Chapter 543: The Silent, Subtle Touch That Nurtures All Things

"Councilor, I have some situations here that I need to report to you."

The car interior was very quiet; the phone's built-in confidentiality system ensured the call could not be tapped. Hou Wendong habitually lowered his voice and said:

"...... The situation I have grasped is just this. According to Li Shang's inference and evidence, it can basically be confirmed that these two Zone Chiefs are the culprits who manufactured the explosion.

Tonight they went to find Lou Duan, seeking shelter. Lou Duan provided them a hiding place, but the two of them were targeted by Feng Mu.

Both suffered immense torture before death......"

Hou Wendong paused here again and supplemented:

"From my observation, Feng Mu is absolutely dead-loyal to Qian Huan. He did all this following Li Hanyu's orders."

The other end of the phone was silent for a long time. After a long while, Wang Xinfā's voice came through:

"Is there evidence obtained of those two colluding with Lou Duan?"

Hou Wendong answered:

"Only a piece of note paper, nothing else. Feng Mu probably didn't get any solid evidence either; otherwise he wouldn't have vented his anger by pulling out the two men's tongues."

To make his judgment more persuasive, and also to pull in someone else to take the blame in case his judgment was wrong, Hou Wendong keenly said:

"This is the inference Li Shang gave after analyzing the scene. Li Shang's professional ability in reasoning, as far as currently seen, has not made a mistake yet."

The other end of the phone fell into brief silence. The sound of Wang Xinfā's knuckles lightly tapping the tabletop transmitted through the microphone.

After a long while, his low voice sounded again:

"Do you think this piece of note paper can tie Lou Duan down for me?"

Hou Wendong picked up the note paper and looked at it twice more, giving his judgment:

"I've compared it. This isn't Lou Duan's handwriting. Li Shang has already sent people to investigate the ownership of this property management. However, it's unlikely to be Lou Duan. Given his style of doing things, he wouldn't make such a low-level mistake."

Hou Wendong concluded: "Very regrettable, Councilor. This piece of note paper probably won't serve any purpose."

Wang Xinfā stopped tapping the table and sighed:

"Fine. Then take this piece of note paper back and give it to Li Hanyu."

This light, drifting piece of note paper itself might not be worth mentioning, but the attitude revealed behind it is intriguing.

Hou Wendong immediately read Wang Yiyuan Xinfā's attitude.

As a Councilor's Secretary, he sometimes has to be like the roundworm in Wang Xinfā's stomach, always able to fathom the Councilor's various thoughts from those seemingly insignificant trivial details.

"The Councilor has shown a considerable degree of tolerance toward Li Hanyu." Hou Wendong pondered silently in his heart.

Based on his understanding of Wang Yiyuan, Li Hanyu ordering Feng Mu to kill two Zone Chiefs without seeking Wang Yiyuan's prior approval — this action was highly likely to disrupt the Councilor's originally meticulously planned layout, thereby angering the Councilor.

But surprisingly, the Councilor did not fly into a rage. This matter just passed lightly like this.

After hanging up the phone, Hou Wendong frowned slightly, carefully pondering the ins and outs of the whole matter, gradually figuring out the crucial links:

"No wonder! No wonder Feng Mu didn't clean up the corpses himself. No wonder Li Hanyu had me and Li Shang come help handle the corpses!"

Handling corpses and doing the aftermath — on the surface, it seems like Li Hanyu is seeking Wang Yiyuan's help, letting the Councilor help clean up the mess. But in reality, this is Li Hanyu's clever way of expressing trust and reliance toward Wang Yiyuan.

Through this act, she transmitted a signal of goodwill to Wang Xinfā.

It is conveying: Although I killed people because of urgent revenge, I didn't hide it from you, and even asked you to help me with the aftermath. This is equivalent to a disguised show of weakness and submission.

In this way, even if Li Hanyu acted somewhat willfully in this matter and ruined the big picture, because it is understandable and there is remedial attitude.

Wang Yiyuan will naturally still regard her as "own people" and show her a few points of tolerance.

Naturally, since Wang Xinfā is willing to continue tolerating Li Hanyu, Feng Mu, who takes orders from Li Hanyu, is naturally also protected by Li Hanyu.

Compared to bloody violence of fighting and killing, Li Hanyu can be said to overcome hardness with softness, exerting a woman's advantages to the extreme, and doing everything silently and imperceptibly like moisture nourishing things.

"Li Hanyu has truly figured out and smoothed over Wang Yiyuan's temperament!"

Hou Wendong's guess was basically correct, only he still missed the most important point.

Li Hanyu choosing to let Hou Wendong handle the corpses was not only transmitting "showing weakness" to Wang Xinfā, but also transmitting "showing force" to Lou Duan!

Hou Wendong's pupils contracted. His heart felt a faint chill. He developed strong wariness toward Li Hanyu.

Of course, he would absolutely not report this analysis to Wang Yiyuan.

This kind of fathoming the superior's intent — he can do it, he absolutely cannot admit it.

Big shots both like using obedient dogs, and absolutely do not hope to truly have their minds fathomed by the dog.

"Looks like, my attitude toward Li Hanyu afterward must be more friendly."

Hou Wendong absolutely did not have thoughts of betraying Wang Yiyuan. He just felt that in the future he must respect Li Hanyu more.

What exactly is respect then?

Actually not complex. For example, if Li Hanyu has some small actions in the future, as long as they don't excessively cross the line or go overboard, he can perhaps appropriately turn a blind eye, feigning ignorance.

The former Hou Wendong absolutely wasn't this kind of person. But after escaping death several times, Hou Wendong cherishes his life more, and has become more mature and slick.

Managing one's own eyes and mouth is the Secretary's most important survival wisdom.

"Furthermore, Li Hanyu values and trusts Feng Mu extremely. So, my attitude toward Feng Mu afterward must also be more amiable. What's more, he also counts as half a life-saving benefactor to me."

Hou Wendong already had a plan in his heart. He let out a long breath, then started the car and drove toward the hospital.

The other side.

In the office permeated with faint sandalwood scent, Wang Xinfā slowly put down the phone in his hand, took off his gold-rimmed glasses, and used a silk handkerchief to leisurely wipe the lenses, letting out a faint cold laugh:

"A woman is ultimately a woman. Her emotions are moved by her son, clouding her mind."

On the opposite sofa, the plump middle-aged man had a round face piled with smiles. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes layered upon each other, looking just like a Maitreya Buddha statue.

He leaned forward slightly, his face carrying a few points of curiosity and concern, smiling as he asked:

"Councilor, the one you just spoke of, is it Li Hanyu?"

Wang Xinfā put his glasses back on the bridge of his nose. The glasses chain flashed fragmented golden light under the lamp.

He did not conceal it:

"This woman, urgent with revenge, had someone slaughter those two Zone Chiefs."

"Ah—"

The Maitreya Buddha man clapped his plump palms together and let out a long sigh,

"Wouldn't that throw a wrench in the Councilor's plans? After all, dead men can't open their mouths to identify the living anymore; with that, the follow-up matters will be hard to handle……"

End of Chapter