After Transmigrating into a Book, I Turned the Straight Bigshot Gay (BL) - Chapter 28

After Yang Zhongxu’s death, the position of Chairman of the A-City Chamber of Commerce became vacant. A new election was to be held, and the Zhu, Bai, Chen, and Huang families had already put forward candidates. Every faction was eyeing this lucrative position, and the Top Star Sect was no exception.

In truth, the previous three chairmen had all been secret members of the Top Star Sect. It was just that the public was unaware.

As for the Yan family…

Tradition dictated that the heads of the great families in the city could not serve as the Chamber Chairman. Candidates had to be either highly respected elders of a clan or outstanding names from the business world. Only two people in the Yan family met these criteria: the Old Patriarch and the second brother, Yan Shiying.

The Old Patriarch was over a hundred years old, mentally incoherent, and bedridden; he didn’t even attend family banquets, let alone a campaign. Yan Shiying had a chance, but he was considered too young. Naturally, no one expected much from the Yan family.

“Why not let Third Uncle run?” Xie Yunshen suggested.

Third Uncle, sitting nearby, gave a bitter smile. “Little Xie, you’re teasing me. I’m a man in a wheelchair. Would the Chamber allow a man in a wheelchair to run for Chairman?”

Xie Yunshen replied, “Didn’t we say that fellow Lin Jin would treat you?” Calculating the time, tomorrow was the day for the treatment.

“Even if it can be cured, it takes time,” Third Madam added with a smile. She truly liked this boy more and more; despite his strange ideas, his heart for Third Uncle was undeniable.

“The Chamber rules don’t state that you can’t run if you’re in a wheelchair.”

“There’s no rule, but if I actually run, wouldn’t the Yan family become a laughingstock to the other families? They’d say the Yans have no one left and have to push a cripple forward.”

Third Uncle took it as a joke and didn’t take it to heart.

“If Third Uncle is willing to run, the Yan family will provide full support,” the previously silent Yan Shiqi spoke up.

“Shiqi, you too…?” Third Uncle was stunned.

“The Yan family may not have as many members as other families, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t qualified to fight for the Chairmanship. Besides,” Yan Shiqi’s gaze sharpened, “the sky in the Southern Province is tilting too far. We can’t let the Top Star Sect monopolize all the power anymore.”

Third Uncle pondered. “Indeed. Why was I being so muddled? The Yan family has fallen behind in terms of political influence over the years. If the Chamber position falls to the Sect again, it will be disastrous for us. How can I resign myself to being left behind?”

The child who had been quietly observing nearby suddenly jumped up. “Dad, are you going to be the Chairman? Is a Chairman very powerful?”

Xie Yunshen was startled. It was the first time he’d heard the boy speak; he’d previously thought the kid might have autism. Um, sorry.

Third Madam was also shocked. Her child was naturally silent and somewhat withdrawn; she never imagined this matter would make him so happy.

Third Uncle had never seen such excitement in his son’s eyes. He asked, flustered, “Do you also think Dad can do it?”

The boy nodded firmly. “Yes! If you become Chairman, Dad, you’ll find your drive again!”

Third Uncle rubbed the boy’s head, the look in his eyes shifting. “So that’s how it is…” This child has been worrying about his father all along.

Xie Yunshen thought to himself: With the ‘family bond’ buff active, it looks like a sure thing.

The suggestion to let Third Uncle run had been a casual remark, but the subsequent development exceeded all expectations. Not only did Third Uncle become the Chamber Chairman, but he also became an unstoppable force in the political arena. Of course, that was a story for later.

For now, Yan Shiqi had his assistant draft an announcement and send it to the local news agencies. Within half an hour, A-City was abuzz with the news that Yan Dingxuan, the Third Uncle of the Yan family, was running for Chairman.

The other families treated it as a joke.

Huang family: “The Yans really are out of people if even a cripple has to take the field.”

Chen family: “Yan Shiqi is out of options. Yan Shiying despises the family, and Yan Shizhou is too green. He’s just picking the best of a bad bunch.”

Bai family: “Yan Dingxuan is an injured, retired soldier. What does he know about business elections?”

Zhu family: “Let’s see. Yan Shiqi has offended the Top Star Sect; let’s see how much longer he can lead the Yans.”

Late at night in the study, Yan Shiqi sat alone in the dark. The city lights stepped onto the windowsill, falling across the furrow in his brow. He was waiting for something.

Finally, at 1:00 AM, he received a call from the engineering department. “Mr. Yan, we found it.”

“What?”

“The location of the crane on the blueprint. We found explosives buried underneath. If the welding work had reached that spot in a few days… the sparks… the consequences would be unimaginable.”

Yan Shiqi’s pupils contracted, and he gripped the wooden armrests. “Preserve the scene. Notify the police.”

He hung up, his jaw tight with suppressed fury.

Xie Yunshen was yanked from his sleep. “Brat, get up!”

He opened his eyes to see pitch-black skies. “Grandpa, are you sick?”

A sharp flick landed on his head. “Mr. Yan is waiting for you!”

