Chapter Sixty: Riding the Tiger

Li Zimu and Xu Si had just exited the bank when a luxury car pulled up. He whispered to Xu Si, “There are luxury cars everywhere! Xu Si, when you rise to the top after getting close to him, don’t forget me!”

Xu Si hurriedly replied, “Brother, come on, if you hadn’t always looked after me, I’d probably still be slaving away in the factory, working overtime day and night!”

Li Zimu flashed a sly grin, “As long as you gain He Wentian’s trust, I believe you’ll make a fortune. At the very least, we’ll never have to worry about selling our goods again! Just a few more deals like this, and we’ll truly reach the peak of our lives!”

Encouraged by Li Zimu, Xu Si was elated. “He Wentian may be crazy, but he’s certainly rich. Hearing you say all this, I can’t help but get a little overexcited!”

Officer Li, listening in through the bug Xu Si wore, sneered coldly. “Greed can so easily turn into poverty! The greedier you are, the more I like it.”

“Zhi-ge? It’s me, Xu Si.” Xu Si dialed Liang Lingzhi’s number.

“What is it?”

“I just saw He Wentian at the bank!”

“What?! He got out so quickly?!”

“Yes, he told me to find you tomorrow, bring the antiques we bought today, and go see him.” Xu Si tried hard to control his excitement, but his pace of speech betrayed him.

On the other end, Liang Lingzhi hesitated. “You don’t need to come tomorrow. I’ll go see him myself.”

Xu Si froze, panic rising in his heart. “Is Liang Lingzhi planning to take all of He Wentian’s reward for himself?”

He quickly asked, “Zhi-ge, what’s this about?”

Liang Lingzhi replied coldly, “Xu Si, don’t think your Zhi-ge is a fool. The person who took the olive vase to auction was your big brother Li Zimu. I’ve already found out. After you got out of prison, the starting price for that olive vase jumped from twelve million to fifteen million. I believe I don’t need to spell out the trick here, do I? If He Wentian finds out you’re playing both sides, given how ruthless he is, do you think he’d let you walk away?”

Liang Lingzhi’s words doused Xu Si’s burning enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water. His face changed. “Zhi-ge, let’s talk this out, let’s talk this out.”

Liang Lingzhi chuckled on the phone, “If you want to keep relying on He Wentian, that’s fine—but…”

Xu Si exchanged a glance with Li Zimu and asked quickly, “So, what do you want us to do, Zhi-ge?”

“This antique auction business—count me in.”

As soon as Liang Lingzhi spoke, Li Zimu’s eyes blazed with fury. “Damn it! The richer people get, the greedier they are!”

He signaled Xu Si to continue; Xu Si asked Liang Lingzhi, “How do we include you?”

“Well, let me see the antiques first. If they’re good, I’ll keep them for myself and find a chance to deliver them to He Wentian alone. If they’re not, you can take them to the auction, do as you please.”

Xu Si hesitated. “But then my big brother will barely get anything out of it.”

“Even a little is better than nothing, idiot!” Liang Lingzhi threatened, “It’s worse to have money but no life! Do you really think He Wentian got out of prison so quickly after almost killing two inmates just because he’s handsome? Don’t be naïve! He’s ruthless! Don’t blame me, blame your own greed!”

The officers in the surveillance room listening to their conversation couldn’t help but laugh. “Liang Lingzhi’s acting is getting better and better. Looks like his time in prison taught him a thing or two.”

Liang Lingzhi snorted and hung up. The exuberance that had filled Xu Si and Li Zimu moments ago was now replaced by utter frustration.

The gap between heaven and hell, narrowed in an instant, leaving them no chance to prepare.

After a long silence, Xu Si muttered, “Now what, big brother?”

Li Zimu looked dejected. “Liang Lingzhi wants to replace us! Even if we only get the scraps, it’s better than losing our lives. Who would’ve thought Liang Lingzhi would turn on us so quickly. Our dreams of getting rich are probably dashed.”

