Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 803

He Hongshen's brows were tightly furrowed, and the wrinkles on his forehead seemed to have been sculpted by the years, forming deep furrows.

His face seemed shrouded in a thick gloom, his anxiety evident, as if he were trapped in an invisible net, unable to break free.

His voice trembled slightly as he said urgently, "We talked on the phone yesterday, and the person on the other end was very confident, patting his chest and guaranteeing that he would definitely arrive on time this morning with all the bidding documents."

"From the first light of dawn, when the first rays of sunlight cautiously fall on the streets and alleys of this bustling city, awakening the sleeping buildings and streets, I begin to wait."

"Until now, time is passing by, every minute and every second feels like it's being crushed in my heart. I've almost worn out the phone receiver from pressing it so many times, dialing again and again."

"But all I heard in response was that monotonous, cold 'no answer' tone, a 'beep beep beep' sound, like being trapped in an endless silence, unable to break through this eerie silence."

Ye Han paced anxiously back and forth in that cramped conference room.

His leather shoes pounded heavily on the mottled floor, each step seeming to pierce through the barrier of hope. The dull thuds echoed in the cramped space, as if the anxiety and unease in his heart were colliding everywhere.

His face was ashen, like the oppressive sky before a storm, with leaden clouds hanging low, as if a torrential downpour that could destroy everything was about to fall.

His lips moved incessantly as he muttered to himself, his voice filled with anxiety and fear: "This lawyer is someone we spared no expense to find and hire from Hong Kong at great expense."

"He knows all the bidding regulations and details in Macau as clearly as the lines on his own palm. He can recite every single one of them without hesitation. This should have been our strongest asset in this bidding battle."

"But now, with the bid deadline fast approaching and the situation becoming increasingly critical, he seems to have vanished into thin air. He doesn't answer his phone, and we've searched everywhere we can without finding him."

“Look at this tender document. The densely packed terms and details are like a treacherous path full of thorns. If we are not careful, if we take a wrong step, all the hard work we have put in over this period of time, all the long nights we have endured, the carefully planned strategies, and all the connections and resources we have built up by running around and wearing out our shoes, will instantly vanish into thin air, and all our efforts will be in vain…”

After speaking, Ye Han seemed to have all his strength drained away. He let out a long sigh, his chest heaving violently, as if he wanted to vent all his resentment and helplessness.

The wrinkles on his forehead became even deeper and more obvious at this moment, like ravines carved by the relentless passage of time, full of helplessness and vicissitudes, telling the story of the hardships and difficulties he had faced in his business journey.

Upon hearing the news, Huo Yingdong's expression instantly turned serious.

He slowly raised his hand, rubbed his temples, then closed his eyes slightly, falling into deep thought.

Those eyes, at this moment, were like a deep, dark pool, unfathomable, hiding a thousand thoughts.

The air around them seemed to freeze; everyone held their breath, and no one dared to make a sound to disturb them.

After a long while, Huo Yingdong slowly opened his eyes. In his calm eyes, a fleeting yet reassuring calmness and composure flashed.

He straightened his back and said calmly, "Don't panic. The more this is the case, the more we need to stay calm and think of a solution together."

"In my opinion, could it be that something unexpected happened on the way to the hotel? Has the hotel sent anyone out to look for them?"

He Yuzhu stood upright to the side, listening quietly since the conversation began. His deep eyes seemed to hold endless thoughts, and his mind was racing, trying to find a clue in this confusing situation.

After everyone had finished talking, he took a deep breath, stepped forward, and exuded composure in every gesture.

“How about this,” he said slowly, his voice deep yet clear and powerful, “I will arrange for a few of my usually agile and quick-witted subordinates to head to the law firm immediately.”

"Judging by their efficient and swift work style, they should be here very soon."

"Perhaps the lawyer is currently engrossed in his work at the firm, but the lines in this complex city often malfunction, and the firm's phone line is unfortunately out of service, which is why we can't get in touch with him."

"After all, in this area filled with high-rise buildings and complex wiring, line failures are not uncommon."

Upon hearing this, Ye Han's previously dim eyes instantly brightened. He slapped his thigh hard, and the impact of his palm against his thigh produced a particularly crisp "smack" that echoed in the somewhat oppressive space.

