After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

As soon as Wu Jinshui left, the buzzing sound on the construction site immediately increased.

The machines were still running, but many people stopped what they were doing, gathered together, and whispered among themselves, their eyes constantly glancing toward the main entrance.

"Did you see that? Boss Wu was like that just now... he's about to lose his temper."

"Old Cat is gone, he must be seething with anger. Director Fu's words carry weight, but you can't guard against someone like Wu Jinshui openly, and you can't stop him from doing bad things in secret."

"From now on, trucks hauling materials and those guarding the site at night will have to be extra careful. This construction site is unlikely to be quiet anytime soon."

As they chattered, anxieties filled the air. The initial excitement of starting work was quickly dampened.

Cao Dayong, enraged, roared at the foremen who were speaking most enthusiastically:

"What nonsense! Is the sky falling? We're just doing our jobs according to the blueprints, getting paid to eat. He's not going to blow up the bulldozers, is he? Brother Long is standing right here, and Director Fu has given his orders. What's there to be afraid of!"

He spoke loudly, and the veins in his neck were taut.

Fu Mingde didn't leave immediately. He waited until the commotion subsided before turning to Gong Yuelong.

"For the high-tech zone to develop and for businesses to operate legally, protection is essential. This is the responsibility of public security."

"The new project is a key project. Anyone who wants to cause trouble will have to ask us for our permission first."

He was saying this to everyone.

The meaning is clear: the authorities will be watching, so don't go too far.

Then, he looked at Gong Yuelong and said, "Of course, you yourselves must also abide by the rules. Safe production, legal employment, don't give anyone a reason to criticize you. If you stand upright, you will naturally receive the support you deserve."

After saying that, he nodded to Mr. Li next to him, glanced at Gong Yuelong, turned around, got into the car parked by the roadside, and drove away.

As soon as Fu Mingde's car left, the atmosphere on the construction site seemed to ease a little.

At least on the surface, there is now a protective umbrella.

General Manager Li walked over and said to Gong Yuelong:

"Boss Gong, there's definitely pressure. But the work still has to be done, and done well, done beautifully. That's the fundamental thing."

His words were loaded with meaning, telling Gong Yuelong not to focus on competing with Wu Jinshui, but to prioritize building the house properly.

Gong Yuelong hummed in agreement, but didn't say anything more.

……

Juxian Pavilion, the tea room in the backyard.

Gong Yuelong placed a black handbag on the tea table in front of Yang Ruyan. The bag was not sealed, revealing several bundles of cash inside.

"The first installment of the progress payment for Xinke arrived yesterday afternoon."

"According to the ten points we discussed before, back to back. Please count the number."

Yang Ruyan didn't touch the bag immediately.

She first picked up the purple clay teapot and refilled the empty cup in front of Gong Yuelong with hot tea.

Her gaze fell on Gong Yuelong's face, and she smiled, a smile with a hidden meaning.

"Brother Gong is indeed efficient in handling matters."

"Back to back... You're using that phrase, it's interesting. The client pays, then you pay me. It sounds like a rule, but what it really binds us is this fragile trust between us."

She paused, leaned back slightly, nestled into the soft cushions of the armchair, and gazed out the window at a corner of the sky cut off by the eaves.

"Money is a good thing; it can buy peace and quiet, but it can also buy trouble."

Her voice lowered, "Women, without roots or foundation, yet they manage to stand firm here... To put it bluntly, it's just that they have a few umbrellas to hold them up."

One of them is high enough and stable enough. He stopped there, leaving it at that.

That umbrella was her most reliable source of information in the city, and also her deepest reliance.

She suddenly turned her face to look at Gong Yuelong, a hint of self-mockery flashing beneath her expression:

"To put it bluntly, isn't it just a canary kept as a pet? The only difference is that the cage looks nicer."

Gong Yuelong didn't reply, but simply picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

He understood Yang Ruyan's unspoken message: her power and her network of information were a form of dependence.

He pointed to the money pouch: "This is what you deserve."

Yang Ruyan smiled upon hearing Gong Yuelong's cold words and changed the subject.

