Chapter Nine: Dumbfounded

When Qiao Yifeng returned once more, Xiao Cheng was staring blankly at ten plates of donkey liver and lung. The dish was truly just liver and lung, and both organs were wholly intact, leaving Xiao Cheng completely devoid of appetite.

Noticing Qiao Yifeng’s entrance, Xiao Cheng swept him with his spiritual sense and found that his heart rate had surpassed a hundred beats per minute, and his eyes burned with a fire he could barely conceal. Xiao Cheng thought this odd—had the man injected himself with adrenaline?

Xiao Cheng sampled a spoonful and discovered the taste was surprisingly good, so he began eating heartily, paying Qiao Yifeng no mind.

Qiao Yifeng, sitting on the sofa, was restless. This wasn't the first time he’d done something like this, but his target tonight was the woman who’d haunted his dreams for years, which brought him a measure of guilt. Still, he knew if he let this chance slip, he might never get another. That he was able to invite Fang Yujia out tonight was entirely thanks to Xiao Guowei’s help; otherwise, he wouldn’t have the slightest hope of getting her here.

Qiao Yifeng steeled himself, stood, took a glass of fruit wine, and handed it to Fang Yujia, saying, “Yujia, we were classmates for six years, and haven’t seen each other for five. You remain as beautiful as ever. For your everlasting beauty, let’s drink this fruit wine together.”

Xiao Cheng, chewing donkey liver and lung, abruptly looked up at this scene. The words tasted familiar—where had he heard them before?

Suddenly, it struck him: wasn’t this the very method he used for dosing people? First, say something they can’t refuse, then slip the drug into their drink and let them finish it.

He scanned with his spiritual sense, and, as expected, caught Qiao Yifeng hiding two tablets in his sleeve. With Qiao Yifeng’s movement, the pills dropped into the fruit wine.

Xiao Cheng saw everything clearly. The tablets were stamped with the letters CML2. He recognized them at once—CML2 stood for “Crazy Make Love 2.”

This was a powerful hallucinogen; once a woman was drugged with it, she’d experience vivid illusions and willingly submit herself to intimacy. The most dangerous part was that upon awakening, she would feel it was all voluntary, never suspecting coercion. The drug was contraband, rarely seen, and only attainable with deep connections at customs.

Qiao Yifeng’s technique was deft; the pills dissolved instantly in liquid, making detection nearly impossible. Unfortunately, tonight he faced the king of rogues, Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng had mastered this trick long ago; to try it in front of him was the height of folly.

Now, real anger sparked in Xiao Cheng’s heart—so this wretch intended to use such means against his sister-in-law.

“Wait!” Xiao Cheng said coldly.

Qiao Yifeng’s right hand, clutching the glass, trembled. Just as Fang Yujia was about to accept the fruit wine, Xiao Cheng’s “Wait” startled him so much the drink nearly spilled.

Xiao Cheng stood, took the fruit wine from Qiao Yifeng’s hand, and shot him a frost-laden glance.

Thoughts raced through Xiao Cheng’s mind. He wanted to expose Qiao Yifeng’s plot outright, but considered that his sister-in-law would never believe him over the outwardly upright Qiao Yifeng. The pills dissolved instantly; without evidence, and besides, he didn’t want her exposed to such sordid matters.

Forget it. If I don’t step into hell, who will? I have nothing to fear, Xiao Cheng thought. He had learned a refining technique from his master, rendering the drug ineffective against him. Only crude herbal aphrodisiacs might have an effect.

“Just feeling a bit thirsty. Thanks, Young Master Qiao!” Xiao Cheng downed the fruit wine in one gulp.

After swallowing, Xiao Cheng wondered: where did Qiao Yifeng get the nerve to target his sister-in-law?

The Qiao family was indeed powerful in Shanghai, but compared to the Xiao family, they were nothing. He realized, though, that his family was a hidden clan; outsiders knew little, mostly hearsay, and even if they knew, their understanding was vague.

Most people saw the Xiao family as merely a martial arts lineage.

