He stood up, looking down at the woman who had just been so fiery but was now as docile as a cat, and gave his orders in a flat tone.
"Then, you can return to Chunan now, and bring Zhang Yining back with you."
He paused, then added, "Try to take over the Lin family. I'll contact you when needed."
Lin Zhiling nodded obediently, as if listening to a divine oracle. She hooked her arm through Lu Xuan's, her whole body leaning softly against him as if boneless, a sickly satisfaction on her face.
Lu Xuan, however, subtly pulled his arm away, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
"Also, after you go back, immediately contact your family's Old Man," he said, staring into her eyes, enunciating each word. "Don't let him send some nobodies to Yanjing to provoke me, or I can't guarantee what kind of consequences your Lin family will face."
The coquettish expression on Lin Zhiling's face instantly froze. She subconsciously wanted to argue, to say that her father wouldn't be so reckless.
But Lu Xuan's next words were like a bucket of ice water poured from the top of her head to her heels, freezing all the blood in her body.
"Because I don't just have your dirt," Lu Xuan's lips curled into a chilling arc, a smile that made Lin Zhiling's heart pound. "Your Old Man, and your elder brother who holds a high position and is determined to leave his name in history... Do you think they are really that clean?"
"Boom!"
It was as if thunder exploded in Lin Zhiling's mind. Her vision blurred, and her body went limp, almost collapsing to the ground again.
She suddenly looked up, staring intently at Lu Xuan. Her peach blossom eyes, which had just been full of affection, now held only boundless horror and fear.
She finally understood.
She finally understood where Lu Xuan's fearless confidence truly came from!
He wasn't bluffing, he wasn't boasting! What he held in his hand wasn't just a few trump cards; it was an entire arsenal capable of blowing everyone to smithereens!
How did this person do it? Who exactly was he?!
This question spun wildly in her mind, but she dared not ask, not a single word.
She was afraid that if she asked one more question, this demon would, right in front of her, reveal the possibly earth-shattering secrets of her father and elder brother as if telling a story.
"G-good... good, Master..." Her lips trembled, and even her voice was shaking. "I... I'll call home right away!"
She fumbled in her bag for a spare phone, trembling as she dialed the number she both respected and feared.
The call was answered almost instantly, and an old but vigorous voice came through, carrying an undeniable authority: "Zhiling, I received your message. What's going on? What's that kid's background? I've already arranged for people, and they'll be in Yanjing before dawn!"
Lin Zhiling was scared out of her wits and shrieked, "Dad! No! Absolutely not!"
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, her mind racing. She used all her acting skills to barely steady her voice: "Dad, listen to me, the situation has changed... We can't touch this person for now. He... he is useful to our Lin family, very useful!"
"Useful?" The Old Man on the other end of the phone clearly didn't believe her. "What use could a young punk be?"
"He... he has some... some key things that can deal with our political enemies!" Lin Zhiling, in a moment of desperation, fabricated the most convincing reason for her father. "Dad, trust me, your daughter wouldn't joke about the family's future! Let's stabilize him first, and plan for the long term. You absolutely must not interfere with this matter; let me handle it!"
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, so long that Lin Zhiling's back was drenched in cold sweat.
"...Alright, I'll trust you this once. But you need to keep a close eye on him. Report any unusual activity immediately!"
"Yes, yes! Don't worry!"
After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhiling leaned against the wall, panting heavily, as if exhausted. She looked up at Lu Xuan, her eyes no longer holding any flirtation, only the purest reverence.
"Master... the call... I've made everything clear. The Old Man shouldn't send anyone to trouble you anymore."
"That's good," Lu Xuan nodded in satisfaction, casually flicking away non-existent ash, and said in a very casual tone, "Settle the bill here. Don't let people think I, Lu Xuan, dine and dash and like to trash places."
Lin Zhiling froze, then her pretty face flushed crimson with shame and indignation.
This bastard! He broke things, hit people, slept with her, and now he wants her to pay the bill?!
But as she looked at Lu Xuan's half-smiling eyes, all her anger and humiliation turned into a deep sense of powerlessness. She could only lower her head submissively and reply, "...Yes, Master."
She called the manager and her eyelids twitched as she looked at the long compensation bill, but she still swiped her card expressionlessly.
After doing all this, she practically fled from the private room, taking Zhang Yining, who was still anxiously waiting outside, and rushed to the airport without looking back, having her subordinates book the next flight to Chunan.
Lu Xuan stayed in the messy private room for a while longer, slowly drinking some water, before driving away.
The night was deep, and the city's neon lights rapidly receded outside the car window.
Lu Xuan was driving, but his mind was on another matter.
Bai Yanxi, Gu Yunxi.
Both of these women were traitors who sold out national interests. Logically, as soon as one was discovered, she should be reported. This was a matter of right and wrong.
But through today's incident with Lin Zhiling, Lu Xuan saw things more clearly.
The internet, public opinion—these things that seemed capable of stirring up huge waves were nothing more than pets that could be summoned and dismissed at will in front of those truly powerful and influential families.
They could easily control everything.
Rashly reporting would most likely be like a stone sinking into the sea, or even stirring up trouble and bringing disaster upon himself.
Lu Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile.
Instead of playing these two trump cards now, it would be better to hold them in his hand, make them useful to him, and continuously strengthen his own power.
When his wings were fully grown, and he had the capital to directly contend with the two behemoths behind them...
It wouldn't be too late to destroy them with his own hands.
What he wanted to be was not a vague "justice warrior," but a vengeful beast even fiercer and more vicious than anyone else.
Then, he would swallow all of them whole!