Xie Yunshen immediately realized the news had come from the site. He threw on a black outfit and bumped into the elusive Yi Wuyi at the corner. His heart jumped. “Old Five, make some noise next time.”

The two reached the gate, where Yan Shiqi was already waiting on the helicopter. Summer had passed, and the night air was a bit chilly. Xie Yunshen sat down next to Yan Shiqi, bringing with him the cool autumn night air. Yi Wuyi sat in the front seat as per their silent understanding. A security helicopter followed closely behind.

Once seated, Xie Yunshen couldn’t help but ask, “How is it?”

Yan Shiqi looked at him with deep meaning. “You were right. Explosives were found beneath the site.”

Xie Yunshen breathed a sigh of relief. Finding it early meant Old Five had escaped his fate.

“Why… are you looking at me like that?” Xie Yunshen turned to find Yan Shiqi’s gaze fixed on him. The gaze was calm as water yet bottomless—more refreshing to the senses than smelling salts. Xie Yunshen wanted to look away, but felt doing so would look like he had a guilty conscience, so he met the gaze head-on.

The two stared each other down. Yi Wuyi turned around and saw them in a staring match, and he couldn’t help but smile. Knowing the danger at the site had been cleared allowed his tense mindset of several days to finally relax.

Xie Yunshen immediately leaned forward. “Old Five, you’re smiling!”

Yi Wuyi’s expression softened. “Thank you, A-Shen.”

“Thank you?” Xie Yunshen frowned, not quite following.

“Sit properly,” Yan Shiqi’s voice rang out suddenly. Xie Yunshen immediately sat back. As long as Old Five isn’t sad.

They reached the site before dawn. Mobile floodlights illuminated everything as bright as day. The mayor, police cars, and professional squads had arrived. A crowd of workers stood at a distance, peering in.

“Mr. Yan is here!” someone shouted. Many weathered, simple faces turned toward them.

Yan Shiqi personally coming to the site was unexpected for the police. “Mr. Yan, we are conducting a sweep. Please wait outside the cordon,” a police captain said as he approached.

Then, a middle-aged man in a Mao suit walked toward them. “Running all the way here this late, you’ve worked hard.” Xie Yunshen had seen this man on TV—the Mayor of B-City. Another strand of the Top Star Sect’s political web.

Yan Shiqi shook hands with him. They spoke about the discovery of the explosives. Meanwhile, Yi Wuyi was surrounded by contractors and their various demands.

Xie Yunshen stood behind Yan Shiqi, his eyes scanning everyone carefully. In a place like this with dazzling lights and crowds, it was the easiest time for a sniper or a hidden blade.

Xie Yunshen had already locked onto a suspicious individual. In the crowd, a man in worker’s clothes had cold eyes and tight lips; his facial muscles barely moved—a trait of someone trained in intense focus. His hands were also different from the other workers. A worker’s nails would be worn and rough; this man had calloused palms but healthy, well-kept nails. He was either a hitman or a professional special forces operative.

Xie Yunshen was on high alert, his peripheral vision fixed on the man. He whispered to Yan Shiqi, “Be careful.”

The police began to clear the crowd. The man followed the workers toward the onsite dormitory. Perhaps he was wary of the police presence or noticed a professional bodyguard on site, but the man made no move.

The day passed without the matter being fully resolved. That night, Yan Shiqi stayed at the local Yan-owned hotel. The suite was a private one not open to the public, kept ready for him when he traveled on business.

Yan Shiqi went to shower. Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi stood guard on either side of the suite.

“Old Five, have you heard of the BKB organization?”

“A top-tier global assassin organization.”

“I’m curious, what does BKB stand for?”

Staring straight ahead, Yi Wuyi replied, “There are two rumored meanings. The first: ‘Boy Kill Boy’.”

“And the second?”

Yi Wuyi looked at him. “‘Boy Kiss Boy’.”

“Whoa. Even more perverted than the first one,” Xie Yunshen was stunned.

“The mortality rate for targets they set their sights on is 99%.”

Xie Yunshen’s heart tightened. “Mr. Yan is being targeted too.”

Yi Wuyi said, “The only way to break the contract is to kill the assassin who took the job.”

Xie Yunshen asked, “Isn’t killing illegal?”

Yi Wuyi looked at him with even more confusion. Is this a question that should come from a man who [kidnapped a Chamber Chairman on the street and is wanted globally for ten billion]?

Yi Wuyi explained, “These assassins are usually criminals smuggled into the country. They have no legal identity. If they die, no one cares.”

In the first half of the night, Yi Wuyi went to the side bedroom to rest while Xie Yunshen stood guard outside the master bedroom. They rotated so that one was always alert.

Yan Shiqi, wearing a bathrobe, stood by the window looking out at the city’s night view. His hair was slightly damp, his gaze deep in thought.

Swish! Xie Yunshen pulled the curtains shut forcefully.

“Don’t stand there. You’ll get sniped,” Xie Yunshen said with a dead-serious face.

The European-style embroidery on the curtains swung right against Yan Shiqi’s nose. “…”