In this age of advanced technology, guns had become the nemesis of martial artists, rendering such families insignificant. To most wealthy people, martial artists were just bodyguards…

That was why Qiao Yifeng dared act so boldly—the ignorance of the fool breeds fearlessness.

Qiao Yifeng was dumbstruck as Xiao Cheng drank the fruit wine in one gulp. This was meant for Fang Yujia, but Xiao Cheng drank it instead. Fortunately, he had two pills; let Xiao Cheng suffer.

He was curious—what effect would the drug have on a man? Without hesitation, Qiao Yifeng handed Fang Yujia another glass of fruit wine, smoothly adding CML2 again.

“Xiao Cheng just drank that one; it doesn’t count. Come, let’s toast!”

Damn, again? Xiao Cheng cursed inwardly, snatching the fruit wine from his sister-in-law’s hand and smiling, “Indeed, Young Master Qiao’s fruit wine is quite unique. After one glass, I crave another.”

He emphasized the word “unique” heavily, then drank the second glass down.

Qiao Yifeng was stunned—he had only two pills, and Xiao Cheng had consumed them both.

He wondered what would happen when the drug took effect, but his target was Fang Yujia; he had no interest in men.

CML2 had cost him dearly, bought from Third Master, who reportedly possessed only a few pills himself; it was exceptionally hard to obtain. Disappointed, Qiao Yifeng completely missed the deeper meaning in Xiao Cheng’s words.

It was over. All his plans were ruined. He had intended to use the drug to make Fang Yujia submit willingly, then record it on video. While the effects of CML2 were extraordinary, he had prepared a backup plan—if the drug failed, he could use the video to blackmail her. But everything hinged on successfully administering the drug.

Now both pills had been drunk by Xiao Cheng, and his elaborate scheme had vanished like mist; all his preparations undone simply because Xiao Cheng, that bastard, liked fruit wine. It was absurd.

In truth, this was part of a larger plot. He had not revealed his other purpose to Xiao Guowei; beyond possessing Fang Yujia, he intended to control Shanghai Xiao Pharmaceuticals through her. Now, everything had failed because of Xiao Cheng—truly a harbinger of misfortune.

If only he’d known, he would never have let Xiao Cheng in tonight. But fate is fickle, and there are no “ifs.” Qiao Yifeng was beside himself with regret.

He glared at Xiao Cheng with venomous hatred, wishing he could tear him limb from limb. Xiao Cheng glanced at him, nonchalantly pursed his lips, and burped.

“Is something wrong, Young Master Qiao?” Fang Yujia sensed something amiss, puzzled by Qiao Yifeng’s expression. Her brother-in-law had merely snatched a glass of fruit wine—hardly a big deal given his notorious mischief. She herself hadn’t been bothered, and couldn’t understand why Qiao Yifeng was so furious.

“Hehe, it’s nothing. I just suddenly thought of something,” Qiao Yifeng tried to control himself, gradually calming down.

Since the failure was irreparable, he could only accept it and look for another opportunity in the future.

“Then, Young Master Qiao, let’s discuss our cooperation,” Fang Yujia said. She had come tonight to talk business; though there had been a minor incident, she hadn’t forgotten her purpose.

Qiao Yifeng hadn’t intended to discuss cooperation at all, but hearing her say so, he had no choice but to press on.

“Young Master Qiao, I’m feeling dizzy—must have drunk too much. Could you please take me to the restroom?” Xiao Cheng feigned sleepiness as he addressed Qiao Yifeng.

He had no desire to give Qiao Yifeng any chance to get close, and, having ingested the drug, needed to refine its effects within fifteen minutes—otherwise even he wouldn’t withstand it. But he couldn’t rest easy until he’d dealt with Qiao Yifeng.

Qiao Yifeng, forced to discuss business with Fang Yujia, saw Xiao Cheng’s request as a way out and readily agreed. Yet he remembered Xiao Cheng had just drunk the drug, and felt a chill—who knew what might happen if he accompanied Xiao Cheng to the restroom?

Still, he needed to settle Xiao Cheng. If Xiao Cheng had an episode in the private room, Fang Yujia would surely suspect him.

——

~

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