《Once Upon a Time in a Foreign Land》Chapter 152 : Ximen Yixiong
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The sedan that Xuande Zhanji was driving slowly started to move forward. Previously, the car had stopped with its back to the highway, so now Xuande drove his car straight down the narrow alley.
"Thank you very much, Sir!" Yixiong said. "How did you get here?"
"It's just a coincidence."
"Coincidence?"
"This afternoon, I didn't have any plan to go anywhere. However, it changed when a friend called. He had something important to say to me. But he didn't want to say it on the phone, so he asked me to come over to his house," said Xuande.
"Why didn't your friend just come to your house?" Yiren opened his mouth. His voice was almost the same as usual. He seemed to have almost recovered from the shock from the accident earlier.
"He had to take care of his little nephew. So he couldn't go anywhere. So he told me to come. This afternoon, right after we met in front of the house, when I entered the house, I immediately received a call from him."
"So you have left the house since this afternoon?" Yiren asked.
"It took me about ten minutes to get ready. After that, I went straight to his house."
"It's dark now. It means that your conversation with him is very serious," said Yiren.
"I think that's a very subjective thing." Xuande smiled. "But indeed, I was at his house long enough. I just came back from his house."
"I hope your friend is okay," Yixiong said.
"Don't worry. The problem my friend is having isn't that serious. We can solve everything."
"So, his house is in this area, right, Sir?" Yiren asked.
Xuande shook his head. "It's not too close from here. But I was deliberately passing through the road in this area."
"Do you mean to avoid traffic jams by going around here?" Yiren asked.
"It's not like that. I happened to be passing by here because I wanted to stop by a restaurant about five hundred meters from the intersection where your accident happened."
"We understand!" Yixiong laughed. Stomach affairs could sometimes make people changed plans.
Xuande smiled. He continued his words. "So, when I was passing through the main road before the intersection, I realized that the road that had been quite empty had suddenly turned crowded. I heard people saying that there had been an accident at the intersection. So I immediately turned the car into this narrow alley and stop there. After that, I got off and walked to the intersection. My intention was actually just to see how bad the accident was. If it was really serious and the road was completely jammed, then I didn't go there. After arriving at the intersection, unexpectedly, I met Mr. Nangong there."
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"I'm very sorry, sir! That incident has made you unable to eat at the restaurant," said Yixiong.
"It's okay. Next time I can still go there. It's not a big deal." Xuande laughed. "By the way, who hit your car?"
"We don't know. After hitting us, he immediately ran away. The car behind us also suffered damage because it hit our car from behind. The car did not have time to break," said Yiren.
"How many people were there in the car?" Xuande looked so curious.
"There were only four people," Yixiong replied. There were three of us and one driver. Right now, he is still there giving statements to the police and taking care of things. It is actually our friend's car, and the driver is also our friend's driver."
"Actually, where are you going?"
"We want to go to Chizhong Park," Yixiong replied.
"At this time of night?" Xuande's voice sounded doubtful.
Yiren smiled. "That's a very subjective thing." He imitated the words Xuande had said earlier. "I don't think it's too late at this hour."
"Yes, you could say it's still twilight," said Xuande. "But I think it is rare for people to go to the park at dusk. Moreover, Mr. Ximen's clothes are not like the clothes of people who want to relax in the park."
"I have very urgent things to do in the park. It's a very important thing. As for this outfit, I just want to wear it. There's no other reason," Yixiong replied.
I am sure my answer is very difficult for his mind to accept. But, what should I tell?
Yixiong actually didn't know what to answer if someone asked him about the clothes he was wearing. He couldn't possibly answer that he wore those clothes to make him looked like Shanquan. So he just blurted those words. He didn't know if that answer was enough to make Xuande believe it.
"Frankly, you look exactly like Mr. Duanmu," said Xuande. Earlier, when I saw you appear, I thought I saw Mr. Duanmu."
"Yes, it is true. In clothes like this, I do look very much like him," said Yixiong.
"Speaking of Mr. Duanmu, I didn't see him. Hasn't he come back yet?" Mr. Xuande asked.
Yiren turned towards the back seat. His face showed confusion. Yixiong was actually confused, too. He was considering telling Xuande the truth.
Now, what should I say?
"You are right, Sir! He hasn't come back yet. I've contacted the library that interviewed him. They said that he had been home a long time ago."
"Could it be that he has another appointment after his business at the library is over?" Xuande asked.
