The evil dragon has been released from prison; it will only kill, not save!

"We'll see."

Shen Youchu nodded to Zhou Ziheng and turned to walk towards table number three.

Qin Hao followed behind.

After taking her seat, Shen Youchu lowered her voice and said, "You saw that? That's the kind of person I know."

"Quite respectable."

"What?"

"He's shameless in a very respectable way."

Shen Youchu gave a soft snort and said nothing more.

Qin Hao turned his head and glanced in Zhou Ziheng's direction.

The man had returned to his table and was talking to Zhou Hanming next to him.

Zhou Hanming's gaze lingered on Qin Hao for two seconds before shifting away.

There's no need to guess what the uncle and nephew are discussing.

Qin Hao looked away and poured himself a cup of tea.

The birthday banquet hadn't started yet; the waiters were serving cold dishes.

Feng Jintang from the next table came over and greeted us.

"Fourth Young Master Qin, President Shen."

"Mr. Feng."

"I had my assistant discuss the dinner plan with Mr. Shen. How about next Wednesday?"

"OK."

Feng Jintang smiled and nodded, exchanged a few polite words, and left.

Qin Hao was about to drink his tea when his phone vibrated.

Jiang Qingqian's message: [Master, the backend penetration of Minghui Communications has been successful. The data volume is large, and we are currently processing it. Preliminary discovery—the shipping addresses of a set of encrypted communication devices overlap with the address of one of He Donglai's private properties.]

Qin Hao stared at the message for three seconds, then replied with a single word: 【Okay.】

Another link has been added to the chain of evidence.

He put his phone back in his pocket and picked up his teacup, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Zhou Ziheng.

The man stood up, holding a wine glass, and walked over here.

When Zhou Ziheng walked over with a wine glass in his hand, there was someone following behind him.

Qin Hao recognized him—Zhou Hanming.

The guy who withdrew his investment and then sent a letter of intent for cooperation before was wearing a Zhongshan suit with a dark pattern today, looking every bit the old-fashioned businessman.

"President Shen, Fourth Young Master Qin," Zhou Hanming said with a smile, "My nephew is being impolite; he insisted on coming over to offer a toast, so I came with him. Please don't take offense."

Shen Youchu held the teacup to her lips without moving it.

Zhou Ziheng stood in front of the table, raising his wine glass to chest height.

"Youchu, this glass is for you and Young Master Qin. It's a rare occasion to sit together tonight; let's hope to grow closer in the future."

He said he was paying respects to two people, but his eyes were always on Shen Youchu.

Qin Hao didn't pick up a wine glass; he leaned back in his chair and watched the uncle and nephew.

Shen Youchu put down her teacup.

"I won't drink Mr. Zhou's wine; I have to drive tonight."

"Just one cup—"

"She said she wouldn't drink," Qin Hao's voice broke in.

Zhou Ziheng's hand froze in mid-air as he turned to look at him.

"Fourth Young Master Qin, I'm speaking to You Chu."

"Can't I hear you talking to her?"

Zhou Ziheng's smile faded slightly.

"Fourth Young Master Qin, I've known You Chu for almost ten years. You—"

"I live under the same roof as her."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ziheng's expression clearly changed.

Shen Youchu kicked Qin Hao under the table.

Zhou Hanming quickly tried to smooth things over: "Haha, we're all family. Ziheng, sit down, don't just stand there."

Zhou Ziheng stood for two seconds, then tilted his head back and downed the drink.

"Then—let's reschedule for another day."

He put down his wine glass, turned around, and left.

He walked faster than he had come, and his back was taut.

Zhou Hanming gave Qin Hao an awkward smile and followed him away.

After Shen Youchu and the others had walked away, she lowered her voice and said, "Can you please not talk like that? What do you mean by 'living under the same roof'?"

"Not true?"

"You can't say that in a place like this! What will people think?"

"Let him decide." Qin Hao poured himself a glass of wine. "It's the same thing—I live in the old house, and you live in the old house too. We're under the same roof, what's the problem?"

