Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

"I haven't the faintest clue where he is!"

The security guard sneered, "But I've heard he's been hanging around the nearby night market lately. Word has it his concubine runs a stall there."

The security guard hesitated for a moment, perhaps moved by Qin Ran's persistence, and eventually pulled out his phone, opening a group photo taken during a morning meeting.

"The guy at the very front—that's him."

Qin Ran glanced at the image. Tall and muscular, he looked like someone who had served in the military.

"How do I get to the night market? How far is it from here?" Qin Ran handed the phone back to the guard.

The guard pointed, "See that red high-rise over there? The night market's right behind it. It gets lively in the evenings—stalls line the entire street."

Qin Jian hopped onto his electric scooter. "Ran, let's go!"

But as soon as he tried to ride off, the scooter refused to budge.

"The battery's dead," Qin Jian muttered, frustration evident on his face. Was his luck really this bad?

"There are charging stations across the street in the neighboring complex," the guard offered helpfully.

"Brother, you go charge the scooter. I'll take a shared bike to the night market. That way, we won't waste time."

"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" Qin Jian asked, concern in his voice.

"Of course. I'm just looking for someone. What could possibly go wrong in such a crowded place?"

Qin Ran pulled out her phone and scanned the QR code on the shared bike parked next to the security booth.

"Miss, make sure you bring the bike back after you're done. We rely on it for our patrols," the guard reminded her.

Qin Ran gave him a thumbs-up and pedaled off.

Left with no choice, Qin Jian pushed his scooter toward the charging station on the opposite side of the neighborhood.

The night market wasn't too far from the residential complex—about three kilometers—but Qin Ran arrived in ten minutes.

The night market was bustling with activity. Qin Ran cycled around, eventually stopping at a flower stall.

The woman selling flowers, who appeared to be in her thirties, greeted her warmly.

"Looking for flowers, miss? Our chrysanthemums are on special today. Want a bunch?"

Qin Ran brushed aside the flowers she held out. "Where's Liu Neng?"

She had seen the head of security's name on the duty roster hanging in the security booth—he was listed first.

The woman grew wary. "What do you want with him?"

"Just tell me where he is."

"He's delivering flowers for me. He should be back soon."

The woman eyed Qin Ran suspiciously. "What do you want with him? How do you know him? When did you meet?"

"I don't know him. I have no connection to him."

Qin Ran replied with growing irritation, "I need to review the surveillance footage from two days ago."

Before she could finish, a cold voice cut in from behind her. "No one is allowed to access the surveillance footage. It's company policy. Even if you ask me, it won't make a difference."

Qin Ran turned to see a tall, burly man standing beside her. His scarred face gave him a menacing appearance.

"And how exactly am I supposed to access it?" Qin Ran asked, frowning.

"No way, no matter what!"

The man handed some money to the flower seller. "Xiaoyue, I've got some business at the company. I'll come back later to help you pack up."

"So, there's absolutely no way to view it, huh?"

In one swift motion, Qin Ran grabbed Xiaoyue and pinned her to the ground. "How about now? Can we view it now?"

Xiaoyue screamed, "A-Neng, help me!"

Liu Neng, who had just mounted his scooter, quickly dismounted and strode over, his face contorted with unmasked hostility.

"Let her go!"

Qin Ran didn't budge, staring directly at Liu Neng. "Show me the footage from two days ago, and I'll let her go. Otherwise, your little mistress will end up disfigured, and I'll make sure your wife back home hears all about your affair."

From the guard's earlier comment about a "concubine," Qin Ran knew Liu Neng was married, and this woman was nothing more than a fleeting fling.

Liu Neng was livid. He hated being threatened, especially with his wife.

He aimed a kick at Qin Ran, thinking she was just a frail woman. He assumed she had managed to pin Xiaoyue down because the latter hadn't been expecting it.

This woman dared to threaten him? He'd teach her a lesson!

Reality, however, proved harsh. Liu Neng thought he could take her down in a few moves, but when he kicked, she caught his foot, yanked it, and delivered a powerful kick that sent him sprawling.

Liu Neng was stunned. He had served in the military—not as a police officer, but he could usually handle a couple of men without breaking a sweat.

He never expected this seemingly delicate woman to overpower him in less than three minutes.

Qin Ran stepped on Liu Neng's back, twisting his arm behind him. "Captain Liu, care to reconsider showing me the footage now?"

"Yes, yes, we can!" Liu Neng broke into a cold sweat, realizing this woman must have serious combat training. He couldn't believe he'd lost to her!

"Good. Let's go back to the complex now."

Qin Ran snatched the key to his scooter from his belt, released her foot, and grabbed the terrified Xiaoyue.

"Captain Liu, I'll take your scooter and bring Sister Xiaoyue to the complex to wait for you."

Liu Neng watched as Qin Ran dragged Xiaoyue onto the scooter. This woman wasn't just strong—she was sharp, hitting him where it hurt most.

If he didn't show the footage, she would definitely take photos of Xiaoyue and expose their affair to his wife back home.

He cared for Xiaoyue, but they were just casual partners, both with families and no intention of breaking them up.

His wife was at home, taking care of his parents and two children. If she found out about his infidelity, his family would be ruined.

Realizing this, he quickly found a shared bike and raced back to the complex.

The gas company's offer of 10,000 yuan was tempting, but keeping his family intact was far more important. He decided to forgo the money.

Qin Ran, with a pale-faced Xiaoyue, returned to the security booth. After about five minutes, Liu Neng arrived on a shared bike.

Reluctantly, Liu Neng accessed the surveillance system, edited the footage from two days ago showing Qin Jian and the others examining the blueprints, and sent it to Qin Ran's email.

"If anyone asks, say you hacked the system. Don't mention me, got it?"

Frustrated, Liu Neng left, taking Xiaoyue back to the night market on his scooter.