Under Xu Hao’s intense glare, Chu Xiaotian fled the room in a panic.
Li Xiao, watching the scene unfold, cursed silently. Useless coward.
As Xu Hao’s piercing gaze shifted to him, Li Xiao immediately understood—it was a warning to leave. He knew Xu Hao’s reputation and strength. Whatever was about to happen next, it was beyond his ability to intervene.
Imagining the aloof Iceberg CEO, Lin Chuqing, limping out of the teahouse the next morning, Li Xiao felt an unbearable wave of regret and frustration.
He knew what was going to happen, yet he couldn’t stop it!
Li Xiao clenched his fists, his mind filled with hatred—for himself, for Xu Hao, and even for the absent protagonist, Zheng Feifan.
Where the hell was the protagonist now?
The heroine was about to face a crisis, yet Zheng Feifan, her so-called protector, was nowhere to be found. Where was the man who promised to shield his fiancée from harm?
Xu Hao had only ordered Li Xiao to drug the heroine, nothing more. He hadn’t expected to be embroiled in this much chaos.
Li Xiao knew that typically, when the heroine was in danger, the protagonist’s aura would trigger, compelling him to appear and save the day. He had hoped Zheng Feifan would arrive in time to stop this madness.
In his heart, Li Xiao secretly wished for Zheng Feifan to intervene, even if it meant Xu Hao and Chu Xiaotian would be beaten to a pulp. He would rather see the protagonist rescue Lin Chuqing than witness her fall into Xu Hao’s hands.
At least Zheng Feifan, for all his flaws, would ensure her dignity was preserved.
Li Xiao had even confirmed that Zheng Feifan was supposed to be on duty today, which made the protagonist’s absence even more infuriating.
But, why hasn’t he shown up yet?
[Ding! Li Xiao is very anxious, emotional points +654…]
Xu Hao’s mocking voice interrupted Li Xiao’s thoughts. “Your master has already left. Why haven’t you?”
Xu Hao’s calm but cutting tone made Li Xiao feel as though he had been slapped. He took a final, reluctant glance at Lin Chuqing before turning to leave, his steps heavy with despair.
But just as he reached the door…
WHAM!
Xu Hao struck him in the back with a calculated blow, sending a surge of dark energy coursing through his body.
The attack didn’t destroy him outright. Instead, it implanted a sinister force within him, robbing him of his strength and reducing him to little more than an ordinary man—perhaps even weaker.
Li Xiao staggered, his body trembling as he felt the invasive power spread. His face twisted in horror as he turned to glare at Xu Hao.
“You…”
Li Xiao’s mind reeled in disbelief.
Xu Hao… He’s a master of the Hidden Strength Stage?
This realization shattered everything Li Xiao thought he knew. Xu Hao, known as a self-made billionaire, had always appeared to be nothing more than a shrewd businessman. He had never been seen as a warrior.
Li Xiao had underestimated him, even considering taking his life more than once. But now, faced with the reality of Xu Hao’s power, he felt a chilling regret.
Xu Hao’s strength was carefully hidden, his true abilities concealed behind layers of deception. Even his reliance on bodyguards was a facade. Anyone attempting to assassinate him would first target his guards, only to be caught off guard by Xu Hao’s own formidable skills.
Li Xiao’s body trembled as he realized the depth of Xu Hao’s cunning.
[Ding! Li Xiao is furious, emotional points +777…]
“Why haven’t you left yet?” Xu Hao’s voice was calm, but his tone carried an undeniable threat.
Li Xiao gritted his teeth, his chest filled with bitterness. Resigned, he walked out of the room, his steps heavy with defeat.
Behind him, Xu Hao quietly closed the door and locked it with a distinct click.
Li Xiao stood outside, staring at the locked door, his eyes filled with grief and fury. His fists clenched as tears of frustration welled in his eyes. Eventually, drained of all energy, he stumbled out of the teahouse.
Just as he stepped into the night, a sudden voice made him freeze.
Turning his head, he saw Chu Xiaotian lurking in the shadows.
Chu Xiaotian’s face was terrifyingly distorted, his eyes bloodshot, filled with a crazed intensity.
The effects of the Hehuan Powder had taken hold of him completely. He looked like a man on the verge of losing his sanity.
Damn that drug. Why did I pour the entire bottle into the tea?
Not only had Chu Xiaotian drunk the spiked tea, but he had also consumed two full cups. Now, the effects were unbearable. Every fiber of his being screamed for relief, and his unhinged expression showed just how close he was to breaking.
