Ke Mingxuan didn’t sleep with him for his money, but for his ass. Every time Bian Yiqiu thought about this fact, he felt a pang in his chest.

If he could use money to make Ke Mingxuan obediently lie down and let him fuck, he’d be willing to spend as much as necessary. But the key problem was that Ke Mingxuan was wealthier than him, with a market value far exceeding Jiu’an’s by more than ten times. Even if Bian Yiqiu have nothing, it was unlikely that Young Master Ke would care in the slightest.

Bian Yiqiu walked out of the jewelry store, feeling even more suffocated. It was like he was about to have a heart attack.

Zuo Cheng was waiting for him by the roadside. He watched in disbelief as his boss, grinning from ear to ear when he went in, came out looking sullen. Puzzled, he asked, “Did you forget your money?”

Bian Yiqiu couldn’t even be bothered to roll his eyes. He decided that the next time he chose a bodyguard, he wouldn’t only consider their physical abilities, but would also have to check their IQ.

After asking the silly question, Zuo Cheng finally noticed the shopping bag in Bian Yiqiu’s hand and instantly realized how stupid his question was. He quickly shut up, and started the car.

The car had barely moved ten meters when Bian Yiqiu’s phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, and as soon as he swiped to answer, his expression softened immediately, transforming into his signature Bian-style smile.

“President Ruan, sorry, I had breakfast and then went back to sleep for a bit. I forgot to return your call.”

Zuo Cheng glanced at Bian Yiqiu through the rearview mirror, silently thinking to himself that the boss’s ability to spin nonsense was getting more and more impressive. He could lie effortlessly, without even needing a script.

“How could that be? Who could be more attractive to me than you?”

“Hmm? Not today, I need to go back to the main residence.”

“Tomorrow then.”

“Alright, you can pick me up at the club in the morning.”

Bian Yiqiu swore that when he agreed to go on a trip with Ruan Chengjie for the New Year, he truly meant it. He never intended to stand him up. But sometimes, things just develop in ways that are beyond anyone’s control.

________

Madam Mei was as elegant as ever, graciously accepting the gift with a smile. As she had someone help her put on the necklace, she told Bian Yiqiu that he shouldn’t spend so much on such things in the future.

Bian Yiqiu replied, “Good things should be worn by the right person to show their true value.”

“You always know the right thing to say,” Madam Mei smiled, directing the servants to bring fruit and snacks. She also personally brewed a fine batch of Phoenix Dancong tea. “This was sent over by Zhenzhen a few days ago. It’s from an old Song Dynasty collection, and it has a delicate orchid-like fragrance. Try it.”

To Bian Yiqiu, no matter how fine the tea was, it tasted like any other. He drank it quickly, without any ceremony, as though it were just another beverage. He didn’t catch the orchid fragrance, but after swallowing, a subtle sweetness lingered in his mouth.

“Eh, it’s quite delicious.”

Madam Mei’s smile widened. “I’ll take some and pack it for you to bring home.”

“No need,” Bian Yiqiu replied. “It’s a gift from Zhenzhen to you, so you should keep it. If I really want some, I’ll ask her for more.”

Ye Zhen was Madam Mei’s distant niece. Without that connection, she might not have left her high-ranking position at PWC to join Jiu’an. So those gossip magazines claiming Ye Zhen came back to the country because of him were complete nonsense.

That evening, it was just him and Madam Mei dining together, and the spread was made up of seven or eight dishes, all of which were his favorites.

Bian Yiqiu, with a full belly, was asked by Madam Mei during the meal if the company had encountered any troubles lately. Bian Yiqiu replied that there were no issues, only small problems, and assured her not to worry. Madam Mei nodded and said, “If there’s anything you need help with, do let me know. Don’t bear it alone. With Old Master Jiu gone, we are the closest ones.”

Bian Yiqiu was somewhat moved by her words, smiling as he said, “I understand. If there’s anything I can’t handle, I’ll definitely ask you for help.”

Madam Mei, satisfied, picked up a piece of steamed rainbow trout and placed it on his plate. “Eat more.”

