The God of Wealth starts with doing whatever you want

At London Heathrow Airport's private terminal, the gangway of a Gulfstream G650 slowly descends in the morning mist.

Xu Yun was the first to step off the plane, the hem of her black trench coat fluttering slightly in the damp, chilly English air.

Behind him, Isabella and Andrei stood side by side, both dressed in well-tailored business attire, looking like ordinary business delegations.

But their eyes betrayed them.

Isabella's gaze swept over every shadow around the tarmac, every camera, and every movement of the ground crew.

This is an instinct developed over many years of special agent work.

Even knowing that it was safe here, and even knowing that Xu Yun had arranged everything, she still couldn't completely relax.

Andrei was even more direct.

His right hand was always kept 15 centimeters away from his waist, where a miniature ceramic pistol was hidden, which would not be detected during security checks.

His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, scanned every face within his field of vision.

"Relax."

Xu Yun spoke without turning his head, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of the two.

"This is London, not a war zone, and..."

He paused, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, and said, "Miller probably doesn't have time to worry about us right now."

Isabella took a deep breath and forced herself to relax her shoulders.

Yes, Miller.

In the ten hours they flew across the Atlantic, the situation in the United States had changed dramatically.

The Washington Post published an 8,000-word investigative report on its front page.

The above details the evidence chain of Deputy Director Robert Miller’s massive bribes received through offshore accounts over the past decade, his abuse of power to funnel benefits to arms dealers, and the resurfacing of at least three cold cases involving the “accidental deaths” of intelligence personnel.

The New York Times followed suit, releasing recordings and photos of Miller's inappropriate relationships with several female subordinates.

Some of the photos were clearly taken from security cameras, and the only people who could have obtained these images are from inside the NSA.

On social media, the hashtag #MillerMustStepDown# rose to the top of the global trending list within six hours.

Capitol Hill is in an uproar. Hearings from three committees were scheduled for the same day, and bipartisan lawmakers unusually unanimously demanded a "thorough investigation and accountability."

The person who started all of this is standing in the London morning mist, as calm as if he were just waiting for a taxi.

"The car is here," Andrei said in a low voice.

Three black Bentley Mulsannes silently glided to the terminal entrance.

The windows are made of specially made bulletproof glass, the body is fitted with light armor, and the engine has been modified to accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour in six seconds.

Xu Yun got into the back seat of the middle car, and Isabella naturally followed and sat next to him.

Andrei then got into the front car to lead the way.

The convoy drove out of the airport and merged into the morning rush hour traffic.

"Should we go to the hotel first?" Isabella asked.

"Do not."

Xu Yun looked out the window at the London street scenes rushing by, the Thames River shimmering in the distance with a hazy light, and said, "Go straight to Old Trafford."

Isabella paused for a moment: "The game is at night."

"I know."

Xu Yun turned to look at her and said, "But before that, I want to take you somewhere."

Forty minutes later, the convoy stopped in front of an old Victorian building in London's West End.

The sign on the door reads: Royal Free Hospital.

Isabella's hands trembled slightly.

“Your mother is here.”

Xu Yun said calmly, "She was transferred from Los Angeles three days ago."

The attending physician is the head of oncology at the Royal College of Physicians, and the medication used is the latest immunotherapy, still in clinical trials, but early data is very promising.

He opened the car door and said, "Let's go, she's waiting for you."

Isabella sat motionless in the car.

Her eyes were fixed on the hospital entrance, her lips pressed together until they were pale.

For three years, she hasn't seen her mother since Miller started threatening her with her parents' safety.

Every time they talked on the phone, her mother would say she was fine, but Isabella knew it was just to comfort her.

Miller's men were stationed outside the ward, and every phone call was being monitored.

And now...

"He will no longer have the opportunity to threaten anyone."

Xu Yun's voice came from outside the car: "I promise."

Isabella took a deep breath and opened the car door.

The VIP ward area on the top floor of the hospital was so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.

The corridor was covered with a thick carpet, the walls were a soft off-white, and the air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant and flowers.

The nurses at the nurses' station saw them, smiled and nodded, but did not ask any questions or register them.

Clearly, everything has been arranged.

The door to the ward was ajar.

Isabella stood in the doorway, her hand on the doorknob, but she hesitated to open it.

Xu Yun stood half a step behind her, saying nothing, just waiting quietly.

Finally, she pushed open the door.

The ward was bright, and the London skyline was visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

An Asian woman with gray hair sat in a wheelchair by the window, covered with a blanket, staring blankly out the window.

Hearing the door open, she slowly turned her head.

