Not That It Can't Be Done

Mission Reward: Greater Restoration! Rapidly recover from non-fatal injuries. Usage limit: once per day.

Failure Penalty: All acquired skills will be revoked.

After quickly reviewing the mission details, Li Ming felt slightly relieved. Unlike previous mandatory missions with unbearable penalties, this one wasn’t as strict.

The worst outcome would just be losing all his skills.

He counted them—only five in total:

1. Heart’s Insight! The ability to sense when someone is lying to him.

2. Aura of Authority! A commanding presence that naturally intimidates others.

3. The physical prowess and combat skills of a special forces soldier!

4. Sincerity’s Touch! The power to make others feel his absolute genuineness.

5. Vigilance Aura! Detects living beings within a 200-meter radius when in an excited state.

These skills were incredibly powerful, and Li Ming was reluctant to lose them. But… perhaps he could reinterpret the mission to make life in prison more comfortable for her?

That… might just work.

After a moment’s thought, Li Ming spoke to Tan Chengcheng, who was slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Miss Tan, stop crying. I have a compromise—would you like to hear it?"

Tan Chengcheng, still drowning in sorrow, suddenly jerked upright at his words, her chest heaving dramatically with the movement.

Li Ming’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to her.

"Warden Li… What did you say? What kind of compromise? Please, tell me! I’ll do anything!" Tan Chengcheng, sensing a shift in his tone, clung to the sliver of hope.

"Ahem… I’ve been thinking… Getting your sister out of prison is impossible, but… I can make her time there easier," Li Ming said, tearing his eyes away and taking a sip from his glass.

"At Black Mountain Prison, inmates work five days a week, with one rest day and one day for skill training. Aside from public holidays, everyone must work on schedule. Tan Qingqing was exhausted yesterday, so I didn’t send her to the factory today. If you reframe it—she’s just staying inside without freedom—she might not resist as much. That’s the best I can do..."

"Also… you mentioned someone framed you for fraud. If the case can be overturned, her sentence might be reduced. Plus, our prison offers sentence-reduction programs and activities. If your sister cooperates, she won’t have to serve the full term."

By now, Tan Chengcheng understood Li Ming’s proposal and furrowed her brows, weighing the options.

If there was truly no way to free her sister, this compromise might be the best solution.

If the case could be overturned, her sister might not even serve much time. With that thought, Tan Chengcheng finally nodded.

"Warden Li… I… I agree. But my sister… she’s never done hard labor in her life. You must take good care of her. Whether it’s money or… anything else… just name it, and I’ll do my best..."

She slumped into her chair, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Li Ming.

Compared to Zhang Wenhai, she trusted Li Ming more—not just because of his youth and mystery, but because he had principles.

Whether it was money or the bodies of the two sisters, these were conditions Zhang Wenhai would have accepted without hesitation. But Li Ming remained completely unmoved.

"I understand... Don’t worry. When I return to the prison, you should come with me during visitation hours and explain things to her clearly. She needs to accept reality. Otherwise, with her moping around every day, life in prison will be unbearable for her," Li Ming instructed.

Tan Chengcheng nodded. There was no other choice...

"Warden Li... Please, have some food. Tianyi Villa is under my name—you’re welcome to visit anytime. If you like it, I’ll give the villa to you!" Tan Chengcheng picked up some dishes and placed them in Li Ming’s bowl, her tone ingratiating.

"No... I can’t accept that. I don’t take rewards for no reason. I helped you, but not for this..." Li Ming took a bite and smiled.

With a compromise in place, Li Ming felt relieved, and his appetite returned.

"Then... since you’ve helped us so much... how can I repay you? Just... name it." Tan Chengcheng’s face flushed slightly, as if certain thoughts had crossed her mind.

"Hey, don’t misunderstand me. That’s definitely not what I meant! Cough cough!" Seeing Tan Chengcheng’s lowered head and reddened cheeks, Li Ming immediately realized his words had been misconstrued.

He truly hadn’t intended to extract anything from Tan Chengcheng in exchange for his help—he was just fulfilling a task.

Once she agreed to his compromise, the mission was complete, and the reward had already been delivered. He had gotten what he wanted.

Yet Tan Chengcheng nodded as if she understood.

"Warden... don’t worry. I know you’re concerned I might use this to blackmail you, but I promise I won’t! I’ve never had a boyfriend before... you’re my first man. As long as Qingqing lives comfortably in prison, I’m willing. This private room has no surveillance—not a single word we say will leave here."

"It’s late outside... You... should stay the night... and leave tomorrow."

Tan Chengcheng’s face burned with embarrassment, her voice growing softer. Clearly, inviting a man to stay overnight was too much for a young woman like her—even a wealthy businesswoman! At this moment, she was as bashful as any ordinary girl.

"Cough cough! You’ve really misunderstood... There’s no need for this! If I took advantage of your gratitude, how would I be any different from Zhang Wenhai?" Li Ming explained with a bitter smile.

"By the way... I haven’t asked you yet. Did you go to Zhang Wenhai again?"

Hearing this, Tan Chengcheng felt even more grateful to Li Ming, convinced she had chosen the right person.

"Yes... but I only sent him a message. I told him I’d only agree to his conditions if he could actually get Qingqing out and bring her to me. I’m not foolish enough to give myself to him first." She pulled out her phone and showed Li Ming the message.

Li Ming glanced at it and nodded.

"No wonder Zhang Wenhai called me earlier, trying to sound me out. So that’s what happened..."

Before he could finish, Tan Chengcheng’s phone suddenly dinged—

A new message arrived. Both Li Ming and Tan Chengcheng looked down.

Coincidentally, it was from Zhang Wenhai!

"Miss Tan, there's progress on the matter you mentioned. The warden of Black Mountain Prison is a close friend of mine. Let's discuss it in person—tonight at 11, I've reserved a private dining room at Jade Pavilion. We’ll meet then, no excuses..."

Tan Chengcheng: "???"

Li Ming: "…!"

...