Are you a cop?”

“Answer my question,” the man’s voice carried a warning, “Why attack the contestant?”

“I didn’t do it,” Xu Zhitang, sobered up, quickly shook his head, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a recording played.

[It was… it was a guy named Brother Tao who told us. He gave us five thousand bucks to find someone to beat the kid up.
Who’s Brother Tao?
Don’t know, he just told us to call him Brother Tao… Ahh! I’ll talk, he said he works at Lin’s Real Estate!]

The recording ended, and Xu Zhitang’s face had darkened significantly.

“It was me…” He seemed to finally resign, giving up resistance.

“Who ordered you?”

“No one ordered me.”

“Your boss Lin Zheng?”

“No, no, I just didn’t like him, it has nothing to do with my boss.”

“Really?” The man behind him chuckled lightly, his tone indifferent, “If you don’t talk, I’ll just have to ask your family.”

The person beneath him struggled violently, “Are you threatening me?”

“Just a friendly reminder,” the man pressed on his shoulder, speaking leisurely, “After all, your daughter is so cute, you wouldn’t want her to know her dad is cheating, right?”

Xu Zhitang’s breathing suddenly became heavy, his cheek tightly pressed against the wall, yet he didn’t answer.

“Or perhaps you’d prefer I tell Lin Zheng you’re profiting under his name, gaining improper benefits?”

“No, no, I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Xu Zhitang finally broke down, repeatedly pleading, “It was Lin Zheng who instructed me! He told me to find someone to teach Hui Ji a lesson!”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, I’m just a small driver, following orders!”

“Is it related to Lin Su? Because Hui Ji threatened his debut?”

“I don’t know, I really don’t know!”

“Really don’t know?”

“Really, brother! Sir! Please, I’ve told you everything!”

“In that case,” after a long silence, the voice spoke again, “I guess I’ll have to ask Lin Zheng.”

“You—”

“Using your recording as evidence, he shouldn’t deny it, right?”

“You promised not to tell him!”

“Provided you told the truth.”

Silence, a long silence, then Xu Zhitang finally spoke.

“Because Hui Ji blocked Young Master Lin Su’s path… The boss invested billions in the variety show, and he must have Young Master debut at the center position.”

“Did the program group agree?”

“I don’t know,” Xu Zhitang shook his head repeatedly, “The leaders’ matters aren’t something someone at my level would know.”

Tui Buliu didn’t ask further, having already exceeded his expectations with the information obtained.

After letting Xu Zhitang go, Tui Buliu turned off the recorder and went to a nearby vending machine to buy a bottle of mineral water to wash his hands.

Once he finished all this, Chi Luyang finally returned with a bag of masks.

“Minister, I’m back.” Chi Luyang specifically bought black masks, taking one out for himself and handing another to Tui Buliu, excitedly asking, “Are we starting the action now?”

“It’s over,” Tui Buliu wiped his hands clean, saying lightly, “We can go home now.”

“Huh???”

“How is it over?” Chi Luyang felt like he missed out on a fortune, regretting it immensely, “Why didn’t you wait for me to come back and join you?”

Tui Buliu said, “Sometimes being too involved isn’t a good thing.”

Chi Luyang pressed his lips together, vaguely realizing this was the Minister’s way of protecting him. He just realized that whenever there was danger, Tui Buliu never brought him along. Last time, he was told to stay in the car when they encountered thugs in the alley, and this time he was sent to buy masks before questioning Xu Zhitang…

He understood the Minister’s intentions, after all, he was just an ordinary person with no chance against those people.

“But…” Chi Luyang looked up, blurting out, “I want to help you too!”

“Is that so?” Tui Buliu sat in the back seat of the car, speaking slowly, “Then please take me home.”

Driving him home wasn’t anything important…

Chi Luyang wanted to say more, but Tui Buliu had already closed his eyes, showing an unwillingness to talk.

Chi Luyang didn’t ask further, gently starting the car.

Tui Buliu was thinking.

He now had Xu Zhitang’s confession, and there were two paths before him.

One was to directly expose the recording, which could use public opinion to pressure the Lin brothers and possibly force the program group to cancel the pre-determined center position.

However, this approach had a problem. If he exposed the recording, it meant completely breaking ties with the Lin brothers. It wasn’t about fear, but currently, they were vastly different in wealth and status, and rash actions could put Hui Ji in danger.

The second method was to use the recording to negotiate with Lin Zheng, coercing him to cancel the pre-determined center position.

The advantage was not completely breaking ties, and even if Lin Zheng didn’t agree, he could still expose the recording.

But this method also had risks. Even if Lin Zheng agreed, he could still backtrack. By then, even if the audience questioned it, the outcome would be irreversible.

After much thought, both methods had flaws and were not advisable.

So, was there another way, one that could protect both him and Hui Ji while ensuring fair competition?

After returning home, Tui Buliu imported the recording into his computer, preparing several backups. It was then he noticed a folder on his desktop—”JUST ME” Contestant Information.

After browsing through it, Tui Buliu had a vague idea.

Perhaps he could leak the information about the pre-determined center position to someone else, someone unafraid of Lin’s Real Estate’s power and also aiming for a center debut.