Chapter 156 10

Chapter 156.10

Nighttime in Pearl City, Country J.

A magnificent room featured a half-wall aquarium, where a golden arowana and a white arowana swam gracefully.

Cha Xin reclined on the bed, surrounded by draped bed curtains, with incense emitting lingering white smoke nearby.

He lounged lazily, with an array of delicious tropical fruits within easy reach.

A young and beautiful woman knelt behind him, her slender, pale fingers applying just the right pressure to his temples.

Cha Xin half-closed his eyes, enjoying the massage.

Just then, someone entered hurriedly from outside.

Cha Xin glanced up and made a gesture; at his signal, the masseuse quietly rose and left the room.

The person who entered wore a dress and appeared to be a young, beautiful Southeast Asian woman with heavy eye makeup. However, upon closer inspection, there were some masculine features, such as an Adam’s apple, and the voice was somewhat hoarse and deep when speaking.

Her name was Pan Na, a known ladyboy, and one of Cha Xin’s trusted subordinates, primarily managing some of his bars and inns.

Although ladyboys weren’t as numerous here as in Country Y or Country T, this region still had the third-highest number, and most well-known bosses kept a few around. However, someone like Pan Na, who held significant status, was rare.

Seeing that no one else was in the room, Pan Na sat down beside Cha Xin and said bluntly: “You’ve met that Shen Xi.”

“Mm,” Cha Xin nodded, personally pouring a glass of wine and handing it to Pan Na. “Did the casino staff tell you? He caused a minor stir today, but it’s been handled. He’s an interesting person—ambitious and resourceful, a good potential collaborator.”

He recalled that although Shen Xi’s demeanor wasn’t to his liking, when discussing business, Shen Xi proved exceptionally thorough, showing none of the impulsiveness typical of young people. The proposed plans were also highly feasible, which gave Cha Xin a pleasant surprise about this rich second-gen with a mediocre reputation.

Moreover, Shen Xi’s connections domestically and with travel agencies resolved many practical issues for him. Cha Xin was also very satisfied with the gift Shen Xi brought today and intrigued by his network.

If they could indeed open up new channels as Shen Xi claimed, he could revitalize his resources.

However, this was only their initial contact, and Cha Xin didn’t appear eager to collaborate.

It was clear that both sides wanted to take the initiative, leaving room for further negotiation.

Pan Na had been by Cha Xin’s side for many years, and he trusted her completely. He detailed his meeting with Shen Xi to her.

Hearing the implied praise in Cha Xin’s tone, Pan Na frowned, sensing something odd. She immediately grew alert: “How is he different from the Shen Xi I knew before?”

Cha Xin’s eyes sharpened as he became wary: “You’ve met him?”

Pan Na was still recalling the details. The Shen Xi in her memory wasn’t memorable, so she shook her head lightly, as her interactions with him had been limited.

She said to Cha Xin, “We chatted online half a year ago. This Shen Xi somehow added me—I’m not sure where he got my contact. Back then, he was utterly unreliable, either making inappropriate remarks or trying to pry information from me. He even wanted to use me to get to you—a brainless, washed-up rich second-gen. I ignored him after just two conversations. How did he suddenly become so capable?”

Cha Xin chuckled, his previously furrowed brow relaxing as he pulled Pan Na closer by the waist. “Clearly, you were the one who cold-shouldered him. Now that he’s gone around you to approach me directly, are you jealous?”

Pan Na gave him an irritated look. “I don’t care about that. I’m concerned about the business. Both domestic and international forces are targeting us now. We haven’t secured a major deal in a long time, and our routes are blocked. Just when we’re at our wit’s end, this guy suddenly shows up. He went to such lengths, picking a fight with Khunla at the casino just to meet you, and he happens to have exactly what we need most. When you piece it all together, isn’t it all too coincidental?”

Pan Na often acted on whims, relying on her sixth sense or intuition.

Frequently, her gut feeling warned her something was wrong, and only then would she look for reasons.

Her intuition had always been sharp and had saved her many times.

Her intuition told her that this Shen Xi might be problematic.

Cha Xin was also a cautious man; otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived in such a dangerous business for so long—he was a real old fox.

Hearing Pan Na’s words, he straightened up: "You make a good point. The timing is indeed too coincidental. At times like this, it’s always better to be careful. So, do you have any way to check him out?"

"If someone who knows Shen Xi could come and identify him, that would be the simplest solution. But such a person isn’t easy to find on short notice—I’ll have to ask around. As for other methods…" Pan Na lowered her head in thought for a moment, then her eyes shifted slyly. "Tomorrow, invite him over for a meal. I’ll test him afterward."

Cha Xin pressed for details: "How do you plan to test him?"

Pan Na smirked mischievously, poking Cha Xin’s chest with her finger: "I remember he once boasted to me that he swings both ways, and that he has a few regulars in Pearl City. He even mentioned wanting to visit Paradise Land, but I never paid him any attention. Tomorrow, we’ll bring him there and test him."

Paradise Land was no ordinary hotel—it was a high-end brothel.

In fact, it was the most exclusive establishment in all of J Country. Only the wealthy and powerful could enter; money alone wasn't enough to get you in.

Pan Na was confident in her years of experience in this industry. She could tell at a glance whether someone was problematic or a regular in brothels.

Cha Xin caught Pan Na’s playful hand, buried his face in her neck, took a deep breath, and agreed: "You're clever. The police in Hua Country are extremely strict about conduct. Even if his acting is flawless, he couldn’t possibly find someone to cooperate with him on such short notice…"

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed: "If he’s fake, he’s bound to slip up. If there really is a problem, we can keep him for fun or get rid of him just as easily… or simply, he's yours."

