"Ring ring ring—"

"Hello?"

"Boss, those people you asked us to keep an eye on seem to have left Block City."

"What? Everyone?"

"Yes. But we only saw Xiong Ajiao and her man; we didn't see the woman."

"What's that good-for-nothing trying to do?"

"They... seem to be heading towards Plum Blossom City?"

"Hmph! A traitor, how dare he come back?"

"Then should we continue following them?"

"I spent so much money to get Zhuge Tang to come out of seclusion, and in the end I didn't even manage to solve a single problem?"

"Zhuge Hall charges by the number of times they are attacked. After their raid yesterday, they returned to Spade City."

"Damn it! Zhuge Wen actually tricked me! I'll talk to Zhuge Wen and Zhuge Wu about this. Let's not waste time looking for that amnesiac woman for now. Let's find an opportunity to deal with Xiong Ajiao and the others first."

"yes."

On the ninth floor of Plum Blossom City, Hou Yifan angrily hung up the phone, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"What's wrong? Still having a headache over that? Need some help from your brother?"

A man sat in his office, his words expressing concern, but his eyes held a hint of schadenfreude.

The man had a long ponytail, and his greasy face was even more greasy under his slicked-back hair. A familiar leopard-print shirt further accentuated his thuggish demeanor.

This person is none other than "Red Heart 9" Jiulong from the City of Hearts.

Hou Yifan glanced at him, showing no anger at the man's mockery, and instead retorted, "What? You've got your Susan sorted out?"

Jiulong seemed to have been hit where it hurt.

Everyone knows about the farce that happened in City of Hearts a few days ago. The fact that "Red Heart 9" was penalized for dereliction of duty has become a laughing stock in the industry.

He tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead.

Susan acted as if nothing had happened, which infuriated Jiulong.

Seeing this, Hou Yifan chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "My little lover ran away with a secret. You even hired the 'Eight of Spades' but couldn't kill Susan. Let's not laugh at each other."

Jiulong picked at his ear with his little finger. "Now that things have come to this, do you still want to continue the deal?"

Why not?

Hou Yifan raised an eyebrow, his pale face bearing a hint of feminine beauty.

Jiulong said in a deep voice, "Ever since the Susan incident, the higher-ups have been keeping an eye on me."

"So what? Haven't we been talking about cooperation? Do you think they'd give up such high profits?"

Hou Yifan said nonchalantly, raising one hand to carefully examine his fingernails.

Jiulong stood up, spread his hands, and said, "Of course I'm not talking about the superficial deal. Everyone in Red Peach City knows about your dealings with the red-light district. I'm talking about... that!"

Hou Yifan looked at him. "What? They found out?"

Jiulong shook his head. "It shouldn't be like that yet, otherwise it wouldn't be as simple as just having my pay docked. But the fact that the higher-ups didn't turn a blind eye this time already speaks volumes; they've started to have doubts."

Hou Yifan was persuaded by the former. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I understand what you mean, but I may need to consider suspending the transaction."

Jiulong nodded and instructed, "Clean up your mess quickly, or we'll ruin our big plans because of a little fat kid."

Hou Yifan snorted, "Don't think about usurping the throne all the time. If you push Susan too far, I won't have time to deal with you."

Jiulong touched his hair. "You don't need to worry about my affairs. Unlike you, I haven't had any ambition at all over the years."

Hou Yifan: "Oh? You've been on the island for quite a while now. In the end, what did you all gain?"

The chances of success seem to be fifty-fifty, but they are influenced by too many factors.

When one element is in excess, the balance will tip.

Only by remaining detached can one have a 100% chance of success.

Just like the city of plum blossoms back then.

Jiulong didn't understand Hou Yifan's words. He patted his behind and stood up, "What's the difference between having no power on Paradise Island and being dead?"

Hou Yifan remained noncommittal and escorted Jiulong out of Plum Blossom City.

Hou Yifan walked back to the elevator alone, pressed his finger on the number "9", and the elevator doors slowly closed.

Just as the door was about to close, a hand stopped it.

The elevator doors opened, and Hou Yifan saw a familiar face.

"Hey, isn't this Officer Li? What a coincidence!"

The person who appeared outside the elevator was none other than "Plum Blossom 10" Li Quanyou.

After arriving at Paradise Island, Li Quanyou hated being called "cadre" the most.

At least Hou Yifan definitely knows.

Li Quanyou clearly hadn't expected to see Hou Yifan either. He forced an awkward smile and stopped himself from stepping into the elevator. "I'll wait for the next one."

"No way," Hou Yifan pulled him in, "Since we've already run into each other, let's go up together."

Li Quanyou seemed to have been touched by some kind of virus, and from an angle where Hou Yifan couldn't see, he vigorously rubbed the spot where Hou Yifan had just grabbed him.

The elevator doors closed, and the elevator slowly ascended.

There were only the two of them inside the elevator.

There was no superficial concern or underhanded confrontation between the "9" and "10" of the Plum Blossom City.

They stayed together quietly in this strange way.

"What has Cadre Li been busy with lately?"

Hou Yifan broke the silence first and asked.

Li Quanyou cleared his throat. "It's still the same old stuff."

Hou Yifan chuckled, "Really? I thought you'd be stocking up on inventory lately."

Li Quanyou hummed in agreement.

Hou Yifan tapped his chin with his index finger, his eyes gleaming. "Actually, I've always been curious about how you came to this conclusion."

Li Quan said, "We're already on Paradise Island, what else is there to be confused about?"

Hou Yifan grinned even wider and leaned closer to Li Quanyou, "I can't believe these words came from the mouth of our 'clean-handed' cadre Li."

Hearing the sarcasm in the former's words, Li Quanyou's face darkened slightly, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he said, "You've arrived."

"bite--"

As Li Quanyou's voice faded, the elevator doors slowly opened.

Hou Yifan stepped out of the elevator, his eyes fixed on the man. He gave a slight, elegant bow and said, "You're welcome to come and sit here anytime, Officer Li."

Li Quan gave him a dry, forced smile.

Li Quanyou sighed only after the elevator doors closed.

He rubbed his hands together, as if he had thought of something. A hopeful smile appeared on his face, and he tapped a floor with his finger.

After Hou Yifan went up to the 9th floor, he did not leave the elevator lobby.

He watched as the elevator ascended to the 10th floor, but did not stop; it continued to rise.

It stopped when the floor number reached "13".

Hou Yifan raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips, before leaving.