"We don't know, Sir. But I don't think so," said Yixiong. "After that, I called one of Mr. Duanmu's friends. He also had an interview at the library. He told me that Mr. Duanmu had said that he would stop by the mall in front of the station before returning home. So most likely, this afternoon Mr. Duanmu was at the mall."
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Xuande looked so surprised after hearing Yixiong's words. He suddenly braked the car. The atmosphere became silent. Yixiong waited for the question Xuande would ask. But the old man just sat pensively. They were in silence about ten seconds.
"Sir, Mr. Xuande." Yiren tried to talk to the old man, who suddenly looked shocked. "We can't stop here."
"Sorry." Xuande seemed to come to his senses. He quickly stepped back on the accelerator. The car that had stopped for a few seconds was running again. However, the car runs very slowly. Xuande looked left and right. After finding a suitable place, he pulled the car to the side of the road. After that, the car stopped there.
Jingkang, who was sitting next to Yixiong, turned to him. He said nothing, but Yixiong felt that the look in Jingkang's eyes suggested they should say something to Xuande. If not, then along the way, the old man would keep showering them with dizzying questions.
"What's this really about?" Xuande looked towards the back shuttle. "Is Mr. Duanmu one of the victims of the incident at the mall?"
I think we should tell this old man about what happened at the mall. But how much can I put forward?
"We also don't know for sure, Sir! There is absolutely no news from Mr. Duanmu," said Yixiong. "Mr. Dongfang has already gone to the hospital to look for information. I hope we will get news about it soon."
"So, after the incident at the mall, Mr. Duanmu hasn't returned home at all?"
Yixiong nodded weakly.
"This afternoon, when we met in front of your house, you seemed calm. It was as if nothing had happened."
Yixiong was silent. This time, he did not answer Xuande's question. Not even a single word. He just nodded.
Xuande shook his head. "Okay! There are things that are difficult to say. I can't force you to tell me. I understand."
"Thank you, Sir." Yiren bent his body.
Xuande sighed. "Now, let's just move on." He started the car, which he had stopped, again.
Their journey went smoothly. Perhaps it was not right to call it smoothly because there were several times traffic congestion hampered them. But in general, everything was relatively smooth. However, Yixiong felt so uneasy. They had already lost quite a bit of time. He hoped they wouldn't be late in the park.
Along the way, Yixiong racked his brain to find the words he would say to Xuande. So far, the old man person had been willing to take them without knowing exactly what they had come to the park for. Mr. Xuande still seemed to understand that they hadn't been able to tell everything that had happened for some reason. But at one point, Xuande's curiosity was bound to explode. Even if the old man had said that he could understand, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be fussy about it. When that time came, Yixiong had to say something. Something that made sense.
"We're here, Sir." Xuande suddenly stopped the car. The car stopped at the side of the road.
"Eh? Where's the park?" Yiren looked around.
"Behind that wall, Sir." Xuande pointed to the wall to their left.
"Have you been to this place many times?" Yixiong asked.
"I haven't, sir. So I know little. Just know that the garden is in there," said Xuande.
Yixiong nodded.
Now, it's showtime!
"I will park the car. You guys get off now or later after I find a parking space," Xuande said.
"To save time, we'll just get off here, Sir," Yixiong said. "I am very grateful that you are willing to take us here. I really feel bad. If you want to leave this place immediately because you have other needs, go ahead, Sir! Later, we can find another vehicle to go home."
"It doesn't matter. I will wait for you. Don't worry, I don't have any plans tonight."
"Yiren, you go with Mr. Xuande to find a parking space. Jingkang, you come with me."
Yiren nodded. He didn't argue at all.
Yixiong and Jingkang got out of the car where it had stopped. Xuande's car left to find a parking space right away. They both looked left and right. There was no one they could ask.
"Don't you know where the entrance is?" Jingkang asked. "I've never been here."
"I've never been here either. So I don't know either. I think we got off at the wrong place. Now let's just explore the walls of this park. Later, we will surely find the entrance."
"Let me bring it, Sir!" Jingkang pointed at the large bag Yixiong was carrying.
"It's okay, I'm still be able to carry this thing," said Yixiong.
"You wear clothes like that. I am sure it's very tiring. Why don't you just let me carry the bag? When we get there, I'll give the bag back to you."
Yixiong thought for a moment. The young man's words were quite reasonable. He gave the bag to Jingkang.
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