Feng Yue walked into the restaurant with the woman beside her, and Qian Gang, who had been standing in the lobby, immediately greeted them with a beaming smile.
Xu Mu was too far away to hear their conversation.
However, through his perception, he could roughly guess they were just exchanging pleasantries.
Afterward, Qian Gang led Feng Yue and the other woman upstairs.
Qian Gang remained there, waiting quietly—clearly for Chen Bei.
Xu Mu continued observing and noticed Feng Yue went to the fifth floor, though the private room had changed to the one next to the previous one.
About ten minutes later, a BMW X5 pulled up at the entrance, and Chen Bei stepped out.
The moment Qian Gang saw Chen Bei, he immediately went out to welcome him with a smile. "Old Chen! You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting forever."
"Old Qian, what’s going on? Why the sudden invitation to dinner?" Chen Bei asked with a grin.
"It’s been too long since we last had a meal together. Come inside first, and we’ll talk there."
Qian Gang grabbed Chen Bei’s arm and led him into the restaurant.
Xu Mu didn’t rush to act. Only after sensing they had entered the private room did he follow them inside.
The moment he stepped in, a waitress approached him with a smile.
"I’m here to meet someone."
Before Xu Mu could finish speaking, he spotted a familiar face—the young man who had previously worked for him.
He immediately walked over and stood in front of the young man. "Come with me."
The young man recognized Xu Mu and followed him outside the restaurant. Once there, he asked, "Sir, what do you need?"
"Here’s your payment. Same as before—five thousand."
Xu Mu handed a listening device to the young man. "Room number 520."
The young man was stunned. He hadn’t even spent the five thousand from yesterday, and now another five thousand? Was money really this easy to make?
"What? Not interested?"
Seeing his lack of reaction, Xu Mu couldn’t help but ask.
"No, of course I’ll do it. You’re always so generous, sir. Leave it to me."
The young man nodded slightly.
Without hesitation, Xu Mu found the previous transaction record and transferred another five thousand to him.
Seeing the money arrive, the young man flashed a smile before turning back toward the restaurant.
Xu Mu, meanwhile, headed to a nearby bank. At this hour, it was already closed.
He sat on the steps, connecting the listening device to his phone.
Holding the phone to his ear to give the illusion of a call, he focused his perception on the private room.
...
"Gentlemen, this is our signature dish. Please enjoy."
The young man, just as before, carefully placed the dishes on the table before leaving.
"Old Qian, what’s going on? Did you get a new wife?" Chen Bei teased with a smirk.
"Don’t talk nonsense. Let me introduce you—this is Feng Yue, owner of Moonlight Bar."
Qian Gang pointed at Feng Yue.
Feng Yue smiled politely and said, "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chen. This is my sister, Zhou Wen. She owns a beauty salon."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Chen."
Zhou Wen offered a mature, charming smile.
There was no denying it—women like her were like poison to men like Qian Gang and Chen Bei.
"Nice to meet you both."
Chen Bei played dumb, turning to Qian Gang with a questioning look. "So, what’s really going on?"
"Between brothers, I won’t lie to you."
Qian Gang poured Chen Bei a glass of wine. "But let’s drink first. We’ll talk after a few rounds."
"What’s this about? You’re making me nervous."
Chen Bei frowned.
"Mr. Chen, I’ve heard from Mr. Qian that you’re a man of great capacity. Let me toast you first."
Zhou Wen raised her glass and downed it in one go.
Seeing this, Qian Gang patted Chen Bei’s shoulder. "Don’t embarrass me now. She drank first—you can’t refuse a few glasses, can you?"
Chen Bei had no choice but to drink along.
After several rounds, everyone at the table was slightly tipsy.
Qian Gang, sensing the right moment, let out a heavy sigh before speaking. "Old Chen, I’ve made a mistake. I need your help!"
Chen Bei furrowed his brows. "What happened?"
"The formula materials Mr. Xu entrusted me to safeguard—I let someone else get their hands on them."
Qian Gang wiped his face with his hand.
"So that’s why the prices suddenly spiked these past few days. It was you!"
Though Chen Bei already knew, having worked with Xu Shou for so long, he knew how to keep his composure.
His face was a picture of shock.
"I had no choice. I was threatened. You know my son—he’s no better than Xu Mu. Someone set him up. If I didn’t hand it over, he’d go to prison!"
Qian Gang downed another glass of liquor.
"Old Qian, you know the Chairman’s temperament. Given our history, he’ll forgive you if you just admit your mistake. Go apologize."
Chen Bei patted Qian Gang’s shoulder. "Even if they have the materials, without the exact process and ratios, replicating it won’t be easy."
"It’s too late. The evidence against my son is still in their hands."
Qian Gang grabbed Chen Bei’s shoulders. "Brother, I’m begging you—give me the documents you have."
"Qian Gang! Have you lost your mind? You want me to betray the company too?"
Chen Bei’s expression darkened.
As seasoned veterans, they both knew it would be suspicious if Chen Bei handed over the documents too easily.
"I’m begging you. I just want to save my son! I swear, if you give me the documents, I’ll hand over everything I own to you."
Qian Gang stood up and bowed deeply. "Brother, please!"
"No! This isn’t negotiable. I’ve been loyal to the Chairman for decades. I won’t betray him!"
Chen Bei rose abruptly.
Before coming, he had spoken to Xu Shou on the phone and shared his plan—to reject Qian Gang outright during the first meeting and leave immediately.
Xu Shou had agreed. Only by being resolute would they not suspect the falsified documents later.
But just as Chen Bei stood up, his vision blurred, and he collapsed back into his seat.
"Old Qian… the wine… it’s drugged…"
Chen Bei struggled to keep his eyes open, but his eyelids refused to obey.
"Old Chen, I’m sorry. The wine was fine—it was your glass."
Qian Gang sighed deeply. "I know you too well. You’d never give them to me willingly, so I had to resort to this."
"What are you planning to do to me?"
Chen Bei was stunned. He never expected Qian Gang to be this ruthless—drugging him at their first meeting.
"Sister Zhou Wen here will take some… intimate photos with you. If you refuse, those photos will be leaked."
Qian Gang’s expression was cold. "Your wife, Xu Shou—everyone will see them. You’ll be ruined."
"Qian Gang! After twenty years of friendship, this is how you treat me?" Chen Bei roared.
"I’m sorry. I really have no choice."
Qian Gang exhaled heavily.
At the same time, Chen Bei slumped forward onto the table, unconscious.
...
Watching from afar, Xu Mu shook his head slightly. The saying was true—business was war.
He was considering whether to go to the rescue.
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
e school belle recognized by the whole school, a genius girl from the kendo club. She also has a hidden identity, the youngest legendary demon hunter. Chen Shuo just transmigrated and found himself turned into a weak, helpless little vampire. He was caught by Su Xiyen and taken home at the very beginning. Since then, Chen Shuo's life creed only had two items. "First, classmate Su Xiyen is always right." "Second, if classmate Su Xiyen is wrong, please refer back to item one." Many years later, Chen Shuo, who had turned back into a human, led a pair of twins to appear in front of all the vampires to share the secret of how he turned back into a human. "It's simple, I tricked a female demon hunter into becoming my wife!"