Courtyard House: A Start with Black Gold Swallowing 100,000 Silver Dollars

"Mr...Mr. Li, shall we discuss a business deal?" Mitsui Miri's voice trembled. "If you let me go, I'll agree to anything!"

The arrogance he had displayed while speaking eloquently in the teahouse vanished completely, leaving only panic in his eyes and a slight tremor in his fingertips.

As for whether it's true or false—only she herself knows for sure.

"Heh, you're quick to chicken out?"

"Where's the fierceness you showed when you tied up my wife last time? Where's that arrogant attitude?"

Li Wenguo's gaze was like a knife, striking down sharply.

"No...no...you were too forceful back then, I...I didn't..."

"Smack!!!"

Before the words even finished, a slap had already landed.

"You spineless bastard, I say it's true, and you dare to talk back?"

He raised his chin, looking arrogant and haughty.

Mitsui Miri felt a tightness in her chest—at that time, she was being choked and couldn't breathe, she couldn't even stand steadily, so where did her prestige and arrogance come from?

Now it's become evidence of a crime?

This is clearly a baseless accusation; why waste your breath arguing about it!

She gritted her teeth and dared not utter another sound.

The knife is in someone else's hand, but the flesh is on your own body—you can do whatever you want with it.

"Alright, tell me, what will you give in exchange for your life?"

Li Wenguo finally relaxed his brows and said slowly.

"Money! I can give you a huge sum of money!"

She quickly calculated: her body had already been thoroughly ravaged by him, and to offer her any more sexual favors would only be humiliating.

Men are all about money and women, right? Since lust won't work, then we'll just throw money at it.

"Sorry, money? I don't need it."

As soon as he said those words, a strange warmth welled up in his heart—as if a vengeful shadow from a past life had quietly overlapped with him at that moment.

So this is what it means to refuse money so readily!

"Then... what exactly do you want?" She swallowed.

"Pour out everything from your stomach!"

"I... joined the intelligence department a year ago, back then..."

"Smack!!!"

Another slap made her eardrums ring.

a year?

Is the rank of major made by piling up candy beans?

Relying on looks? Relying on money?

Oh right—on her first night, she was still lying under him.

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old? You've already risen to the rank of major, why are you still pretending to be young?"

He lightly brushed her flushed cheek with his fingertips.

Her cheeks were burning, but against her delicate face, it only added to her disheveled yet vibrant appearance.

Li Wenguo's eyes glazed over, and he seemed somewhat dazed.

Ah!

man!

Mitsui Miri, who had been on edge the whole time, instantly caught that moment of distraction and gave a cold smile to herself.

She leaned against Li Wenguo, her long, firm legs barely visible beneath the high slit of her cheongsam. Her waistline was taut, and the astonishing curves of her chest seemed to break free from the fabric's constraints. In an instant, she exuded a captivating allure, utterly alluring.

Mitsui Miri struck her most alluring pose, her eyes sparkling, her breath hot, doing everything she could to seduce Li Wenguo, hoping to distract him and expose his weakness.

But the newly lit flame was completely extinguished by Ding Xiaoqi's bucket of cold water.

"Mr. Li, we're almost at the embassy border. Should we cover ourselves?"

He feared that Mitsui Miri might suddenly scream for help at the last minute, arousing the guards' suspicion—if things really got out of hand, they might be forced to release her.

Li Wenguo reacted swiftly, pulling down the carriage curtain and covering her mouth at the same time. He then pulled her into his arms, his arms locking her shoulders and back like iron hoops to prevent her from kicking the window, bumping into the wall, or making any noise.

idiot!

Mitsui Miri's heart pounded wildly. Once she drove out of the embassy's jurisdiction, she would truly be a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.

The car came to a smooth stop very quickly.

Ding Xiaoqi handed over the pass.

The guard glanced around and then shouted, "Lift the curtain, let us take a look!"

Inside the car, Mitsui Miri's heart suddenly raced—as soon as the other party saw how she was being held hostage, the rescue would be on the spot!

She quickly glanced sideways at Li Wenguo, trying to catch a trace of panic in his eyes.

But those eyes were clear and calm, not anxious at all, but rather with a playful smile, like a cat playing with a mouse.

What does this mean?

Her mind went blank.

Isn't it about to be exposed?

How come they aren't scared at all?

How could they be completely unconcerned?