“Bella?” Her voice was soft, tinged with uncertainty.

Isabella's tears welled up instantly.

She rushed over, knelt in front of the wheelchair, grasped her mother's hand, and sobbed, "Mom... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Li Wanqing stroked her daughter's hair with trembling hands, her eyes reddening.

“Silly child, don’t say sorry… Mommy is fine, really fine… The doctors here are amazing, and the medicine works really well. Look, I can even sit up by myself…”

The mother and daughter embraced and wept bitterly.

Xu Yun quietly left the ward and gently closed the door.

In the corridor, Andrei stood against the wall, holding a tablet and looking at something.

"Is everything arranged?" Xu Yun asked.

"Ah."

Andrei handed over the tablet and said, "We have people around the hospital, twelve groups, working in three shifts, all elites from the 'Cloud Leopard' European branch."

The ward has a hidden surveillance and alarm system; anyone approaching without authorization will be apprehended within thirty seconds.

Xu Yun glanced at the deployment map on the tablet, nodded, and asked, "What about Miller's side?"

"He has been officially suspended from his duties pending investigation."

Andrei's lips curled into a cold smile as he said, "The NSA's internal purge has begun. Six of his close associates have fallen, and more than a dozen are under investigation."

In Congress, at least three committees are discussing whether to bring criminal charges.

Even if he escapes imprisonment, his political life is already over.

"very good."

Xu Yun handed the tablet back and said, "Tell Lin Wanzhou that it's time to close the net. Freeze or transfer Miller's accounts in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland as appropriate."

He also disposed of the properties and artworks under his wife's name.

"clear."

Andrei paused, then looked towards the doorway of the ward: "She... will need some time."

"Give her two hours."

Xu Yun glanced at his watch and said, "Then we'll go to Manchester."

Old Trafford stadium was brightly lit in the night.

All 75,000 seats were filled, and a sea of ​​red stretched across the stands. Singing, shouting, and drumming created a deafening roar that even made the ground tremble slightly.

Xu Yun and Isabella sat in the VIP box in the center of the main stand.

This private box has an excellent location, facing the center line. The floor-to-ceiling windows block out most of the noise without obstructing the view.

Inside, there are genuine leather sofas, a marble bar, four high-definition screens displaying live footage from different angles, and dedicated waiters on standby at all times.

But what's most special is the small open-air platform outside the private room.

Only this box has it. Standing on the platform, it's like standing behind the coach's bench. You can clearly hear the players' shouts, the referee's whistle, and even the dull thud of the ball hitting the turf.

"How did you get this location?" Isabella asked.

She changed her clothes.

The red Manchester United home jersey was bought by Xu Yun, and the size fits perfectly.
Jeans, sneakers, hair tied in a high ponytail, and even light red and white face paint.

He looks like an ordinary, enthusiastic football fan, and you would never guess that he was crying his eyes out in the hospital just a few hours earlier.

"money."

Xu Yun's answer was simple and direct: "This private room belongs to a member of the Qatari royal family, who is on vacation in Monaco this weekend."

I paid three times the price to rent it for one night.

Isabella laughed and said, "That's... just like you."

Xu Yun shrugged and handed her a glass of champagne: "Let's celebrate."

What are we celebrating?

"Celebrating new life."

Xu Yun clinked glasses with her and said, "Yours to your mother, Andrei's daughter, and... to all those who have been hurt by Miller and 'Ghost'."

Isabella stared at the golden bubbles in her glass, remained silent for a few seconds, and then drank it all in one gulp.

The game has started.

Manchester United vs. Arsenal, the English national derby.

Manchester United were awarded a penalty within the first three minutes.

The star player stood at the penalty spot, and the entire stadium fell silent.

"Will it go in?" Isabella asked instinctively.

"Yes," Xu Yun said.

The ball went into the net with a thud as soon as he finished speaking.

The entire venue erupted in cheers.

Isabella looked at Xu Yun in surprise: "How did you know?"

"Data analysis."

Xu Yun pointed to the screen in the private room, where complex real-time data was scrolling.

"Of the player's past twelve penalty kicks, eleven were aimed at the bottom right corner. The goalkeeper has studied his habits and is likely to dive in that direction."

However, data shows that in important matches and early penalty kicks, he tends to shoot into the middle or top left corner – a psychological maneuver.

Isabella was stunned: "You watch football... and you do data analysis?"

"if not?"

Xu Yun laughed: "Football is a game of probability, not much different from intelligence work. It involves collecting information, analyzing patterns, predicting behavior, and then placing bets."

He was just talking nonsense.

