Lin Yang's Plan

Xu Mu rolled his eyes. He was just asking on a whim; if there wasn’t a listening device, things might get a bit troublesome.

However, since Meng Wanyue had one, it would make things much easier.

Meng Wanyue pulled a small women’s wallet out of the pocket of her tracksuit pants.

She opened it and retrieved a small round black button from the ground—it was only slightly bigger than a fingernail.

Xu Mu took it and examined it. The button was actually a listening device, with numerous small sound-transmitting holes on its surface.

The back was coated with a strong adhesive, allowing it to stick to almost any surface.

“This is high-end equipment we often used on previous missions. You just need to activate it with a phone, and the recorded audio will automatically upload to the cloud. We can log into the cloud with a phone and retrieve it,” Meng Wanyue explained.

Ye Tong, who was standing nearby, was stunned. Was this woman really a secretary?

Why did it feel like she used to be a secret agent?

“Alright, activate it first and then hand it to me,” Xu Mu instructed.

He then led the two of them toward a restaurant called "State Banquet."

“Hello, sir. How many people in your party?”

As soon as they entered, a female server approached them.

“Three,” Xu Mu replied with a smile. “Do you have private rooms? We prefer to dine somewhere less crowded.”

“Of course. Would you like me to arrange a room for you on the third floor?”

“We’d like to go to the fourth floor,” Xu Mu responded.

He had already done a rough scan of the hotel. Food was delivered via an elevator.

The fifth floor would certainly be more convenient, but Lin Yang wasn’t an ordinary person—he might notice something.

The fourth floor was a better choice.

“Alright, we do have private rooms on the fourth floor. However, they are relatively more luxurious and come with a minimum spend requirement,” the waitress said with a smile.

“We come here often, so we’re well aware,” Xu Mu nodded.

Under the waitress’s guidance, Xu Mu and the others headed to the fourth floor of the restaurant.

After selecting a private room, they stepped inside.

The room’s decor was styled like a European castle, with dim yellow lighting that created an immersive atmosphere.

Xu Mu didn’t order an extravagant meal; after all, there were only three of them, and they wouldn’t be able to finish it all.

Wasting food was shameful.

However, the private room had a minimum spend of one thousand yuan.

He ordered a few decent dishes and two bottles of wine priced at a few hundred yuan each, just barely meeting the minimum.

“Wife, Wanyue, you stay here for now. I need to step out to take care of something,” Xu Mu said, holding the listening device and smiling at Ye Tong.

Ye Tong felt a subtle emotional tug when she heard the term of endearment but quickly smiled and nodded.

Xu Mu then left the private room and headed toward the elevator area.

Activating his sensory ability, he confirmed that Qian Gang, from his company, had indeed gone to Lin Yang’s private room.

The group inside was chatting and laughing.

Xu Mu’s sensory ability allowed him to see the scene but not hear the sound, which made the listening device crucial.

He stood by the elevator, waiting for a round of food delivery.

After identifying the person delivering food to their room, he pressed the elevator button.

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor, and a male server in uniform stood inside, pushing a food cart.

When he saw Xu Mu, he smiled and said, “Sir, this is for the fifth floor.”

“I know,” Xu Mu replied as he stepped into the elevator.

Once the elevator doors closed, Xu Mu smiled and asked, “How much is your monthly salary?”

"Four to five thousand."

The waiter didn’t elaborate much.

"I’ll give you five thousand to help me with something."

Xu Mu turned his back to the elevator camera and took out a button-shaped listening device. "All you need to do is stick this onto the bottom of a bowl."

After all, the elevator camera didn’t have audio recording capabilities.

The waiter froze for a moment, but before he could respond, the elevator doors opened.

Xu Mu headed toward the nearby staircase. "If you agree, come over here—there’s no camera here."

The waiter hesitated briefly but eventually pushed the dining cart over. He whispered, "This isn’t illegal, right?"

"You’re definitely not breaking the law. The ones breaking the law are them. Among them, there are corporate spies targeting our company."

Xu Mu pulled out his phone. "Hurry up. I’ll transfer the money to you first."

Hearing this, the waiter took out his phone.

His monthly salary was only a little over four thousand. Helping someone out and earning five thousand extra—if he didn’t do it, plenty of others would.

Without hesitation, Xu Mu transferred five thousand yuan.

After seeing the money, the waiter picked up a large bowl from the dining cart. "Stick it under this bowl. This dish is one of the main courses; it won’t be cleared until the end."

Xu Mu gave him a thumbs-up and affixed the listening device to the bottom of the bowl. "Be careful when you place it down—don’t lift it too high and let anyone notice."

"Don’t worry, I’m a professional."

The waiter carefully placed the bowl back on the cart and pushed it toward the private room.

He knocked on the door first before opening it and pushing the cart inside. "Gentlemen, these dishes are the signature items of our restaurant."

After speaking, he meticulously placed the dishes on the table.

For each dish, he ensured the bottom of the bowl touched the table, leaving no chance for anyone to notice.

The people in the room didn’t suspect that someone might install a listening device on the bottom of a bowl.

After the waiter left and closed the door, the three men resumed their earlier conversation.

Li Feipeng raised his glass with a smile. "So, Mr. Qian, are you saying you’re not interested in cooperating?"

"That’s correct. When Xu Group was first established, apart from Xu Shou, the boss, there were only six employees. I was one of them."

Qian Gang raised his glass as well, his expression proud. "How could I possibly betray Mr. Xu?"

"Hahaha!"

Lin Yang, seated nearby, leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

"What’s so funny?"

Qian Gang glanced at the young man.

"Your words sound noble, but privately, you leaked the formula that Xu Group spent a fortune developing to Feng Yue. Is it a case of a hero unable to resist a beauty?"

Lin Yang’s face carried a hint of amusement.

Upon hearing this, Qian Gang’s expression instantly darkened. "You... What nonsense are you talking?"

"Not admitting it? Should I spell it out for you piece by piece? Like the mistress you’re keeping, who happens to have dirt on you?"

Lin Yang’s lips curled slightly.

"How... How do you know so much?"

Qian Gang’s face turned pale.

"Because the mistress you originally kept was working for Feng Yue. And Feng Yue... works for me."

Lin Yang studied Qian Gang. "You knew Feng Yue was using you, but you couldn’t help yourself. You wanted her too much."

"How did you investigate this?" Qian Gang asked coldly.

"You don't need to worry about this. With my intelligence capabilities, I can investigate anyone."

Lin Yang looked at Qian Gang. "If you don't cooperate with us, I'll tell Xu Shou everything about you."

"No, please don't..."

Qian Gang was completely flustered. He was unsure how much the man in front of him knew.

If he knew everything, it wouldn't just be a matter of being fired; he could end up in prison.

"That's better. We have the materials for the weight-loss drug. What we lack are the proportions and processing methods."

Lin Yang said with a sly smile, "I'll give you a week to get it for me. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

"I can't do it! The proportions and processing methods aren't managed by my department."

Qian Gang shook his head. "I simply can't get them."

"I don't care."

Lin Yang grinned, "You have a week. Once you get it, I'll handle the investment, and let Old Li produce it. We can become the top enterprise in Jiangbei."

...

At this moment, Xu Mu was sitting in the stairwell, eavesdropping on their conversation in real-time through the cloud.

He could also perceive visuals, almost as if he were sitting right beside them.

Xu Mu smirked. Since Lin Yang wanted to play, he decided to join in the game.