Chapter Eighty-Nine: Never Again Will I Be Manipulated by You

I turned around and saw a woman standing at the entrance of the warehouse, dressed in a red cheongsam—it was Sister Hong.

She walked in with elegance, a faint smile on her lips as though she had foreseen this very scene.

“Sister Hong?” I frowned, confusion swirling in my mind.

She nodded gently, her gaze shifting between me and Gao Youde. “Wang Hu, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

As she greeted me, she slowly made her way to stand beside Gao Youde, arms crossed, looking at me with cold indifference.

“You… you’ve joined forces with Gao Youde?” I was momentarily stunned by the sight.

Sister Hong let out a soft laugh, a trace of mockery flickering in her eyes. “Wang Hu, you really are naïve. When you used my connections to meet Gao Youde, I already knew you had other intentions.”

Her words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into my heart.

My face darkened, a tumult of doubt and anger rising within me. “Sister Hong, what do you mean by this?”

She shook her head lightly, as if chiding a misguided child. “Did you really think I couldn’t see through you? You’ve been practicing the art of stone gambling day and night—what else could you want except to strike it rich in one fell swoop? Honestly, you’re just like your dead father!”

A jolt ran through me. Memories of those relentless days and nights spent honing my skills flooded my mind, bringing with them a wave of helplessness and fury.

Until now, I had truly believed Sister Hong was my benefactor.

That was why I had worked at her KTV, and lived in her villa like a younger brother.

But in the end…

As I recalled every moment from this stone gambling ordeal, a realization dawned on me.

Behind Su Li wasn’t just Gao Youde.

It was Gao Youde and Sister Hong working together.

In truth, there were three factions at play here.

Sister Hong, Gao Youde, and Su Li—who was under the control of both.

Then there was me and Lu Yier.

And finally, Chen Laobao.

I clenched my fists, my gaze locked on Sister Hong. “You knew everything from the start, just watching me make a fool of myself? And all this time, you wanted me out of the game? Even going so far as to use seduction?”

Sister Hong let out a cold laugh, a glint of derision in her eyes. “Wang Hu, do you really think the world is so simple? Everyone has their own agenda. Every step you take falls within someone else’s calculations.”

Gao Youde looked on from the side, a faint smirk curving his lips, clearly in full agreement with Sister Hong’s words.

I suddenly felt like a prey ensnared in a web, powerless to struggle.

“Sister Hong, what exactly do you want? At your level, does money really matter so much to you?” I asked through gritted teeth.

She smiled slyly, her eyes twinkling with cunning. “You know very well what I want. While you were living in my villa, enjoying the good life, didn’t you ever stop to think?”

She paused, her smile turning cold. “But there’s one thing I hadn’t expected. I thought you’d already bested me, that you would win at the stone gambling meet. Yet you lost to Chen Laobao… It seems you’ll be spending the rest of your days serving him!”

At that moment, Chen Laobao was about to explain, but I shot him a warning glance. He immediately caught on and said nothing.

Hu San stood to the side, rolling up his sleeves in anger. “Brother Hu, don’t waste your breath on that red-skinned hag. Just say the word and I’ll tear her apart!”

But before Hu San could finish, Gao Youde sneered at him. “Big guy, what are you getting so worked up for? Don’t you know we still have your mother?”

Hu San’s face turned ashen, fists clenched tight, barely containing his rage.

“Gao Youde, you’re despicable!” Hu San spat, his eyes blazing with fury.

Gao Youde chuckled dismissively. “Big guy, are you stupid? Who’s the real scoundrel here? Owe money, pay money—that’s only right. You think you can threaten your creditor today? On what grounds?”

With a cold smile, Gao Youde slowly pulled an IOU from his pocket and waved it. “Wang Hu, this is what you owe me. Pay it back within three days, or Hu San will never see his mother again.”

I stared at the IOU, a chill settling in my chest.

I didn’t care about the amount written on it.

But Hu San’s mother was his only family. I couldn’t let him lose her.

“Gao Youde, touch my mother and see what happens!” Hu San growled, eyes aflame.

Gao Youde shrugged, a trace of scorn on his face. “I couldn’t care less about your sickly old woman. If it weren’t for the money you owe me, I wouldn’t bother with this mess.”

At that moment, Sister Hong gently patted Gao Youde’s shoulder, taking the IOU from his hand and signaling him to calm down.

She turned to me, a subtle smile on her lips. “Wang Hu, you still have a choice. Things don’t have to end this way.”

My brows knitted tighter, suspicion gnawing at my heart. “What do you mean?”

Her smile grew more cunning. “If you’re willing to work for us, the IOU can be handled differently. You know I’ve always needed you, Wang Hu.”

Listening to her familiar voice, I saw again the gentle smile she used to wear.

But now I knew all too well how much calculation and ruthlessness hid behind that expression.

“Work for you?” I scoffed, my gaze resolute. “Sister Hong, after this stone gambling match—especially seeing you and Gao Youde as partners—there’s nothing left between us!”

Her smile faltered for a moment but quickly recovered. “Wang Hu, sometimes accepting reality is far wiser than fighting it blindly. You need to realize that both you and your friend Hu San are under our control.”

“You’re nothing but Chen Laobao’s defeated pawn. Do you really think he’s your backing?”

Hearing this, I was struck by a sudden clarity.

It seemed Sister Hong knew nothing about Chen Laobao’s plan to revive the Ancient Jade Society and make me its new leader.

I sneered. “Sister Hong, let me be honest: even if Chen Laobao is my creditor, even if I have to wash dishes for him for the rest of my life, I will never again serve you!”

Sister Hong laughed, loud and unrestrained, as if she’d just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. Her laughter echoed through the empty warehouse, grating on my ears.

“Wang Hu, do you really think you have a choice?” she said, her tone turning icy. “Chen Laobao? He’s just a washed-up old man. You actually believe he can protect you? How naïve you are!”

A heaviness settled in my chest, but I kept my expression calm. “Sister Hong, you’re welcome to try. No matter what, I will never let myself be manipulated by you again.”