Chapter 511: Everything Is Ready! Let the Show Begin!

Chapter 511: Everything Is Ready! Let the Show Begin!

Meng Junhao understood at once that the daughter Wu Chen had said was Ding Ruilong’s was He Xinxin. She was the only one whose age fit. Which meant He Shiqin’s identity was obvious.

This was…

It took Meng Junhao a long while to recover. His eyes stayed wide.

Coffee continued to spread across the table. Some even dripped over the edge onto his suit jacket and trousers, but he didn’t notice.

At that moment, all kinds of emotions were colliding inside him.

Because of Li Ruobing alone, Wu Chen and Ding Ruilong were already mortal enemies. Meng Junhao knew how possessive Ding Ruilong was over the women he wanted. With Wu Chen and Li Ruobing… it wouldn’t be going too far to say Wu Chen had already cuckolded him, at least in Ding’s mind.

And now He Shiqin too?

And Wu Chen actually wanted Ding Ruilong to find out? To see photographs? To make Ding understand in the most concrete way possible that he’d truly been cuckolded?

And He Shiqin had brought Ding Ruilong’s daughter along.

What was this supposed to be? Cuckolding him and threatening him at the same time?

It was simply…

If someone else had done this, Meng Junhao might have found it despicable. But he didn’t feel that way about Wu Chen. Although he didn’t know He Shiqin’s true role, he did know that Ding Ruilong had once brought a whole team of assassins over from the border to kill Wu Chen.

Ding Ruilong’s trusted subordinate Jiang Chuan had even come to Donghai personally to direct the operation.

With a grudge like that, Wu Chen had only survived through his own abilities. However he chose to retaliate wouldn’t be excessive.

Even so… this was ruthless.

Wu Chen was far too ruthless.

He was going straight for the things that would drive Ding Ruilong insane.

But that also brought extraordinary danger.

Meng Junhao even felt Wu Chen might be courting death. After all, once Ding Ruilong truly lost his mind, he was the sort of person who would stop caring about consequences. That young man from the Wei family had nearly been killed by Ding Ruilong back then. Getting away with broken legs had been lucky.

Even the sons of powerful families weren’t safe from him. And however capable Wu Chen might be, he lacked that same family background for protection.

“M-Mr. Wu, are you certain… I mean, are you certain you want me to take those photos and send them to Ding Ruilong?” Meng Junhao finally managed to speak, stammering with disbelief.

“Absolutely,” Wu Chen said with a smile. “In this matter… you’ll effectively be working for Ding Ruilong, and doing an excellent job. He’ll trust you even more. Nothing will happen to you.”

Meng Junhao kept staring at Wu Chen, unable to speak.

What Wu Chen said made sense.

Ding Ruilong might even give Meng Junhao a large sum of money for it.

But that wasn’t the real issue.

The issue was what would follow. Meng Junhao could imagine what might happen afterward. It wasn’t merely a question of Wu Chen facing danger or the storm that would descend on him. There was also… the possibility of trouble with Li Ruobing, Wu Chen’s greatest source of protection right now.

Meng Junhao simply didn’t understand Wu Chen well enough. He couldn’t begin to imagine how powerful and intricate a network Wu Chen had built through alliances and maneuvering in less than a month.

“B-but… Miss Li will find out, won’t she? Ding Ruilong will certainly tell Miss Li that you’ve been unfaithful… and then…” Meng Junhao raised what he believed was the crucial problem.

“Ruobing already knows,” Wu Chen replied with a smile.

“Huh?” Meng Junhao froze, then suddenly thought he understood.

Wu Chen’s relationship with He Shiqin was a sham.

Perhaps Li Ruobing and Wu Chen had even worked together to bring He Shiqin and He Xinxin to Donghai to use against Ding Ruilong.

He’d only guessed half of it correctly.

“B-but this is too dangerous, Mr. Wu. I really think you should reconsider. Don’t worry—if you tell me not to let him discover anything, I’ll do everything I can to keep Ding Ruilong from finding out…” Meng Junhao tried to persuade him.

He was entirely sincere.

When Wu Chen first met Meng Junhao, Meng had already begun transferring his assets overseas. Being a double agent had become so dangerous that he was planning to flee.

Even now, he still had that plan, and everything was proceeding methodically.

Meng Junhao truly didn’t want something to go wrong at this critical juncture.

Peace and quiet would be best.

“If you don’t want to do it, I won’t force you. I can find someone else,” Wu Chen said with a smile. He had stated his position while offering Meng a choice.

“I…” Meng Junhao hesitated, then hurriedly said, “I’ll do it, Mr. Wu. I’ll do it!”

He could see the situation clearly. It would be incredibly easy for Wu Chen to let Ding Ruilong learn the truth. Keeping it hidden was the difficult part. Revealing it deliberately would take almost no effort.

At the simplest, Wu Chen could even call Ding Ruilong directly to mock him and explain everything.

So Meng Junhao knew he couldn’t stop Wu Chen.

He might as well take the responsibility himself. That way, he could gain more of Ding Ruilong’s trust and lay groundwork for understanding how events developed later.

