At ten in the morning, the Water Restaurant buzzed with voices.
The Guesthouse owner found Chen Guofu inspecting ingredients in the kitchen and pulled him aside, his expression grave.
"Guofu, there's something I need to tell you. Those people who checked into my place a couple of days ago-something's off about them."
Chen Guofu was holding a large, vigorously flapping carp. He looked up. "What is it, Guomin?"
The Guesthouse owner glanced warily around and lowered his voice.
"There are six of them, two men and four women. They have this overwhelming presence. They don't seem like tourists. More like... those high-ranking officials you see on TV, coming down for an inspection."
"And they keep asking me about Xiao Lin, sometimes casually, sometimes not."
Chen Guofu's heart lurched.
"What have they been asking?" he asked gravely.
"All sorts of details!" the Guesthouse owner recalled. "When Xiao Lin came back, where his first bit of money came from, where he gets his ingredients... I reckon they're probably from the government."
"From the government?"
Chen Guofu's expression changed instantly.
He immediately took out his phone, ready to call Chen Lin.
"No, I have to tell Xiao Lin right away!"
But just as he was about to press the call button, a long, strong hand reached silently from behind him and gently pressed down on the back of his hand.
"Uncle, don't panic."
A voice without the slightest ripple of emotion sounded beside his ear.
Chen Guofu stiffened and spun around, meeting Chen Lin's deep, calm eyes.
"X-Xiao Lin? When did you get here?" Chen Guofu nearly dropped his phone in shock. He hadn't heard a single footstep.
"I already know." Wearing a reassuring smile, Chen Lin took his uncle's phone and slipped it back into his pocket. "It's nothing serious. Just carry