Volume One, Chapter 49: Crisis

The next evening.

Before heading to the Golden Cauldron Tower, Jiang Wan made sure to return to Yujing Bay.

It was all for the sake of discretion.

She deliberately styled herself differently from usual. Her long, wavy hair was twisted into a low chignon, topped with a woolen beret. Her makeup was bolder than ever before. She wore a tight sweater beneath a fur vest, leather pants paired with tall boots, and slung her most expensive handbag over her shoulder.

Her entire appearance radiated the aura of a spoiled and extravagant heiress. She was still stunning—impossible not to notice—but it would be difficult for anyone to see through to her true identity at first glance.

She spun once before the mirror, and after ensuring everything was in order, Jiang Wan set off for the Golden Cauldron Tower.

It was one of Rongcheng’s landmark buildings, rising eighty stories high. Its structure ascended in elegant tiers, paying homage to the city’s history and culture. By day, the golden glass exterior caught and scattered sunlight; by night, when the lights came on, it resembled a golden cauldron standing tall on the riverbank.

Thus, it was named the Golden Cauldron Tower—home to an observation deck with the city’s best views, a skywalk, restaurants, hotels, and a variety of commercial facilities.

As for the exclusive club on the top floor that Wang Dexing had mentioned, Jiang Wan had heard only vague rumors before. She knew only that its membership rules were strict and its internal affairs shrouded in secrecy.

Because of this, she had learned very little about it.

And that only made her more suspicious.

Jiang Wan took the elevator to the top floor.

The entrance opened onto a grandly decorated club reception. At the single entry and exit, sturdy security guards stood watch.

“Good evening, madam. To register as a member of our club, you’ll need to verify your personal assets—the minimum requirement is five million yuan in liquid cash,” the receptionist explained the rules to her.

“I heard from a friend that there’s another way to get in,” Jiang Wan probed, fishing for information.

After all, if Director Li could come and go from this club, the rules as stated couldn’t possibly be the only way in.

Sure enough, after a brief pause during which she sized Jiang Wan up, the receptionist continued, “There is also an anonymous invitation system for internal members. Only members with a net worth of at least thirty million yuan can extend such an invitation. If your friend is one, please provide his membership code.”

“The code consists of the last eight digits of the member’s ID number and the last six digits of their phone number,” she said, handing Jiang Wan a card. As long as the code was filled in, entry could be gained anonymously—provided, of course, one knew both the ID and phone number.

Jiang Wan immediately thought of Gu Huaixu. He was famous for his nightlife in Rongcheng, and with the Gu family’s status, it was highly likely he was a member here.

But…

Jiang Wan searched through her phone records and couldn’t find Gu Huaixu’s ID number. If she asked Yan Yan, it would seem too abrupt—how would she explain that?

As she hesitated, her eyes landed on a text message from an unfamiliar number—a message sent to her a month ago. The preview still showed: [Private Room 2019.]

It was Lu Wenzhou.

As his name flashed through her mind, a string of numbers surfaced with it.

Jiang Wan’s lashes quivered as she cast her eyes down, hesitating. Her delay in filling out the card made the receptionist wary, and even the security guards began to eye her from not far away.

“Madam, if you don’t have—” The receptionist began, ready to dismiss her.

But Jiang Wan had already picked up the pen. She filled in Lu Wenzhou’s information, took a leap of faith, and handed the card back.

“Please check.”

Feigning calm, she watched as the receptionist entered the code into the system.

When the corresponding member details appeared on the screen, the previously impatient receptionist’s demeanor turned warm and accommodating.

“Madam, here is your entry wristband.” She handed Jiang Wan a wristband and explained that she could charge any consumption to the member’s account or pay separately.

“Thank you.” Jiang Wan accepted the wristband and, with a nod from the respectful security guards, entered the club.

There was only one club on the entire top floor. The corridor alone stretched nearly a hundred meters.

Jiang Wan observed carefully as she walked.

She first came to an open activity area. A live band played at the music bar, and through floor-to-ceiling windows, the dazzling nightscape of Rongcheng sprawled beneath her.

Noticing her arrival, a neatly dressed attendant approached, carrying a red velvet tray.

“Madam, may I ask what service you require?” the attendant inquired.

On the tray were four items: a bottle cap, an e-cigarette, rose petals, and a gaming token.

Her gaze swept across them. Thinking of the large sums of money involved with Director Li, Jiang Wan chose the only object possibly related to money—the gaming token. She flipped it over.

“Please come with me,” the attendant said with understanding, leading her onward.

Passing through several enclosed sections, Jiang Wan could, from the faint sounds within, easily guess the corresponding services for the other items.

Food, drink, and pleasure—the world’s eternal pursuits.

Finally, Jiang Wan was brought to the gaming area—a spacious room filled with arcade machines, pool tables, card tables, and mahjong tables.

She had guessed correctly.

Jiang Wan adopted an air of seasoned expertise. “Where do I exchange chips?”

The attendant gestured the way and then bowed out.

But before she could proceed, loud laughter from a man caught her attention.

“Director Li, you’re incredibly lucky tonight!” someone praised loudly.

A chill ran down Jiang Wan’s spine.

She followed the voice. The few guests present made it easy to spot her target.

There, in everyday attire, Director Li sat at a card table, playing with a few businessmen whose vulgarity was unmistakable.

A tall stack of chips lay before him.

Greedy and addicted to gambling.

If this ever got out, his career would be over. Even if it didn’t land him in prison, it would be enough to force him to switch allegiances.

The Lin family could forget about that plot of land.

Jiang Wan didn’t approach further. Instead, she chose a concealed spot and took out her phone to record a video.

But barely a few seconds passed before a man dressed in black, headset on, approached her.

Jiang Wan instantly stopped recording and switched her phone to another app.

“Madam, phones are not permitted here,” the security guard informed her. “Please delete the video you just took.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

She looked up at the man. His composure made it clear he was certain of what she’d done.

She wasn’t about to give up so easily. She forced a cold smile. “On what basis do you assume I took a video?”

The man gestured for her to hand over her phone—one look at her gallery would confirm it.

“You can check my phone,” she said, handing it over with the screen off, her voice steady but carrying an unmistakable threat. “But if there’s nothing in my gallery, may I contact your boss immediately and tell him what happened here—and demand an apology?”

Under her pressuring gaze, the man hesitated and ultimately decided not to take the phone.

Jiang Wan let out a silent sigh of relief. When she returned her phone to her pocket, her palm was slick with cold sweat.

Feigning disappointment, she turned to leave, only to hear the man speak into his headset.

“Check the live surveillance for a woman in a beret—see if she took any videos.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but Jiang Wan heard every word.

She forced herself to walk calmly. But as soon as she was out of his line of sight, she broke into a run.

There was little time.

She had to get out—now.

Footsteps quickly echoed behind her—he was in pursuit.

Jiang Wan darted into another corridor, halted, and squeezed herself into a doorway, holding her breath and making herself as small as possible.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the man dash past along her original path.

“Seal the exits—there’s been an incident,” his fading voice called out, making Jiang Wan’s heart race faster.

It was over.

How would she get out now?

Jiang Wan’s face was ashen, her body rigid.

Just then, the door behind her suddenly moved.

It opened from within…

A man’s forceful and icy presence engulfed her completely.