The Guide to Rising to Power: The Ultimate Schemes of a Green Tea Beauty

Shen Yao and her team had never encountered such a formidable opponent.

With evidence in hand and charges on file, Liang Zhenghe managed to maneuver and evade capture for nearly a year without being caught even by a single piece of his clothing.

The thought of how he had harmed so many people and how he had lived a carefree life overseas with the dirty money he earned from the illegal sale of Hengxin fueled a fire in Shen Yao's chest.

I can't suppress it, and I don't want to suppress it.

Reason and emotion both pushed Shen Yao forward, finally bringing that thought from the shadows into the open:

Liang Zhenghe must die!

As long as he lives, he will one day become a thorn in Shen Yao's side. Whether it's used against her by those with ulterior motives or he comes to her door himself.

She cannot allow this potential problem to persist.

Shen Yao steadied herself and stopped Lu Xiuting at the entrance of the office building.

Since that night, the two have tacitly agreed to only discuss business and never mention their personal relationship.

That's pretty much how the adult world is. Everyone can survive without anyone else, and no matter how turbulent things get, they can keep quiet and maintain a respectable appearance.

Moreover, they share a common goal to strive for.

Lu Xiuting had just finished a long meeting and was loosening his tie with one hand. Seeing her, he paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his dark eyes, before lazily lowering his gaze:

"What's wrong?"

Shen Yao met his gaze without flinching: "Don't look for him, go find Liang Zhengze."

Lu Xiuting put his hands in his pockets, tilted his head slightly, and stared at her for two seconds.

An autumn breeze blew from behind him, lifting the hem of his black overcoat, giving him an air of unhurried ease.

"What were you thinking?"

Shen Yao didn't mince words: "My thinking is different from yours. I'm going to take a gamble, betting that Liang Zhenghe will come to us, instead of waiting for us to corner him before he shows up."

Lu Xiuting raised an eyebrow, the curve of which carried a lazy, mocking air:

"He came looking for us? He's a fugitive, we're after him. If he really had any conscience, he would have turned himself in long ago. He can't even care about the son born to his beloved wife, would he care about a younger brother?"

The man countered with a question:

"Besides, Leung Cheng-chak is no pushover either. The head of Hengxin Real Estate, the leading company in the industry, has chosen to run with his brother; do you think you can just easily catch him?"

Shen Yao looked at him calmly: "It's different."

A serious glint appeared in Lu Xiuting's deep black eyes. He suddenly pulled his hand out of his pocket and casually beckoned to her with his finger:

Tell me about it.

Shen Yao said calmly, "You may not believe it, but after making inquiries from various sources, I discovered that Liang Zhenghe harbors a hidden malice towards Xue Huaiqing and Liang Xiheng. I don't yet know where this malice comes from, but it certainly exists."

Liang Xiheng and Xue Huaiqing always believed that in Liang Zhenghe's eyes, they were nothing more than tools for others to reap the benefits.

But contrary to their assumptions, Shen Yao, after a long period of contemplation, discerned another layer of meaning.

She increasingly felt that Liang Zhenghe might be deliberately trying to cause these two people pain. It wasn't just cold manipulation, but also a deliberate, almost malicious, act of inflicting suffering.

Shen Yao added, "The Liang family is known for protecting their own, and the two Liang brothers, Zhenghe and Liang Zhengze, are the most fitting examples. Their relationship is extraordinary, but Liang Zhengze may not be aware of all of Liang Zhengze's plans."

She looked up at him intently, "Trust me, focus our firepower on arresting Liang Zhengze first. Once he's arrested, Liang Zhenghe will naturally lose his composure."

Lu Xiuting didn't speak. He just lowered his eyes and quietly looked at her for a long while.

Shen Yao jolted, as if struck by lightning, her whole body trembling, her voice suddenly rising: "There's more!"

Lu Xiuting raised an eyebrow slightly: "Anything else?"

Shen Yao spoke very quickly, afraid that she would forget if she slowed down:

"Ah Shao will send someone to kill him!"

