51: Chapter 51 Caught in the Net

After dinner, Lin Yu took a hot shower, washing away his exhaustion and the smell of hospital disinfectant. He didn't go to the guest bedroom but walked straight into the master bedroom.

Lying on the bed, he took out his phone, the light from the screen illuminating his deep eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he made two calls.

The first was to President Wang of the bank.

The second was to Secretary Zhou of the Municipal Committee.

After hanging up, he replied to messages from a few beauties, flirting a little. Having done all this, he drifted off into a drowsy sleep.

In the middle of the night, he woke up groggily, feeling two warm breaths beside him. Mu Wan and Su Manqin were snuggled up on his left and right, like two different kittens. A faint, contented smile curled his lips, and he fell back into a dream.

Two days passed in a flash.

Liu Yifei had been discharged from the hospital and moved into the new home arranged by Lin Yu along with Zhou Li. Under the protection of bodyguards, their lives temporarily returned to peace.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, in a dark and damp small hotel.

Zhao Qiang was curled up on the bed, unshaven, his eyes bloodshot. He hadn't dared to leave the room for two days.

On the phone screen was a text message he had just received.

"Respected Mr. Zhao Qiang, due to your serious violation of our bank's rules and regulations, it has been decided upon review that your employment contract is terminated effective immediately, and you will be placed on the blacklist for banking industry personnel..."

"Snap!"

Zhao Qiang slammed his hand hard onto the dilapidated table.

"Lin Yu... and you two bitches... you forced me to do this!"

He gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed from the depths of his throat, filled with madness and resentment. He knew he was finished; his job was gone, his reputation was ruined, and confronting Lin Yu head-on was no different from throwing an egg against a rock.

He couldn't swallow this insult! He wanted revenge! He wanted to make Lin Yu suffer, and he wanted Zhou Li and Liu Yifei to pay a painful price!

A vicious thought emerged in his mind. He thought of a person—someone he usually wouldn't bother to suck up to, but who had now become his only lifeline.

The only son of the richest man in Ze City, Zhang Shaotian.

The Zhang family held absolute power in Ze City, with deep-rooted influence. And Zhang Shaotian was a notorious playboy, lecherous and vengeful.

Zhao Qiang didn't hesitate at all. He dug out all his cash, bought the most expensive cigarettes, put on a baseball cap and a mask, found out the "Night Color" club that Zhang Shaotian frequented, and waited at the entrance.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that the entrance to the club became lively. A flashy red Ferrari roared to a stop. The door opened, and Zhang Shaotian stepped out, drunk, with his arms around two heavily made-up female companions.

This is it!

Like a provoked beast, Zhao Qiang rushed out and fell heavily to his knees in front of Zhang Shaotian with a "thump."

"Young Master Zhang! Young Master Zhang, help me!"

Zhang Shaotian was startled, sobering up significantly. He looked down at the unknown creature at his feet and cursed impatiently: "Who the hell are you? Where did this mad dog come from? Get lost!"

"Young Master Zhang, it's me, Zhao Qiang! Your distant cousin! I've been bullied terribly, please help me get justice!" Zhao Qiang looked up, his face full of pleading.

"Cousin? Since when do I have a cousin?" Zhang Shaotian frowned in disgust. "Don't try to climb the family tree with me. If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost!"

Zhao Qiang took a deep breath and squeezed three words through his teeth: "Lin Yu!"

Hearing this name, Zhang Shaotian's hand, which was holding his female companion, paused slightly. He had indeed heard this name a few times recently; it seemed he was someone. But he didn't take him seriously at all. Was there anyone in Ze City more powerful than him, Zhang Shaotian?

"Oh? What did he do to you?" Zhang Shaotian became interested.

"He relied on having a bit of money to ruin my job, steal my wife, and... and force me into a dead end!" Zhao Qiang said, tearful and sobbing, a mix of truth and lies.

Zhang Shaotian's eyes lit up instantly. He had seen Zhou Li; that figure, that temperament—she was absolutely top-tier. He had played with many women, but he hadn't tasted a type like the gentle and dignified Zhou Li before.

He released his female companion, stepped forward, and used the tip of his leather shoe to lift Zhao Qiang's chin. He looked him up and down with a lewd gaze, his tone flippant: "I think I recall now, your wife... is Zhou Li?"

Zhao Qiang shivered all over. A strong sense of humiliation rose from the bottom of his heart, making him almost want to vomit. But looking at Zhang Shaotian's lustful eyes, the hatred in his heart instantly overwhelmed all his dignity.

