Chapter 44 Striking a deal with Long Yufei (2)

Chapter 44 Striking a deal with Long Yufei (2)

[No updates tomorrow, compensating chapters would be released today itself.]

Zhang Wei listened intently as Rose, though hesitant, recounted every detail of her small journey with Ye Feng from beginning to end.

She described how she had met him for the first time, when she had unfortunately been cornered by members of the notorious Red Scorpion gang.

It was as if fate had intervened and the hero saving the beauty trope had come to life, as Ye Feng appeared out of nowhere to save her.

Even though Rose had already been shot multiple times, Ye Feng's sudden appearance had been a lifeline for her. After rescuing her, he had vanished into thin air, leaving Rose with nothing but a memory of his heroic feat.

It wasn't until later, after much searching, that Rose finally discovered his whereabouts. She found him living in a dilapidated slum, in an old broken-down house that he rented.

To make ends meet, he sold sausages from a street stall. Despite his humble living conditions, Ye Feng remained a hero in Rose's eyes, and she was determined to repay him for his bravery.

As the new shocking revelation sunk in, Rose was left stunned and doubting her own ears. However, as she confronted Ye Feng, she soon came to realize that he was a man who had always avoided trouble.

Despite her numerous attempts to take their relationship to the next level, he had always maintained that they were just friends.

Rose had made it clear multiple times that she wouldn't drag him into her troubles, but Ye Feng refused to believe that others would behave in the same manner as her.

Today was Rose's birthday, and she had hoped that Ye Feng would finally accept her love.

However, once again, he had rejected her with the same excuse, leaving her to live alone in her small place.

Zhang Wei couldn't help but feel pity for Ye Feng's stubbornness and the nuisance that Rose was feeling. As he shook her head in disappointment, Rose frowned and asked, "Why are you sighing like that?"

Zhang Wei smiled wryly and said, "Ye Feng is a strong man, and even if he were married, he wouldn't hesitate to accept someone with a white and influential background." His words were cruel, yet simple to understand. Rose might be able to become his mistress, but nothing more than that.

Rose snorted in frustration, as if she had already known this. "I never asked him to take me as his wife, just his mistress!" Her words were laced with anger, though it was unclear whether it was directed towards herself or Ye Feng.

Zhang Wei sucked in a cold breath, surprised by her confession. He couldn't gauge this woman's thought process. "You did what?" he asked incredulously.

Rose looked away, embarrassed as if she didn't want to comment any further. "It has nothing to do with you," she said curtly.

Zhang Wei sighed heavily, thinking that this woman was quite devoted or maybe she was so empty that she needed to hold on to the last straw available to her at all costs.

Zhang Wei chuckled inwardly, thinking that perhaps Yu Lei was slowly becoming like the strange woman in front of him.

"Yufei, I don't care about Ye Feng, but I have a deal for you," he said, his voice low and serious.

"What is it?" asked Rose, her suspicion evident in her tone. She completely ignored the foreign term that Zhang Wei had used to address her.

Zhang Wei took a deep breath before announcing, "Hand over the gang to me!"

Rose's eyes widened in surprise at his audacious request. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"I want to take over the gang," Zhang Wei explained. "I know that you're the one in charge now, and I believe that you have the power to make this happen."

Rose regarded him skeptically, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

She wasn't sure what to make of his proposal, and her doubts were evident in her cold, calculating voice. "Why would I hand over my gang to you?" she asked, eyeing him warily.

Zhang Wei met her gaze steadily, his eyes unflinching. "Because you have no other choice," he replied simply. "And I can become your backer, helping you take over the whole underworld."

Rose couldn't help but let out a sudden, unexpected giggle. It was as if she had just heard the best joke of her life. "If I have no choice, why bother asking for my opinion?" she said fearlessly.

Zhang Wei narrowed his eyes, taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. He thought for a moment before coming to a conclusion. "It sounds like someone is forcing you to be here," he said, his tone even.

Zhang Wei realized that Rose wasn't laughing at him, but rather at the person who had forced her into her current situation.

He understood that the similarity of the situations had triggered a phenomenon called transference, causing her to react to him as she would to that person.

Rose was startled and pressed her lips together, looking away as if not wanting to reveal more information.

Zhang Wei simply shrugged, not particularly interested in hearing her sad backstory.

Zhang Wei asked once again, "So, are you willing to hand over the gang to me?"

Rose smiled wryly and said, "Do what you want." She felt that negotiating with him was pointless. He was like a god with supernatural powers, and there was nothing she could do to resist him.

Zhang Wei shook his head, realizing that she still didn't understand his proposal. "I don't want to run your gang," he explained. "You would continue to be the leader, reporting only to me. Do you understand that now?"

Rose's eyes trembled, and she declared, "I am not your slave!"

Zhang Wei chuckled and replied, "Then become one."

Rose's eyes flew open in shock, but she refrained from commenting on the audacity of Zhang Wei's words.

He could see the indecision in her gaze and chuckled, confident in his power over her. "Ye Feng may be strong, but he can't save you from me. Your attraction to him is merely a result of your loneliness. You have two options: become my slave willingly, or I will make you one by force."

Although Rose was infuriated with Ye Feng, Zhang Wei believed that she was not beyond repair.

He could have simply taken her as his slave by force and branded her with his seal, but he found her loyalty based personality quite endearing.

It would be better if she become loyal to him, so he decided to give her a chance to choose for herself.

Her eyes narrowed as she fell silent, contemplating her options. She knew her own heart better than anyone.

Rose's eyes narrowed as she regarded Zhang Wei with suspicion. "How do you know that Ye Feng is strong? Were you spying on us?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

Zhang Wei chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "No, I don't have time to spy on you," he replied. "I can just tell who is weakling from distance."

Rose's face twisted in confusion. "Weakling?" she muttered, her mind struggling to comprehend how powerful someone would have to be to consider Ye Feng as weak.

After a moment of contemplation, Rose let out a deep sigh. "I don't want to pledge myself to someone weaker than me," she declared firmly, her eyes flashing with determination. "I won't be slave of a weakling either!"

Zhang Wei's face twisted into a scowl, and he felt like slamming her head against the wall in frustration. "Miss Rose, look at yourself! You can barely stand up, let alone fight me. I could overpower you easily, and you would be completely helpless. What more do you need to understand that I am already stronger than you?" he spat.

But Rose was undeterred. Her eyes burned with an intense fire, and she stood her ground with unwavering determination. "Without your powers!" she demanded, her voice ringing out clear and firm.

Zhang Wei blinked in disbelief, taken aback by her boldness. "What? Are you serious?" he asked incredulously.

"I said fight me without your powers!" she repeated, her voice unwavering.

A sly smile crept onto Zhang Wei's lips as he considered her challenge. He knew that he could easily defeat her without his powers, but he decided to play along. "Alright, you asked for it. But don't say I didn't warn you," he chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with a predatory gleam.