Shen Youchu bit her lip, unable to refute.

She took a deep breath: "Could you please say less tonight?"

"OK."

"real?"

"It depends."

Shen Youchu didn't want to talk to him anymore.

……

The birthday banquet officially began.

The birthday celebrant, Grandpa Meng, was helped to the main seat; he was still in relatively good health.

Meng Zhaofeng gave a speech, expressing his gratitude to everyone for attending.

Qin Hao lost interest after listening for half a minute and looked down at his phone.

Fang Jiuming's message: [Helian Yuan is locked in the branch's secret room. He's been turned away all night and is starting to become agitated. When will the interrogation begin?]

Qin Hao replied: "I'll come in person tomorrow."

After the speeches, the banquet officially began.

The tables were filled with the clinking of glasses, and the atmosphere became lively.

Qin Hao clinked glasses with the people at the table, who were all medium-sized business owners. Their attitude was respectful but not overly obsequious.

After news of Haofan Group's chairmanship spread, the Longhai business community treated him this way: polite, but not daring to offend him.

Just after the third round of drinks, a waiter came over.

"Mr. Qin, there is a gentleman over there who would like to invite you over for a chat. He says he has something he would like to discuss in person."

"Who is it?"

The waiter pointed to the left.

Zhuang Mingyuan.

Qin Hao didn't move.

Tell him I'm fine sitting here, and if I want to chat, ask him to come over.

The waiter hesitated for a moment, then left.

Shen Youchu whispered a reminder: "Zhuang Mingyuan is a vengeful person. He won't let it go so easily after we cut his loan of 800 million last time.

"So what?"

"Be careful, he might trip you up from behind."

"He'd already tried, so I just held the knife to his neck. What can he do now?"

Shen Youchu was about to say something when she was interrupted.

Zhou Ziheng is here again.

This time he wasn't holding a wine glass, and the smile on his face had mostly faded.

"Youchu, may I speak to you in private?"

Shen Youchu frowned: "Just say what's on your mind."

"It's a personal matter." Zhou Ziheng glanced at Qin Hao. "Five minutes."

Shen Youchu did not move.

Qin Hao put down his chopsticks.

"Mr. Zhou, did you not understand what you just said?"

Zhou Ziheng turned to him, his tone turning cold: "Fourth Young Master Qin, my affair with You Chu is none of your business, is it?"

"What could possibly be between you and her? She's my second brother's fiancée, and now she's a member of the Qin family."

These words caused the people around to slow down their movements by half a beat.

The other restaurant owners at the table pretended not to hear and kept their heads down, eating their food.

Zhou Ziheng finally lost his temper.

"Qin Hao, do you think the name of Haofan Group can control everything?"

"I can't control the heavens and the earth, but I can control the flies around my second sister-in-law."

"you--"

"Ziheng." Zhou Hanming came over again at some point and grabbed his nephew's arm. "Today is Old Master Meng's birthday banquet, don't make a scene."

Zhou Ziheng shook off his hand and glared at Qin Hao.

Qin Hao didn't stand up, or even look up at him.

He held his wine glass and took a sip by himself.

"If Mr. Zhou is not satisfied, we can talk about it privately at a later time. After all, today is a birthday banquet, and I'm giving the host face."

Zhou Ziheng's chest heaved twice.

Zhou Hanming dragged him back with all his might.

"Come on, come on! Don't embarrass yourself!"

The two left.

Halfway through the banquet, Qin Hao went to the restroom.

As I returned from the corridor, I heard hushed voices coming from around the corner.

Zhou Ziheng and Zhuang Mingyuan.

The sound drifted into Qin Hao's ears intermittently.

"...Qin Hao is incredibly arrogant." Zhou Ziheng's voice was filled with hatred. "He humiliated me in public—"

"Young people are impatient." Zhuang Mingyuan's voice was much calmer. "What's the rush? He's offended plenty of people, one more won't make a difference."

"Uncle Zhuang, what do you suggest we do?"