Chapter 123: Conspiracy, Undercurrents Swirling

In the study, where the silence was so profound one could hear a pin drop, the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy and suffocating, as if cloaked in dark clouds.

A flurry of hurried footsteps, sounding like the sudden strike of a drum, shattered the hard-won tranquility. A subordinate, his face as pale as if he had seen a ghost, came sprinting from afar, shouting:

"Mr. Sha, there has been a major disaster in Huaxi!"

Sha Polang, who had been immersed in his world of calligraphy, was so startled by the sudden cry that his hand trembled, leaving an abrupt blot of ink on the paper. He looked up, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through a person’s soul:

"What on earth has happened to make you this panicked?"

"Di Shitian... Di Shitian has been killed, and Howard has committed suicide!" The subordinate’s voice trembled visibly. "Our plan—it’s all fallen through!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Polang swayed involuntarily, and the brush in his hand came to a halt. Di Shitian was a master at the Mysterious Realm level, a man who could walk sideways through Huaxi City. To hear that he was gone just like that made him wonder: had the Dragon Group intervened?

But his subordinate’s answer left him stunned: "It wasn't the Dragon Group! They say it was an unknown young man, seemingly a master brought in by Liu Zhenhua!"

Sha Polang narrowed his eyes and remained silent for several seconds. He pondered whether he had been too hasty this time. This sudden turn of events had completely disrupted his meticulously laid plans. However, he quickly regained his composure, a cold sneer curling his lips:

"It seems I was too impatient. Fine, a defeat is a defeat. In half a month, once my wounds are fully healed, I will go to Huaxi myself. I will use their heads as a sacrifice to the spirits of my fallen brothers!"

After saying this, he flicked his wrist, and the brush danced swiftly across the paper. The strokes were like drawn swords, brimming with murderous intent, each character seemingly imbued with boundless power. A few seconds later, Sha Polang squeezed hard, and the brush snapped in two. With his hands behind his back, he turned and left the study. On the desk, the large character "Kill" stood prominently on the rice paper; its strokes were sharp and lethal, chilling to the bone.

***

After enjoying a relaxed coffee and dessert with Liu Lele, the two walked back to the company side by side. Although night had fallen, the pace of work had not slowed, and the evening's arrangements were already quietly unfolding. As they stepped into the conference room, they felt the atmosphere of tension and expectation; new decisions and deployments were awaiting them.

Li Chao had originally planned to leave the next day, but Liu Zhenhua proposed a different suggestion: he hoped Li Chao would first visit the largest hotel formerly managed by Howard. The hotel now belonged to Liu Zhenhua, and at this critical juncture of transition, the presence of the new boss would undoubtedly reassure the staff. Li Chao considered it and agreed readily. In any case, he was spending the evening with Liu Dan, so leaving a little later the next day was fine.

After discussing it, Li Chao rose and left, leaving Liu Lele alone in the office. She watched his departing back, with many things to say that ultimately dissolved into silence. Recalling the pressure her father had put on her—to take the initiative in pursuing a man—she felt both awkward and uncomfortable. She decided that when she returned to Kaiyuan County, she would find a suitable opportunity to confess her feelings to Li Chao.

Meanwhile, Li Chao hailed a taxi and hurried to the school where Liu Dan was. On the way, he called her to ask where they would eat. Liu Dan told him she had arranged to go to the city’s largest amusement park with some classmates and suggested they meet at the school gate. Though Li Chao didn't particularly enjoy dealing with strangers, he couldn't refuse Liu Dan’s invitation. He figured it would be like a sightseeing trip; perhaps it would even be fun.

When the taxi stopped at the school gate, Liu Dan and three female friends were already waiting. One girl with curly hair asked curiously, "Xiao Dan, I heard your boyfriend is very capable—even the school principal was dismissed because of him. Is that true?"

In this adult finance college, rumors about Li Chao seemed to have spread quietly. At the school gate stood a group of women between twenty and thirty, all filled with a thirst for knowledge and longing for a bright future. Liu Dan, as one of them, had unexpectedly become the focus of attention due to recent events. These women hadn't thought much of Liu Dan at first, but after the conflict between the principal’s daughter, Peng Xue, and Liu Dan, Liu Dan had not only been unharmed, but her situation had prompted the Education Bureau to deal with the principal directly. This made them curious about her background. They had tried various ways to get closer to her, leading to tonight’s outing.

Facing the curly-haired woman’s question, Liu Dan explained awkwardly: "He is my younger brother, not my boyfriend." She then denied the rumors that Li Chao had connections at the Education Bureau, emphasizing that he had only just arrived in Huaxi and couldn't possibly know anyone there.

However, the curly-haired woman didn't seem to believe her and kept pressing. Just then, a taxi pulled up, and Li Chao stepped out and greeted Liu Dan. Seeing this, the curly-haired woman asked with disappointment: "How come your brother doesn't even have a car?"