This is completely illogical!

The initial shock subsided, leaving only a deep sense of doubt and an indescribable chill—

The chill came from the eerie aura emanating from Li Wenguo.

Yes, it is indeed bizarre.

Through a year of close observation and extensive investigation, she became increasingly convinced that Li Wenguo was not as simple as he appeared, but rather so simple that it was tinged with an eerie quality.

He is like an invisible net, seemingly detached from all matters, yet behind each and every one, one can always sense his subtle presence.

For example, Mitsui & Co.'s goods mysteriously disappeared three times in a row, and the clues kept coming back to abruptly just as they were about to lead to them.

For example, how he accurately identified the deepest Japanese spy hidden in the capital, a secret agent that even the Military Intelligence Bureau could not find, and how he was able to pinpoint the exact time to close the net.

Take, for example, his extensive network of connections in the capital—how come all those powerful figures who could shake the very foundations of the city all recognize him? He had stormed in alone three years ago…

Each and every matter is like trying to see flowers through fog; the more you think about it, the more confused you become, and the more you investigate, the more empty it seems.

Now that he was smiling so confidently, the last bit of hope in Mitsui Miri's heart finally cooled down.

really--

The curtain was lifted, and a narrow face peered in through the window, with high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and a gaze like that of a monkey that had just stolen a piece of food.

Those darting monkey eyes only glanced lightly at her face before turning to Li Wenguo. Instead of questioning him, they nodded slightly, their attitude almost familiar and respectful, before nimbly stepping away.

Mitsui Miri froze on the spot.

Didn't he see that I was tied up?

Shouldn't they have immediately stopped the car to rescue the person?

How...did he just leave like that?!

"Ugh—!!!"

She twisted and struggled violently, her fingernails digging into Li Wenguo's arm, trying to fight for the last shred of possibility.

But the man didn't even lift his eyelids, as if she were just a decoration in the carriage.

The struggle didn't bring any help, but it did make the car shake.

"Huh? Why is the car shaking?"

"What are they doing inside?"

Another guard approached with a frown, his hand already on his waist.

Mitsui Miri's heart leaped with excitement—someone's here! She wouldn't miss it this time!

But Liu the Skinny Monkey stepped in front of the man, winking and chuckling in a low voice, "The two inside are a bit tipsy and getting down to business. Let's not be the ones to spoil the mood—if we anger them, we'll regret it."

"oh--!"

The man immediately understood, chuckled, and turned to walk away.

The wheels started turning again, and the vehicle slowly drove away from the embassy boundary marker.

Mitsui Miri sank to the bottom in one breath, her heart sinking into an ice cave.

Once everything was completely quiet, Li Wenguo leaned close to her ear, his voice lazy yet alluring:

"Major Mitsui, trembling so much, are you in a hurry for me to take care of you right here?"

"hey-hey……"

Get the hell out of here!

idiot!

She cursed inwardly, but her expression suddenly softened. She nodded gently and even stuck out her tongue to slowly lick his palm.

Li Wenguo released his grip, his smile gentle, his tone resolute:

"It's too cramped here, I'm sorry to make you uncomfortable. Don't worry, I've already prepared a place."

Mitsui Miri forced a stiff smile, her lips almost twitching.

"Where...are you planning to take me?"

"What's the rush? We'll see soon enough."

Seeing that he remained silent, Mitsui Miri simply bit her lip and stopped speaking.

Li Wenguo didn't waste any words, but quietly rolled up his sleeves and slightly bent his knuckles—he always preferred to act rather than talk, especially when it came to doing shady things.

As the car came to a complete stop, the iron gate creaked open.

"You...you mean this place?"

Her pupils contracted sharply, and her voice trembled.

Isn't this the interrogation department of the Rikigyosha (Realistic Society)?

The surroundings were dark and damp, with peeling paint on the walls like festering scabs; in the corner, rusted shackles and a whip gleamed coldly on a wooden frame; and her wrists were tightly bound with hemp rope, hanging high under the beam, her toes half a foot off the ground, her back taut in a stubborn arc.

"Yes, this is it. Does it suit your taste?"

Li Wenguo leaned against the door frame, his gaze like a snake's tongue licking her heaving chest, secretly admiring: This figure is really something!

The people outside had long been cleared out, leaving only the two of them.

"Perfect for my taste? Absolutely perfect!"

