Imperial Pole Club.
Upon learning that Zhao Tianxing and his crew hadn't left their club, Zhao Weixiang concluded they were likely preparing to make their move. They were acting even more decisively than he had anticipated.
Zhao Weixiang swirled his wine glass leisurely before turning to the woman in red beside him.
"Notify our people—when they handle Zhao Tianxing’s business, they’re not to deliver fatal blows. Lin Muyang can be injured, but he absolutely must not die. That would ruin everything for me. As for Liu Yutong… whether she lives or dies doesn’t matter."
"Once that’s done, have them head straight to the cargo docks tonight. A coal-laden ship will be leaving port."
"Understood, Mr. Zhao. I’ll make the arrangements immediately." The woman’s voice carried a soft, seductive lilt.
Just as she reached the door, Zhao Weixiang’s voice called after her, laced with warning.
"Hong Jiao, don’t disappoint me again."
The woman paused slightly, nodded, and then stepped out.
Zhao Weixiang’s gaze lingered on her alluring figure as she departed, and he couldn’t help but smirk.
"Beautiful women really do have it easy, don’t they?"
Indeed, this woman was none other than Hong Jiao, who had been arrested alongside Wang Shi—and whom Zhao Weixiang had also arranged to have bailed out.
But her fate had diverged completely from Wang Shi’s.
Wang Shi was already dead.
Of course, Hong Jiao still had value to Zhao Weixiang.
His next move was to have her replace Liu Yutong as the woman by Lin Muyang’s side.
Lin Muyang might resist, but that didn’t matter. All Zhao Weixiang needed was proof of intimacy between them.
Afterward, whether Lin Muyang acknowledged it or not, Hong Jiao would become a welcomed guest in his father’s inner circle—perhaps even more.
From the very beginning, Zhao Weixiang had never intended for Lin Muyang to come to real harm.
If Lin Muyang died, he might get to see the fallout among Bright Pearl City’s underworld elites.
But for Zhao Weixiang himself, it wouldn’t bring much tangible benefit—only suspicion.
Never underestimate the mind of a man in power.
If Lin Muyang and Liu Yutong both perished, and Zhao Tianxing’s group was wiped out, it might seem like Zhao Weixiang could sweep in and claim victory.
But when that happened, wouldn’t Lin Muyang’s father suspect him?
Absolutely.
So, he couldn’t afford to go too far.
As long as Lin Muyang survived—even if injured—the effect would be nearly the same, and suspicion would be harder to pin on him.
Moreover, he could use this chance to secure Lin Muyang as a key pawn.
Zhao Tianxing’s crew had no idea that the "professionals" they’d hired were actually Zhao Weixiang’s men.
If not for his secret control over these specialized channels and talents, Wang Shi would never have obeyed him so readily in taking down Pan Xing.
Many in Bright Pearl City had underestimated this man.
The current plan was simple: the assassins would create chaos, while Hong Jiao would "rescue" the wounded Lin Muyang at the critical moment.
As for how she’d engineer intimacy afterward—that was no challenge for her.
Zhao Weixiang had been grooming Hong Jiao for years.
He’d bought her from human traffickers long ago, drawn by the natural seductiveness in her bones.
A girl like her, properly trained, could easily ensnare high-society men.
Over the years, Zhao Weixiang had invested heavily in her education—teaching her to read people, to tease men just enough, to extract information without detection.
Pan Xing of the Righteous Brotherhood had been Hong Jiao’s first target after her "debut."
Everything had gone smoothly at first. With her influence, Pan Xing rose to power, and after his near-fatal accident, she even took temporary control of his faction.
But just as she was about to install Wang Shi as the new leader and fully seize the Righteous Brotherhood, an unexpected variable emerged—Liu Yutong of the Ten Thousand Dragons Society.
That was her downfall.
Still, nobody was perfect.
Hong Jiao had a gift for manipulating men, but her methods were still unrefined. That was understandable.
Which was why Zhao Weixiang was giving her another chance.
This time, she didn’t need to control any factions—just Lin Muyang and his father.
One piece of evidence would be enough.
If the plan succeeded, he’d have leverage over both of them.
His future in Bright Pearl City would be limitless.
……
Meanwhile.
Liu Yutong had chosen a private dining establishment for their meeting.
They sat at a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main hall.
Liu Yutong didn’t bother with pleasantries—nor did she ask Lin Muyang what he wanted to eat. She simply ordered a few signature dishes and a soup.
From start to finish, she gave Lin Muyang the impression of a woman who took charge.
After all, if you were the host, shouldn’t you at least ask your guest’s preferences? That alone spoke volumes.
But it was also a deliberate signal.
He wasn’t her type.
Men, by nature, rarely preferred women more dominant than themselves. Even if infatuation struck initially, it wouldn’t last—eventually, resentment would set in.
It was biological instinct, hardwired into their DNA.
Especially for someone like Lin Muyang, who was used to being adored. Could he really tolerate a wife who outshone him long-term?
Impossible.
His current obsession with Liu Yutong stemmed partly from genuine attraction—but mostly from the allure of the unattainable.
He’d met countless women, many of them beautiful. But none as unique as Liu Yutong. It was only natural she fascinated him.
So, her behavior now was a clear boundary.
We’re not compatible. Never will be.
Drop the fantasies.
After handing the menu back to the server, Liu Yutong fixed her sharp, mesmerizing gaze on Lin Muyang and cut straight to the point.
"Lin Muyang, how big is the hole in your fund? How much longer can you keep it covered?"
Lin Muyang hadn’t expected such directness. His smile froze.
Still, he played dumb. "My fund’s doing fine. What rumors have you been hearing, Yutong?"
Liu Yutong simply stared at him, her piercing eyes impossible to meet.
"Lin Muyang, do you really think lying to me is worth it?"
"You’re running a Ponzi scheme—using new investors’ money to pay off old ones. How long do you think that can last?"
"If you don’t secure fresh capital or offload this bomb soon, I’d say you’ve got about a month and a half before everything collapses."
