Deadly Trap.

Chapter 33. The Four Major Financial Groups
Whispers rippled through the air. Countless fragments of truth and falsehoods brushed past Su Li's ears. This cutthroat world of fame and fortune was one she had to listen to, whether she wanted to or not.

And so, politicians and capitalists flocked to him, eagerly greeting Gu Mufeng. He, arm in arm with Su Li, was like a rock in the ocean waves, routinely introducing them to Su Li one by one.

Su Li cautiously surveyed the glamorous crowd, a fear creeping in that she might encounter difficulties from her "ex-boyfriends." Strangely enough, all the men she had once considered worthy of her attention were nowhere to be seen tonight, as if they had all been dealt with.

She secretly tightened her grip on Gu Mufei's hand. In that instant, she realized his intention:

She had already "riding the wave of good fortune," and he had propelled her to great heights.

Before Su Li, there was only one woman in Qingyun who she could never forget: the only one in the entire room not wearing a dress. She wore a pure white tuxedo, her expression was cold and sharp, and just by standing there, the crowd naturally parted to make way for her.

This is true power.

Su Li was startled: How could they be so different when they were both women?

Even when the woman exchanged pleasantries with Gu Mufeng, they maintained a cautious and respectful distance from each other.

If it weren't for Gu Mufeng's introduction, Su Li would never have imagined that the person standing at the top of the four major financial groups in Yisheng, Guzhou, and Minzhou was actually just this young woman.

"The Yi family's SCM Group controls medical and biological research, AI, and IT. I helped her with a small favor regarding the inheritance rights. Now, she's the only one left in the Yi family."

After the head of the Yi family calmly walked away, Gu Mufeng casually added to Su Li's tales of others' sorrows. Generally speaking, there's nothing new under the sun.

"She now lives abroad. As you said at the Alhambra, for her safety."

"Mr. Gu! How have you been?"

They were talking privately when a loud, boisterous greeting abruptly cut in between them. Su Li clearly felt Gu Mufeng's arm stiffen for a moment, as if he were about to pull her closer.

She quickly turned her head. There she saw a middle-aged man, all smiles, striding towards them.

The man was short and stocky, with elegant graying at the temples and under his nose. In his fifties, his steps were firm and measured. A white silk handkerchief was particularly stylishly adorning the chest of his pure black tuxedo.

With a bold and sweeping manner, he extended his hand, adorned with a platinum thumb ring and resembling a tiger's claw. He exchanged pleasantries with Gu Mufeng with great enthusiasm, but his shrewd eyes held little warmth.

"President Sheng." With an elegant smile, Gu Mufeng returned the handshake.

"Let me introduce you: This is Sheng Chunqiu, Chairman of Shengshiliyong Group and President of Minzhou Commercial Federation Foundation."

"This is my friend, Su Li."

"Nice to meet you." Su Li smiled gently.

Shengshi Liyong? Then, the person in front of me must be the Sheng family, which ranks second among the four major financial groups in Yisheng, Guzhou, and Minzhou?
Su Li had only heard that the Sheng family dominated the national real estate, machinery, and heavy industry sectors, but she never expected that this prominent figure who was frequently interviewed would be so enthusiastic towards Gu Mufeng.

"Oh my, Mr. Gu hasn't changed at all over the years. A young talent indeed, heroes come from all walks of life."

His voice was booming. This Mr. Sheng Chunqiu's voice was just like his appearance: a deep, steady, and powerful baritone voice.

While listening in, Su Li felt that Sheng Chunqiu was provoking her: he was indirectly mocking Gu Mufeng for being shady and for being inflexible.

"Mr. Sheng, you flatter me. It's just a win-win situation for everyone."

In contrast to Sheng Chunqiu, Gu Mufeng's baritone voice remained magnetic, cold, composed, and sharp without any emotion.

Su Li thought to herself that Gu Mufeng was giving Sheng Chunqiu a warning; without him, the tycoons in Minzhou wouldn't be able to manage on their own.

"Mr. Gu is too modest. Mr. Gu is pragmatic and can certainly be called an outstanding person among men."

"A wise man submits to circumstances," Su Li thought to herself. This was clearly a sarcastic remark that Gu Mufeng should know better than to get lost.

"President Sheng, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise." Gu Mufeng's refusal was quite obvious.

"Oh? That's Mr. Tang's assessment." Sheng Chunqiu smiled. "He thinks highly of you and hopes to invite you over wine to discuss heroes."

Mr. Tang? And who is this Mr. Tang?

Finally, Su Li began to be completely confused: among the four major financial groups, Yi Sheng and Gu Zhou, how come there's suddenly someone surnamed Tang?

Gu Mufeng immediately understood. With effortless ease, he smiled slightly:
"I see. I'm just afraid that if Mr. Tang insists on embracing the willows at Mianshan, I won't have the honor. People say that Feng Tang grows old easily; can President Sheng still eat?"

Meaningfully, Gu Mufeng continued to smile at Sheng Chunqiu and said:
"It seems we'll have to ask Mr. Sheng for more understanding next year."

