Chapter 108 Let's Play Big

The party ended at 10 PM.

Fang Che, supporting his back, was helped into the car by Thirteen Sister, and slumped into the back seat as soon as the door closed.

"My back is going to break..." he groaned.

Thirteen Sister was driving and glanced at him in the rearview mirror: "You acted well. Boss Zhao is wavering and says he wants to reassess his cooperation with Jiang Tianqi."

"That's good." Fang Che removed his fake beard and gold chain, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Where's Jiang Tianqi?"

“He took pictures of you without your consent.” Thirteen Sister said gravely. “Although there’s no proof, he’s definitely suspicious. He’ll definitely test you at the auction tomorrow.”

Fang Che rubbed his lower back, his eyes darkening: "Let him try. Any news from Brother Li?"

"Not yet." Thirteen Sister checked her watch. "He should have entered Kowloon Walled City by now. There's no signal there."

Fang Che looked out the window.

Hong Kong's night is thick with darkness, its neon lights like blood.

He knew that the real war had only just begun.

At the same moment, deep within Kowloon Walled City.

Li Hanzhou navigated through the maze-like narrow alleys, where tall walls blocked out the sky and electrical wires were tangled together.

The air was stuffy, filled with the smell of mildew and incense.

This is a lawless place.

The last traces of Xi Rong and her team ended here.

Li Hanzhou stopped at the fork in the road, squatted down, and brushed his fingertips across the corner of the wall.

There's a smiley face drawn in chalk, with the corner of its mouth turned to the left.

It was a secret code left by Xi Rong: left means safety, right means danger.

Following the directions marked, Li Hanzhou walked into a deeper alley.

The wooden houses on both sides were illegally constructed, with dim light shining through the cracks in the doors, and occasional coughs and baby cries could be heard.

After walking for about ten minutes, the marker disappeared in front of the iron gate.

Li Hanzhou placed his hand on his lower back and gently pushed.

The door was unlocked.

Inside was an abandoned printing factory, with rusted machines and rotting piles of paper. Moonlight streamed through the broken roof, illuminating the empty factory.

"Xi Rong?" Li Hanzhou called softly.

No one answered.

He walked forward, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.

When we reached the center of the factory, there was a sudden noise overhead!

Li Hanzhou suddenly looked up—

A dark figure leaped down from the beam, a dagger aimed straight at his face!

He dodged to the side and grabbed his wrist with his other hand.

The person was extremely fast, retreating immediately upon contact and landing silently.

The moonlight illuminated the face of the visitor.

Li Hanzhou's pupils suddenly contracted.

"It's you?"

Lu Che stood in the shadows, a dagger in his hand, his face expressionless.

“Li Hanzhou,” he began, “you shouldn’t have come here.”

"Where is Xi Rong?" Li Hanzhou's voice turned somber.

"It's safe." Lu Che sheathed his sword. "But I can't let you see her."

"Why?"

“She’s fishing for a big fish.” Lu Che took two steps closer and lowered his voice. “Jiang Tianqi is looking for her, trying to lure you out. We’ll play along and make her ‘disappear,’ while secretly protecting her. If you show up now, the plan will be ruined.”

Li Hanzhou stared at him: "You're the one protecting her?"

“Yes.” Lu Che nodded. “After returning from Thailand, I hid Xi Rong and the team. Jiang Tianqi’s men couldn’t find them.”

"She's injured?"

"It's a minor injury, it's been treated." Lu Che paused. "But she wanted to see you. I said no, it's too dangerous."

Li Hanzhou was silent for a moment: "I want to see her."

"Li Hanzhou—"

"Just one glance," Li Hanzhou interrupted him. "I'll leave immediately once I've confirmed her safety."

Lu Che looked at him and finally sighed: "Come with me."

He walked deeper into the factory, pushed aside a disguised wall panel, and revealed a staircase leading downwards.

Candles were lit in the basement.

Xi Rong lay asleep on the makeshift bed, her face somewhat pale, her breathing steady.

Her arm was wrapped in bandages, and several homeless children, all members of her team, were curled up asleep beside her.

Li Hanzhou stood by the bed for a while.

Then she turned around and nodded to Lu Che: "Thanks."

"No need." Lu Che saw him out. "Do you have any plans for the auction tomorrow?"

“Yes,” Li Hanzhou said, “I need your help.”

"explain."

“Jiang Tianqi is facing a tight cash flow situation and his budget is 300 million. I need you to enter the market as an anonymous company and drive up his price.”

Lu Che frowned: "How much?"

“Raise it until it exceeds his budget.” Li Hanzhou’s eyes were cold. “I will prepare the money. You just need to raise your paddle. Afterwards, the company will be deregistered, and all traces will be wiped clean.”

Lu Che paused for a few seconds: "Okay. But you need to understand that doing this is forcing Jiang Tianqi to take desperate measures. Once his funding chain dries up, the first person he'll target is Xi Rong."