He nodded vigorously, his voice hoarse: "Young Master Zhang, as long as you are willing to help me bring down Lin Yu, Zhou Li... I will bring her to you!"

"Hahaha!" Zhang Shaotian laughed out loud, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He patted Zhao Qiang's face, not lightly, with a sense of humiliation.

"Fine, you kid are quite sensible. If I get the person, your matter is no longer a matter." He straightened up and looked down at Zhao Qiang, who was kneeling on the ground, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Tomorrow night, bring your wife to my 'Cloud Top Club'. Remember, I want to see your sincerity."

After saying this, he put his arms around the two female companions and walked into the club, laughing, leaving Zhao Qiang alone kneeling on the cold ground, like a dog whose soul had been drained.

Not long after. Zhao Qiang returned to the small hotel, the air filled with a musty smell.

He dialed that familiar number. "Sorry, the user you are calling is powered off..."

"Damn it! That bitch!" Zhao Qiang slammed his phone onto the stained bedsheet, the malevolence in his eyes almost overflowing.

He didn't know how long it had been when Zhao Qiang was woken up by hunger. He felt his pockets, and only a few crumpled small bills remained.

He wrapped his collar tight, put on his hat and mask, slipped out of the hotel, and bought two steamed buns and a cup of soy milk at the street corner. Back in the room, he devoured the food, as if it were the most delicious thing in the world.

After eating and drinking his fill, a surge of malicious power welled up in his heart again. He picked up his phone again and dialed Zhou Li's number. This time, the call connected.

"Zhao Qiang! You still have the face to call?" Zhou Li's roar, suppressing her anger, immediately came through the receiver. "You are simply not human! To actually do such a thing to Yifei..."

"Shut up!" Zhao Qiang roared, interrupting her. "Do you want a divorce? Do you want your family to be safe?"

The other end of the line went silent instantly, leaving only the sound of rapid breathing.

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Zhao Qiang's mouth; he knew he had grasped her weak spot.

"I want 100,000 yuan, and we'll get a divorce. No, 200,000!" He raised his voice, his tone full of threat. "Otherwise, don't even think about it! Neither you nor your family will have any peace!"

"Fine!" Zhou Li's voice was squeezed through her teeth, carrying a bone-chilling coldness. "Where should we sign?"

"Tonight at eight, Cloud Top Club." After saying this, Zhao Qiang hung up without hesitation.

He leaned against the wall, his eyes flashing with a crazy light. Just wait, I will make all of you pay the price!

However, he did not know that at the same time he hung up the phone, a few kilometers away, in the living room of Liu Yifei's new home.

Two plainclothes criminal police officers were sitting beside Zhou Li; one of them was wearing headphones, and a laptop in front of him displayed a clear sound wave graph.

"Have you traced the location?" The criminal police captain asked in a low voice into the phone.

"Report! The criminal suspect's location has been locked." The voice of a technician came from the other end.

"Good, notify the team. Don't startle the snake, watch him closely, don't lose him."

The captain hung up and turned to the pale-faced Zhou Li, his tone steady and forceful: "Ms. Zhou, we will keep a safe distance tonight and go to the Cloud Top Club with you. Don't be afraid; if there is any danger, we will rush in immediately."

Zhou Li didn't speak, just tightly held Liu Yifei's hand beside her. Liu Yifei squeezed back, her eyes full of concern.

"I'm not afraid." Zhou Li took a deep breath, her voice trembling but exceptionally firm.

Night fell, and the Cloud Top Club was brightly lit, like a crystal palace standing in the night.

Just before eight in the evening, Zhou Li, wearing a simple black trench coat, walked into the resplendent lobby alone. She saw Zhao Qiang standing not far away at a glance.

He looked dejected, but the resentment in his eyes was clearer than ever.

Zhou Li suppressed the urge to rush up and scratch his face, looking at him coldly.

"Come with me." Zhao Qiang didn't say much and turned toward the elevator.

Zhou Li followed. The elevator went all the way up to the luxury private room on the top floor.

The moment Zhao Qiang pushed open the door to the private room, Zhou Li's expression changed instantly.

There was no atmosphere of negotiation inside at all. Under the soft lights, Zhang Shaotian was leaning back on the leather sofa, holding a glass of red wine, looking at her with a playful expression. Two seductive women sat beside him, and the air was filled with an aura of extravagance and danger.

Before Zhou Li could react, Zhao Qiang, who was beside her, pulled her inside and shut the door behind him.

