Hidden Moth-Chapter 488 - 276: Silent Amidst Wind and Rain

Qian Guran didn’t have lunch at the restaurant, but after hearing about the incident in the afternoon, he told He Kao that he would investigate this matter. The primary suspect is easy to pin down; it’s the head chef at the restaurant, named Wang.

The restaurant has chefs and kitchen helpers. Usually, chefs cook the dishes, while the helpers are responsible for serving them outside. However, when it gets busy, the division of labor isn’t that strict, and anyone can lend a hand.

It was the head chef who cooked the dish and personally brought it out, just when Mei Guyu was passing by the serving counter. The dish, Lily with Peas, is seldom seen and has a somewhat strange combination, but it’s a dish Mei Guyu loves.

The company’s internal restaurant isn’t like outside hotels; it’s just a small section managed by logistics, and the so-called head chef is merely one of the chefs responsible for deciding the daily menu.

In fact, even in deciding the menu, the head chef may not have full authority, as the purchase rights are in the hands of logistics management, the real lucrative position.

As for what ingredients to buy, the head chef only has advisory rights and then decides what dishes to make based on the ingredients purchased. Someone spent a lot of money to bribe the head chef, secretly mixing in two ingredients, and getting him to ensure the dish ended up in front of Mei Guyu.

If this was possible, why not just secretly swap the ingredients themselves? Why bribe someone inside? Perhaps it was too risky; their purpose was merely to test Mei Guyu.

Someone claimed to be a suitor of Mei Guyu, bribing the head chef heavily to do this, allegedly just to let Mei Guyu taste her favorite flavors...

This is a plot that could only be seen in a cheesy short film, and Head Chef Wang actually believed it. Perhaps he’s watched too many short videos, or more likely, he accepted too many benefits.

The head chef checked the lily and peas and found no apparent issues, so he followed through with the request.

In his opinion, even if there was an issue, he wasn’t worried, because he wasn’t the one who bought the ingredients; he was only responsible for cooking. If something happened, it wouldn’t fall on him, it should be the purchasing staff’s fault.

But Qian Guran wasn’t there to solve a case; he was there to uncover the truth. After understanding the situation, he broke out in a cold sweat.

His action was also decisive. The very next day, after Head Chef Wang got off work and went home, he suddenly fell ill. On the way to the hospital in an ambulance, he passed away... and as for the symptoms, they were the same as when Gu Yunteng died.

Gu Yunteng was taken out by He Kao back then, using a very special poison. Old Qian specifically asked He Kao for the same medicine.

This surprised even He Kao, leaving him astonished that the usually meticulous Old Qian reacted so strongly and promptly took the person out... showing the logic of a cultivator’s actions.

Using possibly problematic ingredients alone, without causing any actual consequences, likely wouldn’t even be filed as a case if reported to the police; the unit could at most fire the person.

But looking from another angle, someone secretly provided unidentified ingredients and had Head Chef Wang serve it. He actually dared to go through with it! If it was poisoning, think of the severe consequences!

Old Wang essentially intentionally poisoned, just the toxicity wasn’t that strong, and no one ate that dish. Qian Guran not only didn’t leave the chef but didn’t even leave the person.

After sending off Old Wang that evening, Qian Guran also sighed deeply, feeling embarrassed as a senior manager, knowing that such a head chef emerged from the company restaurant.

The details of this matter were unbeknownst to outsiders, but He Kao was clear about it, and at that moment, He Kao was sitting opposite him, their conversation taking place at He Kao’s apartment in Guanliu District.

He Kao: "Have you found out who bribed Old Wang?"

Qian Guran: "I only have some clues, but haven’t found the person. Old Wang was their sacrificial pawn. They knew I would find out, so they wouldn’t let me find them easily."

He then sighed, "I really didn’t expect Old Wang could do such a thing, what a near miss..."

He Kao: "How much did Old Wang actually receive in benefits?"

Qian Guran: "Just enough to buy a house in his hometown county. I asked thoroughly, and the other party didn’t even force him, it was purely a bribe. He was blinded by greed, oblivious to life and death!

The world is full of such people, both foolish and bad. It’s not apparent usually, but once they find an opportunity, you never know how much trouble they can cause!"

He Kao: "If the other side had a Tier Five Heart Stealer or a Tier Six Illusion Master, they could fully utilize someone as foolish and greedy as Old Wang..."

He then shared his suspicions, doubtful that Wei Digao’s outrageous behavior was influenced by Xingshen’s magic, but it was only speculation, without concrete evidence.

Old Qian’s face also turned grim. He certainly hoped this suspicion wasn’t true, but couldn’t ignore the possibility.

He Kao continued, "Let’s not mention an Illusion Master; even a High-tier Sorcerer could tamper with the restaurant’s food without the need to bribe Old Wang.

If they really wanted to do it, the outcome would likely not just be mild allergies, and I couldn’t always be watching the restaurant, fearing it’s impossible to guard against."

Qian Guran was startled once again, standing up saying, "How could they do something so insane, just to probe Elder Mei, how could they poison so many innocent, uninvolved people?

They’re sorcerers, not lunatics!"

Perhaps realizing he was overreacting, Old Qian sat back down, "This is unlikely. No matter who did it, the nature of the act changes entirely, and the Ancestral Hall would hunt them down to the ends of the earth."

He Kao: "But they’ve already done it this time."

Qian Guran analyzed, "It’s still different, though. They just used problematic ingredients to test, the effect was only mild allergies, and it was all over the next day... even without your intervention, it wouldn’t have escalated much.

Finding suitable ingredients to do this isn’t easy, and tampering with them is also hard. Even if sent for testing, no issues would be found, only you could discover it... I’ve also confirmed with Old Wang to be sure.

