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

Zhu Xun Chuan retrieved the cigarettes. He took out his encrypted phone and dialed Xia Wan Ying's number.

The call connected instantly.

"Xun Chuan, how's the dim sum in Hong Kong?" Xia Wanying's languid voice drifted out, accompanied by the sound of keyboards being typed in the background at the Dinghe Group headquarters.

"The tea is alright, and someone even gave us a generous gift." Zhu Xun Chuan flicked his cigarette ash. "Wan Ying, the third branch of the Pan family owns three listed companies, including Dao Mei Entertainment. I need the stock prices of those three companies to be halved within two hours. Can you do it?"

Xia Wanying chuckled softly on the other end of the phone.

"Two hours? You underestimate me." Xia Wanying's voice turned cold. "Half an hour. I want the Pan family's third branch delisted from the Hong Kong stock market. 30 billion in offshore funds are already in place."

Zhu Xun Chuan hung up the phone. He put his arm around Su Mu Cheng and walked towards the Alphard minivan.

Once inside the car, Zhu Xun Chuan opened his tablet and created an encrypted four-way group video call.

The screen is divided into four sections.

In the upper right corner, Shen Tianxi, dressed in a major's uniform, sits in the Tianjin Military Region Information Command Center. She holds a glass of iced Americano in her hand.

In the lower left corner, Fu Xinghe is wearing a silk bathrobe, with the background showing her bedroom in a red-brick building in the municipal party committee compound. She has just gotten up, her long hair draped over her shoulders.

In the lower right corner, Meng Wanqing, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, is in the office of the vice president of Shanghai University. A thick stack of documents is piled on the desk.

"Xun Chuan, you're video chatting so early in the morning, did you miss me?" Shen Tianxi spoke first, her tone slightly coquettish.

Fu Xinghe took a sip of warm water and glanced at the screen.

"Major, please be mindful of your conduct," Fu Xinghe said, maintaining a composed demeanor. "Xun Chuan, what happened?"

Meng Wanqing adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and cut straight to the point: "Is things not going well in Hong Kong?"

Four women, three of whom span the political, military, and business spheres, control top-tier resources in half of the inland region.

"The third branch of the Pan family wants Mu Cheng dead." Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly, without any unnecessary embellishment.

The three women on the screen turned cold at the same time.

Shen Tianxi put down her coffee cup. Her fair fingers tapped rapidly on the military-style keyboard.

"I have a backup of the third wife's information. I just connected to the international financial network." Shen Tianxi raised her head, her eyes filled with ruthlessness. "I cut off their overseas money laundering accounts. Three minutes later, all seventeen of their offshore accounts were frozen. Not a single penny could be transferred out."

Fu Xinghe put down her water glass. She picked up the internal telephone on the table.

"I'll put in a good word with the Hong Kong Island Commercial Crime Bureau," Fu Xinghe said firmly. "Fu Yuan just went there for an inspection a few days ago, so we have to give them this much face. They want to investigate not only money laundering but also transnational economic crimes. I'll have the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) arrest the Pan family within half an hour."

Meng Wanqing leaned back in her office chair.

"I'll issue a restraining order immediately at Shanghai Customs," Meng Wanqing said coldly. "This will block all inland waterway shipping permits for the Pan family's third branch. It will cut off their financial lifeline."

The three forces acted simultaneously. A net to strangle the three branches of the Pan family was instantly drawn.

There was no roaring, no shouting. A few casual words were enough to pronounce the death sentence on the branch of the multi-billion dollar family.

Su Mucheng leaned against Zhu Xunchuan's chest, listening to the three women who wielded immense power dividing up the Pan family's three branches, her heart pounding wildly.

These women usually fight over Zhu Xun Chuan, but when it comes to crucial moments, they unite against outsiders and are extremely protective of each other.

"I'll make you braised pork when I get back." Zhu Xun Chuan smiled at the screen.

"I want more sugar," Shen Tianxi said eagerly.

"Eat less sugar, or you'll gain weight easily," Fu Xinghe retorted.

The video call ended.

Hong Kong Island, Pan family's three-room villa.

Pan Shaoyu sat on the leather sofa, a latte in his hand. His right eyelid had been twitching ever since the phone call ended.

"Big brother, what's wrong?" Pan Shaoze walked over with a cigar, looking smug. "That kid's dead, right? That bitch Su Mucheng should be done for too. Those shipping routes are still ours."

Pan Shaoyu did not answer. His phone, which was on the coffee table, vibrated incessantly.

Upon connecting, the CEO of Inamei Entertainment's terrified voice came through.

"Young Master! Someone is maliciously shorting our stock! There's probably as much as 30 billion in offshore funds dumping it, and we can't stop it! It's dropped 40% in five minutes! It's going to crash!"

Pan Shaoyu suddenly stood up. The coffee in his hand spilled onto the carpet.

"Activate the market stabilization fund! Throw in all the reserve funds!" Pan Shaoyu roared into the phone.

"The market stabilization accounts have been frozen! All of them have been frozen overseas!" The CEO's voice was filled with despair. "The banks say we're suspected of money laundering!"

