My capital is quite large.

"President Kim, please allow me to introduce you."

Beside the table, the head chef of the Shilla Hotel, dressed in an embroidered hanbok, stood with his hands clasped in front of his abdomen, his expression solemn and dignified, as if reciting a sacred text of intangible cultural heritage.

"The seemingly ordinary traditional Chinese cabbage kimchi in front of you has a recipe and fermentation technique with a long history."

"As early as the Imjin War in the late 16th century, the world-renowned war god, and the pride of our Korean nation—General Yi Sun-sin, the Duke of Chungmu!"

The director's voice was filled with pride and respect:

"On the eve of the Battle of Myeongnyang, General Yi Sun-sin personally selected the finest highland cabbage from Jeolla Province to create this special military ration that embodies the spirit of the Korean army, in order to boost the morale of the entire army and help them overcome the severe cold!"

"And this premium pickled vegetable dish you have here..."

The head chef's claims were getting more and more exaggerated, even bringing up Yi Sun-sin, who fought against Japanese pirates during the Imjin War, as a spokesperson for kimchi.

Kim Soo-hyuk felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

He ultimately couldn't resist.

Clang.

Kim Soo-hyuk gently placed the chopsticks in his hand on the edge of the porcelain plate.

The crisp metallic clanging sound was particularly jarring in the quiet private room, interrupting the head chef's impassioned recounting of Yi Sun-sin's kimchi history.

In the main seat, Lee Boo-jin, who had been maintaining a reserved smile, narrowed his slender phoenix eyes slightly.

Kim Soo-hyuk ignored the embarrassed head chef, and instead looked at the princess opposite him with a half-smile:

"President Li, excuse me for interrupting."

"Having spent so much time in America and Wall Street, my stomach has probably gotten used to steak and French food."

"I'm afraid I'm not in a position to enjoy this kind of fermented food that's so steeped in history."

Kim Soo-hyuk folded the napkin and placed it on the table, the languid look in his eyes instantly vanishing.

"not to mention……"

"I think our time is precious to each other."

"Eating is just a pretext."

"President Li, shouldn't we... talk about serious matters?"

……

"Step down." Lee Fu-jin raised her well-maintained jade hand and waved it lightly.

"Yes, President."

The head chef and the maids serving in the private room felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They quickly bowed and tiptoed out of the room, pulling the sliding door shut as if to make sure it was completely closed.

Only Lee Boo-jin and Kim Soo-hyuk remained in the enormous banquet hall.

The lights of Namsan Tower outside the window shifted in the night, casting an unpredictable glow on Li Fuzhen's cool and beautiful face.

"President Kim is straightforward and outspoken, much more so than those so-called old-money gentlemen."

"With a foundation holding four trillion won, President Kim is indeed very powerful."

"However, I'm very curious..."

"What kind of cooperation do you, and the person behind you, want to discuss with me, Lee Fu-jin?"

Faced with this tentative challenge.

Kim Soo-hyuk smiled.

Without even a second of preparation, he met the scrutinizing gaze of Seoul's First Daughter.

With his fingers interlaced, and in a tone so calm it was almost casual, he tossed out a blade capable of igniting the entire nation of South Korea:

"President Li..."

"I'm just asking someone to ask you a question—"

Kim Soo-hyuk wore a sinister smile:

"Do you...would you like to see your good brother...?"

"Can we keep it locked up a little longer?"

"Long enough... for you to get a larger share from Samsung?"

......

The following morning, in Deepsea City.

"Splash—!!"

Scalding hot water poured down from the showerhead overhead, and the white steam almost engulfed the entire bathroom.

Fan Xiaopang curled up in a corner of the shower room, almost as if in self-torture.

The loofah in her hand had been deformed from gripping it, and the rough fibers were repeatedly scraping against her skin.

Again and again, until her originally fair and delicate skin was rubbed until shocking bloody marks appeared.

However, even though the hot water scalded her skin and it hurt, and even though the fragrance of the shower gel was so strong it was nauseating, she still felt that there was an unwashable stench on her body.

Tears mingled with the water and streamed down his face. Fan Xiaopang slid down the tiles and sat on the floor, hugging his knees with both hands, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

She didn't know... how she managed to get through last night.

On that soft couch filled with decadent music, under the empty, numb gaze of the young girls from the Hengda Dance Troupe…

Her once-proud dignity was torn to shreds last night by that so-called Brother Ye.

In this cutthroat world of fame and fortune, Fan Xiaopang, who has been immersed in it for so many years, never boasts that she is a chaste and virtuous woman.

She knew perfectly well that none of the women who could climb to the top of the entertainment industry had a clean past.

Back then, in order to become famous, to rise to the top, and to access resources for big productions, she moved among various producers, famous directors, and wealthy businessmen, taking what she needed from each of them, and she never hesitated to pay the price.

but!

Throughout her entire twenty-year career, she has always kept the red line in her heart.

She was engaging in a one-on-one power-for-sex transaction, a consensual affair behind closed doors.

Those prominent old-money and powerful figures all possess the arrogance and strong possessiveness characteristic of those in positions of authority.

They cherish their reputation and value prestige; they would never tolerate their chosen woman being defiled by another, and they would disdain holding shady banquets.

Permissible belt...

"You scoundrel...you bastard!! You scum!!!"

Fan Xiaopang buried his head between his knees, his eyes filled with resentment and regret.

It wasn't until last night, when that man acted like a pimp, that she truly saw things clearly:

Despite his glamorous facade as the richest man in Dongda University, Mr. Xu is not a person who follows the rules at all!

He's a gambler with absolutely no moral compass!

To these nouveau riche who only care about profit and leverage, a woman, even a once-famous international superstar, is nothing more than a gift that can be used to grease palms at any time!

But... things have come to this.

She had swallowed all the humiliation and pain.

Fan Xiaopang turned off the shower and stood in front of the steamy mirror, staring blankly at his reflection, which was covered in bruises.

Her eyes gradually became resolute.

Having already sold off all her dignity, she now only asks for one thing—

Hopefully, that scumbag surnamed Xu can really keep his promise and shut that guy surnamed Cui up!

......

Meanwhile, in Yanjing (Beijing).

In the early morning market, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares blend with the lively atmosphere of everyday life.

Host Cui was holding two bunches of freshly picked green vegetables and tomatoes, and was taking out change as he stood in front of the stall.

Although he has become the center of a storm in the public opinion field of the entire Dongda University due to the real-name accusations made in the past few days.

But in his daily life away from the spotlight, he still goes out early in the morning to buy groceries and cook for his family, just like an ordinary person.

"Buzzing—!!"

Just as Host Cui was receiving the change, his cell phone in his pocket vibrated violently.

I took out my phone, and what appeared on the screen was a string of unknown gibberish without any location information.

Host Cui frowned slightly, but without hesitation, slid down the answer button:

"Hello, who is this?"

On the other end of the phone, a faint static-like sound, processed by a voice changer, could be heard.

"Old Cui."

"Enough is enough."

"Some people can make you disappear silently in Beijing with just a flick of their finger."

"You have 24 hours to delete all your Weibo posts and issue a public apology statement."

"Otherwise...we won't even be able to leave behind a complete corpse."