The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

Huang Feipeng's heart skipped a beat, realizing that the other party's intentions were far more sinister than he had imagined. It turned out they not only knew his whereabouts perfectly, but also seemed to have foreseen Zhang Kai's existence; it was all clearly preordained. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and said nonchalantly, "We just bumped into each other by chance, chatted about old times, and didn't get any important information."

The man clearly didn't believe him. His smile turned mocking, and he said in an icy tone, "Huang Feipeng, do you think I'd believe your nonsense? Zhang Kai is a notorious 'information broker.' If he didn't have any special intelligence, why would he specifically appear by your side?" He then took a step closer, his eyes carrying a hint of threat.

Huang Feipeng was seething with anger; the situation before him left him utterly embarrassed. He was unwilling to accept defeat so easily, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions—anger, helplessness, and even a deep self-mockery of his predicament. It was just an ordinary night, he had simply wanted to take a stroll to digest his meal, but it had turned into this absurd scene. His shoes had been stolen by some arrogant fellow, and his resentment was hard to quell.

"I have to compromise just because I want the shoes? Why should I?" He was indignant, but he also knew he had to remain calm. It was an unusual night; Zhang Kai's hints and the man's coercion made him realize that things weren't as simple as they seemed. His eyes darted around, trying to find a way to escape.

"Don't hesitate, Huang Feipeng. I know you know what's going on. Tell me about your conversation, and I might consider returning the shoes to you." The other person's voice remained cold, even tinged with a hint of provocation.

"How could I possibly tell you what I just talked about?" Huang Feipeng didn't want to give himself away, so he tried his best to make his voice sound firm. He took a deep breath, thinking of other ways to deal with the situation. He shouldn't have put himself in such an unreasonable position.

"Oh, really? You'd better think this through. It's so late, and you might run into a lot of trouble walking back barefoot." The man smiled maliciously, a smug glint in his eyes. Clearly, he was enjoying his power and control over Huang Feipeng, as if he were scrutinizing prey with nowhere to escape.

“If you really think my shoes are important, then I’ll find a way to buy you a new pair,” Huang Feipeng replied coldly, determined not to be led by the nose.

"Oh? Buying new shoes? But I don't believe you'll be able to." A playful smile played on the man's lips as he continued, "How easy do you think it is to buy shoes around here? You'll have to spend some time, especially late at night. Do you still want to go home?"

“I don’t believe you’ll leave me here.” Huang Feipeng stared at him, already plotting his plan. He knew time was the most precious thing. He absolutely couldn’t let this man continue to put pressure on him.

The other person raised an eyebrow slightly, as if anticipating his reaction. "If you want to take this opportunity to escape, then hurry up, because we don't have much time left."

Huang Feipeng's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself: even if he was just talking nonsense, Huang Feipeng couldn't let himself be put on the defensive. He needed to get out of this unfavorable situation as soon as possible and take the opportunity to find a new way out. He didn't want to get entangled with this person anymore and had to make a decision quickly. Thinking of this, he smiled slightly and thought to himself, "Since that's the case, I'll give you a little surprise."

"Alright, I'll tell you." He feigned reluctance, his voice revealing a hint of compromise. "Zhang Kai and I didn't actually talk much, just chatted casually." He was calculating in his mind, preparing to stall for time.

"Are you playing me for a fool?" The man was clearly displeased, his brows furrowing slightly. "I don't like these kinds of tricks."

Huang Feipeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but knew in his heart that it was not advisable to continue entangled. He immediately turned around and walked forward, trying to maintain a calm attitude, silently thinking about a way out as he walked. His heart tightened, feeling that the man's gaze was still fixed on him, and sweat involuntarily seeped out from his back.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, an idea forming in his mind. Since he had to deal with buying shoes anyway, he might as well take this opportunity to get rid of this person completely. He put his hands in his pockets, checked his phone, considered his current situation, and decided to use every available resource to protect himself.

“I told you I need to find a way to buy shoes.” He turned around, smiling faintly. “However, if you keep following me, I won’t be able to go looking in peace.” His voice carried a hint of provocation as he tried to appear relaxed.

"Oh, are you threatening me?" The man's pupils contracted slightly, his expression gradually became serious, and his tone revealed a hint of unease, clearly surprised by Huang Feipeng's calmness.

"If I buy the shoes, there's no need for me to stay here any longer." Huang Feipeng continued walking, secretly pleased with himself. He could see the hesitation and unease in the other man's heart; he had grasped his psychology. His pace quickened, his heartbeat accelerated, and a glimmer of hope began to ignite within him.

The man hesitated for a moment, and as expected, didn't immediately give chase. Instead, he stood still, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face, as if considering whether to follow. Huang Feipeng, however, pressed on with renewed vigor, determined not to look back.

“If you really want the shoes, come with me,” he called back to the man, a surge of smugness in his heart. He knew that this moment of turning around was crucial; if he could divert the other man's attention, he would have a chance to escape this awkward situation.

"Hmph, don't try to fool me with those tricks!" The other person realized what was happening and looked disdainful. "I don't believe you can get away with it."

Huang Feipeng's lips curled into a slight smile, but he knew in his heart that this was all part of his own hidden plan—to use the other party's indifference to create an opportunity to escape. He turned and walked deeper into the street, silently praying that he could find a shoe store as soon as possible.

As night deepened and the streets grew quieter, Huang Feipeng felt uneasy, yet he gradually grew accustomed to the loneliness. He needed to make a new choice; perhaps, in an unseen way, this was also a form of growth for him. Just like his own life, no matter how the outside world changed, he had to strive forward and never stop in the face of unexpected events.

Finally, not far ahead, he saw a shop with dim yellow lights, its neon sign seemingly beckoning him forward. A surge of joy filled him, and he took a few steps towards it, only to find his feet bare. He felt a pang of embarrassment, yet couldn't help but laugh, thinking he never imagined he'd be searching for new shoes in such an awkward situation.