“Boss, that’s the shop right ahead!” Sun Lehu, waving his folding fan, pointed to the fortune-telling shop ahead.

Lin Zheng, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, yawned. “Boss, why are we doing this so early? I’m still jet-lagged and about to fall asleep.”

Wan Qi, wearing an unbuttoned shirt that exposed a dragon tattoo on his shoulder, held a cigarette between his fingers. Passersby quickly avoided the group upon seeing their menacing appearance. “Relax. It’s just a little girl—we’ll deal with her in no time. Ah Zheng, don’t say I never look out for you. Since you’ve been traveling so much, you can go first today.”

Wan Qi winked at Lin Zheng, who simply pursed his lips without a word.

Sun Lehu’s smile faded slightly. He wasn’t particularly concerned about a woman but felt a twinge of resentment seeing Lin Zheng getting preferential treatment. Still, he couldn’t help smirking at a thought that crossed his mind.

“We’re here!”

Sun Lehu strode into the shop confidently, scanning the room.

When Wan Qi and Lin Zheng entered, Gu Xicao and Wang Laoshi were just stepping out of the office.

Wan Qi’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise when he saw Gu Xicao. “Not bad. That slut Lin Xingyue wasn’t lying for once. This really is a young, pretty little girl.”

“Lin Xingyue? She sent you?” Wang Laoshi’s heart raced as if he were about to have a heart attack, but he mustered the courage to shield Gu Xicao behind him.

“You’re not too dumb. At least you figured that out,” Wan Qi said, tapping his cigarette and pointing at Gu Xicao.

Sun Lehu and Lin Zheng flanked Wan Qi, one on each side.

Sun Lehu glanced at Gu Xicao. They had done their homework: Gu Xicao was just a mainland girl who had illegally crossed the border. She was alone and vulnerable—an easy target.

“The one who made a mistake is you lot.”

Gu Xicao stepped out from behind Wang Laoshi and looked at Wan Qi and his gang. “You still have time to leave. If you don’t, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Her words made Wan Qi and his men freeze for a moment before Wan Qi burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. “Did you hear that, guys? This little girl just threatened us!”

“We heard her, boss,” Sun Lehu said with a smirk, reaching out to touch Gu Xicao’s face. “Little girl, you’ve got guts. Do you even know who we are?”

Gu Xicao slapped his hand away, and Sun Lehu laughed again. “Feisty, huh?”

“Not as feisty as your boss,” Gu Xicao said calmly. “He knows you stole 300,000 yuan worth of drugs but hasn’t said a word.”

Sun Lehu’s expression darkened instantly, and sweat broke out on his forehead.

“You’re talking nonsense! Do you want me to shut that mouth of yours permanently?” he growled, pointing a trembling finger at her.

“Oh? Am I making it up?” Gu Xicao glanced at Wan Qi and then at Sun Lehu. “Didn’t you check before you came? I’m a fortune-teller, and I’ve never been wrong. Are you nervous because I hit a nerve? Or are you worried that if I say it outright, your boss will lose face and deal with you himself?”

“You little bitch! Shut up!” Sun Lehu felt Wan Qi’s gaze on him and broke out in a cold sweat, his expression growing increasingly savage.

“Let her speak,” Lin Zheng said, stopping Sun Lehu. “We’re all brothers here. What do we have to fear?”

“Oh, you want me to continue? Fine, but remember—you asked for it,” Gu Xicao replied, signaling subtly to Wang Laoshi.

Wang Laoshi understood and quietly retreated to the office to call the police and contact the media.

On the other side of town, the film crew was busy. Time was money, and although the director had given Zhou Minwen the day off, she still came to the set.

Lin Xingyue had just finished a scene and was lounging on a chair, chatting and laughing with her assistants.

Noticing her assistants looking behind her, she turned to see Zhou Minwen and her manager approaching. Raising an eyebrow, she feigned surprise. “Oh, Ah Wen! Didn’t you have the day off? What brings you to the set?”

“Sister Xingyue, I came to apologize to you.”

Even though she knew apologizing in front of everyone would strip her of her dignity, what was self-respect compared to a life?

She bowed deeply before Lin Xingyue. “Please, don’t hold it against that young girl. You’re magnanimous, there’s no need to quarrel with her.”

The rest of the crew saw this unfold and started murmuring amongst themselves.

Looking at Zhou Minwen’s humble posture, Lin Xingyue finally felt a sense of satisfaction, as if the frustration in her chest had dissipated. She smirked. “Oh dear, Ah Wen, why are you acting like this? I’m confused. Who am I even upset with?”

Hearing Lin Xingyue pretend not to understand, Zhou Minwen’s manager, blood rushing to her head, couldn’t hold back and said, “Sister Xingyue, we’re all adults here. No need to play dumb. We know we’ve offended you, and whatever you want to do to us, fine. But the young girl is innocent.”

“Ah Li!” Zhou Minwen quickly pulled her manager back, signaling her with her eyes to stop talking.

Lin Xingyue’s smile vanished, her lips tightening into a straight line.

Though seated, she raised her chin, looking down at them with disdain. “Quite bold of you to say that. Anything I want, really?”

Even Lin Xingyue’s assistants began to feel pity for Zhou Minwen and her manager. They knew how cruel Lin Xingyue could be when she decided to torment someone.