“So you have to protect her.” Li Hanzhou looked at him. “Lu Che, I’m trusting you this once. Don’t let me regret it.”

The two looked at each other.

The candle flickered in the wind.

Lu Che nodded: "Okay."

Li Hanzhou took one last look at the sleeping Xi Rong, then turned and left.

As we left the fortified village, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

He took out his mobile phone and dialed a number.

"Ah Che, Xi Rong is safe. The plan remains the same."

On the other end of the phone, Fang Che's voice sounded tired, but with a smile: "Brother Li, I've got things sorted out on my end too. Boss Zhao has agreed to postpone the signing and wants to 'further examine' Jiang Tianqi's proposal."

"You've worked hard." Li Hanzhou paused. "Does your back still hurt?"

"It hurts... but it's worth it." Fang Che's tone became lighter. "Brother Li, how about we go all out at the auction tomorrow?"

"Hmm." Li Hanzhou looked at the brightening sky. "Let's go big."

The next afternoon, at the land auction center.

Fang Che changed into a black suit, wore frameless glasses, and sat in the last row of the venue.

Thirteen Sister stood beside him, dressed simply, like an ordinary assistant.

Jiang Tianqi sat in the front row, center, next to Zhao Yongchang.

The two spoke in hushed tones, Zhao Yongchang's expression hesitant, unlike his warm demeanor yesterday.

The auctioneer introduces plot C-12.

The starting bid is 150 million.

The auction has begun.

In the first few rounds of bidding, the bidders were all small companies, and the price gradually climbed to 200 million.

Jiang Tianqi didn't make a move until the amount reached 230 million, at which point he raised his paddle for the first time.

"Two hundred and forty million."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Everyone knew that Dong Sheng Society was determined to win, and no one wanted to confront them head-on.

The auctioneer began the countdown: "Two hundred and forty million, for the first time..."

"Two hundred and fifty million."

The sound came from the corner.

Everyone turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses holding a sign.

It was Lu Che acting as a representative, holding up a sign for the shell company "Huanyu Investment".

Jiang Tianqi frowned and raised his sign again: "Two hundred and sixty million."

"Two hundred and seventy million." Lu Che immediately followed up.

"Two hundred and eighty million." Jiang Tianqi gritted his teeth.

"Two hundred and ninety million."

Prices have skyrocketed.

Zhao Yongchang whispered to him, "Young Master Jiang, we've exceeded the budget. Three hundred million is the limit; any higher and the cash flow will dry up."

Jiang Tianqi stared at Lu Che with a gloomy look in his eyes.

He recognized the company; its background was so clean it seemed fake.

But now he's in a bind; he has to get this land.

"Three hundred million." He raised his sign.

The room erupted in uproar.

This exceeds the actual value of the land.

Lu Che paused, seemingly hesitating.

Jiang Tianqi smirked coldly.

But the next second, Lu Che raised his sign again: "Three hundred and ten million."

Jiang Tianqi's expression changed instantly.

The veins on his hand holding the cards bulged as he stared intently at Lu Che.

Zhao Yongchang grabbed him: "Young Master Jiang! You can't go any further! Three hundred and ten million, how are you going to cover it?"

Jiang Tianqi shook him off and held up a sign: "Three hundred and twenty million!"

This was his final bottom line.

Lu Che remained silent.

The auctioneer began the countdown: "Three hundred and twenty million, first time... second time..."

Jiang Tianqi breathed a sigh of relief.

But in the last second before the gavel fell—

"Three hundred and thirty million."

The sound came from the back row of the venue.

Everyone turned around in shock.

Fang Che held up the sign, his expression calm, his eyes behind his glasses looking at Jiang Tianqi, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Tianqi suddenly stood up!

He recognized him.

Even with a different suit and glasses, that look in his eyes...

It's Fang Che!

He's not dead! He's still alive! And he dares to come to the auction and try to take the land from him!

Jiang Tianqi felt his blood rush to his head, almost causing him to collapse.

But the bodyguard held him back and whispered a reminder: "Young Master Jiang, there are reporters in the venue."

Jiang Tianqi gritted his teeth, sat down, and raised his paddle again: "Three hundred and fifty million!"

Fang Che did not follow.

The auctioneer brought down the gavel, and the dust settled.

Jiang Tianqi won.

But his face was deathly pale, as if he had lost everything.

Sparse applause broke out.

Everyone could see that although Jiang Tianqi appeared to have won, he had actually suffered a crushing defeat.

Fang Che stood up amidst applause, nodded slightly in Jiang Tianqi's direction, and then left with Thirteen Sister.

Jiang Tianqi stared at his back, his eyes filled with malice.

"Investigate," he spat out through gritted teeth. "Investigate everything about that Charlie Chen. And find Xi Rong, immediately!"