《Beautiful CEO's Super Expert》


 Chapter 1 The Beauty Falls into the Water

    ```


    Although Jianghai City was still hot as a furnace during the day in midsummer, the nights were still filled with cool breezes, which felt refreshinglyfortable on the skin.


    Even though Jianghai is a bustling metropolis, it was now past midnight, so there were very few pedestrians on the roads, as most people had work the next day.


    In the southeast direction of Jianghai City, there is arge bridge known as Jianghai Bridge, whose body has be somewhat mottled, clearly showing its age.


    There were almost no pedestrians near the bridge because it is almost abandoned.


    Two years ago, the Jianghai city government built a new bridge a few kilometers away from Jianghai Bridge, so this old bridge was hardly used by anyone anymore.


    Especially now that it waste at night, so there were even fewer people.


    However, at this moment by the bridge, there was a red dot, flickering and dimming, quite conspicuous.


    That was the lit end of a cigarette.


    Where there is smoke, naturally, there is someone smoking...


    Upon closer inspection, one would discover a young man in his early twenties, standing there like a statue, as if he had merged with the night.


    If it weren''t for his asional smoking, it would be really hard to notice his presence.


    A gust of wind came, ruffling his slightly long bangs on his forehead, his eyes were deep and carried a hint of vicissitudes, as if they held endless stories to tell.


    His eyes were quietly watching the distant waters, wondering what he was thinking about...


    No one knew that he had been standing there for three hours and forty-three minutes, and during those hours, he hadn''t moved a single step...


    Of course, at this moment, he was not alone on the bridge; a woman with long hair down her back was standing about ten meters away from him, also looking into the distance, without saying a word.


    The long-haired woman had also been standing there for half an hour by then, and during that time, neither of them had exchanged a word.


    After all, they were only strangers to each other!


    "ck, ck, ck"


    Suddenly, the sound of high heels tapping on the concrete bridge resonated in the quiet night, very clear.


    "Could I borrow a cigarette?"


    The long-haired woman walked up to Su Chen and casually asked.


    Su Chen was taken aback for a moment, not expecting the woman to approach for a cigarette. Then he nodded, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one to her.


    "Thank you!"


    The woman with long hair stretched out her slender and pale fingers to take it, and expertly ced it between her lips.


    Su Chen noticed that her clothes had no pockets, and she likely didn''t have a lighter, so he put out his hand to shield the wind and pressed down on his lighter. A fiery me shot out immediately.


    The woman brushed her shoulder-length hair to one side, then tilted her head slightly and leaned forward toward the me.


    A faint fragrance wafted over immediately, and by the light of the me, Su Chen caught his first glimpse of the long-haired woman''s face, causing his heart to tremble.


    Her skin was as delicate as cream, her bright eyes like pools of autumn water, and her small, moist lips carried a special kind of allure¡ªa face as refined as an exquisite oval.


    However, what made Su Chen''s heart tremble was not just her stunning beauty, but also the thick sorrow on her face that almost couldn''t be concealed...


    All of this happened in a moment. After lighting the cigarette, the long-haired woman stood up straight again and then took a deep drag...


    "Smoking doesn''t really help with anything."


    Su Chen thought for a while and then spoke faintly, although his gaze still remained on the distance.


    ```


    Upon hearing Su Chen''s words, the long-haired woman turned to look at him, clearly not expecting him to suddenly utter such a statement.


    The woman paused, lightly pursing her lips as she sighed, "I have to do something."


    "After tonight, tomorrow will be a bit better."


    Su Chen watched the water quietly, speaking softly, unsure whether he was addressing the woman or himself.


    Xiao Yaning''s heart was jolted, and then she sighed, "Is it useful?"


    "Maybe."


    Su Chen murmured, taking hisst puff of smoke, then with a flick of his fingers, the glowing red tip described a beautiful arc through the air and fell into the water...


    "I''m leaving."


    Su Chen walked toward the bridge, stretching out a hand to wave behind him.


    However, before he had gone a few hundred meters, he suddenly heard a "thud" and quickly turned to look back. The woman''s figure was no longer on the bridge.


    Su Chen was greatly rmed, rushing back with several bounding steps and then peering into the water at the exact spot below where the long-haired woman had been standing, where ripples were still spreading, and the woman''s figure had disappeared.


    Hastily removing his shoes, Su Chen jumped in. Fortunately, the river''s current was not too strong, and next to the ripples, he saw the woman still sinking downward.


    Su Chen swam below her, lifted her up, and then slowly made his way to the shore.


    "Hey, wake up, wake up,"


    Su Chen gently pped her cheeks, but the woman showed no response. With no other option, Su Chen had to begin emergency resuscitation.


    He crossed his hands over her chest and began to press down forcefully. Seeing no response from her, Su Chen took a deep breath, pinched her nose, made her cherry lips part slightly, and quickly sealed his own lips over hers.


    But now was clearly not the time to think about such things. Although Su Chen was no gentleman, he wasn''t about to take advantage of someone in peril.


    Continuing topress her chest and administer breaths, after several attempts, the woman suddenly spat out a mouthful of water and slowly opened her eyes.


    "Hey, you''re finally awake. That was exhausting."


    Su Chen sat down on the ground nearby, gasping for air. The effort had worn him out.


    "Hey, just did a bit of work and already tired like this. If only my Dantian were still there, I wouldn''t be in such a sorry state!"


    Su Chen let out a wryugh, thinking to himself that he truly had be a wreck...


    "What''s got you so despondent that you''d want to end it all?"


    Su Chen sighed faintly and looked toward the woman, his eyes suddenly brightening.


    The woman''s clothes clung tightly to her body because they were soaked, highlighting every curve of her shapely figure.


    Distracted by the urgency of resuscitation, he hadn''t paid any attention to her figure.


    Now that he had a moment to spare, the sight of her made him marvel at the perfection of her physique.


    Although Su Chen hadn''t expected the woman to be so magnificent both in face and figure, there was not a hint of lewdness in his eyes.


    For Su Chen, he had seen far too many stunning beauties!


    Even if the woman in front of him ranked among the top few he had seen, Su Chen still felt no desire to do anything.


    Since returning to the urban life, he had be very detached from many things...

 Chapter 2 The Cold Wife at Home

    "Why did you save me?"


    The womany on the ground and spoke faintly, her tone devoid of any color. Her eyes, which should have been sparkling with life, were now utterly empty, and she seemedpletely devoid of vitality.


    "I won''t ask what happened to you. I only want to tell you one thing, being alive means there''s still hope."


    Su Chen casually plucked a de of wild grass and put it in his mouth.


    "Hope?" the woman murmured. "I don''t see it."


    Thinking of that man and that family, she felt overwhelmed with a sense of powerlessness, just like earlier in the river, unable to grasp onto anything.


    Besides death, she could think of no other way out.


    "Just because you can''t see it doesn''t mean it doesn''t exist, but if you die now, then it really won''t exist anymore."


    Su Chen stood up, brushed the dirt off his body, and said,


    "I have to go now. If you still can''t figure it out and still want to die, I won''t stop you. But let me say one more thing¡ªdying is actually the easiest part; it''s living that''s the hardest. No one will truly pity you except yourself."


    After saying this, Su Chen walked away without looking back. In his view, he had done everything he could.


    If that woman truly chose death, he wouldn''t feel a bit of guilt. Just like he had told the girl, people have to be responsible for themselves!


    ...


    Grand Epoch Court was one of the top three upscale viplexes in Jianghai City. As Jiangnan is the most economically developed region in Huaxia, and Jianghai being the wealthiest city in Jiangnan, it''s obvious what kind of wealthy people could afford to live there.


    Su Chen jogged his way into the entrance of Grand Epoch Court. Most of the lights in theplex were already out by then.


    Watching the figure of Su Chen, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts costing just a few dozen yuan, a fat security guard in the booth scoffed disdainfully:


    "This guy really struck it lucky, to think he lives with President Lin?"


    A shorter security guard next to him said sourly, "Maybe they''re just rtives, not boyfriend and girlfriend."


    "Of course not. President Lin is known as the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan. Why would she fancy such a poor guy? But just living under the same roof with President Lin is what many men dream of."


    The fat guard''s fleshy face showed a longing expression:


    "Not just living together, I''d give up five years of my life just to have a meal with her!"


    Hearing this, the other guards nodded in agreement.


    "What are you daydreaming for?"


    Suddenly, a middle-aged guard smacked the back of the fat guard''s head:


    "Given you guys, even if you gave up ten years of your life, it would be hopeless. Now, stop dreaming and get back to patrolling."


    The fat guard rubbed his head and grinned obsequiously, "Going now, going now."


    With that, he led the other guards out on patrol.


    Of course, Su Chen was unaware of the scene in the guard booth. Now, he had reached the front door of a detached vi, his expression changing to one of careless disregard, a stark contrast to the person on the bridge earlier.


    Su Chen took out a key, unlocked the front door, and was about to tiptoe inside, but saw that the lights were still on. Seated on the couch was a woman in her twenties who was stunningly beautiful.


    This was a woman one could never forget after a single nce, even for someone like Su Chen, who had seen countless women. When he first met her, he couldn''t help but shudder, an involuntary thought crossing his mind.


    At first sight, she captivates the city; at a second nce, she conquers the nation!


    She possessed wlessly perfect features bestowed by Heaven itself ¨C whether her enchanting eyes, her delicately high bridge of a nose, or her cherry-red, moist lips, each was iparably exquisite!


    To the envy of countless women, not only were her features wless, but her figure was also the golden ratio of golden ratios, curvaceous and well-defined.


    At that moment, she was dressed in an ivory silk nightgown, exposing some of her pale, milk-like skin, which was irresistibly touchable.


    However, Su Chen no longer felt the initial awe when he saw her now, as this woman was just too cold, colder even than the Siberian air.


    Su Chen often muttered to himself, how apt that her name was Lin Ruoxue¡ªshe was indeed as cold as snow.


    But even so, Su Chen had to endure because Lin Ruoxue was his¡ªwife!


    Yes, Lin Ruoxue, hailed as a goddess by many and the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, was indeed Su Chen''s wife.


    Once this news was released, one could imagine, it would instantly cause a huge stir in Jiangnan and even the entire Huaxia!


    And Su Chen might just be thrown into the sea and fed to the fishes by Lin Ruoxue''s admirers!


    The reason Su Chen was still alive and well was that aside from the Lin Family and his old ghost master, no one knew about it.


    Even within the Lin Family, apart from Lin Ruoxue''s parents and grandfather, other members hadn''t even seen him.


    They had merely gone to the civil affairs bureau and gotten a marriage certificate; the rest of the Lin Family just knew he existed, but nothing more about him.


    However, Su Chen felt no pride as the husband of the most beautiful woman, because in the six months they had been married, let alone consummating the marriage, they hadn''t even held hands.


    Of course, Su Chen wasn''t exactly desperate for anything, but they were at least husband and wife; the least they could do was to treat each other with respect, right?


    But every time Lin Ruoxue saw him, her face was cold, as if Su Chen were her sworn enemy.


    In Lin Ruoxue''s heart, Su Chen indeed was her mortal enemy, because this man shattered all her expectations and dreams about her partner.


    Su Chen was too far from the ideal man she worshipped in her heart; Lin Ruoxue desired a man who was capable of taking the world in hand with his pen and securing peace with his might.


    If her grandfather hadn''t used the threat of not undergoing surgery unless she married, how could she ever have married a man who seemed without prospects and was full of issues?


    Lin Ruoxue didn''t know how many nights she''d spent agonizing over why her grandfather insisted she marry such a worthless man.


    But this situation was not only frustrating for Lin Ruoxue, Su Chen was also very frustrated.


    If it weren''t for that incident afterwards, his Dantian being destroyed and feeling utterly disenchanted with life, almost having suicidal thoughts, indifferent to everything, how could he have agreed to his old master''s proposal to marry a woman he''d never met in Jianghai City, moreover, as a son-inw?


    Even if she was as beautiful as a celestial being!


    Although he regretted it now, what''s done was done, it was toote.


    When Su Chen entered, Lin Ruoxue nced up at him, noticed he was all damp, and frowned slightly.


    Su Chen also noticed her subtle movement, but he didn''t n to say anything and just casually sat down on the couch, then lit a cigarette.


    Muddy feet knocked against the coffee table, he leaned back on the sofa, exhaled a smoke ring, and watched it slowly drift towards the ceiling.


    Lin Ruoxue gently covered her nose and revealed a look of disgust, then shifted slightly further away.


    "Speak, what are you waiting for?"


    Su Chenzily said, not deluded into thinking Lin Ruoxue was worried about him, which was why she waited until now.


    Watching Su Chen''s carefree demeanor, Lin Ruoxue felt infuriated. Even if you can''t be the man of my dreams, can''t you at least behave decently?


    Lin Ruoxue took a deep breath and coldly said,


    "Tomorrow is my mother''s birthday, we are going to the old house for dinner together."


    "Fine, I got it."


    Su Chen stubbed out the cigarette and walked upstairs...


    Lin Ruoxue had waited so long just to say that sentence. But she didn''t have Su Chen''s number and their schedules didn''t align, so she had no choice but to wait for Su Chen to return.


    The fact that the couple didn''t even have each other''s numbers highlighted an extraordinary peculiarity in their rtionship.


    Lin Ruoxue watched Su Chen''s retreating figure, shook her head, and also headed upstairs.


    The two entered their respective rooms one after the other without exchanging a word...

 Chapter 3 Nine Yang Divine Skill

    After returning to his room, Su Chen did not turn on the light; instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and silently began to circte his cultivation technique.


    An hourter, Su Chen opened his eyes and sighed helplessly,


    "It''s still no use, my shattered Dantian shows no sign of healing. It''s been a year; it seems there really is no hope."


    Su Cheny disheartenedly on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. Throughout the year, he had circted his cultivation technique several times each day to see if there were any changes to his Dantian, but after repeated disappointments, he had be somewhat numb.


    Thinking of his shattered Dantian, Su Chen couldn''t help but recall that incident.


    Although a year had passed, he still couldn''t understand why his brother-in-arms, who had once faced life and death with him, would betray him, causing him to fall into the siege of five to six Qi Refinement Peak and somete-stage cultivators.


    That incident not only shattered his Dantian but also reduced his strength from being nearly unbeatable at the brink of Meridian Expansion to that of a disabled person. The first organization of the Dark World, Nether Temple, which he had founded, was also taken away by that once brother.


    If it hadn''t been for his plunge into an abyss thousands of feet deep, leading everyone to believe he had no chance of survival, he might not be living so peacefully now.


    "Tang Gang! Why?"


    Su Chen clenched his fists tightly, blood dripping from his palms to the bed, unnoticed by him.


    More chilling to Su Chen than the destruction of his cultivation and the loss of the Temple was the betrayal of who he once thought was a brother for life.


    It was because of this that Su Chen felt disheartened and even contemted suicide several times.


    If not for an important matter still undone, Su Chen might have already been buried in that abyss.


    It was this faint notion that enabled him to drag his scarred body to the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. His old ghost of a master lived in a thatched cottage halfway up the Kunlun Mountains.


    The thought that kept Su Chen alive was about the true circumstances surrounding his parents'' deaths. Su Chen had been investigating the mystery of his parents'' demise for years, but, involving some of the most powerful families in Huaxia, he hadn''t gathered much useful information.


    Although Su Chen himself originated from those ranks, after his parents died, the Su Family had cast him out when he was only six years old.


    He retained only sparse, vague memories of the Su Family.


    Of course, the present Su Chen wasn''t entirely without power; after all, he had once been the undisputed king of the West''s Dark World!


    However, those forces were kept in the shadows and represented the real core strength of the Nether Temple, not to be easily revealed unless absolutely necessary.


    The incident a year ago happened too suddenly; he had no time to mobilize those forces, otherwise, he wouldn''t have fallen into such peril.


    Moreover, since that incident, Su Chen had lost his former ambition to dominate the world; now, aside from uncovering the true cause of his parents'' death, he would rather live an ordinary life, leading a quiet existence.


    But to uncover the truth about his parents'' deaths, he would inevitably have to confront those supreme families in Yanjing, whose powers were as unfathomable as the ocean.


    "It seems that to understand what happened to the Su Family back then, just having those hidden strengths is not enough; I still need to have formidable personal power."


    Su Chen muttered to himself. Yet, as he nced at his Dantian, his gaze once again dimmed.


    "Right, since conventional methods have beenpletely useless, why not try that method?"


    Suddenly, Su Chen''s eyes lit up. He quickly jumped down from the bed and excitedly rummaged under it, eventually dragging out an old wooden chest from a corner.


    The chest was covered in dust, clearly undisturbed for a long time. Su Chen retrieved a small key from the drawer and opened the chest.


    No one would expect that inside this ordinary-looking chest were various unparalleled treasures, each capable of causing a stir in the world of collectors if brought out.


    However, Su Chen didn''t give a single nce at those treasures, rudely shoving them aside, not caring in the slightest that they might be damaged.


    When his gaze fell upon a sheepskin scroll at the bottom of the box, Su Chen disyed a relieved smile.


    He carefully lifted the worn and yellowed sheepskin scroll, his heart pounding "thud thud."


    Because this scroll was hisst hope for resuming cultivation!


    The origin of this scroll was unclear to him; all he knew was that when he was expelled from the Su Family mansion at the age of five, the scroll had already been with him.


    The scroll documented a cultivation technique called the Nine Yang Divine Technique.


    To cultivate the Nine Yang Divine Technique, the first step was to shatter the Dantian and reshape it!


    The reason Su Chen hadn''t practiced this seemingly powerful cultivation technique was partially because no martial artist dared to shatter their own Dantian, which was the foundation of a cultivator.


    Furthermore, the Nine Yang Divine Technique was too bizarre and greatly differed from the martial arts cultivation methods Su Chen knew.


    Also, Old Ghost Master once said that although the cultivation of this technique was incredibly fast and powerful, it inevitably involved three great tribtions.


    Each tribtion was a life-and-death ordeal, and anyone who survived all three tribtions was certainly a miracle among miracles!


    Despite this, Su Chen still decided to try, because he had no choice!


    Moreover, his Dantian was already shattered, which might have been an arrangement of fate.


    Of course, there was an undisclosed reason why Su Chen decided to practice this cultivation method; every time he touched the sheepskin scroll, he felt a familiar sensation, just like at this moment.


    His hand gently covered the scroll, immediately feeling a bloodline connection that was ancient and extensive, seemingly connected to the deste antiquity...


    Su Chen caressed it for a while, gathered his thoughts, then got back into bed, sat cross-legged, and began to carefully observe the ancient scrollid out on his thighs.


    Afterward, he closed his eyes again and began to practice following the content of the first section.


    In the beginning, he felt a bit awkward since this technique was very different from typical cultivation methods.


    Fortunately, his talent was exceptional and after exploring for an hour, Su Chen gradually found the key.


    After circting a full circle as demonstrated by the scroll, Su Chen''s heart suddenly shook, for he noticed that there was a slight movement in his previously silent Dantian.


    Suppressing the euphoria in his heart, Su Chen continued to practice the Nine Yang Divine Technique, and as time passed, the ruins of the shattered Dantian started to shift gradually outward.


    Su Chen knew this was just the first step of the cleansing work. There was still a long way to go before the Dantian''s restoration, but he was already very satisfied for he finally saw a glimmer of hope.


    It was now past four in the morning, Su Chen was drenched in sweat, his T-shirt and shortspletely soaked, but he kept circting the first section of the Nine Yang Divine Technique over and over in a frenzy.


    Only when the first rays of morning light prated the room through the window did Su Chen stop practicing. He carefully felt his Dantian and discovered that the Dantian, which had been shattered for a year, now showed signs of being reshaped, even if just slightly.


    Suppressing the urge to burst outughing, Su Chen got out of bed, opened the window, and looking at the bright sunlight, was filled with confidence!


    He believed that before long, his shattered Dantian would be sessfully reshaped!


    This time, he might go even further than before!

 Chapter 4: Chapter 4 The Beautiful Morning Time

    Su Chen slid the sheepskin scroll under his pillow and prepared to put the box away when he remembered that today he had to attend his mother-inw''s birthday banquet with Lin Ruoxue, so he casually took a small bag out of it and slipped it into his pocket.


    Despite not having slept all night, Su Chen didn''t feel weary at all, on the contrary, he felt spirited and as if he had an inexhaustible supply of energy.


    "It''s been a long time since I''ve exercised, go for a fewps," he said to himself.


    No sooner had he said it than Su Chen limbered up his legs and dashed out the door.


    Since his marriage to Lin Ruoxue half a year ago, this was the first time Su Chen had risen so early; due to the double blow of his cultivation being ruined and betrayal by his brothers, he had somewhat given up on himself and been drifting along in recent months.


    However, practicing the Nine Yang Divine Techniquest night finally gave him a glimmer of hope, and once again, he found new hope in life.


    Although Grand Epoch Court was a vimunity, it wasn''t in a remote location, but rather a tranquil spot not far from the city center.


    By the time Su Chen left theplex, the streets were already dotted with people heading to work, and thick mists rose in front of the stalls selling breakfast.


    Not long after he started running, Su Chen encountered a woman heading in the opposite direction, also on a morning run.


    The woman had a ponytail and wore a ck sports bra and ck leggings, which entuated her striking figure in full disy.


    Therge expanse of exposed skin was a healthy wheat color, and her trim waist didn''t have an ounce of excess fat, faintly revealing sexy abs.


    Although it was merely a fleeting glimpse, Su Chen still noticed that the woman was very pretty, although a bit less sopared to the ice mountain at home, but undoubtedly, she was a rare beauty.


    Su Chen merely appreciated her as one would something beautiful, took a nce, and continued running forward.


    The scenery in the early morning always had a special feel, and after running for over half an hour, Su Chen started to head back.


    But as he was about to return to Grand Epoch Court, he saw the attractive woman he''d encountered before leaning on the railing by the roadside, one shoe off, with an expression of pain on her face.


    Su Chen jogged up to her and asked,


    "What''s wrong? Are you hurt?"


    "Yes, they were doing road works up ahead and I identally twisted my ankle. I tried to keep going, but I just couldn''t bear it," Xu Xinran said, frowning slightly.


    "If you don''t mind, I can take a look at it for you," Su Chen said casually.


    Xu Xinran''s eyes lit up, "Can you treat it? Are you a doctor?"


    "No," Su Chen shook his head, "But I can handle a sprain like this, no problem."


    Xu Xinran thought for a moment, with no other options at hand, and figured if this young man couldn''t heal her, she would just take a taxi to the hospital. There was nothing to lose.


    Seeing her nod, Su Chen bent down, took her delicate foot into his hands, and ced it on his knee.


    And to tell the truth, the beauty''s foot was indeed exquisite, smooth, and tender, like milk, prompting an instinctive caress from Su Chen.


    Xu Xinran shivered involuntarily; she hadn''t overthought it before, but now, watching him hold her foot, she couldn''t help but feel bashful, her cheeks flushing a shade of red.


    Sometimeter, Xu Xinran calmed her fluttering heart and stealthily nced at the young man squatting before her, noticing his eyes were clear and his expression deeply focused. At that moment, he seemed to have a special allure.


    About five minutester, Xu Xinran was amazed to feel a noticeable warmth where Su Chen was massaging her ankle. After a few more minutes, Su Chen put her foot down and said,


    "Alright, put on your shoe and try walking."


    "So quick!"


    Xu Xinran put her shoe on with some skepticism and took a few steps. To her surprise, not only was the pain gone, but there was no difort at all.


    This discovery astounded Xu Xinran; even seasoned practitioners might not be able to heal so quickly; at the very least, one would expect some recovery time to be necessary.


    "Are you sure you are not a doctor?" Xu Xinran asked again.


    "It''s not." Su Chen spread his hands, then waved and ran off.


    "What an interesting man."


    Xu Xinran muttered, as she was quite confident in her appearance and figure.


    This was the first man she met who had not tried to strike up a conversation with her on purpose, even seeming a bit evasive.


    Of course, for Su Chen, this was just something he did casually, he hadn''t thought too much about it.


    When Su Chen returned to the vi where Lin Ruoxue was, it was just a little past six o''clock.


    Seeing Su Chening in from outside, Wang Ma, who was cleaning, couldn''t help but widen her eyes as if she had seen a ghost.


    "Wang Ma, what''s with that expression? You look like you''ve seen a ghost."


    Su Chen touched his nose and said with a smile.


    "Isn''t it just like seeing a ghost!"


    Wang Ma muttered to herself in her heart, but naturally, she wouldn''t say it out loud, after all, he was the son-inw, even if only in name.


    "Son-inw, why did you get up so early today?" Wang Ma asked.


    Wang Ma had been taking care of Lin Ruoxue since she was little, and after Lin Ruoxue and Su Chen got married and moved out, Wang Ma also came along to take care of the couple''s daily life.


    "Oh, I couldn''t sleep, so I got up," Su Chen replied casually, then headed towards the kitchen, "Wang Ma, let me make breakfast today, you take a break."


    Wang Ma was stunned for several seconds when she heard Su Chen''s words, quickly putting down her work and saying:


    "Hey, son-inw, how can you do this kind of work?"


    "It''s no problem, we all live in the same house, does it matter who does it?"


    Su Chen smiled as he pushed Wang Ma, who was entering the kitchen, out and then took out various food ingredients from the refrigerator.


    Watching Su Chen skillfully prepare breakfast, Wang Ma felt as if the sun had risen from the west.


    "What''s gotten into son-inw? It feels like he is a different person, not only getting up so early but also taking the initiative to make breakfast."


    Wang Ma couldn''t help but smile at the corners of her mouth, thinking that if the son-inw could always be like this, it would indeed be a blessing for the young miss.


    Wang Ma had been taking care of Lin Ruoxue for almost twenty years in the Lin Family, and she had long considered Lin Ruoxue like a daughter, naturally hoping Lin Ruoxue would have a happy life.


    It didn''t take long before Su Chen had made a whole table of breakfast, both Chinese and Western dishes, and each one wasplete with color, fragrance, and vor, drawing amazement from Wang Ma.


    Just then, Lin Ruoxue got up. When she reached the top of the stairs, she smelled an inviting fragrance.


    "Wang Ma, what delicious food are you making today? It smells so good."


    Lin Ruoxue stretchedzily and said.


    Wang Ma looked at Lin Ruoxue with a smiling face and said:


    "Miss, today''s food wasn''t made by me, but by your husband."


    "Food is ready, Wang Ma, let''s eat together."


    Su Chen, carrying a pot of steaming porridge, walked out of the kitchen and saw Lin Ruoxue.


    But this nce almost caused Su Chen to have a nosebleed, as Lin Ruoxue was wearing a silk camisole, revealing ample whiteness and her sexy corbone at the neckline.


    Even more fatal was the fact that the hem of the camisole was very short, fully exposing those long, slender, and pale legs to the air.


    And as Lin Ruoxue was standing on the stairs above him, Su Chen looked up, and the angle was just too perfect!

 Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Delicious Breakfast

    Lin Ruoxue suddenly realized that Su Chen''s gaze seemed to be fixed on her, and she hurriedly lowered her head to check herself, only to be shocked with a huge start.


    "Ahhh~~~"


    Lin Ruoxue let out a shriek, then quickly turned around and dashed upstairs, soon followed by a loud ''bang'' as she shut the door.


    Su Chen withdrew his gaze, curled his lip, and muttered, "Was that really necessary?"


    Seeing this scene, even the housemaid, Wang Ma, couldn''t help but shake her head with a wry smile as she continued cleaning.


    Once she closed the door behind her, Lin Ruoxue leaned against it and pressed her hand against her rapidly beating chest, feeling a bit of heat on her face.


    "So embarrassing! Why did this jerk get up so early?"


    In fact, this wasn''t really Lin Ruoxue''s fault, because since the two of them had gotten married, Su Chen had never gotten up before 10 o''clock! And it was evenmon for him to sleep till noon.


    So, when Lin Ruoxue got up in the morning, she wouldn''t even think about the presence of another man in the house¡ªalthough that man was her husband in name.


    About fifteen minutester, Lin Ruoxue had calmed down and changed her clothes before she went downstairs.


    Looking at the table of exquisite breakfast, Lin Ruoxue asked with suspicion, "Did you make all these?"


    While eating porridge, Su Chen heard Lin Ruoxue''s question, looked up at her, but didn''t respond to her, which slightly irritated Lin Ruoxue.


    But if Su Chen wasn''t going to speak, someone else would. Wang Ma said with a smile,


    "Yes, Miss, I watched the young master make it with my own eyes. I really didn''t expect his cooking to be so good."


    "Wang Ma, don''t work any longer,e and eat with us,"


    Su Chen said kindly to Wang Ma.


