Chapter Forty-Two: Su Li’s Plea

Old Leopard Chen, who was sitting to one side, gave a cold sneer.

“Gao Youde, fine, if you want to sleep with me, I’ll see it through to the end!”

The group was escorted to the villa. The exterior was lavish, but the inside felt empty, furnished with only a few European-style beds in each room. A faint scent of cleaning solution lingered in the air, evidence of a recent scrubbing.

Each person was assigned their own room. The women's doors were all locked as a precaution.

As dusk deepened, the villa’s lights gradually flickered on. In the spacious, vacant living room, the dining table was laden with sumptuous food.

Li Zhen entered the dining room, a weary smile on his face, signaling everyone to begin their meal.

Gao Youde sat aside, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on his plate, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

Across from him, Old Leopard Chen watched with a cold smile. “You’ve got some nerve, wanting to share a bed with me?”

Gao Youde lifted his head, his eyes resolute. “Old Leopard Chen, let me tell you, in this life, you’re the only enemy I remember. Sharing a bed with you is nothing. Years ago, I even dreamed of pinning you to the bed and grinding you into the sheets!”

Old Leopard Chen’s smile grew even more chilling. “You’ve always been a dreamer. You weren’t my match when you were young, and you’re still not now. Soon enough, you’ll see who lives and who dies.”

Dinner unfolded in a tense, uneasy silence. No one spoke much; they simply ate their food mechanically.

After the meal, Li Zhen announced that everyone was free to move about. The villa’s living room offered books and board games for entertainment.

I walked to the window and stared into the deepening night, a vague sense of unease creeping into my heart.

Hu San was lodged in another building outside the villa. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was some conspiracy behind all this, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Old Leopard Chen lounged on the sofa, appearing completely unconcerned by the world around him.

Red Sister pulled out a deck of cards and dragged Old Leopard Chen and Gao Youde into a game of Fight the Landlord.

Strangely, a peculiar sense of harmony settled over the room.

Time slipped by, and the night grew darker.

I was lost in my own uneasy musings when suddenly, a voice sounded behind me. “Cousin!”

My expression froze slightly as I turned around.

It was Su Li.

At the sight of her, my brow furrowed. I could never manage a kind look for her. But with others present, I had no wish to make a scene.

I spoke coldly, “What do you want?”

Su Li stepped closer, nervousness and pleading written across her face. In a low voice, she said, “Cousin, for tomorrow’s competition… could you please not win?”

My brow grew tighter, suspicion gnawing at me. Su Li had always looked down on me, never giving me the time of day. Why would she suddenly come to me with such a request? And call me ‘cousin’?

It was unbelievable.

I replied icily, “You know what this competition means to me, to all of us. Why would you ask me to lose?”

Su Li bit her lip, anxiety and resignation flickering in her eyes. “Cousin, this contest is tied to my father’s business. If you win, he could be in serious trouble. I know it’s too much to ask, but I have no other way.”

My heart jolted.

“Your father’s business? He’s still in business?”

At my words, Su Li sighed, pain and regret flashing through her eyes. “I had a falling out with my ex-boyfriend. Not only that, but he cheated me out of a lot of money. My father tried to fill the hole quickly, so he invested heavily in jade speculation. Now, he’s disappeared!”

Her voice choked with emotion.

Despite my longstanding indifference toward Su Li, she was still my cousin. Her helplessness and despair moved me.

“How could your father do such a thing? Didn’t he always look down on my dad, always boasting how nothing like that would ever happen to him?” I asked, frowning.

“I don’t know. He’s always been shrewd, but this time it’s as if he was possessed—fooled by that conman’s sweet talk.” Su Li shook her head, defeated. “Now our family’s in dire straits. Cousin, I know I was wrong before, but I really hope you can help us this time.”

The competition meant everything to me and everyone else, but Su Li’s request wasn’t entirely unreasonable. If her father really was in trouble… well, let him be in trouble.

What did that have to do with me?

Did Su Li still see me as the timid, groveling boy who once waited for their charity?

I looked at her and sneered. “Running away isn’t so bad. At least it proves he can run. If he ends up in prison, who’s going to pay to bail him out?”

The moment I said this, Su Li’s expression changed.

“So, you refuse to help me?” Her voice sharpened, the tension and pleading vanishing, replaced by a cold, threatening edge.

I stared back coldly, my heart as hard as ice. “Su Li, your attitude is making me uncomfortable. Do you think just because you’re asking, I’m obliged to help? You’re wrong. There are people in this world who are nothing but debt collectors—you meet them, and you’re expected to help, because your very connection with them is their bargaining chip. But I’ve long since seen through all that.”

Su Li’s face stiffened; shock and rage flashed in her eyes.

“Are you really so heartless? Have you forgotten we’re family?” she demanded.

“Family?” I sneered. “There are true and false hearts, even among relatives. Plenty of people have schemed against me—what makes you so special? You think showing up to ask means I must help? You’re wrong, Su Li.”

Her face grew uglier still, her teeth clenched, her eyes burning with fury. “Fine, have it your way. We’ll see who regrets it in the end!”

She turned and left, leaving me alone by the window as a torrent of conflicting feelings surged within me. Her threat left me uneasy, but I felt even more anger and resolve. I couldn’t let Su Li’s threats sway our plans.

Time slipped by, the night deepening. The villa’s lights gradually went out, leaving only a few dim lamps flickering.

I had no interest in Red Sister’s card game and turned to go to my room for the night.

Just then, the game broke up as well.

I returned to my room and lay on the bed, replaying the conversation over and over in my mind.

I truly never expected Su Li—of all people—to come asking me for help.

For her, it was simply impossible.

Had something really happened to her?

As I pondered this, suddenly, someone knocked on my door.