London Trip

In the heart of London's financial district, a closed-door meeting was restricted to the top executives of the world's ten most prominent financial companies. This gathering was undoubtedly the crème de la crème of the finance world, with each attendee boasting a personal fortune in the hundreds of millions.

After the meeting started, Yan Yan strode into the room, clad in a bespoke three-piece suit, and attracted the people to the meeting. Undoubtedly, he had already earned a formidable reputation in the industry due to his exceptional business acumen and keen analytical abilities, making him an indispensable figure. No one knows he will attend this meeting since he has always been mysterious but prominent in finance.

On the other side of the venue, a woman in a champagne-colored dress was making her way towards him. This was Ling Zi Qi, who had a long-held secret affection for Yan Yan.

"Mr. Yan, what a pleasant surprise to see you here," Ling Zi Qi said timidly, batting her eyelashes at him.

Yan nodded slightly, his expression unwavering as he responded, "Miss Ling."

While Ling Zi Qi's beauty was undeniable, Yan Yan had not lost interest in her, and we should say Yan Yan only had his passion for Tang Qing.

"Mr. Yan, I'm so delighted you're attending this meeting. This is a wonderful experience, don't you think?" Ling Zi Qi persisted in her attempts to engage him in conversation.

"Excuse me, I must take my leave," Yan said coolly, walking away.

Just as he was about to make his way to his seat, a commotion erupted near the main entrance. All eyes turned towards the disturbance, where a group of armed men had stormed into the meeting room, brandishing firearms.

"Everyone, stay calm and do not attempt to resist," the group leader barked, his voice echoing through the tense silence. "This is a robbery. Hand over your valuables, and no one will get hurt."

But these people were soon driven away by the security guards present. There was no doubt that they could not touch Yan Yan, let alone rob him.

The people present were a little nervous, but the meeting soon resumed while Yan Yan, who was sitting in the main seat, looked at his phone casually. He received a message from Tang Qing. "I heard that there was a shooting in London. You should be careful." He couldn't help laughing when he saw this, but it frightened the man giving a speech. He was afraid that he had said the wrong thing. Everyone knows that Yan Yan is a moody person.

The speaker grew visibly uneasy, worried that they may have said something to upset the notoriously unpredictable Yan Yan.

Suddenly, Yan Yan stood up and abruptly left the conference room. The other attendees exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what had transpired. Moments later, word spread that Yan Yan's subordinates had located Minglan. Without hesitation, Yan Yan departed the meeting, leaving the guards behind as they hurried to Minglan's residence.

Upon arriving, Yan went inside alone, the door closing quietly behind them. What transpired in that private encounter remained unseen by the others.

Yan strode through the door, dismissing the guards with a curt nod. The foyer was silent, save for the faint sound of Minglan's panicked breathing as she crouched in the drawing room.

"M-Mr. Yan..." Minglan stammered, trembling. "W-why are you here?"

Yan's expression was eerily calm, as if it were a well-rehearsed scene. Without a word, they withdrew a gleaming knife - a gift from Tang Qing long ago. In one swift motion, the blade flashed, and Minglan's struggles ceased, her life snuffed out in an instant.

Blood spattered across Yan Yan's pristine suit, but they paid it no mind. Kneeling beside the lifeless form, Yan's fingers reached for the delicate diamond necklace around Minglan's neck - a trinket once bestowed upon Tang Qing, now gracing Minglan's pale skin. With a tug, the clasp gave way, and Yan Yan held the necklace aloft as if in silent acknowledgment.

Yan wiped the blade clean on a silk handkerchief, the metallic scent of blood lingering in the air. Minglan's lifeless eyes stared up at him, accusing and hollow.

Why had she betrayed him? The answer lay in the delicate necklace now cradled in Yan Yan's palm. A token of love, once meant for Tang Qing, is now wrapped around Minglan's throat.

He remembered the day Tang Qing received it from him—a moment in a moonlit garden, their whispered promises echoing like the rustle of leaves. But fate had twisted their paths, leaving only memories and unanswered questions.

Ming Lan'd known too much, seen too much. Her greed had led her to betray him and seek leverage against the enigmatic financier who held the world in his hands, but Minglan's betrayal was a mere ripple in the vast ocean of his affairs.

As he stood over her lifeless body, Yan Yan wondered if, after Ming Lan was dead, Tang Qing would love him again or if Tang Qing would still hate her, but Yan Yan knew that killing Ming Lan was the best choice to hide all the secrets.

His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. A message from Qing Qing: "Remember, Yan Yan, some secrets are better left buried."

"Qingqing," Yan murmured, the words hanging in the air. "I've taken care of it."

Yan Yan's grip tightened on the necklace. Who dared taunt him? Who knew about Tang Qing, about the moments and whispered confessions?

Yan Yan stepped out of the drawing room, the grandeur of Minglan's mansion mocking the tragedy within its walls. The guards waited, their eyes averted. They knew better than to question their employer.

When Yan Yan emerged sometime later, their expression was unreadable. They stated, "It's done," before departing. This means that Yan Yan killed Ming Lan.

Yan Yan's mind raced. Qing Qing, who else knows our secret? Yan vowed to unravel the tangled web of secrets—no matter the cost.