The sun was beginning to set in the west, but instead of heading straight to the meeting location, Wei Yan chose to stop at a small internet cafe on the outskirts of town. Inside a dimly lit room, he turned on his old, creaking computer. However, as soon as his fingers touched the keyboard, the machine seemed to be pushed to its limits. The new developer codes he had brought from the multiverse flowed across the screen, breaking through the Megastar Group's layers of encryption without triggering a single alarm.
Wei Yan leaned back, staring at the reflection of the data in his cold eyes. "Hmm, interesting," he murmured softly. "Xia Chunyu, you're surrounded by rats. One of your subordinates has long been a pawn of the Bluefeather Group." He moved the cursor, opening the profile of the target Chunyu would meet tonight. "So this is his opponent? Manager Mo. An opportunist who thinks he can trap the holder of the destiny fragment with a lowly scheme like this."
Wei Yan began typing again, sending several digital 'nudges' to Manager Mo's phone. He manipulated some logistical data and contract details to make it appear as if Bluefeather had the upper hand, a bait to stoke Manager Mo's greed and make him act more aggressively that night. "Let's make you feel like a winner, Manager Mo," Wei Yan whispered contemptuously. "The higher you fly, the more crushed you'll be when I drop you."
After ensuring all the digital traps were in place, he picked up his phone and called Li Yuantong.
"Yuantong," he said when the line connected.
"Yes, honey? Any new instructions?" Yuantong's voice was sharp, and the faint hiss of techno music could be heard in the background of his KTV.
"There's a thrilling drama tonight at the Blend Hotel, right next door to yours. I'd love for you to come along to see it," Wei Yan replied.
"Oh? It's rare for you to invite me to a live drama. Who's in the cast?" Yuantong asked with a hint of curiosity.
"One of the holders of the destiny fragment I just discovered. He's being besieged by the Bluefeather wolves. I want you to be there to witness how a major asset is being drawn into our ecosystem," Wei Yan paused, his eyes fixed on the computer screen, which now displayed Manager Mo's GPS location. "This will be an entertaining 'cockfight' before my coming-of-age ceremony the day after tomorrow."
Across the phone, Yuantong chuckled, a laugh full of authority. "I understand. I'll prepare the best venue. After all, Blend Hotel is like an extension of my own terrace. See you there, honey."
Wei Yan hung up, turned off the internet cafe computer, and stepped out into the cooling night air. The director had finished composing the script, and now it was time for the actors to play their roles under the crystal chandeliers of Blend Hotel.
----
At exactly seven o'clock in the evening, the atmosphere in the VIP room of the Blend Hotel and Resto felt both private and exclusive. Behind the thick teakwood doors, Xia Chunyu sat with his back straight, trying to maintain his professional air, even though he sensed something amiss. Across from him, Manager Mo smiled broadly—a smile that never reached his eyes.
"Miss Xia, I must say, seeing you in the position of COO at the age of twenty-six truly amazes me," Manager Mo began as he poured wine into Chunyu's glass. "It's rare to find a woman with your business acumen in this tough beverage industry."
Chunyu smiled faintly, very formally. "You're overpraising me, Manager Mo. I'm not here to discuss my career, but to ensure Megastar Group gets the best supply of raw materials from Bluefeather. Have the points we discussed on the phone been incorporated into the final draft?"
"Of course, of course," Manager Mo replied quickly. He thrust a thick document toward Chunyu. "All the quality assurance, delivery schedule, and competitive pricing you requested are listed there. Please review them for a moment."
Chunyu carefully read the document. After a few minutes of silence, he finally nodded. "Very well, this draft meets our standards. I agree to this partnership. My legal team will send you the official documents tomorrow."
"Excellent!" Manager Mo exclaimed. He then reached for the open bottle of red wine on the table. "But before that, it would be rude not to celebrate such a big deal. This wine is from a private collection, it's very rare. Please, have a glass for our future."
Chunyu hesitated. "Excuse me, Manager Mo, I have to drive after this."
"Oh, come on, Miss Xia, just one small glass. Don't let this historic moment pass you by without a memory," Manager Mo coaxed in a tone that was urgent yet friendly.
Feeling the deal was in hand, Chunyu accepted the crystal glass. He took a sip, but within seconds, he felt a strange wave of heat spread from his neck and throughout his body. His heart began to beat unnaturally fast.
