“Sister Erdong, are you hurt?”
When Erdong appeared before Long Xun again, Long Xun nervously looked her up and down. Erdong shook her head and knelt on the floor.
“Your subordinate failed in her duties. Please punish me, Miss.”
Long Xun quickly stepped forward to pull Erdong up. In her heart, Erdong was not a subordinate but family. Without Erdong’s companionship over all these years, how could she have ever emerged from the shadows of her past?
“Sister Erdong, I’ve told you—even if you are my subordinate in name, in my heart, you are my sister, my family. Without your protection all these years, I wouldn’t be who I am today. You’ve suffered a grievance this time, and I’ve noted this debt. I will settle all accounts with them, new and old alike.”
A flash of ruthlessness crossed Long Xun’s eyes. To save Erdong’s life, she had been forced to compromise, but compromise did not mean she wouldn’t seek revenge. She had promised she wouldn’t personally cause trouble for those people, but she never said the Long family wouldn’t.
“Miss, it was inappropriate to let those people go just for my sake,” Erdong said. Knowing the price Long Xun paid for her life made her feel even more uneasy.
“I won’t let them go. I’ve simply moved my operations into the shadows. Now, go home, take a bath, and get some sleep. I’m giving you a week off to rest properly.”
“Yes. Your subordinate takes her leave.”
As Erdong withdrew, Long Xun picked up a crystal glass from the table and smashed it against the floor. Glass shards flew everywhere, scratching some of the subordinates standing nearby. Her resentment toward those few enemies grew heavier than ever. She swore that she would see them meet a miserable end, even if it cost her own life.
Inside the office of the Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Yang Guang stood before the Director, her police uniform crisp and sharp. From behind the desk, the middle-aged Director studied her.
“Yang Guang, we want to send you in as an undercover agent. Of course, the risk of this mission is extremely high. You have the right to refuse.”
The Director waited patiently for her answer. Yang Guang thought for a moment and then gave a standard military salute.
“I accept the mission.”
“Very good. Yang Guang, I am sending you into the Long family organization to gather evidence so we can wipe them out in one fell swoop. In a few days, we will find an excuse to dismiss you from the police force. I am your superior; you only need to follow my arrangements and report your leads to me. Any questions?”
Hearing Long Xun’s name, Yang Guang subconsciously frowned. A flash of pain crossed her eyes. Master, if your soul is watching from heaven, please protect me so I can complete this mission and avenge you.
“No questions.”
She spoke firmly, and the Director nodded with satisfaction. “Go back and prepare.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yang Guang saluted again and left. Not long after she was gone, the Director dialed a number.
“Eldest Miss, everything is proceeding smoothly. It won’t be long before the Long family disappears.”
The Director, who had been so stern just moments ago, was now wearing a fawning smile, his tone thick with flattery.
“Well done.”
The person on the other end said only those two words before hanging up. The Director put down the phone and smiled at the thought of his bright future.
A few days later, Yang Guang was expelled from the police force for supposedly letting a suspect go during an operation. When Long Xun heard this news, she hesitated, but finally decided to seek out Yang Guang. She hoped to turn this person to her own use, though she wasn’t sure if Yang Guang would serve her. After all, Yang Guang’s previous impression of her was one of pure disdain—she had even insisted on returning the medical fees Long Xun had provided.
When Long Xun rang Yang Guang’s doorbell, she heard a series of crashes from inside. Eventually, a disheveled Yang Guang, reeking of alcohol, opened the door. Seeing Long Xun, she frowned, her eyes still filled with intense loathing.
“What? Here to laugh at me?” Yang Guang leaned against the half-open door, laughing mockingly at herself.
“I don’t have time to laugh at you. Can I come in and talk?”
Long Xun frowned at the sight. She hadn’t expected Yang Guang to hide at home and drink like a coward. This was a far cry from the woman she remembered.
“My house is too small for a ‘great deity’ like you. Say what you have to say and get out.”
Yang Guang was visibly impatient. Long Xun suppressed her irritation and forced a professional smile.
“I heard you were fired. Have you considered joining the Long Group? The security manager resigned two days ago. If you’re interested, I’d like you to step in.”
Though Long Xun wanted someone with Yang Guang’s talent, she didn’t want to take risks. She planned to place Yang Guang in the “clean” side of the Long business first to observe her before making any big moves.
“You want me in the Long Group? In your dreams.”
Yang Guang slammed the door shut. Long Xun wasn’t bothered; she tucked her business card into the door frame and walked away. Both women were playing a game of strategy; who would win in the end remained an unknown.
Yang Guang stood by the window until she saw Long Xun’s car drive away. She picked up the business card and gave a mocking smile. It was simpler than she thought. In a few days, she would find an excuse to join the company. Long Xun, our battle has just begun. If I don’t send you to prison with my own hands, my name isn’t Yang.
A week later, a very decadent-looking Yang Guang walked into the office of the President of the Long Group. Long Xun wrinkled her nose and covered it as she looked at her. How many days had it been since this woman showered? The smell was overwhelming.
“Have you decided?” Long Xun grabbed a can of air freshener and began spraying it frantically.
“I want a hundred thousand. Call it an advance or whatever you want. Give me the money, and I’ll start immediately.” Yang Guang acted as though she was desperate for cash.
“A hundred thousand? Are you that short on money?” To Long Xun, a hundred thousand was just the price of a watch or a luxury item.
“That’s my business. Are you giving it to me or not?” Yang Guang’s expression was fierce, as if she would fight for the money.
“OK. Tomorrow, wash yourself up and come to work looking like a professional.”
Long Xun signed a check and handed it over. Yang Guang snatched it like a treasure, tucked it into her pocket, and let out a yawn. Another wave of alcohol-breath hit Long Xun, who wished she could open every window in the building.
After Yang Guang left, Long Xun called her subordinates and told them to investigate why she needed money so urgently.
“Miss, your coffee.” Erdong placed a cup in front of her. Long Xun smiled and took a sip.
“Sister Erdong, what do you think about bringing Yang Guang into our fold?”
“Miss, I think bringing her into the organization is a risky move. Her past identity is a problem. We must be extremely careful.”
Erdong was right. Long Xun nodded. Whenever she was uncertain, Erdong was always there to offer an objective opinion. Truthfully, Long Xun found the “new” Yang Guang repulsive. she realized she actually preferred the little street cop who used to defy her. Even though their previous meetings had been tense and hostile, she hadn’t hated her then. But she absolutely loathed this disheveled, messy version of Yang Guang.
Meanwhile, Yang Guang reported the situation to her superior. She then spent the entire hundred thousand on gambling. She was meticulously crafting a persona—a woman who had lost everything and turned to self-destruction. She wanted Long Xun to lower her guard and let her into the heart of the organization. However, she didn’t realize that the more she acted this way, the more Long Xun grew to dislike her, taking her further away from the inner circle she wanted to infiltrate.
After a night at the casino, Yang Guang showed up for her first day of work looking a mess. The employees of the security department frowned at their new manager. She was the most pathetic-looking boss they had ever seen. But since she outranked them, they didn’t dare say anything. Still, the whole company soon knew that the security department had a slob for a manager, and the women in the restrooms couldn’t stop gossiping about it.