Collapsed on the Dining Table

Cheng Er's eyes lit up with excitement as he eagerly asked, "Bro, how is the gang leader planning to deal with that bastard Lin Li?"

Cheng Da stroked his chin and replied, "From what I can tell, the boss intends to play along with Lin Li's scheme—let him think he's succeeded, only to fall into his own trap."

"Play along?" Cheng Er's face was full of concern. "Bro, that's way too risky! What if something happens to the boss?"

Their gang leader was their golden treasure. It was only because of him that their once-struggling underground gang had risen to become the second-largest, just behind Night Rose. The boss couldn’t afford to get hurt.

"Relax," Cheng Da reassured him. "If the boss could wipe out an assassin organization like Shang, dealing with a loser like Lin Li is nothing."

"Yeah, you're right." Cheng Er scratched the back of his head.

"Let’s get out of here. No point guarding this spot—let Lin Li’s plan play out smoothly."

Cheng Da smirked. "Soon, we’ll have quite the show to watch."

It was bound to be spectacular.

Working under the boss was always thrilling—there was never a dull moment.

Cheng Da and Cheng Er stepped away from the door, casting one last glance at it.

Tsk, tsk. Soon enough, they’d see how Lin Li would be played like a fool by their boss.

Entertaining indeed.

After they left, Lin Li frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on the door.

Why did he feel like someone was watching him? As if they knew his plan?

But he must be overthinking it. He’d been so careful—there was no way anyone could know.

Disguised in a waiter’s uniform and wearing a mask, Lin Li pushed the thought aside and continued pouring drinks for the guests.

Lin Xuan, meanwhile, casually picked at his food, sipping his wine now and then, showing no sign of recognizing the waiter as Lin Li.

Soon, it was Lin Xuan’s turn to be served.

"Sir," Lin Li spoke in a deliberately lowered voice, afraid Lin Xuan might recognize him. "Let me refill your glass."

"No need, I can pour it myself. No trouble." Lin Xuan reached for the bottle.

But Lin Li had planned this moment precisely to slip the drug into Lin Xuan’s drink. He couldn’t let him pour his own wine.

Besides, it was only because of Wang Dahe’s birthday that he even had this chance. If he failed now, who knew when the next opportunity would come?

"Sir," Lin Li sidestepped, keeping the bottle just out of reach. "I’m sorry, but our boss insists we provide top-notch service. If we don’t, we’ll get pay cuts—or even fired."

He put on a pitiful act. "My mother’s in the hospital, needing a major surgery. I can’t afford to lose this job."

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.

So now his own mother was sick and hospitalized?

He wondered if Jiang Shuqin knew her beloved son was using her like this.

"Don’t worry, I won’t report you," Lin Xuan said.

Lin Li exhaled in relief.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, a fine white powder slipped from his sleeve into the wine glass.

A quick swirl, and the drug dissolved seamlessly into the liquor.

"Sir, enjoy." Lin Li’s eyes flashed coldly as he respectfully placed the glass before Lin Xuan.

After pouring wine for Lin Xuan, Lin Li discreetly glanced in his direction while serving others.

He needed to see Lin Xuan drink the wine with his own eyes—only then could he rest easy.

Lin Xuan swirled his glass absentmindedly, showing no intention of taking a sip.

"Xuanzi," Wang Dahe slurred, his face flushed from alcohol. He slung an arm around Lin Xuan's shoulders. "You know the greatest luck of my life? Meeting a brother like you."

"If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in the dark about that woman, Wang Shiyun. Who knows? She might’ve driven me to ruin."

Lin Xuan lowered his gaze.

In his past life, Wang Dahe had been driven to ruin.

Wang Dahe had started a business.

Wang Shiyun squandered his money, then conspired with the CEO of his rival company, stealing trade secrets that led to Wang Dahe’s bankruptcy—and ultimately, his suicide.

"And if not for you, I wouldn’t have landed such a great job with this salary. My parents and I wouldn’t be living this well."

"Xuanzi, you’re like a godfather to me!"

"Come, let’s drink. Tonight… we don’t stop till we drop."

Wang Dahe raised his glass.

Lin Xuan clinked his against it.

Lin Li watched nervously.

He’s going to drink now, right?

Once Lin Xuan downed that glass, everything would fall into place.

Wang Dahe drained his wine in one go.

Lin Xuan, however, brought the glass to his nose.

It was laced with an aphrodisiac.

Tch.

Lin Li’s plan was obvious: drug him, lure him into bed with a woman, then call the press to stage a scandal.

He wanted Lin Xuan disgraced—and abandoned by Hua.

Not bad for a scheme.

But if Lin Li dared play this game, Lin Xuan would make sure his reputation rotted first.

A cold smirk flickered in Lin Xuan’s eyes.

Lin Li grew uneasy as seconds ticked by without Lin Xuan drinking.

Why hasn’t he taken a sip yet?

Did he figure it out?

Distracted, Lin Li fumbled while pouring wine, spilling some on the table.

"What the hell are you doing?" a man snapped.

"My apologies!" Lin Li bowed repeatedly.

"Useless waiter. Can’t even pour properly."

"Sorry, sir."

Lin Li scrambled to wipe the mess, stealing glances at Lin Xuan between frantic motions.

"Enough. I’ll handle it myself. Don’t let it happen again," the man grumbled. "Lucky you didn’t spill it on me—or you’d pay for it."

"Yes, sir."

Retreating to a corner, Lin Li finally focused entirely on Lin Xuan.

"Xuanzi," Wang Dahe hiccuped, eyeing the untouched glass. "Why aren’t you drinking?"

"Your own godson toasts you, and you ignore him? Don’t disrespect me like this!"

"Alright, alright."

Lin Xuan raised the glass—and drank it all.

He drank it.

Lin Li's heart was filled with excitement.

Little did he know, Lin Xuan had already secretly slipped the antidote into the wine.

This antidote was something he had retrieved from his spatial storage—capable of neutralizing any poison.

A mere aphrodisiac posed no threat to him whatsoever.

Still, putting on a convincing act was necessary.

Soon enough, Lin Xuan collapsed onto the dining table.

Yan Xi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for 3 million+ daily visits overwhelming the server, we now recommend switching to other sources provided by fellow experts.