"Manager... this wine..." Chunyu held his head, which was starting to spin.
"What's wrong, Miss Xia? Your face looks so beautiful when you blush like that," Manager Mo said, his voice suddenly becoming deep and hoarse. He rose from his chair, walked over, and placed a hand on Chunyu's shoulder. "You're working too hard. Maybe tonight you should learn how to 'enjoy' life a little more with me."
Chunyu gasped, trying to smack the man's hand away. "What are you doing? Let go!"
"Don't act so pure, Chunyu. This contract's already been agreed upon, right? Just think of it as a little 'bonus' for me making things easier for you," Manager Mo whispered, gripping Chunyu's arm tightly, his face close to hers, the pungent scent of alcohol lingering in her.
"You're crazy! This is harassment!" Chunyu shouted hoarsely. The aphrodisiac's effects were beginning to erode her consciousness, leaving her feeling weak yet incredibly sensitive. "Let go of me now!"
"Destroy us? Who would believe a woman who gets drunk and seduces her business partner in a hotel?" Manager Mo laughed slyly, trying to pull Chunyu closer to the sofa in the corner.
However, in the midst of her desperation, Chunyu mustered all her remaining strength. She grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it into Manager Mo's hand, causing the man to scream in pain and loosen his grip. Gasping for breath, Chunyu grabbed her bag and ran to the door. She was prepared for it to be locked, but miraculously—thanks to Wei Yan's digital intervention earlier—the electronic deadbolt opened with a single pull.
Chunyu dashed out, barely setting foot in the hotel corridor, her breath ragged and her vision blurring.
Because the door miraculously unlocked, Xia Chunyu managed to dart out. Manager Mo, whose hand was still throbbing from the impact with the glass, immediately stood up, his face bright red. "Damn it! Stop!" he shouted as he rushed after Chunyu into the corridor.
However, just a few steps out the door, the frantic Manager Mo collided hard into the chest of a tattooed man who was passing by with his friends.
"Hey! Do you have eyes?!" snapped the tattooed man, who turned out to be one of Li Yuantong's men on patrol.
"Move! Don't block my way!" Manager Mo retorted, not realizing he was yelling at the wrong person.
"Oh, you're brave, huh? You bump into someone and then start shouting? Come here!" The man grabbed Manager Mo by the collar, sparking a commotion and a fight at the end of the hallway that immediately blocked off the path for anyone to pass.
Meanwhile, Xia Chunyu, gripped by extreme panic, couldn't think straight. His vision was blurry, and the luxurious hotel hallway seemed to spin in his mind's eye. He could only wander around the same floor, seeking shelter until he finally saw a man standing quietly in front of a bedroom door. Without thinking, Chunyu ran towards him.
The aphrodisiac's effects reached their peak as soon as she reached him. Chunyu immediately lunged at him and embraced him tightly, her fingers gripping his black shirt.
"Help... help me..." Chunyu whimpered, her voice hoarse and her breath hot against his chest. "Someone... is chasing... help..."
Wei Yan stared at the woman in his arms with a flat, unreadable gaze. He didn't seem the least bit surprised. "You look so messed up, Miss Xia," Wei Yan said coldly but in a soothing tone.
"Hot... it's so hot... please take me away from here..." Chunyu muttered again, her body beginning to writhe restlessly from the sensation of the drug searing her consciousness.
Without another word, Wei Yan used the access card to open the door to the room he had reserved. He put his arm around Chunyu's waist, led her inside, and closed the door tightly, blocking out the noise outside. Wei Yan laid Chunyu down on the soft bed. The woman was now writhing, her hands gripping the bedsheets as if trying to find a hold amidst a storm of uncontrollable lust.
"Who... who are you?" Chunyu asked with a thin shred of consciousness, her glazed eyes staring at Wei Yan's face.
"I'm the one who just tore apart your unfortunate scenario tonight," Wei Yan replied as he sat on the edge of the bed, quietly observing his new "asset."
"Help me... do something... anything..." Chunyu whimpered, tears welling in the corners of her eyes from overwhelming frustration.
"I'll calm you down..." Wei Yan said softly, his voice sounding like both a devil's whisper and a savior in Chunyu's ears.