"Brother Li, help me find a woman! I’m dying here…"
Li Xiao, remembering that Chu Xiaotian had also taken the drug, froze. His mind raced. Where was he supposed to find a woman for this guy?
The teahouse was a legitimate establishment—there was no way they offered such "services." Glancing around, his eyes landed on a small, shady-looking hotel nearby.
Li Xiao knew the kind of reputation these places had. Late at night, they distributed cards advertising door-to-door "services."
That’ll do, he thought indifferently. It wasn’t his problem whether the woman was clean or not—after all, he wasn’t the one who’d suffer the consequences.
Dragging Chu Xiaotian, who was almost collapsing from the drug’s effects, Li Xiao led him into the dingy hotel.
What neither of them realized was that a shadowy figure was quietly following them.
After checking in, Li Xiao helped Chu Xiaotian into a room. He planned to settle him down first and then arrange for someone to "help."
However, as he turned to leave, he found the door wouldn’t open.
"What the hell?" Li Xiao muttered, bewildered. The door had worked perfectly fine earlier, so why was it jammed now?
He yanked on the handle repeatedly, but it wouldn’t budge. Frustration boiled over.
‘This is what I get for coming to a cheap hotel!’ He thought angrily.
Still, he hadn’t yet grasped the seriousness of the situation. They were now locked in a small, confined room—and one of them was under the influence of a powerful drug.
Just as Li Xiao reached for his phone to call the front desk, a heavy force tackled him to the ground.
"Brother Tian! What are you doing?!" Li Xiao yelled in panic as he stared at Chu Xiaotian, who now looked like a wild beast.
Only then did Li Xiao truly realize what was happening. He tried to kick Chu Xiaotian off, but the dark energy Xu Hao had planted in his body blocked his strength, sending waves of excruciating pain through him. His limbs went limp, and he collapsed helplessly.
Soon, the room was filled with sounds of despair—cries of anger, sadness, and humiliation.
[Ding! Li Xiao’s mentality has collapsed, emotional points +1000…]
[Ding… Li Xiao’s mentality has exploded, emotional points +1000…]
…
Meanwhile, in the teahouse, Xu Hao was savoring his victory. After driving away Chu Xiaotian and Li Xiao, he turned to Lin Chuqing, who let out a long sigh of relief.
But as her tension eased, the effects of the drug intensified. Her body trembled, and she instinctively tugged at her collar, trying to alleviate the unbearable heat.
Xu Hao approached her calmly, his tone warm and reassuring. "CEO Lin, what’s going on? I was just here for tea when I heard your call for help."
Lin Chuqing forced a smile despite the discomfort. "Mr. Xu, thank you. If it weren’t for you, the consequences would’ve been unimaginable…"
"Let’s not talk about that right now," Xu Hao interrupted, his expression filled with concern. "You don’t look well. Should I take you to the hospital?"
Lin Chuqing wanted to go to the hospital, but her strength was failing her. She felt too weak to stand, let alone walk. Her watery eyes turned to Xu Hao, silently pleading for help.
Xu Hao feigned confusion, tilting his head as though he didn’t understand. Their gazes locked, and Lin Chuqing eventually broke, whispering in shame, "Mr. Xu… can you help me? I… I can’t walk."
Acting as though realization had just dawned on him, Xu Hao nodded.
Gently, he placed one hand on her shoulder and the other around her waist, supporting her as they moved toward the door.
Lin Chuqing tried to remain composed, but Xu Hao’s close proximity, coupled with his masculine scent, made her head spin.
"Ms. Lin, what are you doing? Please, respect yourself," Xu Hao teased with a smirk.
[Ding! Lin Chuqing is extremely shy, emotional points +999…]
The night was destined to be anything but peaceful.
…
Meanwhile, at the police station, Zheng Feifan had been detained on suspicion of assaulting two elderly men. After an investigation, it was revealed that the two were habitual offenders with no injuries. Zheng Feifan was released, but his frustration lingered.
As he walked under the rising full moon, his thoughts churned.
Why did those two target him?
He couldn’t shake the memory of their behavior. One had laid on the ground pretending to be hurt, while the other acted as though he’d been attacked. The police had been involved, but in the end, nothing came of it.
What was the point of all this?
Suddenly, Zheng Feifan paused. A memory surfaced—seeing Lin Chuqing driving away just before he was taken into custody.