He only found out about this result because of the information he had just exchanged with the system in advance.

"You placed a bet?"

"A little bit."

Xu Yun casually remarked, "Manchester United are giving up a goal; the odds are pretty good."

"How many?"

"500,000 pounds."

Isabella almost choked on the champagne.

The match continued.

Manchester United launched a relentless attack, while Arsenal defended tenaciously. In the 37th minute, Manchester United scored again.

The first half ended 2-0.

During halftime, the waiter brought out some delicate snacks.

Caviar, foie gras, truffles, and a bottle of 1990 Romanée-Conti.

"Is this also part of the private room service?"

Isabella looked at the bottle of wine; she knew its price was at least twenty thousand pounds.

"It's mine."

Xu Yun asked the waiter to open the wine and said, "There's another case on the plane. Take a few bottles back if you like."

Isabella shook her head and smiled.

"Sometimes I really can't tell whether you're here on business or on vacation."

"All."

Xu Yun poured her a glass of wine, the deep red liquid swirling in the crystal glass, and said, "Work needs to be done, life needs to be lived, and..."

He looked out the window. Under the stadium lights, the grass was a vibrant green, and more than 70,000 people were cheering and singing. The pure and passionate vitality of life was palpable.

"Sometimes you need to feel these things in order to remember why you are alive."

Isabella followed his gaze and remained silent for a long time.

After the second half began, she suddenly asked, "Why are you helping me? Is it really just a deal?"

Xu Yun did not answer immediately.

He swirled his wine glass, watching the players running on the field, and after a long while said, "It started as a trade. I needed your skills, and you needed my resources. We got what we needed."

"And now?"

"Now……"

Xu Yun turned his head, looked at her, and laughed, "Now I feel that there are already enough rotten people in this world."

"The fewer people we save, the better; the more good people we can save, the better."

His eyes were calm, but Isabella saw something different in them.

It's not pity, not charity, but a kind of... recognition.

He acknowledged her struggle, her resistance, and that even when driven to the brink, she did not truly succumb to despair.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Xu Yun smiled, raised his glass and said, "Celebrating the new students."

"Celebrating new life."

The match ended with a score of 3-1.

Manchester United won.

Xu Yun's bet of 500,000 pounds has turned into 900,000.

Isabella was still basking in excitement as she left the stadium.

It's not just because of the game, but also because of that long-lost, ordinary joy.

She sang, cheered, and applauded with the crowd for every wonderful moment.

For the first time in three years, she felt that she was still alive.

"Where to next?" she asked after getting in the car.

"Germany."

Xu Yun said, "Rhine River, Cologne, Frankfurt, Heidelberg... let's take a trip around."

"Where is Andrei?"

"He will go directly to Moscow."

Xu Yun said, "His daughter is graduating next week, and he will attend with legal status using his new passport."

He will then go to Kyiv and Istanbul to establish 'Dark Eye's' infrastructure in Eastern Europe.

Isabella nodded and looked out the window.

The Manchester nightscape flowed past the car window, neon lights casting dappled shadows on the wet streets.

She suddenly remembered that many years ago, when she was studying at MIT, she and her classmates would go to watch ball games, drink together, and laugh together on the streets late at night.

Those days were simple and bright, as if they were just yesterday, yet also as if a lifetime had passed.

“I want to ride the Ferris wheel,” she suddenly said.

"what?"

The London Eye.

Isabella turned her head, her eyes sparkling, and said, "I've never ridden one before. I always thought it was too touristy, but then... I never had the chance."

I want to go now.

Xu Yun looked at her for two seconds, then said to the driver, "Change route, go to London."

The London Eye slowly rotates in the night sky, like a giant halo.

It was already 11 p.m., but there were still quite a few tourists.

Xu Yun booked an entire cabin, just the two of them.

The capsule slowly ascended, the Thames River unfolded below, and the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Shard...

London's night view is like an unfolding scroll painting, dazzling with lights, so beautiful it seems unreal.

Isabella pressed her face against the glass, watching intently.

"So beautiful," she whispered.

"Ah."

Xu Yun stood beside her, holding two cups of hot chocolate, the regular kind he bought from a stall under the cabin, five pounds a cup.

Isabella took the cup, took a sip, and found it sweet, warm, and milky.

"When I was little, my dad took me to ride a roller coaster."

She suddenly said, in a very soft voice, as if talking to herself, "I was so scared I cried." He said, "Bella, when you're scared, look into the distance, look at the sky, look at the horizon, look at things that don't move."

Then you'll realize that you haven't actually moved; the whole world is revolving around you.

