"Yes, the Zhan family's probability of finding out is one hundred percent," Kai said, pausing for a few seconds. He noticed Catherine's furrowed brow and added, "We can delay them, but the Zhan family will eventually find us."
"I understand."
A flicker of killing intent crossed Catherine's face. After careful consideration, she abandoned the idea of taking a risk to rescue Wei Jin.
Wei Anguo knew they needed him, but he didn't know what leverage they had found, so he posed no threat.
For a mere Wei Anguo, offending the Zhan family at this critical juncture was not worth it.
"Miss initially wanted to spare Wei Anguo's life, but it seems that's no longer possible," Kai said, clearly understanding Catherine's thoughts, which further solidified her resolve.
"Yes, tell them to finish Wei Anguo. Remember to be clean."
Catherine no longer dwelled on the matter. She drained the red wine from her glass and placed it on the table.
Under the cover of night, the woman, dressed in a dazzling red dress, performed a bold move that made Kai glance sideways.
Catherine noticed the person behind her hadn't left and turned her gaze to her side. The red wine made her lips appear even more vibrant.
"Yes, Miss."
Kai keenly sensed Catherine's gaze and obediently lowered his eyes, his voice tinged with its usual huskiness.
"You've worked hard following me from Country Y to here. Take this card and have fun in Pengcheng."
Catherine remembered something, opened a drawer, and took out a black card.
Facing the man who had been with her since childhood, Catherine was not stingy.
"Yes, Miss."
Kai mechanically repeated, his eyes fixed on Catherine a few steps away. The black card was in her hand, not on the table.
She treated him differently than ordinary servants in her household.
Kai moved swiftly, appearing before Catherine. He dared not look at her for too long. After taking the black card, he vanished from her sight in an instant.
Her fingers, contrasted by the black card, appeared even fairer. That image remained etched in Kai's mind.
He closed his eyes, concealing his unspoken emotions, and touched the spot where Catherine had just been.
Fortunately, he left quickly; the black card still held the warmth of her touch.
Several men in black had shed their disguises and were looking at Kai's position with confusion. He leaned against a nearby wall, the dim light casting a textured sheen on his black hair.
"The boss is acting up again."
Xiao Mu was used to such scenes. He casually grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and crunched them loudly, his baby face a stark contrast to his bloody and combative nature.
A slap landed on the back of Xiao Mu's head. He yelped and looked at the culprit, Xiao Jin, who nonchalantly adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Respect the boss."
Xiao Jin's force was not strong, like swatting a mosquito. Everyone was accustomed to Xiao Mu's loose tongue.
Kai also shook off his wandering thoughts and slowly walked towards the group, his hands casually in his pockets.
"Miss has given out rewards. I've already transferred them to your bank accounts."
"Understood, boss."
The group nodded, except for Xiao Mu, who grumbled in dissatisfaction. He toyed with the butterfly knife in his hand, and only under Xiao Jin's warning glare did he reluctantly say, "Okay."
Money was an external possession to people like them; it was just a matter of a few actions, not a great attraction.
Kai didn't dwell on Xiao Mu's reaction. Although the boy appeared restless, he was, in fact, more loyal to Kai than anyone else, merely unhappy with his current situation.
"Boss, what did Miss say about Wei Anguo?"
Xiao Jin asked. From Kai's demeanor, it seemed he had just returned from Catherine.
"Miss ordered that for the Wei Anguo matter, we should just 'handle' the person. Remember to be clean," Kai replied in a low voice. Before he finished speaking, a disdainful voice rang out.
"I knew Miss would say this. We should have killed that uncle back then. Why wait for Miss to decide? It saves us running back and forth, such a hassle!"
Xiao Mu's muttering echoed in the spacious living room. The air suddenly froze, and the atmosphere became eerily silent, so quiet that one could hear a needle drop.
Before anyone could react, Xiao Mu was slammed against the pillar behind him with a loud thud. Kai, with lightning speed, clamped his large hand around Xiao Mu's neck.
The crisp crack of bones reached everyone's ears. Xiao Mu's face turned red, and his hands grasped Kai's large hand.
"Boss!" The remaining four men looked flustered and urgently called out to Kai.
"Bo... boss, you should be like this, not..." lurking by a woman's side.
Xiao Mu stubbornly looked at Kai with red eyes, determined to speak. His throat was filled with the choking taste of blood, yet he grew more excited.
However, he couldn't finish his words.
A terrifying aura surrounded Kai, and his bangs couldn't conceal his cold, gleaming eyes. He wordlessly choked Xiao Mu, slowly tightening his grip.
"Boss, Xiao Mu's words are always harsh, but this child has always respected you deeply. Please, for the sake of the years we've spent together, spare him!"
Xiao Jin's voice was filled with urgency. He didn't dare step forward to stop Kai, as it would only be counterproductive. He could only shake his head at Xiao Mu, signaling him to stop talking.
Kai looked at Xiao Mu mercilessly. He suddenly loosened his grip, and Xiao Mu, like a discarded doll, crashed to the floor with a thud.
Xiao Jin and the others rushed forward to help Xiao Mu, checking his condition. Xiao Shui pressed a few points on his neck, and Xiao Mu coughed up a mouthful of dark blood onto the floor, gasping for air.
"You must respect Miss Lin even more than you respect me. Do you understand?"
Kai glanced at Xiao Mu indifferently. He put his hands behind his back, his black eyes as dark and emotionless as the night.
Xiao Jin quickly patted Xiao Mu's back, urging him to quickly agree with Kai. The others were very anxious.
"Understood. Disrespecting Miss was my fault. I apologize, boss."
Xiao Mu quietly looked at Kai. The distance between them seemed immense. He showed a childlike smile, and a trickle of blood ran down the corner of his mouth.
"You should apologize to Miss, not me."
Kai no longer looked at Xiao Mu. He uttered these words, then turned and vanished from their sight.
Xiao Jin breathed a sigh of relief. He glared at Xiao Mu with disappointment, and seeing that Kai's anger had subsided, he shoved Xiao Mu away.
"Ow! Big brother, you're too heartless!" Xiao Mu cried out, rolling on the floor several times before landing face-down with a thud.
"Hmph, next time you'll clean up your own mess!" Xiao Jin, knowing he wouldn't die, angrily walked upstairs.
The other men offered Xiao Mu a few words of concern, and then the five dispersed, returning to their respective rooms.