Squeak.

The magnet lock of the wrought iron gate activated.

Song Guanchao crossed the yard and approached the door.

The door was open, and there was a pair of slippers on the foyer floor.

He didn’t change shoes and walked directly through the foyer, entering the bright, high-ceilinged living room.

The villa area, though remote, was extravagantly decorated.

The living room was covered with walnut wood flooring, a large peach-shaped crystal chandelier made of small crystals hung in the center, dark wall panels, and an expensive marble backdrop wall showcased the villa owner’s taste and financial strength.

The villa itself wasn’t expensive, but clearly a lot of effort had gone into the decoration.

Just the decoration cost of this villa could probably purchase several villas.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Song."

A young woman brought over a cup of tea, her delicate face adorned with a smile.

Song Guanchao accepted the tea and sat on a single sofa.

The woman then brought cut fruit from the kitchen and placed it on the coffee table.

"Secretary Xue is busy, Mr. Song, please wait a moment."

"Mm." Song Guanchao lounged on the sofa, lazily crossing his legs.

He held the teacup, blew on the steam, but didn’t drink the tea or eat the fruit.

Though he didn’t believe Secretary Xue would actually drug the tea, even if there’s a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he had to be cautious.

He wasn’t left waiting long, after about five minutes, footsteps sounded behind him.

A man nearing fifty, dressed in an elegant Chinese-style short shirt, walked around from behind the sofa.

He glanced at Song Guanchao and sat across from him.

"Director Song." Secretary Xue smiled and asked, "Tell me, where is Mayor Wu?"

"Where’s the money?"

"Money? What money?" Secretary Xue’s smile was playful.

But the next second, his smile froze.

He had anticipated that Song Guanchao would be angry, furious, stand up and point at him, roaring insults.

Yet, nothing of the sort happened.

Song Guanchao remained very calm.

This isn’t right!

His communications with Song Guanchao over the phone weren’t like this.

The Song Guanchao on the phone was impulsive, easily angered, had no sophistication, a narrow-minded minor official.

But the real-life Song Guanchao before him was completely different from the one he knew.

Secretary Xue perceptively sensed something amiss.

His thoughts raced, contemplating the source of this inconsistency.

He was very steady, very calm.

He didn’t come alone?

This was the most likely reason!

With some speculation in mind, Secretary Xue’s smile returned: "Just kidding."

He said to the young woman, "Bring the stuff over."

The woman went into the room and returned with a 24-inch suitcase.

She placed the suitcase in front of Song Guanchao.

"Director Song, take a look." Secretary Xue casually picked up a piece of fruit.

Song Guanchao opened the suitcase, and indeed, there was a large amount of gold and cash inside.

The weight of this gold, converted to cash, had already surpassed twenty million.

This wasn’t for him; it was likely his means of fleeing.

Temporarily brought to placate him.

"Not bad." Song Guanchao closed the suitcase and suddenly asked, "Is Director Hu off duty yet?"

Secretary Xue raised an eyebrow, puzzled why he suddenly changed the subject.

"Do you have business with Director Hu?"

"Indeed, I need his cooperation for something." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Oh? What is it?"

"I hope Director Hu will turn himself in."

Secretary Xue’s smile vanished once more; he squinted his eyes, staring at Song Guanchao for a few seconds, and said, "I’ve underestimated you."

He realized he might have fallen for a trap.

Song Guanchao wasn’t after money from the start; he was here to lure him out.

It’s just that he hid his true nature so well, playing a greedy character that even he didn’t see through.

The young woman beside them was listening, confused, completely unable to understand what Secretary Xue and Song Guanchao were talking about.

Song Guanchao smiled, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, tossed one over, and lit one for himself: "Have a smoke and come with me later."

Secretary Xue did not emotionally lose control over the failed plan; instead, his calmness made one suspect if he had a backup plan.

"Go? Where to?" Secretary Xue leisurely lit the cigarette, exhaling slowly: "Why do you think I dared let you meet me?"

Song Guanchao sneered, utterly unapologetic for his contempt: "Alright, Secretary Xue, there’s no need to put on airs in front of me."

"Putting on airs?" Secretary Xue shook his head.

The next second.

Click.

A cold gun barrel pressed against Song Guanchao’s nape.

The young woman held the gun, index finger resting on the hammer.

Only a gentle tug of the finger would send a bullet spinning out of the barrel, piercing his head.

"Director Song, do you still think I’m putting on airs?"

Secretary Xue flicked the ash off his cigarette, deep nasolabial folds under his smile deepening, like two gullies, making him resemble a vulture ready to devour a corpse.

Yet, he still saw no panic on Song Guanchao’s face.

He should be flustered, should be afraid.

But why, was he still so calm?

Does he think the gun is fake?

Secretary Xue maintained the confident smile, eyes on him, attempting to gauge from his micro-expressions whether he was just pretending to be calm and bluffing.

But he was disappointed; Song Guanchao showed no signs of flaw.

He calmly put down the tea cup, looked up, glanced at the woman beside him, and said, "If this is Secretary Xue’s trump card, then I can only apologize."

His tone obviously wasn’t feigned, causing Secretary Xue a faint unease inside.

"Also, I really dislike being pointed at with a gun."

Song Guanchao’s voice sank, and the next second, the woman’s view blurred; Song Guanchao grabbed her hand and pulled her forcibly into his embrace.

The woman lost her balance and fell onto him.

The gun barrel shifted, pointing at the ceiling.

She instinctively wanted to shoot, but felt a pain in her wrist, her beautiful brows furrowing, her hand involuntarily releasing the gun.

"Girls shouldn’t play with guns."

The handgun spun deftly in Song Guanchao’s palm, then the muzzle swung around, aiming at Secretary Xue who was attempting to stand.

Secretary Xue seemed frozen by a spell, maintaining a half-risen posture.

"Secretary Xue, sit down." Song Guanchao gestured with the gun in his hand.

The woman lay sprawled on him, her clothes ruffled up, exposing a fair streak of her abdomen.

Song Guanchao reached inside her thigh, rubbing at her sensitive spot, causing the woman to moan uncontrollably, her face turning a rosy hue, her thighs tightly clamping his hand.

She wanted to struggle and get up, but Song Guanchao’s gun barrel turned, pressing against her forehead.

"Don’t move." Song Guanchao advised kindly, the woman immediately behaved, biting her lip, not daring to move.

Song Guanchao unceremoniously explored the interior of her thighs; she was mentally resistant, yet couldn’t control her bodily reactions.

Her flushed face and twisting body betrayed she was moist from Song Guanchao’s touch.

"Director Song, is it necessary?" Secretary Xue quickly composed himself.

Though the situation was unfavorable for him, he didn’t think he had no chance at all.

"A hundred million." Secretary Xue said: "Let’s pretend tonight never happened, alright?"