Hidden Dead Ends-Chapter 66
"Calm down! As long as there’s no evidence, we’ll be fine!" one of the boys said, trying to sound confident.
"This is all your fault! I just wanted to have some fun, but you insisted on joining in. Then you woke her up! I didn’t want to kill anyone!" the boy with the bat-shaped earring hissed in panic.
"Do you want to shout louder so everyone knows we killed someone?!" the other boy snapped, slapping his panicked companion hard across the face.
"I didn’t want this either! We’ve done this plenty of times before without any trouble. How was I supposed to know this would happen? And it’s not my fault you didn’t use enough drugs!"
"What now?" The boy with the earring, slightly calmer after the slap, asked in a subdued voice.
"Zheng Qingxuan’s family doesn’t have any background. I’ll talk to my dad and have him clean this up. At most, we’ll pay some money to make it go away," the other boy said in a low voice.
"Are you sure it’ll work?" The boy with the earring seemed reassured by his friend’s confidence but still hesitated.
"Of course! We’ll stage it as an accident, make it look like she died from her own negligence. Then we cremate her immediately to avoid an autopsy. My dad’s done this before—trust me, it’ll work!" the boy replied with unsettling assurance.
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**4:17 PM, Royal Court Garden Florist**
This was the largest flower shop chain in Suiyang, specializing in floral arrangements for business events and grand openings.
The main store was a beautiful white villa covered in various climbing flowers—purple, pink, red, and white blossoms of all shapes and sizes adorned the walls, creating a star-like constellation around the entrance. Guests walking in were greeted by a rich, complex floral fragrance mixed with fresh negative ions in the air.
Inside, warm, soft lighting illuminated a spacious, welcoming lounge.
Li Chengyi, dressed in formal attire, entered through the door and was immediately approached by a staff member.
"Sir, are you here for a tour or an appointment?" the attendant asked. She wore a pale yellow dress with amber flower-shaped earrings. Her long hair reached her waist, and she exuded a faint floral scent.
"I have an appointment," Li Chengyi replied firmly.
As he scanned the largest florist in Suiyang, he noted the unique decor. The botanical garden he was negotiating to purchase was part of this chain’s assets, and their agreed meeting place was this main store. It was his first time visiting, and the intricate design surprised him.
Outside, the villa looked ordinary enough, but the interior was something else entirely.
"May I ask which manager you’re meeting?" the attendant inquired.
"Xu Zhongsheng," Li Chengyi replied.
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"Ah, Mr. Xu. You must be Mr. Li. Please follow me," the attendant said, leading him through the softly lit hall and past a circular archway.
The sight beyond the archway took his breath away.
A pond filled with lotus leaves stretched out before him, connecting to a meandering stream of crystal-clear water. In the distance, a gray stone bridge arched gently over the stream, and pavilions and courtyards peeked out from a sea of flowers and trees.
"This villa... it’s just a gate to all this?" Li Chengyi paused, momentarily stunned.
This was prime city real estate in Suiyang, yet it housed an expansive traditional garden. The sheer financial power required to maintain such a property was staggering.
"This estate originally belonged to Mr. Xu’s family. When he inherited it, he transformed it into the main store. After all, it’s not like the old days when a large mansion would be filled with servants. By using it for business, the place feels more alive," the attendant explained.
"That makes sense," Li Chengyi nodded as he followed her along the pond’s edge. They soon arrived at a white wall lined with fallen leaves. Beneath a bare golden osmanthus tree was a set of stone tables and chairs.
A tall, thin man dressed in a dark green robe, with a silver-trimmed blue jade belt around his waist, sat at the stone table, deep in thought. Above the table floated a semi-transparent Go board, with black and white stones scattered across it, seemingly near the endgame.
Hearing footsteps, the man turned slightly, his face breaking into a smile when he saw Li Chengyi. He stood up to greet him.
"Mr. Li, you’re punctual—just a few seconds shy of our appointed time."
This was Xu Zhongsheng, the owner selling the botanical garden.
Li Chengyi knew from his research that Xu was the founder of the entire florist chain and had other businesses as well. His wealth far exceeded what Li Chengyi had initially imagined.
"You flatter me, Mr. Xu. I don’t like wasting others’ time and wouldn’t want to waste yours," Li Chengyi replied earnestly.
In the past, facing someone of similar age but vastly greater wealth and influence would have made Li Chengyi nervous and unsure of how to act. But now, the limitless potential of the **Evil Flower** gave him unshakable confidence.
Perhaps Xu noticed Li Chengyi’s composure and lack of the usual deference. He squinted slightly, reassessing him.
"You’re young and confident, Mr. Li. But managing a botanical garden without incurring losses is no easy task. Are you sure you’re prepared for this?" Xu asked.
"No need to worry, Mr. Xu. I’ve made all the necessary preparations," Li Chengyi replied. He didn’t care much about running the garden as a business. His goal was to cultivate his desired plants; profits were secondary.
"Very well. Let’s proceed with the contract. You’ve already seen the botanical garden, and all the paperwork is ready. Once we sign and process the transfer, the deal will be complete," Xu said, clapping his hands.
A semi-transparent light screen appeared between them, displaying stacks of virtual documents, including transfer agreements.
Li Chengyi carefully reviewed each document before signing them one by one. He transferred the payment, and within ten minutes, the transaction was finalized. Both parties agreed to retain the existing staff, with future planting decisions left to Li Chengyi.
After signing, Xu brought out a purple clay tea set, and the two sat down for tea.
"By the way, when Mr. Sindra first arrived in Suiyang, I wanted to visit him, but I never found the time. Now, just a short while later, I get to meet you instead. The world is full of unexpected connections," Xu said with a smile.
"You know my boss?" Li Chengyi asked, though his mind was still reeling from the loss of over four million from his recent windfall.
"Of course. Over a decade ago, my father and Mr. Sindra had a lively conversation at a banquet. Time flies," Xu said, sipping his tea.
"If there’s anything my family can do to support your plans with the botanical garden, don’t hesitate to ask," Xu offered.
"Correction—it’s not Sindra or Hongjin acquiring the garden. This is a personal investment of mine and has nothing to do with my boss," Li Chengyi clarified, sensing a misunderstanding.
Xu’s smile faded slightly. "I see. My apologies for the assumption. But running a business alone might be harder than you think."
"Perhaps, but I still want to give it a try," Li Chengyi replied evenly.
"Understandable. Sindra rarely stays in one place for long. You’re likely trying to establish a foundation of your own—perfectly reasonable," Xu said, regaining his polite demeanor.
After the conversation grew colder, Li Chengyi took his leave. As the staff led him out, Xu’s smile vanished entirely.
"So, it’s not Sindra backing him. Just a kid trying to build some roots with his bonus money," Xu muttered coldly.
For Li Chengyi, however, the deal was only the beginning. His next focus was finding a way to harvest dark thoughts efficiently—perhaps even creating a garden of malice to complement his botanical haven.