    "All right, Wang Ma is in luck today to taste the young master''s cooking skills."


    Wang Ma happily replied, "Miss, you sit down and eat as well."


    Lin Ruoxue hesitated a bit, annoyed by Su Chen''s attitude, and of course, with her personality, she wouldn''t eat the breakfast prepared by Su Chen. However, the sight of the breakfast really piqued her appetite.


    Knowing her temperament very well after taking care of her for so many years, Wang Ma simply pulled her down to sit, and Lin Ruoxue sat down as well.


    Su Chen filled a small bowl with porridge for Wang Ma but ignored Lin Ruoxue, who clearly understood that Su Chen was deliberately snubbing her, and a dark line immediately appeared on her forehead.


    It was Wang Ma''s considerate action that offered Lin Ruoxue a sandwich, handed it to her.


    "Mmm, mmm, this is really good, young master, your porridge is so well made,"


    Wang Ma said while taking a sip of the porridge, full of praises.


    Lin Ruoxue nced at Wang Ma, thinking: Can it be that exaggerated? It''s just a bowl of porridge, right?


    Feeling a bit spiteful, Lin Ruoxue took a bite of the sandwich in her hand, and instantly, her eyes lit up.


    Even with just a gentle bite, she dared say that she had never tasted such a unique and delicious sandwich in her life, the taste and sensation were indescribable.


    Lin Ruoxue finished the whole sandwich in no time and swiftly forgot the displeasure she had just felt. She then sessively drank two bowls of porridge and even had some of the other dishes until she felt quite full and finally stopped.


    Just as she stopped, she noticed that Su Chen and Wang Ma were both watching her, Su Chen with a look of astonishment and Wang Ma with a strangely amused smile. This scene immediately made Lin Ruoxue''s face turn red with embarrassment.


    "Alright, I''m off to work now."


    Lin Ruoxue grabbed her bag and made a hasty exit.


    Even after driving all the way to thepany, Lin Ruoxue still felt her heart stubbornly pounding nonstop. However, a sudden revtion struck her.


    "Why did that jerk get up so early today? And he even made breakfast. Where did he learn to cook? How did he get so good?"


    Lin Ruoxue was not a womancking in experience; on the contrary, she had tasted many of the world''s top delicacies, but she felt that none of them couldpare to the simple breakfast that Su Chen made that morning.


    In Lin Ruoxue''s eyes, Su Chen had always been a good-for-nothing jerk, embodying nearly all the ws that men could have. She never would have imagined that such a man could possess such impressive culinary skills.


    What she didn''t know was that Su Chen''s cooking skills were honed by a picky old bastard of a master, someone who even deemed Michelin three-star chefs'' creations as unfit for consumption garbage.


    Think about it, nearly 20 years of relentless training by such a deranged master would ensure anyone''s culinary skills weren''t half bad, much less Su Chen who had an exceptionally acute understanding of whatever he did. Hence, his exquisite cooking was entirely understandable.


    Little did Su Chen expect that a breakfast he made on a whim would cause the icy Lin Ruoxue to think so much. But even if he knew, he wouldn''t care.


    Shortly after Lin Ruoxue left the house, Su Chen also went out, prepared to look for a job. Since he wanted to truly live an ordinary life, he couldn''t idle away his days doing nothing.


    This was probably the first time in his life that he was going job-hunting. Lacking any other options, he could only go to the job market to have a look.


    On his way to the job market, he suddenly saw several recruitment ads posted at the base of a tall building¡ªall from Belle Group, offering various positions. There were ordinary jobs like salespeople and executive assistants, but also senior positions like senior engineers and public rtions directors, and of course, entry-level jobs like security guards and drivers.


    Of course, Su Chen didn''t measure jobs based on sry while choosing a position. His goal in finding work was solely to integrate himself actively into ordinary life.


    After considering his options, Su Chen decided to apply for a driver''s position, mainly because being a driver offered more freedom. He had never been fond of constraints. The idea of being white-cor, stuck in an office chair all day, was just too ufortable for him.


    When Su Chen arrived at the twelfth floor of the building, following the instructions, there were already quite a few people standing outside arge conference room, conversing in low voices.


    "Brother, what position are you applying for?"


    A somewhat jolly-looking chubby man sidled up to Su Chen and asked.


    "Driver."


    "Brother, you''re truly an experienced driver. Many of Belle Group''s executives are super beauties!"


    The chubby man smacked his forehead, "Why didn''t I think of applying for a driver''s position? It''s like a dream opportunity to get close to those beauties!"


    Of course, Su Chen knew that the chubby man was just talking, as most people would prefer a better opportunity than working as a driver if they had the choice.


    "Really? Does Belle Group have a lot of beauties?"


    Su Chen looked at the chubby man''s regretful expression and was somewhat skeptical.


    "Of course, everyone in Jianghai knows that Belle has the highest quantity and quality of beauties!"


    A man wearing an Armani suit chimed in.


    "Then why do I only see men here? I haven''t seen a single woman."


    Su Chen had noticed earlier that all those waiting for their interviews were men, so he asked, puzzled.


    "You''re not aware, but the men and women have separate interviews," said the chubby man, who apparently knew much more than Su Chen did.


    Women are forever the catalyst for male conversation. In no time, all the men had gathered to talk about Belle Group''s beauties, even going as far as ranking them in their minds.

 Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Wrong Place

    A middle-aged woman walked by at this time, still radiating charm.


    "Those attending the PR Director''s recruitment, please take a seat in the conference room. In fifteen minutes, Director Xia herself wille to distribute the test papers," the middle-aged woman said expressionlessly.


    "Ah, it''s actually Director Xiaing in person!"


    "My goddess, I''m finally going to meet my goddess!"


    "I really made the right decision toe today, I''ll actually get to see one of Belle Corporation''s three golden flowers!"


    Upon hearing that Director Xia would being, amotion immediately erupted in the crowd, which made Su Chen very curious as to who exactly this Director Xia was.


    "Buddy, I''m going in first." The fatty pped Su Chen''s shoulder and grinned.


    Subsequently, about a dozen people entered the conference room, and when they saw that the seats inside were already full, the middle-aged woman stopped the few remaining men who wanted to go in:


    "The rest will have to wait for the next session in two hours."


    After saying that, the middle-aged woman left.


    The few who hadn''t secured a seat sighed and walked out. With another two hours to wait, it made more sense to take a stroll than to wait around foolishly.


    Su Chen, however, hadn''t left, as the recruitment for the Security Department would start in 20 minutes, and the Drivers Department that Su Chen was applying for was managed by the Security Department.


    Three minutes had barely passed when the fatty Su Chen had chatted with hurried out of the room, frowning with an odd gait.


    "Buddy, help me out, hold my ce in there for me, I need to run to the restroom."


    The fatty spoke to Su Chen with a pained expression:


    "I think the lobster I ate yesterday wasn''t cleaned properly, ugh, such bad luck!"


    "Sure, but make it quick."


    After thinking it over, Su Chen realized that since he still had nearly 20 minutes until his own interview, doing this small favor was no big deal.


    "Thank you, thank you so much, pal! I''ll treat you to dinner tonight," said the fatty, pping his hands together in gratitude.


    "No need, it''s just a small gesture. Hurry up!"


    Before Su Chen could finish speaking, the fatty was already dashing toward the restroom at the end of the hall, looking quite hapless.


    Su Chen shook his head and entered the conference room, taking a seat in the only avable chair. As soon as he sat down, he noticed that everyone was still enthusiastically discussing the mysterious Director of Human Resources, Xia Qiuru.


    Although the discussion was animated, few of them had actually seen Xia Qiuru herself; most information was hearsay, so now they were all craning their necks in anticipation of the goddess''s arrival.


    However, Su Chen wasn''t too preupied with all that and was instead feeling a bit impatient. Ten minutes had passed, and the fatty hadn''t returned. Without his number, Su Chen had no choice but to wait.


    Right at that moment, the sound of "ck ck ck" from high heels echoed in the hallway outside. Then, the conference room door swung open, and a faint scent wafted in.


    Just as the door was pushed open, everyone turned their heads, followed by the sound of dry throats "gurgling, gurgling".


    Su Chen looked up and saw a city beauty dressed in an OL suit, tall and slender, with her curves perfectly showcased by the ck professional attire.


    To Su Chen''s surprise, her appearance was refined and elegant, probably simr to the woman who had been rescued from the waterst night; however, herplexion was somewhat cold, which somewhat resembled someone at his own home.


    Su Chen nced at her and then withdrew his gaze, but when he inadvertently swept over the others, he saw all of them staring, mouths wide open, some even on the verge of drooling.


    Xia Qiuru seemed quite ustomed to this scene, but when her gaze swept over Su Chen, she was slightly astonished to find rity in his eyes.


    Xia Qiuru encountered for the first time a manpletely immune to her charms and couldn''t help but give him a second look, noting that although this man looked ordinary, he was the type who grew on you, and he seemed somewhat weathered.


    Such a feel would normally be found in a man in his forties or fifties, who, having experienced life, was indifferent to everything, yet it didn''t seem out of ce in this man in his twenties!


    These thoughts were fleeting, and after scanning the room, Xia Qiuru said indifferently,


    "I will now distribute the test papers. During the written exam, please remain quiet and follow the rules."


    After these words, Xia Qiuru began handing out the papers.


    Su Chen couldn''t help but grow anxious. How could that fatso be taking so long in the bathroom!


    When Xia Qiuru ced a set of exam papers in front of him, Su Chen quickly said,


    "Sorry, I''m not here to take the test for the PR department director."


    "Then why are you here?"


    Xia Qiuru asked coldly, her eyebrows knit together.


    "I came for a driver''s interview; I''m in the wrong ce."


    Su Chen didn''t say he was saving a seat for the fatso to avoid causing any trouble.


    "Since you''re here, just sit tight. The exam has already begun, and no one is allowed to leave the room. If you want to leave, you''ll have to wait half an hour to hand in your paper."


    Upon hearing Su Chen''s reason, Xia Qiuru gave him a sharp nce¡ªas if he coulde up with a more preposterous excuse.


    Left with no choice, Su Chen stayed, nning to hand in a nk paper after half an hour and then go take the driver''s test, being only about fifteen minuteste.


    Once the papers were distributed, everyone else immediately bent over to answer the questions, eager not only for thepany of the beauties but also driven by the well-known high remuneration of the Belle Corporation.


    Of course, there was one exception. Without anything to do, Su Chen began to observe Xia Qiuru, who was sitting in front of him, her ck pencil skirt outlining a wonderfully curved arc on her posterior.


    Her long legs, d in ck stockings, were crossed and slowly swinging, her high heels slightly hooked, and strands of hair falling down.


    Xia Qiuru seemed to sense something, looked up, and discovered Su Chen staring at her, and following his gaze, she realized he was looking right at that spot.


    Xia Qiuru immediately felt anger rising. She had initially thought he was a gentleman, but he turned out to be just like the other men, a lecher.


    Xia Qiuru gave Su Chen a sharp nce, but he seemed oblivious, still quietly appreciating her figure.


    Xia Qiuru felt extremely ufortable under Su Chen''s gaze, as if invisible hands were viting her, and it felt as though countless ants were crawling inside her...

 Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Freaks

    Xia Qiuru simply couldn''t stand Su Chen''s uninhibited gaze, so she stood up and walked to the back, all the way to the door.


    Feeling rather embarrassed to turn his head and look, Su Chen, in a fit of boredom, started to examine the exam paper. There weren''t many questions on it, just one side, but they were all essay questions.


    Most of the questions required solutions for various public rtions crises, and of course, Su Chen knew the standard answers, but they weren''t the answers he had in mind.


    With a flourish of his pen, Su Chen filled in the same word under each of these questions¡ªfight!


    Anyone who has wandered through the Dark World knows that all rules are built on one foundation, and that is strength!


    When your strength is enough, you are right even when you''re wrong; when your strength isn''t enough, you are wrong even when you''re right.


    Essentially, this is also the truew of existence in this world!


    Soon Su Chen reached thest question, which was a bit different from the others¡ªit required a brief introduction to Belle Group in different nationalnguages.


    Upon seeing this question, Su Chen couldn''t help but smile. The ambition of Belle Group seemed quite grand, it looked like they were ready to venture into the international market.


    Naturally, Su Chen couldn''t just write "fight" for this question, or he would look like a madman.


    After some thought, he began to answer, but he quickly ran into a problem, because this was thest question, and there wasn''t much space left at the bottom of the page. He had only used about a dozen nationalnguages to introduce Belle Group when he ran out of room.


    Su Chen had no choice but to flip to the back and continue writing "swish swish" on the back, and before long, the entire section was filled.


    Su Chen took out his phone and saw that half an hour had passed, so he simply got up, walked to the back, and handed his exam paper to Xia Qiuru.


    "I can leave now, right?"


    Su Chen nced at the towering front of Xia Qiuru and narrowed his eyes with a cramped smile.


    Seeing that his gaze was still not proper, Xia Qiuru fiercely said, "Get lost!"


    Just as Su Chen opened the door, ready to leave, he suddenly turned back, blew into Xia Qiuru''s ear, and whispered softly,


    "Director Xia, your bra is too small, if you wear it for too long, it might affect your development!"


    After finishing his sentence, a loud "bang" of the door closing could be heard.


    "Asshole! Hooligan!"


    Xia Qiuru was stunned for a moment before she realized what had happened, her face flushed with embarrassment as she cursed.


    Everyone was startled by Xia Qiuru''s shout, and they all turned their heads in surprise to look at her.


    Xia Qiuru felt even more humiliated and tried to put on a stern face:


    "What are you looking at! Get back to your exam!"


    After leaving the conference room, Su Chen went to a slightly smaller room next door to interview for a driver''s position. The interview for the driver wasn''t as formal as for the PR Director; after a brief understanding of the situation and a test drive, it was almost done.


    Although Su Chen''s Dantian was destroyed, his other skills and abilities were still intact. The destruction of his Dantian only affected his Martial Arts Cultivation; thus, interviewing for a simple driver''s position was still easily within his grasp. After the interview, the interviewer told him toe to thepany at 8 a.m. the next day for work.


    After leaving the Belle Building, Su Chen took a deep breath of fresh air and muttered to himself:


    "Is this what it''s like to officially start living a normal life? It doesn''t seem too hard to ept."


    Having nothing else to do, Su Chen started wandering aimlessly around the streets...


    ....


    In an office of the Belle Building, Xia Qiuru was carefully reviewing the test papers from the two groups of candidates who took the written exam today.


    Sometimes her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, at other times she smiled knowingly. All in all, there were quite a few talented individuals among the applicants, yet none that truly dazzled her.


    In fact, what Belle Group valued most in hiring a Public Rtions Director this time was thest question, which was to introduce the Belle Group in multiplenguages, because thepany''s next development focus would be the international market.


    The most any of the test papers that Xia Qiuru reviewed had was four or fivenguages, aside from the two main types of Chinese and English, mainly focusing onmonnguages like Korean, French, Japanese, Spanish, and German.


    After examining one test paper, Xia Qiuru casually pulled out the next one. Upon seeing this test paper, a surge of anger involuntarily burst forth in her eyes.


    Under every question on that test paper was a bold and ring "´ò" character.


    "Which asshole''s paper is this? It''s downright hooliganism. If public rtions were just about ''hitting,'' they might as well hire a bunch of thugs! I bet this person is a scoundrel themselves," Xia Qiuru thought indignantly, "Such a person even dares to try their luck at Belle Group."


    Just as Xia Qiuru was about to discard this test paper as trash, her eyes suddenly locked onto something.


    She noticed that thest question on this person''s paper was densely packed with text, in stark contrast to the previous crude single character.


    Xia Qiuru quickly ced the test paper back in front of her and started to read it carefully. She discovered that this individual had used over a dozennguages, of which she could only roughly recognize five or six, many she had never even seen before.


    A look of shock filled Xia Qiuru''s eyes. What kind of freak was this, knowing so manynguages!


    Xia Qiuru didn''t suspect the person was just scribbling nonsense, because the introductions in thenguages that she did recognize were not only grammatically correct but also eloquently phrased, clearly indicating proficiency.


    From this, his linguistic talent was terrifyingly apparent!


    However, being thorough and conscientious in her work, Xia Qiuru set that test paper aside and then started checking the othernguages on theputer.


    As time went by, the astonishment on Xia Qiuru''s face grew increasingly intense, to the point where even sweat began to drip down.


    Apart from thosemonnguages, there were Arabic, Hindi, Mongolian, and evennguages from smaller nations such as Macedonian, Maori, Georgian, and so on.


    At that moment, a breeze blew in through the window, sweeping the test paper onto the floor. Xia Qiuru quickly got up from her seat, intent on picking it up.


    However, when her gaze fell upon the test paper, Xia Qiuru''s eyes involuntarily widened, her cherry-red lips parting in shock as if she had seen a ghost...


    For Xia Qiuru, the current situation was more shocking than encountering a ghost!


    It turned out that when the test paper was blown down by the wind, itnded upside down. The back, which should have been clean, was nowpletely filled with writing, not a single gap remaining.


    Xia Qiuru hurriedly bent over to pick up the test paper, staring at it dumbfounded. It took a few minutes for her toe back to her senses, whereupon she sat down at her desk with a face full of amazement.


    Xia Qiuru roughly counted and found that there were at least 150nguages written on it. This was absolutely astounding!


    "I must contact this person right away! Such a talent is truly once in a century!"


    Xia Qiuru immediately decided, but when she looked at the ce for the name, she was stunned...


    Because that space was nk, the candidate had not written their name at all!


    Xia Qiuru instantly became nervous, carefully recalling the person who had submitted that answer sheet. A few minutester, her eyes suddenly brightened.


    The test paper seemed to be thest one from the first batch, which meant it should belong to the first person who turned in their paper.


    "The first person to turn in their paper..."


    An image of a sly man suddenly forced its way into Xia Qiuru''s mind...


    "So it was you!"

 Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Profile

    "This matter must be reported to the chairman."


    Xia Qiuru pondered for a moment, then stood up and walked towards the chairman''s office.


    "Chairman Lin, I have something that I must report to you."


    As soon as Xia Qiuru pushed open the grand door of the chairman''s office, she saw an unimaginably beautiful woman who was just about to walk out.


    If Su Chen had seen this woman, he would have been greatly surprised because she was his wife, at least in name¡ªLin Ruoxue!


    "Qiuru, it''s you. Let''s talk about it tomorrow. My mom has her birthday tonight, and I need to hurry or I won''t make it in time,"


    Lin Ruoxue apologized with a smile and then left like a whirlwind, leaving Xia Qiuru with no choice but to return to her office, the image of that man who had said her cup size was small shing in her mind.


    Having wandered the streets for half a day, Su Chen nced at the time and saw it was already past five o''clock, so he turned and headed in the direction of Grand Epoch Court; after all, he still had to join Lin Ruoxue for dinner at the old house in the evening.


    As Su Chen arrived at the entrance, a BMW 7 Series happened to pull up behind him, and parked outside the vi¡ªit was obviously Lin Ruoxue arriving home.


    The two entered the house one after the other. Lin Ruoxue went straight upstairs upon entering, while Su Chen sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and began to smoke contentedly.


    "Thud, thud, thud"


    A few minutester, footsteps were heard on the stairs, and Su Chen looked up to find his eyes suddenly widening because Lin Ruoxue looked stunningly beautiful at that moment!


    Even though Su Chen''s heart was usually calm, he couldn''t help but feel amazed!


    Moreover, Lin Ruoxue had applied a light makeup, which made her already captivating beauty even more enchanting, with her ck, lustrous hair tossed stylishly to one side!


    Su Chen was stunned by the beautiful sight, frozen for several seconds.


    When Lin Ruoxue looked up and saw Su Chen staring intently at her, she felt a mixture of annoyance and shyness¡ªthis jerk seemed to be looking at her like this for the first time!


    This stirred a slight ripple in her heart!


    However, her gaze quickly cooled down again:


    "Why haven''t you changed your clothes yet? Do you really intend to go to my mother''s birthday banquet like this?"


    When Lin Ruoxue saw Su Chen wearing an old, unsightly T-shirt and baggy shorts with flip-flops, anger surged within her heart!


    "What''s wrong with this outfit? It''sfortable and simple!"


    Su Chen blew a smoke ring and looked sideways at Lin Ruoxue as he spoke; his wife was alright in every aspect, but the one thing that he couldn''tmend was her temper, which most of the time was as cold as an iceberg!


    "We''re going to my mother''s birthday banquet. Shouldn''t you at least try to look presentable to show some respect?"


    Lin Ruoxue suppressed the anger in her heart and said coldly.


    "It''s only family attending, so why bother with these formalities? Besides, respect isn''t determined by an outfit."


    Su Chen retorted without any hesitation.


    Lin Ruoxue was quite angered, but due to the cold rtionship between the two, she couldn''t force him to change.


    However, like he said, it was just a family gathering for her mother''s birthday, and they were not hosting a grand reception. Lin Ruoxue had no choice but to let him be; it was not like she could do anything about it!


    "Let''s go,"


    Lin Ruoxue walked out the door first, with Su Chenzily getting up to follow her.


    Lin Ruoxue''s BMW sped along the roads of Jianghai City, but the air inside the car was chillingly cold, primarily because it emanated from Lin Ruoxue herself.


    "Today is my mother''s fiftieth birthday, and most of the Lin Family will be there, so I hope you pay attention to your words and actions tonight, and don''t be too impolite."


    Just before they were about to arrive at the Lin Family''s old house, Lin Ruoxue instructed Su Chen.


    "Fine, I''ll be a good husband and a good son-inw today."


    Su Chen replied casually, not taking the Lin Family members seriously at all.


    To the former King of the Underworld, those people were nothing more than ants.


    Lin Ruoxue frowned slightly at the mention of "good husband" and "good son-inw", obviously still not quite ustomed to these titles. She couldn''t help but turn to look at him.


    She only saw him quietly looking out the window, and from her angle, she could only see half of his profile!


    Yet it was this half-profile that made her momentarily lose herself!


    What kind of side profile was it that gave her a feeling of depth andplexity hard to describe, yet was so intriguing!


    Su Chen felt Lin Ruoxue''s gaze and turned his head to look at her, his expression returning to normal.


    Seeing that he had turned to look, Lin Ruoxue quickly turned her head away and continued driving, focusing on the road ahead.


    In her heart, she secretly thought: The feeling she had for that moment must have been an illusion, definitely!


    Soon, they arrived at the Lin Family''s old house. Lin Ruoxue parked the car in an open space in front of the courtyard, and they walked towards the house together. Before entering the courtyard, Lin Ruoxue uncharacteristically took Su Chen''s arm.


    Su Chen was totally baffled by Lin Ruoxue''s sudden gesture and stared at her in disbelief. Could his charm be so great that it caused the Ice Beauty to throw herself into his arms willingly?


    Lin Ruoxue seemed to read Su Chen''s thoughts and said softly, "I just don''t want to worry my parents and grandfather."


    Hearing Lin Ruoxue''s words, Su Chen revealed an expression of understanding, as he immediately knew what Lin Ruoxue was thinking.


    After all, they were legally husband and wife, and those who cared about her naturally hoped that they would be a loving couple living happily together.


    If she were distant from Su Chen, as parents and grandfather, they would inevitably be concerned and anxious.


    Lin Ruoxue''s actions were solely to prevent her parents and grandfather from worrying about her, and for the first time, Su Chen looked at Lin Ruoxue seriously and smiled knowingly.


    This seemingly cold goddess had a heart that actually knew how to consider others, after all!


    However, as a man, he could not let a woman take the initiative. Su Chen withdrew the arm Lin Ruoxue had taken and suddenly embraced her.


    Lin Ruoxue shuddered; she had not expected Su Chen to suddenly wrap his arms around her.


    Out of instinct, Lin Ruoxue tried to break free, but she hadn''t anticipated that Su Chen''s grip would be as unyielding as a vice, making it impossible for her to escape.


    "If you''re going to y a role, y it thoroughly. Be serious; we''re being watched!" Su Chen whispered in Lin Ruoxue''s ear.


    By then, Su Chen had already walked into the courtyard with his arm around Lin Ruoxue''s waist, and as soon as they entered, they immediately captured the gaze of several servants bustling in the courtyard.


    The servants, witnessing the closeness between Lin Ruoxue and Su Chen, were taken aback.


    Lin Ruoxue, seeing this scene, resigned herself to being embraced by him.


    "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you embrace my sister?" At that moment, a haughty voice called out.


    Following suit, a young man in LEVIS jeans and a ck and brown leather jacket stood in front of Su Chen...

 Chapter 9: Chapter 9 You Should Be Grateful

    Su Chen looked at the angry young man in front of him, smiled slightly, then turned to look at Lin Ruoxue.


    "This is my younger brother, Lin Hao, my own brother," Lin Ruoxue said somewhat helplessly, then her expression turned serious as she looked at the young man in front of her, "So you know toe back, huh!"


    "It''s Mom''s fiftieth birthday, of course I had toe back," Lin Hao retorted, curling his lips disdainfully as he looked at Su Chen, "And who are you? Daring to embrace my sister like that."


    Lin Hao certainly knew that this man was the brother-inw spoken of at home, only he did not acknowledge him.


    Who was his sister? Not only was she naturally beautiful and crowned as the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, but she also controlled the vast assets of the Lin Family. How could someone whose name he had never even heard of be worthy of her?


    He had only found out about this matter when he returned yesterday. The family had always kept it from him, by themand of Old Master Lin, and no one in the Lin Family dared to disobey.


    Because Old Master Lin knew what kind of temper his grandson had and feared that he would disrupt this matter if he returned.


    But Lin Hao was bound to return for his mother''s grand fiftieth celebration, so he would inevitably meet Su Chen and find out about Lin Ruoxue''s marriage, so yesterday, as soon as he returned, Old Master Lin told him the truth.


    Upon hearing the news, Lin Hao almost flipped the table in anger, but he restrained himself out of respect for Old Master Lin''s authority.


    Today, he had been waiting in the courtyard all day to see just who this man was who had married his extraordinarily beautiful sister!


    Upon seeing him, his patience eroded even further, because this man was even more unworthy than he had imagined!


    He had thought that his sister, even if not married into one of those super-rich families, at least would have married some boss or a high-level executive who had studied abroad.


    But the man in front of him, wearing a worn T-shirt, baggy shorts, and dragging along flip-flops, looked no better than a migrant worker!


    This really was like a fresh flower stuck in cow dung!


    Su Chen nced at the young man before him and could probably guess what he was thinking. The corners of his mouth curled into a mischievous smile, and suddenly he kissed Lin Ruoxue''s delicate cheek.


    "Now, do you still need to ask this foolish question?" Su Chen nced sideways at his new uncle-inw.


    "You bastard!"


    Lin Hao understood that it was intentional, and feeling a surge of rage, he immediately threw a punch at Su Chen.


    Lin Hao was physically robust, and having practiced Taekwondo from a young age, he was quite aplished, so his punch was indeed explosive.


    Many onlookers gasped at the scene, expecting the seemingly frail young man to be knocked out instantly.


    Su Chen watched Lin Hao''s punching, but appeared utterly unconcerned, regarding it as mere child''s y.


    Although his Dantian was damaged, it only affected his Martial Arts Cultivation, primarily in terms of utilizing Yuan Qi, but it didn''t significantly impact his various skills inbat and grappling, aside from reductions in strength, speed, and stamina.


    Keep in mind that even relying solely on his skill in Martial Arts, there were absolutely no more than three people in the world who could surpass him!


    So even without Yuan Qi, he was still capable of matching someone at the Primary Stage of Qi Refinement Realm, and even in facing someone at the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement Realm, he could protect himself.


    After all, any skill honed to its limit is not to be underestimated!


    "Stop!"


    Just as Su Chen was preparing to teach his cheeky uncle-inw a lesson, two shouts rang out simultaneously.


    One voice came from an elderly man walking out of the house, while the other voice came from Lin Ruoxue''s beside him.


    Lin Ruoxue had beenpletely stunned by Su Chen''s sudden kiss, and when she came to her senses, she was shocked to see her younger brother swinging his huge fist at Su Chen, knowing all too well that her brother had always been good at fighting.


    The other voice was from Old Master Lin, who hade outside after hearing the report from the servant. He hadn''t expected to witness this scene and immediately roared angrily.


    Upon hearing the roar, Lin Hao unconsciously withdrew his fist while still ring fiercely at Su Chen, who acted as if he hadn''t seen it.


    "Lin Hao, is this your cultivation? Dare to strike your own brother-inw!" Old Master Lin stepped forward and huffed coldly.


    Having controlled the Lin Family for decades, Old Master Lin had an innate authority. Despite Lin Hao''s arrogance outside, he didn''t dare act recklessly in front of Old Master Lin.


