In the months that followed, Gong Ze invited Qin Chuan and Yan Liben to meet several more times. Outside the Mingchuan Hotel, the man lit a cigarette. The small glowing ember couldn’t illuminate his eyes.
He instigated Yan Liben to target Qin Chuan and cause trouble for the Qin family’s business. He told Qin Chuan that all of this was Yan Cheng’s doing — that Yan Cheng wanted to silence them and permanently bury the truth of what happened back then.
He secretly supported the Qin family in their fight against Yan Cheng.
From Yan Cheng’s perspective, this was merely a squabble between his son and young Qin Chuan — nothing serious.
With a target on his own back, Yan Cheng was furious at Qin Chuan’s father’s counterattacks. He believed he had already shown Qin Chuan’s father plenty of face, and that Qin Chuan’s father was blowing things out of proportion and disrespecting him.
Having dominated Qin Chuan’s father for so many years, how could Yan Cheng stand to be on the receiving end of his anger?
So he went after Qin Chuan’s father for real.
He withdrew his protection from the Qin family, had people audit their company, and caused trouble for their pharmacies and stores, costing the Qin family tens of millions in losses.
But Qin Chuan’s father, now backed by Gong Ze, straightened his back. Instead of being intimidated, he fought back even more fiercely against Yan Cheng.
To retaliate, Qin Chuan’s father reached out to other high-ranking officials he had good relationships with, planning to rig the upcoming mayoral election.
The tension between the two grew increasingly intense.
Out of spite, Yan Cheng stopped restraining Yan Liben from provoking and beating Qin Chuan, a tacit show of support.
At first, Qin Chuan hadn’t fought back much against Yan Liben because his father was Yan Cheng.
But once the Qin family decided to take on the Yan family, Qin Chuan stopped backing down. He led a group of his wealthy second-generation friends in chaotic brawls against Yan Liben and his underlings, even making the local news.
The Qin and Yan families were the two giants of their social circle.
Yan Liben and Qin Chuan naturally split the wealthy younger generation into two factions. Because of their leaders’ hostility, the two groups were irreconcilable.
They fought over everything — vying for status, for glory. The whole city began to feel restless, as if a storm was brewing.
Yan Liben and Qin Chuan fought so fiercely that they even resorted to knives. Both ended up in the hospital.
What had started as a clash of egos on the social scene had now escalated into open warfare. Qin Chuan’s father and Yan Cheng had a massive argument, parted ways bitterly, and vowed to make each other suffer.
In just three months,
the Qin and Yan families — once united by mutual interests, businessmen and officials working hand in hand — had reached a point of no return, where neither could rest until the other was dead.
A light drizzle fell on an early autumn day.
Gong Ze held a black umbrella and smoked a cigarette. Through the white smoke and cold, damp air, he watched two groups of rich second-generation youths across the street break into a fight at a moment’s notice.
He let out a mocking laugh and waved his hand behind him.
The new underling he had taken in stepped forward, holding flowers.
Gong Ze’s slender, well-defined fingers held a cigarette. He blew out a puff of smoke and curled his lips. “Did you buy the flowers?”
“Yes, Mr. Gong. Should our people also smash a few more of the Qin family’s stores, or spray some graffiti on Yan Cheng’s election banners?”
“No need.”
The fire had been set in the dry autumn grassland. Now that the wind was blowing, no one could stop it.
In the drizzling rain, Gong Ze held the umbrella and lifted the cigarette back to his lips. His red lips and white teeth showed in a smile. The cool breeze and rain seemed to add a filter over the handsome, evil man.
He turned and took the bouquet from his underling’s arms.
“Go back now. Today is the young master’s birthday — I can’t be late.”
“Yes, Mr. Gong.”
Everything was proceeding according to Gong Ze’s plan.
He had forced Qin Chuan’s father, the Qin family, and Yan Cheng all onto his gambling table. He controlled invisible, translucent strings, pulling them into a bloody struggle, manipulating every chip, every card.
He was the silent hand behind all those strings.
And then…
“The house always wins—”
Gong Ze handed the flowers to the shy, beautiful young man.
On a private yacht, a champagne party and laughter sparkled like chandeliers. The lighthouse-shaped cake read: Happy 20th Birthday.
“Congratulations on turning twenty — and congratulations on becoming the company’s youngest, most sought-after vice president.”
Sang You took the bouquet, stood on tiptoe, and kissed Gong Ze hard on the cheek. “Thank you! But if you hadn’t given me so many projects to practice on, there’s no way I could have learned so much in such a short time.”
“And as for the vice president position — it’s our family’s company anyway. What’s there to celebrate about a promotion?”
