Ultimate Indulgence and Ultimate Vigilance
Under the bright sunshine, the azure waters of Puget Sound left two long, white, rolling trails on either side of the yacht. This was the 120-foot Italy -made "Riva" luxury yacht, its streamlined white hull gleaming in the sunlight, like an elegant and swift white swan on the sea.
On the deck, huge sunbathing mats were spread out, and at the small bar next to them, smiling waiters in white uniforms were skillfully mixing colorful cocktails.
Mike Anderson, dressed only in a pair of beach shorts with a palm tree pattern and wearing sunglasses, lay on a deck chair covered with a snow-white towel, holding a Margarita with a small paper umbrella in his hand.
Surrounding him were four or five young girls in bikinis, with hot figures and beautiful faces. They sat or lay down, giggling, handing him fruit and applying sunscreen with their slender hands, or simply showing off their youthful bodies. The air was filled with the coconut scent of sunscreen, the sweet fragrance of expensive perfume, and the salty smell of the sea breeze.
"Lin! Stop standing there looking at the sea! Come over and enjoy the sunshine!" Mike called out loudly, patting the empty deck chair next to him, gesturing for a blonde girl to pour Lin Feng a drink as well.
Lin Feng stood at the bow of the ship, leaning on the railing, letting the salty sea breeze caress his face and tousle his black hair. He wore a simple white linen shirt and dark casual pants, sunglasses, and a relaxed expression. Hearing this, he turned around and walked to a nearby deck chair to sit down. Immediately, a Latina girl with tanned skin and a sweet smile carried a tray and placed a crystal-clear mojito garnished with mint leaves on the small table beside him, giving him an alluring smile, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you." Lin Feng nodded to her, picked up his glass, took a small sip, and found the cool, slightly sweet taste quite pleasant. The girl seemed to want to sit down next to him and start a conversation, but Lin Feng simply smiled politely at her and then turned his gaze back to the seabirds soaring over the distant horizon and the faintly visible skyline of Seattle further away.
The girl was a little disappointed, but wisely didn't press the matter and turned back to the other girls.
Mike watched all this, chuckled, nudged a redhead feeding him grapes with his elbow, and winked. "See that? Our Mr. Lin, what remarkable self-control! So many beautiful women in front of him, yet he remains completely unmoved. Lin, are you not interested in women? Or... is it that Eastern aesthetics are different from ours? Hahaha!"
His unrestrained laughter echoed on the deck, and several girls giggled along with him, their eyes curiously scrutinizing Lin Feng.
Lin Feng took off his sunglasses, picked up his glass and took another sip, his tone flat. "I just think the sun is nice, the sea breeze is comfortable. There are too many people, it's a bit noisy." He spoke very directly, neither denying Mike's teasing nor explaining anything, simply stating his own feelings.
Mike paused for a moment, then laughed even louder, saying to the girls, "Did you hear that? Ladies, Mr. Lin thinks you're too noisy! Quiet down, learn some of the subtlety of Easterners!"
The girls cooperated by making expressions of grievance or shyness, but the laughter and whispers did not stop. The yacht continued to cut through the waves, heading towards a reserved cove with a private beach, where it would anchor for water activities, barbecues, and sunbathing parties.
Over the next two days, Mike showed Lin Feng what "spending money like water" and "extreme enjoyment" truly meant.
They flew to Las Vegas on Mike's Gulfstream G550 private jet, enjoying panoramic views of the city from a penthouse suite, dining at a Michelin Samsung restaurant where reservations required six months in advance, and watching concerts by the hottest stars from VIP boxes. Mike even gambled away millions at the casino, remaining unfazed and laughing heartily as if it were just game tokens.
They drove several of Mike's limited-edition supercars along mountain roads outside Seattle, feeling the roar of the engines and the thrill of acceleration. They also rode in Mike's private helicopter, circling over the city and overlooking the magnificent sunset over the rainy city.
Fine wine, gourmet food, beautiful scenery, and carefully selected young women with excellent looks and figures who know how to flatter him, all surrounding him at all times. Mike seemed to want to use this simple and crude method to instill in Lin Feng the idea that "this is the life of the top tycoons," and also tried to use this decadent atmosphere to further corrupt and win over Lin Feng, making him intoxicated and lower his guard.
Lin Feng welcomes all comers.
He savored every delicacy recommended by Mike, meticulously tasted every fine wine, and experienced every thrilling entertainment. He showed appropriate appreciation and interest in those priceless sports cars, yachts, and airplanes, asking about technical specifications or user experiences like a curious student. He would also discuss stocks, horse racing, sports, the latest technological products, and even occasionally comment on current affairs with Mike and other guests (mostly "successful people" or "beautiful companions" in Mike's circle), displaying his extensive knowledge and wit.
