Chapter 78: A Unique Trial

News spread quickly. By early the next morning, word had swept through Silver Dragon: the new president had made a surprise inspection of the marketing department and, with sharp insight, uncovered the illusion set up by the staff. No one could tell whether Chu Dong was being mythologized or whether the president’s uncompromising gaze had simply cowed everyone. Regardless, from that day forward, Silver Dragon transformed from an aging, disconnected locomotive into a tightly run machine. The uncertainty that once clouded the staff vanished, as if a clear direction had been set.

Tan Xue now arrived at work just in time for lunch, with Chu Dong picking up two meals from the cafeteria and bringing them to her office. She was gone before four in the afternoon, living in utter comfort. Yet she could hardly ignore the changes unfolding around her. The subtle transformation of Silver Dragon did not escape her notice. Though she said nothing, a faint ache lingered in her heart. She’d been at Silver Dragon for two years, and had long recognized the bloated staff, aging workforce, and sluggish operations, but no matter how many ideas she tried, little ever changed. Yet, in just a few days, Chu Dong had worked some mysterious tricks and clever maneuvers that brought these old hands obediently into line.

That day, after leaving Silver Dragon, she drove through the city streets at leisure, her thoughts drifting when Li Youlan called.

The moment she put on her headset and answered, Li Youlan’s excited voice burst forth, “Do you have time tonight? I found a really fun place—interested?” Her tone was full of secretive mischief.

“Not really,” Tan Xue replied, unable to summon enthusiasm for anything. With Chu Dong handling company affairs more methodically than she ever could, she avoided interfering. Day after day, her life seemed carefree yet was deeply dull.

“Did that bastard husband of yours bully you again? I’ll teach him a lesson. How about inviting him tonight? We could test how he really feels about you,” Li Youlan suggested, having returned from abroad only to nest in Dalian, eating, drinking, and playing. She kept Tan Xue company, always ready with advice and never feeling lonely.

“How would you test him?” Tan Xue no longer bothered to object to being called ‘husband,’ and the question sparked a faint interest.

“I told you—I found a fun place. An underground fighting ring. There’s a rule: if someone wins ten matches in a row, not only do they get a hefty prize, but they can choose a girl from the place to take away. If you’re willing, I’ll sign you up. With your looks, if someone wins, they’ll definitely pick you. We call your bastard husband over and see how he reacts; that’ll tell us everything.” Li Youlan chattered merrily, as if the world’s troubles could never touch her.

“Is that really okay?” Tan Xue frowned. If someone really won ten matches, would she actually have to go with them?

“Why not? Relax. The person taking us there is someone I know well—he’s connected inside and won’t let anyone really take you away. Trust me.” Li Youlan reassured her, sensing Tan Xue’s hesitation.

“Alright, but remember, nothing must go wrong. Even if he doesn’t care, I can’t face my godmother if something happens.” Tan Xue reasoned that it was just an experiment, nothing serious, and besides, Li Youlan had given her word.

“Leave it to me, I’ll handle everything. Oh yeah!” Li Youlan hung up and immediately contacted her connection.

Not long after, Li Youlan called again. “Okay, all set. Get ready for the show.”

Tan Xue suddenly felt uneasy; she pulled her car to the curb as streetlights flickered on. On the green of the central plaza, a few children played. In her mind’s eye, she saw Chu Dong as a boy, patting her young shoulder with a mischievous grin, saying, “Snow, don’t worry, everything’s got me.”

“Maybe it’s worth a try. Otherwise, how can I know if that bastard really cares?” With a resolute grit of her teeth, Tan Xue turned her car toward Silver Dragon.

Chu Dong hadn’t left work yet. For once, he wasn’t gaming with Qiangzi and the others, but was instead hunched over his desk, seriously reviewing proposals submitted by his team. A cigarette burned halfway in the ashtray, untouched, and even when Tan Xue burst in, he didn’t look up. He simply murmured, “Be good, just a moment.” He knew only Tan Xue would dare enter like this.

“I told Yu’er to eat on her own tonight. I want you to come somewhere with me,” Tan Xue finally spoke up after Chu Dong raised his head.

“Where?” Chu Dong was curious; Tan Xue rarely asked him out, and when she did, there was always a reason.

“Why worry about where? Just say if you’ll come or not!” Tan Xue gave him two choices—one was to go, the other was still to go. Clearly, there was no third option.

“At least let me eat first?” Although Chu Dong considered himself invincible, since reconnecting with Tan Xue he’d become less assertive. He saw compromise as a strategy—retreat for now, advance later. One day, he’d reclaim the high ground.

“Li Youlan will arrange it. Come on, we’re short on time. Go, go, go!” Tan Xue was impatient; she’d never seen an underground fighting ring before, imagining it much like boxing on TV.

Li Youlan stood waiting, dressed in a short skirt and seductive black mesh stockings, her slender figure poised against the breeze. She eagerly waved as Tan Xue’s silver-gray car approached.

“What’s this about? Life so tough you’re moonlighting at a bar?” Chu Dong, never on good terms with Li Youlan, teased as soon as he saw her.

“Mind your own business,” Li Youlan shot him a dramatic glare, slipped into the car, and whispered into Tan Xue’s ear, “Ignore his bravado. Just wait—he’ll be scared witless soon enough.”

“Who’s scared?” Chu Dong, not deaf, caught her words, adjusted the rearview mirror to eye the two women, and declared, “No personal attacks. Honestly, there aren’t many smarter than me.”

“Just drive. Turn around,” Li Youlan shielded her chest and gave Chu Dong a playful shove on the back of his head.

“The road’s wide open. You think I want to look?” Chu Dong nimbly dodged and replied with a cheeky smile as he turned the car.

“What did you say?” Li Youlan nearly lost her composure, incredulous that Chu Dong could be so shameless in front of Tan Xue. She shook Tan Xue’s arm. “Snow, look at your bastard husband—are you going to do something about him?”

“Don’t involve me in your drama. I know nothing,” Tan Xue sighed, closed her eyes, and covered her ears.

“Ah, this is outrageous!” Li Youlan’s shriek echoed through the car. Tan Xue, well accustomed, shielded her ears and escaped the worst; Chu Dong, experiencing Li Youlan’s lion’s roar for the first time, nearly lost control of the steering wheel.