Return to the Day When My Pregnant Wife Jumped Off the Building-Chapter 401: The Contest of Masters_1

"Huh?"

Xiao Ming felt as if he had misheard, "Is what I want to do more important than your life?"

Jiang Nanxi nodded earnestly, "You said I’m too greedy, picking both you and Cui Zhibo as opponents at once, but what you don’t realize is that this is my only opportunity and choice.

Cui Zhibo is the Saint’s personally chosen spokesperson. Just dealing with him means gambling everything I have. Without drawing you into this, pitting the tiger against the wolf, my chances of winning are almost zero.

My only mistake was underestimating you, placing too much trust in Ye Jin’an, thinking I could easily manipulate and control you.

Now, I have nothing left, and living is merely running for my life. What’s the point?"

"At least there’s still hope. You’re so young, you can’t possibly be down and out after just one loss."

"So, I want to know your answer, why do you insist on being the Saint?"

Xiao Ming looked deep into her eyes, "Because I want the Red Lotus Society."

"A substitute for the Saint can’t own the Red Lotus Society."

"Aren’t you leaving?"

A glint flashed in Jiang Nanxi’s eyes, "I’ve decided to stay. Either you kill me or let Cui Zhibo kill me.

Or..."

"Or I protect you from Cui Zhibo’s hands, right?"

Jiang Nanxi’s lips curled into a smile, "You just finished interviewing me, didn’t you?"

Xiao Ming was stunned; even An Xianhe lifted his head from his embrace again, looking confused.

The turn of events was far beyond his understanding.

Suddenly, with a bang, the door was kicked open. Sophie strode in, her gaze fixed on Jiang Nanxi’s face as she sneered, "Bitch, I always knew you’d get yourself killed one day. I didn’t expect that day to come so soon."

Jiang Nanxi paid her no mind and gracefully rose to her feet, turning her backside and squeezing herself next to Xiao Ming.

It was a two-seater sofa, so technically, she squeezed herself in.

"Hey! What are you doing?" An Xianhe immediately expressed his dissatisfaction.

Jiang Nanxi’s smile remained unchanged, "Don’t forget, I’m the one who gave you the opportunity to lie in Xiao Ming’s embrace."

An Xianhe’s face turned red, "Who, who would want such an opportunity?"

"Really? Then please move aside, it’s too crowded with three people."

"You..."

Right then, someone else entered the room, forcing An Xianhe to shut up.

It was four elderly men, Hao Taixing, Wu Mengsong, An Xianhe, and Chang Chunbai, not one absent.

Their heads were bowed; their expressions were tense, anxious, embarrassed, or looked as if they were mourning their ancestors, none possessing the slightest trace of their usual arrogance and haughtiness.

Finally, Cui Zhibo walked in leisurely with a cigar in his mouth, first glancing at the collapsed Ge Tiancheng and his family on the floor, then greeting with a smile, "Mr. Xiao, I didn’t expect to see you so soon."

"It’s not soon but too late." Xiao Ming checked his watch, "It’s been half an hour since I sent you the message. You could have crawled here by now."

"Oh, I’m sorry, I did delay on purpose for a bit. Mainly, I wanted to see if Mr. Xiao would die or not," Cui Zhibo said with a genial smile that carried an overflowing murderous intent.

Xiao Ming nodded without surprise, "That makes sense, and luckily, I never counted on you to come to my rescue from the beginning."

Cui Zhibo glanced at Qingfeng and sat down on the sofa opposite him, asking, "Mr. Xiao brought his nephew over. Aren’t you worried about any complications on Miss Ding’s side?"

"How do you know I only brought Qingfeng over?"

Cui Zhibo’s expression tightened, and after a moment, he sighed leisurely, "I’m still one move short, Mr. Xiao is meticulous in his actions, I admire that."

Xiao Ming smiled faintly, "I just interviewed a subordinate, I still have to showcase my abilities to the Saint. If I can’t even beat Mr. Cui, what right do I have to take your place?"

"Isn’t it a bit early to talk about winning and losing? From the situation, I still hold an absolute advantage, it wouldn’t be difficult to kill you before the Safe Bureau’s people arrive."

"Then why doesn’t Mr. Cui make his move?"

Cui Zhibo didn’t answer, looking around and asking, "Has Miss Mingyue not come?"

Xiao Ming laughed, extending his right hand, "How about we settle this with rock-paper-scissors? The winner lives, the loser dies."

Cui Zhibo took a puff of his cigar, "Do you think I believe you?"

"Then do you think I’m bluffing?"

Cui Zhibo fell silent, Xiao Ming remained with his hand extended, the two of them motionless, eyes locked.

The room quieted down, no one knowing what sort of standoff they were in, only feeling the air become stickier, heavy with tension, suffocating them.

Among them, An Xianhe and Jiang Nanxi could feel it most acutely.

An Xianhe instinctively shrank further into Xiao Ming’s embrace, while Jiang Nanxi sighed silently in her heart, admitting that she was still far behind Xiao Ming and Cui Zhibo.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Cui Zhibo took another drag on his cigar, asking, "How much time do I have left?"

Xiao Ming tilted his head, and Qingfeng said, "It was approximately two minutes after I left when I notified Aunt Ding. Considering her professionalism, Mr. Cui’s time of freedom should not exceed ten minutes."

Cui Zhibo nodded, indicating he believed the assessment, and then asked Xiao Ming, "So, you started planning against me since you told me that the four families had snitched to the Safe Bureau."