Chapter Forty-Nine: Protesting Too Much

Faced with this remark, Nie Yunyang was completely at a loss as to how to respond.

Could it be that what happened that night was actually witnessed by someone?

If anyone had captured photographs or video footage, he would no longer be able to show his face in Chongqing. Setting aside the Wei family behind Sun Yufan, Sun Yufan's trusted aides alone would be more than enough to make life utterly unlivable for him.

However, Nie Yunyang did not believe that there had been any eyewitnesses present when Tan Weibo eliminated Sun Yufan.

Compounding his composure, Nie Yunyang adopted an innocent expression and said, "Brother Ni, you are pulling my leg quite a bit. Someone like me, who wouldn't even hurt a fly, how could I possibly be linked to a homicide case?"

"Is it really not you? Could my guess have been wrong? Yet, my intuition tells me that aside from you, no one would dare to make a move against Sun Yufan," Ni Jie said.

With a look of fearful anxiety, Nie Yunyang said, "Brother Ni, even if I were given the courage of a bear and the gall of a leopard, I wouldn't dare touch a major figure in Chongqing. With a single stomp of their feet, they could crush me into a meat patty."

"Brother Nie, there is no need to play dumb in front of someone intelligent. Since I invited you here today, I naturally made thorough preparations. Do you really think that with my connections, I couldn't even uncover a single trace of evidence?" Ni Jie asked.

Nie Yunyang maintained a blank expression while a torrent of silent curses raged in his heart. If he were to confess the truth here, wouldn't he end up being played to death by this man?

"Brother Nie, since you are unwilling to be entirely honest with me, allow me to piece things together first."

Ni Jie paused for a moment, then continued, "After you returned to Chongqing last month, you entered the Mu family, taking charge of protecting Mu Bailin's daughter, Mu Qingyao, and severely injuring Boss Xue's most capable subordinate, Huo Kun. Following Mu Bailin's suicide, you and Mu Qingyao accompanied his remains back to his ancestral home in Chaiping to lay him to rest. What transpired in between, I am not entirely clear on, but both Old Qiu and Chang Zhicheng wound up dead, while you alone emerged completely unscathed. Everyone knows that Han Fucheng, the vice chairman of Xinhai Technology Co., Ltd., colluded with Sun Yufan in an attempt to seize the Mu family foundation. Yet now, Sun Yufan has gone missing. He wouldn't simply vanish for no reason; it is obvious he has met his demise in the netherworld. And shortly after that, Han Fucheng died as well. Do you know how Han Fucheng met his end?"

Nie Yunyang raised an eyebrow and countered, "How did he die?"

"I had my men take him out!" Ni Jie said with a triumphant smirk.

Nie Yunyang was struck with horror. He had originally assumed Han Fucheng had fallen victim to a personal vendetta; he never expected the truth to be this.

"During that period, I had people keeping close tabs on Han Fucheng. Because of his close association with Sun Yufan, I accidentally discovered that you were tailing Sun Yufan. Since Sun Yufan had the backing of the Wei family, I didn't dare touch him. But I never imagined that Brother Nie would be bold enough to quietly handle the matter yourself—though, of course, that could also be considered doing a service for the public. Therefore, I casually took care of Han Fucheng as well, just to prevent him from interfering with your plans."

Ni Jie spoke on and on without pause.

Nie Yunyang remained silent for a moment before saying, "I gave my word to Uncle Mu that I would protect Mu Qingyao, so I did what had to be done. However, I truly did not kill Sun Yufan. I lack both the capability and the audacity for that. Still, I genuinely thank Brother Ni for stepping in to eliminate Han Fucheng and purging the traitors from the Mu family. That way, no one else will dare to plot against Mu Qingyao."

"At this stage of the game, Brother Nie, are you still trying to play hide-and-seek with me? Don't you think your denials are rather transparent?"

Ni Jie challenged him coldly.

Naturally, Nie Yunyang could never admit that Sun Yufan's death was connected to him. This was a society ruled by law; if word got out, wouldn't he be facing a firing squad?

Moreover, he knew nothing of Ni Jie's true background. To lay everything bare before him now would be an act of supreme foolishness.

Nie Yunyang shook his head and said, "Brother Ni, I really didn't kill Sun Yufan. He has so many enemies that any one of them could be the culprit."

"Are you certain you didn't kill him?" Ni Jie asked.

