"What do you mean daughter?" Lu Mengjie asked. From what she knew, Bai Keran had always hated the Lu family so why would he even hire a member of the family?

"Your mother, Li Bingbing," Bai Zichen continued. "Your mother has always been a prodigy, right? I met her once during college when I bought this evidence from her."

"My… mother?" No wonder she wasn't able to dig anything from Bai Keran's past! If it was someone like her mother… If she was the person who covered his tracks, then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore. Even Kuro wouldn't be able to dig anything out unless he tried to hack into her mother's database.

"I met her once in the past. I also… heard her conversation with Bai Keran. She was a brave one I tell you. No wonder your tongue is as sharp as hers. I never saw someone threaten Bai Keran the way that she did."

"What do you mean?" Tian Ruyi asked in confusion.

"Well, you see…"

…

Bai Zichen was in his last year in high school when decided to go home during the weekend after he heard that his brother was punished by their grandfather again. He knew that their mother would surely stay at the old man's house until the end of the duration. That was always the case whenever Bai Jingye was brought to that room. He has always shown his rebellious side to Bai Keran even if he had warned him already so many times.

Upon arriving at the Bai Keran's villa, he saw a young girl, probably a student like him. The girl instantly attracted his attention. Her lips were a lovely cherry-pink tint, and her features were delicate and beautiful. In his opinion, her round spectacles added to her cuteness.

Two large men were standing behind her as if they were guarding her just so she wouldn't escape.

"Where are you taking her?" Bai Zichen asked as she followed them.

"Your grandfather wants to see her, young master," one of the men replied.

Bai Zichen instantly became nervous upon hearing his answer. He already saw countless people being brought to his grandfather's office; most of them came out bloodied and only a few came out untouched. His grandfather wouldn't bring his guests to his study room that was in his home when he could just meet them at work. He feared for the innocent-looking girl before him. Did she do something that offended Bai Keran?

"Oh? Young master?" Li Bingbing turned to the boy that was younger than her. She eyed him from head to shoe. "Not bad. You don't look like your grumpy old man. Hey, handsome boy, are you interested in older women?"

Older? She didn't look older than him at all!

"I… I want to see grandfather too so I'm coming with you," he said as an excuse so he followed them as they climbed the stairs.

"Pretty boy, do you have a girlfriend?"

"How old are you?" Bai Zichen asked in return instead of answering her. He was kind of curious when she told him that she was older than him.

"You know, it's rather rude to ask women their age," she replied with a small chuckle. She looked rather calm despite having two men bigger than them following her.

"You just said that you were older than me," he retorted.

"I did." She chuckled. "I'll tell you my age if you agree to go on a date with me."

"..." Bai Zichen didn't know how to react. Such straightforwardness caught him off-guard. "T-That's…"

"Ugh. I changed my mind. You're too young for me. Hurry up and grow up, boy." She patted his shoulder before she entered the study, leaving Bai Zichen outside.

"W-Wait!" He stepped into the room and turned to his grandfather.

Bai Keran was sitting by his desk. He had an aloof look on his face that made Bai Zichen shut his mouth. His grandfather was obviously not in a good mood.

"I'll talk with you later, Bai Zichen."

Bai Zichen pursed her lips as he dug his nails on his palm. He wanted to say something but he was a coward, unlike his younger brother. He couldn't just disobey the old man so, in the end, he only eyed Li Bingbing pitifully before he left the room and closed the door behind him.

He hurriedly entered the room beside the study and went to the terrace. The balcony of his grandfather's room was just close by so he didn't have trouble getting through the other side. He decided to eavesdrop on them. If his grandfather tried to hurt the girl, he planned on going in to beg his father to spare her.

She may be a stranger to Bai Zichen but he knew that if he ignored her just like the others, he might not be able to leave through it anymore. He already had nightmares about the bodies of his grandfather's victims. Their ghosts were probably seeking revenge for their unjust deaths.

As the older son of the Bai family, Bai Keran had made him witness his kills sometimes. He wanted him to inherit his dirty business of selling drugs, murders, and even prostitution. He had accompanied his grandfather throughout these places as one of Bai Keran's lessons.

This was the first time that he saw his grandfather targeting an innocent-looking girl.

"I am grateful for your help, child. I'm honestly amazed by your skills. Don't you want to reconsider working for me? You'll be a great asset in my team, Mu Bei."

The girl let out a small, sarcastic laugh. "I'm sure that I already made it clear that I don't want to work for anyone. If you want me to continue to work for you, you have to pay me…" She paused and began counting on her fingers. "Twenty times what you paid me or else, I have to return your nose. I found it in my business."

Bai Zichen wrinkled his nose. Was this girl crazy? How could she say that to Bai Keran? Was she courting death?!

Bai Keran erupted into a bone-chilling laugh. The boy shivered in his place while the young Li Bingbing remained still on her ground, refusing to back off from the old man.

"That's impossible."

"It's my price so if you reject it, our deal is off, gramps."

"Then I'm afraid I can't let you live. You have seen what you shouldn't have and the only way to keep you quiet is by killing you. I don't want to be backstabbed later in the future. I have met men like you and I have killed them all, Mu Bei. You see, dead men tell no tales."

Li Bingbing smirked courageously as she placed her hands on her waist. "Luckily, I'm a woman. But you sure have a good story there, gramps. In what chapter do you shut up?"

"..." Bai Zichen had the urge to jump inside just so he could cover the girl's mouth to stop her from digging her own grave.

Bai Keran's face was already black like the bottom of the kettle! He clearly didn't like the way she was insulting him. He eyed one of his men to hold her.

Bai Zichen was about to finally show himself when he saw what was about to happen but what Li Bingbing said next made them stop.

"Sure, go ahead and kill me. Once you do, the last copy of your dirt will directly be handed over to the local authorities. I wonder how fast they will be? How many minutes will it take for them to come knocking on your door?"

She began walking towards the old man instead. Mockery flickered in her eyes. "I had to save a copy as insurance for my life. I always keep my promises so you better keep your end of the deal, Mr. Bai Keran. I don't care if you murdered your own family, including your wife. I don't care about your embezzlement or any of your illegal work. I cleaned your fucking shit and all I want is the money you promised me."

Bai Keran was so angry this time that his face turned green. "You…"

"As long as you pay me and you don't come after me or my family, then your secret is safe, gramps." She patted his shoulder. With a sweet tone in her voice, she continued, "I don't like being backstabbed too. I prefer to stab my enemies on their faces so don't you think that the safer choice for you is not becoming my enemy? Or would you rather have me stab your face right now?"

As Bai Zichen quietly witnessed the turn of events in front of him, he had never seen his grandfather's face turning into all the color palettes there were. He had never seen his grandfather so anxious as he watched the young girl walk out of his study in her own accord. No one dared to stop her at all. Bai Keran didn't order his men to do so. He saw the fear in the old man's eyes, seeing that he was blackmailed by Li Bingbing.

Bai Zichen inwardly smirked. "Now have a taste of your own medicine, grandpa."