Failing to reach him on the phone, Yan Xia had no choice but to send him messages. She sent reminders to every contact she had of his.
She told him not to go to the deal site a few days later.
Even though if he didn't show up, she would be the one in trouble, she still didn't want Lu Qianzhou to be arrested and imprisoned. There were many things she had to ask him alone.
Just as all the forces were gearing up and the police had already made all the preparations in advance, Long Tao suddenly contacted her one day earlier and told her that the deal had been brought forward by a day.
Yan Xia didn't understand why the deal had been suddenly advanced, but it was all up to Long Tao. As someone who had to obey, she naturally couldn't defy him. So she had to inform Shangguan Yao in time to get them prepared, and then she went to the appointment alone.
When Shangguan Yao received the message from Yan Xia, his expression was calm.
"Boss, since Miss Cheng met Jiang Yue that day, she has been in a daze. She hasn't been out these days and has locked herself at home. Is there something wrong with her?" Jiang Nian asked worriedly.
Shangguan Yao thought of the strange things she had said that day and some details. He immediately understood the reason. Without a doubt, she must have known something.
The only reason she chose to keep silent instead of telling anyone after knowing those things was that she intended to protect Lu Qianzhou.
That meant that she might have made preparations in advance through some channels. There was a high possibility that Lu Qianzhou wouldn't show up for this deal.
And their well - prepared plan to kill two birds with one stone might end up in vain. They could only lure Long Tao.
Why did Cheng Yanxia even hide things from him? Because in her eyes now, he was no longer a friend she could completely trust.
He had been preparing for so long and setting up the game for so long. He would never let all his efforts go to waste at the last moment.
He asked, "Where is Lu Qianzhou now?"
Jiang Nian shook his head and said, "I don't know. He hasn't shown up since Miss Cheng was framed last time. Some people said he went to the overseas headquarters, but the news hasn't been confirmed. No one knows where he is."
Jiang Nian vaguely sensed that Shangguan Yao's mood was also very strange. They had been planning for so long and were about to close the net. It should have been a happy thing, but why were their reactions so strange?
"Boss..." Jiang Nian was very worried about his condition. "What's wrong with you guys? Miss Cheng is so strange, and you are too."
Shangguan Yao looked up and smiled. "It's okay. Maybe I'm just too tired."
There were some things he didn't want to tell Jiang Nian because she was too innocent, like a blank sheet of paper. After this incident, maybe he would let go of everything and never have any contact with the people in the capital again.
Normally, as the mastermind behind the scenes, Long Tao didn't need to show up in person.
He just needed to watch the progress of the matter from a nearby hotel and give remote instructions. This was the safest way, keeping himself out of the matter so that he could clear himself of any suspicion if something unexpected happened.
With a glimmer of hope in her heart, Yan Xia rushed to the hotel in a hurry. It was still the same large presidential suite as last time. Long Tao had already brought his men there. There were quite a few lackeys inside and outside the hotel, while Yan Xia's entourage was much simpler. She only brought Zhou Qi with her.
However, when she entered the room, she didn't see Lu Qianzhou. She couldn't tell if she was relieved or disappointed. It was okay that he didn't come. She couldn't reach him, and now she was just afraid that he would rush out halfway.
Both Fang Jiangyi and Lu Qianzhou were people she felt guilty towards.
Only those who had experienced life and death would understand that nothing was more important than being alive. As long as they could both live, she was willing to spend the rest of her life making up for her past mistakes, even if it meant making up for Cheng Hua's mistakes as well.
There was a flash of disappointment in her eyes. Long Tao had already had the celebration wine decanted. He was standing by the window with a glass in his hand. From this position, the blue sea and the nearby dock warehouse were all in sight.
It was afternoon, not a suitable time to start yet. The goods being moved at the dock were all normal and problem - free. They had to wait for the best moment at night.
Yan Xia walked further inside, and Zhou Qi followed her. But when Zhou Qi reached the door, he was stopped by Long Tao's men. Except for Yan Xia, no one she brought could go in.
Yan Xia looked back at the insolent lackey. Although her words didn't carry much weight here, she couldn't let others look down on her.
"It's okay. You wait here," she told Zhou Qi and then stepped into the room boldly.
She walked to the window and stood shoulder to shoulder with Long Tao, looking out at the beautiful scenery.
"Miss Cheng, why get angry for an unimportant lackey? It's such a great day. It's not worth it," Long Tao swirled the wine in his glass.
Someone respectfully handed Yan Xia a glass of wine. She took it and smelled the faint fruit aroma.
"What a fragrant wine," she swirled the glass and took a small sip. "It's just because such an insolent lackey has spoiled this great day that I find it a real dampener."
Long Tao didn't look at her from beginning to end. He just curved his lips and said, "After today's deal is successfully completed, Miss Cheng will be one of us."
This was a test for her and also the only chance he would give her.
The sea breeze blew gently, bringing with it the smell of sea salt.
Yan Xia curved her lips. "I've been waiting for this day for so long. I cherish this opportunity more than anyone else. I believe that after all these things, Mr. Long should be able to see my sincerity and ambition."
Long Tao smiled but didn't say anything.
The two of them stood by the window for a long time without saying a word.
But after waiting for so long, there was still no news of Lu Qianzhou. As an important member of this deal, if Long Tao couldn't reach him either, he should be more suspicious than anyone else.
Yan Xia couldn't help but ask, "Has Mr. Long been in touch with Lu Qianzhou? If General Manager Lu doesn't show up tonight, it might be a bit hard to explain."
Long Tao cut to the chase. "Does Miss Cheng want him to come or not?"
Long Tao knew everything that had happened between her and Lu Qianzhou. It was Long Tao who first told her about Lu Qianzhou's attempt to deal with Fang Jiangyi last time.
"The answer is definitely yes," Yan Xia leaned against the window. The sea breeze blew her long hair like seaweed. "The situation has been unstable recently. If General Manager Lu, as the key figure, doesn't come, it may not be able to reassure the people."
But Long Tao didn't answer her question directly.
The wind by the window was strong. She felt a bit cold from the wind and couldn't help but go back to the sofa to sit and wait.
There was a message from Shangguan Yao on her phone.
"Everything is ready. Proceed as planned."
Yan Xia's heart was still in a mess. As long as the matter wasn't settled, she was always worried that Lu Qianzhou would come.