Chapter 684: Little Li's Half Belief, Half Doubt

Private hospital, VIP ward.

Li Hengbo leaned against the headboard, his fingers irritably tapping the bed rail.

Time passed minute by minute, second by second.

Qian Youcai, however, was late to arrive, and this made the nameless fire in his heart burn hotter and hotter.

He Qixing stood with his head lowered to one side, not daring to breathe, the air pressure in the ward low enough to almost suffocate.

Just as Li Hengbo was about to lose control and prepare to erupt again, the ward door was gently pushed open.

The one who entered was Qian Youcai.

But his current appearance was truly miserable.

His right eye socket was bruised black and blue, swollen high, the corner of his mouth split, leaving a trace of dried blood; walking seemed to tug at some injury, his waist slightly hunched, making him look utterly disheveled.

Li Hengbo first stared, then furrowed his brows, his sinister gaze sweeping over Qian Youcai: "What happened?"

Qian Youcai forced out a smile uglier than crying, his voice trembling: "Li… Li Boss… I… I almost couldn't make it…"

"Speak plainly!" Li Hengbo snapped impatiently.

"It's Lin Dongfan!" Qian Youcai, as if finding an outlet, spoke in shock and fear: "Just after I left the residential compound, Lin Dongfan brought people to block me! He… he demanded to know if I was coming to see you, then threatened me to stay away from you… I refused, so he… he hit me! Look at my eye, my mouth… he even knocked out a tooth of mine!"

As he spoke, he also showed Li Hengbo the bloody rotten tooth he was clutching in his hand to increase credibility.

This wasn't an act; it truly hurt, and he truly felt wronged—although half of that grievance came from Lin Dongfan's two punches.

Li Hengbo stared at Qian Youcai's facial injury, then at the tooth, his eyes shifting. He had indeed received He Qixing's message, knowing Lin Dongfan had intercepted someone midway, but the exact details were unclear.

"He blocked you just to beat you up?" Li Hengbo asked skeptically, not really believing Lin Dongfan would mobilize a crowd over such a trifle.

"Not just that…" Qian Youcai, following Lin Dongfan's script, half-truthfully sobbed: "He also pressed me, asking what business you had with me… I… I refused to say! Then he cursed me as your loyal dog, saying… saying he'd eventually break my dog legs…"

He deliberately emphasized his "loyalty" and his "fear and hatred" of Lin Dongfan, trying to dispel Li Hengbo's doubts.

Li Hengbo remained silent, his fingers still tapping the bed rail, seemingly judging the truth of Qian Youcai's words. He believed Lin Dongfan would strike someone, but he held reservations about whether this old fox Qian Youcai was truly that tough.

"Did he mention anything else? Like… technology patents, or… James?" Li Hengbo suddenly asked, his eyes sharp as a knife, fixed on Qian Youcai's reaction.

Qian Youcai's heart gave a jolt, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

He realized Li Hengbo was testing him!

He struggled to keep a look of shock and grievance, shaking his head repeatedly: "No! Absolutely not! He just took a dislike to me and wanted to give you a warning! Li Boss, I've now completely offended Lin Dongfan; from now on… I'll rely entirely on you!"

He timely expressed his loyalty and placed himself in a position even more dependent on Li Hengbo.

Li Hengbo stared at him for a good ten-odd seconds; Qian Youcai felt his back shirt nearly soaked. Finally, Li Hengbo's grim expression eased a fraction, and his fingers stopped tapping the bed rail.

"Alright, look at your little ambition." Li Hengbo's tone remained unpleasant, but with less killing intent: "It's just a dog bite; you won't die. Since Lin Dongfan doesn't want you contacting me, that shows I've found the right person."

He gestured to He Qixing.

He Qixing immediately handed Qian Youcai a new document.

"This is…" Qian Youcai looked at the document, his heart tightening.

"'Technical exchange' agreement for new-energy battery materials," Li Hengbo said lightly: "The previous one was void; this one has more 'favorable' terms. Take a look—if there's no problem, sign it."

Qian Youcai took the document and skimmed it quickly.

Although the title had changed, the core content remained the ultra-low-price transfer of core technology and patents, merely packaged more covertly, with even harsher clauses.

His palms sweated; he knew this was the "pit" Lin Dongfan had mentioned.

But now, he had to jump into it.

He squeezed out a grateful expression: "Thank you, Li Boss, for your care! I'll sign! I'll sign right away!" He took out a pen, his hand still trembling a bit, but this time he deliberately put on an act of "excitement" and "aftermath," without hesitation signing his name at the signature line and stamping the company seal.

Li Hengbo looked at the signed agreement, and finally a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face. Qian Youcai's miserable appearance and his "swift" signature temporarily eased some of his doubts.

"Very good." Li Hengbo put away the agreement, "Next, there's still something for you to do."

"Li Boss, your orders." Qian Youcai bowed.

"Contact James." Li Hengbo lowered his voice, a flicker of greed and malice flashing in his eyes: "Just tell him we have 'new goods' to move, and arrange to meet at the usual place. This time, I want to talk to him personally."

Qian Youcai's heart jolted, but on the surface he hurriedly nodded: "Yes yes yes, I'll contact him as soon as I get back!"

He understood that Li Hengbo was accelerating collusion with foreign intelligence agencies, while Lin Dongfan's task for him—arranging a meeting with James—had, in this manner, proceeded so "smoothly"!

After leaving the hospital and getting back into his own car, Qian Youcai finally collapsed limp in the driver's seat, gasping heavily, wiping a handful of cold sweat from his forehead.

That performance just now had drained all his energy.

He touched his still‑aching eye socket and mouth corner, then glanced at the signed "sell‑oneself" contract on the passenger seat, his face showing a bittersweet, relieved complex expression.

"Lin Dongfan… Li Hengbo… they're both ruthless types who devour people without spitting out bones…" he muttered to himself, then pulled himself together, took out his phone, and dialed the encrypted number Lin Dongfan had left for him.

"Mr. Lin," he said, lowering his voice with a hint of respectful reporting, "the agreement I was 'forced' to sign. Besides, Li Hengbo told me to contact James, saying he… wants to appear in person."

On the other end of the line, Lin Dongfan's voice carried an air of everything being under control: "Understood. Do as he said, then notify me once the time and place are set. Qian Director, your moment of merit is coming soon."

After hanging up, Qian Youcai looked out at the bustling street scene through the car window, feeling himself also become a pawn in this grand game.

However, he now clearly knew which side he should stand on to seize a sliver of survival.