Upon seeing the scene at the entrance of the office, Yao Cen felt a surge of nausea, almost regurgitating the breakfast she had just eaten. The ss door was smeared with blood. Underneath ity scattered, foul-smelling animal entrails. The dark red blood had seeped onto the hallway of the entrance, and ring red letters spelling ‘death’ were scribbled on the white wall nearby-an rming sight.


    “What’s wrong with thispany? They just moved in not long ago. Who on earth have they offended?” one person remarked. “Just a few days ago, they were vandalized, and now this.”


    “It’s unnerving sharing an office floor with them,” sighed another. “One of my colleagues arrived early this morning and was almost scared witless passing by their door.”


    “We shouldin to the property management and have them evicted. This is really unlucky.”


    “Indeed, seeing such disgusting things first thing in the morning really ruins one’s mood.”


    The white-cor workers in the office looked on from a distance, mutteringints. It was hard to me them-the smell of blood and guts filled the hallway, a sight that was enough to turn anyone’s stomach. Even Xiao Shun, looking on, could not help but frown deeply.


    By this time, the employees had started to trickle in for work. Seeing the mess, they looked crestfallen and at a loss.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “We came in early to find it like this,” a female colleaguemented to Xiao Shun.


    “Let’s get someone to clean this up. I’ll check the surveince footage with property managementter,” Xiao Shun suggested.


    “Mr. Xiao, should we call the police?” an indignant young male colleague suggested. He had been one of the victims of the previous incident, so his anger was palpable.


    “It’s no use,” Xiao Shun gritted his teeth.


    “Let’s take a paid leave day today and go home to rest. I’ll notify everyone when toe back to work,” Yao Cen intervened. Clearly, it was impossible to work under these circumstances.


    After the employees left, Xiao Shun and Yao Cen went to the property management office. After some discussion, they reviewed the surveince footage from the previous day.


    The building housed hundreds ofpanies, resulting in frequentings and goings, so security wasx. The footage showed that around 4 a. m., three fully-covered individuals, each carrying a ck bag, took the elevator from the basement to the floor where Starline Bio was located. There were no cameras in the hallway, but one could easily imagine what had happened next.


    They were left without a clue. The perpetrators hade prepared, leaving no visible trace of their identities.


    “What do we do now?” Yao Cen asked despondently as they exited the surveince room.


    Xiao Shun contemted for a moment. Given the state of the office walls and the hallway,pensation was inevitable. The property management had already asked them to move out as soon as possible.


    “You stay here and handle the aftermath. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll have to find another ce to work. I’m going to visit Mr. Liang at the Merchants Office first to rify what’s going on with thatnd,” Xiao Shun decided. He was more troubled by these covert tactics than a direct confrontation.


    “That’s all we can do for now,” Yao Cen replied, sighing deeply.


    “With me here, everything will be fine,” Xiao Shun reassured her, pulling her into an embrace.


    “Alright,” Yao Cen acknowledged with a nod.


    After leaving the office, Xiao Shun hailed a taxi to the Merchants Office.


    Half an hourter, he arrived at the Merchants Office. He wasn’t obstructed in any way and was quickly ushered into a waiting room.


    In the director’s office, Liang Jingye was leisurely sipping his tea after meeting with a real estate merchant. A tall, but somewhat unattractive, young woman entered the room.


    “Mr. Liang, someone from Starline Bio is here.”


    “Stillwater’s Starline Bio?” Liang Jingye asked nonchntly.


    “Yes.”


    “Let him wait. I was too quick to grant them that valuable piece ofnd at your suggestion. Not only are they ungrateful, but they also have the audacity toin about us to Chief Zhao. Unbelievable!” Liang Jingye grumbled.


    Xiao Shun was unaware of theplexities of bureaucratic politics. His conversation with Zhao Hetai seemed to have been interpreted as aint against the Merchants Office to a higher authority.


    “Indeed, they are ungrateful. Don’t be upset, Mr. Liang. Let me pour you another ss of water,” the young woman said with a smile.


    “What’s the connection between Starline Bio’s boss and Chief Zhao? Why did Chief Zhao personally call me to meet with the boss?” LiangJingye asked, clearly puzzled.


    “If you don’t know, how should I?” The young woman topped up his cup of tea from the water dispenser.


    “Fine, let him wait. I rule in my own territory. If he grows impatient and leaves, and Chief Zhao asks about it, then it’s Starline Bio’sck of patience, not my problem. I have plenty of excuses,” Liang Jingye chuckled smugly. Despite his low rank, Liang Jingye had considerable power and resources in the Merchants Office and could easily handle a smallpany like Starline Bio.


    Xiao Shun had been waiting in the reception room from 9 a. m. to almost noon. His patience was already stretched thin. He could wait this long only out of respect for Zhao Hetai, not wishing to cause him any trouble.


    He rose from his seat and briskly left the waiting room, quickly finding Liang Jingye’s office. After knocking twice, the young woman who had initially led him to the waiting room opened the door. She coldly said, “You were told to wait in the reception room. The director is very busy right now and doesn’t have time to see you. Please return to the waiting room.”


    “I just have a quick question, then I’ll leave,” Xiao Shun replied.


    “As I’ve said, Mr. Liang is very busy and doesn’t have time to see you…” the young woman said, clearly annoyed.


    “Step aside.”


    Xiao Shun’s gaze hardened. Without waiting for her to finish, he pushed her aside and strode into the office. An ordinary person would have been unable to stop him, let alone a woman.


    “How rude!” The young woman stomped her foot in frustration and quickly followed him in an attempt to stop him.


    “Secretary Wei, what’s the noise about?” Liang Jingye asked, hearing themotion outside his office.


    As he finished speaking, Xiao Shun appeared before him, leaving him momentarily startled. He had never encountered anyone bold enough to barge into his office like this.