Finished? Then Get Out

Inspection Bureau.

This was also a department with a strong presence in Night Sin City.

As a subordinate agency of City Hall, it was specifically responsible for cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activity within the city.

Xu Shi didn't remember doing anything illegal... so why were they looking for him? And for an in-person meeting at that?

"It should be related to the previous escort operation?"

Even Su Lin couldn't figure out the other side's intentions, but thinking it over carefully, that seemed to be the only major event lately.

Xu Shi had asked her to blanket the media with coverage at the time. There was no way the Inspection Bureau could have missed it.

"Tch, what a pain."

Xu Shi clicked his tongue. "Who's the Inspection Bureau sending? Can we turn them down?"

"Probably... not?"

Su Lin looked troubled. "According to the email, Director Tang might come in person."

"Who? Director Tang?"

Xu Shi paused at that, then confirmed, "The current director of the Inspection Bureau, Tang Shuang?"

"That's her."

The moment he heard that name, Xu Shi suddenly felt his blood boiling.

If someone asked which of the original novel's heroines he hated most, it would absolutely be Tang Shuang!

And that had nothing to do with whether he was a villain.

It was entirely because this woman was a genuine hypocrite with double standards!

As a law enforcer of Night Sin City, her acquaintance with the protagonist Shen He had begun with an Inspection Bureau sweep against Sin City's gangs.

And Spark had not been exempt from that operation.

It sounded like a happy outcome for everyone, but that was exactly where the problem lay.

After capturing Shen He through her exceptional personal abilities, she had not taken him into custody.

Instead, under his verbal offensive, Tang Shuang had somehow let him go.

From then on, things spiraled out of control. Whenever she crossed paths with Shen He, Miss Tang would more or less open a few back doors for him.

With her secret assistance, Spark's development naturally went much more smoothly.

By the time Xu Shi was due to kick the bucket in the original novel, the two of them had only been one final step away from becoming lovers.

Xu Shi knew very well that Tang Shuang's actions were largely driven by her overwhelming sense of justice, coupled with an innate sympathy for the weak.

Taken on its own, that might not have been entirely unacceptable.

But the problem was that whenever she dealt with him, this woman showed absolutely no mercy!

Many of her actions, intentional or not, had even helped Spark deal with Serpent Coil.

Although in Night Sin City, the Inspection Bureau and even City Hall might not have been as powerful as the Six Great Conglomerates.

That was only relative. Once they started throwing their weight around, the conglomerates would have plenty of headaches too.

In the original novel, when Serpent Coil had cornered Shen He so thoroughly that he had nowhere left to retreat, it was the Inspection Bureau's forced intervention that saved him...

His fists clenched.

His fists were really clenched.

He simply couldn't take it anymore. Couldn't she see who the real victim was?

If Tang Shuang were standing before him right now, the first thing Xu Shi would do was slap her twice across the face.

"...Young Master?"

Seeing that he looked ready to devour someone, Su Lin couldn't help feeling curious.

Did they have some kind of grudge?

She didn't remember the young master having any previous dealings with Tang Shuang, though?

"...It's nothing. I remembered something unpleasant."

It took Xu Shi quite a while to calm down. He let out a deep breath. "Fine, then. What time tomorrow? I'll personally meet this Director Tang."

Avoiding her was definitely not an option.

Fortunately, there was a gap in timing here. Even someone as irritating as her might still be useful.

Or rather, he definitely had to make use of her. What if she ended up getting together with Shen He?

Early the next morning, Xu Shi arrived at his office and waited for Tang Shuang's arrival.

Five minutes before their scheduled time, a knock sounded outside.

"Come in."

The door opened, and the instant Xu Shi saw the visitor, his eyes lit up.

Mm... how should he put it?

She was indeed irritating, but Tang Shuang was also undeniably alluring.

Delicate features, flawless skin... her lush figure was concealed beneath the Inspection Bureau's black Third Empire-style uniform, adding a touch of dashing elegance to her appearance.

"Hello, Director Tang. It's our first meeting. I'm Xu Shi."

After silently offering a small compliment to her appearance, Xu Shi put on a professional smile. "Please, have a seat."

"Hello, Chairman Xu."

Tang Shuang gave a faint nod, lifted her cape, and seated herself gracefully. "Sorry to disturb you."

"Not at all, not at all. I'm more than happy to cooperate with the Inspection Bureau's work."

Xu Shi had someone bring her tea. "I just wonder, what did Director Tang wish to discuss with me?"

"...Then I'll get straight to the point."

Tang Shuang's eyes flickered. "I came today to discuss what happened earlier on the Huajin Plain."

"Two weeks ago, your company engaged in an armed conflict with criminal gangs from Sin City on the Huajin Plain, correct?"

"That did happen."

Xu Shi folded his hands and looked at her calmly. "What is Director Tang getting at?"

"What I mean is that the heavy weapons your company used during that conflict were not registered with the Inspection Bureau in advance."

Tang Shuang took a sip of tea and spoke unhurriedly. "Moreover, your actions had a significant impact on the residents of District Seven, who live near the Huajin Plain."

"So Director Tang came to discuss a fine with me?"

"That is only one aspect. In addition, City Hall hopes that, in the spirit of humanitarianism, you can provide some assistance with District Seven's reconstruction efforts."

"However, that part is entirely up to your personal willingness. It is fine if you refuse, but the former must be carried out."

Having said that, she watched Xu Shi intently, waiting for his answer.

To be fair, among the heirs of the Six Great Conglomerates over the past two generations, spoiled playboys were never in short supply.

Relying on their status to act recklessly, finding new ways to break the law and violate regulations, making everyone else suffer... and the most hateful part was that someone would always clean up after them, making it difficult to truly bring them to justice.

Xu Shi was naturally one of them. Though this was her first direct encounter with him, she had heard his reputation countless times before.

Still, she didn't think the man before her was anything special. In her eyes, he was just like the other rich young heirs: an incompetent fool. Giving people like them a lesson was the top priority.

And the Huajin Plain incident was undoubtedly a fine opportunity. Honestly, if not for Xu Shi's status, she would not have negotiated with him so calmly.

However.

What she had never expected was this.

The next second, the cup in Xu Shi's hand smashed onto the floor by her feet.

?

!

"Finished? Then get the hell out."

Before Tang Shuang could even react, Xu Shi gave his answer with a dark expression.

"Fuck you. What gives you the nerve to ask me for compensation?"