"Let me give you a heads-up, Brother Gong. In the High-Tech Zone, it looks like you and Wu Jinshui are fighting, but actually, there are plenty of people waiting to see both of you get hurt. Including…"

Yang Ruyan glanced at Gong Yuelong with a sparkling gaze.

Gong Yuelong's expression remained unchanged. He picked up his teacup, neither pressing further nor deeming it necessary. He figured if he wanted to speak, he would; if he wasn't, he was probably waiting for an offer. He wouldn't offer that price. He subtly gestured to Yang Ruyan:

"I've taken Boss Yang's advice to heart. One step at a time. If Wu Jinshui wants to push the boundaries, I'll play along."

He paused for a moment, then drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

"Here, the rules are simple: what's due, you get every penny, just like today. What's not rightfully yours, you don't give up an inch of. Whether it's a mountain peak or a roadbed, it depends on your own abilities and fate."

Yang Ruyan watched his decisive movements and listened to the calm and firm tone in his words, and suddenly chuckled softly.

This time, the laughter lacked the previous complexity and was more refreshing.

"What skill and good fortune!" She also raised her cup, offering tea instead of wine in a perfunctory toast.

The tea is clear and refreshing, with a sweet aftertaste.

She looked at Gong Yuelong's profile, which exuded a sense of heroic spirit.

The air conditioning in the private room was cool, but her heart felt slightly hot.

Such openness and assertiveness are truly... refreshing and even somewhat endearing in a place accustomed to scheming and hypocrisy.

Unlike her partner, who appears glamorous on the surface but is full of convoluted and shady dealings underneath.

The person in front of you is dangerous, but this danger is an open wolfish nature, which is more daring than the venomous fangs hidden behind a smiling face.

She put down her teacup, as if suddenly remembering something, and said casually:

"By the way, Brother Gong, since you're going to settle down in the High-tech Zone, it won't hurt to get to know some of the people there."

I have two friends here who have some connections, are well-informed, and have connections at higher levels. Talking to them might be helpful.

Gong Yuelong looked at her: "A friend of President Yang is definitely not an ordinary person."

"It's not that they're anything special, they're just well-connected."

Yang Ruyan smiled, took out her phone, and started searching as she spoke.

"One is named Liu Guangjin, everyone calls him Old Liu. He started out dealing in permits and licenses, and now he works as an information broker and middleman, knowing all sorts of people. The other is his partner, surnamed Hou, tall and thin. I heard they have pretty strong connections in some departments in the province. Why don't you meet him next door?"

As she spoke, she said she had found the number and looked up at Gong Yuelong for clarification.

After a moment's thought, Gong Yuelong nodded: "Alright, I'll follow Mr. Yang's arrangements. Making more friends means having more options."

She got up and opened the door to the tea room for him.

A gentle breeze drifted in from outside the corridor, carrying the faint aroma of tea and the sounds of voices from next door.

Gong Yuelong understood and drank the remaining tea in his cup.

"Then let's go sit down."

After leaving Yang Ruyan's teahouse, Gong Yuelong did not go over immediately.

He stopped at the corner of the corridor, took out a cigarette, but didn't light it.

Close your eyes, and a blue light flashes.

[Intelligence system analysis target: Meeting in the tea room next door. Assess risks and extract key information.]

Almost instantly, the feedback bombarded my mind:

[Assessment Result: No direct security threat. Information gain value: High.]

[Important Note: Zheng Tao, a related individual, was detected present. Emotional analysis: Strong anger and frustration. This is the biggest variable.]

[Risk point: The environment is semi-public; conflicts may be limited to verbal exchanges.]

Gong Yuelong opened his eyes and put the cigarette back in the cigarette case.

Zheng Tao was also there. As expected, the Zheng family couldn't possibly remain inactive in securing that lucrative piece of the eastern market.

But this state of anger and frustration... it seems the knot of losing the bid is still stuck in this young master's heart.

The risks are manageable, and the information is useful. Then it's worth a meeting.

Let's see what useful things this defeated young master can come up with in this situation.

He straightened his collar, and without further delay, headed straight for the tea room from which the faint sounds of conversation could be heard.