71: Hand over the Heavenly Palace, then turn yourself in!

In the Tiangong Nightclub, Supreme VIP Room.

Zheng Hu was slumped in a large leather sofa, like a fierce tiger pretending to sleep.

The cigar had burned down to the end, the ash about to fall.

Opposite him, Jin Meiting leaned against a single sofa.

Rarely, she was wearing a simple, creamy-white knitted long dress today, the soft fabric hugging her mature, voluptuous curves.

Her long hair was loosely tied up, revealing her slender neck.

Her makeup was light, lacking her usual charm and adding a touch of domestic gentleness.

However, in her slightly upturned, seductive eyes, light and shadow flickered, hiding an inscrutable mind.

She always felt that today's Zheng Hu was different.

Normally, she would be at the gym at this time, but Zheng Hu's men had suddenly invited her over... He never disturbed her then.

Something unusual must be a sign of trouble... She couldn't help but become slightly wary.

Zheng Hu didn't look at her, merely pressing the cigar into the crystal ashtray and extinguishing it.

"Meiting." He finally spoke. "You've been with me for almost five years, haven't you?"

Jin Meiting's smile remained unchanged: "Why are you suddenly asking this, Brother Hu? It will be exactly five years in December."

"Mhm."

Zheng Hu nodded, raising his gaze to her face, his eyes frighteningly calm. "Time flies... Do you still remember why you were willing to follow me back then?"

Jin Meiting smiled even more seductively: "Of course, it was out of admiration for Brother Hu. I willingly followed you."

"Is that so?"

Zheng Hu twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Wasn't it because..."

"I was injured down there and couldn't get it up, so I found you to cover up the truth, to act as a public front? Lest..."

"People in the Underworld think Zheng Hu is impotent and start making moves?"

Jin Meiting's smile instantly froze.

That was right.

Zheng Hu was incapable in that regard, otherwise, he wouldn't have been childless for years and had to adopt a Godson.

Only the two of them knew this secret; the doctor who performed surgery on Zheng Hu had been silenced.

But she didn't understand... Why would Zheng Hu suddenly bring this up now?

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her throat felt blocked, preventing her from speaking.

Only the slight rise and fall of her chest beneath the knitted dress betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

Zheng Hu watched her change expression quietly, remaining silent for a long time.

It was so long that Jin Meiting could hear her heart beating like a drum.

"Five years..."

Zheng Hu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

"I believe I have treated you well."

"Money, power, reputation—I gave you everything you wanted."

"Even knowing about your little secret actions, as long as they weren't excessive, I turned a blind eye."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes, long steeped in bloodshed and conspiracy, now sharp as knives, piercing Jin Meiting. "Is there... nothing you want to tell me, Meiting?"

Jin Meiting took a deep breath and said aggrievedly: "Brother Hu, I don't understand what you mean. Has... someone been sowing discord in front of you? Heaven and Earth can attest to my devotion to you!"

"Sowing discord?"

Zheng Hu chuckled softly twice.

"Jin Meiting, how long are you going to keep up the act?"

"Ye Chen is not your Younger Male Cousin at all!"

"What were you trying to do, meticulously placing him next to Bing Lan?"

"Don't tell me you didn't know she was Wang Feng's daughter!"

Jin Meiting was shocked to her core.

Zheng Hu actually knew the truth already?!

Who told him?

Several figures flashed through her mind, finally settling on the Zhao Family Old Master.

That's right!

It was them!

Her breath caught, and she quickly explained: "Brother Hu! I didn't! I truly..."

"Enough!"

Zheng Hu interrupted sharply, only disappointment remaining in his eyes.

"Five years. I should have tamed a dog by now."

"But you, Jin Meiting..."

"You betrayed me."

As he spoke.

He picked up the gun on the table and aimed it at Jin Meiting's forehead from across the space.

"Tell me, who sent you?"

The seductive smile vanished from Jin Meiting's face.

She offered no defense, no pleas, just looked quietly at Zheng Hu, her expression complex.

Zheng Hu's hand gripping the gun had knuckles turning white: "Speak! Otherwise, don't expect to walk out of here today!"

Jin Meiting remained silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking.

"It was your father-in-law, Zhao Tiangang."

"He wants the businesses, resources, and... all the connections you possess."

Zheng Hu's pupils suddenly contracted: "Zhao Tiangang?!"

His father-in-law, the "Dao Master" of the Provincial Capital, the man he treated with utmost respect... had actually planted a mole by his side five years ago?

"Why?" Zheng Hu's voice was frighteningly low. "What were you after?"

Jin Meiting gave a desolate smile.

"Why?"

"Because when my life was at its worst! Its dirtiest! When I was almost forced into the sea..."

"It was Bing Lan who pulled me up."

Her gaze drifted away, as if returning to that miserable rainy night many years ago.

"She gave me money, gave me shelter, and gave me a chance to start a new life."

"Without her, I, Jin Meiting, would have rotted away in some unknown alleyway long ago."

