Chapter 15: Escape from the Tiger’s Jaw
The two of them stood their ground in the private room, neither yielding an inch. The atmosphere was subtle yet charged, tense like a drawn bow. For a moment, it was impossible to tell who held the upper hand.
Mu Qingcheng had originally intended only to gather information, to see whom Shadow’s people were meeting tonight. Yet she had not expected that her actions would yield such an unexpected harvest—nor that she would end up trapped in the room by the very boss of Shadow himself.
She had to admit, this man was tall and powerfully built, his physique solid and imposing. Every move he made spoke of extraordinary skill and fathomless strength. If it hadn’t been for Mu Qingcheng’s desperate resistance, she suspected she would have already been subdued.
And yet, she couldn’t help but sense that this man was holding back, as if deliberately not showing his full hand.
What is he really after?
That thought only made her more determined to escape. She had no intention of being captured by her old rival before she’d even managed to stir up trouble in the Mu family. Although Shadow, like her own organization, operated in the underworld, everyone knew that the mountain backing Shadow was formidable beyond compare. No one understood that better than she did.
Right now, Mu Qingcheng dared not relax for even a second, trying every possible method to break free.
The room was dark, the ventilation system off. In the fierce struggle, a sheen of sweat had formed on her skin; even her palms were slick. Their breaths grew hot, tangling together in the close air, creating an inexplicable sense of unease.
Even though the man was purposefully restraining his presence, Mu Qingcheng could still feel the sheer force of his aura—overwhelming, almost inconceivable. The nobility radiating from his very bones was impossible to disguise. His external identity… surely wealthy or powerful, not someone ordinary by any measure.
But then again, so was she.
At the same time, the man was surprised as well—maybe even a little pleased. It had been a long time since he’d met a worthy adversary, especially one who was as fierce and irritable as a little wildcat.
Even in the dim light, the man’s inscrutable expression was enough to unsettle anyone. Though Mu Qingcheng couldn’t see him clearly, she could keenly sense his gaze.
Just then, the earpiece hidden in the man’s ear vibrated. Seizing the chance as he turned slightly, he stepped back and quickly pressed the answer button.
“Boss, the person has arrived.”
Bang—
Mu Qingcheng realized he was distracted, seized the opportunity, and stepped forward, landing a kick squarely on his chest. He managed to grab her ankle, but still lost the initiative, forced back several steps by the full force of her attack.
Time waited for no one. The impatient little wildcat spun around and dashed out of the room in a flash.
...
“Boss? Boss! What happened?”
Si Nan and Si Bei heard the commotion from inside and immediately got out of the car, ready to rush in. But the moment they set foot on the ground, the man’s deep voice came through the earpiece:
“Stay where you are. No matter what you see in a moment, do not take any action.”
“…Understood.”
The instant the call ended, they saw a dark figure darting out of the club, slipping into a black supercar parked across the street, which roared away into the night.
Most infuriating of all, the license plate had been covered in advance—clearly, the escape had been carefully planned.
“What on earth happened, Boss?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask?”
Si Nan, frustrated, glanced at the taciturn Si Bei, then frowned and turned away in resignation.
****
Inside the supercar
Once inside, Mu Qingcheng couldn’t wait to rip off her wig, letting her damp hair tumble down. She shrugged out of her trench coat, wiped away her makeup, and mopped the sweat from her brow.
Ye Zi was driving, catching glimpses of her boss’s thunderous expression in the rearview mirror. No matter how curious she was, she dared not ask a single question.
When they finally arrived at the old mansion, Mu Qingcheng got out without a word. Her lithe figure, agile as a cat, scaled the wall with a few nimble leaps, and vanished into the depths of the night.