    "Grandfather, how is this guy worthy of my sister?"


    Although he dared not continue the fight, Lin Hao still expressed his resentment.


    "Forget about others, mind yourself. Look at you, over twenty years old and still so unserious."


    Old Master Lin snorted and then ignored him, walking up to Su Chen and Lin Ruoxue. Seeing their close interaction, he couldn''t help but feelforted.


    "Su Chen, Ruoxue, you''re here! Good, good!" Old Master Lin said with a beaming smile.


    "Grandfather, how have you been feelingtely?"


    Su Chen wasn''t sure what Old Master Lin meant by ''good'', as he had only met Old Master Lin once before while registering the marriage with Lin Ruoxue.


    "No need to worry, I''ve been doing the massages you told me about, and I feel my health is getting better and better, I could live another twenty years with no problems!"


    Old Master Lin''s heartyughter rang out once again.


    Lin Ruoxue looked at Su Chen in surprise. She had no idea about the massages Su Chen had taught her grandfather. Could he also treat illnesses?


    However, seeing the grandfather''s vitality seemed much improvedpared to half a year ago, Lin Ruoxue, who had always been very close to her grandfather and concerned about his health, wouldn''t havepromised under his threat of not getting surgery without her marriage.


    It was something she could not understand; why did her grandfather, who always cherished her, insist she marry someone who seemed riddled with ws.


    "Alright, let''s not stand in the yard,e on in! Everyone wants to see you!"


    The old master led them towards the house, passing by Lin Hao, who gritted his teeth and said:


    "You''re lucky today!"


    "You should be d you kept an arm," Su Chen replied indifferently.


    The living room of the Su Family old mansion was quiterge, about a hundred square meters, with around a dozen people sitting around chatting. Upon seeing Old Master Lin and Su Chen enter, they all stopped their conversations and looked toward them.


    "Oh, is this the new son-inw! After half a year, we finally see him in person today!" A woman in her fifties stepped forward, then turned to a couple and said, "Lao San, you and your wife have really kept this good son-inw well hidden."


    Upon hearing the woman''s words, the others let out a low snicker.


    This sister-inw was really too harsh; it was clear that she was using her words to mock Lao San''s family.

 Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Fool

    Everyone looked toward Su Chen and upon seeing his attire, they all disyed a contemptuous gaze, especially a young woman with heavy makeup who even showed a smirk of schadenfreude.


    The "third couple" in the woman''s mention appeared frustrated and helpless, nced at Su Chen, and sighed softly.


    "That''s my aunt," Lin Ruoxue whispered to Su Chen, revealing the identity of the woman who had just spoken. Su Chen nodded.


    After they married, Lin Ruoxue had roughly exined the Lin Family''s situation to him. Old Master Lin had three sons and one daughter. The eldest was Lin Wenlong, the second was Lin Wenbin, the third was Lin Wenqing, and the youngest, the daughter, was Lin Wenting.


    Lin Ruoxue was the daughter of Lin Wenqing, the third son, and the woman who had just spoken was Lin Wenlong''s wife, Li Yan.


    Su Chen thought to himself, "It seems the Lin family also has its intrigues!"


    As for Li Yan''s sarcasm, Su Chen didn''t care at all, but his indifference bothered others, such as Old Master Lin and Lin Wenqing''s couple, whose faces immediately darkened.


    "Don''t stoop to your sister-inw''s level."


    Sitting next to Lin Wenqing, Lin Wenting quietly tugged at her brother''s sleeve, prompting Lin Wenqing to nod in response.


    "Are you my cousin-inw, Su Chen?"


    Just when the atmosphere was bing somewhat awkward, a somewhat immature voice rang out. A girl, looking like a delicate porcin doll and about eleven or twelve years old, walked up to Su Chen, took his arm, and asked.


    Everyone couldn''t help but be amazed. This little girl was Lin Wenting''s daughter, Lin Ruohan, who for some special reasons, did not take her father''s surname, but her mother''s instead.


    The Lin family knew that although Lin Ruohan was only around eleven or twelve, she was a real prodigy!


    Not only was she exquisitely beautiful¡ªa sure beauty¡ªand her mind was always unfathomable. What shocked everyone was that she could almost immediately grasp even the most abstruse subjects taught at university.


    She was considered a prodigy not only because of her appearance and unknowable high IQ. More crucially, it was her personality. Apart from her mother, she was extremely cold to everyone, even members of the Lin family.


    Her bright eyes seemed able to see through everything. The Lin family''s elders didn''t dare meet her gaze, and they often sighed, wondering whether this little witch would be a blessing or a curse for the Lin family!


    Su Chen had not expected this pretty and cute little girl to suddenlye over and greet him. He gently bent down, touched her little cheek, and smiled, saying:


    "Yes, I am your cousin-inw! What''s your name?"


    Su Chen liked the little girl very much, hiszy demeanor changing to show a rare warm smile.


    Seeing Su Chen''s action, Lin Wenting thought her daughter would certainly be upset because she knew how much her daughter hated others touching her body, especially her face.


    However, what happened nextpletely surprised her. Her daughter looked at Su Chen and said,


    "My name is Lin Ruohan, 11 years old. Can I call you ''Brother Su''?"


    "Of course!"


    The little girl then said somethingpletely unexpected to everyone.


    "Brother Su, don''t you think these people are just a bunch of idiots?"


    As soon as she spoke, everyone was stunned, not sure what expression to make. If an adult had said this, they would have been furious, even to the point of violence, since being called idiots was intolerable.


    Yet, when such words came from a family member, particrly from an eleven-year-old girl, they were at a loss for what to do.


    Could they really punish this little girl?


    They didn''t understand why the daughter of the family''s fourth child would suddenly blurt out such a statement, especially to the new son-inw.


    Lin Ruoxue looked at Lin Ruohan with a face of astonishment; she had not expected this little niece of hers to make such an outburst. Lin Ruoxue had only met Lin Ruohan asionally and had heard from her aunt that her daughter was a prodigy, unpredictable, and today she had truly witnessed it.


    Startled, Su Chen then saw a glint of unfathomable agility in the little girl''s eyes, which sparked a thought in him. He then seriously said to her,


    "You shouldn''t have said that just now."


    "Why?" Lin Ruohen''s eyes showed a hint of confusion, "They really are a bunch of idiots, aren''t they?"


    "Stupid is an insulting word, and once you insult someone, you must be sure you can crush thempletely! And clearly, you don''t have that ability yet."


    "Furthermore, these people are your rtives. Saying it out loud would embarrass them, even though they might indeed be fools."


    "Brother Su, I get it now. I can think of them as fools, but I shouldn''t say it out loud, right?"


    Lin Ruohan twirled her dark eyes, suddenly having an epiphany.


    "Very smart!"


    Su Chen pinched the little girl''s rosy cheeks and chuckled softly!


    The people in the room listened to their conversation, their faces turning shades of purple and green; something just didn''t sit right with them.


    The little girl saying this was one thing, they could take the loss silently, but for you, a grown man, to call them fools was utterly presumptuous.


    "Su Chen, you''re too arrogant. In our Lin Family''s house, daring to call us fools." A young woman, heavily made up and stylishly dressed, mmed her hand on the table, "Uncle, how can you tolerate your beloved son-inw insulting us like that?"


    This woman was none other than Lin Ruoxue''s second uncle''s daughter, Lin Ruomei, who had always tried topete with Lin Ruoxue but was always far behind in both looks and academics, which over time had seeded resentment towards Lin Ruoxue.


    She was overjoyed, something she had never anticipated; Lin Ruoxue, who had always overshadowed her, had married such a worthless husband. She finally had something to surpass Lin Ruoxue in, and it was the most important thing for a woman¡ªthe man!


    Lin Ruomei''s current boyfriend was a Harvard graduate, a senior executive in a multinational corporation, and had her parents-inw not wished to keep the gather simple, just a family dinner, she would have brought her boyfriend over to show off already.


    Thus, hearing Su Chen''s words, she was the first to react impatiently.


    Hearing Lin Ruomei''s words, the others also began chiming in, denouncing Su Chen for hisck of manners. Lin Wenqing and his wife, along with Lin Wenting, showed embarrassed expressions, especially since their son-inw and daughter were the ones indirectly calling them fools.


    They, too, thought Su Chen had gone a bit too far. Lin Ruohan was just a child, and everyone could overlook her words, but after all, you are an adult.


    Although it started with the sister-inw''s sarcasm and others'' sneering faces, this ce was still the Lin Family''s house.


    "Enough, let''s not dwell on some careless words."


    The old patriarch of the Lin Family waved his hand disapprovingly at the noisy scene, his gaze sweeping over Su Chen and his granddaughter, thoughtful.


    Lin Wenqing and his wife, along with Lin Wenting, also apologized to everyone, and the matter was settled.


    "Alright, it''s about time. Everyone, please take your seats!" The old man of the Lin Family gestured grandly, and people began moving towards the tables.


    Su Chen also helped Lin Ruohan to the table, walking by her side. Lin Ruoxue intended to grab her other little hand, but the girl didn''t let her touch it at all.


    In the end, Lin Ruohan sat between Lin Wenting and Su Chen, and Lin Ruoxue naturally took her ce next to Su Chen.


    Today was the fiftieth birthday of Lin Ruoxue''s mother, Zhang Xin, so everyone was toasting to her, and she graciously reciprocated each one.


    "Mom, both of us will also toast to you, wishing you forever youthfulness!"


    Lin Ruoxue and Su Chen stood up together to toast her mother.


    Zhang Xin nced at Su Chen''s disgruntled appearance, then at her elegant daughter, sighed softly, and managed a strained smile:


    "If you both are happy, that''s all that matters to me."


    Zhang Xin well knew that this marriage was too harsh on her daughter, but she and her husband were somewhat timid, always reverent in front of the old patriarch.


    So, when the old patriarch was adamant about them marrying, Lin Wenqing and his wife had no choice but to hope that the couple would grow to love each other and live a happy life.


    "We are good."


    Daughter and mother connected by heart, Lin Ruoxue instantly knew her mother''s thoughts and quickly reassured her, even snuggling closer to Su Chen to appear more intimate.


    "Good, good, that''s good." Zhang Xin felt slightly better seeing this, turned her head to Su Chen seriously, and said, "Su Chen, Ruoxue is in your care now. Please take good care of her!"


    "Sure, don''t worry!"


    What else could Su Chen say in response to a mother''s simple request?


    Just thinking about their indifferent rtionship, Su Chen really didn''t have much confidence.

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Each Harboring Their Own Schemes

    After three rounds of drinks, the heavily made-up woman who had scolded Su Chen earlier stood up. She took out an exquisite box from her bag and handed it to Zhang Xin:


    "Auntie Three, this is my birthday gift to you, just a little something. I hope Auntie Three will ept it."


    Zhang Xin got up to take it, saying repeatedly, "Ah, Ruomei, you child, why spend the money?"


    "Auntie Three, open it up and see what good stuff Ruomei has brought you." Someone heckled, and the others also expressed their eagerness to see.


    Hearing that everyone wanted to have a look, Zhang Xin opened the box, and as soon as it was opened, several women gasped.


    "It''s actually Dior''s special limited-edition set, and it''s theplete set."


    "Yes, I''ve wanted this makeup set for a long time, but I''ve never been able to find it."


    "Of course, there are only 1000 sets avable worldwide, it''s truly a rare find. I heard that this makeup set is now being resold for over a hundred thousand per set."


    "The money is a trivial matter; what''s precious is Ruomei''s thoughtfulness towards Auntie Three."


    At this moment, a young man dressed in a blue Ferragamo suit idly spoke while twirling his wine ss.


    The young man had handsome features and amanding presence, unmistakably the air of an elite, he was Lin Wenlong''s only son, Lin Chao, who had just returned from studying abroad.


    Su Chen couldn''t help but take an extra look at him, because from the time Su Chen entered up until now, this had been the first time the man spoke.


    More importantly, Su Chen had a feeling there was a different meaning behind this man''s genteel exterior, not just what he showed on the surface.


    Hearing Lin Chao''s words, the others nodded too. Indeed, while a gift worth tens of thousands might not amaze the Lin family, the thoughtfulness behind it was indeed praiseworthy.


    "Big brother, you are making me blush," Lin Ruomei said with a slight smile, deliberately ncing at Lin Ruoxue, "This was arranged by my boyfriend, he''s a high-level executive in a multinationalpany. They just happen to have some business dealings with Dior, so he had the advantage of proximity."


    "So that''s the case, it seems like Second Brother will soon have a prominent son-inw, right!"


    Eldest brother Lin Wenlong chuckled, and Lin Wenbin and his wife were overjoyed, their smiles so wide they couldn''t close their mouths. Only Lin Wenqing and his spouse felt somewhat awkward.


    At this moment, many in the Lin family were looking at their son-inw Su Chen, their eyes not hiding the scorn they felt.


    Lin Ruoxue was also getting rather angry. She could certainly tell this was a deliberate provocation against her nominal husband, if somewhat subtle.


    Although she had no real affection for this man, he was, after all, her husband byw, and more importantly, Lin Ruoxue understood that these people were ostensibly making life difficult for Su Chen, but in reality, their target was herself.


    In the end, Su Chen presented no conflict of interest for them; how he was really didn''t matter to them.


    It was different for her. Since she had taken over the Lin Corporation, she had touched on too many of their interests, especially Lin Wenlong''s family.


    Lin Wenlong''s family had always wanted to see Lin Chao take charge of Lin Corporation, which was understandable as Lin Chao was the eldest grandson.


    Yet, since she had taken the reigns of Lin Corporation, the results had far exceeded everyone''s expectations, and with Grandfather''s support, they had failed to seed in a power grab.


    They had probably heard about her marriage and once again harbored those aspirations, hence they had Lin Chao return to the country. However, Lin Ruoxue was unwilling to let go of the Lin Corporation she had painstakingly managed for over two years.


    It wasn''t that she was power-hungry or money-loving, it was that it was her career, and she still had many dreams to fulfill!


    Thinking about how her marriage had led to Su Chen being mocked, Lin Ruoxue felt somewhat guilty and involuntarily nced at the man next to her.


    To her surprise, Su Chen seemed unfazed, continuing to eat and drink as if nothing had happened and seemingly unaffected by the situation.


    Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help but wonder whether this man was simply thick-skinned or if he had seen it all and had be indifferent to such things.


    At the moment, Lin Ruoxue preferred to believe the former.


    Feeling Lin Ruoxue''s gaze, Su Chen smiled slightly and whispered,


    "It seems your days are going to be tough."


    Lin Ruoxue didn''t expect that the other party had already seen through everything; her eyes filled with confusion. She found that she couldn''t quite see through this man who had lived with her for half a year.


    Just then, Lin Chao stood up with a standard gentleman-like smile on his face and pulled out a delicate little box.


    He took the initiative to open the small box, and suddenly a dazzling silver-white ne appeared before everyone.


    "Auntie, I''m ayman, and my gift might not be as thoughtful as Ruomei''s, just somemon item. I hope you won''t find it contemptible," he said.


    A faint smile on his face, Lin Chao casually handed the small box to Zhang Xin.


    However, the other younger members of the Lin Family gasped as they saw the gift Lin Chao produced.


    "Big brother, the diamond on this ne is sorge; itpletely overshadows my gift," Lin Ruomei deliberately said with a bit of grievance.


    "Look at how pure the diamond is, and so big too. Whether it''s the cut or the craftsmanship, it''s wless. I bet it can''t be had for less than four or five hundred thousand."


    Another younger Lin Family member eximed in admiration.


    Zhang Xin, who actually came from a modest family, though she had married into the Lin Family for many years, still retained her frugal and pure character. Hearing that the ne was so expensive, she quickly said,


    "Xiao Chao, this is too valuable; your auntie can''t ept it."


    Lin Wenqing, who taught at a university, also felt it inappropriate upon hearing how expensive the item was.


    He had already thought that the set of cosmetics Lin Ruomei had given was too much, but seeing his wife so enamored with it, and recalling that he hadn''t given his wife anything nice for many years, he held back.


    But that was already his limit, and now that Lin Chao had brought out an even more valuable ne, he felt even more uneasy.


    "Uncle, Auntie, we are all family here. Talking about money is just being formal. This is your nephew''s heartfelt wish. Wouldn''t you hurt your nephew''s feelings?"


    Lin Chao smiled and pushed the box that Zhang Xin had handed back over to her.


    Zhang Xin looked at her husband with some difficulty, sensing that something was not quite right.


    In the past, when family members celebrated birthdays, everyone also gave gifts, but they were mostly things worth a few thousand yuan; ten or twenty thousand would be considered a lot. It wasn''t that the Lin Family couldn''t afford more, but because everyone was family, there really wasn''t any need for extravagance.


    But today, Lin Ruomei and Lin Chao had consecutively brought out extremely expensive gifts, leaving the couple in a dilemma of whether to ept or refuse.


    Just as Zhang Xin and her husband felt stuck, the eldest, Lin Wenlong, spoke,


    "Little brother, this is the children''s filial piety, just ept it. Besides, Xiao Chao has just returned from studying abroad, and we''ll have to trouble Ruoxue to arrange a position for Xiao Chao in the corporation!"


    "Exactly, little brother, Xin, you two don''t need to be polite. In the future, with Xiao Chao and Ruoxue managing our family''s corporation together, Lin Corporation will surely thrive. What''s the cost of a giftpared to that?"


    Lin Wenlong''s wife, Li Yan, likewise said with a beaming smile.


    Su Chen sneered. Sure enough, the drama was unfolding!


    The previous sentence was about arranging a position for Lin Chao, and the next instant, it switched to the two of them managing together, with Lin Chao''s name subtly mentioned before Lin Ruoxue''s.

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Gifts

    Even the typically honest and simple Lin Wenqing and his wife now understood the eldest brother''s family''s intentions¡ªthey were aiming to seize power!


    Looking at the reactions of the other members of the Lin Family, they guessed that the eldest brother''s family had already greeted them and even promised them benefits.


    But with the eldest brother''s family speaking to this extent, it would be indecent for them not to ept. Their only real concern was that it would be difficult for their daughter; thus, they turned to look at her.


    "Mom and Dad, this is also big brother''s kind gesture, you should ept it," Lin Ruoxue said with a light smile, "As for big brother wanting toe work at the corporation, I will arrange it as soon as possible and will notify big brother immediately once I have."


    Lin Ruoxue knew that Lin Chao joining the corporation was inevitable, even Grandpa would find it hard to object, so she might as well appear magnanimous and, most importantly, to seize the initiative first.


    With just a few words, Lin Ruoxue had clearly delineated the hierarchical rtionship between her and another person.


    "Then thank you for the extravagant gift, little Chao."


    It was only after hearing her daughter''s words that Zhang Xin finally took the ne box back.


    After that, many younger members also presented their gifts, which Zhang Xin epted one by one, expressing her thanks.


    "The gifts we younger ones brought are merely modest tokens; I guess everyone is most looking forward to the gift from the new son-inw," said one.


    "Su Chen, bring out your gift and let everyone feast their eyes," Lin Chao said to Su Chen with a friendly smile, a sharp glint shing through his eyes.


    "Yes, Su Chen, let''s see what gift you have for third aunt," another chimed in.


    "I bet the new son-inw''s gift must be the most precious of all¡ªreally looking forward to it!" another added.


    The members of the Lin Family bantered, their eyes full of mockery as they turned towards Su Chen, as if ready to watch a spectacle unfold.


    In their minds, given Su Chen''s shabby appearance, he surely didn''t have a gift, and even if he did, it would certainly be something not worth showing.


    Lin Ruoxue immediately felt awkward, as she hadn''t anticipated Lin Chao''s sudden challenge and assumed Su Chen definitely wouldn''t have prepared a gift.


    Because she knew, Su Chen simply had no money.


    Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help but me herself; she should have prepared a gift for him so that he wouldn''t be in such an embarrassing situation now.


    However, it was not Lin Ruoxue''s fault entirely since their rtionship was so cold that she normally wouldn''t even spare a thought for this husband of hers.


    Lin Ruoxue had already given her own gift to her mother the day before, a high-end massage chair, so she didn''t have a gift with her today; otherwise, she could have produced it now to help Su Chen out of a tight spot.


    Old Master Lin looked around at everyone and clearly understood the eldest family''s mindset¡ªthey wanted to embarrass Su Chen publicly, and by doing so, embarrass Lin Wenqing''s family as well.


    They did this, of course, for the sake of Lin Corporation. After all, Lin Ruoxue was a woman, and with her husband considered useless, there would seem to be no reason for her to keep hoarding the position of Chairman of Lin Corporation.


    Old Master Lin also didn''t know Su Chen''s true identity and had always thought Su Chen was a penniless fellow. Old Master Lin''s adamant decision to have Lin Ruoxue marry Su Chen actually had a reason.


    When Lin Ruoxue was young, she suffered from a peculiar illness¡ªonce falling ill, her body would be as cold as an ice cer, her breathing barely perceptible.


    The Lin Family sought treatment from major hospitals both domestically and abroad, as well as various Chinese medicine practitioners, but none could diagnose the cause, let alone cure it.


    Just when the Lin Family had lost hope for Lin Ruoxue, a Taoist mysteriously appeared in Old Master Lin''s study one night.


    The Taoist imed he could cure Lin Ruoxue''s illness. However, he didn''t want money; he had only one condition: that when the girl grew up, she must marry his disciple, and he insisted that this matter be kept strictly confidential, never to be disclosed!


    For the old patriarch of the Lin Family, he simply had no choice, and moreover, if the Taoist could really cure his granddaughter, it meant he must be a noble expert, indicating that his disciple would also be no ordinary person in the future.


    Indeed, after the Taoist treated Lin Ruoxue, her cold disease finally disappeared, and over the years, it never recurred.


    The old patriarch was a man who kept his word, so when Su Chen came to him with the token, he immediately agreed to honor the marriage arrangement from years ago, although he wasn''t particrly pleased with Su Chen.


    This was the character of the older generation¡ªthey held promises to be even more important than life itself!


    Of course, all of this was only known to the old patriarch and the Taoist. The rest of the family didn''t understand, and when the patriarch initially decided to marry his most treasured granddaughter to a man whose name they hadn''t even heard, the Lin Family thought the patriarch had be muddled with illness.


    Just as the old patriarch was preparing to help Su Chen out of the predicament, Zhang Xin spoke up:


    "No need, no need, the two of them had already sent over their gift a couple of days ago, an massage chair, which both Wenqing and I feel very good using."


    "Indeed, after massaging for two days, I feel that my old bones are much relieved," Lin Wenqing also immediately chimed in.


    "That''s not right! Third brother, you still told me yesterday that this was a birthday gift from Ruoxue to you, didn''t mention it was from the son-inw, oh!"


    Zhao Jie, the wife of the second eldest, Lin Wenbin, nced at Su Chen and saidnguidly.


    No sooner had her words fallen than the atmosphere turned even more awkward. The old patriarch was somewhat unable to bear seeing Su Chen embarrassed by everyone, but before he could speak up, Su Chen had already stood up.


    "How could I not have a gift for mom''s birthday?"


    Just as everyone was anticipating the drama, Su Chen stood up and reached into his pocket.


    After hearing Su Chen''s words, everyone was somewhat surprised; they hadn''t expected this "construction worker" to really bring a gift. They were curious to see what this fellow could possibly present.


    Lin Ruoxue was also slightly startled; she hadn''t expected Su Chen to have prepared a gift.


    And the eyes of Lin Ruohan, sitting beside Su Chen, suddenly lit up. While others had been targeting Su Chen both openly and quietly, she had been coldly observing from the side, and now, seeing Su Chen finally respond, she immediately became excited.


    When everyone saw Su Chen pull out a worn and mottled little cloth bag, the disdain in their eyes grew even thicker.


    Indeed, judging by the bag, whatever this "construction worker" had brought could not be anything of value.


    Lin Ruoxue herself was speechless; if you don''t have anything presentable, then don''t pretend, she thought. Knowing full well that they had malicious intentions, wasn''t this just giving them the opportunity to mock?


    "Mom, this is the gift I have for you," Su Chen handed the cloth bag to Zhang Xin.


    "All right, mom will ept it, thank you," she said.


    Zhang Xin, taking the cloth bag, was about to put it away, convinced that there couldn''t be anything of value inside.


    However, the eldest and the second eldest''s families weren''t about to let her get her way. Lin Ruomei said with a tremblingugh,


    "Third aunt, take out the gift, let us all see what the new nephew-inw has brought for you."


    The other members of the Lin Family also joined in, urging Zhang Xin to open the cloth bag to take a look.


    Zhang Xin looked at Su Chen, and seeing his indifferent expression, she reluctantly opened the bag and took out its contents.


    No sooner had she taken out the object than it emitted a blinding light, dazzling everyone''s eyes almost to the point of being unable to open them...

 Chapter 13 The Deep-Sea Finest Blue Diamond

    ```


    "A blue diamond, it''s actually the rare blue diamond!"


    As soon as Lin Hao saw the item his mother had taken out, he immediately eximed in surprise.


    Blue diamonds are rare indeed, so even many of the Lin Family members had never seen one, and they all crowded around to take a look.


    "Such arge blue diamond must be worth at least three to four million."


    A distantly rted Lin Family member couldn''t help butment aloud.


    Upon hearing that the item could be worth so much money, everyone was shocked beyond additional words.


    Zhang Xin was startled upon learning its value and immediately protested,


    "Su Chen, this item is too expensive, I can''t possibly ept it."


    "Third sister-inw, may I take a look at it?"


    Lin Wenting squinted slightly as she looked at the blue diamond in Zhang Xin''s hand.


    Zhang Xin passed the blue diamond to Lin Wenting, who took several minutes to carefully inspect it before speaking pensively,


    "This is not an ordinary blue diamond. This is a top-quality blue diamond. Look at this color, brilliance, and cut¡ªthey are all rare. I estimate it''s worth at least ten million, and if it went up for auction, it could fetch up to twenty million."


    Lin Wenting''s words undoubtedly set the Lin Family abuzz with shock and astonishment, as everyone''s gaze toward Su Chen was filled with confusion and amazement!


    No one had expected that this shabbily dressed young man could casually pull out a treasure worth millions!


    Probably the whole of Jianghai seldom had someone capable of doing something like this!


    Who would be so wealthy as to carry around an item worth millions with them, and moreover, keep it in an old cloth bag?


    Lin Ruoxue''s gaze was also filled with question marks as she looked at Su Chen. How could he possess such an expensive item?


    If he had so much money, why did he still dress so shabbily every day, looking like a loser who couldn''t be propped up even with a wall?


    Just as the Lin Family members were overwhelmed with shock, the little girl Lin Ruohan, who had been quiet so far, spoke up again:


    "Mom, you''re wrong. That''s not just a top-quality blue diamond; that''s a top-quality Deep Sea Blue Diamond!"


    Upon hearing her daughter''s words, Lin Wenting was so surprised that her eyeballs nearly popped out.


    "What is a top-quality Deep Sea Blue Diamond?" someone hastily asked.


    The others also looked at Lin Ruohan with eager faces. They were not too surprised that this little ''monster'' knew about such rare and odd things.


    "The Deep Sea Blue Diamond is formed in the seas more than three thousand meters deep, nurtured over tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years, and is extremely rare! The one that Brother Su brought out is also a top-quality among Deep Sea Blue Diamonds, something that is sought after but rarely found."


    Little Ruohan shook her little head with an air of an experienced person as she spoke, her eyes twinkling with an unfathomable gleam.


    "So how much is this treasure worth?"


    Little Ruobin asked Lin Ruohan directly, and everyone else''s faces showed anticipation. This was the question they were all most concerned about, even the alwaysposed Lin Chao showed a look of eagerness.


    Little Ruohan nced at the crowd and raised three slender, white fingers.


    "Thirty million?!"


    Even the worldly Lin Family members couldn''t help but bulge their eyes in disbelief.


    Once again, the shocked gaze of the Lin Family members was directed at Su Chen, the haggardly dressed fellow. How could he have such a treasure?


    At that moment, little Ruohan cleared her throat and spoke calmly,


    "I''m talking about US dors."


    "What, US dors?"


    "Thirty million US dors?"


    "Little Ruohan, you aren''t just talking nonsense, are you?"


    Upon hearing Lin Ruohan''s words, Lin Chao''s body jerked, and he stared nkly at Su Chen. Zhang Xin had just received the blue diamond from Lin Wenting, and at the mention of the staggering figure, she almost dropped it in shock, but fortunately, she was quick to catch it.


    "Pfft, believe it or not, unworldly," Lin Ruohan muttered disdainfully.


    The Lin family patriarch looked at Su Chen, then at his granddaughter, but said nothing, seemingly lost in thought.


