"Miss Ming, you finally graced us with your presence, only to leave without a word?"
Manager Wang put his arm around Ming Zhi Rou and led her to the dining table. His hand was not idle, as he pinched and caressed her shoulder. He even made a move to slide lower.
Ming Zhi Rou grabbed Manager Wang's hand and shook it off. Her face flushed crimson. "Manager Wang! We are partners, please show me some respect!"
She gritted her teeth, but dared not show her anger. Manager Wang burst into laughter, not taking offense. He swayed slightly and sat back down. "Alright, Miss Ming, I respect you immensely... So, where is the merchandise?"
Ming Zhi Rou pursed her lips. She could tell Manager Wang was merely placating her. He looked down on her from the bottom of his heart. This man, who had been as humble as a dog before her father, even currying favor with her to appease her father. Now he treated her with such disdain? What did he take her for?
Ming Zhi Rou was furious, but she was the one who needed his help. While she considered herself a partner, Manager Wang was the one footing the bill. Ming Zhi Rou took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping across the cramped, dingy private room. There were four people in total, including Manager Wang. Two were middle-aged businessmen with the typical receding hairlines and beer bellies. The fourth was handsome and exceptionally distinguished, setting him apart from the other three. They had all clearly had a lot to drink, their faces beaming with smug excitement. The way they looked at Ming Zhi Rou made her feel like… like a piece of merchandise, just like the young models and internet celebrities she had associated with them, someone they could pick and choose at any time.
Clenching her fists, Ming Zhi Rou took small steps, moving behind the only handsome man in the room, as if seeking his protection. The man maintained a condescending smile, his lips curling in satisfaction as he watched Ming Zhi Rou attach herself to him. Seeing this, the other three quickly withdrew their gazes from Ming Zhi Rou and chuckled, "Naturally, we will respect anyone associated with the second master of the Chi family. We all work for Second Master Chi, how could we not respect you?"
Indeed. The handsome middle-aged man was Chi Xian's uncle, the second master of the Chi family, Chi Zong Han.
When Chi Zong Han's face appeared on Ming Zheng's phone screen, transmitted through the small camera on Ming Zhi Rou, Ming Zheng's eyebrows subtly rose. She turned the phone screen towards Chi Xian. "My guess was right, it's him after all."
Ever since Ming Zhi Rou returned to the Ming family, she had found it peculiar. Given Ming Zhi Rou's personality, she would never have returned to the Ming family at this juncture unless she had found something beneficial to herself. The compensation of one hundred million yuan was enough to exhaust all the love her parents had for her. Later, after learning the full story from Ming Yan Lun, she became even more curious about who was behind Ming Zhi Rou. Then, she recalled something Chi Xian had once mentioned…
The Chi family's terrain was treacherous, with countless formations and illusions set up along the path to their residence. It was impossible for ordinary people to successfully reach the Chi family. After all, the Chi family was a reclusive, prominent clan, renowned worldwide. If the Chi family's address were ever leaked, wouldn't everyone flock to catch a glimpse of this legendary family of cultivators? The entrance to the Chi family would likely be thronged with people.
So… how did Ming Zhi Rou find the Chi family? And how did she manage to appear at the Chi family's doorstep? Unless… Ming Zhi Rou had the guidance of a formidable formation-breaking expert behind her. Or, it could only be… someone from the Chi family had provided Ming Zhi Rou with the route to the Chi family. And who else would do such a thing, other than Chi Zong Han, who intended to seize control of the Chi family? Therefore, Ming Zheng had decided from the outset to use Ming Zhi Rou to lure out the person behind her.
Ming Zheng revealed a teasing smile, propping her chin with one hand. She playfully tilted her red lips and said, "Darling, it seems your clean-up work wasn't quite thorough."
Chi Xian's gaze briefly settled on the person on the screen, his eyes darkening slightly. Last time, after foiling Chi Zong Han's conspiracy, the Grand Elder was incapacitated, and Chi Zong Han's authority within the Chi family was completely revoked. Chi Xian had also broken one of Chi Zong Han's legs, expelled him from the Chi family, banished him from Xiadu, and sent him to a remote mountainous region. To think… he was still in Xiadu. This meant he had a mole by his side, concealing all of Chi Zong Han's movements.
Therefore… Chi Zong Han was behind Ming Zhi Rou's entire operation. His objective, inevitably, was him. And the Chi family behind him. Chi Xian suppressed the churning darkness in his eyes. He slowly reached out and grasped Ming Zheng's slender wrist, pulling her and her phone into his embrace. His low, husky voice whispered, "It's my fault. I've caused you trouble, Zheng Bao."
Ming Zheng suddenly stumbled into his embrace. His warm breath, up close, brushed against her cheeks and the skin of her ears. His soft tone, like a feather, brushed against Ming Zheng's eardrums, tickling her heart. Ming Zheng turned her face away, avoiding his closeness. Then, with a gesture of camaraderie, she patted Chi Xian's shoulder. "It's okay, I'll handle this loose end for you." If this loose end hadn't been left untied, she wouldn't have witnessed such a dramatic scene. And she wouldn't have obtained such direct evidence of Ming Zhi Rou's betrayal and sale of the Ming family. She was now immensely curious, and incredibly eager, to see the expressions on the faces of the entire Ming family after they saw these videos and heard Ming Zhi Rou's words.
Ming Zheng shifted in Chi Xian's arms, her gaze returning to the phone screen. In the surveillance feed, Ming Zhi Rou breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously moved a step closer to Chi Zong Han, resting both hands on the back of his chair. She cleared her throat and said, "I have the things you want ready, but I must see the money first."
Manager Wang narrowed his eyes, about to slam the table. But seeing Chi Zong Han, he suppressed his anger and asked in a low voice, "What do you mean by that?"
"The merchandise is in a very secure location. I'll tell you where it is only after you give me the money first," Ming Zhi Rou said, being cautious when dealing with these people. If she foolishly handed over the goods directly, and they refused to pay and then silenced her, she would suffer a great loss. Ming Zhi Rou trusted no one, not even Chi Zong Han. All she wanted was the money.