Looking around the busy lobby, Charlie suddenly realized the last time he was at the company was ten days ago. After such a long absence, it felt strangely unfamiliar.
After greeting a few familiar employees, Charlie made his way to the CEO's office.
Luke was brewing tea. The orange-yellow liquid gave off billows of white steam, and the aroma of orchid could be smelled from afar, though a subtle bitterness lingered beneath the fragrance.
Rich aroma, orchid scent, bitterness...
Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe Oolong)!
Charlie's heart jumped, and his knees felt weak.
The Da Hong Pao was a tonic tea given to the Old Master by some friends in China. There were only a few taels in total. When the Young Master tasted it once and liked it, he pulled a switcheroo and pocketed the tea.
When the Old Master found out, he chased Luke for two streets in a rage but never got the tea back.
The Young Master rarely used Da Hong Pao to entertain guests. When he did, it meant he was filled with anger and was about to kill someone—someone close to him.
The Young Master is going to kill me!
The terrifying thought sprang up. Thud! Charlie immediately dropped to his knees.
"Young Master..."
"Get up! Who gave you permission to kneel?"
Charlie moved his lips, straightened his legs, and stood up, trembling slightly as he approached the tea table.
"Sit down."
Charlie obeyed, his eyes constantly darting around, still too intimidated to look up.
Luke took a sip of the tea and said flatly, "How long has it been since we sat down to talk?"
"Ten... ten days!"
"Yes, ten days just flew by. You've been with Melissa for all ten days. How does it feel? Is everything as you wished?"
Charlie pushed his chair back and knelt again.
"Young Master, spare Melissa! This has nothing to do with her. It's all my fault."
"Where did you go wrong?"
"I... I..."
Charlie opened his mouth. After thinking for a long time, he still didn't know what he had done wrong. Was it the long vacation? It couldn't be! The Young Master wasn't petty enough to kill him over something like that.
Luke shook his head and sighed. "Who said you were wrong? You made no mistake. I am the one at fault. This tea today is for myself; it has nothing to do with you."
"Get up. Don't always be bowing and kneeling. I'm not the Old Master, who likes people to talk to him on their knees."
Charlie leaned on the table to stand up, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and said with a bitter smile,
"What exactly happened? Who provoked you this time?"
Luke didn't answer. He slowly savored the tea until the bitterness covered his tongue. Only then did he speak, unhurriedly.
"The person who provoked me is your new girlfriend—Melissa Kajean."
Charlie's face instantly turned ashen white. His right hand began to shake uncontrollably.
"Young Master, Lisa, she..."
Luke produced a file and tossed it to him.
"Everything is inside. Read it for yourself."
Charlie tremblingly opened the folder and read it word by word, not missing a single piece of information. When he finished, his face turned a sickly greenish-white, and dense beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
"How is that possible? How could she be FBI?"
"Young Master, could there be a mistake?"
"When have I ever been wrong, from childhood until now?"
Charlie still couldn't believe it. Lisa was kind, lively, and sensible. How could she be an undercover agent sent by the FBI?
Luke glanced at him and said slowly,
"Tell me the details of how you met her. Don't leave out any small details."
Charlie dared not refuse. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and recounted the entire process of going to Coast City and meeting and falling in love with Lisa, omitting nothing.
During the narration, Luke occasionally interjected, pointing out crucial moments.
As the conversation deepened, the cold sweat on Charlie's forehead increased, soaking the back of his shirt.
Luke put down his cup and sneered, "You understand now, right?"
Charlie hung his head, his eyes vacant and lost.
"The first day you hit on her, she ignored you. The next night, she actively asked you out to dinner. After one movie, you were hopelessly in love with her and willing to die for her."
"Charlie, when did you become so naive? I recall you were different when you used to do group sports."
"..."
"There is no love without reason, nor is there hate without reason. Love and hate are products of objective experience. Why do you like Melissa? Her butt, her chest, her waist, or her face? You haven't even slept with her, so how could you possibly love those things?"
"Do you know why she won't sleep with you?"
Charlie subconsciously asked, "Why?"
"Because she's a lesbian, the dominant partner (Top)."
A few explicit photos were placed on the table. Charlie's pale face instantly became engorged with blood, turning deep purple.
"She has an aversion to the opposite sex. Dating you was already her psychological limit. Sex? That would kill her, understand?"
Having said that, Luke stood up and patted his shoulder. The green flame flickered from his palm, subtly dissolving into Charlie's body without a trace.
A sharp, painful sensation shot up from the depths of Charlie's soul. He shivered uncontrollably, instantly feeling as clear-headed as if he'd been drenched in ice water. The fog that had obscured his mind vanished, becoming as clear as water, and some of his blurry memories sharpened.
"That woman is trouble!"
"Of course she's trouble! If she wasn't, would you have become so foolish? How many times have I told you to be careful in everything and keep your guard up? And what happened? You were played like a fool the moment you met her."
Charlie was speechless, filled with both anger and shame. Luke didn't provoke him further and asked,
"Did she ask about the Old Master?"
"I think she did."
"Did you answer her?"
Charlie's lips trembled, and his head drooped completely.
Luke glanced at him and continued, "What did you tell her?"
"She asked about the Old Master's health and his relationship with the family members, as well as some things about the high-level members of the Hongmen."
"Did she ask about me?"
"...Yes."
"What did she ask?"
Drops of sweat fell to the ground one by one, pooling on the shiny floor. Charlie clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak despite his fear.
"She asked about your trivial childhood life, your relationship with your family, why you left Coast City, why you founded ShowMe, and... and... your secret hideout in Coast City."
He nearly fainted when he said the last sentence.
It's over!
Everything is over!
That horrible woman, you ruined me.
Luke's expression remained calm, but a hidden intent to kill flashed in his pale green pupils. "So, you told her everything, both what you should and shouldn't have said."
"No!"
Charlie quickly shook his head. "You gave strict orders about the secret hideout. I wouldn't disclose that even if I died."
"What about the other things?"
"I... I told her everything."
Luke let out a long sigh and helped his friend stand up.
"To be honest, the root of this problem is me. I was too arrogant and acted without proper investigation, sending you into the lion's den. That's what led to all this. I'm sorry. I failed you."
Tears streamed down Charlie's face uncontrollably. He wiped them away hastily.
"Young Master, don't say that. It's my fault. I was too careless, and that woman took advantage."
"Just tell me straight. How can I fix this situation? I'll even die if necessary."
Luke narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "I've done everything I can. Now, only one thing remains. Melissa Kajean—she manipulated you and almost caused a rift between us brothers. She must die."
Luke picked up the teapot, poured a full cup of the tea, and drank it all down in one gulp.
"I will kill her myself."
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