    ```


    Zhang Xin was now holding the diamond as if she were holding a bomb, uneasy and anxious. Thirty million US dors, that''s two hundred million Huaxia currency! She had never seen so much money in her entire life.


    As far as she knew, Lin Corporation''s total assets amounted to no more than twenty-three billion, with liquid funds probably only amounting to three to five billion.


    "Su Chen, I really can''t ept this thing. It''s too, too, too precious," Zhang Xin said as she put the blue diamond back into the cloth bag and handed it to Su Chen, "This item is so valuable, you shouldn''t carry it with you. It''s best kept in a bank''s safe deposit box."


    For her, the son-inw''s belongings were, of course, her daughter''s as well. Seeing Su Chen carrying it so casually, she was extremely worried.


    "Mom, don''t listen to the little girl''s nonsense. It''s not real; I bought it at a high imitation store for two thousand yuan. It''s just made to look very realistic," Su Chen exined with a light smile, appearing very casual, "Look at me, do I look like someone who would have something so valuable?"


    "Of course not, that''s clearly..."


    Lin Ruohan retorted without thinking, but halfway through her sentence, she felt Su Chen stealthily kick her under the table and give her a subtle re. She promptly shut her mouth.


    "Really?" Zhang Xin asked, still skeptical.


    "Of course, look, even if I were sold, I wouldn''t fetch that much money," Su Chen said, allowing a bitter smile to appear at the corners of his mouth.


    Su Chen''s acting was spot on, and since everyone already found it hard to believe that he possessed something so valuable, they easily believed his words. Zhang Xin then reassuredly put the cloth bag away.


    "I thought so! How could he have something so valuable?"


    "Exactly, looking at him, it''s just not possible. I bet even the two thousand yuan is an exaggeration," one remarked.


    "That''s right, luckily, he''s a decent person, quite honest."


    "Honest? He''s probably just scared that someone knowledgeable might expose himter, which would be even more embarrassing," another added.


    The Lin family members were suddenly abuzz with conversation, and the previously repressed atmosphere sparked to life once more.


    The elder members of the first and second branches visibly sighed in relief, looking at Su Chen with renewed disdain.


    Lin Wenting and Lin Ruoxue meanwhile were pondering as they watched Su Chen closely. They had been sitting right beside Su Chen and Lin Ruohan and had not missed the subtle exchanges between the two.


    Su Chen sighed as he looked at the little girl pouting silently beside him. He had thought that the item he showed at the small Lin family gathering would go unrecognized.


    To his surprise, none of the adults in the Lin family recognized it, but an eleven-year-old girl did.


    "Don''t be angry, little one. What gift do you want? Su Gorge will get it for youter," he said, affectionately scratching Lin Ruohan''s cheek and smiling.


    "Really?" The little girl''s watery eyes immediately sparkled brightly upon hearing his words.


    "Of course. You think I would deceive a little girl like you?"


    "Then I don''t want a gift," Lin Ruohan said, tilting her head after a moment''s thought, "I want you to promise to do something for me."


    "What is it?" Su Chen was a bit puzzled. What could this little girl need him to do?


    But Lin Ruohan simply shook her head, "I can''t tell you now, but you have to promise me first."


    Seeing the pleading look in the little girl''s eyes, Su Chen was moved and blurted out, "Okay, Su Gorge promises you!"


    "Then let''s pinky swear!" Lin Ruohan said seriously, extending her plump little pinky.


    Su Chen couldn''t help butugh but still extended his finger to hook hers.


    "Pinky swear, hang myself from a tree, a hundred years, promise won''t flee!"


    The little girl''s childish voice rang out, her expression earnest.


    Lin Wenting and Lin Ruoxue, watching this scene unfold, found it entertaining and chuckled behind their hands.


    "You look so much better when you smile like this. Always having a cold face, people will think you''ve hit menopause prematurely!" Su Chenmented when he saw Lin Ruoxue smiling, clearly dazzled by her.


    "You''re the one going through menopause. Your whole family is going through menopause," Lin Ruoxue retorted, her briefly lightened moodpletely dispelled by Su Chen''s remark...

 Chapter 14 The Mysterious Phone Call

    At ten o''clock at night, the nightlife in Jianghai was just beginning. From a distance, neon lights flickered everywhere, and the young men and women who had stayed indoors during the day had also started to hit the streets.


    Sitting in the car, Su Chen rolled down the window and watched the parade of long, bare legs passing by, finding the sight extremely pleasing to the eye.


    "That thing is real, right?" Lin Ruoxue, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.


    "What are you talking about?" Su Chen turned his head in confusion.


    "I mean, the blue diamond you showed at dinner, it''s real, isn''t it? Ruohan wasn''t wrong, was she?"


    Lin Ruoxue tidied up her windswept and somewhat disheveled hair and said nonchntly.


    "Do you believe it?" Su Chen asked indifferently and then turned his head back toward the window.


    Do you believe it? Lin Ruoxue didn''t know. If it had been before, she would have definitely said she didn''t believe, but now, she was a bit unsure.


    "Grandpa wants me to arrange something for you to do at thepany, too. He says it''s not good for you to keep going without a proper job."


    After a while, Lin Ruoxue spoke again.


    "No need, I''ve found a job today."


    "What job?"


    Lin Ruoxue looked at Su Chen with some surprise, obviously not expecting him to take the initiative to find a job.


    "Driver."


    "You can drive?"


    "Is that strange?"


    Su Chen closed the car window casually and said.


    Yes, it wasn''t strange to know how to drive. It was only because Lin Ruoxue''s knowledge of him had been virtually nil before that she was surprised.


    Since he had already found a job, Lin Ruoxue didn''t say anything more.


    Just at that moment, a somewhat strange ringtone sounded, and Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help but be curious. This was the first time she had heard Su Chen''s phone ring.


    It was weird when you think about it. During the more than half a year they had lived together, Lin Ruoxue seemed to have never heard Su Chen''s phone ring, which made her wonder who was calling.


    Lin Ruoxue turned to look at Su Chen and noticed that his face had taken on an unusual color, as if he was deliberately suppressing his emotions.


    "Stop the car; I have something to do. Just drop me off at the roadside," Su Chen said, pulling out his phone to look but not immediately answering.


    "Okay."


    Lin Ruoxue slowly stopped the car and, after letting Su Chen out, she drove away.


    "Whose call is it that''s so secretive?" Lin Ruoxue murmured softly. She realized her husband seemed to be bing more and more mysterious.


    Su Chen watched Lin Ruoxue drive away before taking a deep breath and then answering the phone.


    "Hall Master, I knew you hadn''t died. I just knew, you wouldn''t die," came an incredibly excited voice as soon as the call connected.


    "I''m fine, Lone Wolf, how are the brothers doing? How''s the situation at the Temple?"


    Although Su Chen had always restrained himself from thinking about the past, it was, after all, the result of his life''s effort; to say he didn''t care would be a lie.


    "I called you precisely to discuss this matter," Lone Wolf''s voice sounded somewhat grave over the phone, "After you disappeared, Tang Gang took over the Nether Temple. However, because your prestige is so high and the brothers sensed something unclean about his involvement in the affair, they have been reluctant to ept him."


    "He had no choice, so yesterday he already left the Temple with a few of his confidants in secret, which is why we dared to contact you. If he knew you were still alive, he definitely wouldn''t let you be." Lone Wolf continued, "There''s a rumor that there''s a problem with your Dantian, is that true? If so, you should hurry back to the Temple, it''s too dangerous for you outside."


    Su Chen could feel Lone Wolf''s concern for him and he paused before saying:


    "Don''t worry, I have a sense of it, who''s in charge at the Temple now? Is it still Demon?"


    "Yes, everything is still being done ording to the rules you set. In your absence, the Service Hall,posed of Demon, Eniel, and Jester, has taken joint responsibility," Lone Wolf replied, "They asked me to make this call. Us old brothers never believed you were dead, and sure enough... Hahaha~~"


    "Hold on, for now, let''s not let them know about me. If they ask, tell them you couldn''t get through."


    Su Chen understood Lone Wolf''s feelings, but he still decided to keep the news of his survival to himself for the time being.


    "But, Hall Master, we all miss you very much, especially Eniel. If it weren''t for us holding her back, she would have gone after Tang Gang recklessly."


    "Make sure she''s stopped, don''t let her act rashly. Tang Gang himself isn''t frightening, but the power behind him is not to be underestimated and isn''t something she can handle."


    Su Chen urgently conveyed this with solemnity, although he was still unsure of who the true mastermind behind the affair was, one thing was certain: the opponent was definitely not an ordinary Dark World organization.


    Only an organization that could mobilize five to six Qi Refinement Peak experts in one go is almost unseen in the Dark World, not to mention the numerous Late Stage Qi Refinement experts.


    It was precisely because he sensed the deep waters of the situation that Su Chen didn''t dare to act recklessly; he must first recover his own Cultivation before dealing with the affair.


    "I understand, so the old brothers, Demon and Jester, have decided to confirm your whereabouts first before discussing further matters." Lone Wolf nodded over the phone, "However, Hall Master, you know Eniel''s temper¡­"


    At these words, Su Chen couldn''t help but reveal a wry smile; he certainly understood the temper of Eniel, the princess of an old European royal family¡ªif she truly lost her temper, there was nobody under heaven who could stop her, except perhaps for Su Chen himself.


    "I know, if there''s any special situation, contact me anytime."


    "Alright, I understand." Lone Wolf finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then he hesitantly added, "Hall Master, there''s something else I need to report to you..."


    "What''s the matter?"


    Su Chen frowned slightly as he detected the seriousness in Lone Wolf''s voice.


    "When Tang Gang fled yesterday, he took many documents from theboratory with him; it''s clear that he had been nning this for a long time. We couldn''t discover it in time, and when we did, it was already toote."


    "What? Theboratory''s documents were stolen?!"


    The usuallyposed Su Chen suddenly raised his voice in questioning, his tone clearly tense.


    "I''m sorry, Hall Master, this is our responsibility."


    "This isn''t your fault; there''s no need for self-me."


    Su Chen understood that Tang Gang and the forces behind him must have been plotting for a long time; with the thoughtful nning against the unaware, it was inevitable that Demon and the others would not react in time.


    "Hall Master, is there something particrly important in theboratory?"


    Lone Wolf asked cautiously, his tone tinged with trepidation, as it was rare for Su Chen to have such an extreme reaction.


    "Just some old documents, nothing particrly significant," Su Chen reassured him, "Okay, that''s all for now, we''ll be in touch if anythinges up."


    "Hall Master, are you really noting back now?" Lone Wolf asked, a touch intively.


    "I still have some things to handle here; we''ll talk once I''m done." Su Chen said, and then he hung up the phone.

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Does It Matter?

    After hanging up with Lone Wolf, Su Chen''s mind was flooded with thoughts, and he lit a cigarette unconsciously, inhaling deeply.


    In fact, Tang Gang''s inability to gain others'' trust and being forced to leave was something Su Chen had foreseen. After all, Nether Temple was built from the ground up by him, and veterans like Demon and Clown were his brothers who had been through life and death with him countless times.


    Of course, Su Chen had once considered Tang Gang a good brother, and even people like Lone Wolf had an okay rtionship with Tang Gang, but nonepared to the bond they shared with him.


    After all, Tang Gang joined Nether Temple more than a year after its establishment, by which time Nether Temple had already made a name for itself in the Dark World, rising like a new star!


    Now looking back, Su Chen couldn''t help but suspect that Tang Gang''s initial inclusion might have been as a pawn, with his eyes possibly set on the things in theb.


    Thinking about the stolenb, Su Chen''s head began to ache. He wasn''t too worried about the theft of other research oues, except for one thing that deeply unsettled him¡ªthe human gic experiment data.


    That experiment had actually already made preliminary breakthroughs, but it was Su Chen who ordered the research to be stopped because he felt the technology was an affront to humanity.


    If Tang Gang''s and his backers'' real objective was indeed the human gic data, then the consequences would be unimaginable!


    Su Chen''s thoughts wereplicated, and he suddenly felt an urge to drink. As it happened, he was walking on Jianghai''s famous bar street, and without hesitation, he stepped into a bar named "Intoxication."


    Upon entering, he was greeted with extremely dynamic music and the dazzling, swirling lights that illuminated the dancing crowd, where numerous men and women gyrated, unleashing their repressed passions!


    However, what caught everyone''s attention was the woman on the raised stage in the center of the dance floor.


    Though her features were indistinct in the dim lighting, her exceptional figure was evident to all.


    She performed various challenging dance moves, her brte wavy hair flowing wildly, sensual and charming!


    Even Su Chen couldn''t help but watch the woman for a few extra seconds before heading to the bar and ordering a bottle of rum.


    Rum is one of the strongest liquors in the world. Su Chen took a big gulp, feeling the familiar burn in his throat and stomach, which slightly soothed his mood.


    "You don''t see many people ordering such a strong drink."


    A woman''s voice came from behind Su Chen, rhythmic and pleasant to the ear.


    "Nor do you see such a beautiful woman often."


    Su Chen turned and saw that the woman who approached him was the dancer from the center of the stage. He gave a slight smile and said nonchntly.


    He noticed though many men looked over, not one approached her, immediately understanding this woman must have some status!


    Otherwise, those men would have swarmed over like flies.


    The bartender, seeing the woman approach, immediately handed her a drink called "Nichs" without waiting for her order, which also indicated the woman was far from ordinary.


    "Men whoe here usually do so to hunt for beauty, yet I noticed you seem to have no such intentions and came specifically for a drink," the woman said lightly, brushing her hair from her forehead and looking at Su Chen with interest.


    "How do you know it isn''t just another approach?" Su Chen swirled his drink and smiled, "Like right now, for instance."


    "Giggle, giggle, giggle"


    The womanughed at Su Chen''s words, her gaze coy as she said, "Could it be that your target is me?"


    "Why not?" Su Chen nced at the woman and nodded, "I don''t think this bar has anyone more deserving than you."


    Even though the woman was quite extraordinary, Su Chen''s prating gaze made her heart quiver, and then she looked at Su Chen and asked:


    "Then do you know who I am?"


    "Does it matter? Only one thing needs to be confirmed."


    "Which aspect?"


    The woman tilted her head with interest. It was the first time she had encountered a man who dared to speak to her like this, probably even Dragon wouldn''t dare to do this.


    "You are a woman, I am a man."


    "Hehe, interesting," the woman extended a slender hand, "Let''s get to know each other again, Ye Mei."


    "As expected, true to your name, Su Chen."


    Su Chen also extended his hand, and when he grasped that slender hand, he felt it, it was the hand of someone who had killed before.


    Su Chen''s calm appearance left Ye Mei feeling a bit puzzled, as she looked at Su Chen and asked:


    "Haven''t you heard of my name?"


    "Perhaps you are somewhat famous, but what does that have to do with me? I''m only interested in one thing right now."


    Su Chen finished the remaining rum in his ss and poured himself another.


    "What?"


    "Whether we go to your ce or a hotel today. If it''s a hotel, I''m broke, I''m afraid you''d have to cover the room fee."


    The moment Su Chen''s words fell, it immediately caused a great uproar among those nearby.


    The intimate demeanor of the two had already sparked the jealousy of many men, and at this moment, this raggedly dressed fellow actually wanted to get into bed with Ye Mei. Their gazes were filled with jealousy, but even more so with schadenfreude.


    "What''s with this guy, he''s got some nerve."


    "No matter what, this ignorant guy is definitely going to be unlucky today!"


    "Last year, there seemed to be a young master from the north who wanted to have his way with Ye Mei, then he just disappeared without a trace."


    "What do you mean ''disappeared without a trace?'' His body was fished out of the river the next day."


    Upon hearing this, the people around looked at Su Chen with even more pity in their eyes.


    "He must be from out of town. If he knew he was flirting with the infamous Blood Rose, he would''ve run away long ago."


    "Perhaps he''s another romantic ghost willing to die under the peony flower?"


    "Can''t say for sure, I''ve beening to this bar for a few years now, and I''ve never seen Blood Rose chat so enthusiastically with a man. Maybe she really fancies this guy."


    "It is indeed rare, but why would Blood Rose fancy such a guy? Look at what he''s wearing, it''s too shabby."


    The people around nodded in agreement, what status did Blood Rose have, and how could she fancy a man like that?


    The surrounding chatter naturally reached the ears of the two, and Ye Mei raised an eyebrow and asked with a lightugh:


    "Do you still hold the same thought as before?"


    "Of course!"


    "Really interesting. However, taking me away won''t be that easy."


    Ye Mei hadn''t expected this man to remain soposed after hearing those remarks, and he still insisted on his previous idea¡ªhe couldn''t tell if the man before her was really that lecherous or had something to rely on!


    Based on her feeling, Ye Mei also didn''t think that this person would be the type who couldn''t move when they saw a beautiful woman, so that was worth looking into!

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Too Shameless

    "Oh, let''s hear it, what are the conditions?"


    "If you want to take me away, naturally you need the ability to do so, at the very least you have to beat me."


    "There''s no need for men and women to get into apetition, I think blending smoothly is better."


    Once Su Chen spoke, a wave of jeers broke out from the crowd, yet Ye Mei noticed the opposite party didn''t show any signs of embarrassment or difort.


    "Look, if you don''t show your abilities, these people won''t agree either. Could it be that Mr. Su is scared?"


    Ye Mei provocatively spoke while her fingertips gently glided across Su Chen''s chest, causing the other men to grow restless.


    "The challenge gambit doesn''t work on me," Su Chen said, his demeanor still as serene as a light breeze, "But if you want apetition, I will give it a try. What did you have in mind?"


    "Since we are in a bar, it''s naturally about drinks, whether it''s drinking or cocktail making, or something else, you decide."


    Ye Mei flicked her hair back, confidently speaking, and of course, she had the confidence.


    "In terms of drinking, being a woman, winning against you wouldn''t be honorable, let''s go with cocktail making instead," Su Chen replied casually.


    "Damn, this guy is crazy, going against Blood Rose in cocktail making?"


    "This guy probably has no idea about Blood Rose''s level in cocktail making;st time an internationally top mixologist got crushed."


    "That''s not all, heard that Blood Rose went to the capitalst time andpeted with Zhao Hongyan, who''s called the king of cocktail masters in China. The result is unknown, but Zhao Hongyan, who''s always been arrogant,ter imed he''s not the best cocktail maker in China."


    "Looks like this guy is really out of luck!"


    "If it were something else, there might still be some suspense, but in cocktail making, there''s simply no chance of winning."


    "You''ve heard it too, how about we change it to something else?"


    Ye Mei''s alluring eyes twinkled as she looked at Su Chen with a not-quite-smiling expression.


    "No need, let''s finish early so we can ''get down to business'' sooner," Su Chen responded, his eyes predatorily scanning over Ye Mei''s curvaceous body.


    When had Ye Mei ever been looked at so closely by a man? It made her body react unnaturally. However, she quickly adjusted her mood and responded:


    "It seems Mr. Su is very confident! For fairness, it''s better we mix the same cocktail. What drink would you like topete in?"


    "I just heard them calling you ''Blood Rose,'' coincidentally there''s a cocktail called ''Blood Rose.'' Let''s go with that," Su Chen dismissively waved his hand, as if it didn''t matter what theypeted in.


    But the onlookers were all shocked, and then a mocking expression appeared on their faces¡­


    Dose this guy not know that Ye Mei is called ''Blood Rose'' not just because she''s beautiful but ruthlessly fierce, and most importantly because her best cocktail is the ''Blood Rose''?


    Even Ye Mei couldn''t help but feel amused; this guy not only chose her strongest cocktail but, more coincidentally, chose the ''Blood Rose'' itself!


    Ye Mei couldn''t help but look at the man in front of her, finding a meaningful smile on his face¡ªcould it be he knew that ''Blood Rose'' was her best cocktail?


    "Then let''s begin."


    Ye Mei collected herself and walked behind the bar, Su Chen following; the two stood side by side, ready to start mixing drinks.


    The spectators also moved closer, as witnessing ''Blood Rose'' personally making cocktails was a rare opportunity they didn''t want to miss.


    Once Ye Mei entered the bar area, her demeanor turned solemn, no longer showing her previously delightful smile, as if she were undertaking a grand endeavor.


    She carefully selected each ingredient and quantity, then arranged everything ording to her habit.


    After getting everything prepared, she casually nced at Su Chen, but found him with his arms crossed over his chest, leisurely watching her.


    "What is this guy doing? He hasn''t done anything yet?"


    "Is this guy actually clueless about mixing drinks, trying to learn on the spot?"


    "Really? Can bartending be learned just by watching a few times?"


    "At first, I thought he dared topete with the Blood Rose in bartending, and I thought he had some skills, but it turns out he''s just a clown."


    Ye Mei''s face also looked a bit displeased, could it be that this guy really doesn''t know how to make cocktails and wants to learn on the spot by watching her and then try to mimic her?


    Even if you manage to learn, could you possibly surpass the original creator?


    "If you''re not mixing drinks, why are you watching me?" Ye Mei asked somewhat displeased.


    "Mixing drinks myself is boring, watching a beautiful woman mix drinks is much more delightful."


    Su Chen replied casually, yet his gaze did not shift away from her.


    Seeing him like this, Ye Mei ignored him and continued to focus on her own actions.


    Ye Mei''s cocktail mixing was smooth and naturally elegant, a delight to the observers whovishly praised her skills.


    When they looked at Su Chen, their nces were filled with contempt; in their eyes, Su Chen was nothing more than a clown who tried to act cool but ended up being a fool, and as for the oue, was there any doubt?


    After a series of bizarre gestures, Ye Mei mmed her cocktail ss down on the bar!


    "Okay, turn off the lights!"


    Ye Mei gently exhaled and instructed.


    As the lights dimmed, everyone''s eyes widened at the sight of the red liquid in the ss.


    "It''s changing, it''s changing!"


    Suddenly someone eximed, and then everyone was amazed to see that the color of the red liquid at the center of the ss gradually deepened, while the surrounding liquid became much lighter, creating a distinct division of colors.


    "It''s unbelievable, it''s not just ayer separation, but aplete separation."


    "It seems that ''Blood Rose''s'' cocktail mixing skills have improved again!"


    "Shh, don''t talk, look, it''s starting to transform!"


    The crowd fell silent once again as they noticed the dark red in the middle of the ss gradually forming into the shape of a blooming red rose, encased by a lighter shade of red, making it strikingly prominent!


    "It''s magnificent! It''s wonderful!"


    Everyone was overwhelmed by Ye Mei''s profound bartending skills; it was truly a work of art!


    "How about that, now you admit defeat?"


    Ye Mei''s voice changed from its previous charm, bing very cold, she had originally thought this man was somewhat extraordinary but turned out to be so unworthy!


    The onlookers unanimously criticized Su Chen''s shamelessness.


    "Miss Ye, does our bet still stand? If I win, you''lle with me."


    Su Chen lit a cigarette, took a casual puff, and asked with a smile.


    "Of course!" Ye Mei sneered scornfully, "But where is the cocktail you mixed?"


    "Isn''t this it?"


    Su Chen pointed to a cocktail on the bar and said.


    "Cut it out, that''s shameless, that''s the cocktail Miss Ye just mixed, what does it have to do with you?"


    "Indeed, there''s no match for such unscrupulousness! Today I''ve really seen it all!"


    The crowd immediately voiced their disdain towards Su Chen, this guy was not only a clown but also had character issues, he even imed Ye Mei''s freshly mixed cocktail as his own.


    Ye Mei was also utterly infuriated, she decided tonight she must teach this ridiculous man a lesson, to let him know why the "Rose" is so famed!


    Just at that moment, Su Chen, who had been still until then, gave a slight smile, and then he gently shook the cocktail on the bar that Ye Mei had just mixed, the "Blood Rose"...

 Chapter 17 The Real "Blood Rose

    All the people were puzzled, wondering what this guy was up to!


    However, a momentter, everyone''s expressions became rather strange.


    Because the way Su Chen shook the ss was too beautiful, it was unheard of.


    His wrist seemed as flexible as if it had no bones, constantly changing directions in his hand ¡ª sometimes upright, sometimes lying horizontally, and sometimes even upside down. Incredibly, not a single drop of the liquid inside spilled out.


    "This guy seems to have some tricks up his sleeve."


    "Yeah, the ss keeps changing directions, and yet no liquid spills out, it''s truly strange."


    "Probably because his movements are too fast!"


    "Yes, that must be it!"


    The other people echoed the sentiment, as they could think of no other exnation.


    Unlike the others'' surprise, Ye Mei''s eyes gleamed with seriousness; she knew that the liquid not spilling was not due to the speed, but control!


    This man''s mastery over the liquid in the ss had reached a certain realm, which was why it was so!


    Ye Mei realized that her previous judgment had beenpletely wrong. Someone with such control definitely knew how to mix drinks; she just didn''t understand what he intended to do by shaking the drink she had prepared.


    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shed through Ye Mei''s mind. He couldn''t be nning to...


    Ye Mei watched this man, who casually smoked and shook the ss, feeling deeply shocked!


    "Impossible, it definitely can''t be!" Ye Mei was startled by her own wild idea, "That kind of drink is said to have been made only once by the world''s greatest mixologist, Colin Peter. How could he possibly make it?"


    However, other than this exnation, Ye Mei couldn''t think of any other reason that could exin Su Chen''s actions!


    "Alright, just a few seconds until it''s time to witness a miracle!"


    Su Chen ced the ss down on the bar and then stylishly took a drag of his cigarette, blowing out a perfect ring of smoke.


    All eyes turned back to the bar, especially Ye Mei, who looked on with grave anticipation!


    "It moved, it moved!" The person closest loudly eximed.


    What followed was a scene that the onlookers would never forget in their lifetimes. They watched as the blood-red rose in the middle slowly rose from the water, while the pale-colored liquid around it gently descended.


    After a few dozen seconds, a vibrant blood-red rose appeared to bloom on the surface of the water, miraculously made of the liquid itself!


    "How is this possible?"


    "Yes, thispletely defies thews of physics!"


    "It''s breathtaking, unimaginable!"


    The onlookers all gasped in astonishment, unable to believe what they were seeing.


    "Miss Ye, this ''Bloody Rose'' is for you."


    Su Chen picked up the ss and, smiling, handed it to Ye Mei.


    However, Ye Mei didn''t take it and instead stared nkly at the smiling man in front of her, utterly astonished.


    Just as she suspected, he had indeed created a real ''Bloody Rose''. Who exactly was this man? Ye Mei''s heart was filled with questions.


    "Miss Ye, won''t you taste this drink?" Su Chen smiled and said again.


    "Oh, thank you." Ye Mei took the ss and sipped.


    The moment it touched her lips, Ye Mei was shocked once more, as though the vor of the drink was eighty percent simr to what she had mixed, the different twenty percent was the essence that entirely elevated the taste to another level!


    Ye Mei gently closed her eyes, savoring the taste in her mouth, and after a while, slowly opened her eyes and sighed,


    "I lost, fair and square!"


    "So, should I fulfill our bet now?"


    Su Chen''s lips curved slightly upward, speaking somewhat frivolously.


    Ye Mei''s cheeks turned slightly red, as she had not anticipated things would actually progress to this point. She initially approached him because she felt there was something special about this man.


    The subsequent conversation made her feel even more intrigued by him. Although she had proposed a bet stating if she won, he would leave with her, it was merely a joke. Moreover, she had never imagined she would actually lose.


    Essentially, Ye Mei was not as open as her appearance suggested, so she felt somewhat at a loss in response to Su Chen''s question.


    Of course, Ye Mei wasn''t very worried or frightened. In Jianghai, except for a few individuals, no one could force her to do anything.


    It was just that for the first time, she was interested in a man and did not want to refuse him by force.


    "Who dares to disrespect Miss Ye!"


    At that moment, a rough voice suddenly carried in from the entrance.


    Upon hearing this voice, everyone''s expression changed instantly, and they made way, revealing a group of about a dozen men in ck suitsing forward.


    The one at the front wore sunsses, had a buzz cut, a well-built body, broad shoulders, and muscles so tense they seemed ready to burst through his clothes.


    "Who is this guy? He looks really imposing!"


    "You don''t know him? He is the notorious Third Master!"


    "Are you talking about Third Master Wan Sheng from Dragon Prosperity Society?"


    "Who else in Jianghai could carry the title of ''Third Master''?"


    Those who had never seen Third Master showed expressions of shock when they realized who was approaching.


    "Why would hee here? This is Blood Rose territory."


    "Don''t you know? Dragon Master has always treated Blood Rose as off-limits. Though he hasn''t seeded himself, he wouldn''t allow anyone else a chance! It seems someone must have let slip about what''s happening here."


