The gallery was quiet.
Too quiet for mid-morning.
Lin Feng stepped through the glass doors, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning casually — like a man browsing for a painting, not walking into a trap.
Ye Yuyan stood near the center, adjusting a canvas with trembling fingers. The envelope she’d received earlier lay open on the table beside her — now slightly crumpled, like soone had clutched it too tightly.
She didn’t turn around when she spoke.
"You knew they’d co for , didn’t you?"
Lin glanced at the art piece. It was one she painted herself — abstract lines intersecting around a broken figure.
"No," he said quietly. "I thought they’d co for ."
She turned, eyes searching his face.
"The Luo family sent a warning. If I don’t distance myself from you, sothing will... ’go missing.’ In the gallery. In my life."
He took a slow breath, walked over, and picked up the letter.
Then he smiled.
"Then they’re sloppier than I thought."
Lin handed her a cup of tea. She didn’t drink it, just stared.
"Yuyan," he said gently, "do you want out of this?"
She blinked.
"What do you an?"
"Out of my shadow. Out of the politics. The gas."
There was a long silence.
Then she t his eyes.
"I didn’t fall for your money, Lin Feng. I stayed because you were quiet... and I trusted quiet more than noise."
Lin held her gaze.
"Then trust one more ti."
He pulled out his phone.
"Because the Luo family thinks they’re playing chess."
He tapped once.
"But I already removed their queen last night."
Cut To: Luo Family Holdings – Financial Division, Sector 4
Panic.
Absolute panic.
The family’s core liquidity pool — "JadePulse Ventures" — had just experienced a catastrophic short cascade. Over 19% of their clean capital was gone in less than four hours.
And worse?
The attacker used a shell company with no na. No trace.
Just a signature:
Silent Stake Holdings.
The sa shell that had quietly bought Tongxiang Logistics.
The sa one now holding controlling interest in two of Luo Zixuan’s side ventures.
Luo Zixuan hurled a porcelain teacup across the room.
"Lin Feng—!"
System prompt:
"Congratulations, Host. You’ve caused a strategic collapse in Luo Holdings.
Reward: 5% Dominance over Tier-2 Families (Passive Fear Boost Activated).
Bonus unlocked: ’Insider File – Luo Family Black List’
P.S. Your move made three cousins cry. Well done."
Lin tossed his phone on the couch.
"Tell sothing I don’t know."
Ye Yuyan stood beside him, watching the lights of the old city flicker.
"You didn’t just protect ," she said softly.
"You used as bait."
Lin looked over at her.
"I did."
"Should I be angry?"
"You can be."
She didn’t reply for a mont.
Then smiled — tired but sincere.
"Only if you take to that gallery in the West District next ti. And buy sothing ridiculously expensive."
Lin exhaled a laugh.
"Fine. I’ll buy the whole gallery."
System prompt:
"Spending on art woman = 10 Affection, -¥1.5 million, Smug Aura."
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