Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

Zhao Shufang's heartbeat quickened, but she didn't immediately show any signs of nervousness. She knew the middle-aged man before her was no ordinary person, and his words carried a threat that couldn't be ignored. However, Zhao Shufang wasn't one to be easily intimidated, knowing full well that behind every fight were countless strategic plans. She looked at the man sharply, smiled slightly, and whispered, "I'm going to fight you!"

"It seems like tonight is destined to be a restless one," she replied with feigned nonchalance. "Since you're already here, why not get straight to the point?"

The man smiled softly, a smile devoid of warmth, but instead inexplicably cold. "You're clever," he whispered. "I've known for a long time that you're no ordinary person. Your actions today, while covert, couldn't have gone unnoticed."

Zhao Shufang didn't answer immediately, but turned away for a moment in thought. Outwardly, she remained calm, but her mind was racing. Her gaze casually scanned her surroundings, analyzing any chance of escape. The situation was incredibly complex, a game within a game, and it seemed everyone had their own agenda.

"How did you find me?" Zhao Shufang asked, looking straight at him, as if trying to find out some flaws through her words.

"You don't have to pretend ignorance anymore." The man's tone darkened slightly. "We've been monitoring you since you entered the building. You thought your identity could cover up everything, but in this city, many things aren't as simple as you think."

Zhao Shufang's heart tightened. Although she had anticipated the risks involved in this operation, she hadn't expected the other party to see through her intentions so quickly. This meant that the person before her must be supported by a powerful force, and it might even be directly connected to the situation she was in.

"What do you want?" Zhao Shufang asked calmly, her voice steady. "If you're trying to threaten me, I advise you to give up. After all, I don't have the weaknesses you imagine."

The man didn't answer immediately, but remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering her words. "You're certainly not as simple as you appear," he finally said. "However, your cleverness makes you seem even more dangerous. Are you here to seek information on Lu Lingyuan, or do you have other motives?"

Zhao Shufang raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at him. "Lu Lingyuan's information may not mean much to me. I came here for one goal, which is to end this game, and you are obviously on my list."

A cold glint flashed in the man's eyes, as if he were slightly interested in her words. "You know exactly what you want, and you know what you're doing." He suddenly sneered, "But do you know that everything you do is only digging a deeper hole for yourself?"

Zhao Shufang smiled softly, her tone calm, "I'm just dealing with you guys, the people behind the scenes. You've made this situation incredibly complicated, but I know that all power games are ultimately just a game. Do you think your arrangements will make me surrender? It's nothing but empty talk."

The coldness in the man's eyes grew stronger, but he didn't continue his attack. Instead, he gestured for Zhao Shufang to follow him. He slowly said, "Since you're so confident, let me show you the real chess game behind this."

Zhao Shufang's heart trembled. Her intuition told her that tonight's situation was far more complicated than she had anticipated. Although she suspected that these people must have some ulterior motive, she had not expected them to take the initiative to drag her into it. The speed of all this change was so fast that she was even a little unprepared.

"Where do you want to take me?" she asked, looking directly at the man.

The man didn't respond immediately, but instead walked forward. Zhao Shufang was silent for a moment, then followed him. She wasn't about to give in easily, and she didn't want to appear too aggressive in this situation. After all, understanding the enemy's plan was the most crucial step.

They walked through several long corridors and headed deeper into the building. Zhao Shufang remained restless, constantly glancing around. Although she appeared calm on the surface, she was secretly analyzing every possible emergency situation.

Finally, they arrived at a well-equipped conference room. The man gestured for her to sit down, then sat down across from her. He said in a deep voice, "Since you've come this far, let's get straight to the point. I won't waste any more time."

Zhao Shufang sat firmly in her chair, her eyes sharp. "What do you want to say?"

The man leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes slightly. "I know what you're looking for, Zhao Shufang. The so-called 'truth' you've been chasing is actually just a fantasy. Do you think you can change everything by uncovering Lu Lingyuan's secret?"

Zhao Shufang's eyes flickered slightly, and she became wary of what this person said. "What do you mean?"

The man paused, then continued, "You're wrong. Lu Lingyuan's background isn't as simple as you think. What he represents far exceeds your imagination. This game is no longer a personal contest, but involves a deeper network of interests. Everything you see may just be the tip of the iceberg."

Zhao Shufang's heart skipped a beat. Her intuition told her that the man before her was no ordinary figure, and that there might even be a more powerful force behind him. She took a deep breath and said coldly, "Are you threatening me?"

The man was silent for a moment, his eyes flickering slightly. "No, I'm just reminding you. You've gone too far. Turning back might be even more dangerous."

A hint of coldness flashed in Zhao Shufang's eyes. "I don't believe what you said, but I won't back down." Her words were firm and powerful.

The man smiled slightly, seeming to appreciate her persistence. "Well, since you are so determined, let's see how far you can go."