Perhaps due to the weather, the surroundings felt exceptionally desolate, with only the rhythmic patter of raindrops falling on the umbrella.
The rain was cold, but Chi Mu paid it no mind.
She walked through the lightless corridor, and what greeted her eyes was an expanse of silver-black buildings.
Just like the mafia gathering spots depicted in television dramas, the area around the Duan Family Gang exuded an overwhelming aura of solemnity and menace.
Chi Mu looked up. Within the vast compound, towering structures loomed hazily through the rain, like slumbering giants lurking in the shadows, evoking an inexplicable sense of oppression and dread.
She couldn’t help but take a deep breath, her footsteps on the wet ground growing increasingly resolute.
Yet, she still couldn’t understand why such a massive organization like the Duan Family Gang would summon a minor figure like her to sign a contract so insignificant it was almost negligible.
The closer she got, the more suffocating the atmosphere became.
Finally, she stopped at the main entrance of the Duan Family Gang.
This was the core territory of the gang, inaccessible to outsiders without an invitation.
Standing there, Chi Mu clenched the hem of her clothes, her legs feeling somewhat unsteady.
Gazing at the towering, heavy door, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe, wondering what storms lay hidden behind it.
Meanwhile, inside the Duan Family Gang.
A man sat elegantly in the center of a black sofa, his legs crossed. He leaned casually against the backrest, one arm draped over it.
The collar of his black shirt was slightly open, revealing his collarbone.
Between his slender fingers, he held a half-smoked cigarette.
His gaze was fixed on a massive 1000-inch screen, his eyes deep and contemplative.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, fine raindrops tapped against the glass, the rain seemingly growing heavier.
On the screen, the girl had reached the entrance. From the moment she got into the car earlier, she had been under the man’s surveillance.
She seemed to be trying hard to conceal her nervousness, never once looking back as she walked.
A faint, unrestrained smile curled at the corner of the man’s lips.
Finally, he saw the girl pause outside the door.
Three years had passed, yet her face remained as breathtakingly beautiful as ever.
It was a pity, though, that he could no longer find any trace of the past in her features—not even the fleeting gentleness that once lingered in the corners of her eyes and brows…
His girl seemed to have changed a little more.
“Master Duan, she’s here,” a black-clad subordinate standing nearby said respectfully.
Hearing this, the man lowered his gaze, extinguished the cigarette butt between his fingers, and tossed it into the trash. He then glanced at his wristwatch and murmured, “Perfect timing.”
With that, he stood up and walked toward the adjacent reception room.
Outside and inside were like two different worlds.
Within the Forbidden Zone, countless Heavenly Eyes monitored Chi Mu’s every move, even accurately analyzing her breathing rate and pulse frequency.
This time, once she stepped inside, there would be no escape for her.
Meanwhile, outside the door, just as Chi Mu was wondering how to enter, the mysterious door swung open automatically.
“Miss Chi, Mr. Duan requests your presence.”
Not only was the entrance heavily guarded, but even the guards wore metal masks, making it impossible to see their faces.
Their attitude toward Chi Mu left her utterly surprised!It’s said that the mafia is ruthless and cruel, but these people before her… why do they seem… especially polite to her?
Chi Mu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in agreement and followed them inside.
Along the way, she remained silent, trying to minimize her presence as much as possible.
Until they reached the reception room.
“Miss Chi, please wait here for Mr. Duan.”
After the black-clad subordinate finished speaking, he turned and left.
Once he was gone, the spacious and luxurious reception room was left with only Chi Mu.
The vast space was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, yet Chi Mu couldn’t shake the illusion that many dangers were hidden in this room.
She pursed her lips and was about to sit down when suddenly—
The sound of footsteps echoed, the dull thud of leather shoes on ceramic tiles, especially jarring in the deathly silent room.
Chi Mu turned sharply—
The door of the reception room was opened by two black-clad subordinates, and a flood of light poured in, enveloping a tall figure.
Backlit, she couldn’t clearly see the man’s face, but the atmosphere made Chi Mu stiffen involuntarily.
For a moment, she felt a chilling sensation, as if she were being watched by a venomous snake.
Is he… the master of the Duan Family?
She unconsciously tightened her grip on her skirt, feeling a wave of nervousness at that moment.
As the man’s steps drew closer, under his overwhelming intimidation, Chi Mu instinctively took a step back.
But when his tall, slender figure came into view, she mustered the courage to lift her head slightly.
The man stood against the light, and she couldn’t fully make out his features, but his silhouette felt vaguely familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it.
“Miss Chi, have you remembered me now?” A cold inquiry suddenly rang in her ears.
Chi Mu was stunned, running through all her memories in her mind. She did find him familiar, but she truly didn’t know him.
This strange sense of familiarity was just too odd.
She shook her head, her tone tinged with confusion: “Mr. Duan, have we… met before?”
The man glanced at Chi Mu, paused for a few seconds, then parted his thin lips and uttered a few words indifferently: “I had the fortune of witnessing Miss Chi’s dance, and it left a lasting impression.”
Hearing this, surprise flashed in Chi Mu’s eyes.
A man of Duan Yanxing’s stature had actually visited their theater? How could she have no memory of it at all?
So…
Was this opportunity to collaborate with the Duan Family because Duan Yanxing had seen her dance?
Though shocked, Chi Mu maintained her composure on the surface. She smiled and said, “I see. So that’s why Mr. Duan chose me to oversee the Duan Family’s performance affairs?”
The man’s lips curved slightly: “Yes.”
Chi Mu breathed a sigh of relief: “Then, what would you like me to do for you?”
Her question brought a hint of a wild smile to Duan Yanxing’s lips.
He slowly stepped forward.
When he was only a meter away, Chi Mu instinctively began to retreat, but the man’s steps didn’t stop, continuing to approach her unhurriedly.
Until his tall figure loomed over her petite frame.
He leaned down, and a refreshing scent of mint washed over her.
“That’s an interesting question.”
At his words, Chi Mu’s heart suddenly raced. She swallowed nervously and didn’t respond.
Duan Yanxing quickly noticed her fluster, after all, every move she made exuded the innocence of a young girl.
Three years had passed, and his girl was still this inexperienced.Indeed, his treasure was so delicate and fragile, she should be kept sheltered, protected, pampered, and cherished by him.
And the earlier test had clearly been successful—his Wanwan had completely forgotten his face.
Excellent.
What he needed to do next was to make her completely forget all those unpleasant things.
Duan Yanxing’s thin lips curved slightly. “Don’t be nervous, it’s just a simple transaction.”
With that, he gestured to his subordinate beside him.
The subordinate nodded, then slowly approached the two of them with a tray.
Wine? A contract?
Chi Mu stared blankly at the tray in her hands.
“Miss Chi, please.” The man’s lazy voice came again.
Chi Mu bit her lip, looking at the exquisite white jade cup in front of her, then hesitated and glanced at him. In the end, she extended her left hand and grasped the glass stem.
She slowly raised her eyes to look at Duan Yanxing, only to find the man’s gaze fixed on her hand, his eyes dark and unfathomable, deep and inscrutable.
She pursed her lips. To secure the cooperation with the Duan Family, she had no choice but to down the cup of red liquid in one go.
But this liquid seemed…
not to be wine…
Pain, why did her body hurt so much…
“Hiss…”