?Leaning casually against the Range Rover, Zhang Wei waved Chen Dong off. "You can go back, brother Dong. I'll come by myself," he said, his tone easy but firm.
Chen Dong, opening his mouth to object, seemed to reconsider and instead let out a resigned sigh. "Don't try to get into a fight alone," he warned.
"Of course not," Zhang Wei replied with a broad smile. He had no intention of dirtying his hands personally.
At that moment, his phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Zhang Wei's eyes sparkled with surprise and anticipation as he viewed the video sent by Mei Ren. It was a scandalous clip showing Councilman Fan Hong in a compromising position with his secretary in his office.
With these two videos combined, Zhang Wei was certain: the republic party would have no choice but to ostracize Fan Hong.
A mischievous smile playing on his lips, Zhang Wei picked up his phone, eager to surprise the councilman with the carefully orchestrated 'gift' he had prepared. The wheels of his elaborate scheme were turning, and Zhang Wei was ready to watch the fallout.
__________
10th April, 2023!
The Dragon Pearl Banquet Hall is alive with the gentle buzz of guests arriving for the upcoming ceremony in the night. The path to the hall, aflutter with the soft glow of lanterns, welcomes the visitors in their festive attire, creating a stream of merriment against the serene mountain backdrop.
Ascending the hidden stone staircase outside, the upper terrace offers a tranquil viewpoint over the lush greenery and the distant laughter from below. The grand staircase inside beckons upward, its stone steps worn smooth by countless celebratory footsteps.
On the second floor, the hallway is adorned with ancient scrolls, leading to a room where sunlight filters through the windows, painting the space in hues of gold and amber.
Chen Yulan stands by the window, arrayed in her ceremonial dress, which tells tales of her heritage. The dress clings to her form, rich with tradition and elegance.
Her hair, a dark waterfall, is styled in an elaborate updo, accented with floral arrangements and heirloom jewelry that sparkles with storied pasts. Each piece she wears carries the weight of her lineage, a silent ode to the auspicious occasion.
The room is filled with the scent of blooming jasmine and chrysanthemum, a soft accompaniment to her thoughtful preparations.
As she gazes into the bronze mirror, there's a moment of quiet reflection.
Today marks a significant transition, and the Dragon Pearl Banquet Hall stands as the threshold to her new beginning.
The room, a harmony of shadows and light, holds a hushed air as Chen Yulan assesses her ceremonial dress.
With the night's festivities in mind, she seeks a flawless fit, but a persistent discomfort at her back prompts a soft whisper of concern.
The fabric seems to conspire against her, gathering in a subtle defiance that eludes her fingers' attempts to smooth it out.
Turning to the closed doors, she is draped in a silhouette of expectancy, her brows knitting together in a frown.
The two girls who were attending her have vanished as if swallowed by the mountain itself, leaving behind a puzzling silence.
Their sudden absence hangs in the air, as tangible as the weight of her embroidered gown.
She stands alone amidst the finery of the room, a solitary figure of elegance. The minutes stretch on, leaving her to wonder at the odd abandonment.
Had an urgent matter called them away, or had the revelry below took their attentions, leaving their duties forgotten?
The hall outside whispers with the secrets of the mountain, keeping the fate of her absent attendants just beyond reach.
________
Zhang Wei, a wisp of smoke curling from his lips, leans casually against the cool stone outside Chen Yulan's chamber.
His eyes, hidden behind a veil of indifference, watch as Xie Meirong, with the grace of a seasoned conspirator, rewards the two handmaidens with a lavish stack of bills.
"Make sure no one interrupts the lady's solitude," she instructs, her voice a melody of veiled threats and excitement.
The girls, their eyes wide with the greed of easy money, nod eagerly, their innocence shed in the shadows of the hall.
With the deed done, Xie Meirong saunters over to Zhang Wei, her steps silent but intent laden.
She presses herself against him, her body language writing checks of promises and seduction.
A coquettish tilt of her head, a daring pull at her neckline, "Hubby, since when did you start playing your games without me?" she purrs, her gaze locking onto his, a spark of mischief dancing in her eyes.
Zhang Wei exhales, the smoke mingling with the charged air between them. "The game wouldn't be fun if you knew all my moves," he teases back, his voice a low rumble.