Lu Xiuting frowned: "What?"

Ah Shao, he knew, was the person who was always by Liang Xiheng's side.

Shen Yao clapped her hands, her eyes gleaming with unwavering determination: "Ah Shao is extremely loyal to Liang Xiheng, not just loyal, but also affectionate."

She remembered the hospital in Hong Kong, where Liang Xiheng first began to suspect that she was his sister, and Shen Yao happened to overhear that conversation.

Ah Shao's tone, his way of comforting, was filled with understanding and joy for Liang Xiheng.

Ah Shao truly cared for Liang Xiheng.

"Even if Liang Xiheng is gone, his influence remains. Ah Shao has the ability to temporarily control those forces. Liang Zhenghe will not only lose his composure, but he will also have to make a choice: if he can't escape, he will either fall into Ah Shao's hands and die, or he will fall into our hands."

Shen Yao told Lu Xiuting, "I'm at least 90% sure that Ah Shao, and even that strange butler Liang, don't want Liang Zhenghe to live."

Lu Xiuting did not answer immediately; his dark eyes reflected Shen Yao's bright and anxious face.

After a few breaths, he suddenly raised the corner of his mouth and chuckled.

It was very soft, like a hum from her nose, carrying a sense of "you're really something," and also revealing her admiration that she had been persuaded.

The man's gaze shifted from her face to the distant, grey skyline, and he slowly nodded.

"Okay. I'll do as you say."

Three months later, good news came: Leung Cheng-chak, who was preparing to leave the airport, was successfully intercepted and arrested.

_

The Italian night.

Xiao Weixun leaned against the window, turning a silver lighter in his hand back and forth, the flame flickering on and off, casting his profile in alternating light and shadow.

Ah Shao stood opposite him, with Liang Sen, who was tied to a chair, beside him.

Xiao Weixun gripped the lighter, his thumb pressing on the roller, producing a soft "click" sound.

"He said... Liang Zhenghe shouldn't be allowed to live?"

Ah Shao's face was expressionless, and his voice was as hard as a rock:

"Yes. Liang Zhenghe cannot be allowed to live."

Xiao Weixun held the lighter to his forehead: "So, with your young master gone, this job fell to me?"

Ah Shao's silence itself is the answer.

His loyalty has always been solely to Liang Xiheng.

Since Liang Zhenghe abandoned his son and left, Ah Shao no longer cared about fatherhood; all that remained was a deserving person.

"He and the people behind him want Liang Zhenghe dead," Ah Shao said, his voice cold and flat. "I want him dead too. Young Master Xiao, you'll be rewarded after it's all over."

Xiao Weixun slowed down his movements as he twirled the lighter. He lowered his eyes, as if weighing the significance of this deal.

He didn't care who Liang Sen worked for, nor did he care what old grudges Liang Zhenghe was involved in.

The problem is, what Yanjing wants is a living Liang Zhenghe.

Only when people are alive can there be public trials, procedural justice, and cases be brought to justice in court.

If he were to directly help Ashao kill the person, it would be tantamount to openly going against the people in Yanjing.

He had a very clear understanding of this matter.

Finally, Xiao Weixun tossed the lighter onto the table, making a crisp sound.

"I can only help you find him. As for whether he lives or dies, that's not my concern. That depends on your abilities and those people in Yanjing's."

He shrugged, his posture perfectly embodying helplessness. "You know, besides finding Liang Zhenghe, I have more important things to do for your young master."

A hint of dissatisfaction flashed across Ah Shao's eyes.

Xiao Weixun saw it clearly, but pretended not to notice, and said sincerely, "Also, your young lady, Sister Shen Yao, has some opinions about me."

He was just teasing her, but he ended up making her angry.

"I have a lot of troubles at the company to deal with, and I've already done my best to help you this far."

Ah Shao looked at him but didn't say anything more.

Xiao Weixun is a businessman who values ​​price over sentiment.

He's gotten all he can from this deal; the rest is up to him.