Su Wan didn't run fast, keeping a distance of about three hundred meters from the car.
This distance was within her perception range, yet far enough not to trigger any alarms.
The night wind whistled past her ears, carrying the characteristic chill of early autumn and the fresh scent of greenery.
Su Wan’s breathing was steady and her steps were light, like a bird gliding silently through the night.
For Gu Huaian to sneak out through a secret passage so late at night, he was definitely going to meet someone.
Su Wan’s guess was correct; Gu Huaian’s late-night departure via the secret passage was indeed to meet with people from Yuansou.
The car wove through the night, crossing most of Jiangcheng before finally driving into the North City industrial zone.
This area was once Jiangcheng’s most prosperous industrial belt, but with the city’s economic transformation, most of the factories had either relocated or gone bankrupt.
During the day, a few logistics companies occasionally moved goods here, but at night, it became a desolate place of silence.
The car stopped in front of a building deep within the industrial zone.
It was a three-story, old-fashioned office building. The open space in front was overgrown with waist-high weeds, and a dirt path worn down by tires wound its way from the factory gate to this spot.
This had once been the administrative building of the Jiangcheng Third Cotton Mill.
Since the factory closed, the entire site had remained abandoned. The property rights had changed hands several times and now belonged to a shell company registered overseas; normally, no one ever came here.
Gu Huaian pushed the door open and got out, straightened his collar, and walked toward the office building.
His leather shoes clicked against the concrete ground, the sound echoing through the empty factory grounds.
Gu Huaian pushed open the rusted iron door and stepped inside.
The hallway was pitch black, and the air was thick with the smell of old dust and an indescribable musty rot.
On the second floor, at the end of the corridor.
A relatively intact wooden door was left slightly ajar, a faint, warm yellow light leaking through the crack.
Gu Huaian stood before the door, raised his hand, and knocked three times on the panel.
He paused for two seconds, then knocked twice more.
This was the agreed-upon signal.
“Come in,” a low voice called from inside.
Gu Huaian pushed the door open and entered.
The room wasn't large, containing only a long conference table and a few chairs.
The windows on the wall were sealed from the inside with thick black blackout cloth, letting no light through.
An old-fashioned rechargeable camping light sat on the table, its dim yellow glow casting long, faint shadows of the people present.
Three people were already waiting in the room.
Sitting in the center was a man who looked to be in his early forties.
He wore a deep grey standing-collar jacket. His face was square, and his brow carried the steady air of authority and pressure characteristic of someone who had long held a high position.
His name was Yin Ji, the Deputy Director of the External Liaison Department for Yuansou’s Guixu Project.
Within Yuansou, the Guixu Project was a core matter of the highest level, with several departments beneath it. The External Liaison Department was responsible for contacting, coordinating, and supervising external partners related to the project.
Yin Ji had held this position for six years, and everything he handled was the core business the organization valued most—matters where no mistakes could be tolerated.
To his left sat a man in his fifties, slightly stout with greying hair and gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a retired accountant.
This man was Meng Changhe, the Deputy Supervisor of the Logistics Support Department for Yuansou’s Guixu Project.
In Yuansou’s hierarchy, he was responsible for “resources.” Resources here included, but were not limited to, funds, equipment, and sites; they also included “people.”
Specifically, those people who needed to be “settled,” “transferred,” or “disposed of” as the project progressed.
To Yin Ji’s right sat a woman.
She looked to be around forty, wearing a black turtleneck sweater with her long hair tied in a low bun at the back of her head, revealing a well-maintained and exquisite face.
This was Wen Ruoan.
The Deputy Supervisor of the Archive Management Department for Yuansou’s Guixu Project.
The vast majority of non-core archives regarding the Guixu Project within Yuansou passed through her hands for filing, classification, and storage.
She knew more than Yin Ji and Meng Changhe combined.
These three were the advance team sent to Jiangcheng by Yuansou to push forward the project’s early preparations.
Yin Ji was responsible for overall coordination, Meng Changhe handled resource security, and Wen Ruoan provided information support.
The three of them performed their respective duties, forming a complete early-stage operational system.
And Gu Huaian was their most important pawn in Jiangcheng.
“Huaian, sit.” Yin Ji gestured with his chin, signaling Gu Huaian to sit opposite him.
Gu Huaian pulled out a chair and sat down.
His posture when facing Yin Ji was entirely different from when he faced Gu Huaiyu at the Gu residence.
That face, which was refined to the point of being almost bland, was now full of a cold, disciplined respect.
“Director Yin, Deputy Supervisor Meng, Deputy Supervisor Wen.” He nodded to each in turn, his voice steady.
Yin Ji gave a slight nod in response.
Meng Changhe glanced at Gu Huaian over the top of his glasses, his lips curling into an unreadable arc.
Wen Ruoan didn't look at him; her gaze was fixed on several blueprints spread out on the table, as if she were studying something.
“Tell me about the situation here in Jiangcheng,” Yin Ji spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable weight.
Gu Huaian nodded and pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase, handing them to Yin Ji with both hands.
“This is all the data on that plot of land in the north city. The title documents, planning permits, geological survey reports, and environmental assessments are all here.”
“The plot covers one hundred and twenty-seven mu. Currently, it is wasteland. It originally belonged to the Su Corporation but was acquired by the Gu Corporation after the Su family fell.”
“The title is now under the Gu Corporation’s name, and I have full authority over it.”
Yin Ji took the stack of documents. He didn't flip through them, simply placing them by his hand.
“Progress?”
“The preliminary preparation work is complete,” Gu Huaian’s voice was level, as if he were giving a routine work report.
“The roads around the plot have been closed and modified. Except for designated construction access, no outsiders can enter that area.”
“Water and electricity lines have been laid. Although they haven't been officially connected yet, they can be activated at any time.”
“The leveling and clearing of the site are also finished. We are just waiting for the organization’s next instructions.”
Yin Ji nodded.
“What about Gu Mingshan?” he asked. “Did he leave any trouble behind after his death?”
Gu Huaian shook his head. “No. My father’s death was within my expectations. I began making preparations the day he was diagnosed with brain cancer.”
“I have already cleaned up all the project-related materials he handled during his lifetime. Nothing has fallen into the hands of outsiders.”
“And that brother of yours?” Yin Ji’s voice remained flat, but his questions were becoming increasingly specific.
“Has he shown any abnormalities lately?”
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