Phoenix’s Revenge: The Business Battle

Chapter5:Risk Exposure

Gu Wanqing stayed with her brother Gu Mingxuan in the hospital throughout the entire night. As she gazed at his pale and weak face, her heart was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Anger, disappointment, and heartache intertwined within her, leaving her feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. She knew well that her brother was irresponsible, and that she had sacrificed so much for him. However, no matter what, he was still her only blood relative in this world, and she could not abandon him.

The next morning, after making sure her brother was settled, Gu Wanqing began to investigate the debts he had incurred. From her brother’s fragmented descriptions, she learned that he owed money to an underground casino called "Brilliant Entertainment." The people behind it were a menacing group who not only beat him up but also threatened him that if he didn’t repay, they would harm him and his family.

A heavy feeling settled in Gu Wanqing’s chest. She knew that underground casinos were often backed by complex forces, and once entangled with them, it was difficult to extricate oneself. She decided to go to "Brilliant Entertainment" and see if she could negotiate a resolution.

Following the address Gu Mingxuan had provided, Gu Wanqing found the casino located in the basement of a dilapidated office building in the old district. Several burly, menacing-looking men stood at the entrance, their presence making it clear they were not to be trifled with. Gu Wanqing took a deep breath, striving to calm herself, and walked inside.

The scene inside the casino was worse than she had imagined. The air was thick with the stench of smoke and sweat, while the cacophony of various gambling games created a sense of agitation. The tables were surrounded by gamblers, their eyes bloodshot as if they had lost all semblance of reason.

Gu Wanqing surveyed the surroundings, hoping to find the casino’s manager. At that moment, a man dressed in a floral shirt with a thick gold chain around his neck noticed her. His gaze was lewd, and a malicious grin spread across his face.

"Miss, first time here to play? What would you like to try?" The man sauntered toward her, his tone casual and flirtatious.

Suppressing the revulsion that surged within her, Gu Wanqing replied coolly, "I’m not here to play. I’m looking for your boss."

"Looking for our boss?" The man raised an eyebrow, his expression one of doubt. "What do you want with him?"

"My brother, Gu Mingxuan, owes money here. I’m his sister, and I’d like to discuss the repayment," Gu Wanqing said, striving to keep her tone polite.

Upon hearing this, the man’s expression turned impatient. "Ah, you mean that gambling addict? He owes us fifty thousand, and it’s been dragging on for quite some time. Tell him that if he doesn’t pay within three days, we’ll make things much worse for him."

"Fifty thousand?" Gu Wanqing’s heart sank. Her brother had previously mentioned it was only a few thousand, but now it was fifty thousand. While not an impossible sum for her, she certainly didn’t want to be easily swindled.

"I know he owes money, but you’ve beaten him up. Isn’t there something that needs to be addressed about that?" Gu Wanqing’s tone turned firm.

The man’s expression darkened instantly. "Beat him up? He deserved it! Debts must be repaid, that’s the law! If he doesn’t pay, we’ll make him suffer even more."

Gu Wanqing knew reasoning with such a person would be futile. She remained calm, saying, "Alright, I understand. I’ll do my best to pay the money, but please, don’t harass my brother and family again."

With that, she turned and left the casino. She knew well that this wasn’t going to be an easy issue to resolve. The group’s attitude was firm, and it seemed there were even more powerful forces behind them.

Back at the hospital, Gu Wanqing relayed the situation to Gu Mingxuan, who turned pale with fear upon hearing it.

"Sis, they... they’re crazy! Don’t confront them directly!" Gu Mingxuan stammered.

Seeing her brother’s terrified expression, Gu Wanqing’s resolve to resolve the matter swiftly became even more determined. She couldn’t let him continue living in fear, nor could she allow those loan sharks to go unpunished.

Just then, her phone rang again. This time, it was from Shen Xubai.

"Wanqing, I’ve found some information about your brother," Shen Xubai’s voice sounded unusually serious.

Gu Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat. "Shen, what have you found?"

"The casino your brother owes money to is controlled by an underground organization called the 'Black Dragon Gang.' This group has significant influence in the area, and usury is just one of their operations. They’re extremely ruthless, and if your brother doesn’t pay on time, they’re likely to take extreme measures," Shen Xubai’s voice carried a hint of concern.

Gu Wanqing’s expression grew even graver. She hadn’t anticipated that her brother had gotten involved with such a dangerous group.

"Then... what should we do?" she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

After a brief pause, Shen Xubai spoke again. "Wanqing, let me handle this. Your main focus should be taking care of your brother. Don’t let him worry."

Gu Wanqing hesitated for a moment. She knew Shen Xubai had the capability to resolve this, but she didn’t want to keep troubling him.

"Mr. Shen, I’m already deeply grateful for your previous help, but this matter... I’d like to handle it myself," she said firmly.

Shen Xubai seemed to sense her determination. His tone softened. "Wanqing, I understand your desire for independence, but sometimes, relying on others isn’t a weakness. Besides, your brother’s issue is also my concern. After all, you saved my life, and I won’t just stand by."

Hearing Shen Xubai mention the incident from ten years ago, Gu Wanqing felt a warmth rise within her. She knew he genuinely cared about her.

"Thank you, Xubai," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. It was the first time she had addressed him so intimately, and her tone carried a tenderness she had not shown before.

Shen Xubai seemed to notice the change in her tone. His voice, too, grew gentler. "Silly girl, why are you being so polite with me? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. All you need to do is take care of yourself and your brother."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Wanqing felt a wave of relief wash over her. With Shen Xubai’s help, she believed that this matter would be resolved smoothly.