    "I''ve heard rumors to that effect, but didn''t expect them to be true."


    "Shush, this is going to be interesting, that young man is in trouble."


    "Indeed, in the Realm of Jiangnan, except for the four great families, who would dare not to show respect to Dragon Master? We''d better pray for him."


    Upon seeing Wan Sheng arrive, Ye Mei tensed up immediately and stealthily signaled to a subordinate in the corner.


    However, when she looked at Su Chen, she saw no hint of nervousness; it seemed as if none of this concerned him at all.


    Ye Mei thought to herself, he probably had no idea who the Third Master was, otherwise he wouldn''t be so calm.


    "I heard you want to take Miss Ye away?"


    Wan Sheng walked up to Su Chen and Ye Mei, asking arrogantly.


    "Wan Sheng, this is Blood Rose territory, not a ce for the Dragon Prosperity Society to run wild," Ye Mei stepped forward, standing in front of Su Chen, unyielding.


    "''Blood Rose'', you should understand what Dragon Master feels for you. Dragon Master respects you, so he hasn''t done anything excessive. However, if you leave with this young man today, that would be quite disrespectful to Dragon Master."


    Wan Sheng pulled a chair over from the side. His ck leather shoes pped onto it with a ''smack'', and he grunted, "Not showing respect to Dragon Master is the same as showing disrespect to us at Dragon Prosperity Society. So, should I intervene?"

 Chapter 18 100 million US dollars

    "This is my own business, when did it be Dragon Prosperity Society''s concern?" Ye Mei was well aware of Dragon Lord''s feelings for her, but she was not willing to relent, "Today I''m leaving with him. I really want to see how Dragon Prosperity Society will deal with me, ''Blood Rose''!"


    As she spoke, Blood Rose boldly hooked Su Chen''s arm, appearing very affectionate. However, the onlookers didn''t show any envy, but rather pitied the man.


    Once someone became a thorn in the side of Dragon Prosperity Society, they likely wouldn''t even know how they died.


    "Blood Rose" certainly wouldn''t use the innocent Su Chen as her scapegoat. If necessary, she would do her best to protect this man. Her current actions were undoubtedly a test for Dragon Prosperity Society.


    Just then, Wan Sheng suddenlyughed disdainfully, saying,


    "You ask this man, now, even if you''re willing, would he dare to take you away?"


    The others nodded in agreement. Yes, in this situation, as long as the man wasn''t a fool, he should understand that these people were not to be trifled with, and the wisest decision was to protect himself wisely.


    "Blood Rose" also looked despondently at Su Chen, realizing that no man would dare to take her away at this point, as that would undoubtedly mean going head-to-head with Dragon Prosperity Society.


    Although this man''s bartending skills had impressed her, making him seem extraordinary, she didn''t believe that he truly had the courage or strength to confront Dragon Prosperity Society.


    "You''re also interested in Miss Ye, so that makes things easy. I''m a businessman; everything is negotiable,"


    Su Chen said to Wan Sheng lightly.


    As expected, the man ultimately capitted. Yes, if it were oneself, one would probably only do the same. With such power disparity, ying tough would only lead to embarrassment.


    "Oh, and what are your terms?"


    Wan Sheng, somewhat surprised, removed his sunsses. He hadn''t expected this young man to dare to set terms at this time.


    "As I said, I''m a businessman, and a businessman talks money,"


    Su Chen replied with a sycophantic smile, his right thumb and forefingering together in a gesture asking for money.


    "Haha, very appropriate. Alright, Third Master is in a good mood today. You name the price, Third Master will satisfy you!"


    Wan Sheng burst intoughter and provocatively nced at Ye Mei as if to say, look, this is the man you''ve chosen.


    Ye Mei''s expression suddenly darkened. Although she had not expected him to confront Dragon Prosperity Society for her, this was too disgraceful, treating himself like amodity to be sold.


    Ye Mei had already decided, even if Dragon Prosperity Society spared him, she would not forgive this despicable man!


    "I knew Third Master you were generous, I won''t ask for much,"


    Su Chen said with a face full of ttery, then slowly raised a finger.


    "Ten thousand? You''re not greedy," Wan Sheng said generously.


    However, he then saw Su Chen shaking his head with a smiling face as he gestured with his raised finger:


    "A hundred thousand? Fine, since you''re so sensible, let''s make it a hundred thousand."


    To everyone''s surprise, Su Chen shook his finger again, his face still wearing a pleasant smile.


    "Have you gone mad wanting money? Do you want a million!"


    Wan Sheng''s face hardened as he erupted in anger, thinking this kid was really pushing his limits.


    Ye Mei looked at Su Chen with disgust, thinking how greedy he was. Didn''t he realize that he might get the money but he wouldn''t live to spend it?


    But this was better, angering Dragon Prosperity Society; let them chop up this shameless scumbag, saving her the effort!


    "Looking at you guys, with your designer suits and full style, why are you acting so miserly?"


    Su Chen dropped his hand back into his pocket, shook his head, and sighed.


    "Then you tell me, how much do you really want? Enlighten me,"


    Wan Sheng said, infuriated by the young man, gritting his teeth.


    "One billion," Su Chen said lightly, "US dors."


    "What, has he gone mad? A hundred million, in US dors?"


    "This kid must have something wrong with his brain, extorting the Dragon Prosperity Society of all people."


    "Exactly, that''s not how you seek death."


    "Are you sure?"


    Wan Shengughed bitterly out of sheer frustration, but the stormy look on his face made it clear he was on the verge of exploding.


    "Of course, don''t you think such a beautiful woman is worth that much money?"


    Su Chen nced at the astonished Ye Mei and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    "Are you fucking ying me?"


    Wan Sheng also fully understood now and suddenly exuded a sharp aura.


    "p, p, p!"


    Su Chen pped his hands, looking at Wan Sheng mockingly:


    "Not as dumb as I thought!"


    Su Chen wrapped an arm around Ye Mei''s soft waist and pulled her into his embrace:


    "A beauty like this, do you think I would just hand her over?"


    Everyone was dumbfounded by Su Chen''s sudden actions and words. Did this kid realize what situation he was in?


    Had he really lost his senses because of a beautiful woman? People seemed to have already foreseen the bloody scene about to unfold!


    "You, you . . ."


    Ye Mei was also confused by Su Chen, not understanding what this man really wanted to do.


    At the same time, ripples began to form deep within her heart. This man had left too deep an impression on her. He had already changed her mood several times tonight, to the extent that she did not even realize she was still being embraced by him.


    "Can''t find your words, huh? Have you fallen in love with me already?"


    Su Chen gently lifted Ye Mei''s pristine chin and lightly pecked her red lips.


    Ye Mei suddenly awoke, breaking free from his embrace. Her face turned red all the way up to her neck, making her look irresistibly charming and heart-stirring!


    "Absolutely not."


    Ye Mei retorted weakly, but her voice sounded more like a coquettish whine.


    "You''re asking for death!"


    Wan Sheng, already infuriated by Su Chen''s antics, could no longer contain his anger upon seeing the two flirt. He swung his fist towards Su Chen with full force.


    Wan Sheng, as the third head of the Dragon Prosperity Society, was also skilled in martial arts. His punching power, whistling through the air, tore at the atmosphere as he aimed straight for Su Chen.


    "Stop!"


    Ye Mei was shocked to see Wan Sheng strike, knowing full well his skill. From appearances alone, Su Chen was no match for Wan Sheng, and it was possible for him to be seriously injured by the blow.


    However, how could an enraged Wan Sheng possibly stop? All of his anger was concentrated in the fist he swung. He intended to make the naive young man kneel and beg for mercy!


    When the fist was just a few centimeters from his face, Su Chen still did not move, as if he had been frozen in shock by the sudden punch.


    The onlookers all covered their eyes, unable to watch the violent scene that was about to unfold!


    Ye Mei''s heart was in her throat; she had never felt so scared before!


    Just then, Su Chen moved. He subtly shifted his step, and Wan Sheng''s fierce punch just brushed by Su Chen''s ear. Then, Su Chen gently patted Wan Sheng''s chest with the back of his hand, as if a breeze had caressed it.

 Chapter 19 Do You Believe It or Not?

    However, something unimaginable happened. It was as if Wan Sheng had been fiercely hammered at the heart. All of a sudden, Wan Sheng bent over, clutching his chest, his face showing an expression of immense pain!


    Everyone was stunned. They had never imagined this oue. The young man seemed hardly to have moved, only lightly brushing Wan Sheng''s chest; how had Wan Sheng turned out like this?


    Ye Mei also widened her beautiful eyes, disbelievingly watching Su Chen. She knew just how strong Wan Sheng''s resilience was.


    Years ago, when Dragon Prosperity Society and another force were vying for territory, Wan Sheng had taken seven knives, blood pouring out, yet his face remained unchanged!


    Yet now, such a ruthless man had changed so drastically from just a brush of this man''s hand. It was evident how immense the damage this seemingly light touch had caused!


    Although Su Chen had inflicted severe damage in the first round, he was still very unsatisfied.


    "If it was before, this brush could have thrown him over five meters. Ah, this is the huge difference without Yuan Qi. Now, I can only attack using the structural weaknesses of the human body, but the effect is much worse."


    Su Chen sighed to himself. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do but slowly continue his cultivation. Luckily, he was now seeing hope.


    However, only Wan Sheng truly felt how fierce Su Chen''s strike had been. Although the force wasn''t particrly great, it made his internal organs churn like a torrent and even gave him a tearing pain!


    Despite feeling shocked, Wan Sheng knew he couldn''t back down now; otherwise, he would bring great disgrace to Dragon Prosperity Society, and Lord Dragon would not let him off!


    "What the hell are you standing there for? Go, take this kid down!" Wan Sheng barked at his men.


    Wan Sheng''s men had been restless all along, but since the rules of Dragon Prosperity Society were strict, without Wan Sheng''smand, they dared not take action.


    Finally, having received the order, they charged like lions breaking out of a cage.


    Seeing this, Ye Mei was about tomand her men to step in, but Su Chen pulled her delicate hand and whispered in her ear,


    "No need for your men to intervene. I can handle this trash alone."


    His words were soft, yet they carried an undeniable sense of authority. Ye Mei looked at his calm smile and finally nodded.


    Su Chen watched as the crowd rushed towards him, the fierce fire that had been dormant in his heart for over a year reignited, and he once again felt that familiar sensation! It was like a beast sensing the smell of blood!


    Su Chen roared and plunged into the crowd. His actions were a provocation to the men of Dragon Prosperity Society, and so they furiously attacked him.


    Surprisingly, Su Chen moved through the crowd like a fish through water, striking from the skies, with ease. All their attacks only hit the air around him.


    Each of his strikes caused severe damage to the men of Dragon Prosperity Society, whether it was a p, a punch, an elbow strike, a kick, or a sweep. His movements were as fluid and beautiful as clouds flowing across the sky.


    In less than five minutes, a dozen or so men from Dragon Prosperity Society were lying on the ground, moaning in pain.


    Everyone watching this scene found it unbelievable, feeling as if they were watching an American blockbuster movie.


    Wan Sheng also seemed as if he had seen a ghost, his gaze filled with fear as he looked at Su Chen. He knew that he had encountered a tough opponent, and perhaps only Lord Dragon could face this young man!


    Ye Mei also stared at Su Chen in astonishment, wondering who this man she had just flirted with was. His skills were incredible!


    "Miss Ye, now that the obstacles are cleared, shall we go to the hotel to talk about life''s aspirations?"


    For Su Chen, what had just happened was simply a minor incident that he had dealt with as a matter of course; nothing was more important than discussing life''s aspirations with a beautiful woman!


    Ye Mei couldn''t help butugh and cry. This man was still fixated on that matter¡ªhe truly was an oddity!


    "Kid, if you dare to touch ''Blood Rose'' today, Lord Dragon will not let you off!"


    Before Ye Mei could speak, Wan Sheng had already verbally threatened.


    "He''s right, today''s incident has already caused you undeserved suffering. If we keep any connection, it won''t end well for you."


    Worry also covered Ye Mei''s beautiful face. She knew better than anyone how formidable the Dragon Prosperity Society was, especially Boss Dragon, a fearsome figure.


    Even the Four Great Families wouldn''t take it upon themselves to provoke this underground big shot of Jianghai!


    "Oh, it seems that this Boss Dragon really is someone noteworthy!"


    Su Chen walked up to Wan Sheng, smiling and touching his chin.


    "Good that you understand! I see you''re someone noteworthy too. If you leave now and drop the idea of targeting ''Blood Rose,'' I might let you off."


    Wan Sheng, thinking Su Chen was truly scared, said arrogantly with his head tilted back.


    "p!"


    Unexpected by everyone, Su Chen suddenly pped Wan Sheng, knocking him to the ground.


    "Giving you face, and you really thought you deserved it."


    The always grinning and carefree Su Chen, to everyone''s surprise, suddenly delivered a loud p to Wan Sheng.


    The p startled everyone. The onlookers couldn''t believe what they had just seen, and they rubbed their eyes vigorously.


    "What just happened? Can someone tell me?"


    "This guy is too audacious, daring to p Third Master in front of so many people!"


    "The fight earlier could be chalked up to Third Master being outssed, no more to be said, but this p is a direct insult to Third Master and even the Dragon Prosperity Society!"


    "Now the Dragon Prosperity Society won''t let him off; he''s still too young, too full of Blood Qi!"


    After the shock, everyone mentally sentenced the young man to death!


    Ye Mei hadn''t expected the usually harmless Su Chen to suddenly make such a move. After the p, she realized that they had truly be mortal enemies!


    Oh, this guy, why so impulsive?


    If it had been just the earlier conflict, she might have been able to mediate, and Boss Dragon might have spared him considering her intervention, but now?


    Ye Mei knew without thinking what the oue would be¡ªafter all, hitting someone is bad enough, but hitting the face? Well, since it all started because of me, I must protect him now.


    "You dare hit me?"


    Wan Sheng, touching his swollen face, was in disbelief. In his years in Jianghai, no one had ever dared to treat him like this.


    "Say one more word, and I''ll have you dead here today, believe it or not?"


    Su Chen tilted his head slightly, his eyebrows arching as he spoke word for word to Wan Sheng.


    Although his face wore a smile, Wan Sheng, whose hands were stained with countless blood, felt chilled to the bone in that moment, as if facing a supreme monarch, quashing any thought of rebellion!


    Wan Sheng felt his throat go dry, truly unable to speak another word, nor daring to!


    At that moment, he felt that if he really said another word, Su Chen would not hesitate to kill him!

 Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Dantian Shaping

    "My mood for today has been ruined by these eyesores; let''s discuss life and dreams some other time."


    Su Chen walked back to Ye Mei''s side and said with a hint of regret, then a mischievous grin spread across his face, sending Ye Mei''s heart fluttering, unsure of what this oddball was nning to do.


    "Even though it''s not happening today, make sure you bathe and stay clean, waiting for my royal visit, alright?"


    Su Chen suddenly whispered slyly into Ye Mei''s ear.


    "Dream on!"


    Ye Mei''s face instantly flushed with embarrassment, and she let out a light scoff.


    "Smack!"


    Suddenly, a loud p resounded, and Su Chenughed heartily:


    "Wait for me, okay!"


    "Jerk!"


    Ye Mei touched her pert buttocks, feeling a hot sting.


    "This jerk, he hits so hard!"


    The crowd had already been defeated by Su Chen; not only had he shut up the formidable Third Master with just a few words, but he also flirted with "Blood Rose" right in front of everyone!


    What kind of freak was this?! The people couldn''t help but think to themselves. Looking at Su Chen, their eyes filled with awe. Joking aside, who could mess with a man who dared to p the Third Master''s face and spank "Blood Rose" in public?


    "Here''s my phone number; make sure to give me a call, okay."


    Su Chen said with a cheeky smile as he took Ye Mei''s hand and wrote a string of numbers in her palm.


    Then he waved his hand and walked towards the exit, his devilish voice travelling from afar:


    "Tell your Dragon Lord that from now on, Miss Ye is my woman. If he dares touch her, I will annihte your Dragon Prosperity Society!"


    The patrons of the Mesmerizing Bar were all stunned by Su Chen''s domineering words, doubting their own ears once again.


    This guy actually wasn''t concerned about Dragon Lording after him; instead, he warned Dragon Lord that he would annihte the Dragon Prosperity Society!


    Did he even know what kind of existence the Dragon Prosperity Society was? Almost everyone thought he was insane!


    But Ye Mei, watching Su Chen''s departing figure, had a peculiar gleam in her eyes!


    At that moment, this man hadpletely conquered her!


    Humorous, gentle, domineering, tough, mysterious¡ªthat was the man Ye Mei had been desperately searching for!


    ....


    After the bar''s little interlude, the irritation Su Chen felt from past events had alsorgely subsided, and he strolled leisurely to the Grand Epoch Court.


    When he got home, Lin Ruoxue and Mrs. Wang were already asleep, so Su Chen simply entered his room, sat on the bed, and started to cultivate.


    Having explored the day before, Su Chen was now much more familiar with the process, so he quickly entered a good state, and with Su Chen continuously operating his cultivation technique, his Dantian began reshaping at a visible pace!


    Suddenly, Su Chen felt a humming in his Dantian, and he immediately became alert, focusing all his attention. He knew this was a sign that his Dantian was about to be reshaped.


    The more critical the moment, the less he dared to be careless, carefully introspecting, he noticed that only a small edge was still not perfect.


    He kept operating his cultivation technique, specifically repairing that area, knowing that the Dantian is a foundation for cultivation, and for most people, the Dantian is predetermined at birth and cannot be alteredter in life.


    Now that Su Chen had the opportunity to reshape it, he naturally wanted to make his Dantian as perfect as possible!


    The further one advanced in cultivation, the more important the Dantian became, amon knowledge in the realm of Martial Arts.


    Gradually, Su Chen''s body waspletely soaked, but he didn''t care at all, as all his focus was gathered upon his dantian.


    Finally, Su Chen felt a warmth at his dantian. He sensed a resonating vibration there, like a phoenix soaring to the heavens!


    "Hard work pays off for those who are diligent!"


    Su Chen was filled with ecstasy in his heart. It was only then that he realized his face and body were covered in sweat. He wiped away the perspiration with his hand andughed foolishly.


    But this joy was shared by no one else, which made him feel somewhat less ted!


    "This Nine Yang Divine Technique is really miraculous¡ªit actually restored my damaged dantian in just two nights!"


    Su Chen was also secretly astonished by the power of the Nine Yang Divine Technique.


    Deciding to strike while the iron was hot, Su Chen continued to cultivate the second volume. He wanted to find out what was different about this volumepared to his previous cultivation.


    Su Chen first silently recited the mantra, considered its key points, and then closed his eyes to begin cultivation.


    As Su Chen followed the mantra and channeled the cultivation technique, he felt as if basking in the warm sun of a winter day, his whole body loosening up.


    When Su Chen opened his eyes again, he found that daylight hade, yet he had hardly felt the passage of time!


    Looking inward, Su Chen was amazed to discover he had unknowingly entered the First Layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, a realization that nearly drove him to ecstasy.


    He had finally set foot on the path of true cultivation again. Though it was just the First Layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, Su Chen believed that, with time, he would return to his former strength and even surpass it!


    He also knew that the further one progressed in cultivation, the more challenging it became, but he was already mentally prepared for it!


    Although he had now entered the First Layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, he was not yet able to use Yuan Qi for attacks, as his body could store only a small amount of Yuan Qi. He could only use it to nourish his body to withstand the pressure brought by advancing to higher realms.


    Su Chen walked happily to the bathroom and took a shower, as the sticky sweat on his body was rather ufortable.


    After the shower, Su Chen felt refreshed. Then he went into the kitchen and started preparing breakfast.


    As usual, the maid got up at six in the morning. When she heard noises from the kitchen, she hurried to take a look and saw Su Chen busy at work.


    The maid couldn''t help but be surprised. It seemed that this son-inw had really changed, getting up so early for two consecutive days to make breakfast.


    "Good morning, son-inw." The maid greeted him with a smile.


    "You''re up, Auntie. Just wait a moment; breakfast will be ready soon."


    Su Chen replied with a smile.


    "No rush, I still have to clean up. Let''s wait for the youngdy to get up and we can eat together."


    Shortly after, just when Su Chen had finished preparing breakfast, Lin Ruoxue also came downstairs.


    Lin Ruoxue had learned from the previous day and made sure she waspletely ready beforeing down.


    Su Chen quickly invited them both to sit down for breakfast. Lin Ruoxue sat at the table, looking at the sumptuous breakfast, and then ncing at Su Chen, she felt something was odd.


    What had gotten into this guy these past two days? There didn''t seem to be anything in particr happening, so why had he suddenly changed like a different person?


    Although Lin Ruoxue was still a bit unustomed to it, this kind of change didn''t seem that unpleasant. If he could keep this up and they could continue living like this, she might be able to ept it.


    "What are you staring at? Are you daydreaming about someone?"


    Su Chen noticed that Lin Ruoxue was staring at him with a strange look, which puzzled him.


    "You''re the one daydreaming about someone. Let''s just eat," Lin Ruoxue snapped back impatiently. Then, she took out a car key and tossed it to him, "Since you''ve started working, you can take the BMW in the garage to drive."


    "A BMW, eh? Not bad, great for impressing thedies."


    Su Chen picked up the car keys, looked them over, and whistled in admiration.

 Chapter 21 First Arrival at the Security Department

    Upon hearing these words, Lin Ruoxue''s face turned cold, she hadn''t expected that although the man had improved in other aspects, he had developed a lecherous problem.


    In fact, he didn''t know that this was actually Su Chen''s original personality: carefree and unrestrained. It was just because of that incident a year ago that he seemed to have be a different person.


    Nowadays, because he had made progress in his cultivation, his mood had recovered, and naturally, he had returned to his former self.


    However, when it came to being lecherous, Lin Ruoxue remembered the incident yesterday when he had stealthily stolen a kiss, something no man had ever dared to do to her before.


    Therefore, Lin Ruoxue''s expression became even colder, but she still took a deep breath and huffed,


    "We should exchange phone numbers."


    "Why?"


    Su Chen lifted his head, his face full of confusion, wondering why the Ice Beauty suddenly wanted his number. Could it be that she wanted to... with me?


    "Don''t overthink it, it''s just for convenience in case there''s something special to contact about in the future."


    Lin Ruoxue knew exactly where Su Chen''s thoughts were going just by looking at his expression.


    "Oh, alright."


    After exchanging numbers, the atmosphere between the two turned cold again, without any further conversation.


    Watching the two of them, Wang Ma actually felt thatpared to before, there was a subtle difference in their rtionship, even though they were not aware of it themselves.


    After breakfast, Lin Ruoxue left first, and half an hourter, Su Chen headed to the garage and drove out a BMW 5 Series.


    Su Chen parked the car in the parking lot beneath the Belle Group''s building and then made his way to the Security Department.


    The Driver''s Department was a small division under the Security Department, and normally they would wait on duty inside the Security Department, which is why Su Chen came here.


    The Belle Group was also a well-knownpany in Jianghai City, and even their Security Department was spacious, bright, and made for afortable working environment for its employees.


    "You must be the new guy from the Driver''s Department, right? Wee, wee!"


    A simple-looking middle-aged man greeted Su Chen with enthusiasm as he walked in.


    "Hello, my name is Su Chen, it''s my first day at work."


    Su Chen responded with a smile as well.


    "Hehe, good, I am Liu Yuan," introduced the middle-aged man, "Come on, let me introduce you to everyone."


    "This is Chen Yong, this is Fan Zhongbo, that robust one is Meng Shan, and that somewhat shy guy over there is Yu Ting..."


    The middle-aged man enthusiastically introduced everyone to Su Chen, who nodded and greeted each one in turn, and most of them smiled back and said hello.


    "Brothers, I''m new here and hope for your support. When we have time, let''s get together; my treat," said Su Chen generously.


    No sooner had his words fallen than the people in the Security Department cheered, immediately epting their new colleague.


    However, there was one exception, that being the Driver''s Department supervisor, Pang San. Su Chen''s warm wee by everyone was definitely not good news for him.


    Although he was just a driver supervisor, he took his modest leadership position very seriously.


    This position was obtained through his own sister''s rtionship, as she was the mistress of the head of the Security Department, Zhang Mingyu.


    "Quiet! What''s all this noise? Act like professionals, and get back to work!"


    At that moment, a stern shout came from the entrance, and a man with a sneaky appearance walked in.


    Seeing the man, everyone immediately quieted down, though their eyes were filled with contempt.


    "His name is Cao Kun, the deputy head of the Security Department. He''s not very capable, but because he''s theckey of the head of Security, Zhang Mingyu, he has secured this position."


    Liu Yuan quietly exined to Su Chen, who nodded in understanding.


    "Are you the new guy?"


    Cao Kun looked at Su Chen, who strutted confidently, and casually nodded in response.


    "Come on, follow me to the minister to report for duty."


    After saying this, Cao Kun turned around and walked out the door. Su Chen shrugged nonchntly and followed him out.


    When they reached the door of an office, Cao Kun cautiously advised,


    "When you meet the minister inside, make sure to be respectful. Whatever the minister says, you listen."


    Su Chen, however, didn''t pay him any attention and maintained an air of indifference, making Cao Kun mistakenly believe that Su Chen had fully taken in his advice.


    After opening the door, Su Chen walked in after Cao Kun, who immediately put on a different face, grinning obsequiously as he bowed and ttered,


    "The minister is indeed hardworking, starting the diligent work so early in the morning."


    With his naturally sly and rat-like appearance, his smile seemedical, like a clown performer.


    Zhang Mingyu, however, was quite pleased by such ttery and said with a touch of emotion,


    "There''s no helping it, as the head of the security department, I have to be diligent and responsible. Otherwise, how could I live up to thepany?"


    "Who is this?" Only then did Zhang Mingyu notice that there was a young stranger standing behind Cao Kun.


    "He''s the new driver we hired, Su Chen. I''ve brought him to report to the minister."


    "Oh, a new guy?"


    Zhang Mingyu walked out from behind the desk to scrutinize Su Chen, his gaze clearly evaluating.


    However, after a while, Zhang Mingyu didn''t notice anything special about Su Chen, so he sat back down behind his desk.


    "When you''re in our security department, you must abide by our rules, got it?" Zhang Mingyu spoke indifferently, "In our department, the most important thing is to follow orders. What I dislike the most are people who don''t stick to their roles."


    Su Chen found the obvious warning and threat in Zhang Mingyu''s words somewhat amusing but decided not to say anything, merely nodding to show he understood.


    "As a driver, you won''t have much to do on regr days. When there''s a need for the car, your team leader Pang San will inform you," Zhang Mingyu gave a brief instruction, "After this, you can go to the HR department to take care of the employment formalities."


    With that, he signaled for Su Chen to leave, while Cao Kun remained, apparently having some matters to discuss with Zhang Mingyu.


    ....


    In the president''s office of Belle Group, Lin Ruoxue stood in front of arge floor-to-ceiling window, deep in thought for a long time before turning to address Xia Qiuru, who was sitting on the sofa, with seriousness,


    "Director Xia, we must find this person at any cost!"


    "Okay, I will utilize all resources to locate this individual."


    "Hurry up with this task. Such talent is rare. If we''re not quick, otherpanies will surely poach them."


    Lin Ruoxue was extremely excited at the moment, for Belle Group was now breaking into international markets, and what they needed most was a talent proficient in variousnguages!


    And that unnamed person was an expert in nearly two hundrednguages, calling them a genius would be an understatement, they were practically a monster!


    Xia Qiuru also felt the weight of Lin Ruoxue''s emphasis on this individual and immediately sensed an immense pressure.


    Actually, her heart was also anxious; after all, she knew absolutely nothing about this person, except for the cheeky impression they had left when they departed.


    "Let''s start searching, if all else fails, I''ll have to ask my cousin for help. After all, the police will have a much easier time locating a person than we would."


    Sitting in her office chair, Xia Qiuru thought helplessly.


    Just then, a series of "knock knock" sounds on the door broke her train of thought.


    "Come in!"


    As soon as she spoke, the office door opened, and a man walked in.


    Upon seeing the man who entered, Xia Qiuru instantly leaped up from her seat...

 Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Su Chen with Problematic Thoughts

    "Why are you here!?"


    Xia Qiuru hadn''t expected that the person she had just been longing to find would suddenly appear in front of her, it felt like a dream.


    Xia Qiuru''s response startled Su Chen; he wondered why she was so excited to see him. Could she still be angry about yesterday''s incident?


    As Su Chen looked at Xia Qiuru, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Indeed, women hold grudges!


    "First of all, I apologize for yesterday''s joke. You can''t mix personal feelings with business!"