Xie Meirong's laughter tinkles through the corridor, "And to think, the mighty Councilman folded so easily, disowning his precious heir." She shakes her head, her hair brushing against Zhang Wei's arm. "All those charges... what a delightful scandal."
Zhang Wei's smirk is a shadow that flickers across his face. "Sometimes, a single day is all it takes to bring a man to his knees."
She leans in, her breath a whisper against his ear. "Tell me, was it just yesterday you set this trap? How quickly despair can follow the heels of power." L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on N0vel-B1n.
He doesn't respond, the silence as telling as a confession.
In the dragon's den of the banquet hall, where secrets are both currency and weapon, they have played a masterstroke.
"Tch, that councilman is really a crafty old bastard..." Zhang Wei finally spoke, the disdain in his voice cutting through the smoke-filled air.
Xie Meirong's face twisted in confusion, "Hm? Why is that, didn't he just lose his son?"
"No," Zhang Wei corrected with a shake of his head, his eyes glinting sharply, "He's turned the tables. Once those rape charges by dozens of women against Fan Jun hit the news, he disowned his son. Now he's being hailed as a hero, someone who places the welfare of the country and its women above his own flesh and blood."
Xie Meirong's laughter rang out, a clear chime in the shadowed hall. "Oh, hehe... Quite clever indeed," she admitted, the gears in her mind turning. She leaned in close, her breath a seductive tease against his ear, "But is he cleverer than you, hubby?" Her lips parted in a silent offer, her body moving instinctively for a kiss.
But Zhang Wei was a step ahead, his hand firm as he pushed her aside, "Not now, I have other matters," he murmured, his voice steady. With a soft turn of the wrist, he opened the door to Chen Yulan's quarters and slipped inside, leaving the question hanging in the air.
"Eh?"
Left in the hallway, Xie Meirong touched her lips, a flicker of doubt clouding her gaze.
Was her allure waning, or did Zhang Wei's intentions with Chen Yulan run deeper than she anticipated?
A ripple of uncertainty passed through her—the game was changing, and she wasn't sure of the rules anymore.
?Leaning casually against the Range Rover, Zhang Wei waved Chen Dong off. "You can go back, brother Dong. I'll come by myself," he said, his tone easy but firm.
Chen Dong, opening his mouth to object, seemed to reconsider and instead let out a resigned sigh. "Don't try to get into a fight alone," he warned.
"Of course not," Zhang Wei replied with a broad smile. He had no intention of dirtying his hands personally.
At that moment, his phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Zhang Wei's eyes sparkled with surprise and anticipation as he viewed the video sent by Mei Ren. It was a scandalous clip showing Councilman Fan Hong in a compromising position with his secretary in his office.
With these two videos combined, Zhang Wei was certain: the republic party would have no choice but to ostracize Fan Hong.
A mischievous smile playing on his lips, Zhang Wei picked up his phone, eager to surprise the councilman with the carefully orchestrated 'gift' he had prepared. The wheels of his elaborate scheme were turning, and Zhang Wei was ready to watch the fallout.
__________
10th April, 2023!
The Dragon Pearl Banquet Hall is alive with the gentle buzz of guests arriving for the upcoming ceremony in the night. The path to the hall, aflutter with the soft glow of lanterns, welcomes the visitors in their festive attire, creating a stream of merriment against the serene mountain backdrop.
Ascending the hidden stone staircase outside, the upper terrace offers a tranquil viewpoint over the lush greenery and the distant laughter from below. The grand staircase inside beckons upward, its stone steps worn smooth by countless celebratory footsteps.
On the second floor, the hallway is adorned with ancient scrolls, leading to a room where sunlight filters through the windows, painting the space in hues of gold and amber.
Chen Yulan stands by the window, arrayed in her ceremonial dress, which tells tales of her heritage. The dress clings to her form, rich with tradition and elegance.
Her hair, a dark waterfall, is styled in an elaborate updo, accented with floral arrangements and heirloom jewelry that sparkles with storied pasts. Each piece she wears carries the weight of her lineage, a silent ode to the auspicious occasion.
The room is filled with the scent of blooming jasmine and chrysanthemum, a soft accompaniment to her thoughtful preparations.