Perhaps it was because Wu Chen understood human nature so thoroughly. Or perhaps because he possessed so much intelligence.

He always managed to make people willingly move from passive acceptance to active assistance.

He Shiqin had done so.

Now Meng Junhao had as well.

In his present state of mind, he clearly wasn’t going to wait passively for Ding Ruilong to assign him tasks and then merely tip Wu Chen off.

He would take the initiative—actively learn about Ding Ruilong’s arrangements and help Wu Chen.

For him, as long as Wu Chen was doing well, he would be fine too. If something happened to Wu Chen, Meng faced multiple risks, any one of which could bring him down.

“All right, then. You’ll handle it…” Wu Chen said with a smile. He paused before continuing. “In that case, here’s what you’ll do…”

Wu Chen began explaining the details.

Earlier, he’d given only a brief outline of the photography. Now he went through it thoroughly. These details would not only provoke Ding Ruilong to the greatest degree possible, but also make Meng Junhao’s surveillance, photography, and everything else look entirely natural—nearly perfect.

They would eliminate any possibility of suspicion falling on Meng Junhao.

In effect, Wu Chen was maximizing Meng Junhao’s gains.

Wu Chen wanted to help Meng rise somewhat in Ding Ruilong’s estimation. Ordinarily, as the conflict between Wu Chen and Ding Ruilong intensified, Meng Junhao—a minor local power in Donghai—would naturally become increasingly useful to Ding Ruilong.

Wu Chen intended to give that process another push.

Ideally, Meng Junhao would even come to the attention of other core members of the Ding family.

Wu Chen’s target had never been Ding Ruilong alone. Ding Ruilong was merely the starting point. His true target was the entire Ding family.

And Meng Junhao could become the nail driven into the Ding family.

Wu Chen didn’t mind driving that nail a little deeper.

Before they knew it, it was nearly four in the afternoon.

Wu Chen and Meng Junhao had talked in considerable detail. When they finished, Wu Chen left. The two went downstairs one after the other, but Meng Junhao didn’t leave the café until five minutes after Wu Chen.

In the meantime, he’d already called to arrange some personnel. To put on a convincing show, Meng really would send people out to investigate Wu Chen comprehensively. Meanwhile, he would position his most trusted confidants in specific areas and have them wait for Wu Chen to appear.

His confidants would then notify him by phone.

And he would go to the scene himself.

Every aspect had to be covered, even the records of his calls with his subordinates.

…

A little over twenty minutes later.

Jinzun Manor, North District.

As Wu Chen approached the entrance in his Mercedes S-Class, he spotted an Alphard minivan parked along the roadside outside. Its license plates were from Modu rather than Donghai.

It had to be Old Dao.

Wu Chen had told him to wait here, and it was the only business vehicle parked by the road.

Old Dao was a cautious man. It was an occupational habit. The Modu plates on this vehicle were probably false.

The Mercedes paused beside the Alphard. Wu Chen lowered his window and turned to look.

The front passenger window of the Alphard came down too. Old Dao, wearing a black baseball cap and a face mask, turned and met Wu Chen’s eyes.

Wu Chen gave Old Dao a look, raised his window again, and drove forward.

The Alphard followed the Mercedes into Jinzun Manor. Wu Chen had a remote control for the residential complex’s entrance gate.

Neither vehicle went down to the underground garage. They followed the internal roads all the way to the villa’s front door.

Wu Chen got out and raised a hand to Old Dao. Old Dao stepped out too and followed him toward the entrance, instinctively glancing left and right to check their surroundings.

The villa’s front door had a fingerprint-and-keypad lock. Wu Chen knew the code and entered it directly.

Inside the living room.

He Shiqin and He Xinxin had almost finished packing. They hadn’t brought much luggage when they came to Donghai, but they had somewhat more now, mainly because they’d bought additional things, including Xinxin’s art supplies.

One reason Wu Chen had called Old Dao over was to carry the luggage.

The drawing board and its stand took up considerable space. Between those, the rest of the luggage, and two passengers, one car wouldn’t be enough.

“Mr. Wu…” He Shiqin greeted him as he came in. Noticing Old Dao behind him, she asked casually, “And this is…?”

“He’s here to help with the luggage,” Wu Chen said with a smile. Then he asked, “Everything packed?”

“Yes.” He Shiqin nodded.

“Then let’s load the cars. Come on…” Wu Chen gestured.

Five minutes later, all the luggage was loaded.

Most of it went into Old Dao’s minivan. Only two suitcases went into the trunk of the Mercedes.

Time to go.

The two vehicles left Jinzun Manor.

The Mercedes sped along the main road, with the Alphard following at a considerable distance. The two vehicles hardly looked as though they were traveling together. In fact, it almost looked as if one were following the other.

That, too, was Old Dao’s occupational habit.

Whatever the circumstances, he would instinctively minimize certain risks. The habit had become second nature, and Wu Chen had no intention of correcting it.

It was a good habit. After all, Old Dao was a man who had managed to corner Wu Chen in an elevator. Granted, Wu Chen had been holding back at the time, but there was no denying Old Dao’s abilities. Wu Chen wanted him to maintain them, not let them deteriorate.