In an instant, a glimmer of hope, like a miraculous escape from a desperate situation, flashed in his eyes. He seemed to have been given a shot of adrenaline, and his spirits lifted. He shouted, "Alright, given the current situation, this is indeed the only way to do it."

"But everyone knows that the business world is like a battlefield, and we must not put all our hopes and dreams on this one lawyer."

As he spoke, he strode to the filing cabinet beside him, skillfully pulled out a document, and waved the backup of the tender document in his hand. His expression was solemn. "I have a backup of this tender document here. There's no time to lose. Everyone, immediately, right now, check it carefully again, word by word, sentence by sentence, not even a single punctuation mark. See if there are any places that can be adjusted temporarily. Make extra preparations in case of any unforeseen circumstances. We must have all the details we can control in our hands!"

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone sprang into action as if they were well-trained soldiers receiving an urgent military order.

He Yuzhu frowned, a resolute glint in his eyes, turned and strode to the door in a few steps.

He leaned forward slightly and, in a low voice, gave a few quick and clear instructions to the several men in black suits standing guard outside the door, who had cold expressions.

The subordinates, who had been expressionless, instantly became extremely serious after hearing the order, their eyes burning with a sense of mission.

They nodded vigorously to indicate that they understood, then turned around in unison and ran quickly toward the elevator.

Their steps were quick and powerful, each step firm and steady. Their figures quickly disappeared behind the slowly closing elevator doors as they headed towards the law firm to carry out that important mission.

The atmosphere in the conference room was so tense it was almost suffocating, as if the air itself had solidified into a heavy, oppressive substance, making it difficult to breathe.

The chandelier overhead emitted a pale light that shone directly on everyone's faces, illuminating their solemn and weary expressions.

Everyone sat around the conference table, which was piled high with thick bidding documents, which weighed heavily on their minds like a heavy responsibility.

Everyone had their heads down, their eyes fixed on every line of text on the document, as if trying to see through the words.

Their eyes were filled with anxiety and focus, not missing a single character, and their pens were constantly circling and drawing on the documents, leaving traces of varying depths, full of thought.

Occasionally, someone would raise their head and exchange a few words with the person next to them, but they would deliberately keep their voices very low, as if their throats were being choked by an invisible hand, and they could only utter hoarse whispers.

Their eyes flickered with unease and anticipation, as if they were afraid that even the slightest increase in volume would break the tense atmosphere and cause them to miss any crucial details that could affect the bidding outcome.

The clock on the wall ticked away, its monotonous yet clear sound amplified infinitely in the silent conference room, each tick like a heavy hammer blow striking everyone's heart.

Time seemed incredibly long and urgent in this tense atmosphere. Every second felt like torture, and everyone's hearts tightened with each tick of the clock, hoping for a good outcome in this bid that would determine the company's fate.

He Hongshen steadied himself, cleared his throat, and began to explain in detail with a solemn expression.

During this period, the interests of all parties were intertwined in a complex and tangled manner.

Different camps fiercely competed for their own interests, and the details of the plan were difficult to determine after repeated weighing. Various factors hindered each other, resulting in the bidding plan remaining unresolved and the bid document being delayed in being drafted.

Now, the deadline has arrived on the last day of the deadline. The deadline is like the Sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, its cold light sharp and pressing.

No matter how many thorns lie ahead, or how many difficulties and obstacles we encounter, there is no turning back now; we must finalize the solution today.

That's why he was so anxious just now, his forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and he dialed the lawyer in charge of the case with trembling hands. He held the phone receiver tightly in his hand, as if it were the only rope to hold onto hope. The sweat in his palms almost soaked the receiver. He urgently begged the lawyer to come and help immediately.

However, fate always seems to play tricks on people. At this critical moment, when she dialed the lawyer's home phone, all she heard was a monotonous and endless busy tone, one after another, like a cold, heavy hammer, ruthlessly declaring that the road to hope had been completely blocked, causing He Hongshen's heart to sink to the bottom.

Chapter 576 Where to Find Him

At first, everyone was full of expectations, secretly thinking that the lawyer might have already hurriedly left his cozy home.

They were currently traveling by car, speeding along the bustling, noisy streets towards their location.