She paused, then smiled: "Later, I became a secret agent, and every time I carried out a dangerous mission, I would think of this sentence."

Look into the distance, see the bigger picture, and then you won't be so afraid.

Xu Yun didn't speak, but listened quietly.

"But in recent years..."

Isabella lowered her voice and said, "I can't find the distance anymore. There are walls everywhere, surveillance everywhere, and threats everywhere."

Miller locked me in a box, and all I could see were the four walls of the box.

She turned around, looked at Xu Yun, and said with a smile, "Until you showed up and broke the box."

The cabin rose to its highest point.

The whole of London shimmered beneath my feet, and the Thames, like a silver ribbon, meandered through the city.

"Now I can see in the distance."

Isabella said, tears silently streaming down her face, but she smiled and said, "Thank you, Xu Yun, thank you for letting me see this world again."

Xu Yun reached out and wiped away her tears.

Then he kissed her.

The kiss was light and gentle, with the sweetness of hot chocolate and the coolness of a London night.

The cabin began to descend, with the lights of London swirling around it like an endless dream.

For the next five days, they really did travel around half of Europe like ordinary tourists.

In Cologne, they climbed the cathedral tower, five hundred steps. Isabella was exhausted and out of breath, but when she stood at the top overlooking the Rhine, she said it was worth it.

In Frankfurt, they visited Goethe's birthplace, and Isabella was able to recite passages from Faust.

She said she studied German literature in college.

In Heidelberg, they strolled along the Philosopher's Walk, where the autumn maple leaves were fiery red. Isabella picked up the reddest one and tucked it into her passport as a bookmark.

On the Rhine River cruise, they drank Riesling, ate pork knuckle and sausages, and listened to the ship's band playing folk songs.

Isabella was drunk and dancing to the music. She almost fell into the river, but Xu Yun pulled her back.

At the top of the Eiffel Tower, she shouted at the Paris night view.

"Fuck Miller! Fuck Ghost! I'm free!"

The surrounding tourists laughed, thinking she was just a drunken, crazy girl.

Only Xu Yun knew that it was a cry that had been suppressed for three years.

On the fifth evening, they had dinner at a small restaurant on the Left Bank of Paris.

The restaurant is old; the wooden tables and chairs are worn smooth, and the walls are covered with black and white photos of movie stars from decades ago.

The owner was a chubby old man who spoke a little English and enthusiastically recommended today's specialties.

Beef stewed in red wine.

"Back to London tomorrow?" Isabella asked during dinner.

"Ah."

As Xu Yun cut the beef, he replied, "Your mother has a crucial check-up next week, and you'd better be there."

After that, if you wish, you can take her back to the United States, or go anywhere you want to go.

The 'Dark Eye' technology center can be located anywhere, and can operate remotely.

Isabella ate in silence, and after a long while she said, "I want to stay on Crescent Island."

Xu Yun raised her head.

"It's very quiet there."

Isabella said softly, "There is no shadow of the past, no one I know, only the sea and the sky."

I want to start over there.

She paused, then added, "And you're there."

Xu Yun looked at her; the dim lighting in the restaurant cast soft shadows on her face.

Her eyes were bright and her gaze was firm, without hesitation or probing.

"Okay," Xu Yun said.

It's that simple.

After dinner, they took a walk along the Seine.

It was a cold night in Paris. Isabella wrapped her trench coat tighter around herself, and Xu Yun naturally put his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, right."

Isabella suddenly remembered something and asked, "You said before that there was a case of Romanée-Conti on the plane?"

"Ah."

"Can I open a bottle when we get back?"

"You want to drink it now?"

"think."

Isabella smiled and said, "Celebrate freedom, celebrate...everything."

Xu Yun smiled and said, "Okay."

They returned to the hotel, where the Eiffel Tower at night was visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the suite's living room.

Xu Yun really opened a bottle of 1990 Romanée-Conti and poured two glasses.

There was no clinking of glasses, no toasts; they simply stood side by side by the window, watching the lights of Paris and slowly sipping their drinks.

The wine was mellow and full-bodied, with the aroma of aging and a hint of melancholy.

Do you know?

Isabella suddenly said, "This is the first time in three years that I feel... there's something to look forward to tomorrow."

Xu Yun didn't say anything, but simply hugged her tighter.

Outside the window, the Eiffel Tower lights up on the hour, golden light cascading down like a waterfall, illuminating half of the Parisian night sky.

In this quiet hotel suite, the two embarked on another wild and romantic night.

Some emotions cannot be expressed in words, but the body can! (End of Chapter)