His cute, adorable way of pretending to be modest while failing to hide his smugness made the man before him soften.
Every vivid expression on Sang You’s face made it hard for him to even blink.
“What I’ve taught you is enough for you to handle the normal operations of a company. You’ve learned quickly — now all you need is practice.”
Gong Ze lingered, stroking Sang You’s lower lip with a touch of reluctance. His eyes lowered, pupils shimmering with gentle light.
“There’s nothing left for me to teach you, little young master.”
Sang You said “Oh,” and winked at him playfully. “So that means I’ve graduated?”
“Mm.”
“Hehe. Then you’d better watch out. Once I start spreading my wings, I might just take your position too.”
Gong Ze looked at him and smiled. Gently, he said, “Alright. I look forward to it.”
“Mm — stop chatting. Come here and cut the cake with me—”
The host of the birthday party held the microphone, cheerfully saying playful things.
Below the stage were the company employees, along with Xiao Mei and Liu Cheng — Sang You’s close friends who were destined to become his trusted aides.
“Little young master, make a wish!”
“I know, don’t rush. My A Ze just got here — I’m waiting for him.”
“Ohhh~ ‘My A Ze’~”
Xiao Mei, being her mischievous self, deliberately mimicked in a high-pitched voice.
“Hahahaha.”
The company employees below burst into laughter.
“These people are always teasing me. Careful — once I become vice president, I’ll deduct your salaries!” Sang You pulled Gong Ze along as he hurried to the stage, the corners of his mouth lifted high. He made a threatening gesture toward his friends who were heckling him.
The crowd’s laughter grew even louder.
Gong Ze stood seriously behind his wife, leaned close to her ear, and secretly whispered, “Baby, deducting salaries can get you reported. Give them rotated days off instead, and make them work overtime legally.”
Unfortunately, the birthday party was huge. A microphone was clipped near the young master’s collar, and Gong Ze’s words were heard loud and clear. A chorus of boos erupted from below.
“Boss, your heart is so dark!”
“Little boss’s wife~ look at him~”
Sang You, delighted, shouted down at them, “I’ve learned a new trick! Haha — some people are going to be in trouble now.”
Everyone wailed, “Nooo—”
Gong Ze kept suppressing his laughter.
The pianist’s fingers shifted notes, and a lively version of “Happy Birthday” burst forth. Everyone naturally stopped talking, their kind gazes falling on the two figures on the stage.
In front of the towering cake, the carefree, beautiful young master clasped his hands together. The happy expression on his face seemed sprinkled with sparkling diamond dust. He made a wish.
“I hope that on my 22nd birthday — when I reach the legal age for marriage — the person I love will propose to me.”
As soon as he said this, a chorus of “Ohhh” and wolf whistles rose from below.
“Did you hear that, Boss? The little boss’s wife is telling you to propose!”
“Oh my, this old heart is melting~”
Gong Ze hadn’t expected Sang You to make such a wish. He looked at him in surprise. Sang You’s cheeks were flushed. Though shy, he stared straight back at Gong Ze without looking away.
Gong Ze could see the hope and love in Sang You’s eyes.
His fingers, hanging by his side, curled slightly. After a moment, Gong Ze suppressed the emotion in his eyes, curled his lips, and said, “Mm.”
“Alright.”
“!” Sang You’s eyes slowly widened in disbelief. A few seconds later, he snapped out of it, and his face instantly lit up with radiant joy. Excitedly, he said loudly, “You said it — you can’t go back on your word!”
“I never go back on my word.”
Gong Ze put his arm around Sang You, and together, their hands holding the long cake knife, they cut the cake.
With that motion, he squeezed Sang You’s ring finger between his thumb and index finger.
Midway through the party, Gong Ze slipped away from the venue. He found a quiet spot and looked out at the sea beyond the railing. His cell phone danced under his fingertips. His handsome face was calm and still.
As he sent a message, the moment it showed “Read” in the upper right corner, a virus program instantly deleted it — leaving no evidence behind.
[Everything is about to end.]
The system flapped its little chicken wings and said from the side.
[You know that when the mission is over, you won’t be able to stay. You won’t make it to Sang You’s coming of age. And yet you still promised him. Host…]
The system drooped its head sadly.
[Doesn’t it break your heart?]
[When you said you never go back on your word… what were you feeling?]
The man stood with his hands in his pockets, silently staring at the sea. His hair was ruffled by the sea breeze. His deep-set eyes and high nose bridge made him look like a carved stone statue, devoid of human emotion.
After a long silence, Gong Ze formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger, then let go.
Then he turned and walked back to the party.
“I won’t think about anything.”
Because I will make it happen.
·
The next morning, Yan Cheng was dead.
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