Showing Off Through Information Asymmetry

As we all know, showing off is a very important skill.

It also has multiple branch classifications.

One of them is called the information asymmetry pretentious method.

It means taking advantage of the other person's ignorance and overthinking to help oneself complete the process of showing off.

Just like now.

This is Xie Liqian's perspective.

He discovered Kang De's secret, made guesses, and developed ambitions. He strategized, issued orders, and was immersed in excitement and anticipation when he received a call from Kang De. On the phone, Kang De smiled, was confident, and talked on and on, even mentioning his office, as if he were watching his every move.

He looked out the window and saw only a magnificent view overlooking the city from above.

They found no telescope on the other side, no signs of spying, and just as their suspicions began to rise, they saw a dark light flash and a burst of brilliance. Amidst the dancing light, Kang De stepped out of the void and landed slowly, stardust scattering behind him. His actions were divine and otherworldly.

Even if you had some suspicions or were certain in your heart, seeing it with your own eyes still deeply moved you.

Even shocking.

In Xie Liqian's eyes, Kang De must have the ability to go to heaven and earth, to hide his whereabouts in broad daylight, and to fly and disappear into the earth. With just a thought, he could appear anywhere. He must have been hovering outside the window just now, watching him with a mocking gaze, like a god watching a mortal.

That's not actually the case.

Kang De simply used his phone map to find the location of Xuanhua's headquarters, found a public transportation route, activated his invisibility, went downstairs to leave home, and finally arrived at Xie Liqian's company building by hitching a ride on a bus using the India method. Then he picked up a stone, fixed a spatial anchor point, and threw it onto the roof. He entered the White Mist World, escaped, arrived at the stone's location, grabbed it, and threw it again—twice in a row—before finally climbing onto the roof.

Then he took out the climbing gloves that Hong San had prepared, which were imbued with Gecko's Grip, and flipped down from the rooftop. He stuck to the glass like Spider-Man and finally peered into Xie Liqian's office on the top floor. He took out his phone and called the other party. Xiaoman had gotten this phone number from her father.

In other words, when he spoke with Xie Liqian, Kang De was hanging on the glass of the building with one hand, his eyes slightly squinting from the wind blowing from the top floor.

Then, in the most pathetic state, he uttered the most dashing words of a strongman.

And while he was at it, he secretly slipped a small piece of paper through the window crack. When he returned to the White Mist World, he took off his gloves, used the wild mage's cool spell, and then made his dazzling entrance.

Just as a stunning beauty, besides being naturally beautiful, also has to deal with all sorts of skincare products, cosmetics, maintenance methods, fitness exercises, and cultivation of temperament, beauty comes at a price.

The same applies to showing off.

A qualified "cool guy" also needs to have certain self-cultivation.

The result was also gratifying.

Kang De's entrance in this manner was like a god descending to earth. In an instant, the balance of power reversed, and he took the initiative with his extraordinary presence. Although the person in front of him had dominated the business world for decades and was a top figure in the province and even the whole country, he was still as humble as dust in the face of this extraordinary power.

He sat on the other person's desk, holding a file, looking at the other person with a half-smile.

Xie Liqian remained silent.

He wanted to speak, but his mouth seemed to be sewn shut. His usual imposing presence, his words that could sway people, and his immense power and wealth all seemed to have no effect.

Cold sweat broke out on my back, and fear crept into my heart.

Because the person in front of you is unknown.

It represents a power that is not bound by rules, something that transcends common sense.

The power, status, wealth, and means he relies on are all achieved by using the rules of this society to achieve his goals. Money is not just money; it is also a lever that can manipulate various rules. Some people may not love money, but they will still be subject to the various rules that can be manipulated by money.

But the person in front of me wouldn't.

Xie Liqian fully understood why Kang De was so confrontational and unyielding with his son.

He also fully understood why, after the incident, when Kang De offered his humble apology at the police station, he not only failed to accept it with flattery but also continued to criticize and reprimand him without any politeness.

I see.

How should we deal with this?