Li Chao smiled and explained, "I was driving a friend's car before, but I had something come up today, so I didn't take it out."

Hearing this, the women were thoroughly disappointed. They had assumed Li Chao had an extraordinary background and connections; they hadn't expected him to be borrowing a car. What kind of future could such a person have? The smiles on the other women’s faces faded, and they began to suspect that the principal’s dismissal might have been a coincidence. After all, if Li Chao had such a powerful background, how could he not even own a car?

The curly-haired woman was clearly unsatisfied. She complained impatiently, "You should have said so earlier! Now we have to call a friend to come pick us up! What a waste of time! So annoying!"

She took out her phone and made a call, her voice turning saccharine: "Brother Bin, are you busy today? A few of us sisters want to go to the night session at the amusement park. Can you come to the school gate and pick us up? ... Alright, I’ll be waiting! Mwah!"

After hanging up, she folded her arms and said triumphantly, "I've told Brother Bin, he’ll be here in a Mercedes G-Wagon to pick us up!"

The short-haired woman beside her asked in surprise: "Is the Brother Bin you’re talking about the Deputy General Manager of the Nantian Hotel, Lu Bin?"

The curly-haired woman held her head high and replied proudly: "That’s right! That’s him! I met him by chance downstairs when we stayed at the hotel last time. Manager Bin is a great guy, no airs at all! In private, we call each other brother and sister!" She lowered her voice and added mysteriously: "By the way, there’s something you might not know: the big boss of Nantian Hotel, Howard, has had an incident. Now, Brother Bin is the biggest person in the hotel! Maybe one day the whole place will belong to him! When that happens, just mention my name and you can all stay for free!"

The other two companions cheered, though their eyes held a hint of jealousy. This plastic friendship seemed fragile in the face of profit. Li Chao, meanwhile, had been completely ignored. He smiled helplessly, thinking to himself: It seems tonight’s trip to the amusement park might be more interesting than expected.

Liu Dan didn't pay much attention to their conversation, but Li Chao found it quite intriguing. When he heard the name Nantian Hotel, he was surprised. Wasn't that the hotel he was going to visit tomorrow, the one that was now under his name? The world was truly small; he hadn't expected to run into people connected to it here. Li Chao chuckled inwardly, imagining their expressions if they knew the true owner of the Nantian Hotel was standing right in front of them.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Liu Dan pulled Li Chao’s hand and whispered to him. Their conversation, though quiet, was enough to make the others feel snubbed.

After waiting for about twenty minutes, a black Mercedes G-Wagon pulled up. The window rolled down to reveal a man in a dress shirt, wearing a gold watch and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle—the very picture of a "successful man." This was Lu Bin, the Deputy General Manager of Nantian Hotel.

"Brother Bin!" "Manager Bin!" The three women rushed over to greet him enthusiastically. Lu Bin clearly enjoyed the attention. As they were getting into the car, Lu Bin noticed Liu Dan standing to the side. His eyes lit up, deeply attracted by her beauty and figure. He reluctantly tore his gaze away and asked the curly-haired woman with a smile: "Is this beauty your friend too? Ask her to come along!"

There was only one seat left, and Lu Bin’s invitation made the curly-haired woman unhappy. But not daring to defy him, she looked at Liu Dan reluctantly and said, "Didn't you hear Brother Bin? Get in the car!" She then glanced at Li Chao and added, "There’s no room for him. He can just take a taxi!"

Having realized Li Chao didn't even have a car, she had lost interest in socializing with Liu Dan. She felt Li Chao was just a poor boy not worth her time. She had wanted to ditch Liu Dan, but seeing Lu Bin’s interest, she had to keep her around to please him. After all, Lu Bin had promised her benefits for introducing beauties.

However, Liu Dan refused the invitation, insisting on taking a taxi with Li Chao. This angered the curly-haired woman, who tried to persuade her, but Liu Dan remained firm. Lu Bin waved his hand to stop the argument. He acted magnanimous, saying they could go ahead and he would book the tickets; everyone could play to their heart's content, and he would cover all expenses. His display of wealth and gentlemanly demeanor excited the three women, who showered him with praise. Before the G-Wagon drove off, the curly-haired woman didn't forget to taunt Liu Dan, saying Lu Bin was a "real man" and that Li Chao should learn from him.

Watching the vehicle pull away, Liu Dan apologized to Li Chao, not expecting things to turn out this way. Li Chao laughed and comforted her, saying they should still go—after all, it was a chance for free food and entertainment. In truth, Li Chao hadn't wanted to go, but since the other party was clearly looking down on him, especially Lu Bin, he decided to see what this guy was capable of.

***

Li Chao decided to accept Lu Bin’s "invitation" and accompany Liu Dan to the amusement park. He chuckled internally, planning to see for himself what kind of ability this Lu Bin had to dare act so arrogant in his presence. Though Liu Dan was hesitant, she eventually agreed. They were classmates, after all, and it would be rude to refuse.

