Chapter 69: Jiangnan Group, Open and Aboveboard

The Long Night’s eyebrows arched in delight, but as Crescent glanced over, she quickly assumed an expression of regret—whether convincing or not was another matter.

From outside came Lin Xiaosu’s voice: “I’m done with the rest. I’m going home!”

He descended the stairs and made his way to his car.

But someone else stood by the car, clad in a snow-white suit and spotless white shoes. Compared to his earlier appearance, the only thing missing was his belt—a globally limited edition LV piece. In truth, this LV customization was merely a facade; the belt had undergone another form of customization and, in the heat of battle, became a lethal weapon, stained with blood and left with a gash. Naturally, he no longer wanted it.

This was the real reason behind his lament during the fight: “Damn it, there goes another eight million down the drain.”

Zhao Zhen tapped his fingers lightly on the car, then disdainfully wiped his hand with a white silk handkerchief. “Little brother, your car is truly subpar.”

“In fact, I don’t even own this lousy car. It’s borrowed!” Lin Xiaosu replied.

“When you come to Sheep City, I’ll give you one!”

“Sure! If there’s ever an airborne car expo in Sheep City, I’ll shout at the top of my lungs, ‘Everything’s on Zhao’s tab!’ Then I’ll drive off in the best flying car there!”

Zhao Zhen’s eyes widened; suddenly, he burst out laughing, and the three in the flying car joined in.

By now, it was already past midnight, and Lin Xiaosu was ready to head home.

He opened the car door and slid into the driver’s seat.

Simultaneously, the passenger door opened.

The Long Night got in beside him.

“What’s this about? Can’t bear to part with me, or are you here to hand out a bonus?” Lin Xiaosu joked.

“I actually could give you a bonus!” The Long Night smiled sweetly. “A hundred thousand! Go buy yourself a car!”

“Is this an official bonus? Or are you just doing charity work again?”

She shot him a sidelong glance. “Charity, my foot. Do you think I don’t know? You run a detective agency in Phoenix City, charge ten grand for catching a cheater—you’re not poor anymore!”

Lin Xiaosu grinned. “I think this arrangement works well. Every now and then, I help you with something, you pay me officially—it’s no different from any other commission.”

“Just be happy about it quietly. Don’t make a big deal—drawing attention brings trouble…”

“True. Ostentatious people often end up like withered eggplants—like Crescent, for instance…”

A sudden snort of laughter burst out.

The Long Night clutched her stomach, laughing. “Hurry, or she’ll really catch up…”

“You coming with me?” he asked.

“Do I have a choice? Even I felt that 88 was being a bit too deliberate tonight.”

Lin Xiaosu pressed the gas, and the car melted into the darkness, winding down the mountain road.

In the flying car, Crescent lifted her head to gaze at 88’s impassive face. “Instructor, can we have a heart-to-heart?”

“Yes.”

“Instructor, I’m so wronged. My grievances are rare through all history—why can’t I ever reach the thousand-point mark? Why does this legendary two-point gap always occur? I don’t know if you want to hear this, but I suspect a dark hand is targeting me. I feel like I’ve offended some deity. Like Lin Xiaose, I’m being suppressed…”

She poured out her soul in a passionate tirade.

88’s gaze dropped. “Are you finished?”

“I am!” Crescent replied.

“Then get out.”

Crescent leapt up. “Instructor, aren’t you going to explain?”

“Does the reserve corps’ code require instructors to answer every student’s question directly?”

Crescent shook her head.

“So, get out.”

Crescent was about to explode. “Sister Long Night…you have to judge this!”

She rushed into the car’s partition.

But it was empty!

The Long Night had already slipped away with Lin Xiaosu, leaving the Purple Star Villa far behind.

Their car had already left the Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area in the dead of night.

They’d turned to discuss Master Zhao Zhen.

Lin Xiaosu was truly curious about him.

Even among Hidden Dragon members, those with prominent public identities usually concealed themselves, adopting new looks to carry out missions, fearing discovery and a connection between their public and covert personas.

But Zhao Zhen did not.

He strode out in the most flamboyant fashion.

His entire being screamed “second-generation rich kid.”

His image matched almost perfectly with what the news and social media portrayed.

Wasn’t he afraid people would find out he was Hidden Dragon?

That they would target him and his family for revenge?

On this point, the Long Night smiled. “Why hide your identity? To avoid enemy retaliation. But the Zhao family of Jiangnan Group is already a prime target for foreign organizations. As a rich heir, he’s marked for assassination anyway. Hiding or not makes no difference…”

Jiangnan Group—a private enterprise.

They’d poured immense resources into research, breaking foreign blockades on their own.

Such a company had long been blacklisted by the Western states of Roba, Xilie, and Namo. Seven years ago, the eldest son of the Zhao family traveled to Xilie State, was arrested on trumped-up charges by Eaglefeather, and died mysteriously in prison. The eldest daughter faced an assassination attempt by Hydra and survived—now only Zhao Zhen remains.