His mind raced as he pondered how to deal with the situation before him. He had faced similar perilous situations more than once or twice in the past forty years: ruthless competitors, greedy thugs, and even the scrutinizing power of the authorities... but he had always managed to overcome them one by one.

This time it will definitely work too.

Just then, the wind blew in his face, and something hit him lightly but firmly.

He instinctively closed his eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, sheets of snow-white paper were scattered all over the ground.

Then Xie Liqian realized what had happened—the other person had thrown the documents in their hand at his face.

"I'm asking you a question."

Why are you collecting information about my parents?

What are you doing here?

Why can't we just pretend nothing happened?

"Are you in such a hurry to die?"

Stacks of documents on the table were thrown over, soon covering the floor, some hitting Xie Liqian's face and head, then a USB drive smashed onto his head and bounced out with a thud.

Xie Liqian stared at Kang De with his eyes wide open, neither flinching nor avoiding his gaze.

Even though Kang De's actions were like those of a petty thug, almost insulting, and insulting someone as high and mighty as him who commanded a large following, Xie Liqian showed no anger whatsoever.

He simply clenched his fists quietly.

He said in a deep voice, "I think we can talk."

"I don't care what you think, I only care what I think," Kang De said. "Your son has a guilty conscience, your son started the trouble, your son sent people to harm me, and you feel neither shame nor remorse, but instead continue to provoke me, even inquiring about my parents—I think you should keep your son company."

Xie Liqian took a deep breath.

"Are you sure?"

His tone was calm and measured, yet still full of power.

When a person has been in a high position for a long time, it becomes difficult for him to be humble and subservient, because he has forgotten how to do it and doesn't know what it means to beg for mercy in pain.

Xie Liqian sat in a chair, various documents scattered on the floor. He looked at Kang De, calmly and slowly said, "Your alibi is excellent. The police have no suspicion of you at all, because my son did something wrong, and you are the victim."

"This matter didn't escalate too much. First, I expressed my request and attitude that we not investigate further. Second, the police are all focused on investigating the motives of those four thugs and whether my son committed murder. The case is serious, and the police resources are limited. No one will waste any time on you, the perfect victim."

"But are you sure you want to kill me?"

He looked at Kang De, his tone sincere and calm, as if he were simply stating an ordinary little thing.

"Having achieved this level of success, it would be hypocritical to be modest. I, Xie Liqian, am a well-known figure in this province, and my name is known throughout the country. My company directly provides thousands of jobs, indirectly holds shares in numerous investment sectors, maintains personal friendships with many wealthy individuals and even officials, is a major taxpayer, and has friends all over the world. I am not saying this to boast or threaten; I only have one question for you."

He looked directly into Kang De's eyes. "If you kill me, can you cover it up?"

Before Kang De could answer, he said, "No, you can't."

"I died without knowing why, no matter how well you do it, no matter how naturally you disguise it, it's not enough."

"If I die, the business community in this province will experience tremendous upheaval. The consequences and chain reactions will profoundly affect the province's commercial activities, people's livelihoods, economy, and even the political situation. It might even shake the central government. In modern society, the scope that a group with annual revenue of tens of billions can influence is far too vast, far beyond your imagination, and enough to make everyone take it seriously. The provincial public security bureau leaders have already intervened in Xie Guangjun's case. If something happens to me, who do you think will care?"

"Once the entire country begins to take this matter seriously, and the Republic's top elites start digging deep, how long can your little secret remain hidden? What use will your alibi be? Relevant personnel will not overlook any tiny possibility, and you will certainly be a prime suspect."

At this point, Xie Liqian glanced down at the documents scattered on the ground and smiled faintly, "For example, these things, I obtained them by using favors and paying a price. While I was alive, they kept quiet. Now that I'm dead, they will naturally tell me everything. As a result, the investigators will find that I was investigating you before I died. They will get the same information and reach the same conclusion as me."

"The state will discover your secret, Kang De."

"Then what?"

Xie Liqian looked at the extraordinary individual before him and repeated the question, "And then?"

"What are you going to do? Run away? Rebel? Can you even escape?"

