As Yanzi helped Lin Feng up, she paused.

  She was still holding his hand, a confused expression crossing her face.

  "You..." she began.

  "What is it?"

  She hesitated.

  He wore a smug expression.

  "No need to hesitate. Just give it to me straight."

  He puffed out his chest slightly.

  "Do I have the legendary dragon talent?"

  She stared at him expressionlessly.

  "What dragon talent. Do you think this is some novel?"

  She looked him up and down, her brow furrowing.

  "Why are you so weak?" she asked. "Even Su Yue is stronger than this."

  She sounded genuinely confused.

  "You didn't have to go that far," he muttered.

  He flexed his arm.

  "I might be weak now, but do you think I have talent for fighting?"

  She looked at him.

  "Just stick to books."

  "You're so mean."

  Su Yue walked up to them.

  "What about me?" she asked eagerly. "Do I have talent?"

  Yanzi turned to her.

  "What do you think I am? Some kind of talent detector?"

  Su Yue tugged on her sleeve, looking up with pitiful eyes.

  "Please? Pretty please? Tell me."

  She remembered how Yanzi had so easily thrown Lin Feng down and pinned him.

  She paused.

  Lin Feng shivered.

  Yanzi sighed.

  "Fine, fine."

  Su Yue jumped up in joy.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Yanzi took her arm and inspected her muscles, pressing lightly in a few places.

  "You're at least better than him," she concluded. "But not by much."

  Lin Feng frowned.

  "Why am I involved in this?"

  Su Yue grabbed Yanzi's hands.

  "Teach me martial arts! I'll do anything!"

  She clung to Yanzi's clothes.

  Yanzi tried to push her away.

  "It's not that simple."

  "Please! Teach me!"

  Su Yue hung on tighter.

  Mengqi walked over and pulled Su Yue off like a misbehaving kitten.

  "That's enough."

  Lin Feng spoke up.

  "Why not?"

  Yanzi looked at him.

  "She doesn't need to reach your level," he said. "But I think learning a little self-defense isn't a bad idea."

  Su Yue's eyes brightened.

  "Lin Feng..."

  They all turned to Yanzi.

  She seemed hesitant.

  "How about this," Lin Feng continued. "I'm paying fifty thousand to your agency for your services."

  He paused.

  "How about I add half of that - twenty-five thousand - on top. And that's directly between you and me. It won't go through your agency. You'll get one hundred percent of it."

  Yanzi's expression shifted.

  She bowed ninety degrees.

  "I will do as the boss says."

  Mengqi sighed.

  "Whatever."

  She turned to Lin Feng.

  "What did you want to talk to me about anyway?"

  "Ah, about that."

  He gestured toward the door.

  "Let's go somewhere private."

  Mengqi followed him out of the room.

  As for Su Yue…

  She rushed back to Yanzi.

  "Teach me, teach me, teach me!"

  …

  Lin Feng and Mengqi sat in the living room.

  "How is it going?" he asked. "The training, I mean."

  He leaned back.

  "The leaked song has been in the top ten of hot search for a while now. Su Yue's cover has also reached the top ten rankings as of this morning."

  He paused.

  "We really need to deliver something soon."

  Mengqi listened quietly.

  "The way this thing works is extremely sensitive," he continued. "Be impatient and release it early - it flops because you couldn't build enough momentum."

  He held up a finger.

  "Make people wait too long, and resentment begins to brew."

  Mengqi sighed.

  "I understand."

  "As for the training, I think it's going well. We should be able to finish within the planed timeline."

  Lin Feng nodded.

  "Good."

  He straightened up.

  "We should start planning for our actions after the release of the mini album."

  He tapped his chin.

  "I was thinking we wait a week, then release the title track’s MV."

  He looked at her.

  "I was hoping you could get started working on the behind-the-scenes of what we might need."

  She nodded.

  "I understand."

  "Well, that's all."

  He stood up to leave.

  Then he stopped.

  "Say... do you know a good law firm?"

  …

  Tuesday, November 3rd.

  Lin Feng stepped out of the taxi and looked up at the building before him.

  It was a modern glass tower in the Qianjiang New City business district. The kind of building where every floor cost more in rent than most people earned in a year.

  He checked the address on his phone.

  He had done his research beforehand (asked Mengqi). Zhonghe was a mid-sized firm - not the biggest in Hangzhou, but still well-regarded. They specialized in corporate law, commercial disputes, and labor cases.

  More importantly, they had a reputation for discretion.

  He walked through the revolving doors and crossed the marble lobby to the elevators.

  …

  The reception area on the 18th floor was sleek and minimalist. Dark wood paneling, frosted glass partitions, and the faint scent of tea in the air.

  A young woman behind the front desk looked up as he approached.

  "Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment?"

  "Lin Feng," he said. "I called yesterday."

  She checked her screen and nodded.

  "Attorney Qian is expecting you. Please follow me."

  She led him down a corridor lined with framed certificates and past several closed office doors.

  They stopped at the end of the hall.

  She knocked twice, then opened the door.

  "Attorney Qian, your two o'clock is here."

  …

  The office was spacious but not flashy. Bookshelves lined two walls, packed with legal volumes and case compilations. A large desk sat near the window, and behind it sat a man in his early forties.

  He had a clean-shaven face, short hair combed neatly to the side, and the kind of calm expression that came from years of sitting across from difficult people.

  He stood and extended his hand.

  "Attorney Qian Zhiyuan," he said. "Please, have a seat."

  Lin Feng shook his hand and sat down in the chair across from him.