The next morning, Rong Qing kept a low profile and stayed in his room, not going to the casino.

Just around noon, he received an invitation from Cha Xin, asking him to join for dinner.

Looking at the message Cha Xin sent on the screen, he tapped on the screen and replied: "An apology?"

Cha Xin stared at the message Shen Xi sent back and snorted coldly.

He had underestimated this person's vigilance and audacity; no one had dared to probe so boldly on his own turf.

However, Cha Xin did not intend to completely break ties with Shen Xi. After all, he was genuinely interested in the connections Shen Xi possessed and hoped to do business with him.

After much hesitation, Cha Xin suppressed his displeasure and replied candidly, "We'll be working together in the future; I'll introduce you to some people."

Upon receiving this message, Rong Qing seemed to see Cha Xin's frustrated face. However, he did not let his guard down; Cha Xin's willingness to suppress his temper and invite him suggested that he was well-prepared.

Rong Qing stood up, adjusted his facial expression in front of the mirror, and watched as the reflection of himself became increasingly unfamiliar.

He also needed to prepare himself for what was essentially a banquet set up specifically for him, a trap.

As he had anticipated, gaining Cha Xin's trust would not be an easy task. As the local kingpin, Cha Xin had numerous confidants spread across various areas.

Shen Xi had previously interacted with some people in Mingzhu City, and the existing intelligence made it difficult to thoroughly investigate everyone Shen Xi had come into contact with. Therefore, Rong Qing could only adapt on the fly.

The most dangerous scenario would be if someone who had met or recognized Shen Xi confronted him.

His nearly empty phone provided little information, only a few brief conversation records. This lack of information was a disadvantage for his role-playing but also gave Rong Qing ample room to maneuver.

The absence of ambiguous and conflicting information was, in a way, a good thing.

To this day, Rong Qing was certain that Cha Xin had no concrete evidence to prove that he was not Shen Xi.

Let the accuser provide the proof.

He didn't even need to prove that he was Shen Xi, for in the face of overwhelming power, an identity that could neither be confirmed nor refuted was truly insignificant.

Nevertheless, Rong Qing remained committed to his current role. He selected a well-tailored suit from the travel bag, paired it with a thin belt—these were chosen by the logistics department based on Shen Xi's usual style.

After changing into this suit, Rong Qing faced the mirror and broke into a grin, instantly projecting the image of an elegant and handsome young nobleman.

Ever since the snow blindness incident, his eyes had been uncomfortable, but fortunately, his vision remained unaffected. However, his eyes would water in bright light and ache after prolonged use, so he had worn sunglasses in the casino over the past few days.

Tonight’s outing was for dinner, and the lighting wouldn’t be too harsh. The sunglasses didn’t match his attire, so he decided to leave them off, just tucking them into his pocket. He wore an emperor green jade ring on his finger and carried a folding fan.

By evening, Shen Xi stood at the hotel entrance at the agreed-upon time. The moment he stopped, a car pulled up in front of him.

Shen Xi maintained a polite smile, casually handing a few coins to the doorman who opened the car door as a tip, then elegantly took a seat in the back.

After a short drive, the car stopped at an upscale restaurant nearby. This time, it was Ruan Cong, who had been waiting outside, who opened the door for Shen Xi as he stepped out.

A distinctive feature of restaurants in Country J is their garden-style layout—the more luxurious, the deeper the interior.

This one was no exception, as if trying to transplant palm trees and coconut groves into the courtyard, complete with long, winding corridors.

Unlike his courteous and mild-mannered demeanor from the day before, Ruan Cong seemed particularly withdrawn today. He walked swiftly ahead by himself, making no effort to match his pace for Shen Xi following behind.

Shen Xi noticed this attitude. When he had to quicken his steps for the second time to keep up, he stopped in his tracks and stood still, eyeing Ruan Cong with mild amusement.

The moment Shen Xi halted, Ruan Cong sensed it. He also stopped, turned around, and met Shen Xi’s probing gaze.

Based on his behavior the previous day, Shen Xi had seen him as a stepping stone to approach Cha Xin. But given the current situation, it seemed this stepping stone had ideas of his own.

The two stood at a distance, locking eyes for a long moment until Ruan Cong yielded first. He walked toward Shen Xi, stopping three steps away, and bowed his head with a polite yet distant tone, saying, "Boss Shen…"

The gesture was humble, but Shen Xi detected a hint of clenched teeth in his voice.

Now this was interesting.

Shen Xi remained motionless, looking down at Ruan Cong with a sharp gaze that seemed to see right through him. After a moment under such scrutiny, Ruan Cong could no longer conceal his emotions. He straightened up, frowned, and returned Shen Xi’s gaze, his eyes even carrying a trace of disgust.

"What’s wrong, Mr. Ruan Cong? Are you displeased that I didn’t follow your advice to stay away from your boss?" Shen Xi’s tone showed no trace of displeasure; instead, he said playfully to Ruan Cong, as if the sharp gaze from moments earlier had never existed.

Ruan Cong was stunned by how fast this man’s expression shifted. He could only respond respectfully, "Boss Shen, this way, please." With that, he turned and continued leading the way.

Noting Ruan Cong’s noticeably slower pace, Shen Xi took the hint, seemingly unwilling to press further about Ruan Cong’s earlier hostile attitude.

As the two walked through the corridor, nearing the private room area, Shen Xi broke the silence abruptly when no one else was around: "Nie Cong."

Ruan Cong’s steps halted abruptly…