Li Ming looked at Zhang Wenhai's message and really wanted to call him to ask, "Since when were we such good friends?"
How could he spout such nonsense so casually? Was he really not afraid of being exposed?
Meeting Tan Chengcheng's puzzled gaze, Li Ming had no choice but to explain.
"If Zhang Wenhai is saying this, he must have some ulterior motive. He’s probably using my name to lure you out, then planning to make his move on you."
"That old bastard really has some nerve!"
Li Ming could guess Zhang Wenhai’s scheme with his eyes closed, and in his mind, he had already sentenced the man to death.
Tan Chengcheng, however, smiled brightly and said,
"I believe you, Warden Li. Zhang Wenhai probably never expected we’ve already been in contact. This time, his trick won’t work on me. Thankfully, you came today—otherwise, he might’ve actually succeeded..."
Li Ming nodded. Judging by the situation, Zhang Wenhai likely planned to make his move on Tan Chengcheng tonight. Li Ming was somewhat curious about what kind of expression Zhang Wenhai would wear if he saw him.
Tan Chengcheng handed her phone to Li Ming, who thought for a moment before simply replying, "Sure!"
He planned to confront the old bastard in person, but he needed Tan Chengcheng’s cooperation. Testing the waters, he asked,
"Miss Tan, since he’s being dishonest, I plan to deal with him today. Would you be willing to help me? I’ll secretly record his words as evidence and have him removed tomorrow. Would that be convenient for you?"
Li Ming figured that if he could get evidence, great—if not, it didn’t matter. A corrupt official like Zhang Wenhai would be easy to take down with just a little digging. Still, he really wanted to see the man’s furious face.
Tan Chengcheng agreed without hesitation. If she could help Li Ming, she was more than willing! Besides, Zhang Wenhai had been eyeing her for a long time, and she had long since grown disgusted with him. Now that she could help bring him down, she was more than happy—especially since she’d also get to witness Li Ming’s skills. Two birds with one stone!
Li Ming checked the time. There was still some distance from Tianyi Villa to City S, and leaving now would be perfect.
So, he motioned for Tan Chengcheng to set off with him immediately.
Tan Chengcheng took a moment to wash her face and touch up her makeup, restoring her tear-streaked face to the refined image of a successful woman. Li Ming couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation.
Instead of driving his own car, Li Ming got into Tan Chengcheng’s convertible. Once they hit the road, she floored the accelerator, and the sudden g-force pushed Li Ming back into his seat, making him instinctively stick his hand out the window.
He’d heard that if you drove fast enough, the wind resistance against your hand at different speeds could mimic the feel of a woman’s curves—20 mph for an A-cup, 40 for a B, 60 for a C. But with Tan Chengcheng’s foot on the pedal, they were easily hitting 100 mph. That had to mean serious potential! Yet, all Li Ming felt was the cool, damp evening breeze carrying the faint scent of earth.
"Looks like it might rain soon..." Li Ming murmured.
"Probably... It hasn’t rained in a while. The weather’s been unbearably hot lately," Tan Chengcheng replied, her high-slit qipao exposing her legs fully to Li Ming’s gaze.
The first time he saw her legs, Li Ming had thought they were longer than the welcoming pine at Jade Tower—not just slender and shapely, but with flawless skin, pale and smooth. Three words involuntarily flashed through his mind:
Legs for days!
If she wore black stockings, the contrast between black and white, light and shadow, would be downright mesmerizing!
He had no idea how she maintained them—her legs had better skin than most people’s faces. No wonder Zhang Wenhai was so obsessed!
Tan Chengcheng, focused on driving, didn’t notice his gaze. The car was quiet, so she broke the silence.
"Warden Li, how should I introduce you at the dinner later?"
Li Ming snapped out of his thoughts, stroked his chin, and replied after a moment’s consideration.
"Just say... I’m your driver, mute and deaf. You brought me along because you were worried about driving at night."
"Zhang Wenhai’s already heard my voice on the phone today. If I speak, that old fox might catch on. I’ll stay silent and see what tricks he’s up to."
He clapped his hands, quietly proud of his quick thinking.
Tan Chengcheng, however, couldn’t help but laugh.
"A mute? Will that really work? Isn’t it too obvious? What if he asks you to wait outside so he can talk to me alone? I can’t just refuse outright."
Li Ming smirked and casually added, "Then say I’m both deaf and mute. He can’t possibly insist on kicking me out then. Don’t worry—if we’re caught, it’s fine. That old fox is sharp. We’re just testing his intentions, seeing if we can record anything. If he notices, no big deal. I’ve got ways to handle him. With me here, you’ve got nothing to fear."
Li Ming figured that if Zhang Wenhai sensed something was off, he wouldn’t bother keeping up the act. Whether it came to brains or brawn, Li Ming had him cornered.
As long as he confirmed Zhang Wenhai was no good, the man could kiss his career goodbye.
Hearing Li Ming’s confidence, Tan Chengcheng relaxed. She might have money, but when dealing with people in power, money wasn’t always enough...
Soon, they arrived in City S, right on schedule. Just as they were about to head to Jade Tower, another message came through.
Tan Chengcheng glanced at her phone, frowned, and handed it to Li Ming.
"Miss Tan, the warden of Black Mountain Prison is currently at Mingdu Hotel on official business! Come straight here! We’re all on the same side—your request won’t be a problem! We’ll be waiting. Mingdu Hotel, Room 1801!"
Li Ming studied the message and chuckled.
"Just as I thought... He switched to a hotel. This is definitely a setup."
"Let’s go! Time to see what he’s plotting. I’ll drive."
Li Ming got out and switched places with Tan Chengcheng before speeding toward Mingdu Hotel.
Mingdu Hotel was a landmark in City S—a towering skyscraper with luxurious decor, frequented by international tourists. It offered everything from fine dining and accommodations to shopping, entertainment, and even foot massages. A high-end establishment through and through.
As Li Ming pulled into the parking lot, a valet came to assist. Once the car was parked, Tan Chengcheng led the way with Li Ming following behind as a staff member escorted them to Room 1801.
Though called a private room, it was essentially a large suite, identical to a hotel room except for a grand dining table set with exquisitely plated but meager portions of food—and, most importantly, alcohol.
The door was ajar. Tan Chengcheng knocked, and Zhang Wenhai emerged to greet them...
...
y came from. The chests contained supplies, currency, class-change scrolls, skills, talents… and even godhood! The laws of the world were completely rewritten. This became a world where everyone gambled with their fate! Some people, despite having nothing, opened a divine artifact and rose to the top, eventually ruling the world. Others went bankrupt, opened nothing but worthless junk, and leaped from skyscrapers in despair. Lin Ye arrived in this world from another reality, utterly bewildered. “What is going on? Why is everyone a gambling addict?!” “Opening chests? No way. I refuse to gamble. I’ll start with myself!” Until— On his first chest, he obtained a Mythic Talent: Void Incarnation! He could become completely intangible, pass through all things, and reduce everything to nothingness! … On his fiftieth chest, he obtained a Mythic Weapon: Blade of Karma! With a single slash, karma shattered, twisting the universe and overturning the myriad phenomena of creation! … On his ninety-ninth chest, he obtained a Mythic Divine Treasure: Primordial Purple Energy! It could split open the heavens and earth, create all things, and evolve countless worlds with a single thought! Lin Ye: “Now that I think about it… shouldn’t someone have told me that every chest is guaranteed to contain something Mythic?!”
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
