Chapter 11

Wu Xiaojiu scratched his head.

“It’s not entirely impossible, you know.”

The trail ended here, and the only person who knew the truth was already in a muddled state-there was no way to force him to snap out of it.

At this point, the only way forward was to comb the streets and alleys for evidence and clues, to finally uncover who this agent was and who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Otherwise, was the Su Family, the richest clan in town, really going to just walk wide-eyed and clueless straight into ruin?

Bo Suihan clearly agreed with Wu Xiaojiu’s assessment.

But Su Zhishi’s face was growing darker by the moment.

Struggle and helplessness were written all over her features.

Seeing her expression, Wu Xiaojiu understood-there was definitely more to this than met the eye.

“Alright, for now this is our only option. I actually know where those local thugs like to gather. Let’s go tonight-we must act quickly!”

In the end, Su Zhishi gritted her teeth and decided to go.

Since the plan was settled, there was no reason to linger in this gloomy place. The three of them headed downstairs together.

Wu Xiaojiu brought up the rear, reaching out to close the study door.

Just as his hand touched the huanghuali wood door, a sudden gust of cold wind whooshed past.

The two doors, which had been closed, were blown open, leaving a narrow gap.

Wu Xiaojiu squinted against the wind, raising his hand to shield his eyes.

When he lowered his arm, he heard a crunching sound coming from the crack in the door, like someone gnawing with their teeth.

Unable to resist his curiosity, Wu Xiaojiu leaned over to take a look inside.

A dark shadow was crouched by the leg of the Golden Phoebe Wood table, its body hunched and curled up, gnawing incessantly at its fingernails-each nearly three meters long.

What the hell!

Wu Xiaojiu’s heart seized up. Shocked, his whole body tensed, unable to make a sound.

He felt a chill run through him, his body numb and unresponsive.

Stiffly, Wu Xiaojiu turned and headed down the stairs. Only when he reached the second step did he seem to snap out of it, darting down as fast as he could.

Seeing his pale face, Su Zhishi glanced oddly up at the second floor.

In a voice barely above a whisper, she muttered something to herself.

Then she turned to grab the car keys.

Sweat beaded on Wu Xiaojiu’s forehead, his face bloodless, but he had no intention of telling anyone what he’d just experienced.

He simply swallowed hard, trying to process the terrifying scene on his own.

Bo Suihan watched him for two seconds.

He handed over a cup of warm water.

“Calm your nerves. Judging by your face, you must’ve seen something extraordinary. This family’s situation is complicated. Do you know how the Su Family made their fortune?”

Wu Xiaojiu pressed his lips together tightly.

Only after drinking the warm water did some color return to his face. He was prone to tearing up, and after such a fright, his eyes reddened.

The hair on his forehead stuck to his temples, making him look especially meek-like a newborn lamb desperately in need of its mother’s comfort.

Bo Suihan stared at him, his throat moving involuntarily.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of the famous dish, roast lamb.

Wu Xiaojiu didn’t notice his reaction. He just looked up and shook his head.

The secret of the Su Family’s rise to wealth was the subject of many rumors.

But the most crucial thing was that strangely familiar figure.

Wu Xiaojiu was not a timid person. Since childhood, he’d climbed roofs, pried tiles, shot birds, stolen eggs, caught fish and shrimp-there was no mischief he hadn’t tried.
So seeing a ghost at most just made his knees tremble.

Actually, what truly made his heart race with fear was something else: he realized that the figure’s build and appearance, especially the bitten fingernails, were all too familiar to him.

And the secret behind the rise of the richest family was also closely tied to this shadowy figure-so closely intertwined that they were nearly inseparable.

He couldn’t help but glance at Su Zhishi, only to find that she was also looking at him.

Wu Xiaojiu immediately lowered his eyes and obediently followed the two out the door.

When he got in the car at the entrance, Long Aotian’s Favorability towards Wu Xiaojiu increased again because of his reaction.

He had no confidence to begin with, and now he felt even more uneasy.

He silently wondered, since he was hiding things, why did this person still have a good impression of him?

Could it be that Bo Suihan liked people who were both pure and a little bad?

Before he could overthink it, the car stopped as they approached the neon-lit bar street. Through the rearview mirror, he could see Su Zhishi’s face was pale; her hands, which had just been gripping the steering wheel, were now clasped together, and the bloodshot veins in her eyes were clearly visible-she looked terrified and anxious.

“It’s alright, Miss Su. Bo Suihan’s skills are obvious to all. He’s taken down so many specially trained bodyguards; those scheming types in the bar who’ve been drained by money and lust are definitely no match for him.”

Wu Xiaojiu thought she was afraid of the thugs inside the bar.

He quickly leaned over and softly tried to comfort her.

But as he spoke, he felt like he was insulting his former self.

Su Zhishi shakily lifted her eyes to look at him, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying.

“Th-thank you both.”

Just as she was about to get out of the car, Wu Xiaojiu’s phone vibrated.

He hurriedly glanced down-it was another message from his sister.

[“Xiaojiu, are you staying out tonight? Second Cousin’s family came over; they made some money back in the village and now want Mom and Dad to sign a Bet Agreement. Can you come back and help me persuade them?”]

Before he could reply, someone hooked an arm around his shoulder.

“You’re the guest Miss Su brought? Short but not ugly. Are you her lover or her boyfriend?”

Wu Xiaojiu froze, his head and neck stiff.

He quickly locked his phone and looked up.

The man grabbing his shoulder was a burly uncle with a full beard, bulging muscles, chest hair, and a faint scent of grilled lamb.

In this neon-lit bar, his looks and presence were quite unique.

Wu Xiaojiu nearly choked.

He hurriedly ducked out from under the man’s arm and dashed behind Bo Suihan.

“No, uncle, I don’t know you! As a man, you should have self-respect. Haven’t you heard the saying? A man without self-respect is like rotten cabbage!”

Hiding behind Long Aotian, Wu Xiaojiu clearly felt more confident, hands on his hips as he indignantly accused the burly man.

The man’s expression also visibly darkened.

Su Zhishi noticed the commotion.

She was already walking ahead, but turned around.

Seeing her familiar face, the burly man’s eyes lit up.

He hurried over and grabbed Su Zhishi by the arm, pulling her forward.

Pointing at the two in front of him, he spoke up.

“Miss Su, aren’t the people you bring all for us brothers to have fun with? Why did you bring someone so high and mighty today?”