Pan Shaoze's cigar fell onto the carpet, burning a black hole in it.

The piercing sound of police sirens came from outside the villa gate.

More than a dozen armored vehicles bearing the "O" logo slammed open the wrought iron gate. Dozens of agents in bulletproof vests rushed into the villa's hall.

The inspector in charge produced a stamped arrest warrant.

"Pan Shaoyu, Pan Shaoze," the inspector said expressionlessly, "We suspect you of involvement in money laundering, transnational economic crimes, and premeditated murder. This is a search warrant. Take them away!"

Several detectives stepped forward, pinned the two brothers down on the sofa, and handcuffed them immediately.

"Are you crazy? Do you know who we are?" Pan Shaoze struggled fiercely. "We're from the Pan family! I need to call my grandfather!"

"The Pan family can't protect you." The inspector sneered, throwing a stack of irrefutable evidence of overseas money laundering in Pan Shaoze's face. "Three top powerful figures in the mainland have simultaneously sent letters naming you. You've bitten off more than you can chew. Take him away!"

The two brothers were roughly shoved onto the armored vehicle. Their faces were ashen, and they finally realized they had messed with someone they absolutely shouldn't have.

Central, Hong Kong Island, Star Entertainment Headquarters.

It's an entertainment company owned by the third wife's family, quite famous in Hong Kong, with several multi-talented artists under its wing. Compared to the debt-ridden Inam Entertainment, it's far inferior.

Top floor, CEO's office. Sun Hui, the acting CEO appointed by the third branch, sat in the boss's chair with his feet propped up on the desk, trimming his nails.

The office door was kicked open. The solid wood door slammed heavily against the wall.

Zhu Xun Chuan led Su Mu Cheng in. Xiao Bai followed behind, closing the door behind them.

"How did you get in? Are the security guards outside just sitting around doing nothing?" Sun Hui stood up in alarm, pointing at Zhu Xunchuan.

Zhu Xun Chuan walked to the desk. He picked up the crystal ashtray on the desk and smashed it directly into Sun Hui's stomach.

Sun Hui screamed and fell to his knees, vomiting up the acid in his stomach.

Zhu Xunchuan pulled out the boss's chair and let Su Mucheng sit down.

He took a faxed document from the inside pocket of his trench coat and threw it on the carpet in front of Sun Hui.

"Look carefully." Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly, "Hong Kong Island Organized Crime and Triad Bureau seizure order. Pan Shao Yu and Pan Shao Ze have been arrested. Starlight Entertainment is now wholly owned by the Fourth Branch. Get out of here with your personal belongings in three minutes. Otherwise, I'll throw you out the window."

Despite the excruciating pain, Sun Hui grabbed the document and glanced at it. The official seal and signature on it completely extinguished any thought of resistance.

He scrambled out of the office.

Jiang Yao walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the traffic flow in the Central Ring Road.

"This place has good feng shui; it's suitable as a shrine," Jiang Yao commented. "Brother Chuan, when we go back to the villa on the hillside tomorrow night, I'm not sleeping in that small bed. I want to sleep in the master bedroom."

Su Mucheng sat in the large leather chair. Not to be outdone, she said, "The master bedroom was left to me by my parents. If Sister Jiang wants to sleep there, she'll have to ask for my permission first."

Jiang Yao turned around, walked to the desk in her high heels, placed her hands on the table, and stared at Su Mucheng.

"Little star, you were trembling with fear in the car just now, but now that Brother Chuan is backing you up, you feel much more confident?" Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow.

Su Mucheng stared directly at her, showing no sign of backing down.

Zhu Xun Chuan reached out, pinched Jiang Yao's cheek, and pulled her away.

"Don't cause trouble at the company. We'll set the rules when we get back tonight." Zhu Xun Chuan maintained a neutral stance.

He bent down, placed his hands on the armrests of the seat, and trapped Su Mucheng between his arms.

"Miss Su, you'll have to clean up the mess yourself. I'll pick you up tonight." Zhu Xun Chuan looked directly into her captivating eyes.

Su Mucheng reached out and hooked her arm around his neck. She unwrapped a candy from her pocket and put it in his mouth.

"This is a reward for you." Su Mucheng's cheeks flushed slightly.

The taste of oranges lingered between their lips and teeth.

A knock came at the door.

The old butler of the Pan family pushed open the door and entered. He saw the two's intimate actions but did not look up. He held a gold-embossed invitation card in both hands and respectfully handed it forward.

"Mr. Zhu, the old master requests your presence." The old butler's voice was steady. "The old master said that the third branch of the family was being irresponsible, and he has already expelled them. Tonight, we'll have a simple dinner at the Mid-Levels restaurant. The eldest granddaughter of the first branch has just returned from Europe and would like to meet you."

Zhu Xun Chuan straightened up. He took the invitation and ran his fingertips along the edge of the cardboard.

"The eldest granddaughter of the main branch?" Zhu Xun Chuan chewed the orange candy in his mouth and swallowed it.