    Not mentioning it would have been better. The moment he brought it up, Xia Qiuru thought about how he had unabashedly stared at her and even flirted with her before leaving yesterday.


    But there was a more pressing matter at hand, so Xia Qiuru had to suppress her anger and looked at Su Chen, asking:


    "Answer my question first. Why are you here?"


    "Didn''t I say yesterday? I came for a driver''s interview, and today I started work, now I''m here toplete the hiring process."


    Su Chen was also puzzled seeing her serious demeanor.


    "You were really here for a driver''s interview yesterday?"


    Xia Qiuru felt her brain couldn''t keep up; this man, proficient in nearly two hundred countries'' affairs, was really interviewing for a low-level driver''s position!


    A talent like him could easily walk into any corporation and effortlessly attain a high-ranking position!


    "Of course, and look, today I officially started working."


    Su Chen said naturally, as Xia Qiuru looked into his calm eyes and matter-of-fact demeanor, her head felt even more dizzy.


    Suddenly, an idea shed through her mind, and she hurriedly came over, grabbed Su Chen''s hand with an excited expression, and said:


    "Hurry and follow me!"


    Su Chen was also confused; this woman had just been startling and now she suddenly wanted to drag him away.


    Could she have taken a liking to me?


    Should I just give in? Or should I really give in? That''s the question!


    "Hey, why the rush? It''s still early!"


    Su Chen still considered himself a person of virtue; doing that kind of thing in broad daylight was still quite embarrassing, although it wasn''t really an issue during the day, the key point was that this was only their second meeting.


    "What do you mean, ''early''? I can''t wait any longer." Xia Qiuru quickened her pace, pulling Su Chen along as she walked eagerly forward, smiling triumphantly. "I was just thinking about you, and here you show up at my doorstep."


    Xia Qiuru''s wordspletely scrambled Su Chen''s brain. Could someone tell me what she just said?


    Can''t wait any longer? She was just thinking about me? Show up at my doorstep?


    Su Chen suddenly felt like he was facing a fierce torrential beast, ready to devour him at any moment!


    Are the women in Huaxia so open and desperate now?


    Or is it that my charm is so great that shepletely lost her restraint?


    "I mean, miss, everyone says women in their thirties are like wolves and in their forties like tigers, but you''re only in your twenties, how can you be so thirsty?"


    Su Chen asked, genuinely puzzled, with an innocent expression on his face. A man really shouldn''t be too handsome!


    "What did you say?"


    While fiercely pulling Su Chen''s hand along, Xia Qiuru suddenly paused, stopped in her tracks, turned, and looked at Su Chen with rage:


    "What sort of person do you take me for? What are you bbering about!"


    "It''s broad daylight. Why are you in such a rush? Listen, beauty, this is only our second meeting. Even if you like me, isn''t this a bit too soon?"


    Su Chen thought to himself, ''You''ve already taken action, can''t I say a few words about it? This is so unreasonable!''


    "Do you think too highly of yourself? Why would I fall for you?"


    Xia Qiuru was so angry she felt like her lungs would explode. This jerk actually thought she wanted to do *that* with him!


    And he''s saying I''m in a rush? Desperate?


    Xia Qiuru swore she had never met someone so shameless. She was the distinguished HR Director of Belle Corporation. How could she fall for such a scoundrel?


    "If you hadn''t been pulling on me, saying you couldn''t wait, and even thinking about me just now?"


    Su Chen said grumpily, ''Is this woman switching gears too quickly or what? Was it just because I called her desperate?''


    It was only then that Xia Qiuru realized that her actions and words could indeed have been misleading, and it seemed she really couldn''t me him.


    No, wait, it must be because his mind is filthy that he thought that way.


    Yes, that''s right. It''s not my words that are the problem, it''s his dirty mind!


    "Our CEO wants to see you. Hurry up ande with me!" Xia Qiuru released Su Chen''s hand and spoke coldly.


    Su Chen couldn''t help but wonder. Why are all the women around him like this? His woman at home is like this, and so is this director here! Always so cold!


    But then again, why would the CEO know about me and want to meet me?


    Su Chen couldn''t figure it out but still followed Xia Qiuru to the CEO''s office.


    After the secretary announced them, Xia Qiuru led Su Chen inside.


    "Director Xia, why did you leave and thene back again?"


    Busy Lin Ruoxue looked up and curiously asked Xia Qiuru.


    But when she saw Su Chen behind Xia Qiuru, her eyes widened in shock!


    Su Chen was simrly incredulous as he looked at Lin Ruoxue. He never expected the CEO of Belle Corporation to be Lin Ruoxue!


    "What''s with those expressions? Do you know each other?"


    Seeing both of them looking as if they''d seen a ghost, their eyes nearly popping out, Xia Qiuru was a bit puzzled.


    "Ah, oh, no, no," Lin Ruoxue quickly hid her surprise, then pretended nothing was amiss and asked, "Did youe back because something happened, Director Xia?"


    Lin Ruoxue was overwhelmed to suddenly see Su Chen, her husband in name, in her office and even forgot to ask Xia Qiuru why she had brought him here.


    "Oh, President Lin, I''ve already found the person."


    Xia Qiuru said excitedly, ncing at Su Chen, unable toprehend how this guy could know so manynguages.


    "Really? That was quick. Who is it? Please invite them over!"


    Lin Ruoxue also stood up excitedly, clutching her pen tightly.


    "Hmm? It''s him!" Xia Qiuru pointed at Su Chen, "It''s quite a coincidence, he actually came to interview for a driver position at ourpany yesterday. He just came to my office toplete the hiring process, so I brought him straight to you."


    "Him!?" Lin Ruoxue looked at Su Chen, her face filled with disbelief. "Are you sure you''re not mistaken?"


    "Of course I''m sure! I remember clearly."


    Xia Qiuru red at Su Chen, teeth clenched, unable to forget this scoundrel who flirted with her even while submitting his papers!


    Lin Ruoxue simply couldn''t believe that the person she had been desperately searching for turned out to be Su Chen. If she didn''t know Xia Qiuru''s integrity, she wouldn''t believe it to death.

 Chapter 23 The First Intimate Encounter

    "Alright, Director Xia, please go ahead with your work; I''d like to have a private word with this gentleman,"


    Lin Ruoxue wanted to send Xia Qiuru away first; she wasn''t ready for the people in the corporation to know about her rtionship with Su Chen.


    "Okay, then I''ll step out,"


    After leaving Lin Ruoxue''s office, Xia Qiuru couldn''t help but frown. By all rights, this conversation should have fallen within her scope of work as the HR Director, and if anyone should not be excluded, it was certainly not her.


    Furthermore, considering the abnormality of the two''s interaction upon meeting, Xia Qiuru felt even more strongly that their rtionship was out of the ordinary.


    Impossible. Lin Ruoxue was recognized as the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan and also sat at the helm of the multi-billion-dor Belle Corporation. How could she possibly have any involvement with a man who looked like a bum?


    Xia Qiuru quickly dismissed this unreliable thought from her mind. However, the fact that this guy could speak so manynguages made her wonder if he really was an ordinary person after all.


    Confused by her own thoughts, Xia Qiuru simply shook her head and decided not to think about it anymore.


    In Lin Ruoxue''s office, she had been staring nkly at Su Chen for two minutes. Just as he was starting to feel anxious, she spoke:


    "Who exactly are you?"


    Su Chen was taken aback; he had not expected Lin Ruoxue to suddenly ask him such a question.


    Indeed, who was he?


    Even Su Chen couldn''t answer that question, so he intentionallyughed and said,


    "Who else could I be? Your husband in name."


    "How do you exin this?"


    Lin Ruoxue pulled out a test paper from her drawer and spread it out on the desk.


    Seeing that test paper, Su Chen instantly understood everything; it was all because of this test paper.


    Lin Ruoxue''s beautiful eyes fixed sternly on Su Chen, not missing a single detail.


    She found that her husband seemed to be more and more mysterious, harder and harder to read.


    Just yesterday, he casually produced what could very likely be a blue diamond worth tens of millions of US dors; and today, she discovered he was proficient in thenguages of nearly two hundred countries and regions.


    Neither of these things would normally happen to an ordinary person. If the blue diamond from yesterday could still possibly be a fake, then what about today''s revtion?


    This was something tangible, and there could be no faking it.


    This puzzled her. Who exactly was this husband of hers who seemed so aimless all this while?


    If he was not an ordinary person, then why had he been in that state for the past half year? What on earth had happened to him?


    Su Chen also knew that Lin Ruoxue must have had doubts about his identity. It wasn''t that he deliberately wanted to hide it; it''s just that his identity was far too special, and he was afraid it might scare her or bring her some trouble.


    "Oh, it''s nothing much, really. I just worked on a construction site abroad for a few years. There were people from all over the world there, and it just so happened that I have some natural talent fornguages. Spending everyday together, I just picked them up,"


    After some thought, Su Chen still decided not to reveal the truth to Lin Ruoxue for the time being.


    "Really?"


    Lin Ruoxue looked at Su Chen skeptically, trying to gauge whether he was lying. However, after observing for a while, she still couldn''t determine if it was true or not.


    "Of course it''s true. What else did you think?"


    Su Chen deliberately acted nonchnt and casual, then poured himself a ss of water and sat down on the sofa.


    Lin Ruoxue certainly didn''t believe Su Chen''s exnation. How could someone be proficient in so manynguages just by working on a construction site? However, she also realized that Su Chen didn''t want to tell her.


    "Since you''re proficient in multiplenguages, you can go to the PR department and be the deputy director."


    "No way, I''m not interested. I quite like being a driver."


    Su Chen hurriedly spoke as if being a driver was the best job in the world.


    "Why?"


    Lin Ruoxue really couldn''t understand why he would rather be a driver than take the enviable position of deputy director. It was truly odd!


    "Freedom! Unlike deputy directors who are busy like dogs every day. Only a crazy person would do that!"


    Seeing his carefree demeanor, Lin Ruoxue felt he was hopeless, a lost cause. And to think she had believed he hadpletely changed his ways.


    "Suit yourself. Go andplete the onboarding process now," Lin Ruoxue said with an icy tone. "Also, after you''re done, collect two sets of staff uniforms. This isn''t home; you need to watch your image."


    But Su Chen was already used to Lin Ruoxue''s demeanor and didn''t take it to heart. Instead, he started to roam around Lin Ruoxue''s office.


    "Your office is really nice. I''lle here for my naps from now on."


    As Su Chen observed, his eyes glimmered with admiration, and he nodded non-stop in praise.


    "Impossible. Besides, doesn''t the security department have its own rest room?"


    Lin Ruoxue outright rejected the suggestion. How could she possibly agree to Su Chen''s unreasonable request? It would not only be awkward for her but also a hassle if someone else stumbled upon them.


    "But the air conditioning in the security rest room isn''t as good as yours, and the sofa isn''t as soft as yours. Your sofa is much morefortable."


    With that, Su Chen actuallyid down on the sofa, closed his eyes, and began to rest. He had been cultivating thest two nights, and now, lying on this soft sofa, he truly felt sleepy.


    "Get out right now! This isn''t a ce for you to sleep," Lin Ruoxue urged, but Su Chen turned a deaf ear and even turned over to make himself morefortable.


    Lin Ruoxue wasn''t expecting him to be so shameless. She hurriedly ran over to pull on Su Chen''s arm, trying to get him up.


    However, how could Lin Ruoxue''s delicate body possibly move a big man like Su Chen?


    Lin Ruoxue saw that he was still as immovable as a dead pig, which made her even more anxious. Her face turned red with urgency; this was her office, and being seen like this would be terrible.


    Lin Ruoxue gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and using both hands, pulled on Su Chen''s arm with all her might as if summoning her infant strength.


    "President, Young Master Liu..."


    Just then, with a "creak," the door to Lin Ruoxue''s office was pushed open.


    Lin Ruoxue, startled by the sound of the door, lost her bnce and tumbled right onto Su Chen.


    Su Chen hadn''t expected Lin Ruoxue to suddenly fall on top of him. His eyes shot open, and the two stared at each other, both utterly stunned in that instant.


    Su Chen suddenly felt a soft sensation against his chest and a faint fragrance wafting into his nostrils, which caused his heart to flutter uncontrobly.


    Somewhat inexplicably, or as if possessed, Su Chen instinctively wrapped his arms around Lin Ruoxue''s soft and slender waist.


    "President, I''m sorry, I didn''t see anything!"


    The young secretary who had pushed open the door, a girl in her early twenties, had not expected to walk in on the president in such a situation. She was startled and quickly retreated out of the room, closing the door behind her.

 Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Liu Qing Visits

    Hearing the secretary''s voice, Lin Ruoxue suddenly snapped awake and immediately felt a pair of hands ying tricks around her waist. She quickly pushed Su Chen away and stood up in a hurry.


    A deep blush flushed across her face immediately. Lin Ruoxue could feel her face burning hot, as if it would drip water, blooming like a flower!


    Su Chen, looking at Lin Ruoxue''s expression, couldn''t help but find it adorable. What was the big deal that made her blush like that?


    Little did he know, this was the first time Lin Ruoxue had been so close to a man. The impact on her inner world could hardly be the same as his thick-skinned self.


    Lin Ruoxue red at Su Chen in feigned anger, then pressed down on her chest, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.


    Feeling somewhat better, Lin Ruoxue then instructed her junior secretary toe in.


    "Secretary Chen, what''s the matter?"


    Lin Ruoxue asked as if nothing had happened, pretending everything was normal.


    "¡­"


    This secretary, Chen Guo, was a university graduate of just two years, with a delicate appearance that gave off afortable vibe.


    It was also because of this, and the fact that she graduated from a prestigious university, that Lin Ruoxue chose her from many applicants to be her secretary.


    At that moment, the junior secretary nced at Lin Ruoxue, then at Su Chen sitting on the sofa, seeming hesitant to speak.


    "Just say what you have to say. There''s no need to hem and haw."


    Lin Ruoxue knew Chen Guo was wary because Su Chen was present, but since he was ostensibly her husband, asking him to leave now would definitely embarrass him.


    Chen Guo didn''t know his identity, so a bit of reticence was normal, but after all, she was his legal wife, so it wouldn''t do to act too dismissively.


    Chen Guo was slightly taken aback upon hearing Lin Ruoxue''s words, then understood; seeing how they were just now, their rtionship was clear.


    Maybe soon the two of them would be a family. She derided herself for being so dense!


    Su Chen was somewhat surprised by Lin Ruoxue''s words; indeed, this woman wasn''t as cold as she appeared on the outside.


    "Master Liu is downstairs. He said he hase to see you. Do you want to meet him now?"


    As she spoke, Chen Guo stole a nce at Lin Ruoxue and Su Chen, looking a bit awkward.


    She knew that this Master Liu had been pursuing her boss. Not only was he suave and extraordinarily handsome, but he was also the heir to the Liu Family.


    The Liu Family was one of the Four Great Families in Jiangnan. In Jiangnan, the Four Great Families were almost celestial beings, entrenched in all industries with extensive connections and resources.


    Chen Guo had always assumed that Lin Ruoxue would eventually marry Liu Qing, as the two seemed perfectly matched, just like a real-life prince and princess.


    However, today''s events had stunned her. Lin Ruoxue had gotten involved with a man who looked like a construction worker on the sofa, and it happened right in her office.


    Chen Guo couldn''t fathom why Lin Ruoxue would forsake the grand heir of the Liu Family and be with a man she herself couldn''t even admire.


    If Liu Qing knew about this, this young man might face catastrophic consequences!


    Lin Ruoxue heard that it was Liu Qinging and immediately looked panicked, like a thief caught red-handed.


    Su Chen quickly noticed the odd expressions on the two women and immediately realized¡ªthis so-called Master Liu must be a suitor of Lin Ruoxue''s.


    Su Chen wasn''t surprised by this at all, as his wife was known as Jiangnan''s most beautiful woman, and having suitors was quite normal.


    "Go invite Master Liu in."


    Lin Ruoxue said. If she didn''t see him now, wouldn''t it seem even more like she had something to hide?


    A momentter, a tall and handsome man walked in, dressed in a vintage Italian tailored blue suit, his face adorned with a standard smile.


    However, when he saw Su Chen sitting on the sofa, his eyes involuntarily narrowed, but he quickly returned to normal.


    His reaction did not escape Su Chen''s eyes, and he immediately judged him to be a hypocritical and malicious person.


    "Who is this?"


    Liu Qing asked naturally, without seeming abrupt or rash.


    Lin Ruoxue did not want strangers to know about their rtionship, but she was worried that rifying their rtionship might make Su Chen overthink.


    While she was in a dilemma, Su Chen casually stood up.


    "Hello, I am the new driver hired by Belle Corporation, Su Chen. It''s a pleasure to meet you," Su Chen extended his hand enthusiastically.


    Liu Qing genuinely did not want to shake hands with someone who seemed like a mereborer; disgust flickered in his eyes, but for the sake of maintaining his image in front of Lin Ruoxue, he still extended his hand.


    The moment their hands touched, Liu Qing swiftly withdrew his, a trace of confusion shing through his mind.


    Why would Lin Ruoxue personally meet a driver who had just been hired, especially since the guy seemed so casual andcked the usual restraint employees show when meeting their boss?


    However, Liu Qing did not take Su Chen very seriously; after all, the gap between them was enormous. He believed he could simply flick his finger to dispose of this loser.


    But Su Chen''s thoughts were simrly dismissive.


    "Ruoxue, I managed to get two front-row tickets to Sara''s concert and would like to invite you to join me," he said.


    Liu Qing looked at Lin Ruoxue with affection. To him, only Lin Ruoxue, the top beauty of Jiangnan, was worthy of being the heir of the Liu Family.


    He knew Sara had always been Lin Ruoxue''s favorite violinist and that Sara, the sensational violinist, had taken the world by storm. Her concerts were genuinely a tough ticket to secure!


    Moreover, Sara''s transcendent beauty, which crossed geographical and national boundaries, drove countless people wild!


    It could be said that the most stressful and headache-inducing aspect of a Sara concert was the security, because the fans were so frenzied that idents like stampedes were always a risk.


    Sara is in Huaxia? Su Chen was slightly startled, but neither Lin Ruoxue nor Liu Qing noticed his brief moment of surprise.


    Lin Ruoxue felt exceedingly awkward hearing Liu Qing''s invite, especially since it was made in front of her husband, addressing her endearingly as "Ruoxue."


    Although she and Su Chen were not emotionally close, he was still her husband byw, and this situation was bound to make him ufortable.


    Lin Ruoxue felt inexplicably nervous, not because she had any feelings for Liu Qing ¡ª in fact, she felt nothing for him ¡ª but being in front of Su Chen made her instinctively tense, and even she could not exin why.


    "No, I have some work to attend to this evening, but thank you for the invitation, Young Master Liu."


    Although she longed to attend Sara''s concert, Lin Ruoxue tactfully declined to avoid giving Liu Qing any wrong ideas and to prevent any misunderstanding by Su Chen.


    Upon hearing this, Liu Qing immediately became anxious, as opportunities for close contact with Lin Ruoxue were incredibly rare.


    "Ruoxue, work can be done anytime, and you shouldn''t focus only on work," Liu Qing earnestly said, "An opportunity like Sara''s concert in Huaxia doesn''te often, it might be years before shees again."


    Lin Ruoxue was somewhat conflicted. She had always wanted to attend a live Sara concert, but had never been able to make the time. With the rarity of Sara visiting Huaxia, and being in Jianghai at that, it truly was a rare opportunity.


    "Ms. Lin, Young Master Liu is right. You work so hard; it''s fitting that you take some time to rx."


    Su Chen also noticed Lin Ruoxue''s desire to go but realized that it was because of him that she declined.


    His heart warmed at the thought, and he also missed Sara, the little girl who had always clung to him back in the day. Truth be told, he quite missed that young girl.

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25 The Swindler and The Fool

    "Ms. Lin, I''ve always liked Sara and would love to join in on the fun,"


    Su Chen said to Lin Ruoxue with a teasing smile, winking secretly at her.


    Lin Ruoxue''s recently calmed face once again flushed slightly; this guy, always acting up, even in front of others.


    Yet Lin Ruoxue found Su Chen''s words a bit odd; didn''t this guy know that Liu Qing harbored ill intentions towards his wife?


    Was this jerk trying to get rid of himself quickly so he could go enjoy himself?


    However, if that were the case, he shouldn''t have suggested going along; what exactly was he up to?


    Lin Ruoxue couldn''t quite figure out Su Chen''s thoughts, but she did understand the meaning behind his wink just now.


    "All right, you cane with us," Lin Ruoxue nodded slightly.


    "It wouldn''t be proper to bring him, and moreover, I only have two tickets, and the tickets for Sara''s concert sold out a long time ago."


    Once Liu Qing heard Lin Ruoxue was nning to bring this construction-worker-like driver, he instantly became wary.


    Under normal circumstances, a driver would never make such a request, yet he did.


    What was even stranger was that Lin Ruoxue just agreed, causing Liu Qing to immediately realize there was something unusual about the rtionship between the two.


    He couldn''t understand why Lin Ruoxue would hold such a guy in a different regard, which made him somewhat annoyed and jealous.


    But what shocked him even more was that Lin Ruoxue went on to say directly, "Then I won''t go either."


    Su Chen looked at Lin Ruoxue, suddenly feeling the urge to hold her and give her a good kiss; his wife was usually quite indifferent towards him, yet she defended him so staunchly at this crucial moment.


    "Don''t worry, I have a friend at the ticket center; I can get the tickets," Su Chen said with a light smile.


    "That''s great; then I''lle pick up both of you this evening."


    Liu Qing forced himself to appear very happy, though if it weren''t for Lin Ruoxue''s resolute attitude, he wouldn''t want to deal with such an annoying guy like Su Chen.


    "No need, we''ll just meet at the theater entrance tonight,"


    Lin Ruoxue stood up and said, a clear indication she was seeing him out. Liu Qing naturally didn''t want to be kicked out, iming he had other matters and left.


    "What did you mean just now?"


    Once again, only Lin Ruoxue and Su Chen were left in the office; Lin Ruoxue''s face was once more covered in frost.


    "I only said that because you seemed to want to go, okay? Why are you treating me like a dog biting Lv Dongbin?"


    Su Chen pouted, speaking nonchntly.


    "Can''t you see, can''t you see¡­"


    "Can''t see what?"


    Suddenly, Su Chen walked over to the opposite side of Lin Ruoxue''s desk, leaning forward with his hands braced on the desk, a mischievous smile on his lips.


    Lin Ruoxue immediately smelled the faint masculine scent emanating from Su Chen, and seeing his rascally grin so close to her own, her heart trembled, and her cheeks grew hotter.


    Lin Ruoxue intended to say, don''t you realize that Liu Qing harbors ulterior motives for your wife? But she felt too embarrassed to voice it out.


    "Are you saying he harbors inappropriate thoughts towards you?"


    "If you saw through it, why did you still let me go?"


    "I let you go because you wanted to, and as for that Liu Qing, if he behaves himself, fine, otherwise..."


    A fierce glint shed in Su Chen''s eyes, and then he switched his expression, saying with a smile,


    "Wife, you''re defending me so much today, you couldn''t have really fallen for me, could you?"


    "You''re overthinking it..."


    Lin Ruoxue felt a bit flustered. She still wasn''t ustomed to Su Chen suddenly speaking to her in such a manner, leaving her somewhat at a loss.


    Lin Ruoxue''s defense of Su Chen today wasn''t due to strong feelings for him; it was simply because she was traditionally minded, following the adage of ''where you go, I go'' regardless of the circumstances.


    "Also, don''t do anything rash. Liu Qing is the heir of the Liu Family, not someone you can provoke, and even our Lin Family doesn''t dare to mess with them."


    "Psh, it doesn''t matter who he is; if he dares toy a finger on my wife, he''s asking for death," Su Chen shrugged, unperturbed.


    "Stop calling me ''wife''. It sounds terrible," Lin Ruoxue frowned, still ufortable with the term.


    Despite this, Su Chen''s words had made her feel something unusual, a feeling she had never experienced before.


    "The Liu Family is one of the Four Great Families. The Four Great Families are not as simple as you think. Even if something happens, you mustn''t act impulsively!"


    Lin Ruoxue was worried Su Chen wouldn''t understand the gravity of the situation and might cause a disaster, so she warned him solemnly.


    After leaving Lin Ruoxue''s office, Su Chen found an old phone number and dialed it...


    ....


    Hu¨¢ng Hotel was situated in the bustling heart of Jianghai City; it was the only six-star hotel in the city, and its clientele was exclusively the wealthy and distinguished.


    At this moment, in a presidential suite of Hu¨¢ng Hotel, a woman in a long white dress was silently gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, her expression filled with longing.


    "I''vee,e to your kingdom, but where are you?"


    "Sara, are you thinking about that man again? I''ve told you countless times; he might just be a fraud. After all these years, he has never looked for you."


    The middle-aged woman beside her was also at a loss; she couldn''t understand what kind of man could make this princess so obsessed.


    "Maybe, even if he''s a fraud, I''m willing to be the fool who got tricked," a yful smile appeared on the woman''s peerless face, which then turned mncholic, "but he didn''t even give me the chance to be fooled. Perhaps, in his heart, he genuinely sees me only as a sister."


    "Sara, Prince Ka is deeply in love with you, following you around the world on tour. Why can''t you give him a chance? Maybe if you start a new rtionship, you could forget him."


    "Julia, you don''t understand, once you''ve met certain people, it''s impossible to make room for anyone else in your heart."


    The woman shook her head; she couldn''t let go, nor did she want to.


    "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Prince Ka has arranged a celebration banquet for you, after tonight''s concert."


    Julia said as she gently tapped her forehead, but she knew it was to no avail; Sara wasn''t likely to attend.


    As expected, the woman shook her head, saying, "Forget it, it will be toote after the concert. I''d better not go."


    Just then, the sound of a cellphone ringing broke the silence, emanating from the bedroom inside. The ring tone was unusual; Julia, who had been with her for two years, had never heard it before.


    Julia couldn''t help but feel puzzled; this wasn''t the ringtone of Sara''s usual phone. Could it be that she had another phone Julia knew nothing about?


    While Julia was grappling with her doubts, Sara, lifting the hem of her white dress, dashed past her like a gust of wind and rushed into the bedroom...

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Little Girl

    Julia was taken aback, what call could make her so anxious, she had never seen Sara lose herposure like this before, she quickly followed her into the bedroom.


    Sara seemed a little flustered as she took out a cell phone from a secretpartment in her purse, the ringing sound had juste from that phone.


    Julia could see the excitement on Sara''s face, the wless beauty tinted with a deep blush, her breath quick, even her hands holding the phone were trembling slightly!


    A bad feeling immediately surged in Julia''s heart, could the call be from "him"? If it really was, how would she exin it to Prince Ka?


    Sara pressed her hand against her undting chest, trying to calm her emotions, and then she answered the call.


    "Little girl, are you alright?"


    As soon as the call connected, a familiar male voice came through.


    "Master, I''m not a little girl anymore, okay?"


    Sara couldn''t help the tears that started flowing uncontrobly as she heard the voice, she had waited too long for this moment.


    "Master, I''ve missed you so much!"


    "Little girl, I''ve missed you too."


    "You miss me but don''te to see me, liar."


    Upon hearing Sara''s coquettish voice, Su Chen couldn''t help but give a bitter smile. How could he not want to see this little girl? But back then, he was the Hall Master of Nether Temple, with countless enemies.


    If people knew he was associated with Sara, it would definitely bring her trouble, or even danger, but it was not something he could easily exin.


    "Alright, I''lle to see your concert tonight, to see if the little girl has be a grown woman."


    "Really? That''s great! Where are you now, I''ll send someone to pick you up, Master."


    The moment Sara heard that Su Chen would being to her concert, she was so excited she leapt up, no trace of her usual reserve remained.


    "No need, I''m in Jianghai. I''lle by myself, just get me two tickets."


    "What?! You''re in Jianghai? Then I''m going to find you right now."


    Sara could never have dreamed that the person she had longed to see in her dreams was actually in the same city as her, what a coincidence.


    "This must be what''s called fate," Sara thought sweetly.


    "No need, no need, you just focus on preparing for the performance. Have someone send the tickets to me."


    "But I''ve missed you so much!"


    Sara''s voice was so sweet it was cloying, irresistible.


    "Tomorrow, tomorrow I will take you out."


    Su Chen really did miss this little girl, so he said.


    "Then it''s a promise, no backing out!" Sara quickly said.


    "Okay, I promise you, really scared of you, little girl."


    "Alright, I''ll have someone send the tickets over in a bit, just give me an address."


    ....


