21: Chapter 21 The Calm Before the Storm: The Royal Family's Counterattack

Tiansheng Group Building, top floor, Chairman's office.

Shattered documents and porcelain fragments covered the floor, and the air was thick with a suffocating low pressure.

Slap!

A loud slap landed heavily on Wang Hao's face.

Wang Hao staggered back two steps from the blow. He clutched his face and lowered his head, not even daring to breathe loudly.

The usually majestic Chairman Wang Tianhua now had a crooked tie and bloodshot eyes, looking like a cornered beast. He pointed at his son's nose, his fingers trembling.

"Idiot! How did I father such an idiot like you!"

Wang Tianhua roared, spittle flying onto Wang Hao's face. "I told you to keep a low profile! I told you not to cause trouble! But you? You went and provoked that Chen Fan? Now look—the banks have cut our loans, the tax bureau is auditing our books, and our stock price has been cut in half! Do you want to see me jump off a building before you're satisfied?"

Wang Hao grit his teeth, his eyes full of resentment, but he didn't dare to talk back.

"Dad, who exactly is that guy Chen?" Wang Hao's voice was raspy. "Can't we find anything on him?"

"Find what?!" Wang Tianhua grabbed the ashtray on the desk as if to throw it, but restrained himself and slammed it back down. "I used every connection I have, and we only found that he was still delivering takeout half a month ago! That's the scariest part! How can a delivery guy mobilize tens of billions of funds to short us in a single hour? There must be a big whale from the Capital or overseas pulling the strings behind the scenes!"

Wang Tianhua took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Having spent thirty years navigating the business world, he knew now wasn't the time for anger.

"Stay put during this period. Don't go anywhere." Wang Tianhua took a business card out of the safe; it had only a single phone number on it. "I'm going to see Lord Long to test the waters. In Jiangcheng, there's nothing Lord Long can't handle. As long as he can stall Chen Fan for a few days, I'll have the breathing room to turn the tables."

Wang Hao kept his head down, a sinister light flashing in his eyes.

Stay put?

Someone had practically stepped on his head and he was supposed to just take it?

He had lost all face at the Yunding Clubhouse, kneeling on the ground like a dog begging for mercy. He couldn't swallow this insult.

Since he couldn't touch that monster Chen, he would go after his kid.

"Understood, Dad." Wang Hao turned and walked out of the office.

The moment the door closed, the submissiveness on his face vanished, replaced by a twisted, hideous expression.

He pulled out his phone and pulled up a photo.

The background was dim, taken in a KTV booth. Qian Li was dead drunk, leaning into his arms with disheveled clothes and a dazed look in her eyes.

Wang Hao sneered and quickly typed a message, hitting send.

"Su Muyang, right? The son pays for the father's debts. Tonight, I'll let you experience what it means to wish you were dead."

...

Jiangcheng, Longwan No. 1 villa.

In front of a massive floor-to-ceiling window, Chen Fan swirled the red wine in his glass, looking down at the brightly lit city.

Several pale blue holographic projection screens floated in the air before him.

On the left screen, the K-line chart for Tiansheng Group's stock had collapsed into a green waterfall. On the right screen was surveillance footage of Wang Tianhua flying into a rage in his office.

"zero." Chen Fan took a sip of wine. "That old fox Wang Tianhua doesn't seem to have given up yet."

"Host, I have detected that Wang Tianhua is attempting to contact the Jiangcheng underworld force 'Dragon Gate' in an attempt to counterattack through non-commercial means," zero's cold voice echoed in the room. "Additionally, Wang Hao just left the company. Based on his mobile signal tracking, he is heading toward Jiangcheng University."

Chen Fan raised an eyebrow.

"That brat still hasn't learned his lesson?"

"A leopard can't change its spots." Chen Fan set down his wine glass, his gaze turning cold. "Keep an eye on him. If he dares to show his face, chop off his hands for me."

"Understood. The Tianshu Finance team has increased the short-selling pressure. It is estimated that by the opening bell tomorrow morning, Tiansheng Group will face the risk of forced delisting."

Chen Fan turned around and glanced at a photo on the coffee table. It was the only photo of him and Su Wanqing from nineteen years ago.

"This is just the interest," Chen Fan said softly. "You can come after me, but if you touch my family, be prepared to have your whole family buried with you."

...

At the south gate of Jiangcheng University, there was a high-end Japanese BBQ restaurant called 'Ji Zhi'.

