Shadow Heir II: Dark Glory - Chapter 14
10 p.m. the next day.
A steady stream of scantily clad beauties emerged from a procession of luxury cars, heels clicking as they made their way into the blazing hot spot of Yunyan Lake—Queen’s Bar.
At the entrance, Mu Qianyu stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Li Qingchen. Neither moved to enter right away.
“Uncle Chen,” she asked, “any news from Maine?”
“The Linzhou police were… unnaturally efficient with that international arrest.”
Less than a day after the incident, they’d already captured the middleman who introduced the assassin to Mu Ziyang. They even had video footage of the deal going down. What kind of power could pull that off?
“It was an international mercenary team,” Li Qingchen replied. “They were originally supporting the local government in putting down a rebellion in Maine. But then—suddenly—they abandoned the mission and tracked down everyone involved in the Mu Ziyang case.”
“But who hired them? We still don’t know.”
Mu Qianyu fell silent for a moment.
“How much does it cost to hire a mercenary team like that?”
“Depends on the mission,” Li Qingchen said. “But that squad? Their appearance fee starts at three hundred grand.”
A soft smile touched her lips. “Then let’s send a little goodwill—transfer thirty… no, make it a million dollars to Queen’s Bar’s account. He’s been short on cash lately.”
Li Qingchen blinked. “Miss… you mean—?”
“Exactly what you’re thinking.”
She smiled wider and strolled toward the entrance. After a long, exhausting day and night, her steps carried an uncharacteristic lightness.
Li Qingchen stared at the glowing neon sign of Queen’s Bar and sighed, “Well… Su Wuji is Su Rui’s son, after all. No surprise he’s got powerful connections overseas…”
By the time Mu Qianyu reached the door, the bar’s statuesque general manager, Xiao Yinlei, was already there waiting.
The cheongsam she wore hugged her full, mature curves to perfection. Passing customers couldn’t help but sneak a few extra glances.
“Boss lady, you’re here,” Xiao Yinlei greeted with a radiant smile. “Boss and Little Pang stepped out to handle something. They’re not back yet.”
“I knew he wouldn’t stay home and heal like he was told.” Mu Qianyu didn’t even bother arguing with the “boss lady” title anymore. “I’ll wait inside.”
“Please, come with me to the lounge,” offered Xiao Yinlei.
“I’m fine right here,” Mu Qianyu said. “I’ll have a drink and unwind a little.”
She glanced around the place, curious not just about the bar, but the man who owned it.
“As you wish, boss lady.”
Xiao Yinlei brought her a lightly spiked fruit cocktail, then headed up to the second floor.
Leaning on the railing, she looked down over the main hall. The way her cheongsam pulled tight over her chest made it look like it might rip any second.
When she spotted a few tight-skirted girls who regularly played mahjong with Su Wuji entering the bar, she turned to security.
“Tell those little tramps to stay the hell away from the boss tonight. If they mess with the boss lady’s mood… I’ll break their legs.”
Downstairs, Mu Qianyu lounged on a small sofa near the entrance, gently sipping her drink.
Once, she’d hated the deafening music of nightclubs. But after the tangled chaos of the past twenty-four hours, it was… oddly soothing.
Then she noticed a girl walk in.
Young—no more than twenty. Ponytail. White tee. Faded jeans. Backpack slung over her shoulders, clearly heavy. Skin slightly red from sun exposure, but her youthful radiance only made her look more striking.
The front of her shirt read four large characters:
Linjiang University.
This girl
wasn’t here to party. She hesitated after entering, then turned to the bouncers.
“Excuse me… does Su Wuji work here?”
The bouncer gave her a quick once-over. “Why don’t you have a seat? But no promises—you’re not the only one who comes looking for him.”
“He… he told me he works security here,” the girl said, blinking in surprise. “As a bouncer.”
Mu Qianyu nearly choked on her drink.
Security? Seriously?
“Su Wuji, that bastard. Even pure little girls like her aren’t safe.” She scoffed.
Sure, the two of them were comrades now… but his womanizing ways? Still entirely unrepentant.
The two bouncers exchanged looks. It had to be one of those situations where the boss used a fake identity to pick up girls!
“Miss, why don’t you leave your number? If he comes back, we’ll let him know.”
After all, the real boss lady was in the house tonight. If this pretty young thing had any funny business going on with the boss… things might get messy.
The girl thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll just wait over there.”
She didn’t sit. Instead, she placed her backpack gently in the corner and stood quietly.
The simple outfit, the heavy bag, the quiet figure standing against a backdrop of pulsing lights—it was a striking contrast.
But there was beauty in that contrast.
An untainted purity the night could not consume.
Mu Qianyu suddenly felt… maybe things weren’t what they seemed.
The girl’s eyes were too clear, untainted by the grime of the world. And there wasn’t a trace of bitterness or heartbreak in her expression.
She didn’t look like someone who’d been toyed with.
Just as Mu Qianyu was about to walk over and ask, a rattling clunk clunk clunk echoed from outside.
A battered old black Santana—at least twenty years old—lurched into view.
The guards sprang into action, directing luxury cars out of the way to make room for this ancient heap right at the bar’s front entrance.
New customers stared in bewilderment. In this day and age, finding a Santana in working condition was almost impressive.
Mu Qianyu peered out—and sure enough, Little Pang’s enormous frame practically overflowed from the driver’s seat.
As soon as the car stopped, Su Wuji hopped out of the back. A cigarette dangled unlit from his lips.
He slammed the door. It didn’t close.
He slammed it again. Still no good.
With a grunt, he kicked it shut.
Clang!
Mu Qianyu burst into laughter.
“Tell Xiao Yinlei,” Su Wuji barked, eyes blazing. “Get the team ready—we’re taking over Oriental Beauty!”
His sleeves rolled up, fists still red. Those hands had bashed more than a few skulls tonight.
Mu Qianyu understood at once.
Oriental Beauty—a new luxury club on the shores of Yunyan Lake. Business had been booming. Rumor had it that the major shareholder was none other than Bai Xuyang, a young master from the capital.
And now? Su Wuji had just stolen it from under him.
The girl in the shadows suddenly grabbed her backpack and dashed forward.
“Wuji-ge!”
That bright, innocent face glowed with joy. Her eyes sparkled with the disbelief of a dream come true.
Security moved fast, arms outstretched.
“Miss, please stop—”
Su Wuji backpedaled immediately. “Miss, I don’t know you! I swear I’ve never done anything to you, don’t try to pin anything on me!”
To anyone listening, it sounded exactly like the kind of thing a scumbag would say after ghosting a girl post-hookup.
Mu Qianyu’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Well, well… looks like I came at just the right time.”
Let’s see just how much of a player you are, Su Wuji.
[Footnotes]
– Oriental Beauty. Name of a high-end business club; may reference elegance and allure tied to classical feminine aesthetics.