Inside the Mercedes, He Shiqin sat in the front passenger seat and He Xinxin in the back.

“Teacher Wu, why did you change cars again?” He Xinxin asked, looking around the interior. It was quite similar to the white Mercedes G-Class her mother usually drove.

“A sports car can’t carry three people,” Wu Chen answered casually with a smile, glancing at the rearview mirror.

“Why does it have to carry three? Couldn’t someone ride in the car that man back there is driving? Besides… my mom has a car too…” He Xinxin said. Clearly, Wu Chen’s explanation hadn’t convinced her.

“Well… Xinxin, didn’t I tell you? That car keeps reporting faults. I’ve already called the dealership to have it towed. Safety first, okay?” He Shiqin said, turning around from the front passenger seat.

They were fooling Xinxin.

He Shiqin’s white Mercedes G-Class had been left in Jinzun Manor’s underground garage. She wouldn’t drive it again for the time being, to keep Ding Ruilong from tracking her down.

She needed a different car.

Wu Chen had changed cars today for exactly the same reason.

They had to make the performance convincing.

Ding Ruilong had already discovered He Shiqin’s whereabouts, and she’d deliberately cut off contact with him. Soon, Ding Ruilong would also learn that there was something going on between her and Wu Chen. Under those circumstances, if He Shiqin kept driving her own car, it would seem she wasn’t being careful enough.

And in such circumstances, He Shiqin would naturally have warned Wu Chen to be careful too.

So Wu Chen had to put on a show of caution as well.

Both of them needed to appear sufficiently wary. Ding Ruilong had to believe they were meeting in secret. Only then would everything make sense, and only then would Meng Junhao appear competent and remain completely above suspicion.

Around 4:50 p.m.

Century Central City villa complex, Central District, Donghai.

It was an old villa development built near the end of the last century, in a relatively secluded section of the Central District’s older streets. By present-day standards, it was a fairly ordinary villa complex. Its advantages were its large grounds, relative privacy, and a small park immediately beside it.

Li Ruotai had originally chosen it as a place to conduct his shady business precisely because it was so discreet and private.

The two vehicles entered the complex, drove down into the underground garage, and finally parked in the two spaces belonging to Villa No. 17.

Time to unload.

The development looked old and run-down, and the villas were outdated. Even the garage floor was filthy. But the moment He Xinxin entered the first-floor hall of Villa No. 17, the luxury before her startled her.

It was mainly the contrast between the outside and the inside.

Li Ruotai had had the place renovated.

It was just Li Ruotai’s taste. The interior was decorated in the same style as Wu Chen’s current villa, with an almost dazzling, gilded extravagance.

The villa was also cleaned regularly. In the past, Li Ruotai had never known when he might need to use it, so he’d always arranged for cleaners to come every two weeks, keeping it ready for immediate use.

They could leave the luggage for now. There was no rush to unpack.

“Come on, dinner’s on me,” Wu Chen said with a smile. Then he asked He Xinxin, “What do you want to eat?”

“Teacher Wu’s being so generous? You’re actually treating us to dinner?” He Xinxin teased him.

“Consider it an apology for making you move so suddenly,” Wu Chen said with a laugh.

“Hmph! Then I’d better have something good!” He Xinxin snorted lightly, thought for a moment, and declared, “I want Sichuan food! Something spicy, really spicy!”

He Xinxin wasn’t a picky eater, but she did particularly like Sichuan cuisine.

Wu Chen had known it.

The place he’d chosen in advance, and instructed Meng Junhao to arrange the photography around, was a Sichuan restaurant.

They set out again.

The four went downstairs. He Shiqin and He Xinxin got into the car first, while Wu Chen went over to the Alphard and spoke quietly with Old Dao by its door.

“Bring in some men. Starting tomorrow, have them follow the two of them around the clock and make sure they’re safe. But don’t let them know they’re being followed—especially the little girl…”

This was the real reason Wu Chen had called Old Dao over.

He wanted Old Dao to recognize the people and the location, and he wanted He Shiqin to have seen Old Dao, so that if something unexpected really happened later, she would recognize him when he appeared.

Wu Chen was about to deliver an enormous provocation to Ding Ruilong. He never worried about himself.

But He Shiqin needed this kind of protection. Ding Ruilong probably wouldn’t hurt He Shiqin or He Xinxin, but once he found them, he might well send someone to abduct them and take them away.

That possibility had to be eliminated.

Having assigned Old Dao his official task, Wu Chen returned to his car.

They set off.

A few minutes later.

It was already past five in the afternoon.

Still in the Central District, on Dachuan Second Road, at Fulaixi Sichuan Restaurant.

The restaurant stood in an older part of the Central District. It was relatively upscale for a Sichuan restaurant, though not top-tier. The food was good, but business was only average, mainly because of its location.

The Mercedes stopped in a parking space outside Fulaixi Sichuan Restaurant.

After getting out, Wu Chen seemed to glance casually around.

At a street corner not far away, an older silver-gray Volkswagen was parked in the shade of a tree. Its license plate confirmed that… it belonged to one of Meng Junhao’s men.

Everything was ready.

Let the show begin.