The next morning, Shao Kunye was preparing to leave.
Suddenly, Wen Xi’s anxious voice rang out from behind him.
“Wait a moment.”
She ran up to him, panting, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Facing Shao Kunye’s expressionless face, Wen Xi spoke softly, “Are you coming home for dinner tonight?”
Shao Kunye stared at her. “Do I need to report to you whether I’m coming back?”
Wen Xi hurriedly explained, “Yesterday you didn’t come back, and all those dishes went to waste.”
Shao Kunye realized that Wen Xi was blaming him for not giving notice.
“Are you scolding me?”
Wen Xi looked a little flustered. “No, I just wanted to ask if you were coming back for dinner. I don’t have your phone number, so I didn’t know how to reach you.”
Her voice grew smaller at the end, barely audible, like a mosquito buzzing.
Although there was a landline at home, Wen Xi didn’t have Shao Kunye’s number, and she didn’t dare to ask. Chances were, he wouldn’t have given it to her anyway.
Shao Kunye’s patience was thin. “If I don’t come back for dinner, will you skip it too?”
Unexpectedly, Wen Xi nodded seriously.
Her expression seemed to suggest that the concept of eating for herself didn’t exist in her vocabulary. Shao Kunye frowned. “Do they treat you like this at the Jiang Family too?”
Wen Xi lowered her voice. “We only ate what Uncle Jiang left over. If Uncle Jiang didn’t come home for meals, we couldn’t cook either.”
It was either reheated leftovers or going hungry.
Once, Jiang Songde and the others went away for several days, and Wen Xi and Wen Liyang had to drink water for several days at home.
Shao Kunye sneered inwardly. The Jiang Family really kept revealing more and more surprises the deeper you dug.
Seeing Wen Xi’s pure expression, Shao Kunye waved a hand. “I won’t come back tonight.”
Then he added, “If you want to cook, go ahead. If I don’t come back, just eat by yourself.”
Wen Xi only caught the words “don’t come back.” She said earnestly, “Then we’ll wait for you at home, Liyang and I.”
Shao Kunye hadn’t heard “waiting for you to come back” in a long time. He gave Wen Xi a deep look, said nothing, and left.
After Shao Kunye left, Wen Xi cleaned the house and then taught Wen Liyang to write.
Since moving into the Villa, Wen Xi had a lot of free time. At the Jiang Family, there had been endless chores; here, once she finished what was in front of her, she could rest.
“Mom, Dad… Uncle Shao went where?”
Wen Liyang looked up at Wen Xi with his little face.
Since that day when Wen Xi corrected him, Wen Liyang had stopped calling Shao Kunye “Dad” and now said “Uncle Shao.” Perhaps he sensed Shao Kunye didn’t like being called that, so he refused to use it.
“Uncle Shao went out to work.”
Wen Xi handed Wen Liyang the freshly made porridge, originally meant for Shao Kunye. “Have breakfast.”
“Mom, are we going to live here forever?” Wen Liyang asked as he sipped porridge.
Wen Xi forced a smile. “Just for now.”
Wen Liyang slowed his movements, sensing something. One day, Dad might also see them as burdens like the Jiang Family did and drive them away.
Wen Xi seemed unaware of Wen Liyang’s disappointment, staring absentmindedly out the window. Today was probably the day Shao Kunye would deal with the Jiang Family.
At the Jiang Family side, Jiang Songde had been at the dock since early morning. He tried calling Shao Kunye repeatedly but couldn’t reach him, feeling uneasy and uncertain of his intentions.
After a while, bright headlights cut through the night. A tall figure stepped out at the line between shadow and light, muscles taut, radiating a sense of pressure.
Jiang Songde hurriedly forced a smile, only to find Han Tao.
He froze for a moment, then glanced at the Maybach lurking in the darkness.
Through the windshield, a tall, lazy figure could be vaguely seen in the back seat.
“President Jiang, what are you looking at?” Han Tao’s voice broke the silence.
Jiang Songde snapped out of it. “Nothing.”
Han Tao remained expressionless. “Then let’s inspect the goods.”
Jiang Songde was anxious but dared not show it in front of Shao Kunye. Once the men below confirmed the cargo, he forced himself forward.
“Young Master Shao.”
Jiang Songde appeared at the car door, smiling ingratiatingly.
Shao Kunye leaned back in his seat, glancing at him sideways.
Jiang Songde tried to read Shao Kunye’s expression but could detect nothing, leaving him uncertain.
“Young Master Shao, yesterday’s incident was an accident. The sisters just argued a little; it wasn’t intentional.”
“The Jiang Family’s way of arguing is with knives? Quite the eye-opener,” Shao Kunye said, smirking.
Cold sweat ran down Jiang Songde’s face. “It was a misunderstanding. Lu didn’t mean it.”
Perhaps realizing the excuse sounded flimsy even to himself, Jiang Songde changed the topic. “Young Master Shao, Wen Xi has already spent quite some time at your place. Perhaps we should take her back and raise her ourselves.”
Shao Kunye raised an eyebrow. “President Jiang, didn’t you already sell her?”
His words clearly referenced Jiang Songde sending Wen Xi to Chen Jinpeng.
Jiang Songde’s palms were sweaty. He laughed awkwardly. “You misunderstand. It’s not what you think.”
