Lin Muyang was utterly stunned by Liu Yutong's words. He truly hadn’t expected her to guess so accurately.
They had barely had any real conversations, and he had never mentioned anything about his company to her.
How did she know all these details so precisely?
Yet, what sent chills down his spine were the words that followed.
"Lin Muyang, you don’t actually think you can easily secure investment on your own, do you? Given this year’s economic climate—which I’m sure you’re painfully aware of—there are only two types of people who would invest in your West District Development Fund under these circumstances."
"One is a fool."
"The other has ulterior motives—someone who wants to use you as a stepping stone to get closer to your father’s connections."
"Of course, I’ll stop here. I won’t tell you what to do, because as it stands, we’re not even friends."
Liu Yutong’s final remark was like a sharp blade, piercing Lin Muyang’s heart and shattering the last remnants of his lingering illusions.
How laughable that he had wanted to do something for her. How laughable that he had been so excited the night before that he couldn’t sleep.
Now, it was clear—it had all been his own wishful thinking.
"Liu Yutong, did you ask me out today just to humiliate me?!"
Liu Yutong shook her head. "No. I just feel sorry for you—a pitiful fool who’s about to drag himself into the abyss and take his mother down with him."
Lin Muyang: "What the hell are you trying to say?!"
Liu Yutong: "Lin Muyang, do you know why I’ve always wanted to keep my distance from you? Did you think it was simply because I don’t like you?"
Lin Muyang: "Then what is it?"
Liu Yutong didn’t hold back. "Simple. Because I knew you’d eventually land yourself in trouble, and I didn’t want to be dragged into the mess you’d create."
Then, her tone shifted. "But I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and I decided to meet you anyway. First, for Senior Lin Ke’s sake—she shouldn’t be dragged down by you."
"Second, I want to form a private business alliance, and I’m inviting you to join."
Lin Muyang felt his brain short-circuit at her words.
One moment, it seemed like Liu Yutong was cutting ties with him completely.
The next, she was extending an olive branch, inviting him into some kind of private alliance?
What kind of game was she playing?
Liu Yutong leaned back slightly, crossing her legs elegantly as she fixed her gaze on him. "Lin Muyang, isn’t your goal to prove yourself to your parents? Join my alliance, and you won’t need their help to do that."
Lin Muyang: "Why should I trust you?"
Liu Yutong: "What, have you lost all your confidence? That doesn’t sound like you. When you were chasing after me, you weren’t this hesitant or timid."
"Now, it’s just about joining a mutually supportive alliance. Are you afraid I’ll eat you alive?"
"Take your time to think about it. My offer stands. Because, setting aside all the superficial stuff, I believe you actually have potential. If you’re willing to join, I can help you figure out how to fix the mess with your fund."
"Oh, and by the way—here’s a piece of news for you. Zhao Weixiang was behind Wang Shi’s death."
Lin Muyang’s mind reeled. "What did you say? Zhao Weixiang?!"
Liu Yutong nodded firmly. "Yes. He was also the one who ordered Wang Shi to set fire to the East District warehouse that day. You were there—I saw you. In fact, the only reason I knew to leave the dock before the danger hit was because I noticed Wang Shi sneaking away and had someone follow him."
Lin Muyang frowned, voicing his doubts. "But what’s Zhao Weixiang’s motive? As far as I know, he’s just an ordinary nightclub owner."
Liu Yutong: "I can’t explain everything to you right now. Just be careful around him. Don’t let yourself be used as a pawn without realizing it."
Just then, she received a text from Yun Cheng.
After thorough investigation, they had confirmed the last people Wang Shi had met with.
One crucial detail stood out: Zhao Weixiang and his group had entered a nightclub earlier and hadn’t come out since.
The message had been sent by a man named Liu Songxia, a prominent figure in the West District bar scene, who had secretly informed Scarface while in the restroom.
He also revealed that Zhao Tianxing’s group was looking for assassins.
This meant their enemies weren’t as united as they seemed—there were still smart players among them.
After reading the text, Liu Yutong’s eyes sharpened, and her guard went up.
Her suspicions had been correct.
Zhao Weixiang was indeed trying to orchestrate a situation where two sides would fight, leaving him to reap the rewards.
He wanted her and Zhao Tianxing’s group to destroy each other so he could swoop in and take control.
Lin Muyang noticed the shift in Liu Yutong’s expression and tensed. "Yutong, what’s wrong?"
Liu Yutong looked up at him. "Someone’s coming after us."
Lin Muyang’s heart skipped a beat. "Who? That’s impossible!"
In Bright Pearl City, few would dare target him, which was why Liu Yutong’s words hit him so hard.
Liu Yutong suddenly asked, "Did you let slip that you were planning to deal with Zhao Tianxing’s group?"
Lin Muyang shook his head. "No. I do want to teach them a lesson, but I’d never reveal that beforehand. I was waiting for my father to—"
Mid-sentence, he froze, his eyes widening.
"That matter… I only mentioned it to Zhao Weixiang. How did you find out? And how did they know?"
Liu Yutong didn’t answer. She simply looked at him, her gaze saying everything.
Lin Muyang’s conviction wavered as he began reassessing Zhao Weixiang, the man who had called him a brother.
He could be impulsive, but he wasn’t a fool—he knew better than to reveal his plans before striking. Otherwise, the enemy would be prepared.
Yet, even the girl sitting across from him had found out. The leak had been alarmingly fast.
Liu Yutong felt she had said enough for the day and changed the subject.
Just then, the waiters began serving their dishes.
"Let’s eat. A classmate recommended this place—said the food was good."
This was Liu Yutong’s style—compartmentalizing effortlessly.
Before the food arrived, she had discussed serious matters with Lin Muyang.
Now, as the dishes were served, she acted like nothing had happened, chatting casually about the flavors as if she were just another diner enjoying a meal.
The stark contrast left Lin Muyang with an indescribable sense of absurdity.
How could she be so calm?
Hadn’t she just said someone was coming for them—that their lives were in danger?
Why wasn’t she the least bit nervous?
Meanwhile, he was starting to feel the tension himself.
However, it was precisely this demeanor Liu Yutong displayed, combined with their deeper conversation this time, that truly shook his previously resolute heart.
This girl might really not be the right fit for him.
The main issue was that she gave him a genuinely unsettling feeling.
It’s only natural for people to instinctively feel fear and retreat from something far beyond their comprehension.
Before, he hadn’t interacted with Liu Yutong enough, so he’d seen her through a somewhat idealized lens.
For instance, he truly believed she was beautiful, bold, and captivating, among other things.
He had never personally experienced her methods or the terror she could evoke.
But now, after nearly laying all their cards on the table, the feeling had clearly changed.
The two of them still had a fairly pleasant meal.
However, when they left the restaurant, Liu Yutong didn’t choose to take a car. Instead, she suddenly suggested walking to the night market street.
Naturally, Lin Muyang didn’t refuse.
As the two strolled along the sidewalk toward the nearest night market street,
about seven or eight hundred meters away, in an empty lot at the entrance of a construction site,
a dump truck sat parked with its engine off. Inside the cab, a driver dressed in black and wearing a baseball cap received a phone call.
“The operation is temporarily canceled!”
After hanging up, he continued reporting.
“The target didn’t take a car. For now, we’ve only seen the two of them walking toward the night market street. We’re switching personnel to follow them and will strike directly when the opportunity arises.”
At the same time,
Liu Yutong received a text from Yun Cheng.
“Miss, our people have already set up an inescapable net!”
“There are roughly over a thousand people around the night market street, and more than three hundred of them are ours.”
.....................
Here’s a motorized version of the image—not Yun Cheng, hahaha.....
