Chapter 373: Big Sis Lavishes 300,000 Just for Your Smile

She knew that if her answer displeased him, she would die without a doubt.

In fact, there were a few things she hadn’t said.

Based on her speculation, Zhao Henian still couldn’t directly contact Dragon Eagle’s upper echelons. The person he was closest with was the one named Wan Ze.

She had thought that Wan Ze, as Situ Bai’s Closed-door Disciple, wouldn’t personally get involved in this kind of underworld dispute. She didn’t know Wan Ze’s men, but she never imagined Zhang Chong would lose.

But the reality of the situation was beyond her expectations.

But this was no time to be thinking about such things.

Xiao Ya took a deep breath and spoke with crisp finality. “I can take over Zhao Henian’s partnership with Dragon Eagle. I can even give you more. I can’t prove it right now, but take this confidential letter. The information recorded inside is enough to make sure Zhao Henian dies without a grave.”

She pulled something out from under her shawl. It was a pale yellow envelope, unsealed and unsigned. On the outside, it looked like a perfectly ordinary envelope.

Xiao Ya handed the envelope over, her movements direct and open, with no hint of any tricks.

“Once this is in your hands, I’ll have no leverage over him… which means my actions tonight will have lost their deadliest purpose. Of course, this is just the first step. I can go with you now. After tonight is over, I can prove everything I’ve said… Then, we can sit down and discuss our partnership in detail.”

Wan Ze looked at the envelope but didn’t take it.

This put immense pressure on Xiao Ya.

Fortunately, after watching for two seconds, Wan Ze reached out and took it.

The envelope was light, likely holding only one or two sheets of paper.

He nodded slowly. “Congratulations. You get to live through tonight, at least.”

A smile finally appeared on Xiao Ya’s face.

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, the tension in her brow eased, and her face softened.

“I’ve always been a lucky person, and I can bring good luck to others, too. I believe you… and Wan Ze, the man you work for, will not be disappointed.”

“Then you’d best not get your hopes up too soon,” Wan Ze said coolly. “I hate being lied to more than anything.”

Xiao Ya’s smile vanished. “Of course.”

Her gaze swept across the chaotic scene as she spoke, her tone becoming businesslike. “I think we need to stage the scene… for example, I was assassinated, fell into the river, and my body was never found.”

“Have your people do it,” Wan Ze said without ceremony.

“Of course.” Xiao Ya nodded. Then her gaze landed on Wan Ze’s mask, a trace of sincerity in her voice. “Thank you for holding back earlier, sir.”

Aside from that one unlucky bastard, none of her other people had died, they were only injured.

She believed that if Wan Ze had really wanted to kill them, her men wouldn’t have stood a chance.

A master who could take down three trained gunmen in two seconds and smash Zhang Chong into a car with a few kicks wouldn’t need a second move to kill.

At Xiao Ya’s command, the remaining gunmen set to work staging the scene, while Zhang Chong sat by the roadside, still shaken from having survived the ordeal.

Xiao Ya grabbed a case from the car and walked with Wan Ze into the woods at the side of the road.

It was less of a forest and more of a grove at the head of the bridge, planted with poplars and locust trees. The trees weren’t tall, but they were dense.

The canopy blocked most of the fog, but the air was still damp and cold, carrying the smell of earth with every breath.

Xiao Ya walked ahead. Her high heels were unsteady on the fallen leaves, and she swayed for a moment before quickly regaining her balance.

She stopped beside a locust tree and turned to face Wan Ze.

Moonlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, falling in mottled patches across her. It was beautiful.

“Assassinated on Hengjiang Bridge, fell into the Hengjiang River, body never found… That’s an excellent script,” Xiao Ya said softly. “Of course, I know you still have your doubts, so I suggest you try contacting your boss, Wan Ze, and have him tell Zhao Henian the news… assuming Zhao Henian is still alive, of course.”

Wan Ze was silent.

He really didn’t want Zhao Henian to die.

Not because he had any affection for Zhao Henian, but because if Zhao Henian died, the final payment would be gone for good.

Five million, plus the promised Martial Skills and antique items, would all be for nothing.

Wan Ze did a quick calculation in his head. The more he tallied the losses, the more it stung.

He glanced at Xiao Ya. “The person you planted near Zhao Henian? Are they reliable?”

Xiao Ya nodded, her gaze firm. “Absolutely.”

She didn’t explain who it was or reveal any details, but her confident tone made her difficult to doubt.

Xiao Ya gestured to the black case in her hands.

It had a leather surface with metal-reinforced corners.

She placed the case on a flat stone and pressed the latches on both sides. CLICK. The case sprang open.

Inside were neat stacks of cash, all crisp, new bills.

“I don’t know how much Wan Ze is paying you.” Xiao Ya turned the case to face him. “But there’s three hundred thousand in here, and it’s all yours. No one besides you will know about this money.”

She looked into Wan Ze’s eyes, her voice dropping so low that only the two of them could hear. “Of course, if you insist on telling Wan Ze about it, then I can only admire what a man of principle you are.”

Wan Ze looked at the case of money.

Three hundred thousand.

‘This woman had the money prepared in advance.’

At that thought, he couldn’t help but sigh to himself. ‘Old Zhao is really no match for her…’

‘Xiao Ya wasn’t trying to buy his loyalty with this money. She was buying his ability to make a choice.’

‘She was basically telling him… You can tell Wan Ze, or you can choose not to. The decision is entirely yours.’

‘A very clever move.’

‘She wasn’t asking him to betray Wan Ze, but rather giving him a reason *not* to tell him.’