The Elite Club.
Upon hearing this name, Liu Yutong frowned slightly, her mind flashing with some information.
This nightclub was no ordinary place—it had several powerful shareholders behind it, and its main owner, Zhao Weixiang, was an exceptionally formidable figure. In her past life, he had never been caught, having long since fled abroad with embezzled funds.
Jin Xiangming really knew how to stir up trouble, daring to provoke someone’s girlfriend on their turf.
When Liu Yutong called Ma Da and the others over, most of them showed reluctance upon hearing they were to rescue Jin Xiangming, the son of "Old Jin": "Jin Xiangming? We’ve got no ties with him. Why bother saving him?"
"Old Jin said the nine million debt will be wiped clean," Liu Yutong said calmly.
Truthfully, she wasn’t keen on getting involved either.
Jin Xiangming had barely been married for any time before running off to fool around at the club, and then had the audacity to harass someone’s girlfriend. He deserved every bit of the beating he got.
Hua Muying had already looked into the matter. Jin Xiangming and his friends had been drinking at the club when they spotted a girl dressed provocatively and assumed she was a hostess. They dragged her into a private room, only to find out she was the girlfriend of a gang leader.
The outcome, as one might expect, was predictable.
"Nine million?!" Ma Da and the others brightened at the number, suddenly energized. "Hurry up, get in the cars! Don’t keep the client waiting!"
Hesitating even a second would have been disrespectful to that sum.
Once in the car, Liu Yutong received a call from Chu Yang, confirming that the contract had been signed and was being delivered by car.
With the contract settled, the convoy passed an intersection.
Liu Yutong suddenly thought of something and immediately said, "Take a detour—go past Ziyuan Residential Area."
Yun Cheng was puzzled but relayed the order, and the convoy adjusted its route.
As they neared the residential area’s entrance, Liu Yutong dialed Gao Min’s number and invited her down for a quick meet-up.
Before long, a girl with a neat, shoulder-length bob and an air of spirited confidence appeared, dressed casually.
Even though it wasn’t her first time seeing this convoy, she couldn’t help but feel a stir of surprise.
What was this about now?
Liu Yutong opened the rear door of the Mercedes from inside and said to her, "Officer Gao, get in."
Without hesitation, Gao Min bent down and entered the car.
"Let’s go," Liu Yutong said.
At her command, the convoy headed toward the Elite Club.
Throughout the ride, Gao Min remained tense. Though she wanted to strike up a conversation with Liu Yutong, she couldn’t find the right words.
After passing two traffic lights, she finally couldn’t hold back. "Miss Liu, where exactly are we going?"
"Didn’t you always want to see the world with us?"
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering directly, Liu Yutong retrieved a gift bag from beside her and handed it to Gao Min.
"This is for you."
Gao Min was taken aback. Her first instinct was to refuse, but remembering her "undercover infiltration" plan, she ultimately accepted it.
She assumed this was an attempt to bribe and win her over—why else would she be given a gift out of the blue?
It also meant her recent efforts to casually visit the Wanlong Hui company and build rapport were working.
This was likely the final test. If she refused now, all her previous work would be for nothing.
"Let me help you put it on." Without waiting for a response, Liu Yutong unwrapped the packaging, revealing a beautiful 18K gold bracelet inlaid with sapphires and pink gemstones. She fastened it around Gao Min’s right wrist.
The gems shimmered under the light, accentuating the fairness of her skin, making it look even more striking.
Gao Min adored how well the bracelet suited her, but she knew it must have been expensive—the packaging was from a well-known high-end jewelry brand.
No matter how much she liked it, she’d have to turn it in later, or it would count as accepting a bribe.
Just then, she noticed Liu Yutong also wore an identical bracelet on her right wrist. For some reason, seeing them matching gave her an indescribable warmth in her chest.
Especially when she looked at Liu Yutong’s profile—somehow familiar—the inexplicable sense of closeness grew even stronger.
Liu Yutong noticed Gao Min’s gaze and playfully shook her wrist. "I wasn’t sure what style to pick, but I thought this bracelet was lovely, so I got another one. Do you like it?"
Gao Min nodded quickly. "Very much. Thank you!"
"I’m glad. I hope you’ll keep wearing it," Liu Yutong said, her tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning.
Gao Min suddenly felt exposed, wondering if Liu Yutong had guessed her intentions.
She forced a calm nod. "How could I ever take off such a precious gift from you, Miss Liu?"
Then, when Liu Yutong wasn’t looking, she discreetly snapped a photo of the bracelet and sent it to her superintendent via text for documentation.
Soon, a reply came:
[Keep it on. Don’t turn it in, or she’ll suspect something.]
With the superintendent’s approval, Gao Min relaxed slightly. This was her first real taste of what it felt like to be "bribed."
It was agonizing—like sitting on pins and needles.
What she didn’t realize was that Liu Yutong had already noticed her discreet actions.
Liu Yutong knew the legal standards for bribery. If a gift was given to secure undue benefits—like trading favors—it counted as bribery, especially if the amount was significant.
But if there was no ulterior motive and the value didn’t exceed 30,000, it was harder to classify.
This bracelet cost just over 20,000, well below the threshold, and she had given it purely out of friendship.
As long as she never asked Gao Min for any favors, there was no need for Gao Min to worry about it being considered a bribe.
Another criterion for bribery was repeated, long-term gifting of expensive items, suggesting an intent to curry favor.
But Liu Yutong had no such plans. One gift was enough.
It was also a way to reassure Gao Min. If she wanted to get close, here was her chance.
By the time Liu Yutong’s group arrived at the Elite Club’s entrance, Jin Xiangming and his friends were being dragged downstairs by a group of men, their faces bruised and swollen, hands bound with zip ties.
Gao Min followed Liu Yutong out of the car and instinctively wanted to intervene but held back.
She hadn’t forgotten her mission—to stay close to Liu Yutong and gather evidence of illegal activity.
When Jin Xiangming spotted Liu Yutong approaching, his swollen eye strained to widen as if seeing a savior.
"Aunt Liu!" he cried out, voice trembling. "You’re finally here!"
