Chapter 2: ◎I’m the boss of “Red”. My name is Jennifer.◎

Two years later.

It was nine o’clock in the evening, and Pingling City’s nightlife had just kicked off, still in the warm-up phase. Behind the Central Business District stood a private club called “Red,” which was already buzzing with activity. These kinds of establishments typically operated as exclusive clubs to draw in elites and wealthy heirs from all walks of life. Annual membership fees could run into hundreds of thousands or even millions, with a wide array of services on offer—anything from high-end entertainment you could imagine.

Clearly, the owner of this place was a top player in the field. The club occupied a massive plot of prime land right in the city center, surrounded by layers of lush greenery that created an oasis of serene elegance amid the urban clamor.

Tonight, they were hosting a pool party—the kind of event that was right up the alley of the young crowd. Men and women in skimpy swimsuits darted between the pools, their bodies on full display. Fueled by alcohol, everyone was wildly excited, their cheers rising louder and louder, nearly drowning out the music.

At that moment, the City Public Security Bureau received a tip-off call: someone at “Red” was dealing drugs.

Bureau Chief Zhang Yunan tensed up and immediately shifted into work mode, organizing the bust. His unusual excitement wasn’t baseless. Over a decade ago, “Red” had been the go-to spot for Pingling’s upper crust to flaunt their sophistication—many clients still preferred calling it by its nickname, “Red.” It had skirted the edges of countless regulations and was rumored to be a hub for money laundering, smuggling, and drug trafficking. Yet, shielded by powerful backers, it had managed to stay open without a hitch.

Ten years back, the shadowy boss behind “Red” had abruptly relocated to America, and the legendary underground money laundering operation in Pingling shut down just like that. Without it as the linchpin, the city’s entertainment scene had slumped for a time. The local cops, on the other hand, had breathed a collective sigh of relief. But a month ago, “Red” had suddenly reopened, swiftly swallowing up dozens of entertainment venues in the business district and doubling its scale. Its full lineup of thrills first lured in a pack of idle rich kids. Young people craved excitement, turning every game into a high-stakes competition, chasing whatever was newest and wildest. When the fun peaked, they often lost all sense, and in just one month since reopening, hospitals had seen a steady stream of “permanently injured” thrill-seekers with broken legs and worse.

The local police were at their wits’ end. These folks weren’t stealing or robbing; they were just dumb enough to throw money at “Level 2 disability” levels of injury with a cocky “I’m an idiot, what’re you gonna do about it?” attitude.

The cops had no choice but to scrutinize the club itself. From licensing to operations, everything checked out perfectly—even this month’s taxes had been paid to the last cent on time. It was the picture of a model corporate citizen.

“I knew those guys couldn’t stay clean forever. After holding back for a month, they’ve finally shown their true colors,” Zhang Yunan said, his voice brimming with eager anticipation.

“Drug dealing on City Bureau turf—Deputy Han, take two men and link up with the Narcotics Squad for the takedown.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Central Business District’s roads were Pingling’s most glamorous stretch—smooth, wide, and lit up like daylight even in the dead of night. Things got trickier once you entered “Red”‘s territory. Though the roads stayed broad like the business district’s, the loops encircling the club had become a private racetrack for the rich kids—a veritable “death drag strip.”

Deputy Han Wei gripped the wheel tight, swerving just in time to dodge a luxury SUV barreling along at over 120 miles per hour. He cursed under his breath in frustration. “Fuck! Bunch of suicidal maniacs!”

The two officers in the back seat tried to calm him. “Easy, Deputy Han. These kids these days are all about the adrenaline rush. They drive like they’ve got a death wish—no point getting worked up over it.”

“Little Zhou, get in touch with the Narcotics Squad. Have them secure the club as soon as they arrive. And that tipster—any luck tracking them down?” He quickly regained his composure and glanced back to give the order.

“Narcotics Squad will be in position in five minutes, covering all entrances to ‘Red.’ The tip came from a public payphone in the suburbs—no cameras nearby, so it might be tough to trace.”

“Fine, we’ll follow up on that later. Priority one is backing up the Narcotics Squad.”

