After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

This is no longer a matter of courage; it's about absolute control of the situation.

Gray Wolf gritted his teeth and slowly raised the gun, aiming it at his head. He hesitated. The shadow of death made his hand holding the gun tremble slightly.

Zhu Xun Chuan twitched the corner of his mouth. He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers crisply in mid-air.

"clatter."

With a snap of the fingers, countless infrared targeting points instantly lit up the second and third floors of the unfinished building, as well as the surrounding dark corners.

More than fifty blinding red lights intertwined to form a net, locking onto the gray wolf and the thirty mercenaries.

Xiao Bai, dressed in a black combat uniform, nimbly leaped down from the steel bars on the second floor. She was toying with a special forces dagger in her hand.

"Brother Chuan, are they all useless?" Her voice was icy, waiting for Zhu Xun Chuan's command.

Gray Wolf's expression changed drastically, and he roared, "Prepare to attack!"

His men all raised their guns. Gray Wolf reached for his tactical communicator at his waist, trying to call the support team stationed two kilometers away.

There was only a piercing dial tone in the headset.

Zhu Xun Chuan, hands in his trench coat pockets, said calmly, "No need to press it. The highest level of electromagnetic silence from the Tianjin Military Region has already covered this area. Your communication equipment is now just a pile of useless plastic."

Upon hearing the words "Tianjin Military Region," Gray Wolf felt utterly disheartened.

Zhu Xun Chuan stepped forward and used the tip of the black umbrella in his hand to press against the gray wolf's chin, forcing the wolf to raise its head.

"Old dog, this is Ice City, not your border. You've overstepped your bounds." Zhu Xun Chuan's tone was cold and hard. "Times have changed. Now, I set the rules."

Gray Wolf stared at the numerous red dots covering his chest, his breathing rapid. He released his grip, and the revolver fell to the snow.

What do you want?

"Hand over the six smuggling routes along the border and your underground banks. Take your men and get out of the country, and never cross the Heilongjiang River again." Zhu Xun Chuan put away his black umbrella.

The gray wolf had no bargaining power. He nodded in defeat.

Zhu Xun Chuan suddenly became fierce, stabbing the tip of his umbrella into the wolf's hand. The wolf cried out in pain, "Ah!! I promised you! You went back on your word!"

Zhu Xun Chuan smiled slightly, "This is to teach Mr. Gray Wolf a lesson. We can't let you come for nothing, can we? Go back now! There won't be a next time!"

The gray wolf clenched his bleeding hand, his forehead covered in sweat, and ran away without looking back.

Killing the gray wolf was easy; it's as easy as crushing an ant now.

But he had to let Gray Wolf go. Many forces on the border were waiting for Zhu Xun Chuan to kill Gray Wolf. They would definitely gather to condemn him and then have a reason to retaliate!

Moreover, he hoped that after Gray Wolf returned, he would stir up the remaining unstable factors, so that Gray Wolf could launch a full-scale attack next time, killing two birds with one stone and completely stabilizing the border.

This is not indecisiveness or timidity, but rather a strategy to lure the snake out of its hole.

Zhu Xun Chuan took out his encrypted phone and immediately dialed the numbers of two other powerful gang leaders in Bingcheng who were still observing the situation. With Jiang Tao and Jiang Hai downfall and the Grey Wolf gang retreating, this was the perfect opportunity to establish his authority.

The call was connected.

"I am Zhu Xun Chuan. From now on, Jiang Yao will be in charge of the Jiang family's business. Your existing venues will remain unchanged, but your profit share will be reduced by 10%." Zhu Xun Chuan's voice was deep and imposing, exuding an undeniable authority. "Anyone who dares to harbor any wicked thoughts will suffer the same fate as Jiang Hai."

He mastered the art of slapping someone and then offering a sweet treat, a masterful manipulation of imperial tactics. The person on the other end of the phone repeatedly pledged their loyalty, daring not to disobey in the slightest.

The chaos in the North was quelled overnight.

It was six o'clock in the morning. The heavy snow finally stopped.

Inside the presidential suite on the top floor of the InterContinental Hotel. The heating is excellent.

Lin Chuxia sat cross-legged on the sofa, clutching a cushion in her hand. The morning news was playing silently on the television.

"Sister, is it really okay for him to go alone?" Lin Chuxia kept glancing at the clock on the wall. "Those are all mercenaries from overseas who don't care about their lives."

Jiang Yao held a glass of red wine and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the sunrise over the northern border.

"Worried about him?" Jiang Yao took a sip of her drink, turned to look at Lin Chuxia, and said, "Miss Lin, you're the daughter of a municipal party committee member, don't jump into a fire pit."

Lin Chuxia bit her lip and straightened her back: "I'm not worried about that scumbag! I'm worried that if something happens to him, you won't be able to take over the Jiang family's business."

"Early Summer, put away your little schemes. Every woman around him has a deep and murky past. You're just an inexperienced student; you can't outsmart us." Jiang Yao turned her head, her eyes filled with the wisdom of someone who had seen it all.

Lin Chuxia retorted defiantly, "My dad's the mayor! In what way am I inferior to you?"

Jiang Yao chuckled softly, about to speak, when the door lock clicked.

Zhu Xun Chuan, carrying the chill of the outdoor air, pushed open the door.

Two distinct yet equally alluring perfume scents wafted towards me.

Jiang Yao and Lin Chuxia hadn't slept all night. Hearing the noise, the two of them ran barefoot across the thick carpet to the entrance.

Jiang Yao changed into a black silk slip dress, revealing her stunning curves. Lin Chuxia, on the other hand, wore a white cotton nightgown with a loose neckline, exuding a pure and innocent schoolgirl vibe.

"Husband!" Jiang Yao was the first to throw herself into Zhu Xun Chuan's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

Zhu Xun Chuan then gently lifted her pert buttocks and pulled her into his arms.

Lin Chuxia was a step too slow. She stood to the side, looking at the unharmed Zhu Xun Chuan, her eyes gradually reddening. She clutched the hem of her pajamas tightly, her heart pounding.

"You scumbag, you're lucky to be alive," Lin Chuxia muttered, her voice trembling with obvious sobs, her eyes filled with undisguised adoration and infatuation.

Zhu Xun Chuan held Jiang Yao with one arm and used his right hand to pinch Lin Chu Xia's fair cheek.

"I won't die. Go get me a glass of hot water."

The man's fingertips were cool to the touch. This coolness, pressed against her cheek, made Lin Chuxia feel feverish all over. She obediently turned and walked towards the kitchen counter.

Zhu Xun Chuan put Jiang Yao down, took off his fitted trench coat, and casually draped it over the coat rack.

"It's all taken care of." Zhu Xun Chuan walked to the living room sofa, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and said, "The Jiang family is safe. The Grey Wolf is out too."

Jiang Yao followed behind him, her eyes gleaming with extreme fervor. In just a few hours, this man had single-handedly shielded her from the world.

She glanced at her best friend, Lin Chuxia, who was getting water at the bar.

The Northern Heiress's territorial instincts and possessiveness erupted completely at this moment.

As soon as Zhu Xun Chuan sat down on the sofa, Jiang Yao straddled his lap without any hesitation. Her two long, slender, fair legs wrapped around the man's waist.

"Early summer, fill the water tank to the brim," Jiang Yao shouted without turning her head.

Lin Chuxia turned around, holding the glass.

Just as Lin Chuxia turned around, Jiang Yao cupped Zhu Xunchuan's cheeks in her hands and leaned down to kiss him deeply.