At these words, Xi Jin City and Lie Yan Yang lifted their drooping brows once more.
"Exactly. Xu Yi, Xu Yi—you really were heaven-sent. From this day onward, I, Xi, will treat you as an equal and call you Brother Xu."
Xi Jin City said this partly to win back some favor with Xu Yi, and partly because he was genuinely impressed.
Lie Yan Yang cupped his fist toward Xu Yi and laughed. "We'll be counting on you from now on, Brother Xu."
Xu Yi's stern expression finally softened a little. "Very well. I'll accept your kind offer, then. There's no time to lose. I'll head back first and spread the news. Though we'll be returning the item, if the story doesn't ring true, I might be exposed."
Lie Yan Yang said solemnly, "Indeed. Brother Xu's safety comes first."
"We'll do our part and cooperate in every way we can," Xi Jin City said. "We'll spare no effort."
Both he and Lie Yan Yang approved of the broad road Xu Yi had laid out. After all, it offered three advantages: feasibility, low risk, and a short timeline.
And the more promising the plan was, the more crucial Xu Yi became. He absolutely could not afford to suffer any mishap.
Under the two men's intensely lingering gazes, Xu Yi left.
When he stepped back into the main hall at headquarters, he saw Xia Huosong and Zhong Changming waiting in the distance, looking like two rocks gazing longingly after their husbands.
Before the two men, who hurried over to meet him, could ask anything, Xu Yi cupped his fist and said, "I've lived up to your expectations. Those two finally agreed to act, though whether the operation succeeds will still depend on fate. I'd say we have at least a fifty percent