“You can do whatever you want to me, as long as it’s legal.” Zhou Minwen closed her eyes, bracing herself. “Ah Li has nothing to do with this. The person you’re upset with is me.”

The manager’s face turned pale. This wasn’t what they had agreed upon earlier.

Lin Xingyue stared at Zhou Minwen’s expression and felt a wave of disgust. She loathed Zhou Minwen’s self-righteousness, as if she were so noble and pitiful.

“Fine, you said it. Don’t worry, I won’t make things too hard for you. As long as you kneel here in front of everyone, kowtow ten times, and loudly declare, ‘I’m a cheap wench and a shameless whore, I’ll let you and that little girl go.”

Her assistants turned pale with fear.

One assistant, unable to bear it, timidly muttered, “Sister Lin, isn’t this a bit too much? After all…”

Before she could finish, Lin Xingyue raised her hand and slapped the assistant across the face, sneering coldly. “Shut up. Do you even know whose side you’re on?”

The assistant held her reddened face, her eyes welling up with tears, but she didn’t dare cry.

No one else dared to speak up either.

“Sister Xingyue, I’ll kowtow.” The manager’s hands were trembling as she forced a smile. “Ah Wen is a female star, but I don’t mind.”

Lin Xingyue mocked her, “Shut up. Who do you think you are? Today, I want her to kowtow. What’s wrong, Zhou Minwen? Always pretending to be innocent and kind, but now, to save someone, you won’t even kowtow? Your so-called kindness is nothing but hypocrisy.”

“You just want me to kowtow.”

Zhou Minwen closed her eyes. “Fine, I’ll do it. But you have to promise not to retaliate against Miss Gu.”

“Relax. In front of everyone, I wouldn’t stoop to breaking my word.”

Lin Xingyue twirled a lock of hair around her finger, smiling sweetly.

Her eyes glinted with malicious satisfaction. At this hour, that little girl had likely already met her end. She couldn’t be blamed-Zhou Minwen had groveled too late.

Meanwhile, in the shop, Lin Zheng sneered at Gu Xicao’s words.

“I won’t get emotional, don’t worry.”

Lin Zheng, who had been working since his teenage years, scoffed at her warning. He had seen it all. He’d killed people while this young girl probably hadn’t even known what fear was.

“Good. You’re Lin Zheng, right? The Red Pole of the Sanlong Gang?” Gu Xicao asked.

Lin Zheng raised an eyebrow in surprise. “How do you know my name?”

“Of course I know. I also know that your boss often sends you out of town-to Taiwan, the Golden Triangle, the U.S.,” Gu Xicao replied with a faint smile. “You must think your boss really values you. But actually…”

“Shut up, you hag!”

Wan Qi had been listening in confusion, but as she spoke, he began to sweat. He flicked his cigarette at her and lunged to stop her from saying more.

But Lin Zheng grabbed his arm. Wan Qi, panicking, demanded, “Ah Zheng, why are you stopping me?”

“Boss, let her finish. I’m curious to hear what she’s got to say,” Lin Zheng said, his gaze dark and ominous as he turned to Gu Xicao.

Shrugging, Gu Xicao said lightly, “It’s nothing. Just that while you’re away, your boss often visits your home to ‘take care’ of your wife.”

Wang Laoshi, who had just emerged from the office, froze at her words. Without thinking, he blurted out, “Wouldn’t that mean he’s hooking up with your wife?”

Lin Zheng’s eyes blazed with fury. His grip on Wan Qi’s arm tightened, the veins on the back of his hand bulging like tree roots. “Is she telling the truth?”

Wan Qi, now pale and drenched in sweat, stammered, “Ah Zheng, she’s just a liar! How can you believe anything she says?”

“Well, I’m not one to lie,” Gu Xicao said nonchalantly. “If you don’t believe me, check under your mattress at home. You’ll find some private photos of your wife and your boss. Also, your boss hooking up with your wife isn’t exactly a secret. Even Sun Lehu knows about it.”

Sun Lehu, who had been trying to stay uninvolved, froze when he heard his name. Seeing Lin Zheng’s enraged gaze, he quickly waved his hands. “Ah Zheng, I… I only found out recently! I didn’t know how to tell you!”

“Liar,” Gu Xicao said, shaking her head. “Your wife and your boss got involved because of him. Didn’t you introduce them? If it weren’t for you playing matchmaker, how else would your boss turn a blind eye to the 300,000 yuan of drugs you stole?”

“You damn hag! I’ll kill you!”

Sun Lehu, both furious and panicked, charged at Gu Xicao, his eyes red with rage.

But someone moved faster.

Lin Zheng delivered a brutal kick to Sun Lehu’s stomach, breaking two of his ribs and sending him flying out the door.

Wan Qi froze, realizing he was next.

Seeing Lin Zheng’s fiery temper, Wan Qi knew he wouldn’t escape unscathed. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a watermelon knife from behind and swung it at Lin Zheng’s face.

Anticipating the move, Lin Zheng sidestepped, grabbed Wan Qi’s arm, and kneed him hard in the face.

Standing back, Gu Xicao whispered to Wang Laoshi, “Uncle Wang, bring me some sunflower seeds.”

Wang Laoshi stared at her in disbelief. “Now? You want sunflower seeds now?”

“Of course. When else would I get to watch the Sanlong Gang fight each other? This is better than a movie!” she replied matter-of-factly.