Ke Mingxuan hadn’t expected Li Ze to say the word “please.” After all these years of knowing each other, whether in the business world or their social circle, Li Ze had always given the impression of being mature, steady, and diplomatic. Conversations or collaborations with him were always pleasant. Although he had a close relationship with Ruan Chengjie, Li Ze had his own set of principles and was very clear about right and wrong. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have decisively chosen to stand with them back then.

But clearly, Li Ze didn’t understand Ruan Chengjie as well as he thought. Or perhaps Ruan Chengjie had disguised himself too well in front of him. His older-brother instinct to protect Ruan Chengjie had clouded his judgment, causing him to fully accept the image of Ruan Chengjie as a gentle, elegant, and intelligent person, while unconsciously overlooking the darker, more malicious side of his character. This became apparent from the way he reacted when Ke Mingxuan called after the Spring Festival, asking him to keep an eye on Huarui’s movements.

At the time, his exact words were, “Ruan Chengjie isn’t an idiot; he knows what’s important and what’s not.” But unfortunately, Ruan Chengjie had betrayed that certainty and trust, proving him wrong with a series of actions that slapped him in the face.

Ke Mingxuan felt sorry for Li Ze. He thought Ruan Chengjie, that hypocritical and perverted man, didn’t deserve the care and attention Li Ze had given him. Yet, Ruan Chengjie had ended up in this situation, largely because of the indulgence and protection Li Ze had shown him since they were young. Whether it was worth it, Ke Mingxuan thought, could only be understood by Li Ze himself—”as the person drinks water, only he knows whether it’s cold or warm.”

Ke Mingxuan couldn’t understand Li Ze’s twisted sense of protection and affection for Ruan Chengjie. Similarly, Li Ze couldn’t fathom the fear and terror he had felt when Bian Yiqiu was lying in the operating room, with three critical condition notices in a single day. He could never let Ruan Chengjie off the hook. He hadn’t killed him personally because he didn’t want to dirty his hands. As for what Ruan Chengfeng would do to him, whether he would ruin him or make him wish for death, what did that have to do with him?

Everyone must take responsibility for their actions. If you make a mistake, you must face the consequences—Li Ze included. Ruan Chengjie’s downfall was undoubtedly his doing, so whatever fate awaited Ruan Chengjie, Li Ze would have to bear it with him. Ke Mingxuan wasn’t magnanimous, nor was he kind-hearted. Sparing Ruan Chengjie would mean betraying Bian Yiqiu, who was still across the ocean waiting for a craniotomy. No matter how he looked at it, this was a bad deal, and Ke Mingxuan never made bad deals.

Ke Mingxuan’s resolve was immovable. Seeing no chance of swaying him, Li Ze could only rise and take his leave.

He had anticipated this outcome long before coming. Putting himself in Ke Mingxuan’s shoes, he wouldn’t agree to such a request either. But knowing the result didn’t make him any less determined to try. Even if the odds were slim, how could he just sit idly by and watch Ruan Chengjie march toward his death without doing anything?

Li Ze stepped out of the He Sheng Media building, the glaring summer sunlight momentarily blinding him. He walked to the waiting car and sat quietly for a long moment before finally saying to the driver, “Let’s go back.”

Ke Mingxuan was right. Ruan Chengjie had to face the consequences of his actions, and Li Ze had to bear the cost of years of excessive protection. If Ruan Chengjie ended up in prison, he’d bring him meals. If Ruan Chengjie died, he’d handle his burial. There wasn’t much else he could do for him.

———-

That evening, during a phone call with Bian Yiqiu, Ke Mingxuan mentioned Li Ze’s visit earlier in the day.

Boss Bian sat in a luxurious American hospital room, munching on an apple with loud crunches as he asked, “So, what did you say to him?”

Ke Mingxuan replied, “I turned him down.”

“Good job,” Bian Yiqiu said. “Come here, Big Daddy Bian has a reward for you.”

With that, Bian Yiqiu shamelessly planted a loud kiss against the phone, dragging the sound out in a flirtatious tone that sent ripples of mock affection into the air. The exaggerated display was enough to feed his two subordinates, Zuo Cheng and He Xu, a full serving of PDA.

Ke Mingxuan couldn’t help but laugh at the so-called reward, leaning back against the headboard as he teased, “What if I’d agreed to help him?”