"Zhou Li, you finally came." Zhang Shaotian put down his wine glass, his gaze sweeping unscrupulously over Zhou Li, as if looking at a commodity waiting to be sold. "Your husband agreed to give you to me. As long as you accompany me for one night, I will let him divorce you and help you get revenge. How about that?"

Zhou Li was struck by lightning. She turned her head abruptly, staring fixedly at Zhao Qiang, her eyes full of disbelief: "You... what did you say?"

Zhao Qiang turned his face away, refusing to look into her eyes filled with despair and contempt, his voice as cold as a stone: "Zhou Li, be sensible. Following Young Master Zhang is good for both you and me. He can give you what I can't."

"You bastard!" Zhou Li was trembling with anger, tears instantly welling up. She finally understood completely that this man had long ago lost any shred of humanity; for the sake of revenge, he could sell everything, including his own dignity and his wife.

She turned to run, but was blocked by two tattooed thugs at the door.

"Want to leave?" Zhang Shaotian stood up slowly, approaching step by step. "Once you've entered my door, it's not so easy to leave."

Zhou Li retreated in despair, her face as pale as paper.

Just as Zhang Shaotian's hand was about to touch her—

"Bang!"

With a loud noise, the heavy door of the private room was kicked open.

"Police! Don't move!"

Several criminal police officers descended like divine soldiers, rushing in instantly, their dark gun barrels aimed at everyone in the room.

"Hands up! Get down!"

Zhang Shaotian was startled by this sudden turn of events. He instinctively wanted to resist, shouting: "Do you know who I am? My dad is..."

"Cuff him!" The criminal police captain ignored his nonsense. Upon his order, several officers quickly stepped forward, pinning Zhang Shaotian, Zhao Qiang, and those thugs to the ground, and putting cold handcuffs on them.

"Take them away!"

Zhou Li walked out of the club in a daze, the night wind blowing through her messy hair. She saw Lin Yu waiting by the police car at a glance and was slightly stunned!

He stood tall and straight, like a silent mountain in the night. Seeing her come out, a flash of heartbreak crossed his eyes.

Zhou Li's heart was filled with a warm current at this moment.

She walked up to the criminal police captain and silently took the tiny listening device from her collar and handed it to him.

"Thank you." The captain nodded at her.

At this time, Lin Yu stepped forward, gently patted her shoulder, his voice low and gentle: "Let's go, I'll accompany you to the police station to give a statement."

Zhou Li looked at him and nodded heavily. The fear and despair in her eyes were finally replaced by a trace of determination.

Ding! Zhou Li's intimacy +5

Current intimacy: 73

On the steps outside the police station gate, a breeze blew by, but it couldn't disperse the trance in Zhou Li's heart.

The streets past ten o'clock were slightly deserted. Under the dim streetlights, a scarlet ember of a cigarette flickered. Lin Yu leaned against the black Cullinan, a cigarette between his fingers. Amidst the swirling smoke, his profile looked exceptionally cold and deep. Seeing Zhou Li come out, he casually threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it, then walked over to open the passenger door, signaling her to get in.

Lin Yu walked around to the driver's seat, fastened his seatbelt, turned his head to look at her, his voice low and magnetic: "Are you hungry? I'll take you to get something to eat."

Zhou Li shook her head, her face still pale, her eyes somewhat vacant: "No, I don't have any appetite. Let's just go back."

He didn't say any words of comfort. He tapped the accelerator, and the car slid smoothly into the night.

The car was so quiet that only the rustling of tires on the road could be heard. Zhou Li turned her head to watch the street scene flying by outside the window, neon lights flickering in her eyes. She thought of Zhao Qiang's hideous and twisted face, thought of the moment of despair in the club, and then turned to look at Lin Yu, who was driving.

This man, like a silent mountain, stood in front of her when she was most helpless.

The car couldn't enter the residential complex, so Lin Yu found a parking space on the side of the road. The two walked all the way to the building of the new house.

Lin Yu looked at her, his tone gentle but with an unquestionable strength: "It's all over. The police have filed a case; Zhao Qiang and Zhang Shaotian won't be able to turn things around this time. Go back and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow will be a brand new day."

Zhou Li looked up at the handsome and tall man in front of her. At this moment, the fear, grievances, anger, and confusion about the future that had been pent up in her heart suddenly found an outlet.

"Thank you, Lin Yu!"

She suddenly stepped forward, wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Yu's waist, and buried her face in his broad chest. Then, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips without any warning.

Lin Yu's body stiffened slightly; he clearly hadn't expected her to be so proactive.