Ch. 281Must Die!
Chapter Summary — “Must Die!”
Key Plot Points and Events
- Lin Jiadong learns that Jian Dai spent the night at the Hilton Hotel with Gao Jing and went shopping with him the following morning. Enraged and jealous, he smashes an antique vase.
- Lin believes Jian Dai and the Golden Horse Group should have belonged to him after the death of his elder brother, Jian Dai’s husband. He views Jian Dai as his personal possession, despite her longstanding disgust toward him.
- In the past, Lin used the Jeni Gang to eliminate a rumored romantic rival of Jian Dai’s. Now, seeing that Jian Dai has genuinely fallen for Gao Jing, he decides Gao Jing must die.
- Lin contacts a dangerous associate, Mr. Adusa, and asks him to help eliminate Gao Jing.
- Meanwhile, Jian Dai takes Gao Jing shopping at Twin Towers Shopping Center, spending nearly ten million on luxury clothing, accessories, and a Patek Philippe watch. She is pleased by his improved appearance and clearly enjoys caring for him.
- Jian Dai tours Gao Jing through a Golden Horse Group paper mill, introducing him to the company’s extensive paper, forestry, timber, and furniture businesses. The visit confirms that she is an ideal potential partner for Gao Jing’s plans involving Great World’s forest resources.
- After dinner, Jian Dai is called back to group headquarters. She apologizes, kisses Gao Jing goodbye, and promises to continue showing him the company’s factories the next day. They remain emotionally close, speaking by phone later that night.
- The next morning, driver Lin Zhenhui takes Gao Jing toward another factory but gradually diverts onto increasingly remote roads. Gao Jing notices the suspicious route, Lin’s nervous behavior, and the lack of phone signal.
- The car stops at an abandoned factory, where armed men carrying machetes and hunting rifles surround it. Lin Jiadong appears and congratulates Lin Zhenhui for betraying Gao Jing.
- Before Lin Zhenhui can finish accepting his reward, Lin Jiadong stabs him in the back, revealing that he intends to eliminate even his own accomplice after the ambush.
Character Developments
- Lin Jiadong: His jealousy, entitlement, and hatred intensify into an explicit murder plot. He sees Jian Dai and the Golden Horse Group as things he deserves and treats Gao Jing as an intolerable rival. His stabbing of Lin Zhenhui demonstrates his cruelty and willingness to betray anyone.
- Jian Dai: Her relationship with Gao Jing becomes increasingly intimate and domestic. She spends lavishly on him, introduces him to her business empire, and balances her romantic feelings with her responsibilities as a business leader.
- Gao Jing: He becomes more integrated into Jian Dai’s personal and professional world. Although he accepts her extravagant gifts somewhat reluctantly, he appreciates her support. His calm reaction to the suspicious detour suggests confidence and strong situational awareness.
- Lin Zhenhui: Initially appears to be a trusted driver, but he has secretly cooperated with Lin Jiadong. His betrayal ultimately proves futile when Lin Jiadong kills him immediately after the trap is sprung.
Significant Themes
- Possessiveness and entitlement: Lin Jiadong’s belief that Jian Dai and the family business belong to him drives the central conflict.
- Jealousy turning into violence: Romantic resentment escalates from surveillance and intimidation to an organized assassination attempt.
- Love versus duty: Jian Dai cares deeply for Gao Jing but still returns to handle her corporate responsibilities.
- Power and business alliances: The chapter emphasizes the value of Jian Dai’s corporate empire and its importance to Gao Jing’s future plans.
- Betrayal and ruthlessness: Lin Jiadong’s murder of his own accomplice shows that his ambition and cruelty extend beyond his romantic rivalry.
Important Character Interactions
- Lin Jiadong speaks deferentially to Mr. Adusa while arranging Gao Jing’s murder, showing that he relies on darker outside forces.
- Jian Dai and Gao Jing share affectionate shopping, business touring, dinner, phone conversations, and a goodbye kiss, strengthening their relationship.
- Gao Jing notices Lin Zhenhui’s suspicious driving but deliberately remains calm, creating tension before the ambush.
- Lin Jiadong praises Lin Zhenhui for his betrayal, then immediately stabs him, exposing the brutal and treacherous nature of the trap.