Chapter 50: Like a Cat

Hou Zhiyong looked up at the man before him and forced a sheepish smile. “We’ve never met before, have we, sir? Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else?”

Lu Beiqin’s cold, sharp gaze fixed upon him with a chilling intensity. Hou Zhiyong felt as if he were being watched by a wild beast; every hair on his body stood on end.

Lu Beiqin’s voice was icy as he spoke. “Do you remember Lu Hongyu?”

Hou Zhiyong froze for a second before quickly shaking his head. “Sir, I don’t know anyone named Lu Hongyu. I’ve been away for years and only just returned. If I’ve somehow offended you, I promise I’ll change immediately and never appear before you again!”

A sinister smile crept onto Lu Beiqin’s face. He leisurely took a cigarette from his pocket, and Xiao Cang promptly stepped forward to light it for him.

The flare of the lighter illuminated the man’s cold, solemn features. Lu Beiqin stared at him. “What is your relationship with Lu Hongyu? And what is Lu Hongyu’s connection to the organization?”

A cold sweat broke out on Hou Zhiyong’s forehead as his eyes darted around the room. Besides the four men who had dragged him in, only the man before him and a bodyguard remained.

On the table lay an ashtray and a dagger. A hint of savagery flickered in Hou Zhiyong’s eyes.

He glanced at Lu Beiqin, then lunged for the dagger. But before he could even reach it, someone seized his wrist and slammed it onto the table; the dagger sliced through his palm, pinning his hand to the wood.

Hou Zhiyong let out a howl of agony, which was abruptly silenced as the bodyguard dislocated his jaw—he couldn’t even cry out his pain.

His eyes bulged with terror; he was utterly petrified.

Lu Beiqin lounged in his chair, his posture still nonchalant. “I hate repeating myself. Think carefully about my question, or don’t blame me if I chop off your fingers one by one.”

At those words, Hou Zhiyong turned deathly pale and nodded frantically.

Xiao Cang set his jaw back in place, and Hou Zhiyong stammered, trembling, “There was some sort of financial collaboration between the organization and Lu Hongyu, but I don’t know the details. I only recall that someone from the organization came once and spoke with him behind closed doors for a long time. It ended in a loud argument—they parted on bad terms.

Back then, I was just a small-time thug. That boss said Lu Hongyu had stolen something from the organization and ordered me to take some men and retrieve it. But before I’d sent more than a few emails to Lu Hongyu, he was already in trouble.

I was afraid of being implicated, so I ran.”

“Is that the truth?”

“I swear it is! I wouldn’t dare lie to you!”

Lu Beiqin pressed further. “This boss from the organization you mentioned—who was he?”

Hou Zhiyong frowned, racking his memory. “I think his men called him Brother Qiang, but… it’s been ten years, I can’t remember clearly.”

Lu Beiqin said nothing. Xiao Cang stepped forward and yanked the dagger from the table, sending Hou Zhiyong howling in pain.

“If you dare lie, you know the consequences.”

“Yes, yes, I understand, I understand!”

…

After finishing her yoga routine, Lu Beiqin still hadn’t returned. Shen Chutang had no intention of waiting for him and instead turned upstairs to a room.

To be precise, this was a laboratory Shen Chutang had prepared for herself.

It was equipped with advanced instruments and a variety of traditional herbs. Tonight, she planned to make some whitening and beauty pills for Ling You to sell at the beauty salons under his business.

When everything was finally done, Shen Chutang couldn’t suppress a yawn. She stretched her stiff limbs—it was already late.

She left the lab, returned to her room, and took a shower.

By now it was two in the morning. Shen Chutang was exhausted and ready to sleep when she heard noises outside.

She opened her door and saw Lu Beiqin entering, a chill clinging to him.

“You’re only just getting back?”

Lu Beiqin paused, some of his hostility fading away. “Did I wake you?”

She shook her head, yawning. “No, but… why do you smell like blood?”

As she spoke, Shen Chutang looked Lu Beiqin up and down. “Are you hurt?”

It was probably Hou Zhiyong’s blood, though she hadn’t expected it to get on him.

Lu Beiqin shook his head. “No, I just took a client to the hospital earlier. Must’ve happened then.”

Shen Chutang nodded, her exhaustion making it hard to keep her eyes open.

Lu Beiqin watched her, suddenly reminded of the cat Lu Yuebai once kept—so small, swaying its head drowsily with eyes closed, occasionally licking its paw.

Unconsciously, Lu Beiqin raised his hand, but when it neared Shen Chutang’s head, he hesitated.

“Go to sleep. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Shen Chutang didn’t notice the look in his eyes. She returned to her room, buried her head in the pillow, and fell instantly asleep.

Lu Beiqin entered his own room and glanced at the arrangements on his desk.

He had a habit of placing things at precise angles, making it easy to tell if anything had been moved.

These past few days, Shen Chutang hadn’t set foot in his room even once.