Bian Yiqiu’s answer was instant and blunt: “Then I’d have told you to get lost and come back to handle it yourself.”

The consequences would have been far too severe, Ke Mingxuan thought. Thankfully, he hadn’t agreed.

Expecting someone like Bian Yiqiu to repay grievances with kindness was utterly impossible. His lifelong principle was simple: repay respect with greater respect, and make anyone who crossed him pay the price in full. That drug dealer was the perfect example. According to the forensic report, the man died a truly gruesome death. Three broken ribs, internal bleeding from a brutal kick to his organs, fractured hand and shin bones, and his neck twisted entirely around by Bian Yiqiu’s own hands, leaving him dead on the spot.

Handing Ruan Chengjie over to his cousin was already a considerable act of mercy. Li Ze should be grateful.

Ke Mingxuan asked how the hospital in America was. Bian Yiqiu replied, “It’s great. That blonde, blue-eyed male nurse who comes to give me shots, his eyes practically glow when he looks at me. You can tell from his small waist and ass that he must be pretty good in bed.”

Zuo Cheng and He Xu stared at their boss, their faces filled with confusion as they silently exchanged glances with him. Both had the same thought in their eyes: Wasn’t the nurse who came to give shots a full-figured, beautiful lady? When did she become a guy?

When Ke Mingxuan heard the description, his smiling face immediately dropped, and his tone turned serious. “Bian Yiqiu, you better be fucking honest with me.”

Bian Yiqiu laughed it off, raising his right hand to toss the apple core into the trash can across the bed with perfect aim.

“Ah, here comes the handsome guy with the injections. I’ll hang up now!”

Listening to the beeping sound coming from the phone, Ke Mingxuan almost laughed in anger.

In fact, on the very first day Bian Yiqiu was admitted to the hospital, all the medical staff’s information had already been sent to his inbox—age, gender, qualifications, years of experience, and photos, everything was clear and detailed. Of course, his original intention was just to check the qualifications of the medical team to ensure the success rate of the surgery. He didn’t expect this idiot to be so adorably dumb. It made him itch with desire, almost wanting to fly over immediately, pin him to the bed, and ask him where this blonde, blue-eyed handsome guy came from.

On the weekend, Chen Fei returned to Z City from Beijing, and Ke Mingxuan personally drove to the airport to pick her up. Dressed in a sharp, tailored outfit, Chen Fei rolled her suitcase, wearing large sunglasses, with a commanding presence as she walked out of the terminal. She immediately spotted Young Master Ke, who had been waiting for a while among the crowd.

The two shared a brief, friendly hug. Ke Mingxuan took the suitcase from her hand and led her toward the parking lot.

Once they were in the car, Chen Fei took off her sunglasses and, fastening her seatbelt, asked, “When are you heading to the U.S.?”

Ke Mingxuan started the engine and slowly pulled out of the parking spot, replying casually, “Isn’t that why I’m waiting for you to come back?”

Chen Fei smiled apologetically. “I really took longer than expected in Beijing. Oz’s market in the north is just getting started, and I couldn’t get away. Plus, you know how things are with my parents.”

“I know, you don’t have to explain. This time, it was all thanks to you working behind the scenes. Otherwise, even if my dad had more connections, Minister Chen wouldn’t have backed down so quickly,” Ke Mingxuan said as he turned to look at her, genuinely adding, “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to be so polite,” Chen Fei replied. “When I agreed to collaborate with you, part of it was because I had pressure from family about marriage, and I thought you were a good match; the other part was because the terms you offered were pretty generous. So there’s no need for us to say thank you.”

“This thank you is for a friend.”

“Between friends, there’s even less need for that. Besides, even if you did say thank you, I wouldn’t be polite with you. If the plan fails, all the conditions you offered will double. I won’t go easy on you.”

“You can rest assured, the files are ready. Once you sign, everything will take effect immediately.”

When Ke Mingxuan initially asked Chen Fei for help, he honestly had no confidence in the situation. Before that, he and Chen Fei had only met once during the Spring Festival and had a meal together. Although Chen Fei had shown interest in him, he didn’t give her an opportunity to pursue anything further, as his heart was already with Bian Yiqiu. They exchanged phone numbers but never kept in touch after that.

