Moreover, Li Lang felt the supposed alliance between the Dapeng Commercial Society, the Wang Family, and the Ye Family was completely absurd!

If even this is true, then anything could be true!

Meanwhile, Xu Ke watched Li Lang's retreating figure, a smile playing on his lips.

「...」

BEEP. BEEP.

The call connected.

"Hello?" Duan Chongfeng's voice came from the other end.

Li Lang spoke respectfully, "Boss Duan, hello, this is Li Lang of the Li Family."

"Li Lang? Oh... it's you! What's wrong?"

"It's about yesterday, Boss Duan. I wanted to ask how the matter of Xu Ke hitting me was handled," Li Lang inquired, his expression tense.

"Xu Ke hit you?" Duan Chongfeng sounded taken aback, then confused. "Ye Fan already came to see me. He said it was just a spat between hot-headed young men and that you had already reconciled, right?"

Hearing this, rage flared in Li Lang's eyes.

Didn't Ye Fan say he had given Duan Chongfeng a piece of his mind and even had him condemn the Wang Family? How did it turn out like this?!

"Yes, yes... You're right, Boss Duan. I must have misremembered," Li Lang said, forcing a laugh.

"Haha, well, that's good then!" Duan Chongfeng said cheerfully.

Li Lang suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, Boss Duan, were you at the Golden K Bar yesterday? I thought I saw you nearby."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Duan Chongfeng's voice changed drastically, as if he had been electrocuted. "What Golden K—"

Li Lang's gaze sharpened instantly.

But Duan Chongfeng quickly composed himself. "Ahem, I went to bed quite early last night. You must have mistaken me for someone else."

"Oh, oh, that must be it, that must be it," Li Lang said, again with a forced laugh.

"Alright, I have to go..."

Duan Chongfeng, however, seemed flustered and hurriedly ended the conversation.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer, Boss Duan!"

Li Lang hung up the phone, his heart sinking into a pit of despair.

All this time, I thought Duan Chongfeng was on good terms with Xu Ke, which was why he only gave the Wang Family a symbolic verbal reprimand instead of punishing Xu Ke on my behalf... But then I thought, how could a loser like Xu Ke possibly have the connections to know Duan Chongfeng? Impossible!

Only now did he understand. That good-for-nothing Xu Ke indeed didn't have the ability to know Duan Chongfeng.

Duan Chongfeng refused to stand up for me simply because the Ye Family, the Wang Family, and he had already formed an alliance. On top of that, the Ye Family wants to eliminate our Li Family to mend their relationship with the Wang Family. It all makes perfect sense now!

Realizing this, Li Lang was no longer in disbelief; instead, his rage surged.

The Ye Family... We, the Li Family, have been so loyal to you, and this is how you repay us? This is utterly cold-hearted!

「...」

Seeing Li Lang hang up and walk back with a grim expression, Xu Ke raised an eyebrow. Looks like Brother Duan's acting didn't let me down!

In truth, the main reason he had Duan Chongfeng play along was to add weight to his words. Xu Ke knew very well that some of his claims, while intimidating at first, were full of holes upon closer inspection. Therefore, he needed to overwhelm Li Lang's mind with a flood of information in a short amount of time, complete with evidence to prove that most of it was true.

This way, Li Lang would be convinced the Ye Family truly meant to harm him, leaving him with no choice but to cooperate with me!

"Well?" Xu Ke asked, looking at Li Lang with a gentle smile.

Li Lang took a deep breath. "It seems everything you said was true."

By this point, he was completely convinced...

Xu Ke smiled. "So, what have you decided?"

Li Lang looked at Xu Ke, his face suddenly clouded with hesitation. Betraying the Ye Family... that wasn't a decision to be made lightly.

Seeing this, Xu Ke continued, "You have two paths. One, you refuse to cooperate with me. The Wang and Ye Families officially form an alliance, the Dapeng Commercial Society enters the picture, and your Li Family is used as a sacrificial pawn for the Ye Family's apology to us before being eliminated."

"Two, you cooperate with me. I'll stab the Ye Family in the back, which will prevent their alliance with the Wang Family. The Dapeng Commercial Society will also retreat. At that point, the Ye Family will still need your Li Family, and you will naturally be able to save yourselves."

"The choice is yours."

Li Lang's expression was uncertain. Finally, he stammered, "I..."

He was still hesitating.

Unfazed, Xu Ke said calmly, "Li Lang, let me be honest with you. My only real conflict has always been with your brother, not you."

"The Ye Family is now planning to use your family as a sacrifice. If you can seize this chance to resolve the crisis, won't you finally be able to hold your head high in front of your father?"

"Furthermore, if I succeed, this act alone will earn you great merit with the Wang Family. Besides the Ye Family, wouldn't the Wang Family be the best possible escape route for you?"

"You should consider it."

Li Lang's face was stiff, but after a long moment, his expression gave way to a sigh. "Give me one day to think it over!"

He was tempted.

Xu Ke nodded with a smile. "Of course."

With that, he stood up. "Then give it some thought. I'll be going now."

"Alright, Young Master Xu, take care..." By now, Li Lang's form of address had completely changed.

Just as Xu Ke was about to disappear from view, Li Lang suddenly seemed to remember something and called out, "Wait, Young Master Xu, there's one thing I don't understand."

"Ask."

"Why did the Ye Family suddenly partner with the Wang Family? Weren't you two at war?" Li Lang asked, looking baffled. The two families had been fighting so fiercely; how could they suddenly choose to cooperate?

Hearing this, Xu Ke smiled. "Wong Ting is too powerful. Naturally, our 'war' with the Ye Family has to look convincing."

With that said, Xu Ke left the café.

Li Lang stood frozen, shock spreading across his face.

He understood! It was all an act! A performance for Wong Ting and the Huang Family to see! All so they could secretly cooperate behind the scenes, biding their time...

Li Lang sucked in a cold breath. The schemes of the Ye and Wang Families ran far too deep! This move fooled everyone in Tianhai!

But then, a smug smile touched Li Lang's lips.

And yet, he was now privy to such a monumental secret!

「...」

Outside the West Sea Café.

"Mister Xu, is everything settled?" Wang Wu asked, approaching as Xu Ke walked out.

Xu Ke smiled and glanced back through the glass window at Li Lang, who was still sitting motionless at his table. "My part is done. Whether it bears fruit, I don't know."

I've done all I can; the rest is up to fate.

Li Lang might have been convinced, but if Li Shichuan got wind of this, it could render tonight's entire charade useless.

But no matter what...

The potential reward from tonight far outweighs the risk.

"It will definitely succeed," Wang Wu said confidently.

"Then I'll trust in your auspicious words, Uncle Wu," Xu Ke nodded.

"Let's head back. The young miss should be returning soon," Wang Wu said, opening the car door.

"Alright," Xu Ke nodded.

With that, the car pulled away from the West Sea Café.

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