The private room at The Majestic Club was dark, the lights off.
Autumn sat to one side. In the corner of the room, a man was seated in the shadows.
"So, you still can't determine if this matter is related to Ethan Chen?"
"If it is related to Ethan Chen, does that mean the entire police unit that showed up today was putting on an act for him?"
"Do you think that's even possible?"
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Autumn's eyes. "I... I don't know anymore. If it's not related to Ethan, then someone just happened to clone the plates of a car identical to his, and we just happened to run into Ethan on the very road we were chasing her... it's all too much of a coincidence."
"It is quite a coincidence," the man said, standing up and walking slowly over. He stared at Autumn. "And what if someone is deliberately trying to point the finger at Ethan Chen?"
The man's gaze made Autumn's skin crawl—a feeling she'd never even experienced with The Boss. She suppressed the fear rising in her chest. "Michael Langford, just say what you mean directly!"
Michael Langford chuckled softly, lighting a cigarette. "I don't care if it's a coincidence or a deliberate setup. The most important thing right now is to get the item back. Understand? This is your establishment. The thief was one of your girls. No matter what your manager says about how she was hired, the fact remains, this happened on your turf. If we don't get the item back, neither of us can answer to them!"
"Even if what you say is true, they have to believe it. You know what those people are like. They're not from our world. They don't have the same... reservations we do when they act."
After speaking, Michael pressed a switch on the wall.
The dark room was instantly flooded with light.
On the floor lay a man, his arms and legs broken, his face a bloody mess. Shattered teeth were scattered across the floor. It was the manager who had originally hired the undercover police officer.
Autumn's face turned ashen. "Michael, you know it's absolutely impossible that I—"
"Let me say it again." Michael cut her off. "What you say, what you think, your suspicions, the facts... none of that matters. What matters is that you need to retrieve the item. Understand?"
Autumn nodded.
Michael turned, walked over to the nearly crippled manager, shook his head with a sigh, and then flicked the half-smoked cigarette onto the man's body.
"Serves you right for not vetting your hires properly."
With that, Michael pulled open the door and left.
Simultaneously, enforcers from outside entered the room.
"Autumn, this…"
"Go on, get him to a hospital! Then send his wife out of the city. Have someone keep an eye on her."
"Understood."
After the enforcers left, a woman in a white suit walked in. Her profile was beautiful, but a birthmark on her face marred her appearance.
After entering, the woman closed the door and sat beside Autumn.
Autumn let out a heavy sigh. "Jasmine, what did The Gentleman say?"
Jasmine nodded. "His primary concern is whether what happened today will reach The Boss's ears. While The Boss shows him respect publicly, if this leaks, The Boss will definitely turn on him."
"I'll call The Boss later and smooth things over," Autumn said, putting a slender cigarette to her lips. "What else?"
"This place is no longer secure. He desires a more suitable venue for these activities."
"Does The Gentleman have a preference?"
"The Summit Casino."
In the hospital room, Ethan was chatting with his mother when his phone suddenly rang.
"Mom, it's The Boss." Ethan announced before answering. "Hello?"
"Ethan," The Boss's voice came through. "What are you up to?"
"At the hospital."
"Oh, how's your mother doing?"
Ethan glanced at his mother in the hospital bed. "She's doing well."
"Send her my regards. By the way, I heard from little Autumn that she ran into you having dinner with Ms. Mu today. Seems she caused some offense. Ms. Mu didn't say anything, did she?"
"She was a bit angry," Ethan confirmed. "Expressed quite a bit of displeasure."
"Look at the mess Autumn made. Really. Ethan, could you do me a favor and put in a good word for her with Ms. Mu? I'll have Autumn come apologize to you in person tomorrow."
"It's fine, Boss, really," Ethan declined. "I'll talk to Ms. Mu myself later."
"Then I'll leave it to you. I have high hopes for you."
The Boss chatted a bit more before hanging up.
Lydia Chen looked over. "The Boss calls personally to ask about a woman named Mu? The Mu family... the one here in the city... Mulan?"
"Mom, you're amazing." Ethan gave a thumbs-up.
Lydia shook her head. "The surname Mu isn't common. There's a prominent family in the Northwest by that name. The only one The Boss would be concerned about is that Mu girl. I always thought she had a clever air about her, even as a child."
Ethan's eyes widened. "Mom, you know Mulan?"
"I saw her when she was young." Lydia gave her son a peculiar look. "What's your relationship with her?"
Ethan caught the implication in his mother's eyes. "Mom, she's a client from the casino. That's all. Besides, she's twelve or thirteen years older than me. What kind of relationship could we have?"
"年龄不是问题.像你这个年纪的男孩子通常都喜欢年纪大一些的女孩子."莉迪亚的思想出乎意料地开放."不过,穆家可不好对付.你最好尽量减少和他们的接触.我们可不想招惹他们."
"妈,我知道了!我都没想过这个问题!"
老板刚挂断和伊森的电话,另一个电话就打进来了.
看到那独特的连续数字和区号,老板立刻猜到是谁打来的,并迅速回答道:"你好."
"这位就是老板吧?我姓穆.你应该知道我是谁."
"穆先生,您好."
"我今天听说了一件事.你们公司有个年轻人看起来很有能力.他让我女儿替他还债,还让她跟家人作对.老板,没必要对我家人使用这种手段吧?"
虽然语气平静,但老板还是能感受到电话那头传来的怒火.他擦了擦额头的汗珠."穆先生,您误会了.虽然那个年轻人是我的下属,但这件事真的与我无关.再说,男女之间的感情事,我又能插手吗?"
"你可是大老板啊,居然连自己的人都管不了?"
"不,不,不,"老板连忙解释道,"他是我的人,但是...他也是陈莉迪亚的儿子."
"莉迪亚·陈?是西部联盟社团的陈——"电话那头的男人突然停了下来."好的,我明白了.打扰了,抱歉."
几分钟后,刚洗完澡的木兰接到了家人的电话.
"包办婚姻取消了.我为你安排的相亲也泡汤了.你非得事事都跟家里作对吗?"
木兰轻笑一声."你知道我没那么不负责任.你想说什么就直接说,没必要一开始就指责别人.这不是商业谈判."
"那个伊森·陈,尽量减少和他接触.万一出了什么严重的事情,我们可承受不起招惹他们的后果."