Tie Wan: "Would you get off me already!"
Xiang Ri: "Get off? Off where?"
Tie Wan: "Off of me!"
Xiang Ri: "Why does that sound so suggestive?"
Her response was a sharp bite on his shoulder, leaving deep marks from her teeth.
Xiang Ri winced in pain, instinctively pushing her away. He touched the spot where she bit him and noticed a slight dampness. When he looked at his fingers, he saw traces of blood.
"Are you insane? That hurt!"
"I'd love nothing more than to bite you to death!" A glint of fury flashed in Tie Wan's eyes as she prepared to pounce again.
Xiang Ri quickly stepped back, pointing at her chest. "You like white, don't you?"
Tie Wan froze, instinctively looking down at herself. Realizing her chest was somewhat exposed, she shrieked, hastily covering herself with one hand and grabbing a book from the table with the other to hurl at him. "Get out of here!"
Xiang Ri dodged effortlessly, ready to tease her again. But when he saw her pick up something else—likely another tool for assault—he turned and bolted out the door without a backward glance.
He wasn't about to mess around. That was a fruit knife. While it might not hurt him too seriously, he doubted she'd let things slide. She could even pull out her service revolver. Better to make a swift exit!
Before the feisty officer could give chase, Xiang Ri had already sprinted far away, though he could still hear her angry shouts and curses faintly echoing from the house.
...
Senior-ranking officers in law enforcement are assigned private residences, and Tie Wan was no exception. With her strong family background, she lived in an even more luxurious apartment than her colleagues. Otherwise, she'd never be able to stay in a two-story villa with such pristine landscaping.
The high-end residences formed a gated community, inhabited mostly by top police and administrative elites, though a few spoiled children of powerful families also called it home.
Naturally, where big names resided, security was robust. While it wasn't overly militarized, the entrance checks were strict, manned by seasoned veterans with sharp instincts.
Fortunately, Xiang Ri had been brought here twice by the female officer herself, so the guards were familiar with him. They allowed him through with minimal hassle, though he noticed the envious glances from the men on duty. After all, these former soldiers, deprived of much female company, couldn't help but resent the "outsider" who seemed to have won the affections of the most desirable woman in the neighborhood.
Once he'd left the community and walked a short distance, Xiang Ri noticed he was being followed—at least three men were tailing him.
He maintained his calm, pretending not to notice, while trying to guess who would be tracking him. The police? Unlikely; they weren't aware of him enough to take such steps, and Tie Wan hadn't hinted at any suspicions. They could be ruled out.
Could it be the mysterious organization he'd dealt with before? If they were seeking retribution, they'd probably choose a more straightforward approach.
As he pondered, a white van sped toward him, pulling off a swift, precise stop right in front of him—a clear sign the driver had skill.
Xiang Ri knew the real players had arrived. He glanced at the four men closing in from behind but didn't show a trace of concern, his gaze full of anticipation as he awaited the driver's identity.
"So, you're Mr. Xiang? We've met before." The passenger window rolled down, revealing an extraordinarily handsome face.
"It's you?" The sight of this long-haired man clearly surprised Xiang Ri.
With a graceful flick of his hair, Li Xinghe smiled. "Would you mind stepping inside for a chat?" Before Xiang Ri could answer, he sensed someone advancing behind him, as if they'd take him by force if he refused.
"My pleasure," Xiang Ri replied, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
Two burly men stepped forward, opened the door, and climbed in, followed by Xiang Ri, then two more guards entered behind him, sandwiching him securely. The van had been modified for extra space, so even with five men inside, it didn't feel cramped.
"Where are we headed?" Xiang Ri asked, looking at the long-haired man at the wheel, surprised to see he'd been driving alone.
"No need, Mr. Xiang. We'll have our conversation right here." Li Xinghe had already turned to face him.
"And what would you like to discuss?"
"Before I reveal our purpose, may I ask you a question, Mr. Xiang?"
"Go ahead."
"The woman you were dining with earlier—is she your girlfriend?"
A flicker of emotion crossed Xiang Ri's face, but he shook his head. "No."