In the following days, Gu Wanqing continued to care for her brother in the hospital while awaiting news from Shen Xubai. Before long, he informed her that he had spoken with the Black Dragon Gang, and they had agreed to extend the repayment deadline, guaranteeing that they would no longer harass Gu Mingxuan.

Gu Wanqing knew that Shen Xubai must have used his connections and resources. Her gratitude for him deepened.

A few days later, Gu Mingxuan’s condition improved enough for him to be discharged from the hospital. Gu Wanqing took him home and earnestly urged him to stay away from gambling and live a good life. Gu Mingxuan, realizing his mistake, promised his sister he would never fall back into the same trap.

With her brother’s issues resolved, Gu Wanqing was finally able to return to work in Shen City. Before leaving, she sent Shen Xubai a message of thanks.

Back in Shen City, she threw herself into her work. After Jinlin Technology’s successful IPO, Shengshi Capital took on several new major projects. As a core team member, Gu Wanqing was naturally busy.

Despite the hectic work schedule, Gu Wanqing felt much lighter than before. Her relationship with Shen Xubai also grew closer. They often dined together, chatted, and their understanding of each other deepened. Gu Wanqing discovered that while Shen Xubai appeared cold on the outside, he was, in fact, a kind and gentle person at heart. He possessed a sharp business acumen and exceptional leadership skills, yet in private, he was humorous, thoughtful, and considerate.

One weekend, during a dinner gathering, Shen Xubai suddenly brought up a new collaboration project.

"Wanqing, I’ve been following a new emerging tech field—artificial intelligence. I believe this area has huge potential for growth in the future, and I plan to set up a dedicated investment department focused on AI investments. Are you interested in joining?" Shen Xubai looked at her, his eyes full of anticipation.

Gu Wanqing was intrigued. Artificial intelligence was the future, and having the opportunity to be involved in this emerging field would be a fantastic career move. Plus, the chance to work alongside Shen Xubai excited her.

"I’m definitely interested!" she replied without hesitation.

And so, Gu Wanqing became the head of Shengshi Capital’s AI investment department, embarking on a new and exciting challenge.

At the same time, Gu Wanqing didn’t forget her investigation into the incident that had led to her saving Shen Xubai’s life ten years ago. Through various channels, she contacted some alumni from that time at Columbia University to learn more about the protest and the accident.

After some investigation, Gu Wanqing discovered that the protest had been initiated by a radical student group protesting the university’s collaboration with a company accused of human rights violations. The situation had been chaotic, and both sides had clashed violently. Shen Xubai had been caught up in the fray after defending a classmate, nearly suffering a terrible injury.

Gu Wanqing also learned that the girl who had saved Shen Xubai back then appeared to be a very low-profile and kind-hearted Chinese exchange student, who had left without leaving any contact information.

All the clues pointed to Gu Wanqing herself, and she became increasingly certain that it had been her who had saved Shen Xubai ten years ago. But why had she forgotten that incident?

Perplexed, Gu Wanqing decided to have a conversation with Shen Xubai. Perhaps he could provide some answers.

On a rare weekend, the two met at a charming café, sipping coffee and discussing work and life.

"Xubai, I’ve been investigating the incident from ten years ago when I saved you at Columbia," Gu Wanqing said seriously, her gaze fixed on him.

Shen Xubai paused, setting down his coffee cup. His expression was calm as he met her gaze. "What have you found?"

Gu Wanqing nodded and relayed her findings.

After listening, Shen Xubai remained silent for a moment before slowly responding. "You’re right, it was you who saved me. You were brave and kind at that time."

"Then do you remember what happened? Why did I forget about it?" Gu Wanqing asked, her confusion evident.

Shen Xubai sighed, his eyes betraying a trace of complexity. "The situation was indeed dangerous. After you pulled me away, you were knocked down by the crowd and hit your head on a stone. You lost consciousness."

Gu Wanqing was startled, finally understanding why she had forgotten. She had been injured as well.

"Then... why didn’t you tell me?" she asked, a hint of reproach in her tone.

Shen Xubai looked at her with gentle eyes. "When I saw you unconscious and hurt, I was so worried I just wanted to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible. I didn’t know your name, didn’t know how to contact you. By the time I returned to the school, you were already gone."

Gu Wanqing fell silent. She hadn’t imagined that ten years ago, she had been the one to save him, and in doing so, had been hurt herself and lost that memory.

"I’m sorry, Wanqing. You suffered because of me," Shen Xubai said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

Gu Wanqing shook her head, holding his hand firmly in return, her face breaking into a relieved smile. "It’s alright. It’s all in the past. What matters is that we’ve met again."

Their eyes met, and a warm, sweet atmosphere filled the air. Ten years ago, the campus rescue had led them to their present fate.

Just then, Gu Wanqing’s phone rang. She picked it up to find an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" she answered cautiously.

The voice on the other end was hoarse and sinister. "Gu Wanqing, your good days are over."

A chill ran down her spine, and an ominous feeling surged in her chest. The voice was unfamiliar, yet its tone held a threat.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Gu Wanqing asked, her voice steady with caution.

The caller let out a cold laugh. "Who am I? You’ll find out soon enough. Remember, some people are not to be trifled with!"

Before she could respond, the call ended abruptly. Gu Wanqing stared at her phone, her face pale. She didn’t know who the caller was or what they wanted, but she could feel a new threat lurking on the horizon.