Observing the tangled mess that was Xie Weihuan and Jiang Lun on the surveillance footage, I couldn't help but sigh in resignation, distancing my phone as if to spare myself the proverbial 'needle eye'.

"Weiwei sis, the debt collectors have taken over my house again, leaving my family too scared to return. Could you possibly lend a hand?" Jiang Lun broached the subject cautiously, seizing a moment when Xie Weihuan seemed particularly content.

Her hands paused mid-gesture, her expression clouding over at his request.

"Haven't I just given you money recently? How could you need more so soon?"

"My father, he recently reunited with some old friends and ended up gambling a few rounds, hence the debt collectors this time are a different group," Jiang Lun explained, his hands wringing in front of a displeased Xie Weihuan, his earlier arrogance nowhere to be found.

"How much is it this time?"

"Two... two million."

"Alright, I'll have it transferred to you."

Xie Weihuan agreed without a hint of negotiation, to Jiang Lun's immediate delight. "Weiwei sis, I knew you cared for me the most."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Yet, I was left pondering, wasn't Xie Weihuan just an ordinary gangster before? Could there be a connection to some influential family I wasn't aware of?

She rarely involved herself in business matters; where did her financial resources come from? Was Gong Li'an providing her with that much money?

"And what about the task I gave you? When will that be resolved?"

Xie Weihuan's voice drew me back in, urging me to listen intently.

"Shuang Shuang, that wily woman, claims to like me, yet she won't let me get close physically. Capturing a compromising video of her might take some time."

Jiang Lun, lying on Xie Weihuan, clenched his fists in frustration.

So this was Xie Weihuan's scheme in pairing me with Jiang Lun – a ploy as vile as ever.

In her eyes, my presence threatened her standing in the Chi family, and she sought to remove me using such despicable means.

But can a woman's virtue truly define her entirety?

Only villains like her and naive souls like my sister would think so.

In my view, being assaulted is no different than being bitten by a rabid dog; it's not the woman's fault, but that of the man or the beast.

Xie Weihuan's finger pressed heavily against Jiang Lun's forehead, her touch forceful, snapping him to attention.

"No need for complications; create the opportunity. Expedite this matter, and the funds will follow."

"But..."

Jiang Lun's attempt at further negotiation was cut short as Xie Weihuan, already dressed, left him alone with her swaying dress hem and the sound of the closing door.

He slumped, his head in his hands, wrestling with his thoughts before steeling himself, his fists clenched and his eyes alight with a ruthless determination.

It seemed Jiang Lun was about to up the ante in his mischief.

I reached for my phone to call my college roommate, Yanyan, seeking a respite from the unfolding drama.