Always Be Ingenious

"Yes, I remember now," Lin Xuan sneered. "I remember everything that happened during those two months."

The last glimmer of hope in Su Hua's eyes was completely extinguished.

Her steps faltered slightly.

He really remembered…

Lin Xuan continued, "I remember our first meeting—when you tried to kill me."

"I remember how I tried to talk to you, and you responded with nothing but disdain."

"And I remember how you killed your uncle, covered in blood, then dismembered his body."

His words pierced Su Hua’s heart like sharp blades, just as they had on that island, leaving it bleeding and raw.

Su Hua clutched her chest, her face twisted in agony.

Seeing her like this, Lin Xuan nearly rushed forward to hold her—but he couldn’t.

Not yet.

He couldn’t let Zhao Long suspect anything.

He couldn’t even give Hua Bao the slightest hint. She had been Zhao Long’s subordinate for over a decade; he knew her too well. If he noticed any emotional irregularity, everything would unravel.

They would both be in danger.

He had no choice but to let Hua Bao suffer a little longer.

After this was over, she could lock him in a dark room for all he cared.

Clenching his fists, Lin Xuan suppressed his urge and pressed on. "Su Hua, you knew I despised you. You knew I loved Qin Ruoyao. Yet you still trapped me by your side, even erasing my memories."

"You disgust me."

Disgust…

Su Hua’s pupils trembled violently.

It had been so long since she last heard her A-Xuan call her disgusting.

Those days on the island had been the happiest time they’d shared—the time she fell in love with him.

She was the one who made him lose his memories, but she had also buried the painful parts, only keeping the moments he was kind to her.

She even convinced herself that his memory loss was due to a fever.

"Su Hua, I’ll say it again," Lin Xuan sneered. "A woman as ruthless as you—I never wanted to be with you."

"I refuse to be your plaything anymore."

Plaything…

So that’s how he saw her all along.

A bitter smile curled at Su Hua’s lips.

Of course.

It was all an act.

"A-Xuan," she whispered, her voice fragile. "I never treated you as a plaything."

"Really? Then why did you restrict my freedom?" Lin Xuan scoffed. "When I was with Qin Ruoyao, you interfered relentlessly. You locked me up day after day. If that’s not treating me like a plaything, what is?"

Su Hua’s face paled.

It was just her possessiveness—her fear.

She loved him. She never saw him as a plaything. She was only terrified he would leave her, terrified he would love someone else.

Wang Ba studied Lin Xuan’s icy demeanor, finding no trace of pretense.

His heart pounded with uncertainty. Were these Lin Xuan’s true feelings, or was it all an act?

If it was real… then their golden goose was lost.

Please, let the boss be acting.

Please, let the boss be acting.

Wang Ba repeated the plea in his mind.

Zhao Long chuckled from the side. "Ling, see? This is what men are like."

"Anyone can betray you. Anyone can break your heart. The only way to avoid pain is to feel nothing."

"So, Ling… come back to the Shadow Organization."

Wang Ba’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

Ling? The Shadow Organization?

Holy shit!

Was Su Hua actually that legendary assassin, Ling?

Rumors said Ling had been carrying out missions since she was ten, never failing a single one—no matter how impossible.

She was an internationally feared killer.

But she had disappeared for years.

Many speculated she’d died on a mission.

Come to think of it, the timing of her disappearance matched Su Hua’s return to the Su family…

To think Su Hua had such a hidden identity!

Wang Ba was even more in awe of his boss.

To make the world’s most ruthless assassin fall head over heels for him—Lin Xuan was truly a legend.

Did he have some secret technique for seducing women?

Wang Ba wouldn’t mind learning. Maybe he could charm a powerful woman too—for the sake of the Golden Dragon Gang, of course.

Not for himself.

Honestly, though…

With a backer like Su Hua, why not just live off her wealth?

Why work so hard to build his own power? Seemed like unnecessary trouble.

Wang Ba shook his head.

His boss was an idiot.

Zhao Long smirked at the agony on Su Hua’s face.

"A-Xuan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Was all your kindness… just a lie?"

Lin Xuan didn’t answer.

Remembering his past tenderness, Su Hua clung to a sliver of hope. She repeated the same question she’d asked on the island:

"Was there ever… even a single moment… when you truly cared for me?"

"Yes. For over a year, I tried to love you. I tried to be sincere." Lin Xuan’s voice was cold. "But after regaining my memories, I took it all back."

Su Hua’s fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

She almost wished he’d said no—then she could be sure this was all an act.

But he admitted it… and said he’d taken his feelings back.

A dark crimson haze began to cloud her vision.

Lin Xuan couldn’t bear to look at her.

If he saw her pain, he might break—pull her into his arms and reveal the truth.

But it wasn’t safe yet.

He had to endure.

One of Zhao Long’s subordinates leaned in and whispered, "Boss, time to add fuel to the fire."

Zhao Long grinned.

Indeed, it was time for the next step.

Even if Ling loved Lin Xuan beyond reason, seeing him with another woman would shatter her completely.

"Mr. Zhao," Lin Xuan said stiffly, "I’ve said everything you wanted. Will you let me go now?"

"Oh no, no. There’s one last scene to play out." Zhao Long smirked.

Another one?

Lin Xuan’s brows furrowed.

A terrible premonition coiled in his gut.

Zhao Long loved to toy with people’s emotions—his methods were cruel and cunning.

What else did he have planned?

With a snap of his fingers, Zhao Long signaled his men.

Immediately, a subordinate ushered in seven or eight stunningly beautiful women.