She slapped her face, encouraging herself, “Stop thinking nonsense. The most important thing now is how to save Tong’s family.”
Late at night, a shadowy figure quietly entered the study, exhaling after softly closing the door. As she expected, the old witch hadn’t locked it. Ou Xueman felt incredibly grateful.
When the computer screen lit up, a smile emerged as she saw an email in her inbox, surely a reply from Tong Yi Feng. Suppressing her racing heart, she opened the email, but the more she read, the more her brow furrowed.
Sinking deeply into the chair, she confirmed that Di Xi Huang had manipulated the land in that area. Although Brother Yi Feng discovered that the current landowner was a foreign individual, she knew it was someone connected to Di Xi Huang. As long as that person held onto the land, Tong’s acquisition plan would be delayed, putting Tong’s family at Di Xi Huang’s mercy.
Ou Xueman narrowed her eyes. If that were the case, they could only sacrifice a pawn to save the king.
Although this method would cause significant losses to Tong’s, it was better than being completely destroyed by Di Xi Huang.
She quickly typed on the keyboard, informing Tong Yi Feng of this self-harming strategy. Shortly after sending the email, Tong Yi Feng replied.
Seeing his response, Ou Xueman’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed. After a few simple instructions, she returned to her bedroom.
Di Xi Huang was indeed a business genius, like a powerful dragon, while Tong’s and the SZ city government had their connections and influence. As the saying goes, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Now that the dragon was pressing down, they could only compete.
The method she conceived would cause significant losses to Tong’s, but the result would be ideal. Not only could they escape the contract with Di Xi Huang, but they could also trap this powerful dragon in shallow waters.
Eight years later, when she recalled this strategy, she realized how naive she had been. No wonder Di Xi Huang could see through her every move, gaining the upper hand and pinpointing her weaknesses.
A sliver of light from Di Ying’s room illuminated the hallway floor, and Ou Xueman was surprised that the old witch was still awake so late. She could faintly hear voices, seemingly on a phone call.
Her concussion prevents her from getting out of bed. During the day, Tina and Dr. Steven monitored her, and she took a sedative to sleep at night. “The phone is in my room, and I’ve locked the study, so she couldn’t have accessed it,” Di Ying said confidently to the person on the phone.
The old witch seemed to be talking to Di Xihuang. Ou Xueman’s lips curved slightly with a smile, thinking her rescue plan had worked, and that Di Xihuang suspected she had leaked information.
With people monitoring her during the day, she wouldn’t do anything suspicious. At night, although she had taken a sedative, she hadn’t actually swallowed it. She could not enter the study, but she could enter through the window. She had used a fishing line to open the window switch from the outside and then climbed in through the balcony of the adjacent room.
“Hmm, I understand. I’ll go check her room later,” the old witch said.
Ou Xueman was stunned. The old witch planned to check her room tonight, making it impossible for her to communicate with Brother Yi Feng. She would return to her room.
Lying quietly, she stared blankly at the ceiling. She could not go to the study tonight, but she had already told Brother Yi Feng everything. Now, she would wait and see how Di Xihuang would respond.
Suddenly, the door lock was gently turned. Ou Xueman quickly closed her eyes. The old witch indeed came but only glanced at her briefly before leaving.
She thought she had managed to deceive them. The worries of recent times had exhausted her, and sleep quickly overwhelmed her.
— Dividing Line —
In the morning, An Ran sat on the balcony, looking at the white clouds blocking the scorching sun. The leisurely feeling relaxed her tense nerves somewhat.
Based on last night’s analysis, her plan to sacrifice a piece to save the whole was going smoothly. Brother Yi Feng’s abilities were certainly not inferior to Di Xihuang’s. All she needed to do was wait for news.
A sea breeze parted the dense clouds, and a helicopter appeared in the sky, heading towards her.
Ou Xueman watched intently. It was the helicopter that often transported them. As it descended and the cabin door opened, a tall and handsome figure stepped out. Ou Xueman was shocked. Why was he back? He should have been confronting Tong Yi Feng.
The man removed his sunglasses, his perfect features now resolute and cold. His sinister eyes suddenly looked towards Ou Xueman’s balcony, a dangerous light flickering in them.
When their eyes met, she felt a chill and quickly retreated to her bedroom. Her breathing became rapid, her heart racing, and unease enveloped her.
Why did Di Xihuang suddenly return? Had something gone wrong with Brother Yi Feng? Or had he discovered her communication with Yi Feng?
Growing increasingly anxious, she paced her room, clutching her collar tightly.
If he had discovered her actions, how would he deal with her? Would he treat her as brutally as that night? The fear, humiliation, and pain of that night descended upon her like a savage beast.
“It seems you didn’t take my warning seriously,” Di Xihuang’s low voice appeared behind her, causing her to turn in terror.
He approached slowly, each step creating an invisible pressure.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, retreating until her back was against the cold wall.
Di Xihuang continued to advance, his hands in his suit pants pockets, his eyes narrowing beneath long eyelashes.
“Distracting the enemy to make a surprise attack – not a bad strategy,” he said, his breath carrying a dangerous tone.
Ou Xueman was shocked. How could he know she sacrificed a piece to save the whole? She wanted to respond, but faced with his cold presence, she lost the courage to speak.
“Tong Yi Xuan, you’re quite cunning,” Di Xihuang said, trapping her by placing his hands on the wall on either side of her. A cold smile played on his lips.
“Continuing to execute our agreement on the surface while secretly negotiating with the SZ City Government to transfer the land owned by your Tong family’s subsidiary in the Futian District, and funding a public venue on that land to entice the SZ City Government — not a bad, clever strategy.”
Ou Xueman could barely breathe. Everything he said was her plan. He was terrifying. This was something she and Tong Yi Feng had done in secret, known by very few people. How could he possibly know?
“Want to know how I found out?” Di Xihuang’s cold smile grew even more chilling. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you.”
He gripped her chin, his gaze boring into her. “You’ve sacrificed much to entice the SZ City Government, aiming for them to use governmental power to acquire the surrounding land. This allows you to terminate the contract and stall my investment plan, correct?”
Ou Xueman was shocked. He really knew everything, and with absolute precision.
Di Xihuang seemed to know her thoughts. “Why is it impossible? I must commend you, Tong Yixuan. You’ve done quite well. I don’t even know how to counter this move of yours.”
He whispered close to her ear, “But you lack a comprehensive understanding of the Tong family’s board of directors. For the Tong family to make such a sacrifice is like cutting off their own arm. Such a loss would never be approved, so your defeat was predetermined.”
“Surprised I know so many details?” Di Xihuang said, a thoughtful smile on his lips. “My computer has an email backup function. I’ve preserved all your emails.”