    After hanging up the phone, Sara seemed like apletely different person, she was radiating happiness and joy, impossible to hide!


    "Sara, who was that on the phone just now? You seem so happy."


    Julia asked casually, "Howe I didn''t know you had a master?"


    Julia was somewhat puzzled and confused, where did this mastere from, could it not be the person she''s been yearning for in her heart?


    But looking at her demure, womanly manner, there probably wasn''t anyone else involved.


    "Julia, you will go to Belle Group a littleter to deliver two tickets to someone,"


    Sara did not answer Julia''s question, but instead instructed her seriously.


    "Okay," Julia decided she would still meet that person first before making any judgements.


    .....


    After making the call, Su Chen went again to Xia Qiuru toplete the hiring procedures, and then he went to the logistics department to pick up two sets of driver uniforms before returning to the security department to sit down and drink some tea.


    Before long, a phone call came in, saying someone was delivering tickets for Sara, and Su Chen immediately ran downstairs.


    At the foot of the Belle Building, Su Chen spotted a blonde, blue-eyed middle-aged woman who looked shrewd and capable.


    "Miss Julia?"


    Su Chen didn''t speak English, fortunately, Julia was fluent in five or sixnguages, including Chinese.


    Julia had thought that the man capable of leaving such an indelible impression on Sara would definitely stand out from the crowd, the center of attention wherever he went, an extraordinary individual.


    But she had never imagined it would be a man like this¡ªquite good-looking, but certainly not stunning. And judging by the clothes he wore, they were clearly the uniform of a security guard or driver.


    "You are Su Chen?"


    Julia''s expression instantly cooled. This kind of man was not even worthy to lift Sara''s skirt, let alone anything else.


    She guessed that Sara must have met this man by chance when she was a little girl and was deceived by his sweet words, hence her lingering thoughts. After all, a girl''s heart is the easiest to immerse in the dreams woven by a man.


    Su Chen couldn''t care less about Julia''s attitude and simply nodded slightly.


    "These are two tickets Sara asked me to deliver to you," Julia handed the tickets to Su Chen, "I must warn you, Sara is not someone you can aspire to. I don''t care how you came to know Sara initially, but I hope you will stay away from her in the future."


    "Are you Sara''s agent?" Su Chen scrutinized Julia before asking.


    "Yes, any problems?" Su Chen''s gaze made her ufortable, as if he saw right through her.


    "I also have a piece of advice for you. If you truly have Sara''s best interests at heart, I won''t mind your disrespectful words. But if you have any sinister intentions concerning her, there won''t be a person or a ce in this world that can ensure your safety!" Su Chen stated indifferently, his casual tone belied by his evident determination.


    "Who do you think you are? You''re not afraid of straining your tongue with your bluster. No wonder Sara was fooled by a scum like you."


    As far as she was concerned, Su Chen''s words were a joke. Not even the President of America dared speak in such a way, let alone him¡ªa security guard or a driver, what gave him the right?


    "That''s all I have to say. Be careful!"


    Julia lost any interest in conversing with such a man. To think she had been nervous about meeting him, only to find he was nothing but an insignificant ant.


    The moment Julia sat in the car, she reported today''s situation to Prince Ka. A year ago, Julia had already submitted to Ka''s wealth.


    And in ordance with the promise made back then, should Ka seed in getting Sara, she would receive a substantial sum of money¡ªa sumrge enough to let her livefortably for several lifetimes. This was why she had been working tirelessly to bring the two together.


    Ka, also staying at the Brilliant Hotel, was wearing a ssic ck tailcoat, his usually handsome face twisted with frustration.


    "Bang!"


    Ka threw his wine ss against the wall in an act of venting, shattering it to pieces, apanied by his roar:


    "Sara is mine, whoever dares to take my rose will pay with their life!"


    His face was covered with a sinister look, and a fire of rage burned in his heart.


    "Tonight, I want to see what kind of person you are!"

 Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Lin Hao Gets Beaten

    Just as he entered the doors of Belle Building, Su Chen saw a woman rushing over in a frenzy, nearly colliding with him.


    Upon a closer look, it turned out to be Lin Ruoxue, her face filled with a panicked and anxious expression, her hair even a bit disheveled.


    "What happened? You seem in such a hurry."


    Su Chen quickly asked, wondering what could rattle the usuallyposed Lin Ruoxue.


    "Lin Hao has been beaten up, and he''s in the hospital now."


    Seeing no one else around, Lin Ruoxue filled Su Chen in on the situation.


    "I''ll go with you."


    Lin Ruoxue nced at Su Chen, seemingly stunned by his words.


    "Even though he doesn''t like me much, after all, he''s my brother-inw, and it''s only right for me to visit," Su Chen said with a smile as he touched his nose.


    "Alright then, let''s go together."


    Lin Ruoxue didn''t hesitate; all she was worried about right now was her brother.


    Luckily, it wasn''t rush hour, and soon they drove to the hospital, found Lin Hao''s room, and Lin Ruoxue ran straight to it.


    Bursting into the room, Lin Ruoxue saw Lin Hao with bandages on his arm, his body covered in bruises, looking rather pitiful.


    "Little Hao, where else are you hurt? Why did you get into a fight? You really won''t give anyone peace of mind."


    Seeing her little brother in such a state, Lin Ruoxue''s tears threatened to fall.


    "Sis, I''m fine. Why are you being just like mom? I wouldn''t have told you if I''d known," Lin Hao said with a hint of a headache, frustrated by the trouble caused by women.


    "To look like this and still say it''s nothing, how worried mom and dad would be."


    Although Lin Ruoxue often came across as cold, in the face of her own family, the softer side of a woman revealed itself.


    "I called you here because of this. I definitely can''t go home looking like this; help me tell mom and dad that I need to go away for a few days."


    Lin Hao was speaking when he suddenly caught sight of Su Chen behind him, his expression immediately shifting:


    "What are you doing here?"


    "Little Hao, he''s your brother-inw, mind your manners," Lin Ruoxue said.


    "Sister, I already know everything there is to know about your marriage, and grandpa must be senile to have pushed you into this," Lin Hao said with resentment and pity, "Sister, think about it, how many young masters want to pursue you, and Young Master Liu is wholly smitten with you. Which one of them isn''t a hundred times better than this guy?"


    During the birthday banquet for Lin''s mother, it had been embarrassing when a fake diamond was presented, and for that, he had been the joke among peers in the family a few times, saying she married a fine husband.


    Seeing Su Chen now, Lin Hao''s anger surged uncontrobly.


    Listening to her brother''s words, Lin Ruoxue once again felt embarrassed; however, she couldn''t refute his valid point.


    Yet, at that moment, under the threat to her grandfather''s life, what could she have done?


    Although in the past few days, Lin Ruoxue also felt Su Chen might not be as simple as he appeared, it was still just her intuition without any evidence.


    "Whether you ept it or not, I am now your brother-inw. What can you do to me? Being able to say a few harsh words, what skill is that?"


    Su Chen gave a disdainful sneer, looking at Lin Hao contemptuously.


    Already a man of impulsive passion, Lin Hao could hardly bear such provocation; his eyes reddened.


    But with an injured arm and some flesh wounds to his legs, he couldn''t move and hence had no way to deal with Su Chen.


    "Just wait until I recover, then I''ll see how I''ll sort you out, and avenge my sister!"


    Lin Hao red at Su Chen as though looking at an enemy; in his heart, Lin Ruoxue was the epitome of perfection, and no man deserved her, much less a piece of trash like Su Chen!


    ```


    "What nonsense are you spouting? He''s your brother-inw, why would youy a hand on him? If you dare mess around, see how I''ll deal with you."


    Su Chen was still her husband in name, and Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help but find it ridiculous and a bit of a headache that her brother would fight with him.


    "Anyone can talk tough, look at you, beaten up like a dead dog."


    Su Chen looked at Lin Hao with disdain and took pleasure in his misfortune on purpose.


    Lin Ruoxue red at him fiercely, thinking to herself, he''s already in this state and you''re still provoking him.


    "Who''s the family member? Come over here."


    Just then, a doctor walked in and asked.


    "That would be me." Lin Ruoxue hurriedly responded, "Su Chen, take care of things here, I''ll go with the doctor."


    Su Chen nodded, moved a chair over from the side to sit by the bed, and faced Lin Hao''s unfriendly gaze without a care.


    "Your sister''s not here, so tell me, how did you get like this? Who did this to you?"


    "What''s it to you? Besides, telling you is useless."


    Lin Hao spoke harshly, angered that this bastard had just called him a dead dog, which hurt his pride greatly.


    "Tsk, you''ve been beaten like this and still don''t dare to say who did it. What a wimp you''ve be."


    Lin Hao, a hot-blooded young man, couldn''t stand being called a coward to his face and immediately retorted:


    "What''s there to be afraid of saying, it was Long Xiaobin. I was out for breakfast with my girlfriend, and when she was on her way to the restroom, she encountered him and he harassed her. I happened to see it and punched him, then his bodyguards came at me."


    Truth be told, Lin Hao wouldn''t have dared to make a move had he recognized Long Xiaobin, as Long Xiaobin was none other than the only beloved son of Dragon Lord.


    And who was Dragon Lord? He was a figure second only to the Four Great Families! Certainly not someone the Lin Family could contend with.


    "So, what do you n to do about this? Just let it go?" Su Chen casually picked up an apple and began to peel it.


    "What can I do? Long Xiaobin is Dragon Lord''s son, and Dragon Lord is not someone I can afford to provoke."


    Lin Hao sighed. Although impulsive and passionate, he was no fool; fighting Dragon Lord was like an egg against a rock.


    "Do you want revenge?"


    Su Chen handed him the peeled apple and asked indifferently.


    Lin Hao didn''t answer but rolled his eyes at Su Chen, thinking to himself, isn''t that obvious?


    He might want revenge, but what could he use to get it?


    "If you want to get back at him, call me this afternoon."


    Su Chen took out a pen and paper from the bedside cab, wrote down a number, and handed it to him.


    "Don''t be reckless, do you know who Dragon Lord is? He''s the leader of Jiangnan''s underground forces!"


    Lin Hao abruptly sat up from the bed, looking at Su Chen as if he were crazy.


    "Does it matter?" Su Chen smiled faintly, "If you''ve been hit and don''t even dare to hit back, don''t pretend to be a man in front of me ever again."


    Stung by Su Chen''s words, Lin Hao''s face flushed with anger, and his blood boiled with fervor: "Fine! Let''s do it!"


    After speaking, Lin Hao couldn''t help but look at Su Chen curiously, wondering how this guy dared to take on the Dragon Prosperity Society. He really didn''t know if this guy was missing a screw.


    But since things had escted to this point, if he backed down now, it would be too humiliating, especially in front of Su Chen, whom he had always looked down upon, so he gritted his teeth andmitted.


    In fact, Su Chen''s decision to trouble the Dragon Prosperity Society wasn''t just because Lin Hao had been beaten¡ªit was certainly an important reason, since Lin Hao was his brother-inw after all.


    But another reason was that he had already gotten into trouble with the Dragon Prosperity Society the previous night.


    As far as Su Chen was concerned, it was better to strike first rather than wait for the other side to make a move.


    ```

 Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Times Up

    Lin Hao wasn''t seriously injured. All he needed to do was to keep the wound dry for these few days and change the dressing on time, and Lin Ruoxue''s hanging heart finally settled down.


    However, to be on the safe side, she asked Lin Hao to rest in the hospital for another two days, then seeing there was nothing troubling, she returned to thepany with Su Chen.


    When they got back to Belle Group, it was lunchtime. Su Chen went to the cafeteria for lunch and then returned to the security department''s lounge to rest.


    He had barely settled down when the phone rang; it was Lin Hao calling. Su Chen couldn''t help but smile slightly, then drove the BMW back to the hospital to pick up Lin Hao.


    "What are you nning to do?"


    As soon as he got into the car, Lin Hao asked eagerly.


    "Where is that Long Xiaobin now?"


    "Don''t know. That guy doesn''t have a fixed ce," Lin Hao shook his head.


    "Do you know where the headquarters of the Dragon Prosperity Society is?" Su Chen lit a cigarette and then passed one to Lin Hao.


    "What the hell is this crappy smoke? It''s choking me to death," Lin Hao coughed as soon as he took a puff, his face then turned pale, "Why are you asking about the Dragon Prosperity Society headquarters? What do you want to do?"


    "Since we can''t find him, of course, we''ll have to ask his father for him."


    Su Chen took a drag and said nonchntly.


    Lin Hao jumped at Su Chen''s words. Was this guy insane? Going to Dragon Lord to ask for his son? He couldn''t believe he''d thought of it.


    Initially, Lin Hao had assumed Su Chen wanted to find a quiet ce, y a sneaky trick, and give Long Xiaobin an unnoticed lesson. To his surprise, Su Chen was actually considering going directly to the Dragon Prosperity Society to demand the person!


    "Are you sure?"


    Lin Hao looked at Su Chen in shock, his voice trembling as he asked.


    "Nonsense! Address!" Su Chen said, getting impatient and frowning, "Are you a man or not with all your whining?"


    "Alright, you are ruthless! Jiangyang Road, Longteng Building!"


    Lin Hao took a big drag of that harsh cigarette he wasn''t used to. He felt somewhat afraid but at the same time somewhat excited!


    "Roar!"


    Su Chen floored the gas pedal, and the BMW 5 Series shot out like an unstrung arrow.


    Twenty minutester, the BMW stopped outside the Longteng Building, and two young men got out.


    Walking into Longteng Building with the casual air of someone browsing a shopping mall was Su Chen, followed by Lin Hao, whose heartbeat sped up, and his legs even began to tremble.


    He looked at the unfazed Su Chen and couldn''t help wondering, was this guy not afraid of anything? Or was hepletely unaware of who Dragon Lord was?


    "Sir, how may I assist you?"


    The reception desk was manned by a very beautiful young woman dressed in a purple cheongsam, her face adorned with a professional smile.


    "Five minutes, have your Dragon Lorde down," Su Chen said casually, his tone as natural as eating and drinking.


    But both the receptionist and Lin Hao beside her were taken aback. The receptionist looked at Su Chen as if he were a lunatic.


    As for Lin Hao next to him, he was on the verge of tears; he could already foresee the tragic scene that would unfold.


    Boss, even if you came to pick a fight, you should at least have started with a polite "Excuse me, please inform him, I have something to discuss with your Dragon Lord," right?


    Who knew this guy would just start out with an ultimatum in his tone, and five minutes? As if they would even acknowledge you!


    "Sir, if there''s nothing else, please leave. The Longteng Building is not a ce for you to cause trouble!"


    The receptionist''s face also turned cold, she had worked here for several years and had never encountered someone so full of themselves at the Dragon Teng Building!


    If it weren''t for the fact that he was quite easy on the eyes, she would have had someone throw him out already, while Lin Hao beside him was constantly tugging at his sleeve, giving him meaningful looks.


    "If I don''t see your Dragon Lord in five minutes, I start smashing the ce."


    Su Chen said indifferently, his face still wearing a sinister smile. After that, he lit a cigarette and sat down on the sofa nearby.


    "What''s wrong with your leg? It won''t stop shaking?"


    Su Chen nced at the anxiously seated Lin Hao and asked curiously.


    Lin Hao waspletely dumbfounded by now; his brother-inw was too fierce! What did he just say?


    Start smashing the ce in five minutes?


    Did he know where he was? This was too audacious! Lin Hao already regretted following him here; this was simply courting death!


    "What if Dragon Lord doesn''te down in five minutes? Are you really going to smash the ce?"


    Lin Hao swallowed, his throat dry as he looked at Su Chen and asked.


    "Of course, what else?" Su Chen said as if it was only natural, "Do you think I''m joking?"


    The receptionist watched Su Chen coldly from her spot on the sofa, thinking to myself, I want to see how you''re going to wrap this up in five minutes. I don''t believe that in Jiangnan, anyone would dare to trash the Dragon Teng Building!


    These five minutes were unbearably long for Lin Hao; cold sweat was already trickling down his forehead, and his body had stiffened.


    He nced at Su Chen, who lookedpletely indifferent, and still couldn''t believe that this guy would really dare to do such a thing!


    As time ticked away, Su Chen looked up at therge clock in the lobby and suddenly smiled faintly:


    "Time''s up!"


    This statement hit Lin Hao''s ears like a bolt of lightning. He took a look at Su Chen and saw that the other party had already stood up and was limbering up.


    The receptionist had been watching themotion here all along, keeping an eye on the time. Seeing this man really stand up as soon as the five minutes were up, her heart skipped a beat.


    "This guy wouldn''t really dare to do that, would he?"


    As if to answer the receptionist''s spection, Su Chen kicked the ss coffee table in front of the sofa, shattering it into pieces; the broken ss ttered on the floor, making a loud noise.


    "Ah ah ah~~~~"


    This sound startled everyone on the lower floors, causing them to turn their gazes towards Su Chen''s direction.


    Another figure kicked over a cab with one foot, then picked up a vase and, without caring whether it was valuable or not, smashed it against the wall with a loud "bang."


    The receptionist was terrified, and it took her a moment to react. She hastily dialed a number: "Quick, someone is trashing the ce!"


    After that, she hid under the counter, feeling that this person was truly a madman, daring even to trash Dragon Lord''s turf.


    Lin Hao, sitting on the sofa, could no longerprehend what was happening.


    He¡ªreally did it!


    He couldn''t help but feel frightened; he knew all too well the power of Dragon Lord. Today the two of them were bound to lose at least half their lives!


    At this moment, Su Chen wasn''t thinking so much; he was in the midst of a smashing spree!


    The only thing that irked him was theck of a handy tool; the efficiency was just too low!


    "Lin Hao, quick, find a crowbar or something more convenient. This smashing is too slow."


    Su Chen shouted at the dumbfounded Lin Hao.

 Chapter 29 Massacre in All Directions

    The crowd beneath the Dragon Prosperity Society Building stared in disbelief at Su Chen,pletely astonished that someone would brazenly smash the headquarters of the Dragon Prosperity Society!


    Even though wood shavings were flying and ss was shattering everywhere, not a single person left; after all, witnessing the destruction of the Dragon Prosperity Society Building was an opportunity that came once in a hundred years!


    It wasn''t long before the first floor of the Dragon Prosperity Society Building was in aplete mess...


    It was at this moment that a series of disordered footsteps emerged from the staircase, and the men who appeared before Su Chen were a dozen men d in ck tight-fitting outfits, each one with a fierce look, bulging muscles, obviously not to be trifiled with.


    "Who dares to run wild in the Dragon Prosperity Society Building! Get out here!"


    A rather thin man stepped out from the crowd, with a buzz cut, and fairly tall, at most around one seventy centimeters, but he exuded a sense of danger as though his slight frame contained an endless supply of energy.


    He was Feng Ang, the fourth leader of the Dragon Prosperity Society. He had once been in an Israeli military training camp known as the devil''s, with horrifyingly formidable skills. Even among the numerous skilled members of the Dragon Prosperity Society, he ranked only after the Dragon Lord himself.


    If it weren''t for his younger age and lesser experience, he would have taken the second chair long ago!


    When the onlookers saw Feng Ang step forward, they immediately fell silent; everyone knew that Feng Ang was the most ruthless and vicious in the Dragon Prosperity Society!


    Their nces towards Su Chen were full of sympathy, for no one marked by Feng Ang had ever met with a good end!


    Seeing Feng Ang approaching, the courage of the receptionist girl grew considerably, and she stood up from the ground.


    Unexpectedly, Lin Hao, who had been shaking with fear up to now, moved beside Su Chen, though he was still frightened.


    This act won Su Chen''s approval; at least this little brother-inw had some spine.


    "Who did this, step forward!"


    After Feng Ang came down, Su Chen had already temporarily stopped his destruction, so he didn''t know who had caused the initialmotion.


    "I did," Su Chen nced at Feng Ang and said indifferently, "Are you the Dragon Lord?"


    "You think you can see the Dragon Lord whenever you wish?" Feng Ang''s face was filled with rage, "Do you realize what ce you are smashing? Have you thought about the consequences?"


    "If you''re not the Dragon Lord, why the fuss?" Su Chen waved his hand as if shooing a fly, "Get lost, I''ve no interest in dealing with you."


    Feng Ang, seeing Su Chen so shamelessly insult him, could no longer hold back and roared:


    "Attack, break this guy''s damned legs for me!"


    His dozen men also shouted and rushed forth¡ªthis kid dared to be so arrogant at the Dragon Prosperity Society headquarters, he was clearly tired of living!


    Lin Hao, watching from the side, immediately became timid; he knew all too well that the members of the Dragon Prosperity Society headquarters were one in ten thousand champions, each not to be taken lightly.


    It was all Su Chen''s fault, the damn fool, why did he have to be so showy? Did he think the Dragon Prosperity Society Building was a ce where you could just show off?


    But in the end, this was a mess he himself had caused, soe what may, he was prepared to fight with all he had!


    However, what he could hardly believe happened¡ªinstead of retreating, Su Chen advanced, instantly darting forward with an agile step.


    The man charging in the front saw Su Chen rush toward him and was immediately ted, lifting his fists asrge as casserole dishes, swinging them toward Su Chen''s temples.


    Just when he thought he was about tond the hit, suddenly, from the side, a hand reached out, grabbed his wrist, and immobilized him.


    Meanwhile, a person nearby had already nearly kicked Su Chen in the waist, his straight leg whipping up like an iron bar, stirring up a fierce wind.


    If an ordinary person were to be hit by that kick, they would have to lie in a hospital bed for at least a year or even longer. Just then, Su Chen also unleashed a kick, but actingter, he struck first, hitting the other person''s thigh directly.


    The man''s body uncontrobly spun half a turn in the air before crashing heavily to the ground with a "thud," his thigh grotesquely deformed.


    By now, Su Chen had reached the First Layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, his strength much greater than before, and this was him still holding back intentionally.


    As he delivered that kick, the hand that Su Chen used to grab the other man''s wrist also gave a slight tug, and the opponent''s arm immediately hung limp like a noodle.


    After dealing with the two closest to him, another person charged at him. He had seen the sorry state of his twopanions and was furious, gathering all his strength and leaning toward Su Chen.


    His signature skill was the Leaning on the Mountain from Baji Fist, a move of tremendous power; even a ck bear would hardly escape death if it were hit by it.


    However, just as he was about to lean into Su Chen, Su Chen pivoted on his foot, instead leaning into the man''s body and spinning past him, followed swiftly by an elbow strike hitting the man''s back hard. The man let out a muffled groan and copsed.


    After Su Chen had taken care of three men, only about 20 seconds had passed. Seizing the moment, Su Chen charged into the crowd, moving with ease among the members of the Dragon Prosperity Society, who were like toys against him.


    Two or three minutester, there were only the sounds of moaning on the ground...


    The onlookers were dumbfounded, realizing just how skilled this man was, no wonder he dared to challenge the Dragon Prosperity Society!


    However, the most shocked was Lin Hao, who stared at the rxed Su Chen, unable to utter a word.


    How could this guy be so terrifying? Was he the same worthless brother-inw from his memory?


    In an instant, Lin Hao felt as though he did not recognize this person at all. At that moment, Su Chen stood there like a god, supremely alone!


    "So you are a practitioner, no wonder you dared to be arrogant at the Dragon Tower," Feng Ang said, looking at his men lying on the ground, his face uglier than ever. "If you think that just by having some skill, you can defecate and urinate on the Dragon Prosperity Society''s head, then you are sorely mistaken."


    "I advise you to quickly notify your ''Dragon Lord''; otherwise, the consequences will be more than you can bear."


    Su Chen didn''t take Feng Ang''s threats seriously; in his heart, these people were nothing but trash he could crush with one foot.


    "Pretty arrogant, let me see if you have the credentials!"


    Wherever Feng Ang went, he was called "Fourth Master," but today, he was repeatedly ignored by this much younger man, which made him feel immensely ashamed!


    He suddenly shouted loudly and charged at Su Chen, his fist thundering towards Su Chen''s chest!


    His fist was notrge at all, but it contained immense energy, cutting through the air''s resistance like a cannonball shooting straight at its target.


    However, just as his fist touched Su Chen''s coat, it strangely changed direction and morphed from fist to palm, chopping towards Su Chen''s neck.


    This move was an Assassin''s Trick that Feng Ang had created, one he had never used before, reserved for a critical moment to achieve a one-strike kill.


    He had already noticed that Su Chen''s movements were far from simple, definitely not inferior to his own, thus he used his strongest hidden move right from the start.


    He believed that no matter how powerful the opponent was, they couldn''t possibly dodge this attack. Indeed, at this instant, his palm was at the same height as Su Chen''s neck, and the other showed no sign of reaction.


    Feng Ang''s heart leapt with joy, and, applying force, his palm-de slid down across Su Chen''s neck, when suddenly he noticed that Su Chen had begun to smile weirdly...

 Chapter 30 Clashing with Each Other

    Feng Ang couldn''t help but tremble inside, but at this moment all his strength was concentrated in his palms and he simply had no way to respond, particrly since he had no idea what Su Chen intended to do.


    Just as his hand was sliding down, Su Chen suddenly tilted his head back slightly, narrowly avoiding Feng Ang''s deadly move.


    "Not good!"


    Feng Ang''s martial arts were not mediocre, and he immediately realized the w in his move.


    Because his move was purely offensive without defense, if someone dodged and then counterattacked, his body would be an easy target!


    It was just that he was too confident in his own move to ever consider that someone might dodge it.


    "Bang!"


    After dodging that palm, Su Chen immediately punched towards Feng Ang''s chest. Feng Ang''s body immediately flew backward like a kite with its string cut, then crashed against the wall behind him, creating multiple echoes.


    The fallen Feng Ang tried to struggle to his feet, but just as he was slightly up, a sweet sensation hit his throat, and he spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, copsing once more...


    Feng Ang was horrified, he hadn''t anticipated the tremendous power of this man''s punch, but what he didn''t know was that Su Chen had only used thirty percent of his strength.


    The onlookers were also stunned by the power of Su Chen''s punch. This young man was terrifying! Even the mighty Feng Ang had nearly been killed by his fist!


    Lin Hao was utterly shocked. What kind of freak was his brother-inw!


    However, despite this, he still felt uneasy, knowing that as long as Master Long didn''t show up, none of this would mean anything and might even provoke a greater retaliation.


    At that moment, the elevator doors suddenly opened and six people walked out. At the front was a man whose hair was already somewhat gray, appearing to be over sixty years old.


    He wore a ck Sun Yat-sen suit, stood straight, and his eyes sparkled fiercely with an inherent authority!


    He was Long Xiaoshan, the ruler of the underground forces in Jiangnan, Master Long!


    As he appeared, almost everyone bowed and eximed, "Master Long!"


    However, Long Xiaoshan ignored the others and walked straight up to Su Chen, smiling at him.


    "Young man, this is not how one behaves as a guest," Long Xiaoshan said lightly, "I see you are talented. Here''s the deal, sever one of your arms, and we can consider the matter settled."


    His tone was light but left no room for dissent! In his view, this was already quite generous.


    The onlookers also nodded vigorously, indeed, you came to someone''s territory and defeated so many from the Dragon Prosperity Society, even knocking one of the Four Great Families'' heads nearly to death. Asking you to sever an arm really wasn''t too much.


    Even Lin Hao thought this was probably the best oue he could imagine. In his view, Long Xiaoshan had always been vengeful, and this level of leniency was rare indeed.


    Actually, Lin Hao thought too highly of Long Xiaoshan. This was not a sudden rise ofpassion but because he was somewhat baffled by Su Chen as a young man.


    Those who have reached a status like Long Xiaoshan''s in this field tend to be more cautious than others, and always kept a backdoor in their dealings!


    Since he couldn''t see through him, it was better not to burn all bridges.


    Yet, he couldn''t show weakness and simply let Su Chen and hispanion leave; doing so would make the Dragon Prosperity Society aughingstock and he wouldn''t be able to maintain control anymore.


    After weighing his options, he decided to demand the severing of an arm, believing that unless the other party waspletely foolish, they would ept his terms.


    As for why the other party had suddenly decided to cause trouble, there had to be a reason, but that could be discussedter; if necessary, giving the other party some face wasn''t out of the question.


    In any case, Long Xiaoshan believed that he had already expressed the utmost goodwill.


    "I''ll do it." Lin Hao stood up and said, "This matter started because of me, so this arm is on me!"


    Su Chen looked at Lin Hao somewhat surprisingly. His brother-inw had surprised him twice today, and unexpectedly, he was quite a man. If possible, maybe he could give him an opportunityter on.


    "Lin Hao,e stand behind me."


    Su Chen pulled Lin Hao back. In the past, Lin Hao would never listen to him, but now he did not dare to retort and obediently stood behind Su Chen.