The two hailed a taxi and headed to the amusement park. Sitting in the back, Li Chao kept an arm around Liu Dan, looking at the scenery. Just then, the radio news came on: "The Duan enterprise in Huaxi City has suddenly gone bankrupt. Chairman Zheng Gang and his brother were attacked by mysterious assailants at home; their limbs were broken, and they are currently receiving treatment at the hospital."

Hearing this, Li Chao’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew this was Liu Zhenhua settling the score for him. He felt no sympathy for Zheng Gang, believing he had brought it upon himself. Liu Dan, unaware of the situation, found the news curious and asked, "The company went bankrupt, and their limbs were broken, yet they didn't call the police? Is this person stupid?"

Li Chao laughed: "He’s not stupid; he’s actually quite smart. If he endures it, he has a chance to live. If he makes a scene, he probably won't even keep his life." Liu Dan didn't quite understand the implications but didn't press further.

Half an hour later, the taxi stopped at the entrance of the sprawling, brightly lit amusement park. The place was a hub of entertainment, bustling with noise and activity. Li Chao and Liu Dan paid the fare and headed to the ticket office. In the distance, they saw Lu Bin and the three women standing in a prominent spot, laughing and talking. The curly-haired woman waved, signaling them to come over.

Guided by Lu Bin, the group headed into the park. Lu Bin had bought VIP tickets, allowing them to bypass the queues through a side entrance. This made the women even more smug, as if their own status had been elevated. Once inside, Liu Dan wanted to try the amusement rides, but the curly-haired woman and her companions dragged her into a bar instead.

Inside, the lights flashed, and the atmosphere was intense. Lu Bin generously ordered drinks and fruit platters. "Those rides are for kids!" he laughed. "This is where we belong! Tonight, drink up! It’s on me!" He reached out to pat the curly-haired woman’s hip and then gestured toward Liu Dan.

The curly-haired woman understood immediately. She opened a bottle of expensive foreign liquor, poured glasses, and said to Liu Dan: "Brother Bin is a big shot in Huaxi! People have to book appointments just to have dinner with him! Since this is your first time meeting, shouldn't you toast him?"

Liu Dan hesitated, about to pick up her glass, but Li Chao blocked her hand. He picked up his own glass and smiled: "Sister Dan doesn't have a high tolerance for alcohol; I’ll drink this for her."

Lu Bin laughed heartily and raised his glass: "Fine! Let’s have a drink! If you ever need anything in Huaxi, just mention my name! Even Liu Zhenhua has to give me some face!" His words were filled with confidence and arrogance. The three women looked on with starry eyes, filled with worship. They seemed to see the vast influence and wealth behind Lu Bin and became even more infatuated.

However, Li Chao just chuckled and waved his hand: "I won't need it." His eyes showed a hint of disdain, as if he were looking at a braggart.

Lu Bin noticed the look, and his expression darkened. He sneered: "What? You don't believe in my influence? Right, a poor guy like you who takes taxis wouldn't normally get to interact with people of our status!" He then pointed at Liu Dan: "Let me tell you, if it weren't for her, you wouldn't even be qualified to sit here and drink with me!"

The three women chimed in, filled with disdain for Li Chao. To them, he was just an ignorant, poor boy trying to sit at the table with the elite. Seeing everyone ganging up on Li Chao, Liu Dan’s eyes turned red. She said, "Fine! We are poor, and we aren't qualified to sit with you! You guys enjoy yourselves! Excuse us!" She pulled Li Chao and prepared to leave.

Seeing Liu Dan about to leave, Lu Bin panicked. He signaled the curly-haired woman to hold her back. Jokes aside, the women he had with him couldn't compare to Liu Dan’s beauty. It was like being served a feast and suddenly finding a plate of plain tofu—it wouldn't do. The curly-haired woman grabbed Liu Dan and apologized with a forced smile: "Oh, Liu Dan, don't be angry! Brother Bin was just joking! We’re all out to have fun; that’s what matters!"

Lu Bin had his own agenda—Liu Dan was his target, and he couldn't let her leave. The curly-haired woman, sensing this, mediated and convinced Liu Dan to sit down, suggesting they all drink. Unable to find a reason to leave, Liu Dan looked at Li Chao. Li Chao smiled and agreed, saying that since they had apologized, they should be polite. He had Liu Dan sit aside while he drank with them.

Lu Bin was ecstatic, thinking Li Chao was just a drunkard who had never tasted such fine liquor. He decided to let Li Chao drink his fill, planning to get him passed out so he could make his move on Liu Dan. He even had a perverse thought: if he could have his way with Liu Dan while Li Chao was passed out, it would be even more exhilarating. With that, a dark fire ignited in his gut, and he urged the women to keep pouring drinks for Li Chao, insisting they stay until everyone was drunk.

The atmosphere grew rowdy. The three women, often frequenting nightclubs, could hold their liquor well. Understanding Lu Bin’s intent, they took turns, using every trick in the book to get Li Chao drunk.