Chapter 85 Bodyguards in Position

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

Wang Kun, sporting two enormous dark circles under his eyes, looking ten years older, stood respectfully at the door of the penthouse suite at the Peace Hotel.

He clutched a brown paper bag tightly in his hand, the bag becoming somewhat soft from being soaked in his cold sweat.

Du Kangnian opened the door for him expressionlessly.

Inside the suite, the woman who terrified him to the core was sitting by the window, dressed in an elegant cheongsam.

Bai Shu didn't turn around, or even glance at him.

Wang Kun dared not hesitate for a moment longer. His legs went weak, and he wanted to kneel down again.

"Stand still."

Two words, light and airy, yet they made Wang Kun tremble all over, frozen in place, his knees bent, neither up nor down, looking both ridiculous and pitiful.

"Things." Bai Shu still didn't turn around.

Wang Kun quickly stepped forward and respectfully placed the brown paper bag on the coffee table beside her with both hands.

Su Wantang picked up the paper bag and pulled out a few pages of paper.

The list was long, spanning three pages. It was densely packed with detailed records of Lu Wenbo's informants, henchmen, and interest groups planted in various industries in Shanghai over the years—a vast and intricate network.

Her fingertips lightly traced over a name on the list.

"Zheng Kai".

Zheng Kai, who had been standing guard by the door, immediately stepped forward, bowed his head, and said with utmost respect, "Young Miss."

Bai Shu handed him the list, her voice devoid of any warmth.

"I don't want these people to still be able to stand and breathe in Shanghai when the sun rises tomorrow."

Zheng Kai took the list with both hands, and his pupils contracted slightly after just one glance. He knew the weight of this list; it was practically the map of Lu Wenbo's underground kingdom in Shanghai, which he had been operating for over a decade.

But he didn't hesitate at all, nodding heavily, his voice filled with bloodthirsty excitement.

"Don't worry, Miss! Zheng Kai knows what 'rules of the trade' to use to 'visit' them door-to-door and make them understand that Shanghai has a new master!"

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps carrying an uncontrollable murderous aura.

That night, the sky over Shanghai was red.

No one knew what had happened, only that starting at dusk, the entire underground world of Shanghai underwent a brutal reshuffle.

In the southern part of the city, the casino owner was thrown from the third floor, breaking both his legs. The casino changed hands overnight.

The most arrogant union leaders at the Shiliupu Wharf were covered with sacks, their hands and feet crippled, and they were not discovered until dawn, when they were thrown into the mud on the banks of the Huangpu River like dead dogs. They were not dead, but it was worse than death.

Even worse, some companies that made their fortunes by engaging in both legal and illegal activities were burned to the ground in the middle of the night, leaving only ruins when the fire trucks arrived.

Countless pieces of dirt, like snowflakes, were anonymously sent to those people's rivals and to the desks of certain newspaper reporters.

The entire city of Shanghai was shaken. From ordinary people to business tycoons, everyone was frantically trying to find out who this powerful figure was who could uproot the power that Master Lu had painstakingly built up over many years overnight!

The name "Boss Bai" began to circulate quietly in the darkness of Shanghai, carrying a hint of bloodshed.

...

The next morning, at the Ocean Trading Company.

Inside the meeting room, all the company's senior executives, more than twenty people, sat upright and solemnly.

These seasoned veterans who usually swaggered around the company were now keeping their eyes down, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Because the person sitting in the main seat was an excessively young woman.

Atractylodes macrocephala.

She sat there quietly, fiddling with a Parker pen in her hand, without saying a word.

But the invisible pressure emanating from her made the temperature in the entire conference room drop several degrees.

Finally, a vice president who considered himself senior and who usually didn't get along with Wang Kun cleared his throat and spoke with a forced smile.

"Chairman Bai, you've just taken over the company and aren't familiar with the business yet. I think today's meeting..."

Bai Zhu didn't even lift his eyelids; he simply tapped the table lightly with the cap of his pen.

"Mr. Wang."

