Hearing the somewhat alluring tone of Madam Wei, the clerk outside felt something was off but couldn't quite place it, so he simply ignored the feeling.
"Yes, Madam Wei!" he replied quickly before rushing off to carry out her order after thanking Goldie for letting him knock.
The door clicked shut. Wei Meilin leaned against it for a brief moment, her thighs trembling slightly from weakness.
Li Feng stepped forward to prevent her from falling and, without a hint of shame, one hand slipped to her waist, the other giving her peach a slow, deliberate squeeze.
"Careful, Madam," he murmured with a crooked grin, "your legs might give out again before you even meet your guest."
She shot him a glare, but it lacked any real anger.
"Hmph, enough. Wait here. I will go meet him a bit."
Li Feng chuckled, then straightened her qipao collar with surprising gentleness, smoothing away the faint wrinkles he'd caused earlier.
"Relax, I'll be right here."
__
Moments later, in her office, Wei Meilin sat behind her desk with a cold, composed face, though her body was still recovering from the heat.
Across from her, Wei Zhong, her late husband's younger brother, lounged in a chair as though he owned the place. The middle-aged man wore fine robes, one leg crossed over the other, a jade cup in hand. His gaze roamed openly, lingering on the swell of her chest before rising to meet her eyes.
"Hmph, you sure took your time with that meeting."
"It's because it concerned a big deal," Wei Meilin replied calmly.
Wei Zhong snorted, clearly unconvinced by her words. He set his cup down with a soft clink and leaned forward slightly.
"The family business has been losing money for five months straight," he said, clicking his tongue. "If my brother were alive, he'd be disappointed."
Wei Meilin could feel his mocking tone and perverted gaze, her nails digging into her palm as she clenched her fist under the desk. This useless bastard had done nothing but burn through the family fortune on women and wine, yet he dared to sit here and lecture her. When her husband was alive, Wei Zhong wouldn't even raise his voice in her presence. Now, day after day, he was getting bolder, and his vile intentions were becoming clearer.
But on the outside, she kept her voice steady.
"There's no need to worry. I'm already working on a solution."
Wei Zhong snorted in contempt.
"A solution? Sister-in-law, the elders have been tolerating your management for months, but their patience is wearing thin."
Wei Meilin, hearing this, couldn't help but scoff inwardly. Elders? Those greedy old men you had been bribing? She knew exactly whose patience was running out.
Then his voice dropped to a low, oily tone.
"You know… it's truly a damn shame. A wonderful woman like you shouldn't be wearing herself out to the bone like this… not when there are easier ways." He paused, eyes darkening with meaning. "If you'd stop keeping me at arm's length, I could smooth the path for you. The elders listen to me. All I need is a little… encouragement to stand by your side."
His gaze slid over her neck, lingered on the swell of her chest, and traced the tight curve of her qipao, obvious with dark desire. The faint scent of stale wine and musk hung around him, filling the air with a pressure that was both heavy and disgusting.
Wei Meilin's fingers tightened, her smile turning cold. She knew this wasn't just about family politics anymore—it was a crude offer wrapped in silk words, a trap in which she was the prize.
The Wei family's power had always centered on the family head and the ancestor of the main bloodline, while the elders, who came from branch family members, served as advisors with their experience. But with both the ancestor and clan leader gone, and only she is left, those elders started showing their claws, greedier than ever, trying to snatch whatever remained.
It was a small grace that her husband had left her in charge of the Alchemy Hall because of her sharp mind and skill at dealing with business, and now it had become the only thing keeping the family business from collapsing. Without her, this bastard could do whatever he pleased with the Wei family.
Despite her skill and tireless effort, the pressure from inside and outside was suffocating, making Li Feng's arrival feel like a lifeline thrown at just the right moment.
Her lips curved in a cold smile.
"If the elders are truly so concerned, they should speak to me directly instead of whispering behind my back."
Wei Zhong's grin twisted into something ugly, eyes narrowing like a beast sizing up prey. He leaned forward, voice low and rough, no hint of courtesy left.
"Listen, Wei Meilin, right now you're hanging by a thread. The elders don't care about your 'efforts.' All they want is results. And right now, you're failing."
"I could make all this easier for you… I will help you keep your position." His gaze started roaming over her body without any shame, lingering on the curve of her chest and the line of her waist beneath that tight qipao.
"...But it won't be for free."
Wei Meilin shot him a look full of disgust. She wasn't stupid; she knew exactly what this bastard wanted. Compared to Li Feng, Wei Zhong was nothing but a boastful, filthy fool with no real power except his nasty habits and cruel intentions.
If she agreed to his so-called "help," her fate would only sink deeper into darkness. She'd heard the horrifying rumors—the way he once kidnapped a beautiful villager from a nearby small village, treating her like nothing more than a plaything. After he was done with her, he didn't stop; he even handed her over to his lackeys and friends to be used and abused at their leisure. That poor girl's screams were said to echo through the nights.
Wei Meilin could already imagine herself trapped in that nightmare if she agree, stripped of dignity, forced to spread her legs every day to satisfy his disgusting lust, and becoming nothing but a broken toy discarded when she was no longer needed. Even worse, with his greed and cruelty, Wei Zhong probably wouldn't hesitate to sell her off to the elders or even other clans for benefits, trading her body like a commodity.
In comparison, Li Feng was a different kind of man entirely. Not only was he a skilled alchemist with talents that brought real power and benefits, but he was also a solid backer. After their time today, she learned one thing about him—that he was very possessive, the kind who protected his things rather than destroyed them. At least with Li Feng, she could remain the powerful matriarch, answering to only one man, not becoming everybody else's plaything.
Her breath start to became hard and fast, as she couldn't stand this disgusting man in front of her any longer.
Wei Zhong's eyes gleamed with cruelty and continue threatening with a disgusting tone. He leaned in closer, voice low and dangerous.
"This is your last chance, Wei Meilin. Accept my offer, and I'll make sure the elders keep their mouths shut. Then you can keep your seat, your dignity… whatever's left of it."
He smirked, dark and cold.
"But if you want to refuse me? I will make sure you lose everything. Not just your position, but your dignity and pride. I will ask the elders to strip you down, expose your failures for all to see."
His grin twisted wider, showing teeth.
"And after that? You'll be nothing but a shameful secret for them to hide, a toy to pass around in back rooms. The same way I've seen happen before. You think they care about family honor? They only care about what benefit they can take."
He straightened, eyes locked on hers and smile cruelly.
"So, sister-in-law… think carefully. This is the dangerous edge you're standing on. One wrong step, and you fall… hard."
The room felt heavier, the threat hanging thick in the air.
Wei Meilin's fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms. She swallowed the lump in her throat, anger and trepidation burning inside. But she knew this wasn't just empty words. This man was capable of ruining her completely if Li Feng didn't arrive today.
Just as the thick tension and malice in the room seemed ready to suffocate her, the door suddenly opened with a soft but firm click.
"Oh, am I interrupting something?"
Li Feng strolled in with his usual signature smile on his face.