Deputy Han Wei’s team arrived almost simultaneously with the Narcotics Squad. At the open-air pool in the center, a dozen supermodels in tiny bikinis splashed around with a group of men in speedos, sending water flying everywhere. On the poolside, temporary buddies chatted animatedly, whooping and hollering, punctuating the air with sharp whistles.

“Police! Kill the music—everyone freeze!” Deputy Han Wei grabbed a bodyguard who rushed forward to block them and flashed his badge.

“We received a report of drug dealing here. Please cooperate with the investigation.” In that instant, the Narcotics Squad had already sealed every entrance and exit, beginning a methodical room-by-room search.

In the corner of the swimming pool, a bodyguard dressed in a black suit snatched up his walkie-talkie and murmured urgently, “Go notify Madam right away. We’ve got trouble.”

A bodyguard on patrol in the club lobby caught the message and slipped into the elevator just before the police arrived, racing straight to the top floor.

He pounded on the door in a fluster and blurted out the moment it opened, “Madam, the lobby downstairs is crawling with cops.”

“I saw.” A low, magnetic female voice carried steadily into his ears. Only then did he notice the silhouette standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Cascades of big, wavy long hair framed her figure, paired with a full black suit and nearly four-inch peep-toe stilettos that accentuated her already statuesque frame, making her seem even taller and more elegant. In the room’s dim lighting, she gently swirled the wineglass in her hand, the red wine catching the light in a shimmer of tiny sparkles.

She kept her back to him. “Ignore them.”

“Shouldn’t you go down, Madam? The City Bureau’s people are here today too.”

“Oh?” She let out a note of surprise and finally turned. Slender brows and eyes, porcelain skin, crimson lips thin and vivid—a beauty with depth and layers, radiating an effortless allure.

“Since it’s an old friend, let’s head downstairs and show some support!” Her voice lifted playfully at the end.

Down in the first-floor lobby, the Narcotics Squad had dragged several swaying playboys out of the private rooms. They could hardly stand, their faces flushed with unnatural excitement. Coupled with the tip-off, the police had every reason to suspect they’d dosed up on something like ecstasy.

Han Wei, towering over six feet, cut an imposing figure as he jabbed a finger at one of the staff and bellowed, “What’s the deal with these guys? Get your boss out here.”

“Is popping Viagra a crime now too?” A voice laced with amusement drifted from the elevator doors. Every staffer and bodyguard in the lobby chorused “Madam!” in perfect sync. The spectacle sent a jolt through the cops.

Han Wei suddenly felt like he’d stumbled into a 1990s gangster den straight out of an old crime flick. He hadn’t even finished reeling from that “Madam” when the woman strode right up to him. “I’m the boss of ‘Red.’”

“We got a report of drug trafficking—” Han Wei’s words died mid-sentence as his pupils snapped tight. The rest jammed in his throat. Stunned for a long beat, he finally found his voice again, but all that emerged was a dazed mutter: “Teacher Yu!”

The corner of the woman’s mouth quirked up in a graceful curve. Her long eyes gleamed clear and sharp, one brow arched lightly in evident question. “Sorry, officer, but I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m the boss of ‘Red.’ Name’s Jennifer. Pleased to meet you.” She extended her hand. Han Wei grasped it on autopilot, but as their fingers met, his eyes locked onto the ring on her ring finger. A plain silver band with simple etched patterns—not ugly on her, but nothing special either. The sort that’d get lost in a tray of jewelry.

But Han Wei spotted it instantly: Yu Bai’s wedding ring. Back in the day, Yu Bai and Ji Shen had never hidden their romance from the students. Once, when Yu Bai lost hers, Han Wei had helped hunt it down. Holding it up afterward, he hadn’t minced words: “This ugly thing? Teacher treats it like treasure. I say ditch it for good—have Teacher Ji get you a fancy one.”

Yu Bai had feigned a swat at him, laughing all the while. “Such a cheapskate you are. But this ring means something special. It’s my treasure—won’t ever come off.”

She’d never explained what made it special. Soon after, Ji Shen ran into trouble. Yu Bai quit her job at Provincial Public Security University, headed back to the States, and vanished from their lives.

Han Wei never imagined she’d burst back into his world like this—in a place like this.

Even more jarring was how alien she seemed. For ages, he puzzled over what could remake a person so utterly in just two years, erasing every trace of who they’d been. The old Yu Bai had been gentle, reserved—seeming almost fragile. This woman shared her features, but carried a depth that chilled him.

