HBWMA -Chapter 306 Threats, Choices

Nanyan, Government Building.

Shen Guiling was distracted, his fingertips tapping the phone screen absentmindedly.

Why was Jiang Huashan investigating this woman named Su Li?

How did a woman who had illegally crossed borders end up connected to the Fu family?

His instincts told him this matter was anything but simple.

He kept scrolling through their chat interface. He looked casual, but in reality, he was calculating every detail.

The system showed the documents had been received half an hour ago—but there was still no reply. Was she not even willing to spare him a perfunctory response?

“Bang—!”

Suddenly, a loud crash rang out as the office door was forced open from outside.

“Director Yao, please stop!”

Shen Guiling looked up. Yao Yongwei had already pushed past Mo Ran’s attempt to block him and stormed to his desk.

Unlike his previous spirited appearance, the man now looked exhausted, unshaven, as if he had aged ten years overnight.

Shen Guiling’s expression remained calm. “Director Yao, what’s the matter?”

Yao Yongwei’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the young man. “Shen Guiling, when we followed Mr. Shen to build this city, you weren’t even born yet. And now you’re already discarding people after they’ve served their purpose? Aren’t you being a little too impatient? Isn’t Mr. Shen afraid this will chill the hearts of his old subordinates?”

Mo Ran stood by the door, like an outsider, quietly closing it and guarding it.

Shen Guiling folded his hands on the desk, tone steady. “Director Yao, what do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“Stop pretending!” Yao Yongwei snapped. “You think detaining A-Jiang gives you leverage over me? Let me tell you, the waters of Nanyan run deep. Be careful you don’t drown yourself.”

Shen Guiling smiled faintly. “Director Yao is right. The waters of Nanyan are indeed deep—precisely why they need proper governance.”

Yao Yongwei caught the implication, but still didn’t take him seriously. Backed by his connection through Yao Ge’s family ties, he grabbed the documents on the desk and hurled them at Shen Guiling.

Mo Ran stepped forward instinctively, but Shen Guiling slightly tilted his head. The documents brushed past his ear and slammed heavily into the glass window.

“Kid, by seniority alone, you should be calling me uncle. I’ll give you one last warning on Mr. Shen’s account—being ambitious is good, but overreaching will only backfire.”

Shen Guiling remained composed. “Thank you for the advice.”

“…” A flash of killing intent crossed Yao Yongwei’s eyes. “We’ll see.”

With that, he kicked the door open and left.

Mo Ran glanced at Shen Guiling, then quietly began collecting the scattered documents.

At that moment, the phone on the desk rang.

Shen Guiling looked at the caller ID and calmly picked up the receiver. “Dad.”

“Yao Yongwei went to find trouble with you again?”

“After all, it concerns his biological son. It’s understandable that Director Yao would lose his composure,” Shen Guiling replied evenly.

“Foolish,” came the cold response.

Shen Guiling lowered his gaze.

Indeed, foolish. To challenge his superior over his son—no matter how important that son was, Shen Qian would never allow such behavior. Especially now, when Shen Guiling himself was no longer what he used to be.

“Dad, should I contact the detention center about Yao Jiang? Director Yao is emotSui’erionally unstable right now. I’m worried he might do something extreme. He knows too much about Nanyan’s affairs over the years. If he—”

Shen Qian interrupted calmly, “A-Ling, remember this: those in power do not allow threats to exist.”

Nightfall.

Neon lights lit up the city.

Su Yun walked shakily through the bustling streets. The crowds were noisy, but she felt nothing—no warmth at all.

After who knew how long, she grew tired. A noodle shop ahead was holding a half-price anniversary promotion. Without hesitation, she walked in.

She wasn’t hungry—but she knew she had to eat something. So she ordered a signature beef noodle bowl and sat in the most hidden corner, staring blankly out the window.

Zhou Yanheng had given her seventeen bullets. In the end, she hadn’t fired a single one and hid in the church storage room until nightfall.

She shouldn’t have provoked Zhou Yanheng in the first place.

Back when Xiao Lanlan was filming at Yucai, she had stood up for Zhao Tang and was publicly humiliated as a result. Although Shen Mingzhi later helped her, it didn’t solve her problems.

Someone from the crew saw through her disguise and tried to assault her in an empty classroom. Because she had always been cautious of Su Li, she carried chili spray, so the man failed—and almost lost his eyesight.

That was when she met Zhou Yanheng.

Later, fearing Su Li might harm her, she decided she needed protection. So she willingly walked into Zhou Yanheng’s hunting ground.

Zhou Yanheng liked her face—but only her face. After that, he began subtly “training” her. She knew it was a path of no return, but she had no choice. She had to survive.

That night, the man still had a breath left. She called Zhou Yanheng for help—but he told her to eliminate threats completely.

And Zhao Tang… if Zhou Yanheng hadn’t told her what was hidden in the West Lin Church district, she would never have believed her childhood friend could be so cruel.

Su Yun lowered her head, fingers slowly brushing the pistol hidden in her pocket.

She once had no choice. She thought she could only survive by clinging to power. But now things were different—she was the Su family’s eldest daughter. As long as she reclaimed her identity, she could return to how things once were.

With that thought, a decisive glint flashed in her eyes. She expressionlessly took out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

“Hello, Miss Su?”

Su Miao recognized her voice immediately. “Su Yun?”

Su Yun forced her emotions, her voice trembling. “Miss Su… I’m sorry to disturb you at this time. It’s just… I really don’t know what to do anymore. I—”

Su Miao’s voice tightened. “Where are you right now?”

Sniffling, Su Yun gave the location of the noodle shop in broken sentences.

Half an hour later, a taxi stopped outside the shop. Su Miao got out holding a down jacket and hurried inside.

Su Yun watched her run toward her, until the glass door trembled from the movement—then slowly lowered her eyes.