She uttered the words through clenched teeth, her cheeks taut and pale.

"Hmm... I love seeing your stubbornness."

He slowly took two steps closer, his Adam's apple bobbing, "The real pleasure comes from completely taming you."

"hey-hey……"

The low chuckle had barely left his lips when he was met with a rapid "tap-tap" sound—the sound of leather boots pounding on the hard, crunchy concrete.

Dong Haitang, dressed in a crisp military uniform, pushed open the door and entered. His epaulets gleamed, and his eyes were sharp.

"Oh, you're still here?"

Li Wenguo raised an eyebrow.

"So busy I'm practically running around! Didn't you order the whole department to cast a wide net to find Jingcun and you, Major Mitsui? Now even the orderly boiling water is exhausted, while I'm just sitting around doing nothing, chasing after women?"

She rolled her eyes, her tone sharp as if she were throwing a knife.

"Is this Major Mitsui, the one who set you up and kidnapped?"

"That's her."

Before she could finish speaking, Dong Haitang stepped forward and slapped her across the face with a clean and decisive motion.

The interrogation room fell into a deathly silence, with only echoes remaining.

"You slut! How dare you touch my man?"

"Snapped!"

"You son of a bitch from the East, you're tired of living, aren't you?"

The second blow was even more brutal. Mitsui Miri tilted her head, blood seeping from the corner of her lips, but those eyes remained fixed on her face, refusing to yield an inch.

"Alright, alright, that's all for you. Let's go."

Li Wenguo reached out to stop her—if his wife's temper continued to flare up, all his plans would be ruined.

"Retreat? I haven't had enough fighting yet!"

Dong Haitang's chest heaved, her anger still burning.

"We're letting you go so we can keep the place in order to get things done. Do you really expect you to sit here and supervise?"

Mitsui Miri suddenly tossed her bangs aside, raised her chin at her, and gave a half-smile.

"What did you say? You want to be with him...?"

Dong Haitang suddenly stopped, her gaze sweeping over Mitsui Miri's face—exquisite, aloof, and slender, even the curve of her breasts was comparable to hers, clearly hitting the spot that Li Wenguo craved the most.

Li Wenguo was speechless for a moment, his ears burning slightly.

Mitsui Miri, however, seemed determined to add fuel to the fire. She glanced sideways at Dong Haitang, her voice both soft and venomous: "Your man has been hooking up with me for a while now, the sheets are practically crumpled from sleeping together. He probably touches me more often than you—it seems you're not as appealing to him as I am."

She was proud and stubborn; she wouldn't back down after being slapped twice. These words were not only an expression of anger but also a calculated move.

"You filthy bitch! How dare you seduce my man? I'll tear you apart!"

Dong Haitang immediately sprang to his feet and raised his hand to slap him again.

"Haitang! Wake up! She's deliberately trying to provoke you!"

Li Wenguo stepped in front of her and grabbed her wrist.

"Sir! No matter how outrageous or how hungry you are, you can't pick up this kind of trash!"

"She's a Japanese spy!"

Dong Haitang's voice trembled with anger.

"So what if they were Japanese spies? At least Japanese spies could keep their men in check, unlike you, who couldn't even protect the man next to you in bed."

Mitsui Miri responded with a cold laugh.

"Shut up! You bitch!!"

Dong Haitang's eyes were bloodshot, almost spitting fire.

"Haitang, you still lack willpower... Go upstairs and rest for a while, get some fresh air."

Li Wenguo tried to persuade her while pushing her toward the door.

"What? You really intend to... question her here?"

She stood there, stunned, unable to believe it.

This is absolutely insane.

"Questioning! Yes, questioning! Get up there now!"

He urged them even more urgently.

"Li Wenguo, if you dare touch her today—from this day forward, don't even think about touching a single hair on my head! I find it disgusting!"

After saying that, she turned and strode away, the sound of her military boots hitting the ground growing louder with each step.

Li Wenguo abruptly turned his head, glancing sideways at Mitsui Miri, his tone icy: "Are you bored out of your mind? Or are you too weak-willed to remember you came in kneeling? Do you really think getting slapped eight times is like listening to a storyteller in a teahouse—just for the fun of it?"

"It's better than getting whipped and bleeding, isn't it?"

Mitsui Miri smiled, a sly glint in her eyes.