Qin Xiangrong secretly recorded the conversation on his mobile phone, actually hatching a plan for self-preservation.

He considered that, should he need to flee in the future, this recording might just be useful for applying for political asylum—claiming persecution by his superiors. The recording could potentially serve as leverage then.

To think he was preparing this evidence to use for blackmail or negotiation would be to drastically underestimate his political acumen. As long as the situation didn't breach his personal limits of acceptability, once the immediate heat died down, he would destroy the recording instantly to preempt any future trouble.

His thinking was sound, yet ironically, this very action was what drove him into a dead end.

If he hadn't foolishly decided to prepare this contingency, Wang Zhuo had only intended for Qin Zeyu to receive a sentence of perhaps six months or a year, coupled with compensation for the victim, and then the matter would have been dropped. But the appearance of this recording phone fundamentally changed the nature of the entire affair.

After a few brief exchanges, laced with hidden meanings, Qin Xiangrong assumed he was subtly probing Wang Zhuo’s intentions, only to discover Wang Zhuo had already guessed his motive.

Bringing the conversation around to Qin Xue? This old fox harbors ill intentions, Wang Zhuo sneered inwardly, quickly formulating a brilliant counter-strategy.

The topic happened to still revolve around Shengshi Dynasty. Wang Zhuo smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, Zhongzheng Group currently has a small, mediocre-performing cosmetics enterprise up for divestiture. Its business scope is identical to Daming Group’s. I wonder if you have any interest in taking it over?"

A jolt went through Qin Xiangrong’s heart. Zhongzheng and Shengshi Dynasty were practically intertwined now. What was being shed were strictly non-performing assets, and this cosmetics producer was one of the hardest-hit casualties—an asset almost insolvent on paper. This was a piece of rotten flesh requiring money to dispose of. Wang Zhuo bringing this up while holding leverage over him meant there was no way he was offering this enterprise as a giveaway; he clearly intended to sell it dearly to Daming Group.

Finally, the condition is set! Li Huifeng maintained the demeanor of an old monk in deep meditation, outwardly appearing oblivious to everything happening around him, yet internally, agony was brewing. If Qin Xiangrong's price was swallowing this garbage loss-making company, then what colossal price would he himself have to pay? He had initially assumed compensating with one or two high-end apartments would suffice; he never imagined Wang Zhuo’s appetite was so enormous.

Qin Xiangrong's mind raced. Steel his nerves, he said in a low voice, "Since we aren't outsiders, I'll speak plainly from the heart: as long as the boy is safe, everything else is negotiable."

In his view, Li Huifeng and Yuan Xinyu were indeed not strangers; their sons and nephews were involved parties, and Wang Zhuo held the trump card against them. Furthermore, Wang Zhuo was clearly the dominant force. By taking the lead in making this concession, Qin Xiangrong was both signaling goodwill to Wang Zhuo and bridging the distance with the other two. He dared not claim solidarity, but at least it suggested mutual support, right?

Seeing Qin Xiangrong yield so completely, Li Huifeng hardened his resolve and nodded in agreement.

Wang Zhuo had no time to pay attention to the submissively waiting Li Huifeng. He was waiting for Qin Xiangrong’s words. He smiled faintly again. "Mr. Qin, so what you mean is, if I agree to let your son go, Daming Group will unconditionally take over that cosmetics enterprise from Zhongzheng Group?"

The implications of the word "unconditionally" were immense. However, Qin Xiangrong quickly reasoned: If Wang Zhuo and Qin Xue dared to make exorbitant demands, he dared to splash the cash to take it. After all, the one appearing greedy would be them, not him. After the incident, they would naturally be responsible for smoothing things over. Coupled with this recording, that should be enough for his own protection, at least to some degree.

Gritting his teeth, Qin Xiangrong stated firmly, "Then it's settled. As long as Qin Zeyu is unharmed, Daming will take the company."

These words should not have been spoken in front of Li Huifeng and Yuan Xinyu, but Wang Zhuo showed no indication of wanting a private talk. Moreover, Qin Xiangrong had another plan: if the recording proved useful later, these two would serve as witnesses.

"Then I wish our collaboration success," Wang Zhuo said with a smile, standing up and extending his right hand toward Qin Xiangrong.

Qin Xiangrong quickly rose to shake it. This old fox was coldly sneering internally, when suddenly he felt Wang Zhuo’s gentle palm transform into an iron clamp. The sudden pain made him cry out, "Ah!"

Li Huifeng and Yuan Xinyu were frozen in surprise and confusion by the scene. Immediately afterward, they watched Wang Zhuo swiftly use his left hand to reach into the left interior pocket of Qin Xiangrong’s suit jacket, retrieving the mobile phone.

Qin Xiangrong’s soul nearly flew out in terror. Ignoring the clamped right hand, he reached out with his left to snatch it back. But he was no match for Wang Zhuo. The moment his hand extended, an irresistible twisting force radiated through his right arm. His body was involuntarily forced upright, and his left hand retreated. The agonizing pain in his arm felt like it might snap; to alleviate some of the agony, his toes curled up involuntarily.

"This recording... seems like it might be quite useful, doesn't it?"

Smirking, Wang Zhuo stopped the recording. With a forceful shove of his right hand, he pushed Qin Xiangrong back down onto the sofa.

