Chapter 121: Pretending to be Real?

Shen Yinchuan drove the car, with Lin Xiaosu in the passenger seat. After traveling ten miles, the overwhelming tension of the decisive battle finally faded away. Before them lay the bustling cityscape of Jiangcheng, just as it had been yesterday.

Shen Yinchuan glanced at Lin Xiaosu. "The leadership decided not to involve us in the follow-up operations—not out of a lack of trust, but to protect us. We must minimize any trace of our participation."

This was standard procedure for the Hidden Dragon. When local police cooperation was required for a mission, it was handled discreetly. Once the objective was achieved, they would vanish, alleviating pressure on the local authorities and ensuring those involved would not become targets of the enemy. Shen Yinchuan understood this, but he worried Lin Xiaosu might not, as Lin was not part of the Hidden Dragon—or even this system.

Lin Xiaosu nodded. "I understand."

Shen Yinchuan smiled softly. "There is something you might not know."

"What is it?"

"When we entered the Changsheng Group yesterday, Li Changsheng was holding a meeting. Do you know what kind of meeting it was?"

"The secretary said it was a shareholders' meeting," Lin replied.

"Do you know the agenda?"

"I really don't. Is it important?"

"Very important—at least for you," Shen said.

"Important to me? A shareholders' meeting to sanction me?" Lin laughed. "Li Changsheng isn't that stupid, is he?"

"Of course not to sanction you, but to sanction your father-in-law!"

The smile vanished from Lin Xiaosu's face. "How so?"

"Li Changsheng had his eldest son propose that Ding Lizhong be held accountable for the previous 'Spider' murder case, as well as for introducing Huang Chengwang," Shen explained. "The grounds were the company bylaws. According to them, Ding Lizhong committed a grave error that caused the company massive losses, so they intended to expel him from the group and wipe out his shares."

"That's great!" Lin nodded gently.

"You see the importance of this meeting for you now?"

"Of course," Lin said. "If Li Changsheng dealt him such a lethal blow, it proves that Ding Lizhong was not on his side!"

Shen smiled. "You really do get it. An absurd shareholders' meeting, an absurd proposal, and a cold-blooded strike—yesterday, this was the darkest cloud hanging over Ding Lizhong. But today, it is the breeze that clears the sky. That breeze is significant."

"Beyond clearing Ding Lizhong's name, what else does it signify?"

"It concerns the direction of the Changsheng Group," Shen said. "If the company were entirely filled with Li Changsheng's cronies, it would likely head toward ruin. But with Ding Lizhong there, the group now has another possibility."

Lin Xiaosu's heart skipped a beat. "So, the Changsheng Group could be preserved, but led by Ding Lizhong?"

"That depends on whether Lei Xiaojun can stand up to scrutiny," Shen said. "If he can't, the group will have to be led by Ding Lizhong. If he can, it will be a joint leadership. Either way, your father-in-law has finally made it through the worst of it."

Lin Xiaosu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He considered telling this increasingly talkative captain that his relationship with the Ding girl was just an act, but decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Ahead lay South Lake, and they were on a familiar road. "Hey, brother, the leadership told you to take me home, but do you have some misunderstanding about where 'home' is?"

"Don't expect me to drive you all the way back to Fengcheng! You're dreaming!" Shen laughed. "I'm buried in cases and don't have the time to fulfill the leader's orders to the letter. Today, have a celebratory drink at your father-in-law's place. Tomorrow, let your girlfriend drive. You two can head home together."

***

On the roof of the South Lake villa, three people sat around a tea table, gazing toward the east. Their tea had long since gone cold. Their hearts were in turmoil, unsure if they were experiencing joy, shock, or a chaotic mix of both. They hadn't been present for the upheaval at the Changsheng Group.

But such explosive news could not be contained. The Hidden Dragon War Order had been issued. The Changsheng Group had been blockaded. The spearhead was pointed directly at Li Changsheng. These few facts were enough to break Ding Lizhong into a cold sweat. Li Changsheng must be a man of immense crimes—crimes so vast they were unparalleled. With the Hidden Dragon acting, the Li family was being wiped out. There would be no place left for them in the Changsheng Group.

Upon hearing the news, Mrs. Ding leaped to her feet. "Li Changsheng, you bastard, your day has finally come!"

Even Ding Ruoshui, usually so composed in the face of any crisis, had beads of sweat on her nose. Clearly, in the face of a Hidden Dragon War Order, no one could remain indifferent.

Why did this happen? As the news trickled in, the thread became clear. It was all tied to Lin Xiaosu. He had used his "super detective" skills to uncover the ironclad evidence of Li Changsheng's crimes and reported it to the police, who, realizing the gravity of the situation, escalated it to the Hidden Dragon.