Xu Si was miserable. “It’s true, madmen’s money is hard to earn. Now big brother’s been screwed, too.”

Suddenly, an idea struck him. “Big brother, what if we refund the difference in the starting price to He Wentian? Maybe he’ll let it go. After all, I saved him once!”

Li Zimu scolded, “Are you stupid? You saved him, but I didn’t! And it’s not like he’s short on money. He’s angry because I tricked him, and he’s a madman—he won’t listen to reason. Maybe you’ll get away, but I’ll wind up dead in a field somewhere.”

He rubbed his chin, thinking, “Rather than tying myself to these two ticking time bombs, Liang Lingzhi and He Wentian, maybe I should just take the thirty million…”

But he quickly shook his head. “If I betray Lord Wei and the others, and they catch me, the consequences will be dire.”

The fear of Lord Wei and his associates flashed through his mind—a few brief images, but enough to keep him awake all night.

Luxury cars passed one after another. Drivers got out to open doors for their bosses, bowing respectfully as they saw them off.

Li Zimu looked at the luxury cars around him, then at the towering commercial buildings, his frustration mounting. “This city is full of rich people. They drive luxury cars, live in mansions—why do people like me have to grovel behind Lord Wei and the others? Always pleasing the front, never welcomed at the back—it’s humiliating! Am I any different from those bowing drivers?”

Suddenly, his gaze hardened, a wicked resolve rising within him. “The money is still in my hands, isn’t it? And Lord Wei and the others haven’t suspected me yet. Why not go all the way—take the thirty million and flee abroad! If I succeed, I’ll live like a king forever!”

He looked at the frustrated, despondent Xu Si beside him, feeling a pang of guilt. “If I leave alone, Xu Si will take the fall. He’s followed me for years, after all…”

“Xu Si, do you trust me?”

Xu Si was stunned by the question and replied, “Big brother, since the day I called you my big brother, I’ve trusted you unconditionally. You’re not doubting my loyalty now, are you?”

Li Zimu slapped Xu Si’s shoulder hard. “How about I take you abroad with me?”

Xu Si wasn’t stupid; his eyes filled with fear. “Big brother, you mean we’re going to pocket the thirty million?”

Li Zimu lowered his voice and laughed coldly. “Xu Si, thirty million! We could never earn that amount in a lifetime! Once we're abroad, I’ll give you ten million!”

“Ten million!” Xu Si stared blankly at Li Zimu’s raised finger. “Ten million—not ten thousand!”

“With that kind of money, why take crap from these madmen and fools? We can live with beautiful women, eat, drink, and enjoy ourselves!”

Spurred on by Li Zimu, Xu Si’s eyes lit up. “Big brother, but don’t you have superiors? Aren’t you afraid—”

Li Zimu replied coldly, “They’re just tomb-robbing miners. We’ve been in the underworld long enough; what’s to fear? The money’s in our hands—we’re in control. I have two friends who arrange illegal crossings; we could leave tonight!”

Li Zimu’s claim of not fearing Lord Wei and the others was a lie—after all, the last fence who tried to escape with the money ended up dead right in front of him. But faced with the lure of so much money, Li Zimu was willing to risk it all.

Xu Si breathed heavily, looking at Li Zimu’s determined face. “Big brother, I’ll follow you!”

Li Zimu gripped Xu Si’s shoulder tightly. “Good brother, let’s go all in!”

In the surveillance room, young Wang couldn’t help but give Officer Li a thumbs-up. “Boss, your plan is brilliant! How did you manage to read Xu Si and Li Zimu’s minds so well?”

Officer Li, covering his headset, eyes blazing, replied, “Thirty-five years’ experience dealing with criminals! When people have no way out, they’re most likely to betray—and get greedier, too. Their methods become ruthless! To understand their weaknesses, I even consulted a psychologist. I’ll never let our undercover agents be sacrificed again!”

The meticulously prepared plan flashed through Officer Li’s mind. He chuckled coldly. “Comrades, the plan is proceeding smoothly. Stay sharp, everyone—the real drama is about to begin!”