Chapter Twenty-Six: The Methods of the Liu Family

After Qin Feng left, Liu Yong and another man in black supported each other as they staggered out. At that moment, a sedan sped over and stopped next to them. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a handsome face.

“Young Master Wen, we did everything as you instructed,” Liu Yong said.

If Liu Yuanhang were present, he would have recognized this man immediately—it was none other than Wen Bin, Liu Yuanhang’s close friend.

“Good. Do you remember what I told you? Not a word of this can be leaked,” Wen Bin replied with a nod.

Liu Yong nodded in return. “We understand.”

With that, they got into the car. After driving for a few minutes, Wen Bin got out and transferred to another vehicle.

Meanwhile, at the top floor of the hotel, Liu Yuanhang sat on a sofa.

“Dad, can we close the net now?” Liu Yuanhang asked.

“Not yet. Wait a little longer,” his father replied with a wave of his hand.

“Why?” Liu Yuanhang pressed, puzzled.

“There’s a bigger fish that hasn’t bitten yet,” his father snorted coldly.

Liu Yuanhang nodded and did not ask further. His father took out his phone and dialed a number. The call connected quickly, and a deep, aged voice came through.

“Hello, Chairman Liu, what can I do for you?” the old, resonant voice inquired.

“Uncle Li, I need you to check something for me. Did Lin Zhennan bring home a young man tonight, about twenty years old?” Liu’s father said calmly.

“Understood,” came the reply, accompanied by a slight nod.

After hanging up, Liu’s father leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest. Though the Liu Group was a major enterprise in Jianghai and ranked high even in all of Jiangnan Province, the true power behind the company was him. He commanded immense wealth and influence; even in Jiangzhou, no one dared to ignore him.

“Lin Zhennan, I hope you won’t disappoint me,” he muttered, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.

He was determined to swallow the Lin Group whole. Initially, he had hoped to unite the families through marriage, but since the other party had spurned his goodwill, he would have to resort to force.

…

In the villa complex of Jianghai Garden, Qin Feng returned home, showered, changed, and rested. The next morning, he woke up and prepared to go to work at Jadeite Pavilion—after all, he was on their payroll. Even if he was seldom needed, he still had to display the proper attitude.

When Qin Feng arrived at Jadeite Pavilion, he happened upon a group of apprentices cutting raw jade.

“Consultant Qin!” they greeted him respectfully as he entered.

“Carry on, I’m just here to look around,” Qin Feng replied with a nod.

“Alright!” the others responded cheerfully.

They all understood that anyone capable of uncovering jade worth over a hundred million yuan could hardly be ordinary—especially since Qin Feng’s mentor was Master Yan, a titan in the jade world.

Qin Feng made his way to the stone-gambling hall, which was as crowded as ever. This time, he didn’t linger but headed straight for Lin Wanting’s office.

He pushed open the carved wooden door. A subtle fragrance of jasmine mingled with the scent of books and wood, calming Qin Feng’s heart.

Inside, sunlight filtered through half-open curtains onto a tidy desk. Lin Wanting was reviewing documents, her long hair tied up, with a few loose strands falling softly around her cheeks, adding a touch of gentleness to her beauty.

Hearing the door, Lin Wanting looked up in surprise, which quickly melted into a warm smile.

“Qin Feng, what brings you here? Aren’t you supposed to be studying carving with Master Yan today?”

Qin Feng smiled faintly and took a seat across from her. “I wanted to talk to you about something—about Liu Yuanhang.”

Lin Wanting’s brows knitted slightly, showing her sensitivity to the name. “What about him now?”

Qin Feng recounted what had happened the previous night on the outskirts, then looked earnestly into her eyes. “I know your feelings toward him are complicated, but I hope you’ll be on your guard.”

Lin Wanting was silent for a moment, gently tracing the edge of her document as she pondered. Her eyes reflected both gratitude for Qin Feng’s concern and confusion about Liu Yuanhang’s actions.

“Thank you for telling me, Qin Feng. In truth, I’ve sensed something off as well. But… some things aren’t as simple as they seem.”

“You mean, there are issues between your families beyond business rivalry that I don’t know about?” Qin Feng caught the deeper meaning in her words.

Lin Wanting nodded softly, a hint of helplessness in her tone.

“Yes. In recent years, the Liu family’s tactics have grown increasingly aggressive. My father has been working behind the scenes, trying to uncover their secrets. But these are murky waters, not easily navigated by people like us.”

Qin Feng listened, pondering quietly. He understood that by “murky waters,” Lin Wanting likely meant unsavory dealings best left unspoken. As her friend, he couldn’t stand idly by, but he would also have to act with caution, lest he became just another pawn in someone else’s game.

“Wanting, whatever happens between your families, I hope you’ll take care of yourself. If you ever need help, just ask.”

His tone was resolute, his gaze unwavering.

Lin Wanting looked up and met his eyes, visibly moved.

“Thank you, Qin Feng. I’m truly fortunate to have a friend like you.”

They exchanged a smile; for a moment, the atmosphere was warm and delicate.

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their quiet moment.

“President Lin, there’s a Mr. Wen Bin outside to see you. He says it’s urgent,” the secretary’s voice called from outside.

Lin Wanting’s brows furrowed again. She exchanged a meaningful glance with Qin Feng and sighed softly.

“Let him in.”

The door opened, and Wen Bin entered, impeccably dressed and smiling. But upon seeing Qin Feng, his smile faltered for an instant before resuming as if nothing had happened.

“President Lin, forgive me for dropping by unannounced,” Wen Bin greeted politely, though his gaze flickered toward Qin Feng.

Lin Wanting smiled faintly and gestured for him to sit. “You’re too polite, Mr. Wen. Please, go ahead.”

Wen Bin nodded, produced a document from his briefcase, and slid it across the desk to her.

“President Lin, I have some new ideas and proposals regarding our previous project. I’d like to discuss them with you.”

Lin Wanting took the file, skimmed a few pages, and her brows knitted together.

“Mr. Wen, these changes don’t seem to align with our original agreement.”

Wen Bin smiled, a hint of slyness barely perceptible in his expression.