I was jolted awake by the urge to pee. Rolling over, I realized my robe wasn’t on me but draped over as a blanket. I was naked underneath, alone in bed. I chuckled to myself, recalling the dream I’d just had—how pathetic, dreaming of Jing Lei, even getting intimate with her in my sleep.
It’s only been a few days apart, hasn’t it? Am I really that desperate?
I got up to use the bathroom and noticed the shower light was on. Lan Ya was in there, bathing.
I froze, suddenly remembering I’d slept with her last night. Could it be…?
I glanced at the discarded robe and checked myself…
Oh no, oh no, oh no! Everything in my dream was real, but it wasn’t Jing Lei—it was Lan Ya!
I smacked my head. How could I be such a scumbag? She’s my senior, my big sister figure! How could I do this?
Calming down, I realized something was off. It wasn’t me doing something to her—it was her doing something to me.
I was furious. I treated you like a brother, and you pull this on me? How am I supposed to face you now?
Suddenly, the door swung open with a whoosh. Lan Ya, dripping wet, appeared before me. She grinned, patted my shoulder, and said, “Not bad, kid. You’ve got some spice. I like it.”
Then she teased, “What, didn’t get enough of a look? Wanna stare a bit longer?”
Snapping out of it, I rushed into the shower, turned on the water, and frantically scrubbed myself.
Lan Ya, oh Lan Ya. I’m a man! How could you do this to me?
After thoroughly washing myself, I didn’t even bother drying off. I stormed out to where Lan Ya was sitting on the bed, blow-drying her hair. I grabbed her in a fierce embrace and launched a relentless counterattack.
I’m a man! You can’t do this to me! You can’t!
Lan Ya was startled at first but quickly caught on and played along, doing what she was supposed to do.
After a long while, both of us were drenched in sweat. Sitting up, Lan Ya laughed, “Well, that bath was a waste. Gotta shower again.”
I shot back, “That’s what you get for ambushing me. I was just getting even.”
Lan Ya grinned, “Now that’s my junior brother—man enough!”
Then she got up and headed to the shower.
I grabbed a cigarette from the bedside, lit it, and took a deep drag.
My phone rang. I scrambled to check it—it was Jing Lei. She asked if I wanted to grab lunch together. I told her I had a company meeting at noon and probably wouldn’t be free until the afternoon.
She hummed in acknowledgment, reminding me to eat on time. Ever since that months-long ordeal of being locked up, my appetite hasn’t been great, and she’s always worried I’d skip meals when I’m busy.
Just then, Lan Ya came out of the shower and told me to hurry up and wash. Leopard Bro said the meeting was about to start.
I said, “I’ll be quick. Let’s grab a bite outside; we’ve got time.”
After rinsing off, I came out to find Lan Ya already dressed and gone, saying she’d wait for me at the office. I hurriedly threw on my clothes and called for the cleaning staff to tidy the room.
Then my phone rang again—a strange number. Hardly anyone knows my number, so who could this be?
I hesitated but answered.
A male voice on the other end said, “You’d better pray my dad’s okay. If anything happens to him, I’ll make sure your family pays the price!” Then he hung up abruptly.
My hair stood on end. The Crown Prince? How did he get my number? Do we have a mole?
I racked my brain. Impossible. Besides the few people I trust, there’s only… only the Demoness!
Among casual acquaintances, only the Demoness knows my number. I called her once to save Xiao Hong, and she even asked whose number it was because she wanted to call me back.
It’s not surprising the Crown Prince knows the Demoness. He’s the type to cause trouble for Xiao Hong, and back when the Demoness was managing girls, someone like the Crown Prince, with his tastes, would naturally know her.
I knocked on the office door. Lan Ya got up, and we headed out.
I said, “The Crown Prince just called to threaten me.”
Lan Ya: “The Crown Prince? How does he know it was you?”
I replied, “Hardly anyone has my number, but he not only got it, he knows I’m involved. That means we’ve got a traitor.”
Lan Ya: “Who is it? Find them and take them out!”
I said, “I’m not sure yet, but if it’s her, she won’t get away. The Crown Prince is a dead fish now; we don’t need to worry about him. We’ve got bigger things to focus on.”
Lan Ya fell silent. We took the side elevator downstairs and grabbed a quick bite at the fast-food joint nearby.
Fast food is just for filling your stomach—cheap and plenty. We ate several bowls of rice, shocking everyone around us.
They probably thought we hadn’t eaten in days, the way we devoured the food.
I said, “Save some room. Sister Zhang’s treating us tonight.”
Lan Ya: “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’m stuffed!”
I laughed, “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d bring your eating habits to the dinner table and embarrass us both.”
Lan Ya: “Oh, you’re gonna pay for that. I’ll get you back!”
I teased, “Who announces their revenge? How’s that supposed to work?”
She started, “I’ll tell you, you old…” but stopped short, realizing it wasn’t the place to say “bitch.” She swallowed the word.
I held back a laugh, nearly hurting myself in the process.
Checking the time, I told her we had to hurry upstairs. I paid the bill, dragged her out, or she’d have gone for another bowl.
Sure enough, when we got upstairs, Leopard Bro was already on the office sofa.
I hurried to make tea while Lan Ya sat next to him.
Leopard Bro: “Word from the lumberyard is the Crown Prince is regrouping his forces for a showdown with us.”
I said, “I just got a call from him, threatening to make my family pay.”
Leopard Bro: “Looks like our move last night was a bit reckless, not well thought out. But it’s not a big deal. Him coming out in the open is better than hiding in the shadows. At least we know who we’re dealing with.”
He continued, “Last night, we hit their business hard, but their manpower wasn’t much affected. We only took out the hundred or so guarding the villa. They’ve got at least five or six hundred men total, not counting the two hundred armed guys on the other side. We targeted Kang Gong, but ignored his forces. Even without Kang Gong, the Crown Prince can still call the shots and deploy his troops!”
I nodded. From how he mobilized forces to attack Big World last night, it’s clear the Crown Prince is second only to Kang Gong in the Kang Group. If he’s set on taking us down, we’re still in deep trouble!
And the Crown Prince is even more reckless and unhinged, with no regard for consequences!
Lan Ya: “Hua Zi just said the Crown Prince got his number from someone, which led to this retaliation. We suspect there’s a mole among us.”