The Luxury Neighborhood Truly Stands Out

"We met at a social event in Yunhai City. I'm Jiang Zihui's fiancée."

"Oh, no wonder you seemed so familiar," Xi Meng said with a warm smile, finally placing her—she was the wife of Mr. Jiang's grandson.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Xi. We truly had no other option," Ye Qingyi apologized humbly. "I was staying with my sister and brother-in-law, but there was chaos in the neighborhood. If it weren't for Tang Ze, we wouldn't have made it out."

Xi Meng turned her attention to Tang Ze, who scratched the back of his head bashfully, exuding the aura of a well-meaning young man. "They're friends of someone close to me, so I figured I'd lend a hand."

"What do you do for work?" Xi Meng asked, studying him carefully.

"I deliver food," Tang Ze replied simply.

"Any ID or proof of that?"

Tang Ze thought to himself how cautious this woman was, but since he was telling the truth, he pulled out his phone and showed her his delivery driver profile.

Satisfied, Xi Meng turned to An Bai. "And what about you? What's your job?"

"I'm a flight attendant with an airline," An Bai answered timidly, clutching Tang Ze's arm as she spoke.

Seeing her nervous demeanor, Xi Meng didn't press further. "And you?" she asked Sun Ting.

"I'm a livestreamer—I dance and chat with viewers," Sun Ting explained.

As soon as she finished, a nearby man exclaimed, "No wonder you looked familiar! I've seen your streams locally—I even sent you a super gift!"

Sun Ting giggled playfully. "Thank you so much for the generous support!"

The men burst into laughter, and the atmosphere grew lighter.

Internally, Tang Ze chuckled. These women sure know how to spin a story.

What they didn't realize was that four wolves had just entered the sheepfold.

Behind the crowd, Bi Jian and Cao Yu stood silently. Bi Jian's eyes roamed hungrily over the three women, his gaze lingering possessively.

In this community, Bi Jian ranked just below Xi Meng—but outside these walls, he believed he could dominate others, bending men to his will and women to his whims.

Perhaps out of respect for Ye Qingyi, Xi Meng personally escorted the group to find vacant housing.

As they walked through the underground garage of the affluent neighborhood, Tang Ze marveled at the rows of luxury cars—it was like stepping into a car show.

Eventually, they arrived at a spacious 148-square-meter apartment. Its lavish interior left even Tang Ze impressed.

"The owner is abroad, so the place has been sitting empty. You can stay here for now, but please take care of the furnishings," Xi Meng reminded them, assuming the women would be careful while Tang Ze might need extra caution.

Tang Ze nodded innocently.

Xi Meng found it miraculous that Tang Ze had managed to escape with three stunning women by his side. He appeared frail and unassuming, lacking any obvious strength. She decided to assign him logistical duties later.

"Tang Ze, now that you're here, everyone will have responsibilities."

"Understood," Tang Ze replied agreeably.

His compliant attitude pleased Xi Meng, though Tang Ze sensed her gaze treated him no differently from her employees—a look he knew all too well.

"Here's a week's worth of supplies. Use them wisely."

A reluctant man carried in a box of water and another of breakfast biscuits.

Tang Ze was stunned—and so were Ye Qingyi and the others.

Their reactions seemed perfectly normal to Xi Meng, who harbored no suspicions.

"As long as you follow my instructions, basic necessities won't be a problem. Once this crisis passes, you'll all have positions waiting for you at my company. Consider yourselves valued assets."

"Thank you, Ms. Xi. I'll do as you say," Tang Ze responded promptly. An Bai and Sun Ting echoed his sentiment, while Ye Qingyi remained silent.

"There's entertainment every evening at seven in the underground garage, along with a raffle featuring plenty of prizes—drinks, snacks, even meat."

Tang Ze couldn't believe there was still time for leisure during such dire circumstances. Still, he had to admit, Ms. Xi excelled at painting a hopeful picture.

"Ms. Xi, thank you so much," Ye Qingyi stepped forward to express her gratitude.

Xi Meng smiled warmly. "It's nothing. I'm sure our paths will cross again in the future—it's always good to meet potential collaborators."

"Yes," Ye Qingyi replied, fully aware that Xi Meng's hospitality was calculated—an investment for days ahead. The "Investment Queen" lived up to her reputation; every move she made served a purpose.

Once they were alone, Tang Ze sprawled onto the couch. "Qingyi, Ms. Xi certainly carries herself with authority."

Ye Qingyi rolled her eyes inwardly, feeling as if she'd been compared to a mere trinket.

"The environment here is incredible," An Bai remarked, standing on the balcony overlooking the lake. Nearby, a golf course stretched across the landscape.

Sun Ting joined her, marveling at the luxury. She'd never imagined living in such a place—though now, envy felt irrelevant.

"An Bai, check for surveillance devices," Tang Ze instructed, tossing her a scanner.

An Bai nodded and began sweeping the apartment, finding nothing amiss.

"Keep these handy," Tang Ze handed pistols to the three women, ensuring they had means to defend themselves. Who knew when President Huo might strike?

Holding the guns, the women felt both empowered and burdened—as if holding life itself in their hands.

"Qingyi, you should probably let your fiancé know you're safe before Ms. Xi takes credit," Tang Ze teased, patting his leg knowingly.

Without resistance, Ye Qingyi dialed the video call.

"Qingyi, you finally called!" Jiang Zihui feigned relief, having deliberately waited two days for her to reach out. Just moments ago, he'd been on the verge of breaking his silence.

Ye Qingyi smiled softly. "Zihui, I'm sorry. Things got chaotic in our building, so I didn't want to worry you. But we're safe now."

"What? Chaos? Where are you?" Jiang Zihui shot up, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Don't worry. I escaped with some friends. You know Ms. Xi from Shanhu Group, right? She offered us shelter."

"Thank goodness! You nearly gave me a heart attack," Jiang Zihui patted his chest dramatically, his face pale with concern.

But to Ye Qingyi, his reaction only highlighted his fragility. His dramatic gestures struck her as weak and overly emotional.

No wonder, she thought. Killing changes everything.

"By the way, what about your sister and brother-in-law?"