Shen Wuxiao couldn’t be bothered to think about Lin Fan anymore.
This wasn’t a game of chess between equals—it was complete domination. There was no contest.
Just as he was relaxing, two masked figures—one man and one woman—rushed into the villa from the left and right with fierce expressions.
They burst into haughty laughter.
Shen Wuxiao was speechless when he saw them.
He had forgotten to tell Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu that Jiang Huaiyue was now on his side. There was no need for this little performance anymore.
But the commotion outside caught Jiang Huaiyue’s attention.
She was walking out from the kitchen, holding two bowls of late-night noodles.
Uncle Wu froze for a moment before pulling out a dagger and pressing it against Shen Wuxiao’s neck. He glared at Jiang Huaiyue.
“Don’t move. I heard you were still asking about our young master. You just don’t learn your lesson!”“We came here tonight to teach you a warning. Do it again, and we won’t show mercy!” Aunt Wu spun her dagger threateningly, her expression fierce.
Jiang Huaiyue was completely unamused.
Still putting on an act?
She walked over and calmly placed the noodles on the dining table.
Then, looking at Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu, she said, “There’s more in the pot. Want some?”
“Ah?” Aunt Wu blinked, caught off guard. Then she immediately snapped back into character, barking, “Shut it! You think this is a joke?”
“You’ve been repeatedly asking about our young master’s whereabouts. Are you tired of living?”
Jiang Huaiyue sighed, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “Then what do you plan to do? Tie us up again and toss us on the bed to take photos?”
Aunt Wu huffed. “This is your final warning!”
Uncle Wu, sensing something off about Jiang Huaiyue’s calm demeanor, started to feel doubtful. Could it be… their relationship had already progressed?
Still holding the dagger to Shen Wuxiao’s neck, he warned again, “Girl, don’t test me. I’ll slit his throat right now!”
Shen Wuxiao shrugged and gave Jiang Huaiyue a pitiful look. “Yue’er, I’m scared…”
Jiang Huaiyue stood up and walked over to him. “Okay, okay, you’re scared. I’ll comfort you after we finish our midnight snack, alright?”
Shen Wuxiao nodded like an obedient child. “Alright, alright.”
Uncle Wu was confused, but the reality was obvious—the relationship was real.
Their mission was already complete.
Now that it was over, they needed to wrap things up gracefully to avoid blowing their cover.
Uncle Wu growled, “You two really don’t take us seriously, do you?”
Jiang Huaiyue stepped forward, brushed away the dagger in his hand, and pulled Shen Wuxiao to his feet. “Enough already. Stop playing around. Let’s eat and shower.”
Then she glanced at Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu. “There’s still food in the pot. Go serve yourselves.”
Shen Wuxiao smiled. “I told her already, so stop pretending.”
Realizing they’d been exposed, Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu removed their masks and immediately apologized to Jiang Huaiyue.
“Young Madam, please forgive our recklessness.”
Jiang Huaiyue rolled her eyes at Shen Wuxiao. “You’re the one who told them to do it. Why are they apologizing to me?”
She turned to Aunt Wu. “And those photos?”
Aunt Wu quickly waved her hands. “No, no! Those were fake. Nothing was saved. Madam, please don’t worry!”
Only then did Jiang Huaiyue feel slightly at ease.
She didn’t want any of those images circulating. Aunt Wu was a woman, so it was tolerable—but any leak would be a disaster.
“Alright, Uncle Wu, Aunt Wu, eat something before heading back,” Shen Wuxiao said with a wave.
The two put down their props and rushed into the kitchen.
Moments later, they came out with steaming bowls of chicken noodle soup.
“Yue’er,” Shen Wuxiao said gently, “let me introduce them again. This is Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu. They were assigned by my family to protect me.”
“Technically, they also keep an eye on me.”
“If you ever need anything done in the future, just contact them directly.”
Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu nodded respectfully. “Young Madam, if you ever need anything, just say the word.”
“We hope you don’t take our earlier behavior to heart. We’re truly sorry.”
Just minutes ago, they had been acting so menacing. Now their tone had softened completely—it was a little awkward.
Jiang Huaiyue wasn’t the type to hold grudges over trivial matters. After all, it had all been Shen Wuxiao’s arrangement.
“It’s fine. Let’s just eat,” she said with a smile.
Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu sighed in relief.
They hadn’t expected the young madam to be so easygoing. It seemed the matter had passed.
They had watched Shen Wuxiao grow up. Despite his ruthless streak, he had always treated them with respect.
There were no formalities during the meal—everyone sat at the same table.
“Uncle Wu,” Shen Wuxiao said, nibbling on a chicken drumstick, “are there any major events or banquets in Zhonghai lately?”
Uncle Wu paused and thought for a moment. “Yes. The former top leader of Zhonghai was under investigation for some time, and his position has remained vacant.”
“But someone new has been appointed. There’s going to be a formal banquet at the Ziyang Trade Exhibition the day after tomorrow. All the major companies in the city will be attending.”
Shen Wuxiao smiled. “Sounds like a big one.”
“Perfect. Time to meet some people.”
He guessed that Liu Ruyan and Lin Fan would attend too. They desperately needed connections within the system.
Of course, Shen Wuxiao didn’t believe they were foolish enough to use those connections against him—but they might want an escape route or a safety net.
Otherwise, they’d stay weak and hesitant forever.
He had already decided to go.
After all, if he wanted to keep collecting points, he needed to keep interacting with the protagonist.
This kind of information wasn’t hard to find. Shen Wuxiao knew about it, so Liu Ruyan could easily dig it up as well.
And in fact, Shen Wuxiao wasn’t wrong.
Liu Ruyan was shrewd. She was doing everything she could to build a stronger foundation.
Getting close to the new leader was her top priority—for protection, not provocation.
At this moment, Shen Wuxiao didn’t view them as threats.
But if he started using his legal and political connections, they’d lose without a fight.
That’s why meeting the top leader in secret was vital. In urgent times, someone in power could make a difference.
At least in the Zhonghai region, within the rules, the top leader’s word carried weight.
Liu Ruyan obtained this key piece of information and quickly contacted Lin Fan.
The call connected.
Lin Fan’s voice was hoarse and weary.
He hadn’t yet recovered from the mental collapse caused by Shen Wuxiao’s call the night before.
The moment he closed his eyes, he would see Shen Wuxiao “standing up and kicking,” haunting his mind.
His mental state was wrecked.
“Miss Liu, what is it?” he asked in a defeated tone.
“Lin Fan, I did some digging,” Liu Ruyan said calmly. “Tomorrow, Gao Yulang—the new head of Zhonghai—will be visiting the development zone to check the progress on the Zhengfu project.”
“I want you to meet him.”
Lin Fan was stunned. “Meet the top leader? Just like that?”
He wasn’t part of the system, but even he knew such things weren’t so simple.
If it were easy to meet someone in that position, businessmen would be crawling over themselves already.
Liu Ruyan frowned. “I’m not asking you to just walk up and say hello. I want you to save him.”
“Save him?” Lin Fan blinked. “You mean…”