As she gazes into the bronze mirror, there's a moment of quiet reflection.
Today marks a significant transition, and the Dragon Pearl Banquet Hall stands as the threshold to her new beginning.
The room, a harmony of shadows and light, holds a hushed air as Chen Yulan assesses her ceremonial dress.
With the night's festivities in mind, she seeks a flawless fit, but a persistent discomfort at her back prompts a soft whisper of concern.
The fabric seems to conspire against her, gathering in a subtle defiance that eludes her fingers' attempts to smooth it out.
Turning to the closed doors, she is draped in a silhouette of expectancy, her brows knitting together in a frown.
The two girls who were attending her have vanished as if swallowed by the mountain itself, leaving behind a puzzling silence.
Their sudden absence hangs in the air, as tangible as the weight of her embroidered gown.
She stands alone amidst the finery of the room, a solitary figure of elegance. The minutes stretch on, leaving her to wonder at the odd abandonment.
Had an urgent matter called them away, or had the revelry below took their attentions, leaving their duties forgotten?
The hall outside whispers with the secrets of the mountain, keeping the fate of her absent attendants just beyond reach.
________
Zhang Wei, a wisp of smoke curling from his lips, leans casually against the cool stone outside Chen Yulan's chamber.
His eyes, hidden behind a veil of indifference, watch as Xie Meirong, with the grace of a seasoned conspirator, rewards the two handmaidens with a lavish stack of bills.
"Make sure no one interrupts the lady's solitude," she instructs, her voice a melody of veiled threats and excitement.
The girls, their eyes wide with the greed of easy money, nod eagerly, their innocence shed in the shadows of the hall.
With the deed done, Xie Meirong saunters over to Zhang Wei, her steps silent but intent laden.
She presses herself against him, her body language writing checks of promises and seduction.
A coquettish tilt of her head, a daring pull at her neckline, "Hubby, since when did you start playing your games without me?" she purrs, her gaze locking onto his, a spark of mischief dancing in her eyes.
Zhang Wei exhales, the smoke mingling with the charged air between them. "The game wouldn't be fun if you knew all my moves," he teases back, his voice a low rumble.
Xie Meirong's laughter tinkles through the corridor, "And to think, the mighty Councilman folded so easily, disowning his precious heir." She shakes her head, her hair brushing against Zhang Wei's arm. "All those charges... what a delightful scandal."
Zhang Wei's smirk is a shadow that flickers across his face. "Sometimes, a single day is all it takes to bring a man to his knees."
She leans in, her breath a whisper against his ear. "Tell me, was it just yesterday you set this trap? How quickly despair can follow the heels of power." L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on N0vel-B1n.
He doesn't respond, the silence as telling as a confession.
In the dragon's den of the banquet hall, where secrets are both currency and weapon, they have played a masterstroke.
"Tch, that councilman is really a crafty old bastard..." Zhang Wei finally spoke, the disdain in his voice cutting through the smoke-filled air.
Xie Meirong's face twisted in confusion, "Hm? Why is that, didn't he just lose his son?"
"No," Zhang Wei corrected with a shake of his head, his eyes glinting sharply, "He's turned the tables. Once those rape charges by dozens of women against Fan Jun hit the news, he disowned his son. Now he's being hailed as a hero, someone who places the welfare of the country and its women above his own flesh and blood."
Xie Meirong's laughter rang out, a clear chime in the shadowed hall. "Oh, hehe... Quite clever indeed," she admitted, the gears in her mind turning. She leaned in close, her breath a seductive tease against his ear, "But is he cleverer than you, hubby?" Her lips parted in a silent offer, her body moving instinctively for a kiss.
But Zhang Wei was a step ahead, his hand firm as he pushed her aside, "Not now, I have other matters," he murmured, his voice steady. With a soft turn of the wrist, he opened the door to Chen Yulan's quarters and slipped inside, leaving the question hanging in the air.
"Eh?"
Left in the hallway, Xie Meirong touched her lips, a flicker of doubt clouding her gaze.
Was her allure waning, or did Zhang Wei's intentions with Chen Yulan run deeper than she anticipated?
A ripple of uncertainty passed through her—the game was changing, and she wasn't sure of the rules anymore.
