Mad Dragon gets out of prison and marries a beautiful CEO.

Chapter 118

Ye Qinglian's voice carried the unique clarity of the morning:

"I had someone check the movements of Qinglong Hall's internal personnel yesterday, and none of Lin Xiao's men went out on a mission last night."

"Based on my understanding of Lin Xiao, this is not in line with her style. If she wanted to kill Su Wan, she would send a very strong assassin and would never give her a chance to live."

"Besides, Su Wan only made a brief appearance on an entertainment program; there's no need to put her to death."

"Based on my analysis, this is likely an act of retaliation by someone within Xiaoran Entertainment, or someone deliberately staging this to frame Lin Xiao in order to incite conflict and profit from it!"

Chen Li leaned back in his chair in the tea room, gazing out the window at the lawn in the Bihulong Courtyard illuminated by the morning light. Dewdrops on the blades of grass shimmered in the sunlight. He mused thoughtfully:

"I think your analysis is correct. People inside Xiaoran Entertainment should be aware of Su Wan's current status and background. They wouldn't be foolish enough to risk their lives to test my bottom line. It's more likely the second scenario."

"I need to see Lin Xiao, today."

Ye Qinglian hesitated for a moment, then replied:

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements. I'm sure Lin Xiao has no reason to refuse."

Not long after hanging up, Ye Qinglian called again, saying that the other party had agreed to meet.

11:00 AM.

Chen Li parked his car in front of the old villa on Qingxi Road.

He didn't call beforehand; he only sent Lin Xiao a message when he arrived at the door:

"I'm at the door."

The door opened two minutes later.

Lin Xiao stood inside the door, wearing a white silk shirt, her hair loosely gathered behind her head, and the sandalwood prayer beads on her wrist gleaming warmly in the sunlight.

Her expression was calm, showing neither surprise nor nervousness; she simply stepped aside to make way for the doorway.

"Mr. Chen, please come in."

To have her personally come out to greet you is already the highest form of courtesy.

Chen Li stepped through the door.

The lobby on the first floor was filled with the aroma of incense, and a pot of freshly brewed tea and two cups were placed on the table, as if they had been prepared in advance for his arrival.

"You knew I would come?" Chen Li sat down on a chair at one side of the long table.

Lin Xiao sat down opposite him, picked up the teapot and poured him a cup. The tea was bright orange-yellow and had a refreshing herbal aroma.

"You had an accident last night, and Su Wan stayed at your place for the night. You'll definitely come to see me this morning. Not to settle scores, but to confirm which side I'm on."

"So, which side are you on?"

Chen Li picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and asked.

Lin Xiao did not answer immediately.

She put the teapot back in its place, placed her hands together on the table, and slowly twirled the prayer beads between her fingers before stopping.

She looked at Chen Li, a subtle weight in her eyes as she weighed her options before making a decision, and said:

"Yesterday, someone used my car and my name to harass your people."

"That person will send someone again tonight, but he won't use my name again, because he knows you won't fall for it anymore."

Chen Li leaned back in his chair, shaking his head and blowing on his tea:

"Giving up like this? That's so lame. So what are you planning to do?"

Lin Xiao took the prayer beads off her wrist and placed them on the table. The movement was very gentle, but the sound of the beads hitting the sandalwood surface was as clear as a nail being hammered on the table.

"Lu Changgeng pulled out your knife, which means he's ready to fight you head-on."

"He sent people to target Su Wan yesterday, trying to force me to turn against you. I didn't, so he'll target me directly next."

"He will not leave another disobedient Qinglong Hall to manage half a street's worth of businesses in the East District."

She pushed the rosary beads an inch towards Chen Li:

"Help me keep Lu Changgeng under control and prevent his men from entering Qinglong Hall's territory within three days."

"Within these three days, I will transfer all of Qinglongtang's assets to a safe place, and then withdraw the core personnel of the hall from Mingyuan's control."

Chen Li looked at the prayer beads, then at Lin Xiao's eyes and asked:

"And what about three days later?"

"Three days from now, whatever I have left, we'll split it in half."

Chen Li reached out and picked up the prayer beads, feeling their weight in his palm; the beads were smooth and warm to the touch.

"I don't want half of what you have. I want you to lend the Azure Dragon Hall's logistics channels to the Vermilion Bird Hall for three years after Lu Changgeng falls from power, and then return them to you after three years."

Lin Xiao's gaze lingered for a moment after he finished speaking, then the corners of her mouth curved slightly, a very faint smile, and she said:

"Do you know how much my logistics channels are worth? In three years, you might as well take half of my business."

"The industry itself is too hot for me to handle, but I can use the distribution channels."

Lin Xiao stared at him for several seconds, then took the prayer beads back from his hand and put them back on her wrist.

She picked up her teacup and raised it slightly in his direction, as if to clink glasses in mid-air.

"make a deal!"

"Within three days, you help me stop Lu Changgeng's men from entering the East District. After three days, Zhuque Hall will use my logistics channels for three years."

Chen Li picked up his teacup and clinked it against hers; the rims of the cups struck together with a clear, crisp sound.

He tilted his head back, finished his tea, and stood up to walk towards the door.

As he walked to the porch, he turned back to look at Lin Xiao. She was sitting behind the long table, holding a cup of tea and gazing in the direction of the door. She looked slender yet composed, enveloped in a white silk dress and the afternoon sunlight.

Chen Li reminded him:

"I will help you block it, but if there's a leak inside your own organization, you can't block it anyway."

Lin Xiao put down his teacup and said:

"I know that the entire gang will be purged tonight."

Chen Li didn't say anything more, pushed open the door and walked out. He didn't expect that it would be so easy to discuss cooperation with such a smart person.

Lu Changgeng never expected that she would shoot herself in the foot. She mistakenly believed the old hand's advice that everyone should maintain a sense of morality and face. In this process of hesitation and indecision, whoever is shameless and ruthless will win by striking first.

Unexpectedly, young people today only care about practicality and interests. They can completely ignore false and meaningless face-saving. They don't have time to play the game of concealing and hiding with old-timers. They directly cooperate with the party that brings them benefits.

Moreover, Lu Changgeng's ambition to completely control the Azure Dragon Hall has been brewing for a long time. Would Lin Xiao let him succeed?

What a joke, she wouldn't play with that idiot old Deng.

The afternoon sun shone on Qingxi Road, making the bluestone slabs slightly hot.

Chen Li opened the car door and got into the driver's seat. As he started the engine, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Su Wan, a photo of her sitting in front of a makeup mirror at a brand photoshoot. The angle was tricky, only showing the lower half of her face and the coffee cup in her hand.

The caption read: "Filming is over. Ah Kun is waiting for me downstairs. How's it going on your end?"

Chen Li stared at the message and the selfie, his thumb pausing at the edge of the screen before typing three words:

"We've finished talking."

He placed his phone on the passenger seat, and as the car drove out of Qingxi Road, he glanced at the old villa in the rearview mirror.

Lin Xiao's figure flashed past behind the curtains as she stood by the second-floor window; she was probably also looking in the direction he had walked away.