Morning in the small apartment was quiet.
The sky outside was pale gray, and the city was only just beginning to wake up.
Mengmeng stood in the kitchen, making tea while staring at her phone.
A new message had arrived.
"Boss. Situation confirmed. The northern group is moving again. We need you here."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
The Northern Syndicate.
One of the few groups in the underworld bold enough to challenge her authority.
They had been quiet for months.
Now they were moving again.
Mengmeng typed a short reply.
"Prepare the team."
"I'll arrive tonight."
She placed the phone down and sighed softly.
This mission wouldn't take just a few hours.
It would take days.
Behind her, Feng walked out of the bedroom adjusting his shirt.
"You're up early," he said.
Mengmeng turned around with her usual soft smile.
"I couldn't sleep."
Feng poured himself some water.
"I actually needed to tell you something."
Mengmeng raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"I have a business trip," Feng said.
"For a few days."
Mengmeng blinked once.
Then twice.
For a split second she wondered if fate was playing a joke on them.
A business trip…
She nodded slowly.
"That's convenient."
Feng frowned slightly.
"Convenient?"
Mengmeng quickly shook her head.
"I mean… I also have to travel for work."
Feng looked surprised.
"You too?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
Mengmeng's brain worked quickly.
"…Another city branch of the company."
Feng nodded.
"That makes things easier."
Neither of them noticed the irony.
Both were lying.
Both were hiding their real identities.
Both were leaving the city for powerful business matters.
But inside the small apartment…
They still acted like two ordinary workers making simple excuses.
That evening, Mengmeng left first.
A black luxury car waited at the corner of the street.
The moment she entered, the driver straightened.
"Boss."
"Drive."
The car sped into the night.
Several hours later…
The vehicle stopped in front of a massive industrial building far outside the city.
Armed guards stood near the gates.
The moment Mengmeng stepped out of the car, the guards immediately lowered their heads.
"Boss."
Inside the building, dozens of people were already waiting.
Large digital maps covered the walls.
Weapons were stacked neatly on tables.
The atmosphere was tense.
Mengmeng walked through the room calmly.
Everyone moved aside instantly.
One of her closest subordinates approached.
"The Northern Syndicate has been expanding again."
He pointed to a map.
"They've taken control of two small territories near the border."
Mengmeng studied the map silently.
"They're testing us," she said.
"Yes."
Her eyes sharpened.
"They think I'm distracted."
One of the men spoke carefully.
"Boss… some of them believe you've stepped back from the underworld."
Mengmeng slowly turned toward him.
"Do I look retired?"
The man immediately lowered his head.
"N-No."
She looked back at the map.
"Send a message."
"What kind of message?"
Mengmeng's voice was calm.
But the room grew colder when she spoke.
"A reminder."
The next night…
Inside a large underground warehouse controlled by the Northern Syndicate.
Several gang leaders sat around a table arguing loudly.
Suddenly—
The lights went out.
The room fell into darkness.
"Who did that?"
"What's happening?!"
Then the doors burst open.
Mengmeng's people rushed inside like shadows.
Within seconds the guards were disarmed.
Chaos filled the warehouse.
When the lights finally turned on again—
Everyone froze.
Mengmeng stood at the entrance.
Her black coat moved slightly in the cold air.
Silence spread through the room.
One of the leaders stood up nervously.
"You…"
His voice trembled.
"…The Dark Queen."
Mengmeng walked forward slowly.
Her heels echoed through the quiet warehouse.
"I heard you've been busy."
No one dared speak.
She stopped at the center of the room.
"You took my territories."
Still silence.
Mengmeng's eyes swept across the men.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
One of the leaders tried to sound brave.
"We were just expanding our business—"
Before he finished speaking, one of Mengmeng's men slammed him back into his chair.
The room went silent again.
Mengmeng leaned slightly on the table.
Her voice was quiet.
But every word carried power.
"This city… this region… every road, every port, every deal…"
Her eyes turned cold.
"Belongs to me."
Fear spread across the room.
"Return the territories," she said calmly.
"And this conversation ends peacefully."
"And if we refuse?" one man asked nervously.
Mengmeng looked at him.
For a moment, she smiled.
A calm, terrifying smile.
"Then your organization won't exist tomorrow."
No one doubted her.
Because everyone knew—
When the Dark Queen made a decision…
The underworld obeyed.
Meanwhile…
In another city far away—
Feng stood inside a tall glass office building looking down at the skyline.
His assistant spoke behind him.
"Boss, the meeting with the international investors is ready."
Feng nodded calmly.
"Good."
He glanced at his phone.
A message from Mengmeng appeared.
"Work trip is going well. Don't worry about me."
Feng smiled slightly.
He typed back.
"Same here. See you when we're both back."
Neither of them knew the truth.
Both were handling massive affairs.
Both were powerful leaders.
Yet both were still pretending to be ordinary people for each other.
And when they finally returned home…
Their secrets would only become harder to hide.