Chapter 308: New Year
[Congratulations to the system host for finding the pink mole on the inner thigh of the target Star Mender Tang Qiqi, completing the New Year's Eve special M-level hidden mission. Reward: 30 system points. Your current system points are 114. Title: Moral Model. System points over 100 will grant 1 additional point per day! ]
[M-level hidden mission reminder: Dragon Year New Year's Eve special mission—find the Star Mender's private mark. Locate the pink mole on the inner thigh of the target Star Mender. Mission complete. You may choose one of the following rewards: First, Advanced Cooking Technique. Second, Advanced Acupuncture Technique. Third, Advanced Swimming Technique. Please make your selection within five seconds…]
Advanced Cooking and Advanced Acupuncture were skills he already had. Advanced Swimming was new. Zhang Yang hesitated, then chose Advanced Acupuncture Technique. Yang Fei seemed to know this skill too—said to be a family inheritance. He wondered if learning this skill would let him surpass her.
Based on her last needle session on him, Zhang Yang felt surpassing her wouldn't be a problem at all.
He actually wanted Cooking or Swimming—both far more practical than Acupuncture. But for now, they didn't seem useful. Acupuncture, on the other hand, could give him an excuse to discuss Yang family medical arts with her—which sounded like a good sign.
"No… I can't…" Tang Qiqi grabbed Zhang Yang's hand tightly, clamping her white thighs together, her flushed face showing a hint of pleading.
Zhang Yang snapped back to reality. She must've thought he was trying something again.
He gently withdrew his hand. Her thighs were smooth and springy like soft jelly. "I just wanted to see if you were hurt."
"You still dare say that!" Tang Qiqi shot him a resentful glance. "Turn off the light."
Zhang Yang nodded and switched off the car light. Only the soft music and the seductive ambient lighting remained…
......
"Let's go back. They're still waiting for us to countdown together."
"Mm!" Tang Qiqi didn't refuse. After getting dressed, she looked at Zhang Yang, bit her rosy lips, hesitated, then whispered, "Zhang Yang… don't let them know what happened tonight."
Zhang Yang paused, hands on the steering wheel. He turned to look at her. "Why?"
"They're all good women." Tang Qiqi gazed at the pitch-dark alley outside.
The meaning was clear—she didn't want Lulu and the others to be hurt because of her.
Zhang Yang sighed and started the Audi, heading home. Tang Qiqi's dilemma tonight would not be the first, nor the last. There would only be more in the future. He really didn't know how he would face each of them.
For now, silence was the only solution between him and Tang Qiqi.
"But don't worry. I won't leave you." Before entering the tunnel, she finally withdrew her gaze from the window.
Zhang Yang felt a slight relief. He loosened one hand from the wheel and wrapped it around her white, swan-like neck. "Give me some time."
Just as they exited the tunnel, Xu Danying called. "Brother-in-law, why didn't you answer earlier?"
Zhang Yang froze—was it because he had been too absorbed with Tang Qiqi to notice?
He quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Brother-in-law, I found Ao Tian." Xu Danying said.
"Ah? Quick, where is he?"
"He…" Xu Danying hesitated. "You'll know when you get back."
Zhang Yang's heart dropped. "Your sister is next to you, isn't she?"
After a pause, Xu Danlu's voice came through. "Yangzi… it's better if you come back and see for yourself. I don't want to lie to you. You… need to be mentally prepared."
"Damn!" The Q7 screeched to a halt near the tunnel exit, leaving a long skid mark. His trembling hands gripped the steering wheel.
As he feared—Ao Tian had likely run into trouble.
"What happened?" Tang Qiqi turned to look at him.
"Nothing." Zhang Yang shook his head. Tang Qiqi had no connection with Ao Tian, and he didn't want her dragged into it. "Let's go home."
When they arrived, the villa was lively. Qiao Xier, Liu Zixuan, Xi Chen Jinglan, Xu Danying, Xu Dantong, and Xu Danlu—six stunning beauties were gathered in the living room. Seeing Zhang Yang, Qiao Xier approached first.
She looked him over and whispered, "Was everything smooth?"
Zhang Yang glanced at Xu Danlu. She gave no sign—which meant Qiao Xier didn't know about Ao Tian yet. He nodded. "There won't ever be a Spade Eight again."
He paused, then asked, "By the way, what about you? What did you talk about with your grandfather? Can you tell me a bit?"
"Grandpa left already." Qiao Xier frowned at him. "What's wrong with you? Spade Eight is gone, yet you don't look happy at all."
"Nothing. I'm happy." Zhang Yang lowered his gaze and quickly pulled her aside. "Just tired. By the way, your grandfather came, so why did he leave so fast? He's not coming here?"
