My Strange Tale Love Strategy Simulator

The new product launch event of Crescent Technology Co., Ltd. concluded successfully. Amid thunderous applause from the audience, Li Danyang smiled and walked off the stage, escorted by her employees.

The driver, Xiao Liu, jogged along, opened the back door ahead of time, and bent very low. He gave a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration.

"Mr. Li, that's incredible! I was listening to the commotion from the media area in the back row just now, and wow, it was like a star-studded concert! Especially the look in your eyes and the gestures you made when you talked about the product ecosystem at the end—tsk tsk, this wasn't a press conference, it was practically a rallying cry!"

Li Danyang loosened his tie expressionlessly, got into the car, and closed his eyes to rest.

"Stop with the nonsense, just focus on driving. The PPT slide transitions are a bit off, and the lighting on Lao Zhao's side isn't coordinated well either."

Driver Xiao Liu started the car, moving it very gently, and glanced mysteriously at the rearview mirror.

"Mr. Li, you're too hard on yourself. I saw Mr. Wang, that media person who's usually the most critical, take off his glasses and lead the applause. Our car hasn't even left the parking garage yet, and my industry groups on my phone are already buzzing with inquiries about our new product!"

Li Danyang kept her eyes closed, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly, and her Adam's apple bobbed: "Drive steadily."

This new product launch was undoubtedly a great success. As long as sales keep up, I can get promoted.

The car smoothly drove out of the underground parking lot, neon lights flickering through the windows on Li Danyang's face, who was resting with her eyes closed. The driver, Xiao Liu, tactfully remained silent, simply turning the car stereo to soothing jazz.

Just then, a sudden cell phone ring broke the silence.

It wasn't the work phone that was currently overheating from being bombarded with messages, but rather the personal phone in the inside pocket of my suit jacket, a number known to no more than ten people.

Li Danyang frowned slightly. The very fact that this phone was ringing indicated something unusual. He took out his phone; the screen displayed a completely unfamiliar string of numbers, with no contact name and the caller ID showing as local.

A sudden chill ran up his spine. The joy of the successful press conference was instantly overshadowed by an instinctive unease.

He swiped to answer the call, held the phone to his ear, but didn't speak first.

"...Mr. Li." A deep, husky voice came from the other end of the phone, "The press conference was excellent."

Li Danyang's heart sank. He asked in a deep voice, "Who is it?"

The person on the other end of the phone ignored his question and simply gave him an address: "South Suburbs, Guanlan Villa, Building A-07. The lake view there is quite nice."

boom!

It felt like a heavy hammer had struck Li Danyang's heart. His mind went blank for a moment, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead almost instantly, forming large beads that slid down his temples.

He subconsciously loosened his collar, which he had just unbuttoned, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat, making it difficult to breathe.

"How do you know this place?" Li Danyang's voice was dry, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. He tried to remain calm, but his other hand, resting on his knee, was already clenched into a fist.

The electronic voice on the other end of the phone let out a few mocking laughs: "How I know is not important."

The voice paused, and each word felt like a steel needle piercing Li Danyang's eardrum:

"The important thing is, Mr. Li, you don't want... your murder and body-hiding incident to be trending on social media tomorrow, do you? Putting it next to the celebratory poster from today's press conference would be quite a sight."

Li Danyang's heart nearly stopped when his worst fears were so bluntly exposed. He could feel the worried look in the rearview mirror from the driver, Xiao Liu; clearly, his behavior was far too abnormal.

"What do you want?" Li Danyang forced down her throat and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

"One hour later, in Dongcheng District, at Xixiang Cafe. Come alone."

The other person's tone left no room for argument: "Remember, alone. Don't try anything funny. Be a minute late, or let me see anyone who shouldn't be there..."

A low, malicious laugh came from the other end of the phone:

"I can't guarantee that your 'collectibles' won't be delivered to the police station's parcel locker ahead of time."

"Beep beep beep..."

The call was disconnected.

The carriage fell silent again, except for the incongruous strains of jazz music playing.

Li Danyang remained frozen in his seat, still holding the phone, the back of his shirt soaked with cold sweat. All color drained from his face, leaving only a deathly pallor, as if he had been driven to the brink of despair.

Murder and concealment of the body... These four words were like a red-hot branding iron, repeatedly searing his nerves.

How did he know? Who was it? Wasn't that bitch already dealt with?!

He abruptly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a gloomy and ruthless expression.

Having weathered countless storms, he forced himself to calm down in the shortest possible time. Now was not the time to panic; the problem had to be solved.

"Xiao Liu." He spoke, his voice regaining its usual composure, but the slight tension in his tone still betrayed the turbulent emotions churning within him.

"Mr. Li?" Driver Xiao Liu looked at him cautiously through the rearview mirror.

"I'm not going to the company." Li Danyang's gaze fell on the city rushing past outside the window, her eyes cold. "I'll change course and go to the East District."

"Dongcheng District? Okay." Xiao Liu didn't dare to ask any more questions and immediately started adjusting the navigation.

At the same time, Li Danyang used the phone to dial another number. He hung up the call just one second after it was connected and then sent a message.

"Xixiang Coffee Shop in Dongcheng District"

After sending the message, he deleted the sending history, placed the phone screen down, and pressed it tightly against his knees. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes again.

His tightly pursed lips and slightly twitching eyes betrayed his surging murderous intent.

……

Outside the Xixiang Cafe, in an old, red-painted public phone booth, Zhang Ying, dressed in all black and wearing a mask and sunglasses, pushed open the door and stepped out. He rubbed his tight throat; the persistent, low, hoarse voice from earlier had indeed made his throat a little uncomfortable.

He scanned both ends of the street. The café was in a secluded location, nestled between old residential buildings slated for demolition. The streetlights were dim, and there were few pedestrians. There was no heavy surveillance or large crowds.

When he threatened Li Danyang, he always felt like a villain. But compared to Li Danyang, none of that mattered.

From the half-dead man's words, he gained a profound understanding of how ruthless Li Danyang was.

He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, killing many competitors directly or indirectly, and even harming his own superiors in order to rise to power!

To deal with someone like that, you have to be even more ruthless and vicious than him! Only then can you extract useful information from him.

He pushed open the glass door of the cafe. The wind chimes on the door jingled softly.

The store is small, and the lighting is warm yellow, but it still can't dispel the desolation caused by the poor business.

The owner behind the bar was dozing off, and apart from a man sitting in the outermost booth who seemed to be reading a newspaper, there were no other customers.

Zhang Ying walked straight to the bar.

"An Americano."

"Oh, okay...okay." The boss was startled awake and quickly started operating the coffee machine.

While waiting for his coffee, Zhang Ying subtly scanned the store, confirming the location of the back door and that the only security camera was facing the cashier, while the booths by the window were a blind spot.

He sat in the chair, quietly waiting for his prey to take the bait.