Chapter 18: This Wave Is Called Even Distribution

“The Qin family is like immortals fighting; of course, I wouldn’t dare get involved.”

Buddha walked to the surgical table, disdainfully pulling out a handkerchief to cover his mouth and nose, blocking that pungent smell.

“But…” He changed tack, the originally benevolent corners of his eyes pulling out a greedy glint, “Earlier, Strategist Gu’s operations on Ghost Hand’s computer—my tech department watched the whole thing.”

“Ten minutes mobilizing billions in funds, shorting Qin Tech, this skill, tsk tsk tsk.”

Buddha stopped twirling his prayer beads, gaze staring straight at Gu Chen, that look not like viewing a person, but a walking vault.

“The bounty Qin Mu offered, compared to the tech in Strategist Gu’s head, is basically alms for beggars.”

“So?” Gu Chen poked half his head from behind Qin Hongyi.

He looked utterly disheveled now.

Hair messy, mouth bloodstained, collar open exposing sunken collarbones, like a thoroughly ravaged broken toy.

But those eyes, frighteningly bright, like hiding hooks.

“So, I’d like to invite you two to stay in Night Color a few more days.”

Buddha showed his hand, face with hypocritical smile, “Miss Qin going out now is death anyway. Better stay with me, as long as Strategist Gu hands over that offshore account’s key, and the shorting algorithm, I’ll ensure you live to a hundred.”

This was detaining them as cash cow and kept pet.

Qin Hongyi’s eyes sharpened, whole body muscles tensing instantly, preparing to tear a blood path even with teeth.

A cool hand gently pressed her shoulder.

“Don’t move.” 

Gu Chen’s voice carried some post-feeding satisfaction, “Fighting and killing so uncivilized, look how you scared Buddha, bringing two reinforced platoons of guards, not minding the squeeze.”

Gu Chen pushed Qin Hongyi aside, barefoot, swaying to Buddha.

Distance to muzzles less than half a meter.

One finger twitch, his priceless body sieved.

“You’re not afraid to die?” 

Buddha narrowed eyes, this woman’s calm made him unsure.

“Afraid, why not.” 

Gu Chen yawned, casually grabbing a towel—whether for blood or table—methodically wiping blood off hands, “But I’m more afraid of poverty.”

He lifted head, looking at Buddha, suddenly smiled.

“Old baldy, you said your tech department monitored my operations?”

Buddha sneered: “What? Deny? This computer on Night Color’s intranet, your actions under my nose.”

“Then did you see…”

Gu Chen tossed towel, body leaning forward, pure desire ceiling face close to Buddha’s, “While shorting Qin, I casually opened another window, backdoored your firewall?”

Buddha’s face changed slightly: “What do you mean?”

“Means your security system’s paper-thin.”

Gu Chen extended a finger, tip with lingering crimson, “Rui Shi Bank, some islands offshore trust, and that laundering dark line under charity fund.”

Each word out, Buddha’s bead-twirling hand shook.

When laundering dark line landed, Buddha’s fake-smiling face cracked completely.

“You… what did you do?!” Buddha roared lost voice.

“Nothing much.” 

Gu Chen shrugged, innocent face, “Just packed your over twenty billion black money, set delayed transfer command.”

“Transferred where?!”

“To Interpol’s anti-money laundering center.”

Gu Chen glanced wall clock, “Countdown thirty seconds. Oh right, I also mass-sent your ledgers to those rivals on dark web wanting to swallow you. This wave, called even distribution.”

Dead silence.

Absolute dead silence.

Those gun-holding guards exchanged looks, unsure to fire.

Cold sweat flowed on Buddha’s forehead.

Twenty billion!

His half-life blood-licking savings!

Night Color’s foundation in Beijing!

Once money gone, ledgers exposed, tomorrow he’d be minced by enemies for dogs!

“Cancel! Cancel now!” Buddha grabbed Gu Chen’s collar, eyes bloodshot, like to eat him, “Or I blast you now!”

“Cough.”

Gu Chen choked breathless, face flushed red, but mouth smile thicker, colder, like a lunatic.

“Blast.”

Gu Chen pointed his temple.

“Command bound my vitals. Heart stops over five seconds, activates instantly.”

“Twenty billion for my worthless life, Buddha, dare bet?”

Madman.

Total mad bastard!

Buddha’s gripping hand trembled violently.

Thirty years in underworld, seen tough, seen suicidal, but not this pervert using life as chip, bantering on table!

Time ticked.

“Ten seconds left.”

Gu Chen kindly timed, tone light like New Year countdown, “If me, wouldn’t grab collar, but think how to enshrine a god of wealth.”

“Five.”

“Four.”

“Three.”

Thud.

Buddha knelt.

Not metaphor, real knees smashing ground.

“Miss Gu! No! Master Gu!” 

Buddha released, voice trembling, superior dignity shattered, unpickable, “Stop! Please stop! Whatever you say I agree!”

Air froze.

Qin Hongyi stood aside, watching, eyes flashing cold.

She knew Gu Chen had means, but not this absolute.

This wasn’t negotiation, knife on neck forcing dog.

And knife, Gu Chen casually pulled from opponent’s pocket.

“Open pattern, that’s right.”

Gu Chen fixed wrinkled collar, finger lightly tapping air, like really pausing.

“Command suspended.”

Actually no vital bind, just offhand lie.

Real logic: no cancel from him, auto-send in three minutes.

Psychological game.

Won big.

He looked at kneeling Buddha, peach eyes full of indifference.

“Up, ground cold, don’t freeze my new butler.”

“But… butler?” Buddha looked up blank.

“What? Unwilling?”

Gu Chen raised brow, tone matter-of-fact, “My life so valuable now, staying in this crappy clinic, if mood bad heart irregular? Arrange, Night Color top presidential suite, mine.”

“And.” Gu Chen scanned Qin Hongyi, “Prepare decent clothes for President Qin. She looks like ragpicker now, embarrassing me.”

Qin Hongyi: “…”

This bastard, climbing nose to face?

But seeing surrounding chilled guards, and grieving Buddha, Qin Hongyi admitted.

This moment’s Gu Chen, handsome foul.

“Yes yes! Arrange now! Best room! Best chef!” Buddha amnesty, scrambled up waving off underlings, “All fucking dazed? Clear out! Master Gu rests!”

Life-death crisis, resolved by code lines and mouth.

Gu Chen watched Buddha’s servile back, taut nerves finally relaxed.

Strong dizziness hit again, world spinning.

This time really couldn’t hold.

“Hey.” Gu Chen swayed, falling back.

Qin Hongyi quick, scooped his waist.

“Acting again?” Qin Hongyi looked down at arms.

Gu Chen pale as paper, forehead fine cold sweat, not fake, real exhaustion.

“Not acting.”

Gu Chen voice faint, hand weakly on Qin Hongyi’s shoulder, “Qin Hongyi… later physical work… yours…”

“I only… brains…”

Said, Gu Chen head tilted, fully fainted.

Qin Hongyi looked at defenseless sleeping face, odd anger dissipated some.

Now looked harmless bunny.

Who’d think minutes ago, he nearly poked hole in sky.

She reached, gently wiped Gu Chen’s mouth blood.

“Fine.”

Qin Hongyi bent, again horizontal hugging Gu Chen.

Boyfriend-max princess carry.