Xu Ke stared at her quietly.

When she came to her senses, the color drained from Qian Hong's face until it was ashen. "I... I'll give you the evidence."

"Please, spare me."

…

After a moment, a pale-faced Qian Hong pulled the scissors out and sat back down, silent.

I get it now, she thought. I've walked right into the tiger's den. Xu Ke might seem harmless, but he's vicious. He'd talk about killing you and act before you could even react. If I confront the Li Family, the worst that could happen is I get driven out of Tianhai. But if I don't give Xu Ke this evidence, I'll lose my life. As for whether Xu Ke gets caught for killing me… what the hell does this world have to do with me after I'm dead?!

Xu Ke watched her, also remaining silent.

There was no way to make Qian Hong submit without getting tough. Of course, I deliberately missed with the scissors just now. Otherwise, there'd be nothing left to discuss.

"So, what's your decision?" Xu Ke asked coolly.

Qian Hong spoke with great difficulty, "You help me, and I'll give you the evidence."

"You give me the evidence and the 150,000, and I'll solve your problem," Xu Ke interrupted.

Qian Hong's eyes widened. "You want the evidence *and* the money?!"

I thought he wouldn't ask for the money if he got the evidence!

"What else?" Xu Ke glanced at her.

"You…" Qian Hong forcefully swallowed the curse on the tip of her tongue. She lowered her head, her chest tight with indignation.

This is beyond humiliating!

"You have thirty seconds to consider. If you can't decide, I'll send you on your way. Then I'll have to start looking for a new place to live," Xu Ke said, standing up with a fruit knife still in his hand.

Qian Hong wanted to stall for time, but the sight of the gleaming fruit knife made her crumble once more.

"I'll give it to you, alright?" Qian Hong pleaded, her face a mask of misery. "But the evidence is at my house. I have to go get it."

"Twenty-five."

Ignoring her plea, Xu Ke started his countdown, the tip of the fruit knife now aimed at her forehead.

"You can come with me to get it," Qian Hong tried, still struggling. As long as she could leave this apartment, her life wouldn't be completely in his hands.

"Twenty."

Xu Ke's countdown was in five-second increments.

"Don't…" Sweat beaded on Qian Hong's forehead.

"Fifteen."

Qian Hong clenched her fists, her face deathly pale.

"Ten."

She suddenly spun around and tried to bolt.

But the fruit knife was faster. It thudded into a thick, 10cm wooden chopping board not far in front of her. The throw was so powerful that the blade sank deep into the wood.

Qian Hong froze.

"Five…"

She whipped back around, fumbling for her phone in a panic. "I'll give it to you! I'll give it!"

Xu Ke watched her coldly. "Two hundred thousand."

"What? Isn't that too expensive?!" Qian Hong's expression changed dramatically. He raised the price?!

As if performing a magic trick, Xu Ke produced another fruit knife.

Qian Hong conceded.

…

A moment later, she said, "That's everything."

"I only have the transfer records. They only paid me 50,000 upfront. There are also screenshots of text messages and call logs from a few phone calls, but I didn't record any of them."

Qian Hong unlocked her phone and placed it in front of Xu Ke.

He took the phone and scanned it, a slight smile touching his lips.

What a fucking cheapskate this Li Lang is. He promised half a million but only paid fifty thousand!

"Very good," Xu Ke nodded slightly. "Now transfer the money to me. You have my bank account number."

"Isn't 200,000 too much? Besides, my bank card has a daily transfer limit," Qian Hong said, the words pained as she tried one last time to stall.

Xu Ke said nothing, just watching her quietly.

A landlord with a transfer limit under 200,000? What a fucking joke.

Holding her phone, Qian Hong transferred the money.

Once he received the notification, Xu Ke took her phone. He used his own device to record a video of himself navigating her phone and sending all the evidence to himself. This way, the proof was undeniable.

Watching him, Qian Hong's face turned ashen.

Now, not only is the Li Family's plot exposed, but Xu Ke has me by the throat. I can't even imagine how humiliating my life will be from now on.

After he was done, Xu Ke handed the phone back to her.

Seeing her look as if she were mourning her own parents, Xu Ke gave a faint smile.

"If you want me to deal with the Li Family, it's quite simple. You give me their evidence, I expose their plans, and they'll have their own fires to put out. They won't have time to bother you. Otherwise, I can't help you, can I, Sister Hong? How could you not understand something so simple?"

Qian Hong swallowed her pride and nodded.

I don't believe a word he's saying. Initially, I just wanted him to ask the Wang Family to put in a good word for me. That would have been enough to get those people off my back. Who knew it would turn into this? I was just too stupid.

Seeing her reaction, Xu Ke said no more.

In truth, he could have explained all this to her without the death threats. But that would have revealed his own desire to go after the Li Family, turning her evidence into leverage she could use against him. If that had happened, she would never have handed it over so easily or swallowed the 200,000 price. She might have even tried to bargain.

After all, to win a negotiation, you have to let the other side know you can—and will—flip the table.

…

A while later, Qian Hong walked to the door in a daze, ready to leave.

But as she was walking out, Xu Ke added coolly, "Send over a new stool and a new cutting board."

He had punctured both when threatening her. Naturally, he expected her to pay for them now.

"You…" Qian Hong was dumbfounded.

Was Xu Ke really that petty?! He's demanding compensation for the items he used to threaten me?! The nerve! What a shameless bastard!

But Xu Ke just kept looking at her with that same impassive stare.

She didn't dare to argue. She conceded once again.

What can I do? I was the stupid one.

…

Not long after Qian Hong left, Xu Ke was about to study the chat logs and figure out how to best use them for maximum impact.

But just then…

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Someone was at the door again.

Xu Ke frowned.

Since when is Qian Hong so efficient?! Getting a receipt from her usually takes weeks, so why the sudden hustle to bring over a stool?!

He walked over and opened the door.

But it wasn't Qian Hong standing outside. It was a man in a flat cap.

"Mister Xu, hello," the man said with a sinister smile.

Xu Ke's face remained impassive. "What is it?"

"I have something to discuss with you, Mister Xu. Mind if I come in?"

"Not interested."

Xu Ke took a step back, intending to shut the door.

But just then, the man shot out a hand, blocking the door.

"Mister Xu," he said, "don't you want to see these photos? I'm sure you'll find them very interesting!"

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