Colin Grant couldn't read his expression and frowned, asking, "How could a girl in her early twenties pull this off?"
"My dad kind of brought this on himself," Shaun Fane said. "He and my mom had a fight, and he went too far. Lily Bai caught him in the act, sent someone to secretly film it, and exposed everything."
Colin was silent for a moment, then asked, "Did Evan Lan come too?"
"Didn't see him! Lily Bai came alone."
Colin nodded. "So... Shaun, do you think there's something I can help you with?"
"Lily Bai's got the Lan family backing her, and somehow she got to know Secretary Glenn," Shaun said. "I can't do anything about the Lan family for now, but Secretary Glenn is just a small fry. Maybe you could help us... clean him up?"
Colin pretended to think it over: "Secretary Glenn may just be a secretary, but he's the Supreme Emperor's most trusted right-hand man..."
"Actually, I've already got a plan," Shaun said. "At the All-Trades Expo, we'll get him and Lily Bai tangled up in something—one arrow, two hawks! The only thing is, can you help us out...?"
"So what exactly do you need me to do?"
"Honestly, you don't have to do much. Just get Lily Bai to the All-Trades Expo, that's it!"
Colin hesitated, saying nothing.
"I know Grandpa Bernard has high hopes for you. Someday you'll be moving up, and when that happens, whether it's money or connections, anything the Fane family can offer you, we'll give you everything we've got," Shaun said. "Besides, Grandpa Bernard and Old Man Lan don't get along, so I doubt he'd object."
Colin said, "Since you've asked, Shaun, I can't just turn you down. I'll give it a shot—but I can't promise it'll work."
Shaun laughed, "My dad and my uncle always say you're mature beyond your years—the best of the Ames line! With you on the job, nothing's impossible!"
Colin gave a faint smile.
...
The Ames family estate.
"Grandpa, did you call me back for something?" Colin asked Bernard An, his maternal grandfather and a domestic telecom tycoon.
"I heard Shaun Fane asked you out yesterday?"
Colin's lips curled slightly. He nodded.
"What did he want from you?"
"He wanted me to help them go after Lily Bai," Colin said.
"And what did you say?"
"I said yes."
"Foolish!" Bernard An barked. "The Fanes and the Lans are bound to fight to the death. We should just watch from the sidelines—why get involved?"
"If he hadn't come to me, I wouldn't know a thing," Colin said. "But once he did, it's hard to turn him down. Refusing him means making an enemy of the Fanes. You know what they say—better to offend a gentleman than a petty man. Shaun Fane is the definition of petty."
"But by agreeing, you're openly offending the Lan family. You're not just a businessman anymore—you're a politician! You should know which weighs more: the Lan family or the Fanes, right?"
"The Lans have military power. The Fanes are just merchants. Of course the Lan family outweighs the Fanes," Colin said.
"Then why did you agree to help him?"
"As long as I keep things discreet, they won't suspect a thing. And besides, Grandpa, isn't it you who wants to topple the Lan family? I figure this is a chance—maybe those crazy Fanes will do what you've always wanted done."
"Them?" Bernard An sneered, full of contempt.
"They've got money, and they've got a grudge." Colin smiled. "Used the right way, they could be a sharp blade."
...