Ma Qing and Qian Guang seemed like a perfect match—one a ruthless boss, the other a cultured, elegant second daughter. Together, they could embody the ideal union of talent and beauty. Yet, from Ma Lan's tone, it was clear she did not wish to see them together.
Ma Lan took a sip of red wine, her face darkening as she said coldly, "It's not just because my sister is better than me at everything. It's because she gets whatever she wants. Always. Since we were kids, as long as she desired something, she'd obtain it without fail. Meanwhile, I had nothing—just the sight of her taking everything I longed for. Back then, I didn't care. But now, it's different. I do care. I want the Ma Clan. If my sister ends up with Qian Guang, Father will undoubtedly entrust the Ma Clan to her. Qian Guang isn't like Fat Zhu; Father recognizes his capabilities. That's why I must destroy them."
Her words were resolute, but I shook my head and said, "It won't be easy…"
Ma Lan squinted at me and retorted, "I know you also covet my sister. If you have the skill, you can try chasing her yourself."
I shook my head, glancing at the materials on the table. "I need to go. The shop's opening, and I need to oversee it. As for your sister, she looks down on me."
With that, I opened the door. The rain outside had grown heavier. I braved the downpour, got into my car, and drove off. Rain-drenched streets stretched before me as I drove through the night, Leonard Cohen's hauntingly beautiful voice filling the car.
When I reached Bianmao Street, it was already late. The rain poured relentlessly as I parked outside the bar. Inside, only a few lackeys remained, idly fooling around. Seeing me return, they hurried out. Wang Gui, holding an umbrella, came to greet me. I noticed the unusual intensity of the rain—it had been a long time since I'd seen such a downpour.
As I stepped out, a car suddenly sped toward us at alarming speed. At first, I assumed it was just a drunk driver, but as the car drew closer, its trajectory made me uneasy. I stepped out and stood before Wang Gui, who smiled but didn't get a word out before I realized something was wrong. The car wasn't stopping—it was accelerating straight toward us.
We froze in shock. In a split second, Wang Gui tackled me, knocking me onto the car behind us. My vision blurred from the car's blinding headlights.
A deafening crash ensued as two cars collided violently. I was thrown against the opposing vehicle, which then reversed abruptly, its inertia flinging me to the ground. Before I could recover, the car roared toward me again.
My breath caught in my throat—I had no time to react. Just as the car was about to hit me, someone yanked me back violently, throwing me to the side. Another thunderous crash followed as the car rammed into another vehicle.
"Damn it! Cut him down!" I heard the furious shouts of my men as they chased after the fleeing car, but it reversed swiftly and sped off. As it passed, something was tossed out of the window. When I looked, it was a packet of white powder.
Some of the men continued the chase, but the car disappeared into the distance. Soaked to the bone and shaken, I struggled to catch my breath. I'd narrowly escaped death. The car's hood was crushed, smoke rising from it. Wang Gui lay on the ground, attempting to get up but visibly in pain. I rushed to help him, supporting him as he limped to his feet.
Zhao Kui ran back, asking, "Fei Ge, are you okay?"
"Just some scrapes," I replied tersely.
Zhao Kui picked up the discarded powder, sniffed it, and muttered, "Drugs. Damn it…"
I frowned deeply. Whoever had targeted me hadn't just failed—they'd left behind this ominous clue. Was it Shouhou? Possible, but unlikely—if I died now, suspicion would fall squarely on him. He wouldn't take that risk. The only other explanation was the work of the Nongdao group.
The realization sent chills down my spine.
I had unwittingly been dragged into a storm I couldn't navigate alone.
We stood silently in the rain for what felt like an eternity. I knew little about Nongdao, leaving me at a disadvantage. But I couldn't sit idly by. If they could come after me tonight, they could target my family or friends tomorrow. They had no limits.
I had no desire for conflict, but if you come for me, I will bite back—even if I'm just an ant.
Back at the house, the tension was palpable. Laipi, full of bravado, urged, "Fei Ge, let's go take them out. Avenge this!"
He was straightforward, but I shook my head. "Do you even know who the enemy is?"
His face fell as he scratched his head. Zhao Kui interjected, "Exactly. We don't know who it is yet. We can't act recklessly."
I nodded. "From now on, stay vigilant. Always move in pairs—don't let anyone catch you alone."
Everyone agreed solemnly. I had Zhao Kui take Wang Gui to the hospital, then headed to the basement to change. Lying in bed, I tried piecing together the puzzle. It had to be Nongdao, but why target me? Seeking help from Qian Guang might not work—he wouldn't want to provoke them, not when even Seventh Master struggled to contend with them.
I needed answers, and my only lead was Shouhou. But I couldn't rely on him. There was someone else who might help—the dwarf. Not as an ally, but a source of information. And the only way to reach him was through Huahua, who was a friend of Zeng Hong…
The thought unsettled me. After all the twists and turns, I'd have to seek Zeng Hong's help again. I wanted nothing more to do with her, yet here I was, mired in indecision.
Perhaps I was overreacting. Seventh Master had promised to protect me, and maybe tonight's incident was merely a warning. No need to overthink.
The next morning, the rain had stopped. A call from Boss Wei woke me.
"Brother Zhao Fei," he said warmly, "the documents for the Gongpan conference are ready."
"Thank you, Boss Wei," I replied, puzzled by his direct contact.
He continued, "Before the Gongpan in Naypyidaw, there's a private jade trading event in Yangon. It's invitation-only, organized by prominent Burmese jade merchants. Kun Sang managed to secure an invitation. Interested?"
The opportunity intrigued me. A private jade trading event could be the perfect chance to hone my skills before the Gongpan. I agreed tentatively.
However, there was a catch—only three spots were available. It was clear this deliberately excluded Qian Guang. Our seemingly united team was rife with subtle power struggles. Even Qian Guang had kept secrets before; now, Boss Wei was returning the favor. In this game, friendship meant little compared to personal gain.
I resolved to attend, but not without notifying Qian Guang. When I called, he seemed indifferent, merely cautioning me to stay safe. This change in his demeanor stung; the man who once fretted over every detail now seemed distant.
Before ending the call, he added, "Take Xiao Mi with you. Myanmar can be lonely."
His suggestion was more surveillance than companionship, yet I couldn't help but wonder—why was he so confident Xiao Mi would obey?
The lingering mysteries gnawed at me. Where had Qian Guang's drugs come from?
A cold sweat broke out as an ominous thought crossed my mind.
A/N
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