The average cost per person here exceeded a thousand yuan. Usually, Su Muyang wouldn't even dare to look at it when passing by, but today, he sat upright in the best window seat.

The charcoal fire burned brightly, and expensive M9 Wagyu beef sizzled on the grill, releasing a rich, fatty aroma.

"Lili, eat more." Su Muyang clumsily flipped the meat with tongs, placing the best-cooked piece onto Qian Li's plate. "I've wronged you in the past. From now on, I'll take you wherever you want to eat."

He looked at the girl opposite him, his eyes full of doting affection.

Even though such things had happened last night, he still chose to believe in Qian Li. After all, she was his first love, and they had been together for two years. He felt that Qian Li had just been confused for a moment, forced by that Wang Hao. Now that he had money and a powerful backer like his father, he believed he could protect her.

Qian Li sat across from him wearing a white dress. Her makeup was exquisite, but her face was terrifyingly pale.

She looked at the sizzling piece of top-tier beef on her plate, but her stomach was churning.

Under the table, the phone in her hand vibrated every few seconds.

Those were the death warrants sent by Wang Hao.

[Image]

[Image]

Each one was more explicit than the last, each one more unbearable to look at.

Finally, there was a text message:

"Bring him to Room 302 of the Hilton Hotel within ten minutes. Otherwise, tomorrow morning, every student and teacher in the school will see what a slut you look like on the campus network."

Qian Li's hands shook so violently she could barely hold her chopsticks.

"Lili? What's wrong?" Su Muyang noticed something was off and reached out with concern to feel her forehead. "Are you unwell? Why do you look so pale?"

Qian Li jerked her neck back, dodging Su Muyang's hand.

"No... nothing." Qian Li squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying. "It's just... I haven't eaten such good meat in a long time, so I'm a bit overwhelmed."

"Silly girl." Su Muyang laughed and placed another piece of meat for her. "I'll take you out to eat every day from now on until you're sick of it."

Looking at Su Muyang's sincere and innocent face, Qian Li's heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife.

Su Muyang was truly good to her.

Even though she had looked down on the poor and loved the rich, and even though she had said those hurtful words, this silly boy still came to find her with money at the first opportunity, wanting to give her the very best.

But...

That video could not be exposed.

Once it was out, her life would be ruined. She would be expelled, spat upon by everyone, and she would never be able to stay in this city again, let alone marry into a wealthy family.

"I'm going to the restroom."

Qian Li stood up abruptly, grabbed her bag, and rushed toward the restroom as if escaping.

Su Muyang watched her back and scratched his head, thinking she was just shy. He picked up his teacup and took a sip, planning to take Qian Li to buy that Hermès bag she had been dreaming of after they finished eating.

Dad was right; a man needs to have teeth.

But he felt that toward the woman he loved, he still needed to be gentle.

Inside the restroom.

Qian Li locked the stall door and leaned against it, panting heavily.

The woman in the mirror had red eyes and smudged makeup.

The phone vibrated frantically again.

Wang Hao was calling.

Qian Li tremblingly pressed the answer button. Before she could speak, Wang Hao's sinister voice came through the receiver.

"Five minutes left."

"Don't test my patience. If you dare play any tricks, I won't just release the video—I'll make that kid watch it before I break his legs."

"Don't! I'll bring him! I'll take him there!" Qian Li covered her mouth as she broke down, tears streaming uncontrollably. "Please don't send it... I'm begging you..."

"That's more like it." Wang Hao laughed, a sound like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. "Be a good girl and do as you're told. Once it's done, that hundred thousand yuan is still yours. You keep your reputation and you get the money—where else are you going to find a deal like that?"

The call ended.

Qian Li slid down the door and sat on the floor, her hand clutching the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

On one side was her boyfriend who loved her deeply; on the other was the abyss of total ruin.

After a long time.

She stood up and walked to the sink.

She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face. She looked up at herself in the mirror; the fear and guilt in her eyes slowly receded, replaced by a resolute coldness.

If a person doesn't look out for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them.

Su Muyang, I'm sorry.

If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for provoking someone you shouldn't have.

Qian Li took out her powder compact and carefully touched up her makeup, hiding the tear stains. She applied a layer of bright red lipstick and practiced a perfect smile in the mirror.

Click.

The door unlocked.

She stepped out in her high heels, walking step by step toward that silly boy who was dreaming of the future, and toward a trap capable of devouring everything.