After finishing the meal, they sat and had two rounds of tea. Only then did Bian Yiqiu stand up to take his leave. Madam Mei escorted him to the gate, watching the sleek car smoothly glide into the inky night.

As the car left the mansion and turned onto the mountain road, Bian Yiqiu glanced back. Madam Mei’s off-white shawl fluttered gracefully in the night wind, drawing attention.

Suddenly, a long-forgotten scene flashed through Bian Yiqiu’s mind, as distant as if from a past life. It seemed that many, many years ago, there was another woman, standing at the door, watching him leave.

But strangely, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t bring back the blurry features of that woman.

Bian Yiqiu frowned slightly, feeling a bit tired as he leaned back in his seat. The mountain road wound ahead, with the streetlights casting a dim yellow glow. In the distance, the mountain range began to take on a fuzzy outline. The powerful suspension system of the Maybach, combined with Zuo Cheng’s superb driving skills, allowed him to quickly drift off to sleep amidst the almost imperceptible gentle sway.

In his dream, he found himself as a child, very young, running barefoot along a stone path warmed by the sun. In his left hand, he carried a pair of worn-out cloth shoes, and in his right, a small plastic bucket containing a few fish he had just caught by the river. Filled with excitement, he ran forward. The fish in the bucket were struggling and flopping in a panic, splashing water along the way. Under the slanting rays of the setting sun, the droplets sparkled brilliantly.

At the end of the stone path was an old, crowded courtyard with narrow spaces, where more than a dozen families lived. It was noisy, smoky, and filled with the smell of burning wood. Even the narrow walkways were turned into kitchens to fit more people.

He quickly moved through the smoky yard, heading toward the small house at the back. The old door creaked when it opened, and in the orange light of the setting sun, he saw a woman in a beige outfit, standing with her back to him at the stove.

Hearing the door, the woman turned and gently called, “Xiao Qiu.”

Bian Yiqiu’s eyes widened, straining to see the woman’s face. But for some reason, it felt as if there was an invisible veil between them, something he couldn’t touch or see through. He couldn’t move closer, nor could he get a clear look. He could only stand at the door, gazing at the figure in beige from a distance, as if it were right in front of him, yet also far away, like it belonged in another world. In the end, even the figure started to blur and fade, slowly disappearing from his sight.

“Xiao Qiu.”

The car suddenly braked, and Bian Yiqiu jolted awake from his dream. Outside the window, traffic was heavy, and the noise of the crowd filled the air. On the last day of the year, groups of people gathered for the countdown, making the already congested city traffic near paralyzed.

Two young girls dressed fashionably were laughing and holding hands as they ran across in front of the car. Had it not been for Zuo Cheng hitting the brakes quickly, they would likely be mangled corpses under the wheels by now.

In order to avoid the two girls, Zuo Cheng swerved sharply, crashing into another car with a loud thud. The owner of the other car rolled down the window, likely ready to yell, but upon seeing the logo on Bian Yiqiu’s car, he thought better of it. Instead, he shouted at the two culprits running further away, “Are you trying to kill yourselves?”

The other vehicle had sustained significant damage in the crash, making compensation unavoidable. Luckily, they were near a well-known area, just a ten-minute walk away. Since Bian Yiqiu didn’t want to wait for the traffic police, he decided to get out of the car and walk over.

Zuo Cheng, of course, wasn’t having it. Who knew if someone had planted a hidden gun among the crowd today? The more people there were, the less room for relaxation. In times like this, he absolutely couldn’t let his boss out of his sight.

“What could happen in such a short distance? I’m actually tired and could use some fresh air to wake up,” Bian Yiqiu said, lifting his foot to walk away. Zuo Cheng instinctively tried to follow, but the car owner grabbed his arm. After a few brief exchanges, Zuo Cheng turned back, only to find that Bian Yiqiu had already melted into the crowd, not even a shadow left behind.

On the side of the main road was Xinghe Plaza. A massive LED screen was playing a New Year’s special, with lively music and vibrant colors filling the air, creating a festive atmosphere that made even the cold winter wind feel sweet, like the scent of candied hawthorn.

