Deadly Trap.

Chapter 90. Bad News

"Mu Fei, are you serious? Quitting?"

Facing Gu Mufeng directly, Dai Ze's relaxed posture froze, and he stood blankly in the office. Incredulous, he stared intently at the smiling expression on Gu Mufeng's face. Dai Ze was completely stunned.

too suddenly.

Twelve years. From working together in a nightclub, their initial encounter was fraught with conflict; to his carelessness and frivolity leading to the revelation of Gu Mufeng and his sister's true parentage, indirectly causing Gu Mufan's death; and then, with the Fri-Night Chief's position vacant, they found themselves struggling in the power struggle:
In their most turbulent moment, he and Gu Mufeng fled hastily, wounded and bloodied. In the pouring rain, they cursed each other face to face. They gambled their lives together.

Beneath the surface of everyday tranquility, fate had already forged an inseparable bond. The entanglement of trust was utterly impossible to break. Dai couldn't have known his old friend better.

Although not acting unilaterally, Gu Mufeng has never been one to back down.

Now, why the sudden withdrawal?
"Do you think I would joke about something like this?"

Turning his back to Dai Ze, the lamplight and the alternating warmth and coolness of the night light cast a soft glow on Gu Mufeng's silhouette. His weight shifted beneath his black shirt, his left hand supporting him on the table, while his right hand subtly flipped through several thick stacks of documents.

Unable to see his face, Dai only heard Gu Mufeng's voice, as calm and composed as ever, slowly revealing his years of meticulous planning and thoughtful arrangements as he recounted them to him:

“Dai Ze, I’ve always put you in charge of foreign affairs for this reason: if I were to die unexpectedly, you would have close ties with the conglomerates, the municipal government, and the police, so it wouldn’t be too difficult for you to take over.”

"You're not good at capital; I originally intended to cultivate Yiheng to help you in the future. Unfortunately..."

His voice trailed off, then abruptly stopped. Gu Mufei lowered his eyes slightly, a bitter sorrow and self-reproach welling up within them, clearly recalling Wang Yiheng's death once more.

Human life, after all, cannot simply come and go without leaving a trace.

Turning his head in deep thought, the light illuminated half of Gu Mufeng's icy profile. His silhouette paused only for a moment. With a flick of his right hand, he flipped through the documents on the desktop again, and Gu Mufeng said concisely:
“Dai Ze, if you need me, I can still provide you with behind-the-scenes advice on future financial operations. You are already fully aware of everything I do.”

He smiled faintly: "I think..."

His hand, which was turning the pages of the document, paused involuntarily. Clearly, Gu Mufeng was remembering something.

The power of this thought was too profound, too moving. His phoenix eyes had always been sharp and cold, like deep, dark waters, unfathomable. But now, with his tone of voice, they seemed to ripple with an uncontrollable ripple.

His gaze was deep and lowered, his lips unexpectedly calm and gentle. From the depths of the water, an infinitely extending future seemed to slowly rise to the surface...

Just for this one moment.

With his arm outstretched, Gu Mufeng quickly turned his hand and handed a thick stack of documents directly to Dai Ze, his tone already businesslike:
"Take a look at these first. There's still a week until the end of the year, so finish the handover before then. It's not too late to announce it then."

Naturally, Dai complied and took the document. Just a moment ago, he'd seen the look in Gu Mufeng's eyes—he couldn't possibly...?
Ever since he realized that Gu Mufeng was single-mindedly seeking revenge and had developed an obsession with being willing to become bait and fight to the death, he and Cheng Shining had tried to persuade him for several years, but they could not dissuade Gu Mufeng from his determination to live or die.

But, a woman.

Dai smiled wryly to himself: He never expected that the person he would ultimately have to thank was Su Li.

Humans are nothing more than seven emotions and six desires. In the softest, deepest part of the soul, perhaps an instinct is touched. How powerful is this yearning for warmth!

Despite his overwhelming emotions, Dai remained silent and bowed his head, quickly browsing through the thick documents in his hands: the reports were written by multiple professionals, detailing every single aspect.

