Chapter Fifteen: Li Yan's Move

(Thanks to reader [Living by the Mountains and Water] for being promoted to Squad Leader, making up for it with extra content and thanks!)

When Zhou Shiru initially began his emotional performance, the journalists already felt the night had taken a dramatic turn. This press conference was getting interesting, and some even thought they could joke with their entertainment section colleagues tomorrow. Little did they know, there was more explosive news to come!

"I owe an apology to Chairman Zhang today."

"Today's press conference was all arranged by friends from the Changhe Group."

"The reason I stood against the Paradise Group and said what I just did... was all because of Changhe Group's involvement!"

"Chairman Zhang, it's not that I, Zhou Shiru, am ungrateful..."

"They offered three million shares in Changhe; how could I refuse such an offer!"

"I am very ashamed, but I am just an ordinary person..."

These words were shocking to everyone present. To the reporters, these were explosive details — the kind of drama readers and viewers love to see. This certainly made things much more interesting. However, to the staff of Changhe Group, they wondered if Zhou Shiru had gone mad tonight by saying such things. Not only did it waste their efforts, but it could also completely turn the situation around!

The reporters also felt something was off with Zhou Shiru. No matter how genuine his emotions, or how guilty he seemed, as a trained lawyer, how could he utter such words? Even if everyone suspected Changhe Group backed him, he should have bitten his tongue! And the detail about the three million shares being the price for his defection — this was a secret that should definitely not have been revealed!

And so, just as Zhou Shiru seemed to be losing control, all the media reporters at the scene became extremely excited. What was initially a routine assignment had suddenly turned into a major scoop, making the earlier revelations merely a prelude to this climax that sparked countless imaginations!

Some couldn't help but silently calculate the value of the three million shares from Changhe Group. What was Changhe Group's stock price again? Although they couldn't remember the exact figure, it wouldn't be less than a billion!

A billion!

The price for his defection was indeed considerable. As they say, there's no absolute loyalty; loyalty is simply a function of insufficient temptation. When a person earns a generous salary, enjoys good benefits, and has the honor of being a chief lawyer, a one-million offer to poach him might be laughed off; ten million might pique a bit of interest; but a billion would sway even the hardest hearts!

Everyone thought that with such favorable conditions, even if it were them, they'd make the same choice. Money makes the world go round – or rather, makes the world turn for money!

Of course, a billion is a lot for an individual. But when targeting a competitor, a billion isn't much at all. Not to mention if a series of moves were aimed at seriously harming the Paradise Group, even just Zhou Shiru's public statements and continuous hype, resulting in public interest and a drop in stock prices, would far outweigh a billion.

However, some people weren't just focused on the price revealed; they started considering deeper issues.

Since Zhou Shiru was bought over with three million shares by Changhe Group, he should have fully cooperated with their plan to completely tarnish and defeat Paradise Group, ensuring his own honor, credibility, and benefits. Why, then, did he suddenly lose control and reveal these secrets?

Doesn't he know how much negative impact these words would have on Changhe Group? Doesn't he realize the negative consequences to himself?

Mission within a mission! Infernal Affairs!

The situation was such that nobody could help but think of a double agent. If Zhou Shiru disregarded stock rights worth nearly a billion, it could only mean that Paradise Group offered him even greater benefits, or perhaps he had long since been a secret shareholder of Paradise Group, making him more than willing to turn the tables on the enemy!

...

Just as the reporters felt wide awake, their brains active and starting to indulge in endless associations and speculations, someone had already rushed onto the podium and hauled Zhou Shiru off, while the previously hosting staff's demeanor changed, quickly saying, "Mr. Zhou was just joking, the press conference is over," before packing up and leaving.

The venue immediately erupted, with everyone chasing after the escorted Zhou Shiru. Since it was ending, and it seemed no one would offer any more fees, order was abandoned as they loudly questioned him, trying to get him to make more statements, asking if he was a mole for Paradise Group.

As Zhou Shiru was taken away and the reporters were blocked, Li Yan quietly left.

The sudden twist just now was, of course, his doing!

Even Zheng Yixuan had warned Li Yan not to use force recklessly, as it would only trouble the Paradise Group. Li Yan understood that too, but he couldn't just watch Paradise Group suffer a severe blow, or see Yurong anxious and upset. So, he used the secret ability that only he knew — the power to manipulate the "Heart Demon."

When he first realized he had this unique ability, Li Yan completed several extremely dangerous missions with ease, quickly gaining fame. Later, he understood that he couldn't rely too much on it, nor could he let others know about it, so during missions, he mainly relied on his other comprehensive skills. By then, he already experienced quite a bit of the "Heart Demon's" backlash, affecting him as well.

Thus, in subsequent days, he read many books, studied psychology, mysticism, witchcraft, spells, and other theories, hoping to find a way to alleviate his "Heart Demon." However, none offered a complete cure, as it wasn't a disease, but a Heart Demon!

Later, he went incognito to the city, giving himself an extended break, learning in silence and living a normal life, away from the days of an assassin, and no longer using his control over the "Heart Demon." He also chose to follow Zen practices, using mindfulness to gradually purify his desires and maintain peace.

This had indeed good effects, although he never eradicated or suppressed romantic and sexual desires, for other impulses like power, violence, and materialistic cravings, the effects were markedly significant. That was why he didn't feel inferior around Zhang Yurong, could comfortably live in her luxurious villa, and even though people at work looked down on him, he could enjoy life; he was satisfied with driving a modest car when he could afford luxury vehicles...

After that time, there weren't any noticeable side effects. Li Yan later analyzed it, thinking that it might be because Xiaodi kept him company during that time, keeping him too busy to think about it, thus reducing the side effects.

There was only one instance that almost had him using the "Heart Demon" again: when he was lured by the assassin "Lei" to Harmony Square, and Lei's partner from afar locked him with a sniper rifle. At that moment, Li Yan was about to use the "Heart Demon," but controlling a strong-willed super-assassin like "Lei" was challenging.

This time, however, Li Yan willingly used the "Heart Demon" to control Zhou Shiru, helping Zhang Yurong turn the tables. To protect his wife, he didn't care about any side effects!

This was why he didn't wake up Yurong or get other higher-ups involved but went to the scene by himself. He had to be close to make Zhou Shiru generate a "Heart Demon" and needed to be on-site to seize the best opportunity.

Actually, when Zhou Shiru took the podium, he hesitated whether to directly expose Changhe Group's schemes. But in the end, he held back, wanting to hear their plan for targeting Paradise Group first. And the press conference would surely give him that chance.

Thus, he listened through Zhou Shiru's elaboration on the "seven deadly sins" of Paradise Group and concentrated on controlling Zhou Shiru's mind once he started answering journalist questions, causing his "Heart Demon" to emerge!

Zhou Shiru was a lawyer, with relatively strong willpower, but he wasn't like a mercenary, soldier, assassin, or special agent who had undergone specialized training for strong willpower. With the huge benefits, he had already betrayed and sold out his boss, who trained and accomplished him, bringing him honor and belongingness, which was already a heavy psychological burden. Even if things had gone as planned, he might have needed a long break to adjust his mental state.

In other words, Zhou Shiru tonight was already hiding an intense "Heart Demon," and Li Yan could easily ignite it without much cost! Also, because of the reporters' queries, he didn't need to prompt Li Yan, leading Zhou Shiru to reveal the details with Changhe Group on his own!

(This is the third post of the day, requesting monthly votes!) (To be continued, for more, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters are available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

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