"What is the scarcest thing in modern society? First is privacy, and second is personal security."

"Where did you run off to? Shennongjia? The Gobi Desert? Abroad?"

"Satellites in space can clearly see the face of every person on Earth. The streets are filled with cameras and big data networks. If a country comes looking for you, can you escape?"

"Personal safety is scarce because the power of a nation is sufficient to easily kill anyone, no matter who you are or where you are. Even if you are walking in the vast Gobi Desert, a missile falling from the sky will plow through the land for several kilometers or even tens of kilometers around you the moment you take your second step. Even if you are riding a rocket and intend to escape into space, the radar of a spacefaring superpower with accuracy down to the meter will immediately detect you and blow you into fireworks with an anti-satellite missile as you escape the Kármán Line."

"Can you contend with such power?"

"You don't want your family, your friends, your elders... anymore?"

"Are you going to surrender? In your youthful parlance, hand yourself over to the country?"

Do you think the country will feel at ease?

"A nationally renowned entrepreneur, an influential business tycoon, just because of a minor conflict with you, you kill him without hesitation. A nation is a whole made up of countless individuals; do those individuals feel at ease? Even if the nation feels at ease, what about my friends? They have the same power and wealth as me, possess implicit privileges, and think they are above all others, only to find that their lives are as fragile as ants in your eyes, easily crushed—what do you think they will do?"

Xie Liqian pointed to the documents scattered on the ground. "I investigated these things just to talk to you. If you kill me, no one else will want to talk to you."

Kang De, who had been listening attentively, smiled at this moment.

"It's truly admirable that you can still utter so many principles at a life-or-death situation," Kang De said. "Are you begging for my mercy by saying all this?"

Xie Liqian frowned and said, "I can apologize to you. My son was blind and offended you. He deserves to die. But if you only want to humiliate me, then I will look down on you. Kang De, you are extraordinary and undoubtedly a hero of our time. Heaven has bestowed this power upon you, and you cannot waste it."

Upon hearing this, Kang De raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? What insightful opinion does Mr. Xie have?"

"You possess extraordinary abilities but keep them hidden. I've read many online novels, so I can roughly guess what you young people are thinking: you don't want too much entanglement with official forces, you're afraid of losing your freedom, and you don't want to take on too much responsibility, but you're also unwilling to live an ordinary life, isn't that right?"

Xie Liqian shifted his posture, his tone becoming increasingly composed. As a successful businessman, he was extremely confident in his eloquence; as long as he spoke, things would surely develop in the direction he desired.

"The problem you face is the same as that faced by many star internet companies today: they have achieved a lot, have strong skills and reputation, but don't know how to monetize them."

"For example, you possess such abilities, yet you're still just an ordinary person. The power, wealth, gourmet food, mansions, freedom, and women that we enjoy... you must also very much want to have them. Of course you deserve all of these things, even more than we do, but you can't find the way, you have no way, because you don't want to be high-profile, you don't want to seek help from the government, and you don't want to do bad things... right?"

Kang De stepped over and sat on the other side of the table, facing Xie Liqian: "And then?"

"Then, I can offer you all of this. Believe me, you deserve a better life. It's better for us to cooperate than for you to be trapped in endless trouble after my death. You can kill me anytime; that's the guarantee of our cooperation. And I won't avenge Xie Guangjun. Now I'm certain he deserved to die. I also have another son who is much more successful than him; that's also a bargaining chip in our cooperation."

"You can kill me anytime, and I can expose your secrets anytime. It's a mutual deterrent, and then we'll both be safe and sound—a win-win situation."

Xie Liqian looked at Kang De with a sincere tone.

"How about it? Think about it. I can tell you, China has many restrictions, but in many other countries, money is the supreme ruler. I have friends all over the world, and they will become your friends too. Then you'll find..."

He chuckled softly, "The wonders of the outside world are beyond your imagination."

The two looked at each other.

Then Kang De smiled gently.

"Hehe."

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PS1: First update, 4,000 words. The second update is expected to be completed by 12:30, no later than 1:00. Please wait a bit, because Kang De is about to start again!