"General."
Yuan Gang turned back and called out, clearly displeased with the arrangements in the inner courtyard.
It was already the end of the year. Couldn't these matters wait until after the new year? Must they be restless even during the holiday?
However, some words were destined to remain buried in his heart.
Ye Longlin looked out the window, shook his head slightly, and said nothing.
Since Mu Hanqi got into the car, she had been asking questions and looking around. Finally, after playing enough, she lay down in Ye Longlin's arms and fell asleep.
Her small head rested on his lap, but her little hand remained intertwined with Ye Longlin's fingers, not letting go even in her sleep.
The business car moved forward.
Upon entering the city, it drove directly in a certain direction.
Finally, before lunch, they arrived at his residence in the capital.
This was an old house.
It used to be a military compound, housing high-ranking officials. After several changes, it had become an iconic building.
What was once the core circle had now devolved into an ordinary residential area.
He owned one property here and another in a different new compound.
Those who lived here were nostalgic figures, or rather, people from the previous era.
At least, from the outside, it looked no different from any other residential area, but in reality, it was a place where dragons and tigers hid.
Perhaps a casual encounter with an elderly person during a morning stroll could lead to connections with high-ranking officials, individuals with prominent backgrounds.
Even after retirement, as long as one could survive in the capital, they would still possess some influence.
The complex had been built sixty years ago. The bluestone slabs connecting the entrances of various units were now etched with the marks of time.
"Shall we see our new home?"
Standing outside the complex, Ye Longlin felt a sense of time passing by. Perhaps one day he too would become a long-term resident here.
"Okay."
Mu Hanqi nodded obediently, twitching her nose.
For Ye Longlin, quieter places were always better.
He had a small courtyard here, a standalone unit, one of the few residences in this area that could afford a courtyard.
There were ten courtyards in total, along with several seven-story Western-style houses from decades ago, making the number of residents well over a hundred.
Due to historical changes, many people had sold their properties, attracting wealthy merchants who resided here, hoping to forge connections with some of the residents.
Having not returned for a long time, the small courtyard was covered in dust.
After putting down their luggage, Mu Han rolled up her sleeves and suggested, "Shall we clean up our new home together?"
"Okay."
Ye Longlin nodded.
Although Mu Hanqi came from a prominent family, she had spent years in Star City and lacked the arrogance of those from large families. She also had rich experience living independently.
Yuan Gang, standing at the door and watching the young couple, suddenly realized something.
For so many years, he had been responsible for his boss's daily life, from life-and-death situations to being inseparable.
He used to think that someone like him would always remain silently behind his boss, never going anywhere else.
But now, he suddenly realized that his boss already had her by his side. With her, she would surely take good care of his boss, more meticulously than himself.
After all, she was a woman, and a woman's thoughts were much more delicate than a man's.
He also finally understood that his boss's departure had been planned all along. From his initial resignation to his current summons to the capital, it was all part of his plan.
And his boss had long been prepared for the power transition.
It seemed that it was only now that he truly understood Ye Longlin's intentions.
"Aren't you coming over to help? Are you going to let your sister-in-law do it all alone? She's on her period these days."
Ye Longlin looked at Yuan Gang, who was dazed at the door, and said with a mock scolding, wringing out the rag in his hand.
"Oh."
Yuan Gang scratched his head, chuckled, and joined the cleaning crew.
As basin after basin of cold water was poured out, the last patch of ground was cleaned, and the major cleaning was finally over.
Yuan Gang stood in the courtyard, looking at a straight pine tree, silently lit a cigarette.
"Everything is not over; it's just that I've left first. The situation is still uncertain, and you, Yuan Gang, should be the biggest dark horse."
Ye Longlin walked over, snatched a pack of cigarettes from his hand, and patted his shoulder with a smile.
However, Yuan Gang suddenly dared to tease Ye Longlin, "How am I a dark horse? I'm just a white horse dyed with melanin. It's agreed, if I can't handle it, I'll ask you to come back."
Ye Longlin grinned and punched him in the chest.
A gust of wind roared past, and a vortex erupted at Yuan Gang's feet.
The Supreme Dragon Elephant Art.
"I bestow upon you a realm to suppress all enemies."
"Remember, the spine of the Dragon Pavilion cannot bend."
Ye Longlin watched Mu Hanqi fiddling with the stove in the kitchen and suddenly felt a sense of impending doom. He quickly said, "We're moving today, go buy some wine."
"Sure thing."
With that, Ye Longlin hurried back to the kitchen.
"Kitchen is a restricted area, Mu Hanqi is not allowed."
...
After Yuan Gang left, he drove to the capital prison. After presenting his credentials, he met Xuan Niao, who was held in the lowest level.
"The boss is back in the capital? Has the news been released?"
Yuan Gang remained silent for a long time, recounting all that had happened during this period.
Xuan Niao also fell silent after listening. After a long while, he asked, "Then why are you here to see me today? There are surveillance cameras here, making it easy for people to suspect us of conspiring."
Yuan Gang grinned and lit a cigarette, "It's not important anymore. Perhaps we were all wrong back then. The boss truly wanted to leave; he might have been genuinely tired."
Xuan Niao shrugged, "Then what can we do? The arrow is already on the bowstring, and we have to shoot."
Yes, this matter had already been decided. They could no longer control the direction of the plot and could only leave it to fate.
"When I get a chance, I'll confess to the boss, and then the boss will surely be able to rescue you."
He sighed, his eyes filled with guilt.
If it weren't for him, Xuan Niao wouldn't be trapped here.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault..."
Before he could finish, Xuan Niao interrupted him, directly saying, "It's already happened, there's no need to say anything else. What's important now is what the boss thinks."
Yuan Gang shook his head, "I already know the boss's thoughts. What's very troublesome now is that we've come this far, and I'm only now realizing the boss's true intentions. I don't know if the boss will be angry when he finds out. You know, the boss's anger... is very frightening."