Polite as ever, she let go after a single touch.

Han Wei was still dazed when she spoke again. “Officer, I’ve been bending over backward to cooperate. But I’m in business—if a bogus tip-off lets you shut us down like this, how am I supposed to make a living?”

A young police officer said, “Cooperating with the police is every citizen’s duty. If there’s nothing shady going on, why would anyone bother reporting you?”

The staff at the club burst out laughing at that, shooting him looks that screamed, “Kid, you still in grade school?”

Deputy Han quickly pulled the young officer aside. “This is our search warrant. Everything we did was by the book—perfectly legal, no abuse of power. Bear with us.” Under the woman’s unflappable gaze, he added, “Team, we’re pulling out.”

“Fuck!” Deputy Han exploded the moment he stormed back into the City Bureau office. He hurled his briefcase onto the desk. “Who the hell made that report? Find out now! And notify the Anti-Vice Squad next door—tell them to raid the place immediately.” The two officers who’d gone with him looked just as pissed off.

Poor Little Yang had been slaving away at his computer all night, the model of diligence. He was just lifting his tea to his lips when Deputy Han’s entrance made him jump, sending the cup crashing to the floor. Goji berries and red dates scattered everywhere, and in that instant, his manhood lay in shards.

True to his no-cursing policy, Little Yang adjusted his thick glasses and said with impressive composure, “Deputy Han, you’re gonna have to make good on my dignity!”

One of his colleagues slung an arm around him and offered some straight talk. “Little Yang, dignity’s cheap these days. Better make Deputy Han cough up for those goji berries.”

Little Yang nodded—that made sense. He was dead serious when he demanded reimbursement for the goji from Deputy Han. But before any cash changed hands, Bureau Chief Zhang summoned Deputy Han to his office.

Deputy Han snatched up a mug—whose, he didn’t care—and chugged it down. Then he rushed over to Little Yang. “Hang tight, Little Yang. Bro’s got you covered, for sure! Heck, I’ll even toss in two boxes of Viagra. Our friends at the club practically shoved ’em at us—couldn’t say no. Beats the hell out of your goji tea. No thanks necessary. Your bro here does good deeds and vanishes into the night.”

“Pfft!” One colleague sprayed water across the room and shot Little Yang a look of pure sympathy. “Little Yang, I had no idea that’s why you were chugging that goji tea.”

“Deputy Han’s just that thoughtful with his team. Really touches the heart, doesn’t it? Tsk tsk.”

Little Yang was on the verge of tears, feeling the shade hit him like a truck.

In the director’s office.

Zhang Yunan fixed the freshly arrived Deputy Han with a stare. “You barge in here howling like a banshee. I send you to back up the narcotics team, and suddenly you’re seeing ghosts?”

“Hey, Bureau Chief Zhang, you hit the nail on the head—I really did see a ghost today. Guess who?”

“I don’t give a damn who. Zhou Hui’s due back in an hour. Get to the conference room and prep. The second she walks in, we’re kicking off the case briefing.”

Deputy Han’s face fell. “Another incident?”

In the past two weeks, Pingling City had seen two gruesome murders. Both victims had their limbs hacked off, eyes gouged out, ears and tongues sliced away, then stuffed into burlap sacks and dumped into rivers. The first body bobbed along the waterways for days, giving the old-timers dredging the Pingling stretch a solid ten years’ worth of shock. No murder weapon, no witnesses, not even a crime scene. The City Bureau threw every resource at it, combing the river inch by inch. Zilch. After a week playing free sanitation crew, the second body turned up downstream in another river—same horrific mutilation.

And that had been just five days ago.

Deputy Han felt a chill crawl up his spine. The discoveries were coming faster, the estimated times of death inching closer together. They had zero leads—not even the victims’ identities.

Cops dreaded serial killers like this. Every investigative angle was a gamble with the next victim’s life. And none of them could afford to lose.

To top it off, they had meddlers stirring up trouble.

Zhang Yunan rubbed his throbbing temples. “It’s complicated. We’ll get the full picture when Zhou Hui returns. For now, all we know is two bodies turned up in the Nancheng District river.”

“Two?”