Qiao Xier pouted. "What? You that scared of him?"
"Well, I wasn't prepared! Think about it—your grandfather is a revolutionary hero. If he finds out I stole his precious granddaughter AND that the villa is full of other beauties…" Zhang Yang pointed subtly at the group of women and made a throat-slitting gesture. "Wouldn't he kill me?"
"He hasn't even come and you're already scared like this. If he did come, you'd probably run away!" Qiao Xier snorted. "He originally wanted to come visit, but thankfully my dad convinced him. Plus Secretary Zhao and Deputy Mayor Xia came, so Grandpa chatted with them and had no time left. Feeling lucky?"
"Qiao-jie…" Zhang Yang looked at her, guilt flickering in his expression. "After New Year, I'll go with you to the capital."
"To the capital? What for?" Qiao Xier was delighted but pretended not to show it.
"Ugly daughter-in-law… ugly son-in-law still has to meet the parents." Zhang Yang teased. "Of course it's to ask your grandfather for his precious granddaughter."
"Nonsense! He'll kick you out."
"How will I know if I don't try? I've been practicing my unbeatable flattery technique. When I see him—"
"Idiot! You think my grandfather falls for that?" Qiao Xier rolled her eyes.
Then she said calmly, "Actually, Grandpa didn't come here just for fun. He didn't say much, but the fact he personally met Secretary Zhao and Deputy Mayor Xia means the political landscape in Southeast Province is about to change. He also told me to tell you—to act boldly."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Does 'act boldly' include pursuing his granddaughter?"
"I'm done talking to you." Qiao Xier smacked him playfully and looked at the big screen. "We're getting ready for the countdown. Come join us."
"Mm." Zhang Yang didn't refuse. He held her hand. She tried to pull free but failed and reluctantly let him hold it.
"Five… four… three… two… one—Happy New Year!" The beauties cheered, jumping with excitement. They were all still young. Seeing their joy, Zhang Yang couldn't help but smile.
"Here, here—this is Yangzi's New Year gift for everyone." Xu Danlu magically produced a bag of items and placed them on the coffee table.
Zhang Yang smiled. He and Lulu and Qiao Xier had spent ages choosing these gifts.
Besides giving everyone red envelopes for New Year, they also prepared gifts for all the villa's girls—including the ones not present.
"A watch?" Liu Zixuan opened her box immediately. "And electronic?"
"Yes, a watch—but not an ordinary one. This smart watch not only shows time but can make calls, has GPS, can post on Weibo, send voice messages, and can control calls via Bluetooth. It's the first-generation smartphone watch developed in Spain." Xu Danlu introduced happily. "If you ever get into trouble, the watch can share your location, and Comrade Zhang Yang can rush over to save you."
"So powerful?" Liu Zixuan admired it, thrilled—clearly plotting mischief already.
"Ahem… I must remind certain people—don't use this unless absolutely necessary. Especially the emergency call function." Zhang Yang warned. Especially Liu-somebody—if she didn't prank him, it would be strange.
"Of course not~" Liu Zixuan said sweetly, strapping it onto her fair wrist.
"Right, Yangzi, we're planning to stay up all night. Want to join?" Qiao Xier asked with a smile.
"Stay up all night?" Zhang Yang thought of Ao Tian and shook his head. "You all go ahead. I'm tired and want to rest."
"Oh, right—you've been busy all day. Then go rest." Qiao Xier didn't insist.
Zhang Yang went to the fifth floor and opened the video Xu Danlu and Xu Danying prepared.
On screen, after he and Tang Qiqi left, Ao Tian stayed behind. Using one hand, he lit a cigarette. Not long after, police lights appeared at the far end of the alley.
But before the police arrived, Ao Tian suddenly fell backward hard, as if struck violently, landing on the flooded ground.
Three or four minutes later, the police and an ambulance arrived. They briefly inspected the scene, then hurriedly carried Ao Tian and Cheng Jisheng into the ambulance.
Then the footage ended.
"That's all the footage." Xu Danlu said from the doorway. "It looks like someone erased the recordings. When Yingying went to check again, she found all the surveillance from tonight wiped clean. Clearly, someone wants to cover this up."
Zhang Yang smiled faintly, recalling Ao Tian's shameless, sloppy face. That guy was like a cockroach—hard to kill.
"He won't die." Zhang Yang stood and exhaled deeply. He glanced at Xu Danlu. "So, what are you all doing tonight?"
"They'll be next door—drinking and singing all night."
Zhang Yang shrugged. "Good thing Teacher Yang Fei is at her own place tonight."
"There's one more activity. You'll love it." Xu Danlu said with a sly smile.