The guy in the cap was completely baffled by what this seemingly alluring girl was up to.
Weren't they supposed to be interrogating him?
Why had she suddenly started talking about his watch?
And what did how generous his boss was have to do with her anyway?
But he had already made up his mind. No matter what sweet-talk or seduction tactics she used—even if it was a honey trap—he would never, ever rat out his boss.
He still had some professional integrity.
Yu Xin, however, couldn't care less about what he thought and kept sizing up his outfit with obvious interest.
And sure enough, the guy might look unremarkable, but everything he wore was top-tier designer stuff.
His sneakers were a limited-edition pair, and the watch on his wrist was worth a small fortune. That told her he wasn't just some reckless thug—he was also a flashy, money-hungry type.
Well, who didn't love money, though?
Once she'd sized him up, she spoke in a serious, measured tone.
"Brother Liu, the way I see it, people like you are out here for two reasons only: loyalty or money. But have you ever thought about this—when you screwed up tonight, do you really think your big-shot boss, no matter how generous, would let you off easy?"
The guy in the cap shifted his eyes but said nothing.
"You know exactly who you pissed off tonight. In all of Bright Pearl City, crossing our Dragon’s Legion—you really think your skulking boss can protect you?"
"You don't seriously underestimate what Dragon’s Legion can do, do you?"
Yu Xin leaned in closer as she said that, her delicate face less than ten centimeters from his.
Then, in a secretive whisper, she told him a story.
"Let me tell you something, just between us. This morning, the Bright Pearl City police pulled a body out of the river. I heard the fish had eaten half its face... absolutely brutal.
Brother Liu, why do people have to go and commit suicide these days? There's still so much beauty in the world—why go down that road?"
What Yu Xin was saying was actually true. Last night, someone couldn't handle it anymore and jumped into the river. They got pulled out this morning. One of the Dragon’s Legion members saw it as they passed the bridge on their way to work. She was just repeating what she'd heard.
But to the guy in the cap and his henchmen, that story sounded completely different.
Especially the man in the cap—his face went white, and even his lips started trembling.
He had, in fact, heard the same rumor: someone was dragged out of the river. Could it be that Dragon’s Legion was behind that?
It had to be!
Dragon’s Legion was so powerful in Bright Pearl City; they wouldn't think twice about dumping a person in the river for the fish to eat and then making it look like suicide.
Was she giving him an ultimatum by bringing this up?
The thought made him shudder.
Yu Xin: "Brother Liu, I'm not trying to scare you. And Dragon’s Legion is a legitimate company. We don’t engage in anything illegal, and we definitely don’t go around killing people. Don't overthink it, okay?"
The more she denied it, the more suspicious he became. He muttered inwardly, "Like I'd believe that!"
Still, what could he do? Could he really sell out his boss?
Wouldn't that be a death sentence anyway?
Yu Xin pressed on. "I’m just being straight with you. Right now, you’re holding out and playing the loyal soldier. But do you think your boss will actually appreciate that?"
"He hasn’t even shown his face. He sent you and your little crew ahead like cannon fodder. Do you honestly think he cares whether you live or die?"
The man's expression twisted. His eyes showed clear signs of doubt.
Yu Xin then poured herself another glass of wine and slid the bottle toward him.
"Take a drink to calm your nerves."
He froze for a moment, staring at the red wine bottle as his throat bobbed.
Yu Xin smiled. "Relax, it's not poisoned. Drink this, and we're friends."
He hesitated, then took the bottle and chugged a good part of it.
Seeing that the moment was right, Yu Xin had someone bring in a stack of cash and slammed it onto the table.
"We've talked enough. Right now, just tell me who sent you, and this ten grand is yours."
The guy's eyes gleamed with greed at the sight of the money.
He had borrowed a ton from loan sharks just to buy his expensive watch and show off. His plan was to pay off that debt with the final payment from this job—only he'd fallen right into Dragon’s Legion’s hands. And weirdly, they were offering him money, too. But this wasn't enough. If only he could squeeze more...
"Save your breath. I don't need money," he said.
Yu Xin raised an eyebrow and threw another stack onto the table.
"Twenty thousand!"
"I live on loyalty! Think twenty grand is gonna turn me into a rat? No chance!"
"Fifty thousand!"
"Forget it! Would you sell out your own boss?"
"A hundred thousand!"
"And to make it clear, just give me the truth. I, Yu Xin, will keep you safe and get you to a secure place. Deal?"
"A hundred grand? Hah! Stop dreaming! I’m Liu San. I stand tall with my head high. Don't insult me with your money!"
The surrounding men in black were stunned. Was this guy crazy or just stupid?
"Miss Xin went as high as a hundred grand plus protection, and he’s still not talking. Is he really not afraid of dying?"
Yun Cheng, however, shook his head, signaling them to wait. He knew Yu Xin well enough—she was a master of psychological warfare. This was probably just the opening act.
And just as he'd guessed.
Yu Xin's smile faded. She reached over and grabbed a stack of cash, weighing it in her hand, then tossed it into the hands of one of her men.
"Ninety thousand."
Liu San blinked, not quite processing, but still stubborn. "I'm not that kind of guy—"
Yu Xin grabbed another stack and tossed it away too.
"Eighty thousand."
"You think you can scare me? I don't care!"
"Seventy thousand."
"I-I'm a loyal kind of guy..."
She kept going, throwing each bundle away without a hint of mercy.
"Sixty thousand."
"W-well, truth be told..."
"Fifty thousand. Say any more and you'll get nothing."
Liu San couldn't take it anymore. That mental torture of watching the amount plummet from a hundred grand to just fifty broke him completely. He lunged up from his chair and shouted, "Stop! Stop cutting my money!"
Yu Xin smirked. "So now you admit it’s your money?"
His face red. "Will that hundred grand you mentioned still count?"
Yu Xin looked at him sarcastically. "What, you don't care about loyalty now?"
Liu San stammered, "Loyalty won’t feed me! And you’d better guarantee my safety!"
Yu Xin shot a triumphant glance at Yun Cheng and then rose from her seat.
"You’ve got my word. A hundred grand, not a penny less. Finish the rest of the wine at your leisure, because you’re going to be off the bottle for a while."
With that, she clicked her heels and strode out without looking back. The rest—verifying the info he’d spill—could be left to Brother Yun and his crew.
The Dragon’s Legion men all stared at the back of Yu Xin as she left, their faces filled with newfound awe and caution.
I never imagined the young lady’s high school classmate would have grown to such a level!
No wonder there’s talk that she’s the top candidate to become the CEO of the Wanlong Group.
Truly incredible!
..................
As the night deepened, the long street’s banquet was also winding down.
The throng of black-clad men began to disperse one after another, until that suffocating pressure finally lifted. Only then did the restaurant owners along the street dare to smile, cheerfully starting to clear away the tables and chairs.
They had made a killing today.
Though the Wanlong Group was intimidating, they were remarkably generous. Not only had they paid extra for the venue booking, but they had also handed out generous red envelopes to the street’s sanitation workers separately.
“Let’s go. Time to head back,” Liu Yutong said, walking toward the black Maybach parked by the roadside.
Gao Min silently followed.
After getting into the car, neither of them spoke.
They remained silent throughout the entire drive.
Back at the residence, Liu Yutong changed her shoes and made her way to the living room sofa, sinking into the soft leather.
Gao Min followed and sat down across from her.
They sat in silence for another moment before Liu Yutong finally spoke.
“Sis.”
Gao Min looked up and gazed at her steadily.
Liu Yutong opened her eyes, staring at the ornate crystal chandelier on the ceiling, and asked,
“You still really want to acknowledge her, don’t you?”
