"May I ask where Mr. Xiang is currently employed?" An Wen, eager to uncover the identity of his potential "brother-in-law," deemed it necessary to dig deeper. Having just dismissed his subordinates, he now casually strolled the streets with his companion.
"Employed? Hardly. I'm merely a student," Xiang Ri replied indifferently, baffled by the sudden interest. The feigned courtesy in An Wen's tone grated on him, especially since he had earlier witnessed the man's disdainful demeanor. Despite An Wen's apparent goodwill, this superficial politeness only fueled Xiang Ri's annoyance.
"Oh? May I ask which esteemed institution you attend?" An Wen, unfazed by Xiang Ri's irritation, continued his inquiry. He had already deduced a possible connection, reasoning that someone acquainted with his sister must likely hail from her university.
Yet Xiang Ri's response caught him off guard: "Gao Da."
An Wen's expression darkened momentarily, his thoughts spiraling. His years of navigating treacherous waters had taught him to read between the lines.
If they had indeed attended the same university, their acquaintance would seem natural. But if not, their connection hinted at something more deliberate—possibly even conspiratorial. Knowing his sister's peculiar tastes and disinterest in outsiders, he surmised Xiang Ri must have sought her out intentionally.
Could this mean Xiang Ri had uncovered her true identity and deliberately forged a connection? The notion gained weight when he recalled his father's enthusiasm, referring to Xiang Ri as a "son-in-law." For someone who had captivated his sister—a woman with unique preferences—Xiang Ri was evidently no ordinary man.
Moreover, Xiang Ri's precarious situation had prompted immediate intervention from a renowned lawyer and the mayor's secretary. This, coupled with the subtle protective stance of the female police chief, deepened the enigma surrounding his background.
But what irked An Wen most was his sister's apparent ignorance of Xiang Ri's capabilities. If she had known, she wouldn't have turned to their father for help. This realization sparked a chilling resolve in An Wen—he refused to believe Xiang Ri's intentions were innocent.
Unaware of the suspicions his casual remarks had ignited, Xiang Ri noticed An Wen's silence and saw no need to prolong their exchange. "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," he said, turning to leave. He was eager to return to campus and reassure Chu Chu and his protégé.
"Wait a moment!" An Wen snapped back to reality. Letting Xiang Ri leave now wasn't an option. For his sister's sake, he was willing to play the villain. His tone turned icy: "I don't care what your intentions are, but you'd better stay away from my sister. Otherwise, no matter how powerful your background is, I can make you disappear."
"Hmm?" Xiang Ri paused, momentarily stunned, before bursting into laughter. This was the first time anyone had dared threaten him so directly—and over something so absurd. With his pride piqued, Xiang Ri had no intention of backing down.
"Your sister? You must mean An Xin. Sorry, but even if I wanted to stay away, that's impossible—we're living under the same roof," he said, deliberately dropping the bombshell.
"What?!" An Wen's face twisted in fury, his fists clenched tightly, the cracking sound of his knuckles audible. "You're cohabiting with my sister?"
"More or less," Xiang Ri replied nonchalantly, relishing the sight of An Wen's barely contained rage. After all, sharing a house could be considered cohabitation, right? Why bother clarifying further?
For An Wen, however, the revelation was nothing short of catastrophic. His anger surged as he contemplated the implications. Though tempted to eliminate Xiang Ri on the spot, the mere thought of his sister's retaliation kept him in check. He knew her well—if this arrangement wasn't consensual, no one could have forced it upon her.
Still, his mind seethed with conflicting emotions: fury at Xiang Ri for deceiving his sister and disappointment in her for choosing someone he deemed unworthy. "If not for the public setting, I'd kill you right now!" An Wen snarled, his eyes ablaze with fury as he glared at Xiang Ri.
"Kill me?" Xiang Ri's gaze turned cold. Without a word, he struck a nearby metal streetlamp with his palm, leaving a visible dent. Turning away, he threw out a parting remark: "Be my guest."
"Damn it!" An Wen cursed under his breath, stunned by the sheer audacity. For the first time in his life, he found himself utterly powerless, forced to watch as Xiang Ri walked away unscathed.
For the sake of his sister, An Wen had to restrain himself. However, this did not mean he intended to let Xiang Ri off the hook. He had myriad ways to force the man to leave his sister, and when the time came, he would not hesitate to exact his revenge. But for now, the priority was to inform his father of this shocking revelation and then devise a plan. With this in mind, An Wen hurried away, utterly oblivious to the clear imprint of a hand left on the metal streetlamp where Xiang Ri had struck it moments before.
That imprint had been a warning—a concession made out of respect for An Xiao Niu's familial bond. Yet, this well-meaning gesture was entirely overlooked.
Unbeknownst to Xiang Ri, he had been under surveillance since leaving the school. Trailing him from a distance were three men and one woman, observing his every move. As Xiang Ri parted ways with the pale-faced An Wen, the group launched into a spirited discussion.
"What a spectacle!" exclaimed one handsome young man, unable to hide his admiration.
"Indeed," chimed in a peculiar-looking youth with fiery red hair, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Did you all see the crowd outside the police station earlier? They turned the place into a circus!"
A tall man joined the conversation with equal enthusiasm. "That lawyer, Jin—he's practically a celebrity. I've seen him on TV countless times, and his fees are astronomical. I can't believe he came here just to handle a bail case. For something this minor, he could've sent a junior associate."
"This only proves that our target has an extraordinarily powerful backing," interjected the sole woman in the group, her icy demeanor exuding authority. "And did any of you notice the license plate on the car that arrived last? That was a government-issued plate, reserved for municipal officials. There can't be more than a handful of people in the entire city entitled to use it."
The handsome man nodded thoughtfully before turning to the tall youth. "Hei, that guy in the white shirt—you know him, don't you?"
"Yes, we've crossed paths," Hei replied, a gleam flashing in his eyes. "It was during a previous mission. He's the son of An Laohu—a formidable opponent, skilled in combat."
"An Laohu? The notorious gangster?" The red-haired youth raised an eyebrow, his expression laced with mockery. "Hei, don't tell me you let the son of a thug get the better of you?"
"Shut up!" Hei's face flushed red with anger. "Sure, I couldn't take him down, but he didn't get the better of me either!"
Sensing Hei's irritation, the red-haired youth quickly nodded in faux understanding. "Got it, got it!" But his eyes betrayed a mischievous glint.
"Talk about straddling both sides of the law," the handsome man mused, ignoring his subordinates' petty squabble. "I finally understand why our superiors instructed us to monitor him from the shadows instead of providing direct protection. Clearly, surveillance is a part of the mission."
"Surveillance?" The other three were momentarily stunned but refrained from questioning their leader's reasoning.
"Exactly." The handsome man affirmed his hypothesis with confidence before turning to the icy beauty. "Lan, I have a task for you. No matter what method you use, plant this device on him." As he spoke, he retrieved a small, black, bean-shaped object from the lapel of his suit.
"A bug?" The red-haired youth immediately recognized it and protested, "Isn't it unfair to make Lan do this? Why not let me handle it instead?"
The handsome man dismissed the suggestion outright, focusing solely on Lan. "Lan, it's up to you now." His decision was calculated. From his observations, Xiang Ri seemed to attract women effortlessly, suggesting he would be less guarded around them. In short, he was likely a philanderer, and deploying a beauty trap was the most effective strategy.
"Yes, sir," Lan responded firmly, striding toward her target with determination. Even as she walked, her mind raced to devise the most plausible approach to gain Xiang Ri's trust without arousing suspicion.