His chest tightened.
‘Was this all a setup? A way to lure me away while they targeted Lin Chuqing?’
The thought filled him with dread. His feeling of emptiness grew stronger as he considered the possibility.
"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. Someone had planned this. Someone was trying to harm Lin Chuqing.
Determined to find her, Zheng Feifan quickened his pace. But in a city as vast as this, finding her felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Zheng Feifan made a quick decision—he needed to return to the company and search for clues. He ran there in a rush, anxiety etched on his face.
After questioning several employees and investigating thoroughly, his unease only deepened. No one knew Lin Chuqing’s whereabouts, and her phone calls went unanswered.
Finally, Lin Chuqing’s secretary offered a clue: she had gone to meet Chu Xiaotian, the eldest son of the Chu family, to resolve their conflict.
However, no one knew the exact location of their meeting.
Zheng Feifan’s fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
‘If anything happens to her, I’ll make him pay.’
Unable to sit idly and wait, Zheng Feifan decided to confront the Chu family directly.
Having dealt with the Chu family before, he had learned their address and familiarized himself with their security.
Without hesitation, he bypassed the guards and climbed into the Chu family villa through a window.
He landed softly inside a side hall resembling a study. Shelves lined with books surrounded the room, and at the desk sat a woman radiating mature elegance.
The woman, Yao Xinrui, possessed a stunningly beautiful face, an enviable figure, and an air of sophistication that was mesmerizing.
Yao Xinrui rarely returned to the Chu family home, preferring to live elsewhere. She only came back for important matters, like today, when Chu Xiong had called her to discuss potential cooperation with Xu Hao of the Xu Group.
After their meeting, she had retreated to her private study to read. She had not expected an uninvited guest to suddenly appear through the window.
Zheng Feifan, who had entered with the intent to investigate, momentarily forgot his mission when he saw her. A forced smile appeared on his face.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause trouble. I just need to speak with Chu Xiong.”
Without waiting for a reply, Zheng Feifan opened the door and stepped out.
Chu Xiong, sitting in the living room and watching TV, looked up and froze. His expression darkened as he saw a man emerge from his wife’s private study.
Before he could speak, Zheng Feifan’s angry voice interrupted him. “Where’s your son?”
From behind, Yao Xinrui’s calm voice added, “This man just climbed in through the window. I don’t even know who he is.”
Chu Xiong’s initial fury subsided slightly.
He frowned, scrutinizing Zheng Feifan. After a moment, recognition flashed in his eyes. He had read reports about Zheng Feifan recently and quickly deduced his identity.
Remaining composed, Chu Xiong asked, “Why are you looking for my son? Haven’t you caused him enough trouble already? Sending him to the hospital wasn’t enough?”
Zheng Feifan sneered coldly. “You better pray he hasn’t done anything foolish. If he has, it won’t end with a beating. I’ll make him understand what it means to beg for death.”
Chu Xiong’s heart sank. The man before him was dangerous—someone who had dismantled Zhao Media and possibly killed the Zhao family’s young master without leaving evidence.
“What are you talking about?” Chu Xiong demanded, his voice rising in frustration. “If you can’t explain yourself, I’ll call the police for breaking into my house illegally.”
“Ask your son what he’s done,” Zheng Feifan shot back, his tone icy. “Ask why he lured Lin Chuqing out. You know exactly what kind of scum he is, don’t you?”
As Zheng Feifan’s words sank in, Chu Xiong’s expression twisted. He was furious at his son’s recklessness. Despite repeated warnings to avoid trouble, it seemed Chu Xiaotian had once again disobeyed him.
Trying to calm the situation, Chu Xiong said, “Don’t jump to conclusions. Perhaps it was just a simple dinner…”
He pulled out his phone and called his son. The call went unanswered. He tried twice more with the same result.
Growing anxious, Chu Xiong tried calling his trusted confidant, Li Xiao, who was often with his son. But none of his calls were answered.
Chu Xiong’s face darkened further.
Zheng Feifan’s fury boiled over. After delivering a final warning to the Chu family, he stormed out of the villa and returned to Lin Chuqing’s company.
He had no choice now but to wait for her return.
The following afternoon, Lin Chuqing finally drove back to the company.
Zheng Feifan’s heart sank when he saw her. Her face was flushed, her eyes moist, and she walked with an awkward posture, her brows furrowed in discomfort.
The sight filled him with heartbreak and guilt.