This was the exact account from one of Ding Lizhong’s loyal subordinates at the group. Hearing this, Mrs. Ding was so happy she nearly danced. "I told you, my son-in-law is no ordinary man! He really gets things done! Daughter, hurry up and settle things with him. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to see his mother..."

"Mom, we aren't even at that stage yet," Ding Ruoshui said anxiously.

"Not at that stage? Then draw that stage!" Mrs. Ding insisted. "Come, let's pick out some gifts. I'll give half of my jade bracelet collection to his mother!"

Ding Ruoshui was at a loss. "Mom, his mother spends her days farming. You want her to wear bracelets worth millions? If she smashes one on a hoe handle, do you know how many years she'll cry?"

Mrs. Ding thought about it. "You're right. How about I pack up some gold jewelry for her?"

"My god, are you determined to drive me out of the house?"

"Ancient people sold themselves to bury their fathers—why? Because gratitude is a virtue! He helped your father so much, and you want to burn bridges?"

Ding Lizhong coughed. "I don't want to interrupt your bickering, but watch your phrasing. 'Selling yourself'? Who are you cursing?"

"See? Even Dad disagrees!" Ding Ruoshui exclaimed, finding an ally.

"Don't get the wrong idea," Ding Lizhong said. "I'm not saying I want to die, but I'm not saying I agree with burning bridges. Your mother is right about one thing: when are you going to Fengcheng to meet his parents?"

Ding Ruoshui slapped her forehead. "I can't stay here anymore. I'm leaving! Besides, he's back..." She dashed out, running into the courtyard just as Shen Yinchuan dropped off Lin Xiaosu.

As soon as Lin walked through the door, Ding Ruoshui grabbed him. "Come on, let's go out!"

They hopped into her blue car and sped off.

"Is something chasing you?" Lin asked, eyeing her.

"Don't ask. The house is on fire!" she said. "My mom is determined to marry me off to you. She even wanted to give half her favorite jewelry to your mom. Can you imagine?"

"Are those bracelets worth much?" Lin asked.

*Damn.* He really was interested! Ding Ruoshui rolled her eyes, too lazy to answer.

They spent the morning at an amusement park and the afternoon at a swimming pool. Ding Ruoshui’s skin was breathtaking. It must be said that the first stage of finding a girlfriend should involve taking her to a pool; the water washes away the artifice, revealing her true self and avoiding the "false prosperity" created by makeup.

If this were a test, Ding Ruoshui passed with flying colors. After splashing around, her beauty seemed to increase rather than diminish. Natural, healthy, and a huge plus. An even greater plus was that her chest was quite prominent, and as she moved through the water, the deep cleavage caught Lin’s "Heavenly Insight."

As the sun set, she sat at a teahouse by East Lake. The sunset draped over her from behind, and for a moment, she was as elegant and serene as a fairy in a dream.

"I see your gaze, and there's something strange in it," she whispered, leaning closer. "Are you thinking of turning this fake act into reality?"

Lin Xiaosu looked up to meet her eyes. "I dare not."

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid if the roles change, my 400,000-dollar acting fee will go down the drain."

"Get lost!"

Lin Xiaosu "got lost" elegantly, heading toward the restroom. When he returned, he saw Ding Ruoshui leaning against the stairs in a seductive pose. "Come upstairs and sit for a while!"

"Why upstairs? Did you book a room?"

She glared at him. "Please, this is a teahouse! Do you really think you can do anything untoward here?"

Lin was startled. "You mean whether we do something untoward depends on the location, not our roles?"

"What roles? What roles do you think we have?" She draped her arms over his shoulders, looking infinitely charming.

Lin shrank back, eyeing her warily. "Are you really trying to avoid paying me? I don't think you need to go this far over a measly 400,000..."

"Acting fee?" She looked surprised.

"Are you too deep in character? Did your mom stimulate you too much? You haven't lost your mind, have you?" He touched her forehead. "Please, we're fake. This is an employment relationship. You have eight figures in your account; there's really no need to do this for six figures..."

"I'm going to the restroom to wash my face and clear my head," she said, making an elegant exit.

Lin Xiaosu waited at the stairs. He waited for a long time, but she didn't return. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. It was Ding Ruoshui.

He answered. Her voice came through: "Did you fall into the toilet? Why are you taking so long?"

Lin was dazed. "Where are you?"

"Where am I? I'm right where I was; I haven't moved. Where are you? It's a tiny teahouse, don't tell me you're lost..."

Lin Xiaosu turned back and walked to the room they had been in. Peering through the crack in the door, he saw Ding Ruoshui sitting inside.

His heart surged with a massive wave of shock. She was in the original private room. This room had only one entrance, which was visible from the staircase where he had been standing. The restroom was in the opposite direction. He hadn't seen her return from the restroom, so it was highly likely she had never left her seat.

If so, who was the Ding Ruoshui he had just seen at the stairs?