Seeing Shao Kunye unmoved, Jiang Songde forced a sigh. “To be honest, Wen Xi has long been with President Chen. She hid it from us, and we only recently found out. Since President Chen specifically wanted Wen Xi, we couldn’t offend him and had no choice but to send her over.”
Although the excuse was flimsy, Shao Kunye had no way to verify it. No evidence existed, so he could only take their words at face value.
Shao Kunye smiled ambiguously. “I thought President Jiang was just nervous and wanted to get rid of her quickly.”
Hearing this, Jiang Songde became alert. Could Shao Kunye know about that incident?
Unsure, he forced a smile. “Young Master Shao, I don’t understand what you mean. Did Wen Xi say something foolish in front of you? Please don’t believe her. She never tells the truth. We couldn’t manage her—after all, she’s not our blood. We didn’t want her to hold a grudge. It’s difficult to raise her.”
He put on a pained expression, pretending to genuinely care for Wen Xi.
Shao Kunye raised an eyebrow. “So, I wrongly blamed President Jiang?”
Jiang Songde hurriedly said, “We just didn’t explain properly. Family scandals shouldn’t go public. I felt embarrassed to mention it.”
Shao Kunye leaned back, his fingertips drumming idly on his thigh. Jiang Songde didn’t dare interrupt, standing by obediently.
Regardless of whether Shao Kunye believed him, no man could tolerate his woman being played with, especially someone as powerful as Shao Kunye.
If he knew Wen Xi had already been taken advantage of, he wouldn’t believe he could feel no resentment.
When Wen Xi had been abandoned, it had been entirely at their mercy.
Jiang Songde sneered inwardly. Just then, his phone rang.
Hearing the sharp ringtone, Shao Kunye slowly opened his deep eyes.
Jiang Songde’s face changed drastically. “What did you say?!”
A panicked voice came through the speaker. “President Jiang, a sudden police raid just sealed off the factory!”
“What about the goods?!” Jiang Songde demanded.
“All… all confiscated,” the subordinate stammered. “And no one inside escaped.”
Jiang Songde’s body went limp, almost collapsing.
His factory had been so well hidden—how could the police have found it?
Ignoring the ongoing deal, Jiang Songde immediately ordered his men to drive to the factory.
Watching Jiang Songde’s flustered figure, Shao Kunye’s lips curved. “Let’s go to Yanhu City.”
Passing through the bustling dance floor, they entered the innermost private room. A short man with narrow eyes and a rodent-like face sat on the sofa.
Seeing Shao Kunye, Teng Henshan stood. “Young Master Shao, you’re here.”
Shao Kunye sank into the sofa. “Teng, you already received the news?”
Teng Henshan smiled. “The police have completely shut down Jiang Songde’s factory. Your speed exceeded my expectations, Young Master Shao.”
Shao Kunye picked up the glass in front of him. “Consider this a meeting gift for cooperation.”
Teng Henshan had long been interested in the market for aphrodisiacs. He had been developing a drug similar to Liaoyuan for years and had finally succeeded.
Wildfire.
Compared to Liaoyuan’s conservative effects, Wildfire was stronger, intoxicating, and addictive. Once ingested, consciousness would surrender within seconds, completely controlled by desire.
Most importantly, Teng Henshan held a grudge against Jiang Songde.
Three years ago, Jiang Songde had secretly destroyed Teng’s research lab. Teng had never forgotten.
Thus, when Teng Henshan came to Shao Kunye with Wildfire, Shao Kunye entrusted him with the business, continuing supply from his side. One move, two gains.
Han Tao stood silently.
For Shao Kunye, doing business with Jiang Songde or Teng Henshan made no difference—except Jiang Songde had angered him.
Shao Kunye having the police shut down Jiang Songde’s factory was clearly revenge for the Jiang Family having drugged Wen Xi.
Teng Henshan said, “Young Master Shao, I can’t fall behind. Here’s the deposit. The rest will be paid after delivery.”
He pushed forward a check with a black box on top labeled “Wildfire.”
“This is for you to try,” Teng Henshan said. “Don’t worry, Young Master Shao. It has already been tested.”
Following Teng’s gaze, Shao Kunye saw behind a black curtain a huge glass cage on the stage.
Inside, a naked man and woman writhed together.
Both were clearly drugged, skin flushed, breathing heavily, tangled like wild animals, making unbearable noises.
“Young Master Shao, here’s to a smooth cooperation,” Teng Henshan toasted.
Shao Kunye smirked and clinked glasses. “Smooth cooperation.”
A few days later, a batch of drugs with the same effect as Liaoyuan appeared on the market, quickly replacing it due to its immediate and intoxicating effect.
Meanwhile, at the Jiang Family Villa.
Jiang Songde was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. “Have we found out who’s behind ‘Wildfire’?”
His subordinate shook his head. “President Jiang, this person’s movements are mysterious. We can’t trace them.”
Jiang Songde’s face turned iron-like.
With the factory shut down, he lost nearly a hundred million in orders, plus sky-high compensation costs.
At the same time, Wildfire hit the market, rising quickly after his factory’s incident. Clearly, it was connected.
But they couldn’t find a trace of the person.
With Liaoyuan gone, Jiang Family’s only financial channel was blocked, leaving no room for large actions. Even if they rebuilt, Liaoyuan’s place in the market would be gone.
Seeing no path forward, Jiang Songde’s eyes gleamed with ruthless determination. Wen Xi had to be forced to reveal her secret.