Chapter Eight: A honey trap? Aren't you just handing yourself over on a silver platter?

Page 1/3

Ma Xun certainly knew that Long Wu was no good. This guy was just the type to drift with the wind, a pampered only child of an internet café. Anyone who had seen “God of Gamblers II” would recognize how it took shots at us while flattering the other side. But now that the other side cut off his path, Long Wu was trying to head north. As for Bai Xiaohang, in the original timeline, he died a few months later. Some said it was related to Long Wu, but most disagreed, since Long Wu had already fled by then. The shop had closed down. At present, that issue was settled. As for Sun Donghai, he was certainly someone to be utilized. This guy wanted to go to Hong Kong to chase women, while Ma Xun wanted to make big money—each fulfilling their own needs. Sun Donghai and Long Wu had a very pleasant conversation, especially when the latter proposed dealing in Hong Kong film copyrights. Long Wu’s eyes lit up immediately. It was 1996, and the so-called big shots in Hong Kong were all struggling. Next year would bring a financial crisis; in reality, these guys were already having a hard time. Otherwise, why would they shamelessly go north seeking development? Ma Xun was clear in his mind. Next, he should be duping Sun Donghai on one side and Long Wu on the other. To him, it was all the same—just deception. But for now, things had settled. Director Feng and his core team of “New York Storm” had left ahead. That made sense; it was originally just a dinner. Before Hong Jie left, she gave Ma Xun a special look—one mixed with admiration, surprise, and reproach, all conveying the same question: Who exactly are you? Ma Xun understood and answered silently in his heart: I am the one who will drive you crazy in the future. That promise, he would fulfill in due time.

The rain started pouring down unexpectedly, a disadvantage of leaving late. “Brother, where are you staying?” “The Overseas Chinese Hotel,” Ma Xun answered truthfully. Sun Donghai was surprised. “Really? Just back from overseas?” Ma Xun smiled, “That’s a long story.” In other words, he wasn’t going to say. Sun Donghai had a car and offered Ma Xun a ride. But just then, a red sedan stopped in front of them. “I’m staying at the Overseas Chinese Hotel too, on the way,” said Ye Quan Zhen. Ma Xun and Sun Donghai exchanged a glance; the latter looked eager to act but only moved his lips in silent words: Have some shame! So Sun Donghai had no choice but to watch the red car disappear into the rain.

Page 2/3

Spring rain is precious as oil, but as it grew heavier, it felt less valuable, drumming on the car roof irritably. Ma Xun was very annoyed, especially since the car stopped not far from the Overseas Chinese Hotel. He knew Ye Quan Zhen probably wanted to talk, but he didn’t intend to speak first. Inside the red sedan, the two seemed to be in a silent contest of wills—whoever spoke first would lose. After a long pause, as the rain pounded harder as if the car might not hold up, Ye Quan Zhen finally spoke. “Hey, can’t you cut me some slack?” The voice had a coquettish Taiwanese lilt that made Ma Xun shudder before he burst into laughter. “Miss Zhao, you win, alright?” Her surname was Zhao; Ye Quan Zhen was her stage name. “What do you mean ‘win’?” she asked, no longer in that coy tone. Ma Xun could only shake his head with a wry smile, “Alright, I lost.” “How can you be so quick to admit defeat?” “Because this win or lose doesn’t really matter.” “Oh, so you mean being with me doesn’t matter?” “Sister, my dear sister, can’t I admit I was wrong?” Ma Xun was truly overwhelmed. Ye Quan Zhen laughed so hard she shook like a blossoming branch. Surprisingly, her figure was exquisite, her laughter rippling like waves. Yet Ma Xun caught that look and teased her, “You little flirt.” She rolled her eyes at him. Ma Xun wasn’t bothered, chuckling, “I just didn’t want you to talk to me in that overly coquettish way just now—that would make me think you were seducing me.” Ye Quan Zhen smiled and retorted, “In Taiwan, that’s just how we talk.” “Now you’re denying you seduced me?” “Tch!” Unaware of the implication, she continued, “Why don’t you ask me why I gave you a ride, why I want to chat with you?” Ma Xun replied swiftly, “Probably Fifth Brother wants you to get to know me, right?” This surprised Ye Quan Zhen, “You’re really smart.” Ma Xun laughed, “It’s nothing. When a big shot like me suddenly appears, anyone would want to probe my background.” “Well, you were pretty smart too—what you did at the nightclub just now wasn’t something ordinary people could pull off.” “What’s so hard about it? Didn’t you see? Even if I got hit, it was by Sun Donghai, that guy.” Reflecting on it, it did seem so. Ye Quan Zhen laughed again, still shaking like a flowering branch. Ma Xun smiled along. “Alright, enough joking. Seriously, Fifth Brother wants to investigate you. Now, will you be honest?” Ma Xun suddenly became serious. Yet he kept his playful grin. “So, what’s your tactic then?” Moving closer, he reached out a large hand—after all, he sat in the front passenger seat. When two people ride in a car, it’s polite not to sit in the back. Ma Xun was a polite man; now he was persuading with reason. “Don’t go too far!” Ye Quan Zhen’s face turned cold as the hand approached. Ma Xun laughed heartily, “Miss Zhao, fake sincerity won’t fool me. If you want to probe me, you have to pay a price.” She sighed, “Just call me Ah Zhen.” “Alright, and I hope you start telling the truth from now on.” “What I said before was the truth—Fifth Brother really wants to know your background.” “But I can’t tell you.” “Yes, I lost.” “What? No intention to continue?” “How to continue?” “Ah Zhen, you must understand, he probably wants you to use some method.” “You…” “When a woman probes a man’s background, either she makes the man fall in love with her, or she makes him fall for her body.” Ma Xun’s words were like a sharp scalpel, slicing through all her pretenses.

Page 3/3

“What are you saying? Why so harsh all of a sudden?” Ye Quan Zhen was still trying to keep up appearances, but it was no use against Ma Xun. “Ah Zhen, you want to break free from control, right?” His words shook her. “You… how do you know?” she was startled but quickly masked it. “What control?” “I can help you.” That broke through her façade completely. The beauty frowned slightly. “Help me?” Ma Xun continued, “You don’t know my background, but I know everything about you.” His tone was provocative. Ye Quan Zhen snapped, “What do you know about me?” Ma Xun smiled, “I know who your boss is.” She didn’t believe it and retorted with a challenging smile, “Who? Fifth Brother?” “Wu Dun.” When Ma Xun named him, Ye Quan Zhen was stunned. “You…” “He’s the owner of the film company on the surface, but actually the chief enforcer of the Zhuliang gang.” He said it as if it were ordinary. But for Ye Quan Zhen, it was like a plunge into an ice cellar. “Do you believe I can help you now?” Ye Quan Zhen pursed her lips. “I also know there’s someone you like.” “Who?” she asked, nervously. Ma Xun was blunt. “That person is very famous. You’ve worked with him, but you were only a minor role by his side. Besides, he has a wife. His wife is famous too. And he’s good at kung fu, fights in movies that are quite entertaining…” Each of these details sounded like a horror story to Ye Quan Zhen. “Please! Stop! Stop talking!” She seemed completely shattered. “Do you believe I can help you now?” “Yes! I completely believe it. I’ll do whatever you say.” “Hmm, you’re quite smart after all.” Ye Quan Zhen was not stupid. She understood the world’s basic principle: to gain something, you must first give. Though Ma Xun kept saying he’d help her break free, Ye Quan Zhen had to show some ‘sincerity’ first. At this moment, she truly resembled Akina Nakamori. That Hong Kong Fifth Brother, with this beauty trap—was he really just giving her away?