"Wonderful," Li Xinghe replied with an eager grin, as if he'd just gained the upper hand.
"Oh?" Xiang Ri eyed him with suspicion. Even if I'm not her boyfriend, you don't need to look so delighted. He'd already noticed that this long-haired peacock was interested in Tie, but Xiang Ri knew she wasn't an easy target.
"Let's get straight to the point, Mr. Xiang," Li Xinghe said, handing him a small vial about ten centimeters long. "I'd like you to help me with a small matter. Naturally, the reward will be generous."
"What kind of help?" Xiang Ri looked at the vial's pale red liquid, a glint of sharp awareness flashing in his eyes.
"Get me into that community," Li Xinghe said, nodding towards the gated area Xiang Ri had just left.
"Do you really need me to get you in, Mr. Li? With your resources, it shouldn't be that hard."
"If I could go in myself, I wouldn't bother you." Li Xinghe knew well enough what kind of place it was. While his own status could get him inside, that wouldn't benefit his "plans."
"So it's as simple as just getting in?"
"No, Mr. Xiang, I don't assume you think I'm giving you this for no reason. You'll take me to the community but not directly to her home. You go inside first; I'll wait outside. Then, just pour the liquid into a drink she'll consume. Ten minutes later, come out and fetch me, and then you're free to go."
"Mind if I ask what's in it?" Xiang Ri asked nonchalantly.
"Nothing special. Just a little something to spice things up," Li Xinghe replied coolly.
Although his tone was casual, Xiang Ri didn't believe it was just a "little" something. He suspected it was similar to certain infamous concoctions—"Love's Distraction" or "Magic Fervor."
"Have you made up your mind, Mr. Xiang?" Li Xinghe's mind flashed to the humiliation he'd suffered earlier at the woman's rejection, making him long to have her body under his control, to exact his revenge.
"Quite a clever plan. If it all goes wrong, I'm the one left holding the bag," Xiang Ri's eyes gleamed with disdain. This bird-brain must have been kicked in the head by a mule to think he could play Xiang like this.
Li Xinghe's expression hardened. "It's not without reward, Mr. Xiang. I've prepared a generous gift—half a million."
"Half a million?" Xiang Ri was unimpressed; this guy had some influence, yet he was surprisingly stingy.
"If you feel that's too little, I can double it to a million. And once you get the money, you're free to leave. I guarantee no one will come looking for you."
"Yet there's still a slight issue." Xiang Ri decided not to waste any more time; dealing with scum like this called for quick resolution.
"Oh? If Mr. Xiang has any concerns, speak freely. I believe any problem can be solved." Li Xinghe assumed Xiang Ri was still dissatisfied, putting on an accommodating face. Whatever he gave now, he intended to take back once Xiang had completed the job.
"It's just... I sometimes can't control my hands." With that, Xiang Ri's hands moved.
Li Xinghe blinked, and within moments, the four hulking men who'd been seated next to Xiang were on the floor. "You…" His voice trailed off as Xiang Ri grabbed him by the throat, yanking him from the driver's seat.
"Do you know what I despise most?" Xiang Ri's voice was icy.
Li Xinghe, struggling for breath, couldn't speak, barely able to breathe.
"Judging by how skilled you are at requesting this type of job, you must've done it plenty of times. Let me tell you, what I hate most is men who force themselves on women. And as if that weren't enough, you dare set your sights on my woman. So, tell me, what punishment should I give you?"
"Curious what effect this stuff would have on a man?" Xiang Ri shook the vial in front of him, watching terror fill Li Xinghe's eyes. Xiang Ri grinned darkly. "Relax; I'm not so vile as to feed it to you."
Li Xinghe exhaled a breath of relief—only for Xiang Ri's next words to send him plummeting into despair. "I'll just feed it to your four lackeys here and then knock you out. Now that should be an interesting show."
"Mmmph!" Li Xinghe struggled desperately, his mind reeling with horror at the thought.
But Xiang Ri's grip was unrelenting. He watched as Xiang Ri forced the liquid down the throats of the four unconscious men, one by one. "Time for you to sleep now," Xiang Ri murmured, and everything went black for Li Xinghe.