"Damn it!" Yuan Xinyu and Li Huifeng both broke out in a cold sweat right there. This recording implicated not just Wang Zhuo, but also Qin Xue. Had Qin Xiangrong’s mind been clouded by grease, or had he gone utterly mad? This was like lighting a lantern in a latrine—suicidal!

All their accumulated animosity instantly shifted from Wang Zhuo to Qin Xiangrong. If Wang Zhuo mistakenly believed the recording was part of a conspiracy among the three of them, he could wipe them out without a trace. Qin Xiangrong, oh Qin Xiangrong, you aren't just pockmarked; you're actively digging our graves!

Qin Xiangrong, acting like a madman, tried to leap up from the sofa to grab the phone again as soon as he was pushed down. But this time, Wang Zhuo didn’t even need to move. Yuan Xinyu and Li Huifeng immediately pounced, one on each side, pinning him securely to the sofa.

"Let's see what other secrets this phone holds," Wang Zhuo said, leisurely sitting back down.

He first checked the call log. Within the last hour, Qin Xiangrong had made numerous calls, the vast majority outgoing. Judging by the frequency, these calls were almost certainly related to Qin Zeyu’s predicament.

After reviewing the call history, Wang Zhuo scrolled to the text messages and made a major discovery. Qin Xiangrong had sent a text message to an unnamed number, instructing the recipient to promptly investigate countries that did not have extradition treaties with China.

Who would care about that kind of information? The answer to that question was glaringly obvious. It seemed Qin Xiangrong had something to hide deep down; no wonder he kept trying to steer the conversation toward Qin Xue with veiled questions. Wang Zhuo instantly understood the whole sequence of events.

"Police outside, two officers, come in," Wang Zhuo called out loudly.

Two officers quickly entered.

"Director Yuan, the situation has changed. Have them cuff Mr. Qin first."

Everyone except the frantically struggling Qin Xiangrong was utterly bewildered—why the handcuffs?

Seeing Yuan Xinyu hesitate, Wang Zhuo snorted impatiently. "I already gave you the opportunity, don't you dare waste it?"

"Mr. Qin, please forgive me for this," Yuan Xinyu turned and snapped at the two junior officers, "Hurry up and do it!"

Soon, Qin Xiangrong was handcuffed to a heavy cast-iron safe by the two patrolmen, Li Huifeng, and Yuan Xinyu—four people working together. Powerless, Qin Xiangrong squatted there, his face ashen, not uttering a sound.

"Take him out. I need to make a call," Wang Zhuo said, taking Qin Xiangrong’s phone and striding out.

A short while later, he returned. After dismissing the two police officers, he told Li Huifeng, "Take your son and go now. I will contact you later."

Li Huifeng, unsure of what had transpired, muttered an anxious affirmation and hurried out of the office to fetch his son.

"Director Yuan, someone will be here shortly to take custody of him. I have to leave first." Before turning away, Wang Zhuo paused for a moment, then handed Qin Xiangrong's phone to Yuan Xinyu, saying, "Your nephew's situation now depends on your performance going forward."

Having given his instructions, the formidable figure simply dusted off his hands and left, leaving Yuan Xinyu standing in the office, completely baffled about what had just happened.

After a few moments of stunned silence, Yuan Xinyu suddenly remembered that Wang Zhuo had left many things unresolved. Li Huifeng and his son could leave, but what about Qin Zeyu? Should he be sent to the hospital or kept in custody?

While he was hesitating, Qin Xiangrong whispered quietly, "Brother Yuan, please give me a chance. Just one phone call?"

Yuan Xinyu was conflicted again. If Wang Zhuo had explicitly forbidden Qin Xiangrong from making calls before leaving, he would have had a ready excuse to refuse. But since Wang Zhuo hadn't said anything, Yuan Xinyu now lacked grounds for refusal. Yet, if this call led to any trouble for Qin Xiangrong and Wang Zhuo subsequently questioned him, what would his defense be?

Seeing Yuan Xinyu’s distress, Qin Xiangrong pleaded urgently, "Brother Yuan, just one call. I'll return the phone immediately after. I absolutely promise to repay this great kindness heavily later, alright?"

Yuan Xinyu was starting to waver. Despite being currently matched in standing, Daming Group was about to go public, and Qin Xiangrong’s market value wouldn't be what it was today. If he offered help in this moment of need, the reward would surely be substantial...

"Here, make the call quickly," he said, pulling out his own phone and handing it over, his ears pricked up alertly.

Unexpectedly, Qin Xiangrong didn't immediately take it. Instead, he stared fixedly at his own phone. After a long pause, he sighed heavily and squatted back down.

Yuan Xinyu instantly understood: the man was actually hoping to get his phone back to delete the evidence within. This enraged the Deputy Director. I try to help him out of goodwill, and this is what he schemes? If the contents of that phone vanished, wouldn't Wang Zhuo flay him alive?

Nearly getting screwed over again by this young man, Yuan Xinyu, furious, snatched the tissue box from the desk and hurled it at him.

Meanwhile, Li Huifeng and his son, Li Runqian, were miserably speeding toward the hospital by car. Li Huifeng felt both heartache and sharp financial pain. Heartache for his son’s battered state—his nose was so swollen he could only breathe through his mouth and could barely speak clearly; financial pain over the other party’s appetite—it was clear now that a few million wouldn't cover it. This time, they were truly facing a massive hemorrhage.