Chapter 215 Turning the Enemy Away

"Xin Que," Huo Fenglin said with a relaxed posture and a smile as he chatted with Xin Que, "Isn't it pointless to risk my life for my brother?"

Xin Que calculated in her mind what her chances of successfully leaving this place were.

Huo Fenglin's demeanor had shed its previous carefree and irresponsible air. His eyes and brows were completely different from Huo Chenglong's sharp features; instead, they were almost identical to those of Madam Huo, exuding gentleness and affection.

“I have a question,” Xin Que looked directly into Huo Fenglin’s eyes, “How exactly did you manage to turn Feng Caijun against his superiors and deceive them?”

Huo Fenglin paused in his playing with the earring.

“There’s no point in asking that,” he said, a hint of gloom creeping into his eyes. “All you need to know is that I can afford a price that would impress Feng Caijun.”

"Okay, okay," Xin Que replied casually, "What about Lu Wei?"

She glanced at Lu Wei beside Huo Fenglin, her words carrying a hidden meaning, "You're cooperating with the forces in Yucheng to seize power? Aren't you afraid the patriarch will turn against you?"

After all, even though we are currently in a power transition phase between Huo Tinghua and Huo Chenglong, the fundamental power of the Huo family still rests in Huo Tinghua's hands.

Huo Fenglin's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was still relaxed, "Then don't give him a chance to turn against you."

Huo Fenglin stared unblinkingly at Xin Que, his eyes burning with an unprecedented ambition that seemed to devour him completely.

Xin Que frowned slightly.

In her view, Huo Fenglin's actions were like throwing an egg against a rock.

“Minister Xin, I know that in your eyes I am still that playboy from the Huo family who only knows how to enjoy life and is ignorant of the ways of the world. A few words are still not enough to move you.”

"Why don't you take a look at this?"

Huo Fenglin looked at Lu Wei.

Lu Wei understood immediately. With a wave of his hand, a floating screen appeared out of thin air between the two sides.

"Miss Xin, you have a discerning eye; you should be able to understand this form, right?"

Xin Que's pupils contracted.

These are all of Huo Chenglong's recent travel arrangements.

It was even several times more detailed than the task list in Xin Que's hands.

It was detailed down to the exact time he would go to which place, and when he would rest...

"Xin Que, you're now my brother's most frequent mole on missions. You've been clearing the way for him quite a bit lately, haven't you?"

Huo Fenglin laughed sarcastically, "Huo Tinghua has really gone mad. To pave the way for him, half of the Huo family's cadres have been transferred to his side. They're afraid he might lose a single hair."

Xin Que showed little emotional reaction to the scene of brothers fighting amongst themselves.

She frowned as she watched Huo Fenglin's increasingly heated accusations, feeling that something was amiss.

Why would Huo Fenglin take such a risk at this critical juncture?

Judging from his dismissive remarks, he was clearly planning to go all the way and kill his brother and father.

Given how much the Huo family doted on Huo Fenglin, even if he wasn't the heir, he was still the young master whom the Huo family cherished and raised.

The strangest thing is that the Huo family has never concealed the fact that they were grooming Huo Chenglong as their successor within the family.

It wasn't the first time Huo Fenglin had learned that his older brother would inherit the Huo family business.

She was secretly investigating Huo Chenglong's whereabouts, and collaborating with Lu Wei of Yucheng to let a wolf into the house...

These actions look exactly like someone desperately trying to escape when forced to the edge of a cliff.

"Xin Que, let me tell you the truth."

"You think that by serving Huo Chenglong wholeheartedly, you can sit back and relax after he inherits the Huo family? Don't be naive!"

"Huo Tinghua had already made arrangements. You and the Death Squad are special in nature, and you have too much dirt on the Huo family for trying to monopolize the city. As soon as Huo Chenglong takes office, the Death Squad and the Dark Agents will be thoroughly purged."

"Huo Tinghua would never leave his precious son with any threat that could dirty his hands."

Huo Fenglin pressed him, "Think it over carefully: are you going to seek another wise ruler, or are you going down this dark path?"

"Xin Que, you cadres have risked your lives for the Huo family for so many years, you deserve a good ending."

"No matter what, it shouldn't end up like the cunning rabbit being killed and the hunting dog being cooked."

After a moment, Huo Fenglin softened his tone, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you."

"It's just that you need to know about Director Lu Wei."

"He is not the ambitious man who covets the economy of the upper city that Huo Tinghua describes. On the contrary, if the talks can be successfully concluded and a multi-city economic alliance is reached, it can break the current rigid hierarchy of the upper city."

"You come from a lower-class background. Under such severe oppression, you should know better than anyone how the upper class oppresses the middle and lower classes."

"If we really follow Huo Tinghua's advice and assassinate Director Lu, the talks will break down... and Shangcheng will have no way out."

Lu Wei sighed, his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes exuding righteousness. "Nowadays, whether it's Yucheng or Shangcheng, the resources that can be controlled in the city are monopolized by the wealthy and powerful."

"Lu is not a particularly virtuous person, but he hopes to use his status and power to break this monopoly and prevent resources from flowing only to these wealthy families."

Xin Que's gaze shifted slightly downwards, subtly sweeping over the gleaming badge on Director Lu Wei's uniform, and then over the luxury watch peeking out from under his cuffs.

This style is unlike anything I've ever seen on the market; I wonder which wealthy and powerful figure in the business world commissioned it as a custom-made piece for Lu Wei.

"Director Lu, you certainly have a mouth that's perfect for giving speeches."

Xin Que didn't rush to answer Huo Fenglin and Lu Wei's instigation, only leaving a vague and perfunctory reply, "The ideals of the two of you are too grand, and I do need time to think about them carefully."

Lu Wei stared intently at Xin Que for a long time, but found no other suspicious emotions in her eyes before he suddenly laughed.

Very cheerful.

"Alright, someone come here!"

Lu Wei raised his hand.

The car door opened immediately.

"Mr. Huo will provide you with an absolutely safe environment for thinking, and no one will disturb Ms. Xin."

Xin Que got up from her seat and got out of the car without changing her expression. "Then shall I humbly comply?"

Lu Wei and Huo Fenglin's armed men took Xin Que away from Baili Plaza.

Xin Que was placed under house arrest in a club entirely controlled by Huo Fenglin.

The Huo family could easily subdue their own officials.

Xin Que was searched and all the items on her body that she could use for self-defense were taken away.

Even the private room where Xin Que was confined was padded with soft materials to prevent her from bumping into the wall and making a noise.

The thorns silently spread up the two-way glass next to Xin Que until they completely blocked her view.

"Is this your past?" A pair of hands pulled Xin Que into an embrace.

The handcuffs on Xin Que's hands and the shackles on his ankles made a few metallic clanging sounds.

"Hmm." Xin Que watched as the tiny thorns tried to reach into the lock of the handcuffs and pry them open. She tilted her head back and bumped into Luo Huayi's chin. "Let's not destroy the plot props."

Thorns slowly retreated from the handcuffs on Xin Que's wrists.

“The world you live in isn’t much better,” Luo Huayi tightened her arms around her, “just like here… it’s all about scheming.”

"Xin Que, is leaving here really the best solution for you?"