Both families hoped for their marriage, driven not only by political factors but also because, in every regard, they made an ideal match—a handsome young man and a beautiful woman. If you set aside emotions and just look at the marriage, Ke Mingxuan also felt that Chen Fei was the most suitable choice to be his wife.

Chen Fei was smart, beautiful, independent, and capable, effortlessly navigating the business world with a skill that left many men in the dust. At twenty-eight, she had become the regional head for a major international corporation in China, a testament to her vision and abilities that most women couldn’t match.

Initially, she had reservations about the idea of an arranged marriage. However, after meeting Ke Mingxuan, she began to think that it might not be such a bad choice. After all, both in looks and abilities, Ke Mingxuan was one of the most charming men she had ever encountered.

However, as an incredibly perceptive professional woman, Chen Fei quickly realized that Ke Mingxuan had no romantic interest in her and was clearly devoted to someone else. This caught her off guard, but more than anything, it piqued her curiosity, and perhaps, just a hint of concern. She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of woman could make a man like Ke Mingxuan fall for her and remain so loyal.

But given their busy schedules, she didn’t have the time or energy to focus on who Ke Mingxuan’s other half was. For her, conquering a man was far less appealing than conquering the world. Marriage was something optional for her, but commanding the respect of all men in the business world, that was her true pursuit.

Ke Mingxuan greatly admired this about her. In the end, when the marriage was unavoidable, he took the initiative to call her, bluntly stating that he needed her help.

When they met, and Chen Fei learned that the person Ke Mingxuan loved was, in fact, another man, she simply said two words: “As expected.”

Ke Mingxuan raised an eyebrow and asked, “You knew I liked men?”

Chen Fei, rarely showing a mischievous smile, replied, “No, I didn’t. But most men who aren’t attracted to me are probably gay.”

Ke Mingxuan was left speechless and chuckled. “Well, in that case, let’s talk business.”

The so-called “cooperation” between the two was actually very simple. Both were skilled negotiators, masters of the business world. Since both faced pressure for a marriage they couldn’t talk their families out of, the cooperation became a natural conclusion. Marriage wasn’t something to be taken lightly for a woman, and Ke Mingxuan knew that well, which is why he was willing to offer compensation in other ways.

Ke Mingxuan’s terms were a three-year strategic partnership between He Sheng Media and the Oz Group, along with a personal gift of 5% of He Sheng’s shares to Chen Fei.

Chen Fei knew very well the influence He Sheng had in the domestic media industry. A three-year strategic partnership would be incredibly appealing for Oz Group’s development in China, and the 5% share of He Sheng was already a very generous offer. These were just the visible benefits. After partnering with He Sheng, there were still many unseen advantages to come. For example, Ke Mingxuan’s connections and resources, He Sheng’s reputation and brand, as well as the Jiu’an Group under Bian Yiqiu, would all provide significant help to her in the business world.

With a husband who had no feelings for her and a business ally, Chen Fei, a career-focused woman, of course chose the latter without hesitation. However, she also proposed that if the plan failed, the compensation would be doubled.

Ke Mingxuan, considering the impact the failure of the plan would have on both the Chen family and Chen Fei herself, agreed that doubling the compensation was only fair. Soon, the two reached a consensus, which led to the wedding and subsequent plans.

Chen Fei had spent nearly ten years in the United States and had many friends there. The reception and arrangements had all been prepared in advance. But no one had expected that Bian Yiqiu would face an unexpected incident in prison.

Chen Fei also found it too dramatic that the groom ran away during the wedding. Her parents, of course, were furious. The failure of the family marriage was equivalent to the failure of a political alliance, and many of their political rivals were eagerly waiting to see the embarrassment of the Ke and Chen families.

Minister Chen felt completely humiliated, and Mrs. Chen was so angry that she ended up in the hospital. Over the past two months, Chen Fei had stayed in Beijing, using the expansion of the northern market as an excuse to accompany her mother. With the wedding turning into such a mess, it was evident that the Ke family was at fault. Commander Ke personally came to Beijing several times, but Minister Chen deliberately avoided him. Thankfully, Chen Fei often spoke on his behalf in front of her father, and in the end,  agreed to meet with Commander Ke and have a proper conversation.

For this, Ke Mingxuan was deeply grateful. So, not only would he have no issue with the compensation being doubled, but should Chen Fei make additional demands, he would likely have no objections either.