As time slipped away like sand, second by second, the sun, high in the sky, gradually rose higher, pouring down its scorching rays without reservation.

The light and shadow on the ground constantly changed, from narrow and long to short and thick, and then gradually tilted.

However, during this long wait, the lawyer's familiar figure never appeared.

At this moment, Huo Yingdong, who was known for his composure and calmness, couldn't help but frown slightly. His two thick eyebrows were tightly furrowed together, like a locked city gate, full of worry.

He spoke with deep concern, his voice trembling slightly, "Could it be... that she's gone missing?"

If it weren't for that thrilling and chilling assassination that happened not long ago, the stench of blood and danger would still linger in the air, refusing to dissipate.

Given Huo Yingdong's calm and collected nature, he probably wouldn't be so paranoid and suspicious of everything.

Now, if the slightest abnormal situation occurs, he will involuntarily think that something bad has happened again. His nerves are always taut like a fully drawn bowstring, and he dares not relax for a moment.

Upon hearing this, He Hongshen's hand, which was holding a teacup, suddenly stopped, and the tea almost spilled over the rim of the cup.

He was slightly taken aback at first, and an expression of disbelief flashed across his face. He looked as if he had heard the most absurd and outlandish tale in the world, his eyes wide open and his lips slightly parted.

But after that brief moment of shock, a series of unusual events that had recently occurred within the company flashed through his mind. Those events that had seemed to be isolated now appeared to be connected.

He himself seemed to realize that this possibility wasn't entirely out of the question; his originally straight back unconsciously hunched slightly, and his firm tone instantly became hesitant: "It shouldn't be... right?"

As soon as he spoke, he realized his powerlessness and guilt. His voice grew softer and softer, as if he were being swallowed up by an invisible and unknown fear in the empty office, leaving only unease and confusion.

Then, He Hongshen suddenly turned his head, his gaze sweeping sharply over Ye Han and the others beside him.

Ye Han's expression was solemn, his brows furrowed. He exchanged a glance with Huo Yingdong beside him, their eyes filled with a mixture of anxiety and determination, like the gloom before a storm.

He Hongshen spoke first, his voice low but resolute: "We can't wait any longer, we must act immediately!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, a tacit understanding being reached in this silent exchange.

Immediately, they made a decisive decision—to dispatch their most capable subordinates in several groups to search for the Portuguese lawyer, Lubadou, at his home.

Before setting off, He Hongshen specifically called the leader over and solemnly instructed him: "You must be extremely vigilant on the road, keep your eyes peeled, and don't miss any corner. Whether it's alleyways or hidden intersections beside the main road, you must look carefully to see if you can happen to encounter the other party's car. This operation must succeed; failure is not an option!"

The person who was given the instructions nodded solemnly, and then led his men out like arrows released from a bow, disappearing into the night.

Upon receiving the order, both groups of people immediately became alert, with their respective leaders issuing concise and powerful instructions. The team members moved swiftly and methodically toward the vehicles.

In an instant, the engine roared and the vehicle sped away like an arrow.

They launched their search along different routes that had been carefully planned in advance. One group walked along the bustling main road, where the traffic between the tall buildings did not distract them at all.

Another group navigated through narrow old streets and alleys, with mottled walls and tangled wires flashing past the car windows.

They are like two parallel streams, flowing towards a direction full of unknowns and mysteries.

The car sped along, the scenery on both sides of the street rushing past like phantoms, but their hearts were heavy with anxiety, and they dared not relax for a moment, always on guard for any possible clues.

Time passed second by second, each second like a dull knife, slowly tugging at everyone's taut nerves.

The two groups waited anxiously, and finally met up at Lubadu's doorstep as agreed.

However, the scene before them was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing everyone's hopes.

The heavy iron gate, like a towering mountain, was tightly locked, its cold metallic sheen radiating a chilling aura that kept people at a distance, as if an insurmountable chasm stood before them.

Everyone was extremely anxious, and they pounded on the iron gate with all their might. Their hands fell again and again, pounding until they hurt. The dull knocking echoed in front of the empty and silent gate, as if trying in vain to break the deathly silence.

Each strike was filled with anxiety and anticipation, but all they received in response was an endless, dull echo.