Chapter 5: Severing the Lifelines
Sunlight.
It was the first thing Li Wei was aware of. Not the harsh, artificial light of a hospital room, but the gentle, warm glow of a new day filtering into the room. The automated blackout shades had retracted on some pre-set schedule, revealing a sky painted in soft hues of orange and blue, with the iconic skyline of Hong Kong looking almost peaceful in the morning haze.
He lay there for a moment, in the impossibly comfortable bed, the events of the previous day replaying in his mind like a surreal film. The betrayal. The truck. The System. The villa. It should have felt like a dream, but the solid feel of the high-thread-count sheets and the awe-inspiring view through the wall of glass confirmed it was all terrifyingly real.
A sense of profound calm settled over him. The frantic panic and white-hot rage had been refined overnight, forged in the crucible of this new reality into a core of cold, hardened purpose. He was no longer Li Wei, the victim. He was the instrument.
He rose, his body feeling rested and powerful, another silent gift from the System. He found the kitchen—a marvel of minimalist design and hidden appliances—and figured out the complex coffee machine, brewing a single, perfect cup. Carrying it, he walked out onto the main terrace.
The morning air was cool and clean. The infinity pool seemed to spill directly into the skyline. He stood there, sipping his coffee, looking down at the city where his enemies were likely just starting their day, blissfully unaware that the sky was about to fall on their heads.
A soft, melodic chime echoed from within the villa. It was the tablet Mr. Chen had given him. A notification glowed on the screen: Secure File Received - sender: E. Reed, OmniStar.
His heart rate didn't spike; it steadied. This was it. The first move.
He opened the file. It was a masterpiece of corporate intelligence—clear, concise, and devastating. Charts and graphs detailed OmniStar's minor but significant exposure to Tri-Star Ventures through a venture capital fund. Lists of shared clients and partners were meticulously compiled.
He was about to send the command to freeze everything when a name in the "Key Strategic Partners" section made his blood run cold.
Jin Long Technologies. CEO: Song Feng.
The coffee cup froze halfway to his lips.
Song Feng.
A face from the past flashed in his mind, arrogant and smirking. University. The basketball court. Song Feng, the golden boy from a wealthy family, captain of the rival team. Their clashes were legendary—a battle of wills between inherited privilege and sheer, desperate talent. Song Feng had always looked at him with a mix of disdain and jealousy, unable to stand that a "nobody" could challenge him. The rivalry had spilled over from sports to grades, to competing for the same internships.
And now, Song Feng was in business with the men who had stolen his life. It felt like a final, deliberate twist of the knife. This wasn't just business anymore. It was personal. Deeply personal.
A cold, grim smile touched Li Wei's lips. This was perfect. This made the coming ruin so much sweeter.
He didn't hesitate. He activated the secure comms link on the tablet. Evelyn Reed answered on the first ring.
"Mr. Li. I trust you received the report?"
"I did. Your efficiency is noted, Ms. Reed," he said, his voice even. "The orders stand. Initiate the immediate freeze of all capital to Tri-Star. But I am expanding the directive."
"Sir?"
"Contact every company on that partner list. Every single one. But pay special attention to Jin Long Technologies." He infused the name with a subtle venom. "The message is no longer a suggestion. It is an ultimatum. Any company that continues its partnership with Tri-Star Ventures will be permanently blacklisted from the entire OmniStar global network. No contracts. No investments. No exceptions. Make them understand the cost of their loyalty."
There was a brief, telling silence on the other end. Even unflappable Evelyn Reed understood the nuclear winter he had just authorized. "Understood, sir. The message will be delivered with absolute clarity."
"Keep me informed."
As the call ended, the security system chimed again. A visual feed showed an older woman standing calmly at the main villa gate. Auntie Mei had arrived.
He granted her access. Minutes later, she stood in the grand living room, her hands clasped neatly in front of her simple but elegant dress. Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, did not widen at the staggering luxury around her. Instead, they quickly took inventory of the space, noting the lack of provisions, the dust-free surfaces, the view.
"Mr. Li," she said with a slight, respectful nod. No more, no less.
"Auntie Mei. Mr. Chen speaks highly of you."
"He is a good nephew. He said you require discretion and efficiency."
"I do. The house is large. I require it to be managed. Meals prepared. I value my privacy above all else."
She gave a single, sharp nod. "This is understood. I do not gossip. I see the kitchen is empty. Do you have dietary preferences? Allergies?"
They spoke for a few more minutes. Her questions were practical and direct. She was interviewing him as much as he was her. He was immensely impressed. He hired her on the spot.
"Very well, Mr. Li. I will begin with an inventory. Lunch will be ready at noon." And with that, she turned and walked toward the kitchen, a figure of quiet purpose already taking command of his domestic world.
About an hour later, as Li Wei was reviewing the villa's security systems on the tablet, a new message from Evelyn Reed appeared. It was not a file, but a simple, stark text delivered through the secure channel.
E. Reed: Directive executed, sir. Initial feedback received. Jin Long Technologies was the first to respond. CEO Song Feng personally called our liaison to confirm the terms, then terminated his contract with Tri-Star Ventures within the hour. Four other partners have followed suit in the last twenty minutes. The process is accelerating.
Li Wei read the message twice. A wave of cold, dark satisfaction washed over him. He could imagine the scene perfectly: Song Feng, the proud, arrogant rival, being forced to make a humiliating call to save his own company, then immediately throwing his "partners" Lin Jie and Zhang Wei to the wolves to save himself.
It was a beautiful first move.
He didn't need a news alert. He had a front-row seat to the collapse, delivered directly to him by his own agent.
The panic in Tri-Star's offices would be absolute by now.
He looked out at the glittering city, a king in his glass castle.
"Just the beginning," he whispered to himself.