"Zhao Tiangang found me and threatened the lives of my entire family, forcing me to get close to you, monitor you, and, if necessary... replace you."

"I agreed."

"But I also had my condition..."

"I demanded Bing Lan's safety."

She raised her eyes and looked directly at Zheng Hu.

"Do you really think Zhao Tiangang views you as a son-in-law?"

"You killed his daughter back then. As a father, and as the Tiger of the Provincial Capital... do you think he would forgive you?"

"Zheng Hu, you and I are both just pieces on his chessboard."

Boom!!!

Something seemed to explode in Zheng Hu's mind!

Shock!

Rage!

Disbelief!

Endless negative emotions, like magma, overwhelmed his rationality!

So that was it!

No wonder Zhao Tiangang had been lukewarm toward him all these years!

No wonder Jin Meiting always subtly guided his decisions at critical junctures!

He thought he was playing a grand game, preparing to constantly expand and devour the underground networks of several surrounding cities, yet he didn't know... he was merely a piece in someone else's game!

"Fine... Fine Dao Master! Fine Jin Meiting!"

Zheng Hu laughed out of extreme anger, pressing the muzzle against Jin Meiting's brow. "I'll shoot you first, you traitorous bitch!!!"

His finger tightened on the trigger!

Jin Meiting closed her eyes.

However—

"Ding-a-ling... Ding-a-ling..."

Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, the phone vibrated abruptly!

The caller ID flashing on the screen was none other than—

Big Brother Xiong!

He immediately suppressed his murderous intent and swiped the answer button with his thumb.

The next second.

A panicked, unfamiliar male voice came from the other end: "B-Boss, this is bad! S-Something terrible has happened!"

Zheng Hu frowned: "Who are you? Where is Big Brother Xiong? Put him on the phone!"

"I... I'm Houzi, Boss!"

Houzi's voice on the phone sounded very wronged. "Brother Xiong passed out. He was knocked out and dragged... dragged here!"

"What?!"

Zheng Hu suddenly stood up from the sofa, his expression changing drastically. "Speak clearly! Where? By whom?!"

"At... at Shuyue Group! The top floor conference room!"

Houzi's words were filled with utter collapse.

"It's... it's that driver Ye Chen!"

"He not only dragged Brother Xiong here, but he also fought his way up to the top floor alone!"

"He... he's not human! He's a devil, Boss!"

Shuyue Group? Ye Chen?!

Zheng Hu's pupils contracted sharply.

He had sent Big Brother Xiong with a team of elites to control Yi Yue, using her as leverage against Ye Chen, and simultaneously sent Lin Bao with the main force to Shu Yue to capture Bing Lan.

This should have been a flawless, two-pronged plan!

But now... Big Brother Xiong failed?

And he fell into Ye Chen's hands?

It seems Lin Bao's side failed too?

How could this be possible?

He knew Big Brother Xiong's skills best; he was a ruthless character who had truly climbed out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, capable of making a name for himself even in the Middle East!

How could he be defeated by a mere driver???

Zheng Hu's voice was so gloomy it could drip water: "Put Ye Chen on the phone."

A burst of chaotic noise came from the other end of the line.

A few seconds later, a calm voice responded: "I am Ye Chen."

Veins bulged on Zheng Hu's hand gripping the phone.

"Ye! Chen!"

"Where is my brother?"

"Don't worry," Ye Chen replied calmly. "He's not dead, just taking a nap for a while. But when he wakes up, he should be heading to prison."

"You're courting death!" Zheng Hu roared, murderous intent boiling in his eyes.

"Whether I'm courting death or not isn't up to you."

Ye Chen paused, his voice growing colder. "The evidence you wanted is now in my hands."

Zheng Hu's breathing hitched.

Jin Meiting also snapped her head up, a flash of astonishment in her beautiful eyes.

The evidence... was actually in Ye Chen's hands?

Did Bing Lan give it to him?

"What do you want?"

Zheng Hu forced himself to calm down.

He knew that Ye Chen calling at this moment was definitely not just to deliver this "good news."

As expected.

On the other end of the phone, Ye Chen's voice was as calm as ever: "I'll give you one chance: hand over Tiangong to me, and then turn yourself in."

"Hahaha..."

Zheng Hu was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

"Turn myself in? Hand over Tiangong?"

"Ye Chen, you punk... you're also Zhao Tiangang's man, aren't you?!"

That's right!

Jin Meiting was Zhao Tiangang's pawn, so what about Ye Chen?

This suddenly appearing driver, with his strange skills and deep schemes, had turned Xiamen City upside down in just a few days... If Zhao Tiangang was controlling all of this behind the scenes, then it made sense!

First, performing the drama of being betrayed by his wife, using Chen Bo's recommendation to enter Tiangong, and then coordinating with Jin Meiting from the inside... the goal was to completely devour everything Zheng Hu owned!

"Fine Dao Master... Fine Zhao Tiangang!"

Thinking this, Zheng Hu gritted his teeth. "To set up a scheme like this, Zhao Tiangang truly thinks highly of me!"