Hu Yang settled back into that unhurried rhythm.
"Ruiwen took an unconventional approach to real estate, but it worked very well."
He lifted his cup and took a sip.
"The leaders of Ancient City approached me about a tourism resort project on South Mountain. They wanted us to take it on. Their thinking was clear-make South Mountain famous and use it to drive the whole of Ancient City toward emerging industries."
"It was a good opportunity for me. But business wasn't what really moved me."
"South Mountain was my dad's favorite place when he was alive."
He said those words very softly.
Wang Xiaoliang noticed Jiang Siya's fingers curl slightly.
"Xiao Ya drove, and the two of us went to South Mountain. An old friend of my dad's lived there. After inspecting the site with the leaders, we went to his house, had dinner, and talked late into the night."
Hu Yang suddenly began speaking faster.
"On the way back, a car came charging at us from the side. At full speed."
Wang Xiaoliang froze for a second.
He was still processing the aftermath of the earlier gunfight, and another twist had come hurtling at him.
"It didn't slow down. It meant to ram us, car and all, into the ravine."
"Xiao Ya reacted fast. She jerked the wheel, and the side of our car hit the guardrail and bounced back. That car scraped past our rear end."
"Then it came back."
"The second hit was head-on."
Hu Yang tapped the table twice with his finger.
"I was in the back seat, without my seat belt on. I'd been drinking, too, and I was asleep. Xiao Ya called out to me. I woke up, but I reacted too slowly."
Wang Xiaoliang's heart clenched.
"My head hit the windshield. I lost