Wang Kun, who had been standing behind her, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly stepped forward, unfolded a piece of paper, and began to read it aloud in a completely emotionless tone:

"Deputy General Manager Zhang of the Finance Department suddenly fell ill at home last night and was 'invited' to a sanatorium for tea."

"Director Liu from the Marketing Department has been sent to the Public Security Bureau with evidence of embezzling public funds for gambling. He's probably in there picking beans now."

"Also, it seems that Manager Sun from the HR department offended someone he shouldn't have. I heard that he got into a fight with someone at a nightclub last night and is still in the hospital. He may have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair."

With each name Wang Kun read out, the meeting room fell into a deeper silence.

The vice president, who had just been trying to act superior due to his seniority, turned deathly pale instantly. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, and his shirt was soaked through in a flash.

After Wang Kun finished reading, the entire conference room fell silent.

No one dared to speak again. Everyone looked at Bai Shu as if he were a demon crawling out of hell, filled with a deep-seated fear.

Su Wantang remained completely unmoved. This was exactly the effect she wanted. When dealing with these wolves, appeasement and reason were utter nonsense.

Fear is the most effective rein.

She slowly raised her head, her beautiful peach blossom eyes sweeping across the room, her lips slightly curved, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"Does anyone still think I'm unfamiliar with the business?"

...

Beijing, airport.

A military transport plane landed smoothly.

Lu Jingyan has finished handling all the remaining work in Beijing and is about to return to Shanghai.

Gao Jianjun drove him there, hesitant to speak the whole way, but finally couldn't hold back when Lu Jingyan was about to board the plane.

"Brother, that...that woman named Bai Shu, are you really planning to..."

Lu Jingyan paused, looking at the gray sky in the distance, his voice devoid of any warmth.

"Fulfill your promises."

"Until she no longer needs me."

Gao Jianjun watched his solitary figure disappear into the distance and sighed inwardly. He knew that Lu Jingyan was imprisoning himself.

...

Shallow Bay, Shanghai.

In a hillside villa overlooking the entire sea view.

"Clang—!"

A priceless Song Dynasty blue and white porcelain vase was smashed to pieces on the ground.

Huo Sanniang's chest heaved violently, and her stunningly beautiful face was now filled with malice and rage.

On the table in front of her lay a pile of rusty scrap metal.

This is the "Candle Dragon" that she painstakingly snatched from the Shanghai docks after killing the Wild Dog mercenaries and offending the Lu family!

"Bai Shu! Lu Jingyan!"

Huo Sanniang gritted her teeth and uttered the two names, her phoenix eyes filled with murderous intent.

She'd been tricked! Those two scoundrels had teamed up to make a fool of her!

Just then, a subordinate dressed in black walked in silently and presented a secret letter without any markings.

...

Peace Hotel, Shanghai.

The doorbell of the penthouse presidential suite rang.

Du Kangnian walked over and opened the door. When he saw who was standing outside, his pupils contracted slightly.

Lu Jingyan.

He changed out of his military uniform and into a simple black T-shirt and cargo pants. The T-shirt clung tightly to his body, outlining his explosive muscle lines.

He was like a drawn sword; even just standing there quietly, his menacing aura was overwhelming.

"I'm looking for Miss Bai." Lu Jingyan's voice was very calm.

"Mr. Lu, our boss, she..."

Lu Jingyan interrupted him directly, his gaze passing over Du Kangnian's shoulder and landing deep inside the suite. His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for the people inside to hear him clearly.

"From now on, I am Miss Bai's bodyguard."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bedroom door of the suite opened.

Bai Shu came out from inside. She had changed into a smart women's suit, and her long hair was tied into a simple bun at the back of her head, revealing her slender and fair neck.

She looked at Lu Jingyan at the door, her beautiful peach blossom eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

Su Wantang told herself to stay calm; he was just a tool to her now.

She walked up to Lu Jingyan, handed him a freshly printed itinerary, her actions businesslike, her tone as cold as ice.

"Bodyguard Lu, this is my schedule for the next week. Please familiarize yourself with it."

Lu Jingyan lowered his eyes and took the paper that still smelled of ink.

Bai Zhu's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable commanding tone.

"Come with me to Huitong Bank at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Meet with Manager Wu."