Outside the hotel, Chu Ge watched as Ye Feng's brothers hurriedly escorted him away. Ye Feng, still dazed and covered in blood, stumbled along with them. Passersby scattered, not wanting to get involved with such a dangerous-looking group.
Inside, the hotel manager discovered Zhao Lingyun's lifeless body and immediately called the police, his hands shaking as he dialed.
Chu Ge turned to Li Lanyin, handing her a USB drive. "It's done. Zhao Lingyun is no longer an obstacle. Get this information online as soon as possible. Keep the story trending."
As Chu Ge drove away, he received two calls. One was from a business expert who had helped with Liu Yanru's problems, the other from the leader of a special team - both rewards from the system. Chu Ge felt his goals inching closer with these new assets.
He called Liu Yanru, who had been anxiously waiting for news. "Boss, Huayue Group is leaderless now. You can make your move."
Liu Yanru stood up, shocked. "Really? There's no catch?"
"No major issues," Chu Ge assured her. "Ye Feng did the deed himself. It's all on the hotel's cameras. Even if the Zhao family causes trouble, they'll go after Ye Feng first."
Over the next two days, Zhao Lingyun's scandals flooded the internet. Even the powerful Zhao family couldn't stem the tide of public outrage across the Huameng League. The League, ever conscious of its image, demanded justice.
While Zhao Lingyun was beyond reach, the Zhao family couldn't escape scrutiny for their role in covering up his crimes. Li Lanyin, following Chu Ge's instructions, made sure all the evidence was widely circulated online.
The Zhao family's influence, while strong in Yuncheng, couldn't control the entire Huameng League. Their business interests began to suffer as longtime rivals seized the opportunity to strike.
At the Zhao family home, Zhao Lingyun's mother wept continuously. "My only son is dead. I want that Ye Feng buried with him! I don't care about his background; he must die!"
Despite her attempts to use the family's influence, no arrest warrant for Ye Feng materialized. Some unseen force seemed to be protecting him.
Zhao Lingyun's father sat nearby, smoking silently. He had warned his son repeatedly about being too flashy, but to no avail. Now, 28 years of raising a child had come to nothing - not even a grandchild to show for it.
"This isn't simple," he finally spoke. "The family is in damage control mode because of Lingyun's actions. We can't use their resources now. We're on our own."
His wife, not grasping the bigger picture, raged at the family's perceived inaction. Zhao's father, losing patience, slapped her. "Enough! You can't just throw the family name around. We still have some money. We'll hire someone to deal with Ye Feng."
This suggestion calmed her, and she nodded eagerly, the slap already forgotten.
Meanwhile, Chu Ge put his system-granted funds to use. He handed control of the money to Li Ruhai, a financial expert also provided by the system, to establish an offshore investment company called Apex Venture. Li Lanyin was assigned to assist with operations.
At Liu Yanru's villa, she questioned Chu Ge about his decisions. "Where did you get so much money? And aren't you worried this Li Ruhai might disappear with it all?"
Chu Ge smiled confidently. "I'm a good judge of character. Just like when I first saw you, boss. I knew you were trustworthy."
Liu Yanru inched closer on the sofa, intrigued by his boldness. Chu Ge, caught up in the moment, wrapped an arm around her waist. She let out a small gasp of surprise at his forwardness.
"Does my little brother really know if I'm being serious or not?" Liu Yanru teased, her voice low and enticing as she tapped his forehead playfully.
Realizing his lapse in professionalism, Chu Ge quickly released her and scooted away. "Ahem, boss, please. I'm a serious, professional bodyguard."
Liu Yanru smirked at his sudden propriety. "Oh? What kind of bodyguard lives in the same villa as their employer? Or talks to their boss the way you do? Or makes suggestive comments daily?"
With each accusation, Chu Ge felt more flustered. "Come on, boss. You can't deny I've solved your problems. What other bodyguard protects not just their employer's life but also their assets?"
Unable to let her have the last word, Chu Ge leaned in close, causing Liu Yanru's breath to catch. "What an attractive man," she murmured, her gaze intense.
Chu Ge quickly backed away again, feigning fear. "Boss, if you keep taking advantage of me, I'll have to charge extra."
Liu Yanru burst out laughing before composing herself. "Seriously though, what are your plans for Apex Venture?"
Chu Ge, not wanting to admit he was unsure, gave a cryptic smile. "We'll see where fate takes us."
"Oh, come on! Tell me, I'm dying to know," Liu Yanru pleaded, tugging at his arm playfully.
Chu Ge rubbed his hands together dramatically. "Now, now, boss. Trying to pry into trade secrets? That's against the rules."
Their banter continued, the tension between them palpable yet unacknowledged, as they danced around the growing attraction neither was quite ready to confront.