Chapter Sixty-Eight: Interrogating David

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“Oh? A grand gift?” Liu Yunfei didn’t think much of giving gifts, but seeing Lawrence’s expression, he grew curious about this so-called grand gesture.

“Yes, I guarantee you’ll like it. Please allow me to keep you in suspense—I’d like to invite you and Miss Yuqing to my home as guests again. Once you’re there, you’ll understand.” Lawrence imitated the gesture of an Arab greeting.

“But I can’t leave, you know I can’t be away from the Little Prince.” Liu Yunfei was puzzled by Lawrence’s mysterious act. Everyone already knew Yuqing’s identity, so why invite both of them over? Was it a trap? A distraction?

“You’ll see when you arrive. Rest assured, the Buiano family has no ill intentions towards you. We’re well aware of your capabilities, so we wouldn’t dare. If you’re still uneasy, you can bring the Little Prince with you,” Lawrence explained. In Italy, where the Mafia runs rampant, Liu Yunfei’s showdown with the three electric brothers was impossible to hide from the local mob bosses.

Liu Yunfei thought it over and decided the old fox had no reason to harm him, but he still didn’t take Owari along. He figured he’d only be gone for a short while—there were plenty of agents here, and he’d return soon. Besides, the rendezvous point with Yuqing had vanished, and those Arabs had perhaps already left.

He called Yuqing, and together they drove the Ferrari to Lawrence’s home. Passing through the grand hall, both felt a wave of nostalgia; though words went unspoken, their expressions revealed it. It was here, dancing the samba together, that real feelings blossomed between them—at least for Liu Yunfei towards Yuqing. He wished he could freeze that moment, never learn of the plots and betrayals, never endure what came after.

Following Lawrence, they arrived at the last room of the villa—a small white building. Each window was tightly barred with iron rods welded outside—not to prevent theft, but to keep those inside from escaping. A prison?

Lawrence pushed open the door, ushering them in. Liu Yunfei, perhaps influenced by earlier thoughts, felt the place was eerie. At the door to a room, Lawrence opened the heavy door and made a welcoming gesture. Liu Yunfei eyed him skeptically—what was the old fox up to?

Inside, the room was not large. Several sofas were arranged side by side, facing a large LCD screen, giving the impression of a private cinema suite. Once they were seated, Lawrence picked up the phone from the coffee table, pressed a few buttons, and ordered, “Begin.”

Liu Yunfei watched the screen in confusion. On it appeared an interrogation room: a long table in the center, an iron chair on each side. The door opened, and a tattooed man pushed another man with long hair inside.

“David?” Yuqing couldn’t help but exclaim.

Liu Yunfei recognized him too—it was the effeminate David. So that’s why the place was deserted last night; Lawrence had captured them all. The so-called grand gift was this—how ruthless the old fox was, capturing his old friend to gain favor.

Lawrence noted Yuqing’s astonished expression with pleasure, motioning for them to keep watching.

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“State your identity,” the tattooed man spoke first. The television transmitted the voices clearly.

“David Robert, student at the Rome Academy of Arts.” David was just as spineless as ever.

“State your position within the Temple of the Sun.” The tattooed man pressed him sternly.

“Elder of the Temple of the Sun, Rome district,” David confessed.

“Tell us your purpose in Florence.”

“We received orders from Chief Hadena to approach the prince from Saudi Arabia, Awahid, gather information, and look for an opportunity to help the Chief kidnap the grandson of the current king, Owari.” Liu Yunfei was shocked—members of the Temple of the Sun would go so far as to kidnap their own key members for their goals. Shameless.

“Who is the traitor?” the tattooed man asked.

“My girlfriend, Yuqing.”

“Why choose her?”

“The Chief said Awahid was likely a Chinese impersonator, so a Chinese woman would be more likely to lure him.” Liu Yunfei’s heart skipped; he’d suspected this before, but who else knew or doubted his identity?

The interrogation continued. “What benefit do you gain if you succeed?”

“If successful, I’ll become the Bishop of the Temple of the Sun in Italy, and the Chief promised me one million US dollars.”

Liu Yunfei’s jaw dropped. Wasn’t he supposed to be kidnapped? How did he get such terms? He glanced at Yuqing, whose face was crimson, lips bitten tight—she must be hearing this for the first time.

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“So you weren’t brought here by force?”

“No, the so-called kidnapping was to deceive my girlfriend Yuqing. I was afraid she wouldn’t agree if I told her the truth. Honestly, the idea was mine. I’ve confessed; I’m begging you, spare me—money blinded me, I won’t dare again.” David slid off the iron chair to his knees, sobbing and begging.

Liu Yunfei was stunned—he’d wanted to rescue him last night, but David was the mastermind behind it all. Anger surged. How could such a man exist? So shameless—no better than a beast.

The interrogation wasn’t over. “You handed your girlfriend to someone else? You can’t tell me you weren’t upset?” The tattooed man’s questions were just what Liu Yunfei would have asked.

“Not at all. I was worried about getting rid of her. That bitch, I’m sick of her. Once I’m rich and Bishop, I can have any woman I want. Bro, let me go, I’ll even let you sleep with that bitch…”

Yuqing couldn’t endure it any longer. “Beast! Animal!” She stood up and hurled her bag at the television. She’d never imagined that the man she loved, for whom she’d seduced others to ensure his safety, endured torment and guilt all for him—had deceived her. She had tricked others, only to be tricked herself. “Karma,” she sobbed, sinking onto the sofa and covering her face, weeping softly in her native tongue, unable to face those present, or herself.

Liu Yunfei didn’t comfort her—not from callousness, but to let Yuqing taste the bitterness of betrayal, hoping she’d never repeat the mistake.

“I’ve captured all members of this organization. Your Highness, you may take them away whenever you wish.” Lawrence was satisfied with Yuqing’s reaction, pouring a glass of red wine and pushing it across the table, then pouring another for himself, raising it to Liu Yunfei in a celebratory gesture.

Now Liu Yunfei began to understand the old fox’s intent. The grand gift wasn’t the captured men, but Yuqing herself. Lawrence knew Liu Yunfei was already in love with Yuqing, but she was devoted to David, willing to do anything for him. So the old fox arranged this drama to shatter David’s image in Yuqing’s heart, hoping she’d willingly fall into Liu Yunfei’s arms. Despicable, but effective—Liu Yunfei liked it; Yuqing surely hated the beast now.

Yet Liu Yunfei’s hopes were dashed. Suddenly, Yuqing seemed to remember something, crawled over and knelt before Liu Yunfei. “Awahid, please let him go.”

“What the hell is wrong with you? Forgive him? He betrayed you—did you not hear? He called you a bitch, a bitch! A bitch!” Liu Yunfei finally exploded. He hadn’t intended to kill the beast, but Yuqing’s plea for him drove him to fury. He smashed his wineglass to the floor, pushed Yuqing’s hand away. How could she be so wretched—her first response to such betrayal was to plead for him.