“Mr. Gu is the one who should be here. Next year, Mr. Gu, please don’t be crying over the news. For the sake of our years of friendship, Mr. Gu, please have mercy.”

After speaking, President Sheng clapped his hands and laughed heartily, attracting the attention of guests from all directions. Su Li frowned. The willows embracing Mianshan Mountain symbolize Jie Zitui's seclusion and subsequent burning; while the weeping willows of Jincheng—doesn't that signify the fall of the country, the destruction of the family, and the irretrievable loss of good times?
Su Li suddenly realized: No wonder Gu Mufeng didn't like being called "Mr. Gu." The world of fame and fortune is truly a battlefield of cutthroat competition.

But what puzzled her even more was this "Mr. Tang." They discussed heroes over wine, with the sentiment being, "Only you, my lord, and Cao Cao." But who was Cao Cao, and who was the imprisoned Liu Bei?
Who is this person? And what does he want to "invite" Gu Mufei to do?
As Sheng Chunqiu arrogantly nodded to Gu and Su, his eyes suddenly stopped on Su Li's face.

His tiger-like eyes pierced through Su Li, scanning her from head to toe without any attempt to conceal his gaze, appraising the newly arrived beauty. Gradually, the corners of his lips slowly curled up, revealing a smile that was already bordering on frivolous.

Su Li felt a chill run down her spine.

She was no stranger to the powerful devouring people. But the desire in Sheng Chunqiu's eyes was undisguised! It was as if he were peeling a woman's skin and dismembering her on the spot.

Su Li felt an instant surge of instinctive fear and disgust. Almost subconsciously, she took a step back, her panicked hand instinctively gripping Gu Mufeng's sleeve. Her heart pounded and her breathing became rapid; she even forgot to hide her panic.

She was terrified.

“President Sheng.” She heard Gu Mufeng speak. His voice was like his gaze, cold and swift, like a blade drawn from its sheath.

Immediately afterward, Mr. Sheng snapped back to reality as if he had been cut by a knife. He made an excuse that he had something to do and strode away on his own.

Still clutching her chest, Su Li turned halfway around, leaning on Gu Mufei's shoulder, gasping for breath. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Gu Mufei subtly pulled her into his arms, shielding her trembling waist beneath her diamond necklace.

Despite feeling disgusted by Sheng Chunqiu's gaze, Su Li tried her best to suppress her malice. The other party was one of the four major financial groups, and she couldn't let Gu Mufeng embarrass him on their first social occasion.

for him.

"Mu Fei...?" Still not calm, Su Li breathed softly.

"Hmm?" he answered in an unusually soft voice.

"This Mr. Sheng...?"

Gu Mufeng's lips tightened slightly, a hint of sternness in his expression. Seeing Su Li's distress, he seemed to swallow back even more harsh criticism. In the end, he only uttered a simple sentence:
“I’ve known him for some years. He’s an ambitious man.” Gu Mufeng deliberately downplayed Su Li’s role, skipping over Sheng Chunqiu entirely.

As for 'Mr. Tang'—

His voice suddenly dropped to a low hue, as if this person couldn't be mentioned at all.

However, he didn't finish his sentence.

Three bells rang in the concert hall, officially announcing the start of the Minzhou financial community's annual charity gala. Crowds gathered from all directions, noisily making their way into the concert hall's banquet hall.

Gu Mufei shut up at just the right moment.

As the crowd parted to make way, Gu Mufeng escorted Su Li to their reserved seats. Flowers and candlelight illuminated the round table, and champagne and flute glasses were already prepared, gleaming brightly.

Right beside them, each of the four major conglomerates had taken up a separate table. But no matter how Su Li looked at them, they seemed sparsely populated. These mere dozen or so people controlled 70% of Minzhou's industries and half of its capital, wielding immense power.

Perhaps, this is a crazy world after all.

As with any other banquet, the organizers would always invite a few prominent figures to give an opening speech before the formal proceedings began. This banquet was no exception. Seated, Su Li listened to the Minzhou business community's policy outlook for the next ten years, finding it utterly uninteresting. She began cautiously glancing around.

Not far ahead, a familiar face made Su Li gasp for breath.

That's not—

Her pupils contracted sharply, and her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she blurted out, "Monday?"

>>>>>
Next Chapter: The Sword of Damocles

[Author's Note | Chapter 33]

The demons and monsters of Minzhou, the four major financial groups have finally made their appearance.

The women of the Yi family are aloof and composed, Sheng Chunqiu is assertive and shrewd, and Zhou Yi... Zhou Yi is involved too?
Have you ever met a man like Sheng Chunqiu in real life? It's a pity that even Su Li doesn't dare to act recklessly because of his status as one of the four major financial conglomerates (don't worry, the author will make her pay!).

In the next chapter, President Gu actually makes a heartfelt confession...? (The author is then covered up and taken away)
Let me know your opinions in the comments section, and how you expect Su Li to retaliate?

Don't forget to bookmark, follow, and recommend the story to support the author and write more sweet romance novels!

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(End of this chapter)