Ye Dabao heard the busy tone from the phone, utterly baffled.
“What’s wrong?” Liang Wenyue asked, noticing Ye Dabao’s troubled expression.
“Lin Jingzhi said no to the investment and hung up,” Ye Dabao replied, then cursed, “Others beg for investors when starting a company, but I’m offering money, and she refuses. Is this woman out of her mind?”
Liang Wenyue chuckled, “Don’t get mad. Keep calling.”
“If Lin Jingzhi knew you were the son of China’s richest man, she’d surely change her mind.”
“After all, once you’re linked to the richest man, it’s hard not to make money.”
Ye Dabao nodded and dialled again.
Soon, Lin Jingzhi’s cold voice came through, “What is it?”
“Miss Lin, I’m Ye Dabao. I didn’t explain clearly earlier…” Before he could finish, Lin Jingzhi cut in, “Your failure to explain is your problem. I’ve made it clear, I don’t need investment.”
Click!
The call ended again.
Ye Dabao was tempted to smash his phone. As the son of the richest man, this was the first time he’d been rejected, and so bluntly.
It was like a slap in the face.
“She hung up again?” Liang Wenyue asked.
“Yeah,” Ye Dabao fumed, “Damn it, if Lin Jingzhi were standing here, I’d slap her dead.”
Liang Wenyue said, “Call again. I don’t believe she really doesn’t need investment.”
Ye Dabao snapped, “I’m done talking to this lunatic. Liang, you call if you want.”
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Liang Wenyue took the phone, consoling him, “Dabao, calm down. It’s not worth getting upset over something so trivial.”
Then, Liang Wenyue dialled Lin Jingzhi’s number.
Beep.
The call was cut off after one ring.
Undeterred, Liang Wenyue tried again.
Beep.
Hung up after one ring.
“Well, this Lin Jingzhi’s got some nerve, hanging up on me,” Liang Wenyue smirked and kept calling.
After over a dozen attempts, all disconnected, he started to get annoyed.
What’s this woman so arrogant about?
He dialled again, thinking, “I don’t believe she won’t pick up.”
Finally, the call connected.
Before Liang Wenyue could speak, Lin Jingzhi’s voice snapped, “I’m in a meeting, and you keep calling. Tell me, did someone in your family die?”
Your family died!
Liang Wenyue’s anger flared, but before he could respond, Lin Jingzhi added, “Oh, by the way, I was cursing someone, not you.”
“Goodbye!”
Click!
Liang Wenyue held the phone, replaying her words in his head.
“She was cursing someone, not me. What’s that supposed to mean? Am I not human… damn it!”
Realising her jab, Liang Wenyue slammed his fist on the coffee table, wincing and shaking his hand.
“Liang, you alright?” Ye Dabao asked, surprised.
He was curious what Lin Jingzhi said to rile Liang Wenyue up so much.
“I’m fine…” Liang Wenyue said, but his fury was palpable. He shouted, “I really want to kill that wretched woman.”
“She asked if someone in my family died.”
“And called me inhuman!”
Ye Dabao, seeing Liang Wenyue’s state, wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, consoling him, “Lin Jingzhi’s just a nutcase. Liang, don’t stoop to her level.”
After a while, Liang Wenyue’s anger subsided.
“Liang, Lin Jingzhi won’t take the investment. Using her to get to Ye Qiu won’t work. What now?” Ye Dabao asked.
Liang Wenyue replied, “You don’t need Lin Jingzhi to get close to Ye Qiu.”
Ye Dabao asked eagerly, “How?”
“Go straight to Ye Qiu,” Liang Wenyue said. “He’s your uncle’s son, your cousin. He won’t suspect you.”
“And he’ll trust you completely.”
“Once you’re close to him, we’ll find a chance to strike.”
Ye Dabao shook his head like a rattle, “No way.”
“I’d better not show my face.”
“Grandpa hates family betrayal. If he found out I killed Ye Qiu, he’d kill me.”
Liang Wenyue countered, “If Ye Qiu’s gone, you’re the only heir of the Ye family’s third generation. Even if Grandpa’s mad, he won’t kill you.”
“And your dad, you’re his only son. If you’re gone, who inherits his company?”
“It’s like the Xuanwu Gate Incident in the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. Li Yuan had no other heir, so despite wanting to tear Li Shimin apart, he passed the throne to him.”
“So, even if you kill Ye Qiu, your grandpa and dad won’t touch you.”
Ye Dabao still shook his head, “Liang, find another way. This won’t do.”
“It’s the best way,” Liang Wenyue insisted.
“No, you’re so smart, you’ll think of something else,” Ye Dabao said. “If I get close to Ye Qiu and fail to kill him, I’m done for.”
“I can’t take that risk.”
Liang Wenyue cursed inwardly, thinking this chubby kid wasn’t as dumb as he seemed.
“Dabao, if you don’t like that plan, there’s one last option,” Liang Wenyue said.
“What’s that?” Ye Dabao asked.
Liang Wenyue leaned in and whispered a few words.
Ye Dabao pondered, then asked, “Liang, will this work? If it fails, we’re in trouble.”
Liang Wenyue smiled faintly, “Why worry? We stay out of it and let Huang Ran handle it.”
“Huang Ran’s hands were broken, and he hates Ye Qiu’s guts. He’d love to kill him.”
Ye Dabao said, “What if it fails?”
“Ye Qiu’s skills are insane, even Old Yang couldn’t beat him. If Ye Qiu catches Huang Ran and forces him to talk, he might rat us out.”
Liang Wenyue laughed, “Dabao, if I’m not mistaken, one of Huang Ran’s bodyguards is your man, right?”
Ye Dabao gasped, “Liang, how’d you know?”
Liang Wenyue grinned, “Don’t worry about how I know. Just tell your guy to keep tabs on Huang Ran.”
“If it goes south, have your man silence him.”
“That way, Ye Qiu will never know it was us.”
Ye Dabao smiled, “Liang, you’ve thought of everything. Alright, I’ll arrange it.”
Liang Wenyue said, “No rush. To take Ye Qiu out for good, I need to find someone to help Huang Ran.”
Ye Dabao asked curiously, “Who’re you getting, Liang?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Liang Wenyue gave a mysterious smile, pulled out his phone, and started a video call.
Moments later, the call connected, and a figure in a pitch-black mask appeared…
