After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zihao leaned against the headboard as if he had collapsed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
This time, he had truly suffered a crushing defeat.
He had lost everything—the woman and his soldiers—and wasted all his previous planning.
Was he resigned? Of course not.
In all his life, Zhou Zihao had never been outsmarted like this, let alone forced to eat a smelly sock.
"Kid, don't let me find out who you are... or I'll definitely show you why the flowers are so red."
Zhou Zihao clenched his fists and spoke viciously to himself.
"Someone, come in!"
"Young Master Zhou." A trusted bodyguard pushed the door open and entered.
Zhou Zihao handed over the phone number from earlier: "Immediately check the location of this number. No matter what method you use, you must find the owner of this number."
"Yes!"
The bodyguard left, and Zhou Zihao let out a long breath.
Even though he knew the hope was slim, he still wanted to try. After all, this was his only hope for revenge... On the other side.
As time passed minute by minute, twenty minutes went by in a flash.
Inside Shen Wanyin's villa.
Although Shen Wanyin felt she was being a bit obsessed, did she actually believe that the so-called disciple of a Master could shake a colossus like the Zhou Family?
But sometimes women are like that; in desperate situations, they can't help but believe in a faint miracle.
Even if the probability of this miracle was infinitely close to zero.
Ding-dong!
The phone screen on the coffee table suddenly lit up, and the crisp notification sound for a text message seemed particularly piercing in the silent living room.
Shen Wanyin's body trembled as she impatiently picked up the phone.
[ICBC: Your account ending in 5219 completed a transfer of RMB 30,000,000.00 on July 16 at 15:21. Current balance...]
"It's here? It really arrived? Thirty million, not a penny less??"
The zeros lined up on the screen like an incredible string of musical notes, striking heavily against Shen Wanyin's heart!
"My God, how... how did he do it?"
Shen Wanyin murmured to herself, her eyes filled with unbelievable shock.
What kind of person was Zhou Zihao? He was a hungry wolf who ate people without spitting out the bones!
He had been so arrogant on the phone just now, threatening her with the company's bankruptcy, yet in less than half an hour, he had obediently spat out the money?
This man, whose face she hadn't even seen clearly, actually had such god-like methods?
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
The phone vibrated again.
[.]: "Did you receive the money?"
Looking at these five simple words, Shen Wanyin felt her nose prickle, and an unprecedented sense of security welled up in her heart.
This feeling was something she had never experienced in all her years of fighting alone in the business world.
It was as if a towering mountain had suddenly appeared behind her, shielding her completely from any storm.
[Shen Wanyin]: "Received... Thank you!"
[.]: "You're welcome. After all... never mind. If you have any unsolvable trouble in the future, you can contact me anytime."
Fang Ming had wanted to say that since they had shared a night of passion, recovering the final payment was a form of compensation, but on second thought, it seemed inappropriate.
When Shen Wanyin saw this message, she didn't reply immediately because she felt that no words could express her current feelings.
The company's situation and her own fate were supposed to be a tragedy, but all these tragedies had been reversed because of this so-called 'Brother Ming'.
At this moment, she had not only let go of what happened last night but was also even more satisfied with her decision this morning.
"He has methods, a background, and such strong physical fitness. If I really accidentally got pregnant... having a child for a man like this is completely acceptable, right?"
[Shen Wanyin]: "Let's have a formal introduction. I am Shen Wanyin. What is your full name?"
Lin Chen had only told her the name 'Brother Ming' and hadn't mentioned his full name.
[.]: "Zhou Zihao is looking for me all over the world right now. Knowing my full name won't do you any good."
[Shen Wanyin]: "This... you're right. Then how should I address you in the future?"
[.]: "Just call me Mr. Ming."
[Shen Wanyin]: "Mr. Ming, thank you so much this time. If it wasn't for you..."
[.]: "I said there's no need to be polite. After all, I didn't lose out. (Smirking emoji)"
Fang Ming's sudden joke made Shen Wanyin's cold and beautiful face instantly flush red, and she quickly replied.
[Shen Wanyin]: "I'm going to get busy with company matters first. Let's talk after I'm done."
...Shen Wanyin hurried off, and Fang Ming didn't reply further.
Letting out a long breath, he got out of bed and stretched his arms.
The information he had on Zhou Zihao wasn't very complete. Besides basic personal info, there was only the trait that Zhou Zihao cared deeply about his reputation and the Zhou Family's network.
He hadn't dug up any dirt on the company yet.
He had just tried with a "let's see" attitude earlier. If Zhou Zihao hadn't compromised, he would have thought of other ways.
As it turned out, that fellow Zhou Zihao compromised immediately, which saved him a lot of trouble.
[Nameless Guide]: "@Marvelous Doctor of Chinese Medicine, do you have any other relatives besides your aunt?"
[Marvelous Doctor of Chinese Medicine]: "No. Why, Brother Ming?"
[Nameless Guide]: "That Zhou Zihao is a bit strange. I'm afraid he might target the relatives around you. Since you don't have any other relatives, then it's fine."
According to what Lin Chen said, Shen Wanyin was no weak woman. If she hadn't been set up, even Zhou Zihao would have found it hard to touch her.
Now that the payment issue was resolved and she had his contact info, he could leave with peace of mind.
As for Zhou Zihao's situation, he could only find ways to investigate later.
The next afternoon, Rong City, the top floor of the Qin Group.
Qin Xiao stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of iced Americano, overlooking the heavy traffic below.
Hearing the door open, Qin Xiao didn't turn his head, his voice cold.
"You're back?"
"Yes, Young Master Qin." Fang Ming nodded slightly.
"How was the trip to Yanjing?"
"It was... quite an eye-opener."
Fang Ming answered truthfully: "There are truly many big shots in Yanjing. That eldest young Master of the Lu Family was so powerful, yet he was arrested just like that."
"Lu Chenzhou brought that on himself; there was no helping it."
He smiled, took a sip of coffee, and asked casually, "What about Chu Yao? Any unusual behavior these past few days?"
Qin Xiao was only slightly surprised by the Lu Family's matter and didn't care much. What he cared about most was Chu Yao, who might affect the fate of the Qin Family.
Hearing this, Fang Ming's expression turned serious. He stepped forward, opened his briefcase, and took out an 'observation' report he had prepared long ago.
"Besides normal meals and sightseeing, Chu Yao goes to the airport every night between 7:00 and 8:00 PM."
"The airport?" Qin Xiao's brow furrowed, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. "What is she doing at the airport?"
"I don't know. She just stands outside the exit railing, staring at the people coming out. She stands there for an hour, ignoring everyone, as if she's possessed."
"Sometimes she talks to herself, saying things like 'Brother'..."
"Brother?" Qin Xiao frowned slightly.
At this time in his previous life, he didn't know Chu Yao yet, so he didn't know if this had happened before.
Plus, in this life, he had interfered with Chu Yao's fate, so anything happening was normal, and he didn't suspect anything.
"Alright, I understand. You may leave!"
Qin Xiao waved his hand casually. Just as Fang Ming turned around...
Ring, ring, ring! The phone on the desk suddenly rang.
Qin Xiao walked over and pressed answer. Zhao Ruilong's loud and gruff voice came through.
"Old Qin, check the trending searches. I've hyped up the news about Yunlan International's 'jade dew' being carcinogenic and causing face disfigurement. Whether it works next is up to you."