Minzhou is a metropolis where capital, politics, and public opinion are intertwined; a single move can have far-reaching consequences. In his hands, every decision, written in black and white, is imminent and affects every single person.

Clothing, food, housing, transportation, firewood, rice, oil, and salt—these are all interconnected.

The head of a group.

On his shoulders lay the heavy burden of others' destinies. For the past seven years, it was Gu Mufeng's decisions that tore open the cracks between the underworld and the wealthy elites, allowing the gray industry to flourish. Now, it was Dai Ze's turn. Suddenly, the report in his hands felt incredibly heavy.

“Mu Fei, I’m afraid…” Dai Ze felt like he was walking on thin ice: he wasn’t sure he had the confidence. Although he had been second only to the emperor in Minzhou for seven years, and diplomatic maneuvering had not been easy, based solely on his understanding of Gu Mu Fei, even if he did his best, he feared he could never match even half of his friend’s abilities.

"You were quite adept at reading my expression just now, weren't you?"

Noticing Dai Ze's hesitation and uncertainty, Gu Mufeng chuckled, still able to see right through people.

“Dai Ze, it’s been eleven years. Xiao Fan’s death… You won’t repeat the same carelessness and negligence you showed back then. Besides, Xiao Fan’s brother, the one who should protect her is me.”

This time, without the slightest hesitation or hatred, Gu Mufeng calmly took full responsibility.

“People are inherently different. You don’t need to think about what I will do; my goals should never be your goals. You are a pragmatist, fully capable of handling this. As for strategy,”

At this point, Gu Mufeng raised his gaze firmly, looking directly into Dai Zetong's eyes, his eyes filled with undisguised and straightforward contempt and disdain.

So-called political maneuvering is nothing but a side path. The only true pillar is to remain steadfast amidst change. Be yourself.

Gu Mufeng had always been adept at manipulating power and intrigue. Yet, his advice to Dai Ze was delivered in a seemingly casual manner.

Just as Dai was about to respond, time waits for no one. At eight o'clock sharp, it was time for the weekly group meeting on Fri-Night.

Following behind Gu Mufeng, Dai Ze also slowly walked into the conference room. The cadres were already seated and waiting. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two calmly took their seats one after the other.

This meeting was special. With numerous tasks ahead of the year, each group proceeded step by step, reporting and summarizing their work, and outlining plans for the coming year.

Today's meeting seems unusually long.

Dai Ze's mind was still filled with Gu Mufeng's decision to withdraw and the few words he had just spoken; Gu Mufeng, however, was focused on the meeting and remained completely unmoved.

As the meeting drew to a close, it was finally Dai Ze's turn.

He regained his composure, stood up on behalf of the foreign affairs group, and reported on the diplomatic policies towards the major powers in Minzhou before and after the Spring Festival.

At this moment, something that had happened only once in several years, the door to the conference room was knocked on with three urgent coded signals.

Despite their diverse appearances, the officials all turned to look at the door. Meanwhile, in the center of the conference room, Gu Mufeng sat calmly and aloof, raising an eyebrow.

As soon as the door opened, Welsh appeared. Ignoring the dozen or so pairs of eyes watching, he strode forward and rushed to Gu Mufei's side, whispering in his ear.

Everyone present was shocked:

He was usually unfazed even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, but in an instant, Gu Mufeng's face turned ashen.

"Mu Fei!"

>>>>>
Next Chapter: Queen of Hearts
[Author's Note | Chapter 90]

Gu Mufeng had planned his scheme very thoroughly. Dai Ze was already his successor, but only on the premise that Gu Mufeng would seek revenge at the cost of mutual destruction.

Schemes are a means, but they are never Gu Mufeng's guiding principle.

Yearning for the simple happiness with Su Li, a possibility that seemed limitless, Gu Mufeng's heart softened for once. He wanted to withdraw, to give his marriage proposal legitimacy, and to promise Su Li everything—

—But it wasn't him who died tonight.

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(End of this chapter)