Chapter 122: The Ultimate Pawn, Luo Zixuan
“Madam, this is the chairman’s arrangement. Please, don’t put me in a difficult position.”
This female bodyguard persisted in following Gu Wanyu, showing no signs of leaving.
Gu Wanyu gave the woman an emotionless glance and asked softly, “What’s your name?”
“Madam, I am called Li Feng.”
“Then you can follow,” Gu Wanyu decided, understanding that refusing her presence outright would only draw more suspicion from Li Zhong.
Li Zhong had already been suspecting her of infidelity. The incident of her kidnapping only worsened his attitude towards her. He had been indifferent even when she was released from the “kidnappers,” so there was no need to arouse more suspicion from Li Zhong.
She planned to target Li Feng, making her an ally, thereby eliminating the risk of Li Feng reporting back to Li Zhong.
She wanted to thoroughly investigate Li Feng’s background. However, upon learning that Li Feng bore the surname Li, Gu Wanyu realized that winning her over might not be straightforward.
She hoped Li Feng wasn’t groomed by the Li family from a young age.
To delve into Li Feng’s background, Gu Wanyu reached out to Bai Meixiang. They hadn’t interacted before, but through Chen Luo, a connection was established.
Bai Meixiang’s prowess in gathering intelligence was formidable. She swiftly provided Gu Wanyu with the needed information. It turned out Li Feng was indeed one of those cultivated by the Li family from a young age, and her surname was given by the Li family.
Observing Li Feng, who was driving, Gu Wanyu mulled over the situation. Could someone indoctrinated from childhood be swayed to her side?
‘If it truly comes to that, I may have no choice but to dispose of you,’ a hint of coldness flashed in Gu Wanyu’s eyes.
For Gu Wanyu at this moment, what mattered the most? It wasn’t wealth or power, but Chen Luo.
After meeting Chen Luo, Gu Wanyu believed she had found her true love. She was prepared to eliminate anything that stood between them, her own son and the Li family included.
Now, Gu Wanyu’s murderous intentions extended not just towards Li Feng but also towards Li Zhong.
Her character was such that only the person she loved was of utmost importance, and she was willing to sacrifice everything else for him.
In a conventional storyline, Gu Wanyu might have been cast as the heroine, with the Li family positioned as the antagonist against the protagonist. Gu Wanyu, as the heroine, would help the protagonist in dismantling the Li family, following the typical plot trajectory.
However, the narrative was not fixed. Chen Luo had already triggered a butterfly effect, turning all expected storylines upside down.
The Li family, originally antagonists to the protagonist, now became his allies, transitioning from the villain’s camp to that of the protagonist’s. Gu Wanyu, who could have been a heroine, was pulled into the antagonist’s camp by Chen Luo.
Unbeknownst to Li Feng, driving at the moment, her unwavering loyalty to the Li family could soon bring her to death’s door.
Meanwhile, Gu Wanyu reached out to Chen Luo, asking if he planned to take action against Li Ting.
In the villa, while enjoying a massage from Elsa, Chen Luo checked Gu Wanyu’s message.
She informed him about Li Qiwen’s comprehensive medical examination and then questioned if he intended to deal with Li Ting.
“Deal with Li Ting…”
Originally, Li Ting was Chen Luo’s tool to disgust Ye Chen, which indeed had the intended effect. However, from the current outcome, Chen Luo felt like he ended up losing more than he bargained for.
Compared to merely disgusting Ye Chen, the Li family’s support for Ye Chen proved to be much more significant. Without the Li family’s help, Chen Luo might have managed to significantly weaken Ye Chen much earlier.
He didn’t anticipate that the original villains would end up as allies to the protagonist.
“Killing Li Ting seems pointless, as the protagonist’s aura will likely mean the Li family continue to support Ye Chen.”
Regarding Gu Wanyu’s concerns about Li Ting being a hindrance to their plans against the Li family, Chen Luo was not worried. If Li Ting truly became an obstacle, there would still be time to address her later.
Eliminating Li Ting now would achieve little. It was better to let her continue causing trouble for Ye Chen.
“Also, there’s Luo Zixuan.”
Chen Luo had been monitoring Luo Zixuan’s recovery closely. Luo Zixuan was doing well and had been fitted with prosthetic limbs. Though Luo Zixuan had not yet been discharged, Chen Luo knew he was already plotting against Ye Chen.
“It’s time to escalate the conflict between the Luo and Li families.”
While the Luo family and Chen Luo were allies, allies were meant to be exploited. Chen Luo believed Luo Mingde shared his perspective.
“Luo Zixuan, you’re up again as the pawn.”
This pawn had been utilized by Chen Luo several times before, each instance ending badly for Luo Zixuan.
“Elsa, go and kill some key figures from the Luo family and frame the Li and Wang families,” Chen Luo directed Elsa.
The Li family suspected the Luo family was behind Gu Wanyu and Li Qiwen’s kidnapping, whereas the Wang family believed their elder was murdered by a hitman hired by the Luo family.
The latter suspicion was indeed correct, as the Luo family had commissioned the murder.
“Master, killing is straightforward, but framing the Li and Wang families is not,” Elsa found the task daunting.
Killing was simple for her, but the intricacies of framing were challenging, leaving her unsure of how to proceed.
“I’ll have Bai Meixiang help you. Just follow her lead.”
Elsa nodded, finding it much easier to act on directives rather than devise plans herself.
Chen Luo then reached out to Ah Da, giving him instructions to execute some tasks.
Chen Luo’s plan was to draw Ye Chen out and then cripple him, just like he had originally planned. The responsibility of baiting Ye Chen was given to Luo Zixuan, this ultimate pawn, who was to use his remaining value once more.
Chen Luo worried Luo Zixuan might become useless if left idle in the hospital, however, he hoped for his survival this time around.
At the hospital, Ah Da leaned in to whisper into Luo Zixuan’s ear, igniting a spark in Luo Zixuan’s eyes.
“Alright, I’ll do as you’ve suggested. I must have Li Ting, and Ye Chen… I want to see him dead.”
What did Ah Da whisper to Luo Zixuan? It was nothing but incitement for Luo Zixuan to kidnap Li Ting and set a trap to draw Ye Chen out to rescue Li Ting, at which point they would take care of Ye Chen.
The opportunity to deal with Ye Chen while securing Li Ting was too good for Luo Zixuan to pass up. Without contemplating the repercussions, he immediately instructed Ah Da to carry out the plan.
“Remember, this must be kept from my father. He’ll surely intervene,” Luo Zixuan sternly advised.
Even without Luo Zixuan’s order, Ah Da wouldn’t have disclosed their plan to Luo Mingde, as revealing it would mean the failure of their scheme.
Ah Da, along with Ah Er and Ah San, kidnap Li Ting just as she steps out of her house, leaving her bodyguards dumbfounded.
“Quickly… inform the chairman that Miss Li Ting has been kidnapped.”
The bodyguards, snapping back to reality, swiftly notify Li Zhong.
“There’s a note on the ground,” one of them dound.
“To rescue Li Ting, Ye Chen must come alone to the riverside. If others are present, Li Ting will die.” The bodyguard reads out the message on the note, which also contains a rudimentary map indicating the specified location.