Chapter Twelve: This Is My Sister Hong!

Her words gave me a jolt, making me realize just how reckless I had been, utterly disregarding the consequences. Red Sister continued, “This time, I’ll pretend I don’t know that you went off to gamble on jade without telling me. But there’d better not be a next time!”

With that, she stuffed the fifty thousand yuan back into my hands, her gaze tinged with a complex emotion.

“Even the most money-loving woman knows cash reeks of blood. If you want to give a woman something, a gift is far better than money!”

The faint, heady scent of rose soap from her skin left me flustered and uneasy. Her nearness left me at a loss, distracted, unable to gather my wits.

Perhaps sensing my unusual reaction, Red Sister said nothing more, simply let out a soft sigh and reminded me, “Go to bed early. Be sure to show up at KTV on time tomorrow.”

After she left, I lay on my bed, her words and her alluring figure replaying endlessly in my mind.

But the next moment, I forced myself to suppress these thoughts. Xiao Mi was my girlfriend—how could I be having such strange notions?

Red Sister was my benefactor, after all!

Though my heart still seethed with anger and anxiety, Red Sister’s words brought me some measure of calm.

I knew that if I wanted to find Xiao Mi, I needed to be more cautious and composed.

The next day, I went to work at the KTV on time.

But during my shift, my thoughts kept drifting to Su Li’s boyfriend and the mystery of Xiao Mi’s disappearance.

Red Sister’s admonitions echoed in my ears. I knew I couldn’t afford to be reckless any longer.

After finishing my shift, I planned to report to Red Sister.

Of late, the housekeeper at her villa had gone back to her hometown.

I’d been doing all the cooking. Since it was my first day on the job and I’d finished right on time, I decided to prepare a good meal for Red Sister when she got home.

Just as I reached her office door, I heard voices coming from inside.

It was a man’s voice—somewhat familiar, though I couldn’t recall exactly where I’d heard it before.

The man sneered at Red Sister, “You’re quite something, digging up dirt on me. Tell me, what’s your angle?”

Red Sister was locked in a heated argument with him. I would have felt guilty for eavesdropping, but just then a group of coworkers began passing by the side of the office, so I quickly ducked behind a huanghuali wood statue of the god Guan Yu to avoid being seen.

What had started as a hiding place now gave me a much clearer view of the conversation.

The next words I heard were Red Sister’s: “It’s simple. The matter of you hiring thugs to kill people could be huge or small, depending on how it’s handled. But my opening a branch on your turf is a trifling matter to you.”

“You know the stakes. For you, this deal is a bargain.”

The man’s tone turned icy. “Tell me straight—this Wang Hu, is he your bastard or a relative of yours?”

Hearing my own name mentioned, I tensed up immediately.

Red Sister gave a cold laugh. “Whether he is or isn’t, that’s none of your business. The men you hired have confessed to everything!”

“You’ve seen the tapes. If you’re not satisfied, I can make as many copies as you want for your family elders.”

“When I say I’ll do something, I do it. You may not be much, but your uncles care a great deal about appearances. They wouldn’t want to see you involved in murder and robbery, would they?”

Listening to their argument, I finally understood everything after five minutes.

So, the day I was cornered at the jade market, Red Sister had known all along. Not only that, she’d sent people after the thugs and tortured the truth about the mastermind out of them.

She had known everything; I was the only one left in the dark!

At that moment, it felt as if my heart were being pierced by a thousand needles—painful beyond bearing.

The woman I had always regarded as my benefactor turned out to be cold and ruthless.

Her every word was like a blade, cutting deep into my soul.

Her kindness to me had all been part of a calculation!

I dared not move, afraid that the slightest sound might betray me.

My body was rigid, my palms slick with cold sweat; I could hardly breathe.

The statue of Guan Yu was my only shield, and I pressed against it, desperate for a shred of safety.

Inside, the argument raged on, the man’s voice growing even colder: “Red Sister, you’re clever, but don’t forget—the underworld isn’t yours alone. You can get the better of me today, but I’ll pay you back in kind tomorrow.”

Red Sister laughed icily, undaunted. “Go ahead, try me. I’ve never been afraid of threats. If you so much as lay a finger on me, I’ll make sure your entire family suffers!”

At last, the man let out a cold snort. “Fine, Red Sister. You win this time. But don’t cross me again, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”

With that, I heard footsteps receding—the man was leaving.

I held my breath, only daring to relax when I was sure he was gone.

Through the glass behind me, I saw Red Sister in her office, smiling as she picked up a file and, with a flourish, kissed it.

She even began to dance.

Standing behind the huanghuali wood statue of Guan Yu, I was filled with a tumult of emotions.

Her dancing in the office light was seductive, but to me she seemed like a she-wolf—cunning and dangerous.

Every gesture mocked my naivety and ignorance.

Swallowing my anger and disappointment, I quietly left the doorway.

Back in my own room, I closed my eyes, replaying everything I’d overheard.

Every word from Red Sister felt like a knife, carving wounds into my heart.

The woman I’d always regarded as a benefactor was actually cold-hearted and calculating.

Her every kindness had its price.

That night, I hardly slept at all.

In my mind, I kept seeing Red Sister’s cold smile and hearing the man’s threats.

I realized I had become entangled in a vast conspiracy, all because my own status was so lowly.

Anyone could toy with me at will!

I had to calm down and find a way out.

That night, I still returned to Red Sister’s villa...

I acted completely normal.

Even when Red Sister brought me a plate of fruit, I behaved just as usual.

How strange, that even someone like me, Wang Hu, had learned how to put on an act!

I continued going to KTV on time.

Though I was filled with anger and anxiety, I knew I couldn’t let it show.

I was still a small fry, without enough power.

At work, my thoughts kept drifting to Su Li’s boyfriend and Xiao Mi’s disappearance.

I had a strong suspicion that the man arguing with Red Sister was somehow connected to Su Li’s boyfriend.

Which meant that Red Sister knew everything!

After my shift ended, I decided to seek out an old friend for advice.

That old friend could only be Hu San.

In this city, he was probably the only one I had left.

Or perhaps, the only brother I had?