However, whenever a woman tried to get too close or hinted at taking things further, Lin Feng would always skillfully maintain his distance. His attitude was gentle and polite, but his boundaries were clear. He would chat with them, joke with them, and even dance with them, but he would never allow them into his private space, much less accept any invitation to be alone together or any hints of going to a hotel room to "chat." His refusal was not abrupt; it was often an unintentional turn of the head, a polite but distant smile, or a change of topic, but the effect was clear.
Late at night after a pool party, everyone was slightly tipsy and went back to their rooms with their female companions. Lin Feng returned alone to his suite on the top floor of the hotel. K followed him in like a shadow, checked every corner of the room, and made sure it was safe.
"Boss, that model named Sophia today, and that Latina girl on the yacht earlier, according to the intelligence team's preliminary peripheral investigation, both have somewhat complicated backgrounds. Although there's no direct evidence, they are connected to certain 'hunter' circles that specifically target the wealthy, as well as two modeling agencies with questionable backgrounds," K reported in a low voice. Even during the quiet period in Seattle, Golden Sun's intelligence network never relaxed its surveillance of the environment around its key figures.
Lin Feng unbuttoned his shirt, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked calmly at the dazzling lights of Las Vegas that never sleep outside.
"As expected," he said casually. "People like Mike are surrounded by people who want to make money, spies planted by others, or both. Those girls are too beautiful, too 'perfectly' positioned, and too good at catering to his tastes. Where in the world is there so much 'fate' and 'enthusiasm' without reason?"
He recalled the minor celebrities who clung to him at the banquet, the "friends of friends" in bikinis on the yacht, and the "rich girls" he "accidentally" met at the casino who knew nothing about gambling but were unusually interested in the wealthy... Each one was like a carefully wrapped gift, exuding an alluring fragrance, waiting to be unwrapped and release what might be honey or poison.
"Throughout history, in the world's political arena, the honey trap has always been one of the most effective, lowest-cost, and easiest ways to lower people's guard." Lin Feng turned to look at K, his eyes clear and cold. "The KGB's 'Swallow,' MI6's 'Honey Trap,' the CIA's 'Love Bullet'... Aren't there enough examples? It doesn't require sophisticated techniques; it only requires finding the weaknesses in human nature. How many heroes, political and business tycoons have ultimately fallen victim to her charms, suffering disgrace and even losing their lives?"
He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of water, and slowly drank it.
"We're in United States now, our foothold is unstable, and we're surrounded by enemies. Dinggeli, the guy behind Mike, has already decided to kill me. At times like this, any stranger who gets close, especially a pretty woman, could be a sugar-coated bomb. Desire is a weakness, and the greatest danger often lurks in what you consider the safest and most pleasant moments."
He put down the water glass, his tone resolute:
"Until we have absolute control over the other person's background and intentions, and can ensure absolute safety, any unnecessary physical contact and emotional entanglement is a foolish risk. When faced with beauty, it's enough to just look. If we really need to satisfy our physical needs, we have safer and more controllable channels. But those are not things we should be considering right now."
K nodded solemnly. The boss's clarity of mind and self-control were always extraordinary. Faced with such extreme temptation, he could still maintain absolute rationality and vigilance, like a finely tuned machine, eliminating all interference that could affect his judgment and safety. This was the key to his ability to survive and thrive time and time again in dangerous situations.
"Furthermore," Lin Feng added, "Have the intelligence team continue to monitor the movements of those around Mike, especially those he frequently contacts. Dinggeli is planning to target me; he might use Mike as a lead, or he might not. But in any case, be extra cautious."
"Yes," K replied, noting down the instruction.
Lin Feng walked back to the window, gazing at the ever-burning ocean of light beneath his feet, a sea of money, desire, and illusion. His reflection was clearly mirrored on the glass, his face calm, his gaze profound, as if he could see through all the Undercurrent and murderous intent surging beneath this prosperous facade.
He experienced the ultimate enjoyment that Mike provided.
But he never let down his guard, maintaining an even more extreme level of vigilance.
Enjoyment is a disguise, an observation, and an immersion.
Vigilance is instinct, survival, and the nerves a hunter must keep taut before stepping into a trap zone.
The neon lights outside the window were still flashing, and the revelry continued.
But inside the suite, there was only a cold, clear-headed silence belonging to the predator.