Taboo Mage - Chapter 243 - The Puppet Master Behind the Curtain

Zhou Qifang placed the Buddha amulet in Li Mi’s palm.

I watched as Li Mi hung the amulet around her neck, a heavy feeling settling in my chest, as though something was blocking my breath. Instinctively, I called out, “Li Mi!”

“Hmm? Gu Qingshu, are you still half-asleep?” Zhou Qifang’s sudden remark caught me off guard. I opened my mouth, but for some reason, the words I wanted to say just wouldn’t come out.

Li Mi, seemingly oblivious to my call, cheerfully adjusted the amulet around her neck and thanked Zhou Qifang repeatedly, her voice brimming with excitement.

I didn’t know how to articulate the unease bubbling inside me. Hu Zhipeng and Li Mi acted like they had just struck gold, bowing and thanking Zhou Qifang profusely.

Zhou Qifang, however, remained seated on the sofa, his expression calm and detached, as though none of this had anything to do with him. He simply observed the two of them with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Alright, I’ve fulfilled your request. Now, what about mine?” Zhou Qifang suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed on Hu Zhipeng and Li Mi.

I clearly saw Li Mi’s right hand, the one clutching the amulet, trembling uncontrollably. Her face turned pale as a sheet, and her brows furrowed deeply, waiting to see what Zhou Qifang would demand next.

“Mr. Zhou, perhaps… is there another way?” Hu Zhipeng hesitated, glancing between Zhou Qifang and Li Mi before finally managing to squeeze out his words.

Zhou Qifang appeared to deliberate for a moment, his hands clasped together, his sharp gaze piercing through the pair. After a long pause, he suddenly chuckled and said, “Relax, I was only joking. What would I do with a hand?”

“Haha… Thank you, thank you, Mr. Zhou. So, um… what do you need then?” Hu Zhipeng’s tense expression instantly eased, while Li Mi, on the other hand, seemed utterly drained. Her face was drenched in cold sweat, and if it weren’t for Hu Zhipeng holding her tightly, she might have collapsed onto the floor.

Zhou Qifang stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, “What I need now is money, but you don’t have much to offer. Let’s stick to Miss Li’s original proposal-I want forty percent of your company’s shares. Once you’ve prepared the equity transfer documents, contact this person.”

He pulled a business card from his pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.

I glanced at the name on the card-it belonged to Zhou Qifang’s assistant. Hu Zhipeng quickly picked up the card, carefully tucking it into his pocket, and then, after expressing his gratitude once more, he left with Li Mi.

Once they were gone, I finally spoke in a low voice, “Zhou Qifang, what exactly are you up to?”

“You’ve figured it out, huh? Not bad,” Zhou Qifang raised an eyebrow, his response seemingly well within his expectations.

I paused to think. Zhou Qifang was well aware of my abilities, so he must have known I’d see through his act. But if he had wanted to keep this hidden from me, he wouldn’t have done it right in front of me.

Which meant Zhou Qifang didn’t care whether I figured it out-or perhaps he wanted me to.

“The truth will reveal itself soon enough,” he said.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a knock sounded at the door. I instinctively glanced toward it, and Chi Rui quickly walked over to open it.

“Ah, so Mr. Zhou is none other than the renowned Master Taka of Bangkok.”

A familiar voice drifted in from the doorway. When I saw who had entered, my eyes widened in shock.

This woman-I had seen her just hours ago. She now wore flawless makeup, and if not for the familiar features in her eyes, I might not have recognized her.

Standing before me was none other than Feng Suya, Hu Zhipeng’s wife-the same woman from whom Li Mi had yanked a handful of hair earlier.

“What’s going on here?” I stood up from the sofa, my voice sharp with anger.

“Don’t ask me-I have no idea,” Chi Rui quickly waved his hands, sitting back down on the sofa with a similarly puzzled and curious expression, glancing between Zhou Qifang and Feng Suya.

“Zhou Qifang, explain yourself! What’s happening here?” My voice rose, nearly a shout.

Zhou Qifang spread his hands and gestured for Feng Suya to take a seat.

Feng Suya, dressed in an elegant embroidered gown, her hair neatly styled into a bun, exuded the aura of a woman who belonged by the side of a successful man. Her refined demeanor was on full display.

“If Master Taka finds it inconvenient to explain, I’d be happy to do so,” Feng Suya said apologetically, nodding toward Zhou Qifang. Her voice was calm and composed.

Zhou Qifang nodded in return and stood to pour some water.

“Boss Gu, we’ve already met earlier. Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Feng Suya, and I am Hu Zhipeng’s wife. We’ve been married for thirteen years. During this time, Hu Zhipeng has always had other women outside our marriage. I’ve known about it, but because I’m unable to have children, I’ve chosen to turn a blind eye.”

“But this time, that woman-Li Mi-actually called my father’s hospital ward while he was critically ill, spewing vile words that enraged him so much he ended up in the ICU. He’s still fighting for his life.”

“My mother also fell ill because of this. I can tolerate Hu Zhipeng’s infidelity, but I absolutely cannot tolerate anyone harming my family. That’s why I sought out Master Taka in Bangkok, hoping he could help me. I paid a substantial sum and received his assistance. He promised to make Hu Zhipeng and Li Mi pay the price they deserve.”

At this point, if I still didn’t understand what was happening, I’d be a fool.

Li Mi, in her bid to climb the social ladder, had pushed Feng Suya’s parents to the brink of death, leaving them hospitalized and in critical condition. In response, Feng Suya decided to exact revenge on Hu Zhipeng and Li Mi. She first approached Zhou Qifang.

The offer Feng Suya made was enticing enough to move Zhou Qifang, so he agreed to help her seek vengeance.

Coincidentally, Li Mi had come to me for help, which I firmly refused. Zhou Qifang, however, saw this as a perfect opportunity to act.

That’s why he deliberately set such harsh conditions, ensuring Li Mi and Hu Zhipeng would believe he was motivated purely by self-interest.