Tao Fengche suddenly started asking about business-related topics. Was he planning to join in?

Liu Tianlei was secretly delighted and quickly said, “Don’t worry about that, Young Master Tao. I assure you that at this stage, only I can produce artificial pheromones. Even if someone else tries to step in later, well…”

He gave a knowing smile and pointed to the gun in the bodyguard’s hand. “They’ll have to answer to this first.”

Tao Fengche pursed his lips, and the speed at which he was twirling the military knife in his hand suddenly slowed.

He looked conflicted. Liu Tianlei could tell that there was a fierce internal struggle going on within him, so he held his breath, not daring to disturb him. After a long while, Tao Fengche finally let out a long sigh, as if he had just put down a heavy burden or made a firm decision.

Then, he began asking Liu Tianlei more detailed questions, from the source of raw materials to the transportation methods, leaving nothing untouched.

Liu Tianlei was no naive fool. Tao Fengche was just a partner who had only recently decided to join, so Liu Tianlei was reluctant to share such detailed internal information with him at this time.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as he wished. First, Tao Fengche had a special identity. Second, the armed bodyguards standing around were still watching him like hawks. He had no choice but to share some half-truths, while Tao Fengche listened and nodded, leaving Liu Tianlei unsure whether he believed him or not.

Although Tao Fengche was still a minor and hadn’t formally studied psychology, he was a quasi-heir cultivated by Tao Zhixing himself. Even though he had lost his inheritance rights, it didn’t mean the knowledge he had absorbed was forgotten.

Tao Fengche was well-versed in the rules of interrogation: asking one question at a time and continuously digging deeper based on Liu Tianlei’s answers. He immediately pointed out any contradictions, his sharp words forcing Liu Tianlei to sweat profusely, inadvertently revealing much of the truth.

Yet Tao Fengche remained as calm as a mountain, showing no sign that his mind was racing with schemes.

Liu Tianlei, being older, couldn’t match the youthful alpha’s energy. With everything that had happened that day, his emotions had been on a rollercoaster, leaving him exhausted. His breathing became labored, and he began to feel dizzy. Finally, he had to plead for mercy.

“Young Master Tao, I’ve told you everything I know. You must know my schedule if you’ve come here to confront me. I just got off the plane and came straight here without even having a meal. I’m old now, and I just can’t keep up…”

At the same time, Liu Tianlei made up his mind.

Tao Fengche was still young and inexperienced. Liu Tianlei didn’t plan to genuinely treat him as his master after he joined, as he had described earlier. Instead, he planned to deceive the young man and regain control once he returned to his own territory, and expel everyone around him from top to bottom.

After all, the only reason Tao Fengche was here was because someone had leaked information.

He decided to dig a deep pit for Tao Fengche and teach him a harsh lesson, but his face still showed a flattering smile, as if he was eagerly hoping for Tao Fengche’s mercy.

Tao Fengche slightly furrowed his brow, and the knife in his hand almost stopped moving as if he was deep in thought. After a moment, he flicked his wrist, twirled the knife gracefully, and put it away.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Liu Tianlei’s face lit up, but then he heard the young and still frightening man say slowly, “Alright, let’s leave it at that for today.”

“Clean it up,” Tao Fengche added calmly.

… Clean it up?

Clean up what?

Before Liu Tianlei could react, two bodyguards by his side closed in on him. They worked together—one moved as fast as lightning, subduing him to prevent escape, while the other quickly pressed the gun to his head.

Liu Tianlei’s eyes bulged in shock as he finally understood what Tao Fengche meant by “clean it up.”

Damn it, this little brat never intended to work with him! He just wanted to extract information and then kill him!

All his life, Liu Tianlei had been cunning, yet here he was, outwitted by a kid in the end!

Under the shadow of death, Liu Tianlei began to struggle violently. No one expected a middle-aged man, exhausted as he was, to have such strength. The two bodyguards could barely hold him down and quickly signaled for help. Two more bodyguards joined in, barely managing to restrain him.

Liu Tianlei was pinned down like a fish on a cutting board, unable to move, but he still desperately lifted his head. His tiger-like eyes filled with venom, staring at Tao Fengche with a gaze so full of hatred that he wanted to tear him apart.

Facing such a terrifying glare, one of the bodyguards behind Tao Fengche immediately wanted to step forward and forcibly close Liu Tianlei’s eyes, but Tao Fengche raised his hand slightly to stop him. Then he tilted his head and genuinely asked, “Mr Liu, why on earth did you think I would join you?”

His expression was full of confusion, mixed with just the right amount of innocence. Combined with his puppy-like eyes, he looked every bit like an innocent high school student.

“You little bastard! You can’t do this—!” The Damocles sword hanging high was about to fall. Liu Tianlei, no longer caring to play nice with Tao Fengche, abandoned formalities and struggled with all his might, trying to rip a piece of flesh from Tao Fengche even if it meant getting shot. The bodyguards, lacking orders to kill him, were caught off guard and began to lose control.

Tao Fengche remained unfazed, stepping back. “Why can’t I?”

He asked with a tone of righteous indignation. Liu Tianlei, choked by his words, wanted to retort but was interrupted again, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your base.”

At this point, Liu Tianlei knew his fate was sealed. Even if he somehow survived today, he would likely be imprisoned in a dark place for the rest of his life. Having climbed up from the bottom, he was all too familiar with cruel, bloodless methods. At this moment, he suddenly stopped struggling and burst into maniacal laughter.

“Tao Fengche, you’re so damn naive. Old Master Tao really passed away too soon, leaving you out in the open like this. “Liu Tianlei’s face twisted with madness, “Do you think killing me will settle this?”

“Do you think killing me will do any good?!”

“Why do you think I dared to set up this production line base behind your back?!”

Tao Fengche frowned deeply and turned his head, unwilling to listen any further. The bodyguard, understanding the situation, immediately went to the bathroom to fetch a towel, intending to gag Liu Tianlei. However, Liu Tianlei seized the opportunity to shout again, like a trapped beast: “How do you think I got the data? How did I get the intel?!”

“Do you know who’s backing me?”

“Open your eyes and look at the people around you, Young Master Tao. If I were Old Master Tao, I wouldn’t rest in peace seeing you get fooled like this!”