Maintaining his fearful demeanor, Nie Yunyang replied, "Brother Ni, Sun Yufan's death genuinely has nothing to do with me."

"Who the killer is doesn't really matter anyway. Scum like him is better off dead and reincarnated sooner, lest it ruin the refined mood of us brothers," Ni Jie remarked.

Exercising his patience, Nie Yunyang drank a few rounds of wine with Ni Jie, only for the latter to suddenly ask, "Brother Nie, I heard your relationship with President Cao is quite extraordinary?"

"Uncle Cao and I simply share a certain connection," Nie Yunyang answered.

Ni Jie grinned slyly and said, "I'm not just talking nonsense. To save your life, President Cao actually gifted a Qing dynasty blue-and-white double-dragon jar to Boss Xue. However, what I still cannot fathom is why you chose to go to the Splendid Garden to work as an ordinary employee instead of directly joining Jinchuan Trading Company?"

"Brother Ni, it seems your understanding of me goes far beyond the surface," Nie Yunyang observed.

Ni Jie shrugged and said, "Brother Nie, please don't misunderstand. I mean you no harm."

"Brother Ni, you invited me here today and prepared a whole table of fine dishes. Surely it wasn't just for a casual chat, was it?" Nie Yunyang asked.

Ni Jie laughed and said, "Haha, I'm not that bored. As for whether or not you were the one who finished off Sun Yufan, it's of no consequence to me. I'm simply quite curious about Brother Nie, and I hold you in high regard. Would you be interested in throwing your lot in with me?"

"I appreciate Brother Ni's high opinion of me, but what virtues or abilities do I possess to follow your lead? Besides, I've only just started working at the Splendid Garden; if I were to just leave like this, I wouldn't be able to face Uncle Cao. If I truly find myself unable to survive at the Splendid Garden in the future, I will come seek shelter with Brother Ni then. I only hope that Brother Ni will be willing to toss me a bowl of rice at that time," Nie Yunyang replied.

"Brother Nie, your words are truly airtight. You manage not to offend President Cao while refusing to offend me either. To be honest, I really do think highly of you."

"Thank you, Brother Ni."

Ni Jie stood up and said, "Alright, I have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer. If you encounter any trouble in the future, come straight to me. As long as it is within my power, I will never refuse."

"In that case, I won't take up any more of Brother Ni's time. When you have the leisure, you are welcome to visit the Splendid Garden as my guest, and I will host you personally," Nie Yunyang said.

Ni Jie did not respond, merely offering a wave of his hand. Smiling, Nie Yunyang bade him farewell and turned to leave.

Once Nie Yunyang stepped out of the private room, Ni Jie summoned Wang Xu and instructed him, "Keep an eye on him for me. See if anyone is waiting outside to pick him up."

"Don't worry, Boss. I'm on it right now," Wang Xu replied.

With that, Wang Xu hurried off.

Tan Weibo had been waiting outside the Himalayas Administrative Mansion all along. The moment anything happened to Nie Yunyang, he was prepared to charge right in and pull the young man out.

"Are you alright?"

Seeing Nie Yunyang emerge, Tan Weibo asked anxiously.

Nie Yunyang gave a light laugh and said, "I'm fine."

"Who on earth was looking for you tonight?" Tan Weibo inquired.

Nie Yunyang made no attempt to conceal the truth and told him honestly, "A major figure from Chongqing City. I was afraid the matter regarding Sun Yufan had leaked, which is why I had you come here as backup."

"There shouldn't have been any eyewitnesses that night, otherwise you and I would already be wanted by the Public Security Bureau," Tan Weibo remarked.

Nie Yunyang concurred deeply. Judging by Ni Jie's reaction, he likely possessed no substantive evidence and was merely relying on wild speculation.

"Did Yaoyao and the others head back?"

"Not yet. They are still at Vision Media. The boss said he's treating us all to dinner tonight."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's head back right away."

After Nie Yunyang and Tan Weibo departed, Wang Xu rushed back to the private room at the Yayuntai Riverside Restaurant to report the news. Nie Yunyang had not anticipated that Ni Jie would have such a backup plan in place.

Hearing the report, a flash of shrewd light crossed Ni Jie's eyes as he muttered, "Even the wisest can make a miscalculation... Nie Yunyang, you really did have the guts to commit murder..."