Chapter 9 – A Blade Hidden in Silk
The night after the gala, Bai Xueqing stood at the window of her high-rise apartment, the city lights of City A flickering like embers. She clutched the file Mo Chen had given her earlier—a profile of the mysterious investor who had taken a sudden interest in the Bai Corporation's declining stocks.
Xu Yansheng.
She narrowed her eyes.
He had no past on record before five years ago. No trace in business forums. No social media.
Just like her—someone who didn't quite belong.
As her thoughts churned, a knock came at her door.
She didn't need to guess.
Mo Chen.
She opened the door, and as expected, there he stood, holding a small bag and a half-smile. "Dinner. You've probably forgotten to eat again."
"Because I'm busy trying not to die again in this life."
He lifted the bag. "Well, even reincarnated warriors need dumplings."
She gave a soft snort and stepped aside.
The apartment was tastefully minimalist—shades of white, cream, and silver. Mo Chen's presence, however, brought a chaotic energy that turned her calm into cautious tension. He was the kind of man who looked too good standing in your kitchen, too confident unwrapping takeout as if he owned the place… or wanted to.
"So," she said, watching him. "Tell me what you know about Xu Yansheng."
He handed her chopsticks. "He's not who he pretends to be. His investments are a smokescreen. He's laundering money, and based on how fast he's moving… I'd say he's preparing to devour Bai Corporation from the inside out."
Xueqing clenched her jaw. "He dares."
Mo Chen's gaze sharpened. "That's not the worst part."
She arched an eyebrow.
"He's connected to the same syndicate that betrayed you in your last life."
The room went still. Even the hum of the refrigerator felt too loud.
"So it's him…" she said coldly. "The bastard who made the poison. Who turned my father's allies against him."
Mo Chen's voice was ice. "This time, he won't win."
A pause.
"Did you know him… back then?" she asked quietly.
Mo Chen leaned against the counter, eyes unreadable. "Only by reputation. I was sent to kill him once."
Her head snapped toward him. "And?"
"I failed. He vanished before I could get to him." He shrugged. "That kind of insult sticks with a man."
For a moment, they stood in silence, only the city's glow reflecting in the window behind them.
Then he added with a low smirk, "But I'm glad I didn't succeed back then."
"Why?"
"Because if I had… I wouldn't have met you in this life."
Her chest tightened slightly, but she masked it with sarcasm. "Smooth line. Practiced that one in front of the mirror?"
He tilted his head. "No. I only rehearse when I really want someone to fall for me."
She rolled her eyes—but she couldn't deny the flutter in her stomach.
Before she could retort, her phone buzzed. A message from her assistant:
"Miss Bai, we've discovered something. The latest Bai Corp board vote was rigged. Evidence points to Xu Yansheng's faction."
Xueqing's eyes gleamed.
"So," Mo Chen said casually, watching her face shift. "Time for war?"
"No," she said, a smile playing at her lips. "Time for a performance."