Bian Yiqiu followed the sweet scent and saw an elderly vendor holding a large bunch of candied hawthorns, calling out to passersby. He took a couple of steps forward, then suddenly remembered that his wallet was likely left in the car, and now he didn’t have a single cent on him.

He licked his lips, murmuring two words with a hint of reluctance: “Forget it.” Then he turned around, intending to head back to the club. However, just as he glanced back, his keen senses immediately detected two figures tailing him.

They probably hadn’t expected him to suddenly turn around. Despite their swift reaction of pretending to be random pedestrians and blending into the crowd, Bian Yiqiu could still sense an unusual, dangerous vibe.

Zuo Cheng’s ominous words proved to be completely accurate. It seemed this “car accident” wasn’t an accident after all. Someone had predicted his route and was lying in wait for him here.

He adjusted his coat and deliberately exposed himself to their line of sight, acting as if nothing had happened. Unhurriedly, he made his way toward the back of the plaza, gradually distancing himself from the noisy crowd behind him.

Two hundred meters behind the plaza was a large area of city-style villages typical of Z City. The old buildings from the 1980s stood close together, with narrow alleys between them, constantly emitting the pungent smell of garbage trucks.

The city government had already planned to redevelop this area, with plans to build an international financial center. Most of the residents had moved out by now, and many of the buildings were vacant. From a distance, a few scattered lights could be seen, but they were all far from the alley entrance.

Bian Yiqiu led the way here, not wanting to cause panic or accidental harm in the plaza. His identity wasn’t exactly clean, and attracting the attention of the authorities would only lead to trouble.

The two pursuers caught up but, seeing no trace of Bian Yiqiu, hesitated at the dark alley, a bit afraid to go inside.

One of them said, “I clearly saw him run in here. How did he suddenly disappear?”

The other replied, “Unless he can turn invisible, he must still be in the alley.”

After finishing his sentence, the second man pulled a gun from his waist, raised it, and dragged his companion behind him. He took the lead, stepping into the alley.

Seeing his partner enter, the first man naturally couldn’t back down. He also drew his gun and assumed a posture ready for a potential shot, following closely behind.

Before they had taken more than a few steps, a sharp sidekick suddenly descended from above, slicing through the air with force. The kick landed viciously on the side of the first man’s neck, hitting his carotid artery. His large body was almost entirely lifted off the ground and sent crashing backward.

The alley was too narrow for the man behind to dodge. He was struck directly by the kick. In a frantic attempt to block his companion’s body, he raised his hand to fire, but before his index finger could pull the trigger, Bian Yiqiu’s spinning kick dismantled the force in his wrist. The gun flew from his hand and landed in Bian Yiqiu’s grip. A muffled shot rang out from the silencer. Although the sound affected the accuracy, the bullet still found its mark, embedding itself deep in the man’s thigh.

All of this happened within a matter of seconds—swift, ruthless, and precise, without a moment’s pause.

The man fell to his knees, clutching his blood-soaked thigh. Looking up at Bian Yiqiu, his gaze was filled with the shock and fear as if staring at a monster.

Bian Yiqiu didn’t even spare a glance at the man, his eyes focusing instead on the one who had been knocked unconscious by his strike to the carotid artery. Once he confirmed the man wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon, he lazily shifted his gaze back.

“You’re so pathetic, yet you try to play at being a stalker?” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Go back and tell your boss to send someone better next time. Otherwise, there’s no sense of achievement for me.”

With that, he grabbed the other gun and slipped it into his pocket, claiming both weapons for himself without the slightest hint of courtesy. Then, he casually strolled away.

“China doesn’t allow illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. These two guns will have to be handed over to the authorities,” he called out, as if the matter were of no concern to him.

As Bian Yiqiu stepped out of the alley, a sudden sound from behind startled him so much that his hairs nearly stood on end. Had it not been for how familiar the sound was, he might have fired another shot in the direction of the noise without a second thought.

He stood motionless, turned around, and squinted into the dim light that merged seamlessly with the night. After a moment, he finally made out a figure casually leaning against the wall beside the alley.