Xu Si walked through the casino area, her mind still preoccupied with finding Chen Mo. The waiter had said he would help her get in touch but hadn’t specified a ti, so she found a rest area to sit and wait.
Ever since encountering the silver-haired man, she’d noticed a subtle change in how the staff treated her; it was considerably better, though the shift was faint. No sooner had she sat down than soone served her a cup of spice-infused honey water and an assortnt of intricately crafted desserts, also asking if she needed a room prepared for her rest. Xu Si speculated that the silver-haired man in black held a high position within the Triad Society. His accidental assistance must have led the staff to believe she had a good relationship with him. A common misunderstanding. If this were Hong Kong Island, Xu Si might have found it botherso. But this was Underground City, and Xu Si felt no disturbance whatsoever. When away from ho, your identity is what you make of it. In this perilous place, one could lose their life in the blink of an eye for offending the wrong person, so being mistakenly perceived as having a powerful backer was certainly better than having none. Moreover, this ’beautiful misunderstanding’ seed to make them incredibly efficient.
Within ten minutes of her sitting down, Chen Mo, who had kept her waiting, hurried over. The fine sweat on his face revealed he had rushed from a great distance. Upon seeing Xu Si, he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead and nose, saying, a touch of apprehension still in his voice, "Miss Xu, I heard you were looking for ?"
When asking for help, one must adopt the right attitude. Xu Si was just about to stand up to speak to him.
"Miss Xu, please stay seated, no need for formalities," Chen Mo quickly raised his hand to stop her. His smile was insincere yet eager, with a trace of wariness in his eyes. "It’s my fault for not giving you my business card last ti. It was Lord Hei Shi who inford ; otherwise, I wouldn’t have known about this."
Lord Hei Shi? Xu Si silently noted this na, her gaze cool, and her tone strictly business. "Indeed, I do have a matter to discuss. I wish to seek assistance from the Sanlian Chamber of Comrce, and I wonder if Mr. Chen could be of help."
"Of course, tell what it is," Chen Mo settled comfortably, pulling out a cigarette case. After a second’s hesitation, he politely offered one to Xu Si. "Do you smoke?"
"Yes."
Xu Si did smoke, but it was a habit from her past life, born from imnse stress. Offering cigarettes in a business setting was also a diplomatic gesture; she accepted it out of courtesy but didn’t inhale. Instead, she lit it and held the cigarette in her hand. Her scarlet nails, pale skin, and sharp, decisive deanor constantly affird that she was not just an heiress but a CEO who truly called the shots in the business world.
"Mr. Chen, here is the situation..." She spoke candidly, explaining her need to exchange foreign currency and clearly outlining the benefits the Sanlian Chamber of Comrce would receive. The deal was profitable.
Chen Mo exhaled a cloudy puff of white smoke, nodding repeatedly. His agreent was quick and eager, as if motivated by more than just the profit. "No problem at all. The amount you’re talking about is substantial, but we do indeed have it. I’ll arrange for the money to be delivered to the doorstep of Xu’s Real Estate first thing tomorrow morning."
The process went so smoothly that Xu Si found it almost unbelievable. After pondering for a mont, she carefully confird once again, "Mr. Chen, the foreign currency I require must be legitimate and clean."
"I know," Chen Mo nodded. "If you didn’t need clean money, you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to find here, would you? The black market has any amount you could want. Miss Xu, rest assured, the money from our Sanlian Chamber of Comrce has been washed many tis over—it’s exceptionally clean."
With that assurance, Xu Si smiled contentedly and shook hands with Chen Mo. "Then I look forward to our successful cooperation. The share of the profits I promised will also be delivered to the Sanlian Chamber of Comrce."
"That’s of little consequence," Chen Mo replied with a aningful smile, his gaze shifting toward a raised platform nearby as he began to talk about Underground City. "Miss Xu, this is your first ti in Underground City, isn’t it? Is it as interesting as I said it would be?"
Xu Si responded smoothly, "It is indeed unlike any other place."
Chen Mo laughed. "This is the paradise yearned for by the world’s wealthy. As long as you have money, you can satisfy any desire that can’t be fulfilled outside. If Miss Xu stays for a few more days, I suggest you explore a bit."
Xu Si pressed the naturally extinguished cigarette butt into the ashtray and said with a smile, "I certainly will. I have so personal matters to attend to and will be staying for two more days."
"However, you must also be mindful of your safety, as there are no bodyguards here. But since you know Lord Hei Shi, you don’t have to worry too much." Chen Mo looked at the ti and said with a smile, "It’s about ti to find a place to rest. I’m going to contact soone about preparing the foreign currency. Do you need to accompany you to find a hotel?"
"No need, I can arrange things myself." Xu Si finally stood up. She watched Chen Mo leave, then took one last, deep look at the opulent Gambling City before hurriedly departing, handbag in tow.
In the descending elevator, she looked at the button for the first basent floor. Rembering that faint, almost imperceptible gaze, a chill ran down her spine. The sensation that gaze evoked was strange, unsettling, and difficult to articulate. In any case, Xu Si only managed to shake off that feeling after she left the casino.
Walking along the streets, a dazzling spectacle of lights and nightly revelry, she felt a renewed sense of awe. The deeper the night grew, the more dazzling and opulent the city beca, its brilliance outshining even the midday sun. It was more advanced than any country she had ever visited, with architecture so magnificent it was endlessly captivating. Most of the ti, it was hard to believe this was the world’s most terrifying and darkest corner.
Xu Si drove to the safest hotel in town, guided by the road signs, and checked in. Her criteria were simple: the most expensive places were invariably the safest. Visitors here, unless they had squandered their entire fortune, certainly weren’t lacking that kind of money.
The photos will still take so ti. If Chen Mo hadn’t told her there were no bodyguards here and that one had to rely on the gangs, she might have hired a few to protect her while she enjoyed the city’s night views elsewhere.
「The night passed silently.」
The following evening swept in quietly. When it was sufficiently dark, Xu Si, handbag in tow, made another trip to Gambling City. Once again, there was an identity card check. She asked the staff, but there was still no news about the photos. Xu Si then left quietly.
She wasn’t overly anxious. This morning, upon waking, she had called Anshi to ask if the foreign currency had arrived. Anshi confird it had and that he was already en route abroad for the transaction. The most pressing matter had been resolved. She had plenty of ti to wait for the photos.
But just as she stepped out of Gambling City and was about to open her car door, her handbag was suddenly bumped forcefully, almost flying out of her grip. The person who bumped her wasn’t tall, about 173 centiters and frail-looking. He seed to have lost his balance, and with his cap brim pulled low, he spoke softly, "I’m sorry."
Xu Si, showing neither pleasure nor anger, imdiately checked her handbag. Sure enough, in that brief mont, soone had pulled the zipper open, creating a barely noticeable gap. Her reaction was exceptionally quick. She lifted her head and grabbed the person’s arm and sleeve. "Give back my things."
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