If it were direct poisoning, Elder Mei would have noticed, and they wouldn’t have achieved their probing aim. Also, as they didn’t act personally and bribed an ordinary person like Old Wang, they clearly didn’t want to be discovered.

Actually, even if I couldn’t find out, someone else could. I’ve quietly collected samples of the problematic dish and sent them secretly to the Lingxi Sect, there will definitely be more clues!"

He Kao: "When and where did you collect the samples?"

Qian Guran: "Just yesterday afternoon. As soon as I got your message, I did it, quietly went through the trash... Actually, you should be the one doing it, you’re familiar with Steward Wei."

Unexpectedly, the dignified President Qian would stoop to secretly picking up garbage.

He Kao: "The scenario I just hypothesized, although the likelihood of it happening is low, after I said it, did you also break out in a cold sweat?"

Qian Guran touched his chest and said, "I’ve already broken out in a cold sweat. If a large number of employees suddenly showed allergy symptoms in the company, it wouldn’t be a small matter for me. Fortunately, I have you this time."

He Kao pressed further: "If something really happens, would you blame Mei Guyu for the trouble? If she continues to stay in the company, wouldn’t you feel uneasy, with complaints in your heart?"

This question rendered Qian Guran silent for quite some time. In front of He Kao, there’s no need to hide anything, but some words are indeed hard to say.

This is a real test of human nature, testing not only Old Wang but also Old Qian.

If something really happened, what would Qian Guran think of Mei Guyu? There have already been quite a few troubles, like Wei Digao getting injured, and Head Chef Wang losing his life.

So many cultivators assigned by the Ancestral Hall conducted such a cumbersome investigation due to someone violating the gag order, not even having a good New Year.

If it weren’t for Mei Guyu’s insistence on coming to Qi Yuan to "experience" the life of an ordinary worker, none of this would have happened!

If it was initially a lack of consideration and resulted in such, now that these things have already happened, if she continues to stick to her guns and stays in Qi Yuan, isn’t she deliberately causing everyone trouble?

What is this, a harbinger of disaster? Even if many people don’t say it, it’s hard to ensure they aren’t thinking it.

The reason the two didn’t return to Sesame Apartment but came to meet in Guanliu District is that much of what they had to discuss concerns Mei Guyu, and it might be quite unpleasant.

Qian Guran even specifically set up an array to prevent eavesdropping.

After quite a while, Qian Guran finally spoke: "If some matters got publicly spread, it might be very detrimental to Elder Mei’s reputation. Even if you and I don’t talk, someone will spread such statements.

If Elder Mei faces any accidents in the future, someone may privately say she brought it upon herself."

He Kao: "Yeah, wouldn’t it be better if she honestly stayed in the Grotto Heaven to cultivate? Why cause so much trouble? No matter who caused the trouble, someone will think it’s her fault, even though she didn’t actually do anything wrong."

Qian Guran: "You really can empathize with Elder Mei."

He Kao: "Actually, I had that thought initially, but then I figured it out: this is her path of self-cultivation. If it was just working a stable job, ducking back to the Sect Grotto Heaven at any sign of trouble... Is cultivation that simple?

Everything now might be what she must face, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to overcome this stage.

Speaking of empathy, I actually do feel somewhat the same way. Back then, right here, so many people came to cause trouble, and you were involved. Were there few incidents?

Due to Lin Hua Lei’s death, Senior Lin Qingshuang came to hold us accountable. Owing to Zhao Hai Zhen and Yu Lianhong’s disappearance, Wan Zhongle and Yu Shangzhen, these two Magic Sect stewards, came to cause trouble in succession.

Can I ask what I did wrong? Aren’t I just an honest worker in this company, wanting nothing more than to work and go off work peacefully, just like Mei Guyu today..."

These words made Old Qian a bit awkward too. He coughed and said, "You really see things clearly. This could also be a lesson in cultivation for both you and me."

He Kao: "There are things I don’t understand, like what are these people ultimately trying to achieve? Even if they succeed against Mei Guyu, what does it really mean for them?"

Despite setting up the array, Old Qian still subconsciously gathered sound with his spiritual sense: "I speculate, merely speculate, that Elder Mei might be bait thrown by the Ancestral Hall, and she volunteered for it."

The Ancestral Hall might be angling for big fish, so big we can’t even imagine. Currently, these disturbances are petty affairs, but when it’s time to reveal the cards, that might be a big deal!

This comes from only my mouth to your ear. I haven’t even told Yao Shaolan, nor do I want her to worry unnecessarily. It’s enough that she doesn’t get dragged in, while it seems we’re already hard-pressed to stay uninvolved."

He Kao: "Do you have any basis for what you said?"

Qian Guran: "No basis, just suspicion."

He Kao: "Then this major disturbance you mentioned, when will it happen?"

Qian Guran seemed very hesitant, but after thinking he said, "In my estimation, there shouldn’t be an incident in the next one and a half months, at least nothing major.

If something significant occurs, it should be after one and a half months. So during this period, Elder Mei certainly won’t leave and will continue working at our company. You should mentally prepare yourself."

He Kao: "One and a half months? You’re so precise, down to the half, it couldn’t possibly be baseless, right?"

Qian Guran shook his head repeatedly: "It’s really just my personal speculation. As for why, without basis or evidence, I absolutely cannot speak carelessly."

Old Qian saying he can’t speak carelessly should have two implications. First, he’s not casually saying this time period, and second, he cannot disclose the reasons behind his suspicions.

He Kao once again experienced Old Qian’s discretion. No matter how much he pressed, Old Qian would not explain why he held such suspicions. That he shared his speculations with He Kao was already quite generous.

**