Chapter 137: Could Have Lived a Bit Longer

Chapter 137: Could Have Lived a Bit Longer

Gu Wanyu couldn’t be bothered to respond to Li Zhong’s question. She moved her gun, aiming it at Li Zhong, whose forehead was now covered in dense, cold sweat dripping down.

“Scared, are you?” Gu Wanyu looked at Li Zhong with disdain. “It turns out you too can fear under the barrel of a gun.”

Her voice, dripping with sarcasm, made Li Zhong’s face even more unsightly. He dared not make a move, even though he also had a gun on him for self-defense.

Li Zhong had come prepared, as had his bodyguards, all equipped with weapons. However, he had gravely underestimated Gu Wanyu’s capabilities. He had thought capturing this traitor would be simple, but the tables had turned.

“I won’t kill you just yet. If you’re to die, I’ll at least let you die knowing why. Ah Wen, tie him up.”

Gu Wanyu lowered her gun.

Seeing her do so, Li Zhong stirred, but before he could reach his gun, Ah Wen swiftly subdued him.

“I’m sorry, Chairman.”

Ah Wen quickly relieved Li Zhong of his gun and then secured him with a rope, tying him up so tightly that escape was impossible.

“Why betray the Li family?” Li Zhong asked angrily.

Everyone loathed traitors. Li Zhong had been neither stingy nor distrustful toward Ah Wen, placing considerable trust in her by assigning her to protect Gu Wanyu. Though it was under the guise of protection, it was actually for surveillance. If not for trust, why would he send her? And yet she betrayed him.

“What benefit did Gu Wanyu offer you?”

Ah Wen’s expression remained calm, not because Gu Wanyu offered her any benefits, but because she was thoroughly threatened. Her family was the leverage Gu Wanyu used, forcing her to choose betrayal for the sake of her family’s safety. Not betraying the Li family meant not only her own death but also her parents’. A price she couldn’t afford to pay.

Ignoring Li Zhong, Ah Wen tied him up and then retreated to the side, watching with a detached gaze.

“You don’t seem very panicked,” Gu Wanyu said, observing Li Zhong.

His face betrayed no sign of distress, leaving her wondering whether his composure was due to a well-calculated plan or mere bravado.

“Do you really think you can kill me?”

Li Zhong’s lack of panic stemmed from his belief that Gu Wanyu dared not kill him, considering the unbearable consequences. Eliminating him would provoke the Li family’s might against both Gu Wanyu and her mysterious supporter.Cheêck out latest novels at novelhall.com

Gu Wanyu sarcastically eyed Li Zhong, surprised by his unwarranted confidence.

“Who is this man?” Li Zhong demanded, looking up at Gu Wanyu.

“I will... make you all... pay the price,” Li Zhong managed to growl, each word punctuated by pain, his body drenched in sweat from the unbearable agony.

“You won’t have that opportunity. Do you really think you’ll leave here alive?” Chen Luo said, looking down at Li Zhong.

Chen Luo had initially planned for Li Zhong to live a little longer. However, plans often fall short of reality. Li Zhong brought this upon himself. Had he pretended ignorance upon learning the truth, he could have extended his life by a few days instead of facing his end today.

“I have an idea. What if we let him die by his own son’s hand?” Gu Wanyu suggested softly to Chen Luo. “Besides, having Li Qiwen kill Li Zhong gives us more leverage over him, making him more obedient in the future.”

“You really have a dark heart,” Chen Luo said, unable to hide his astonishment.

“Do you... dislike it?” Gu Wanyu asked Chen Luo, her voice laced with unease.

She genuinely valued Chen Luo’s opinion of her.

“No, I actually like it,” Chen Luo said with a smile.

He wasn’t a good person to begin with, so having people with darker hearts around him was preferable, as long as they weren’t malevolent towards him.

“Let’s inform Li Qiwen to come over,” Gu Wanyu said, relieved, and immediately contacted Li Qiwen.

Li Zhong glared at Chen Luo and Gu Wanyu, almost enraged to the point of a heart attack.

“I never thought you could be so cruel.”

Gu Wanyu hadn’t whispered those previous words. She said them outright in front of Li Zhong. It appeared they genuinely planned to end his life. Li Zhong, who had stayed composed, started to feel panicked inside.

Initially, Li Zhong didn’t think they would dare kill him, but with Chen Luo present, they might indeed have the courage.

Given the incident with the Wang family–although without direct evidence–Li Zhong suspected Chen Luo was involved. If Chen Luo dared to annihilate the Wang family, there was nothing stopping him from targeting Li Zhong.

“What good would killing me bring to you? Why not we make a deal instead?” Li Zhong, regaining his composure, looked up at Chen Luo.

“Please, elaborate,” Chen Luo said, intrigued.

Although he didn’t plan to spare Li Zhong, Chen Luo was willing to hear what Li Zhong considered a worthy trade.

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhong began to ponder what Chen Luo might want. What Li Zhong had to offer, naturally, was his own life.