Zhao Zhen once said something that moved Lin Xiaosu deeply.

He proclaimed: “Three generations of the Zhao family have done business, and each generation has loved this country! We don’t believe in evil, fear no ghosts, and never aid the enemy. We have a clear conscience. What, do I have to shrink away on my own land? I refuse! I want Hydra to know: my family’s Southern Group broke your blockade, beat your companies in the marketplace, and I, Young Master Zhao, will kill your agents outside the boardroom with a dragon-scale blade! If you have the guts, come and get me!”

The night wind was gentle, the highway deserted. Their small car sped through the empty provincial road, heading back to Phoenix City.

The subject of Zhao Zhen faded, and silence settled.

As they merged onto National Highway 318, Lin Xiaosu finally broached another topic. “How’s Tiger Girl?”

At the mention of that name, the Long Night smiled. “Who came up with that nickname?”

“I did!”

“It’s perfect. She can be summed up in one word: ‘Tiger’!”

Lin Xiaosu’s jaw tightened slightly. “I think I know what you’re getting at... She’s awake, talented, but just like Crescent, isn’t she?”

The Long Night chuckled. “You really understand her… I can’t tell you the details yet, but she’s fine. Now, what about you? Any dangers lately?”

Danger?

Lin Xiaosu’s heart skipped a beat. “I have a photo on my phone. Can you use your Dragon Eye to check who this person is?”

The Long Night reached for the phone he’d placed ahead of him.

“The password is…” Lin Xiaosu recited his unlock code.

She opened the album. “Which photo?”

“The only beauty.”

That beauty was the one he’d met in the library.

She could have coasted through life on looks alone, yet she chose philosophy and art. She should have brushed past Lin Xiaosu as a stranger, yet gave him a painting. She could have left him undisturbed, but instead, with a single strand of hair, she lashed a mosquito to death—leaving Lin Xiaosu profoundly shaken.

The Long Night opened the photo, studying it quietly. “Nice taste, she’s quite a beauty.”

Then she put on her glasses.

Three seconds later, a projection appeared on the car window.

Ding Ruoshui, age 26, studied painting at the Royal Academy of Ruili, went abroad in March 2125, interrupted her studies and returned home in April 2128. Based on airport and railway station records, she visited thirteen provinces and cities in the past two years.

She didn’t work—because she didn’t need to.

Why?

Her father’s information appeared…

Ding Lizhong, one of the three founders of the Longevity Group, holding 12.5% of the shares, with a net worth of billions.

Lin Xiaosu’s heart skipped. “Ding Lizhong, Longevity Group’s shareholder? Show me his profile.”

Ding Lizhong’s information appeared:

The Longevity Group had three founders.

Li Changsheng, Lei Xiaojun, and Ding Lizhong.

Li Changsheng, a master of strategy, single-handedly turned a small private company into a nationally renowned conglomerate, holding a majority share of 53%.

Lei Xiaojun, an expert in management, kept every division running smoothly, with a 24% stake.

Ding Lizhong, the true technical expert, was a university professor who’d researched genetics for twenty years. Though he had no capital to invest when the Longevity Group was founded, Li Changsheng and Lei Xiaojun gave him 12.5% in technical shares. This proved the best investment the group ever made—thanks to his outstanding expertise, Longevity Group built a top-tier tech team and carved out a place in genetic science.

“Longevity Group…” The Long Night’s eyes flickered. “Have you had dealings with them?”

“Not directly,” Lin Xiaosu replied, “but they came up during a case.”

“Which case?”

“The one that led to today’s operation against the Ant Nest.”

The Long Night’s eyes lit up. “Tell me everything about this case…”

So Lin Xiaosu spoke.

Dell Corporation wanted him out of Phoenix City.

Dongzi was the man behind the scenes.

Lin Xiaosu uncovered his identity as a genetically modified human, set a trap, and forced him to flee.

Why force him?

Because individual genetic subjects aren’t what matter—it’s the organization behind them.

As he’d once told Zhou Mei, what the Phoenix police see as earth-shattering is, in the grand scheme, only a trivial matter.

The Long Night listened in silence. When he finished, she looked up. “How did the Longevity Group come to your attention?”

“It was a coincidence. That day, when I went to the Dell Group to throw my weight around, someone from Longevity Group happened to be there negotiating with the Dell boss.”

“A pharmaceutical company boss meets all kinds of people daily. In theory, it’s normal for Longevity Group to do business with them.”

Lin Xiaosu shook his head gently. “No, it’s not normal.”

“What’s off about it?”

He replied, “In all our local news reports, Longevity Group has never been mentioned.”

The Long Night frowned, tracing the logic in her mind…