Xing Jifu was already 54 years old this year. Despite maintaining regular exercise, following a healthy diet, and having dedicated staff to look after his daily needs, he could still feel the years gradually slipping away.

That’s why in recent years, he had been increasingly stepping back from the group’s operations, hoping to hand over most of the legitimate businesses to his eldest son, Xing Yanjun. However, some matters, that entangled the Xing family for decades, and generations, couldn’t be severed at will. The underground forces wouldn’t let you simply retire and wash your hands clean. If you tried to quit, others might come for your life. So for those matters, he still instructed his trusted subordinates to maintain operations as usual, even expanding cautiously when appropriate. After all, only the strong had a voice and could protect the legitimate portion of their business.

He had calculated in his mind – since he couldn’t get rid of it, he might as well separate it completely. This way, the Xing family’s descendants could remain clean while having underground power to support and protect them.

But this game of chess had to be played slowly. He had been a patient man since his youth. This cooperation with Yunnan was both an expansion of new business channels and a bid to gain complete control over the Central China region—they weren’t without competitors. Xing Jifu never showed his face or got directly involved, but he took it very seriously and wouldn’t allow his subordinates to make even the slightest mistake.

So when Xing Yanjun came to report some work to his father today, he noticed his father wasn’t in a good mood. He had a vague idea it was probably about matters from the other side, so he didn’t ask much.

However, Xing Jifu had never been one to show much emotion. Looking as composed as ever, father and son brewed a pot of tea and went through Xing Yanjun’s work-related confusions and difficulties one by one.

Every time, his father’s guidance left Xing Yanjun feeling enlightened, broadening his perspective and understanding of the issues. As someone who had studied abroad and always been an excellent child, he truly admired his father.

After discussing work, Xing Jifu smiled and asked, “Have you met any nice girls lately?”

Xing Yanjun replied, “It’s not that easy. Beautiful women are everywhere, but none that I like.”

Xing Jifu said, “Don’t set your standards too high.”

Xing Yanjun said, “Dad, weren’t your standards high? Mom was both talented and beautiful, shouldn’t I find someone at least close to her level?”

Xing Jifu smiled slightly.

Just then, an internal call came from the secretary, and Xing Jifu answered it. Xing Yanjun held his tea, drinking slowly while watching his father handle work. Xing Yanjun had seen photos of his father when he was young and knew he had been very handsome then. Returning from a prestigious foreign university, tall and fair-skinned, with a scholarly air. Even now, wearing a black suit, his father looked more slim and refined than other entrepreneurs.

Even though his father was involved in some matters that couldn’t see the light of day, Xing Yanjun always felt his father still retained that scholarly air from his youth. He could never associate his father with those cruel affairs. So he always thought it must have been his subordinates who did those things. His father was too busy managing everything to know the details.

Xing Yanjun’s earlier teasing of his father wasn’t an exaggeration. His mother had also graduated from a prestigious foreign university, the only daughter of a famous entrepreneur. After marriage, their relationship seemed to have remained strong, and even though his father had multiplied the family fortune several times over, he had never fooled around outside. If this wasn’t faithfulness to his mother, what was it?

However, as Xing Yanjun grew older, watching his excellent father and how he was with his mother, he always felt something slightly off. Sometimes, his father seemed detached from everything, as if nothing truly mattered to him.

Xing Yanjun even felt that his father wasn’t as successful or as peacefully happy as he appeared on the surface.

He couldn’t yet see why.

He thought perhaps it was because his father was naturally deep and thoughtful. Otherwise, how could a scholar have taken over the family’s years of business and steadily managed both legitimate and underground operations? Or perhaps it was because the Xing family’s massive operations still had shortcomings, preventing his father from feeling truly at ease.

Just as Xing Yanjun was lost in thought, Xing Jifu said, “You should go now. They’re coming over.”

Xing Yanjun nodded, and as he walked out, he ran into Huang Long, Luo Yu, and Guo Feirong. The three of them appearing together meant something big had happened on that side. Xing Yanjun hesitated and asked, “Is everything alright?”

The three of them knew the old master’s intentions and had good relationships with the crown prince. Guo Feirong patted Xing Yanjun’s shoulder: “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”

Luo Yu even smiled and said, “Yanjun, let’s play ball tomorrow.”

Xing Yanjun smiled and agreed.

After Xing Yanjun left, Huang Long said to Luo Yu, “You never miss a chance to curry favor with the crown prince.”

Luo Yu said, “I just get along well with Yanjun.”

Huang Long snorted with a laugh.

Guo Feirong, being more steady, looked serious and worried. He didn’t join in their banter as the three entered Xing Jifu’s office.

Xing Jifu said, “Sit.”

The three sat down, each with different expressions.

Xing Jifu seemed completely unaware as his gaze swept across their faces before asking, “Still no news of A-Hua?”

Guo Feirong answered first: “No.”

A-Hua was considered his direct subordinate. Among Guo Feirong’s several mistresses, one was the most intelligent and favored, and A-Hua was that mistress’s brother, making him Guo Feirong’s brother-in-law. These past few years, A-Hua had worked under Guo Feirong, and being both clever and ruthless in his work, Guo Feirong valued him highly, even mentioning his name to Xing Jifu. Yet unexpectedly, last night, when he was supposed to meet with the Yunnan side, he had vanished into thin air!

Huang Long and Luo Yu also said they hadn’t received any news.

Xing Jifu’s brows furrowed slightly as he slowly rubbed his teacup.

Huang Long said, “Could it be the police?”

Luo Yu gave him a look as if he were an idiot: “Why would the police take A-Hua? How important is he?”

Xing Jifu nodded: “Luo Yu is right, the police wouldn’t operate like this.”

Guo Feirong, being the most concerned about A-Hua, hesitantly asked, “Then who could it be? Could there be a mole?”

All four were quiet for a moment before Xing Jifu spoke first: “Let’s not think that way yet. Only we few knew about the meeting. Don’t lose our composure.”

Huang Long snorted and said, “If there is a mole, I’ll be the first to kill him.” As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance at Luo Yu.

Xing Jifu observed the expressions of his trusted subordinates while drinking tea in silence. He noticed that Luo Yu completely ignored Huang Long’s provocation, seeming lost in thought with furrowed brows.

Xing Jifu asked, “Luo Yu, what’s wrong?”

Luo Yu hesitated before saying, “I was thinking—the Xiangtan Boss has been unusually quiet lately.”

The Xiangtan Boss’s forces had always been both enemy and friend to them, they had fought but also done each other favors. The Xiangtan Boss was known for being fierce, and this time they seemed to also have their eyes on the Yunnan business, yet had been beaten to it by Xing’s group.