    Su Chen took two steps forward, stopping less than a meter away from Long Xiaoshan, and just looked at him with a faint smile on his face.


    "Long Xiaoshan? Just because everyone calls you ''Boss Long,'' do you really think you are one?"


    Su Chen reached out and lightly patted Long Xiaoshan''s face.


    This action made everyone''s jaw drop to the ground, this guy was outrageously bold, daring to pat Boss Long''s face in public.


    The members of the Dragon Prosperity Society red furiously at Su Chen, as if they wanted to tear him apart, holding Boss Long in high esteem in their hearts.


    Even the Family Heads of the Four Great Families didn''t dare to speak to Boss Long in this manner, let alone take such an action.


    "Young man, do you know what you are doing?"


    Long Xiaoshan asked with slightly squinted eyes, those familiar with Long Xiaoshan knew he was on the verge of rage.


    However, all of this was meaningless to Su Chen, who just shrugged:


    "Have you been in Jiangnan too long and really think you''re the best?"


    "Your son harassed my friend''s girlfriend and even hit him." Su Chen pointed at Lin Hao, "I came here today with no other agenda. Hand your son over, I''ll cripple one of his legs, and we''ll call it even."


    The surrounding crowd exploded upon hearing Su Chen''s words, impressed by the young man''s boldness!


    Boss Long demanded one of his arms, but not only did he not ept, he even demanded one of Long Xiaobin''s legs, matching up without giving in an inch!


    But who in Jiangnan didn''t know that Long Xiaobin was Boss Long''s Achilles heel? Anyone who dared touch a hair on Long Xiaobin, Boss Long would fight to the death!


    "Young man! Don''t be too arrogant, do you know the consequences of what you just said?"


    Long Xiaoshan''s voice was deep and his gaze was fiercely menacing, his whole body exuding a powerful aura!


    Both the onlookers and the members of the Dragon Prosperity Society felt a great pressureing over them, making it somewhat hard to breathe.


    Of course, this amount of pressure had absolutely no effect on Su Chen; he looked up at the clock and said:


    "One hour. If I don''t see Long Xiaobin by then, you better be ready to collect his corpse!"


    Lin Hao almost fainted behind him, he''s done it again!


    Previously it was five minutes, now it''s one hour; before it was smashing the ce, now it''s demanding Long Xiaobin''s life!


    Lin Hao felt as though he was dreaming, unable to believe that what was happening was real!

 Chapter 31 The Devil

    "Oh, I almost forgot, I guess you already know aboutst night''s affair at the Passion Bar. I bet you''re still looking for that person." Su Chen again walked over to the sofa and sat down, "No need to look anymore, that person is me!"


    "So it was you!"


    Jiangnan was indeed looking for the man who deredst night that he was going to wipe out the Dragon Prosperity Society. To his surprise, it was none other than the young man in front of him.


    "Well, it seems you won''t shed a tear until you see the coffin," Jiangnan said gravely, giving orders, "You guys, give him a warm wee, and remember, don''t kill him; I want to have some fun with him."


    As soon as he finished speaking, five men stepped out from behind Jiangnan. These men had no expressions on their faces and no fluctuation of aura on their bodies, as if they were five wooden figures.


    They took positions in five different directions, coincidentally corresponding to the principles of the Five Elements¡ªthe tactical arrangement allowed for both offense and defense!


    If these five men were challenged individually, none of them would be a match for Feng Ang. However, once they formed a formation, even five Feng Angs might not be able to escape.


    "Interesting."


    After taking a nce, Su Chen''s eyes slightly lit up. This Dragon Prosperity Society truly was something.


    Su Chen slowly stood up, walked to the center of the five men with his hands sped behind his back, looked at them nonchntly, and said calmly:


    "Begin."


    Right after his words fell, the men positioned in the wood and water directions attacked first¡ªone of them aiming a kick directly at Su Chen''s back, and the other sweeping towards Su Chen''s knees.


    Meanwhile, the other men also readied themselves, their eyes fixed on Su Chen as if locking onto prey!


    However, contrary to everyone''s expectations, Su Chenpletely ignored the attacks from those two men; instead, he turned and darted straight towards the man at the position of metal.


    In that moment, his speed reached an extreme; the others only saw a shadow sh by...


    The others were puzzled by Su Chen''s strange action, but Jiangnan''s expression grew stern!


    The man at the metal position waspletely unguarded, and given Su Chen''s incredible speed, he was directly struck by Su Chen''s palm, then spat blood and was sent flying, his life and death unknown!


    Seeing this, Jiangnan sighed, knowing that despite Su Chen having made only one move, these five men had already been defeated!


    Because that one move by Su Chen had broken the entire formation, rendering the power of the Five Elements Formation unusable.


    What a remarkable young man!


    Jiangnan sighed inwardly, puzzled about when such a character had emerged from Jianghai.


    Su Chen? He had never heard that name before.


    "This man must be eliminated, otherwise, once hees into his own, the problems will be endless!" Jiangnan secretly resolved.


    The situation in the area was indeed as Jiangnan had expected; within minutes, the five men were all lying on the ground,pletely incapacitated.


    Jiangnan did not call for more men, knowing that against such a skilled opponent, more men would only mean more casualties.


    Jiangnan looked at Su Chen, his eyes filled with gravity, while Su Chen looked back teasefully, his lips curving slightly upward!


    The observers all held their breath, everyone understood that the ultimate battle was about to begin!


    Jiangnan was finally going to make his move!


    Everyone was tremendously excited; none of them had ever seen Jiangnan in action before, and this event was bound to be the top news in Jianghai!


    Between Long Xiaoshan and this young man, who would win? This was the result everyone was waiting for.


    Truthfully, even though Su Chen had already made an indelible impression today, not many people were confident in his victory at this time!


    Because Long Xiaoshan''s reputation in Jiangnan was indeed too high!


    The truth was that since Long Xiaoshan hade to Jiangnan twenty years ago to fight for his domain, he had never tasted defeat!


    "Young man, today you have truly broadened my horizons," Long Xiaoshan said proudly as he looked at Su Chen, "But meeting me today, this is where it ends for you!"


    As he spoke, his body emitted a strong aura again. This time the aura was vastly different from before, like a vortex, seemingly absorbing everything around it.


    The onlookers observing Long Xiaoshan couldn''t help but feel an urge to submit, an impulse that seemed entirely uncontroble!


    "Qi Refinement Realm First Layer, no wonder he''s so confident."


    Su Chen instantly recognized Long Xiaoshan''s Martial Arts Cultivation. Although Su Chen was also at the Qi Refinement Realm First Layer, he was not worried at all.


    Although the two of them were in the same realm, their understanding of Martial Arts was on entirely different levels; after all, Su Chen had once been a half-step Meridian Expansion grandmaster!


    Without experiencing that level, one could neverprehend the true essence of Martial Arts!


    This was not something that talent or anything else couldpensate for. It was like a chasm that could not be crossed!


    Different from Long Xiaoshan, who was enveloped in a massive aura, Su Chen appeared calm and carefree.


    "One minute,"


    Su Chen said lightly, extending one finger.


    Before Long Xiaoshan couldprehend the meaning of Su Chen''s words, he already saw a shadow swiftly passing by; then he saw a fist wrapped in a whirlwind appearing in front of him.


    Long Xiaoshan hadn''t expected the opponent''s speed to be so fast; he hurriedly raised his arm to block the ferocious punch.


    However, there wasn''t the anticipated violent collision, as the opponent''s fist had mysteriously circled around his blocking arm and appeared in front of him.


    Startled, Long Xiaoshan instinctively bent down to dodge the punch; fortunately, his reaction was timely as the punch stopped just in front of his chest.


    Before Long Xiaoshan could catch his breath, he then saw a whip kicking at him, the kick stirring the air and piercing the void with a whooshing sound.


    Long Xiaoshan used both hands to block the fierce strike, and he felt a tingling numbness in his arms.


    Yet at that moment, he saw Su Chen had already leaped up, his left leg bending forward at a 90-degree angle, heading straight for his chest.


    In that instant, the opponent''s speed was at its ultimate, and Long Xiaoshan had never thought that a person could move this fast!


    "Bang!"


    A massive collision sounded, and a figure flew out like a cannonball, solidly smashing into the marble floor.


    The onlookers fixed their eyes and saw that the figure lying on the ground wasn''t Su Chen as they had imagined but the underworld king of Jianghai¡ªBoss Long!


    This result was beyond everyone''s expectation; they had never thought even Boss Long would be no match for this young man!


    All eyes turned to Su Chen, filled with awe!


    It was as though they were looking at a devil!

 Chapter 32 The Summons of Death

    Lin Hao vigorously rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what was happening before him.


    The son-inw, whom almost everyone in the Lin Family deemed worthless, had actually defeated Long Xiaoshan, the underground boss of Jiangnan, and the process was so effortless that Long Xiaoshan hardly had any power to fight back!


    However, that wasn''t the end of it. The people present today were destined to be surprised to the utmost, as they saw Su Chen, after flinging Long Xiaoshan aside, walk over to him and then stepped on his face.


    "Now there are only forty-five minutes left. If you don''t want to pick up your son''s corpse, hurry up and have him roll back here," Su Chen said from above, looking down at Long Xiaoshan with an indifferent expression.


    At that moment, everyone felt something¡ªthis young man was not joking!


    Long Xiaoshan''s body trembled as he looked up at the young man''s expressionless face and suddenly roared:


    "Hurry up and make the call, have that bastarde back!"


    Even though Long Xiaoshan''s face was being stepped on and his words were slurred, his meaning was clear enough to understand.


    One of his subordinates quickly made the call, whispered a few words, then walked over to Long Xiaoshan.


    "Boss Long, the Young Master says he is racing with friends at Chicken Mountain and can''t make it back," the subordinate reported cautiously.


    "Can I make a call to ask him toe back?"


    As he spoke, Long Xiaoshan''s mouth twitched with anguish and frustration. He, the mighty boss of the Dragon Prosperity Society, had never felt so humiliated.


    But what could he do when outmatched?


    Su Chen cast him a nce and then lifted his foot. Long Xiaoshan scrambled to his feet and pulled out his phone.


    "You beast, hurry the hell up ande back!"


    Long Xiaoshan shouted into the phone, feeling a twinge of pain from his injured mouth as he spoke.


    "Dad, I can''t make it back from Chicken Mountain! What''s so urgent?" Long Xiaobin replied from the other end, feeling quite annoyed, wondering what madness had seized the old man.


    "If you can''t get back in forty minutes, I''ll freeze all your bank cards and take back your house. I mean what I say!"


    Long Xiaoshan knew that if he told Long Xiaobin his life was in danger, he would never believe it and might even think he was insane.


    But telling him he would freeze his money and take back his house might be believable because he had done so before.


    "Alright, alright, I''lle back then!"


    With no other choice, Long Xiaobin hung up and immediately drove towards the city.


    And the first floor of Dragon Rise Building became quiet again, quiet to the point of eeriness, as everyone waited in anticipation.


    "Eight minutes left."


    Half an hourter, Su Chen looked at the time and said casually.


    Meanwhile, Long Xiaoshan''s face was now covered in sweat as he silently prayed in his heart.


    He felt extremely awkward inside. What kind of situation was this, calling his own son back to have someone break his legs?


    It was so absurd, it was hardly believable, especiallying from him, Long Xiaoshan!


    "Three minutes left."


    Su Chen''s voice drifted through the air again like a death knell, causing everyone''s hearts to tighten.


    Just then, a roaring sound erupted at the entrance of Dragon Rise Building. Hearing this noise, Long Xiaoshan''s previously tight heart suddenly rxed.


    He knew this sound very well¡ªit was his son''s Lamborghini''s roar.


    "What''s going on, Dad? Why were you in such a rush to call me back?" Long Xiaobin said irritably as he walked through the door. When he saw the mess on the floor and many Dragon Prosperity Society members lying around, he was shocked, "What happened? Who the hell did this?"


    ```


    "Smack!"


    Long Xiaoshan suddenly rushed over as if he were fully revived and pped his son with a resounding p!


    "Are you senile? What are you hitting me for?"


    Startled, Long Xiaobin jumped up. This was the first time Long Xiaoshan had ever hit him, and the reason was utterly confusing!


    "Don''t you know what you did this morning? Go and apologize to this brother right away!"


    Long Xiaoshan pointed at Lin Hao and ordered sternly.


    Following his father''s pointed direction, Long Xiaobin immediately recognized the man as the one who had punched him that morning, althoughter this man was beaten even worse by the security guards.


    "Him? Dad, you must be joking!" Long Xiaobin suddenlyughed hysterically, "He doesn''t deserve it! Dad, are you out of your mind?"


    He found it utterly ridiculous that Long Xiaoshan was asking him to apologize to someone whose name he didn''t even know. How could that be possible?


    "No, you''re wrong, it''s not an apology, but a leg."


    Su Chen, who had been sitting on the couch, stood up and said casually.


    Long Xiaoshan''s heart sank; he had hoped that if his son showed good behavior and sincerity, maybe Su Chen would let him off the hook.


    "So it''s you backing him up. What do you think you are?"


    Always arrogant with his father''s power behind him, Long Xiaobin had never taken Su Chen, a stranger, seriously.


    "Can''t these people lying on the ground give you a clue?" Su Chen shook his head with a sigh.


    "You beat these people up?"


    Long Xiaobin asked in disbelief. It was then that he noticed his father also seemed to have suffered quite a bit.


    Long Xiaobin immediately understood that the Dragon Prosperity Society had been dealt a severe blow today, which exined why his father had hurriedly called him back.


    But who exactly was this guy? Not even his own father could match him.


    "Do I need to do it myself?"


    Su Chen nced coldly at Long Xiaoshan, the look so piercing that it made Long Xiaoshan shiver.


    "Break one leg of this beast!"


    Long Xiaoshan, true to his ruthless nature, immediately gave the order. He was aware that if the young man acted, it wouldn''t just be about breaking a leg.


    "No, Dad, I''m still young!"


    Long Xiaobin immediately knelt down, clinging to Long Xiaoshan''s calf and wailed, gone was his earlier arrogance.


    "Son, just bear with it." Long Xiaoshan turned his head away and sighed, "me yourself for provoking someone you shouldn''t have."


    "Do it!"


    Long Xiaoshan ordered sharply, seeing impatience sh across Su Chen''s face.


    Two of the Dragon Prosperity Society''s men immediately stepped forward, ready to drag Long Xiaobin away. Just at that moment, the sound of police sirens came from outside Long Teng Tower.


    What followed was a cluttered but orderly sound of footsteps as thirty-some policemen walked in.


    "Officers, someone here hasmitted intentional assault, quickly arrest him."


    Long Xiaobin, who had just been in dire straits,tched onto the arrival of the police like a lifeline and rushed over to them.


    Even Long Xiaoshan felt a secret surge of relief. Maybe with the police arriving, the situation could take a turn.


    Although relying on the police might look weak, he had already lost enough face for today; he didn''t care about that anymore.


    ```

 Chapter 33 Hello, Chief

    As soon as Jiang Lixing walked into the Dragon Ascend Building, he was shocked by the scene before him and quickly aimed his gun inside, other police officers also swiftly drew their guns.


    Just ten minutes earlier, he had received a report iming that the public had reported someone smashing up the Dragon Ascend Building and injuring many people; at the time, he hadn''t quite believed it.


    After all, the Dragon Ascend Building was the stronghold of the Dragon Prosperity Society; who would have the courage, let alone the capability?


    However, as the city''s Police Chief, Jiang Lixing still took it seriously and immediately dispatched police forces, and he also personally came to oversee things, anxious that mishandling the matter could lead to grave consequences.


    But as he entered, a figure rushed toward him, and upon closer inspection, he realized it was Long Xiaoshan''s son, Long Xiaobin.


    "What happened? Exin yourself," Jiang Lixing''s expression was extremely stern.


    "It was this guy; he came to our Dragon Ascend Building and started hitting and smashing things up. Chief Jiang, look at this, so many people have been injured by him."


    Long Xiaobin, pointing at Su Chen, disyed an "angry" expression on his face.


    At this point, Long Xiaoshan also came over and, sping his hands, said,


    "Chief Jiang, my son is correct. Please capture this criminal as soon as possible!"


    Ordinarily, Long Xiaoshan might not respect Jiang Lixing, the Police Chief, but now, the officer was his only hope to save his son''s leg.


    No matter what, Jiang Lixing ultimately represented the government.


    "Mr. Long, I still need to investigate this matter, please understand."


    Jiang Lixing hesitated for a moment before responding. His tone was also rather courteous, given Long Xiaoshan''s status.


    "Of course, Chief Jiang, feel free to investigate."


    Long Xiaoshan was not worried about the investigation since everything he said was true.


    "The two of you, go bring that man here, and also, clean up the scene and make everyone unrted leave."


    Jiang Lixing issued an order, and immediately two police officers approached Su Chen, while others started dispersing the spectators, quickly driving them all out.


    Su Chen, of course, had noticed the arrival of the police and seemed unconcerned about it.


    However, what surprised him was that among these police officers, he actually saw the woman who had twisted her ankle during a morning run a few days ago.


    Xu Xinran naturally saw Su Chen too, and she couldn''t help but wonder what kind of person he was, daring to vandalize the Dragon Ascend Building and injure so many people?


    Actually, her impression of Su Chen was quite good; fortunately, she had met him that morning, otherwise, her foot would have taken who knows how long to heal?


    Despite this, she had no intention of protecting him; if he really had broken thew, she would definitely arrest him without hesitation.


    "Sir, pleasee with us, our chief has some questions he would like to ask you," the two police officers said solemnly as they approached Su Chen.


    "If he wants to ask something, let hime here himself."


    The two police officers became furious upon hearing this and extended their hands to forcibly take him away, but Su Chen simply lifted a foot and, with two "bangs," kicked both officers to the ground.


    The members of the Dragon Prosperity Society were once again dumbfounded; this guy actually dared to openly assault the police, even they, the Dragon Prosperity Society, including the Four Great Families, wouldn''t dare to confront the police openly like this!


    After all, that represented the state apparatus!


    The other police officers were even more enraged; this young man was too arrogant, showing no respect for the police, practically courting death!


    Jiang Lixing''s expression also turned cold, and then he walked directly to Su Chen with all the police officers following behind him.


    "Do you realize you''ve just assaulted a police officer?" Jiang Lixing asked, his face stern as he looked at Su Chen.


    "I know." Su Chen lit a cigarette, took an easy drag, as if the police around him were thin air.


    "And these destructions¡ªare they your doing? Did you injure these people?"


    "Indeed." Su Chen lightly flicked his cigarette ash, nodding.


    This really confused everyone; they thought Su Chen would definitely make a few evasive arguments, but he very lightly acknowledged everything.


    "Then there''s nothing more to say, take him away!"


    Jiang Lixing waved his hand, and immediately several policemen approached, their guns aimed at him.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Stop the nonsense, take him away!"


    Seeing Su Chen''s abnormal reaction, Jiang Lixing slightly furrowed his eyebrows.


    Long Xiaoshan and his son both startedughing, their faces saying, "You were so arrogant, what now?"


    "You two seem quite happy, huh?"


    Su Chen tilted his head, a strange smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.


    "So what if we are?"


    Long Xiaoshan''s son''s face was flush with a triumphant expression, viciously letting out a breath of spite.


    "Young man, it''s easy to fall from a high ce!"


    Long Xiaoshan came over and patted Su Chen on the shoulder, like a wise elder.


    Xu Xinran watched the indifferent demeanor of Su Chen, suddenly puzzled; did this man understand what his situation was right now?


    If these charges held up, he would be sentenced for many years, and if Long Xiaoshan were to interfere, it could be even decades more!


    "People always think too highly of themselves," Su Chen shook his head and pulled out a ck document from his pocket, throwing it to Jiang Lixing, "Take a look at this before you decide to take me away."


    Jiang Lixing scoffed as he caught it, thinking, regardless of whatever trick you''re ying, today I will take you to the station.


    Jiang Lixing gave Su Chen a quick nce before he opened the ck document.


    As he looked it over, Jiang Lixing''s body suddenly shook, cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and his face turned deathly pale!


    The hand holding the document couldn''t stop trembling, and his pupils contracted sharply!


    "Chief, what''s wrong?"


    Xu Xinran noticed the sudden change in Jiang Lixing and quickly asked with concern.


    "It''s nothing."


    Upon hearing Xu Xinran''s question, Jiang Lixing quickly closed the ck document.


    Then he made a move that shocked everyone present; he walked over to Su Chen with the ck document in both hands, his expression respectful!


    After Su Chen took the document back and stuffed it into his pocket, Jiang Lixing saluted with a formal military salute and shouted loudly:


    "Greetings, Chief!"


    This shout, like rolling thunder, dumbfounded everyone!


    What was going on?


    What had Jiang Lixing just called him? Chief?


    Was this some kind of international joke?


    He looked to be just in his twenties¡ªwas there such a young chief?


    Xu Xinran waspletely stunned as well, staring at Su Chen with wide eyes, her mind recalling that morning when he had massaged her feet.


    How could this guy be some kind of chief?


    The Long father and son were as if struck by a bolt of Thunderp, stupidly staring at Su Chen, their heads spinning, gripped by a sense of unreality!

 Chapter 34 The Spirit of the Nation

    "Director Jiang, this guy is clearly a criminal; don''t be fooled by him! Arrest him immediately!"


    Long Xiaobin couldn''t believe the scene before his eyes and burst out yelling.


    Jiang Lixing''s expression turned severe as he drew his pistol, disengaged the safety, and pressed it firmly against Long Xiaobin''s forehead.


    "Defaming a superior officer; I have the right to shoot you on the spot!"


    Father and son Long Xiaoshan were both terrified by the sudden action of Jiang Lixing drawing his gun, especially with such a determined attitude!


    Not just the Long family, but everyone in the room, including the police, were stunned.


    At the same time, deep doubt filled their hearts. Just what was this young man''s identity?


    Could even themander of a military district not have made Jiang Lixing act this way!


    "Please, Director Jiang, be careful of idental discharge," Long Xiaoshan said with a convulsing face, waving his hands, "Absolutely not, Director Jiang, this is no joking matter."


    At that moment, Xu Xinran also stepped forward, her pretty face filled with anxiety:


    "Director, don''t be rash! You will also be held ountable if you pull that trigger!"


    However, Jiang Lixing''s finger on the trigger remainedpletely still. His gaze turned to Su Chen, waiting for hismand.


    Everyone understood that if Su Chen nodded, Jiang Lixing would pull the trigger without a moment''s hesitation!


    Underneath the gun, Long Xiaobin''s mouth kept moving, too frightened to utter a word, suddenly a trickle of water could be heard.


    It turned out that Long Xiaobin had been scared into incontinence.


    "Put away your gun."


    Just then, Su Chen finally spoke.


    "Yes, sir!"


    Immediately, Jiang Lixing holstered his weapon and stood straight off to the side, his expression solemn, without any hesitation.


    "Director Jiang, there''s nothing for you here anymore, you may withdraw your team!"


    "Yes, sir!" Jiang Lixing''s response was still simple and direct.


    "Keep my identity confidential; anyone who dares to leak it will bear the consequences!"


    Su Chen''s gaze swept over everyone present, and everyone who made eye contact with him instinctively lowered their heads.


    Every person there realized the importance of this young man. Unless they wished for death, they would even have to be careful of their sleep talking.


    Jiang Lixing was efficient; less than a minuteter, the team was gone without a trace.


    "Old Long, I trust you know what to do now."


    Su Chen said to Long Xiaoshan indifferently, but to his ears, the words sounded like they came from Hell.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Su, I''ll definitely give you a satisfactory exnation!"


    Long Xiaoshan bowed, at this point he dared not utter a single word of refusal.


    Moreover, he knew by now, a mere leg wouldn''t suffice to exin things away.


    Su Chen knew well; as long as Long Xiaoshan wasn''t insane, he wouldn''t dare to pull any tricks anymore.


    Su Chen nodded, then turned to Lin Hao and said, "Let''s go!"


    But Su Chen had walked a few steps and noticed Lin Hao hadn''t followed. Turning around, he saw Lin Hao standing still, dazed and with a vacant look in his eyes!


    Su Chen walked over and gave him a pat: "What are you dazing at, let''s go."


    "Oh." Lin Hao finally snapped to reality, dazedly following Su Chen out.


    It wasn''t until they were outside, jolted by the cold wind, that Lin Hao fully awakened, looking at Su Chen with a particrly strange gaze!


    "Brother-inw, who are you really?"


    Lin Hao hesitated for a moment but still voiced the deepest question in his heart, calling Su Chen "brother-inw" for the first time.


    Previously, he had refused to acknowledge him as a brother-inw because he thought Su Chen was nothing but trash, utterly unworthy of Lin Ruoxue.


    However, today''s events had shown him that it wasn''t a matter of whether Su Chen was worthy of Lin Ruoxue, but whether Lin Ruoxue was worthy of him.


    Just the thought that Jiang Lixing would draw his gun and even kill someone for him was enough to hint at how terrifying his true identity must be!


    "Don''t worry about who I am. You just need to know one thing, and that is I am your brother-inw."


    Su Chen looked at Lin Hao with a somewhat solemn expression, "Also, I hope you don''t tell your sister about what happened today for the time being."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t talk recklessly. And even if I did, she wouldn''t believe it," Lin Hao nodded, "So, you''re going to keep this from my sister forever?"


    "Maybe I will find an appropriate opportunity to tell her myself in the future."


    However, Su Chen didn''t know whether he and Lin Ruoxue would have a future; he could only take things one step at a time.


    "Alright, I''ll take you to the hospital now. Let''s not have your sister find out you sneaked out."


    .....


    "Master, why were you so impulsive just now? What exactly is that person''s identity?"


    In the police car, Xu Xinran looked at Jiang Lixing with a puzzled face, her expression still showing the shock from before.


    Xu Xinran and Jiang Lixing were not only superior and subordinate, but they also shared a mentor-student rtionship. Xu Xinran had followed Jiang Lixing since she entered the police department, learning a lot from him.


    "Stop asking, I won''t tell you about that person''s identity. It''s the nation''s top secret!"


    Jiang Lixing spoke with his eyes half-closed, his mind still recalling the content on that small ck document.


    It stated: Major General Su Chen.


    But that wasn''t what shocked Jiang Lixing the most.


    What truly shocked, or rather stunned, Jiang Lixing was the annotation beneath it: "National Soul!"


    Even thinking with his rear, Jiang Lixing could understand the incredible significance of this man!


    Xu Xinran covered her mouth in astonishment, her beautiful eyes wide open, her face filled with disbelief!


    This guy, how old is he to have such a top-secret identity? It''s just absurd!


    At this moment, Xu Xinran couldn''t help but feel a deep interest in the man she had only met once.


    .....


    After sending Lin Hao back to the hospital, Su Chen returned to the security department of Belle Corporation and spent the afternoon doing nothing much.


    After dinner, he drove the BMW 5 Series with Lin Ruoxue to the Jianghai Concert Hall. When they arrived, Liu Qing was already waiting at the entrance.


    Liu Qing was indeed a handsome talent, radiating a charisma even just by standing there. Several women approached him trying to strike up a conversation, but he politely rejected them all.


    However, when he saw Su Chen and Lin Ruoxue appear, he quickly came over to greet them.


    "Ruoxue, here''s your ticket, take it." Liu Qing handed a ticket to Lin Ruoxue.


    "No need, Mr. Lin already has tickets, middle of the sixth row,"


    Su Chen smiled slightly, lifting the two tickets he held in his hand. Although Su Chen wasn''t very close to Lin Ruoxue emotionally, she was still his wife. Always trying to flirt with my wife in front of me, do you think I don''t exist?


    Liu Qing couldn''t help but fume secretly, this fellow was truly courting death, continuously spoiling his chances.


    "Mr. Su, a driver should know his ce; Ruoxue should sit with me."


    Although Liu Qing''s expression remained pleasant, his words carried a hint of threat.

 Chapter 35 Attitude

    However, contrary to his expectation, Lin Ruoxue directly said:


    "Young Master Liu, thank you for your kindness, but to avoid any misunderstandings, I''d rather sit with our Belle employees."


    The meaning of Lin Ruoxue was clear, she had no such feelings for him, and this was the first time Lin Ruoxue truly expressed rejection.


    In the past, Lin Ruoxue had also declined his various invitations, always using work as an excuse, but the recent statement about avoiding misunderstandings was a clear expression of her stance.


    Liu Qing felt a sudden surge of anger, calling her a tainted girl inside his mind, truly believing she was the epitome of chastity. He swore that sooner orter he would have her in his bed and see how reserved she could still be!


    Of course, he would never show this thought, but Liu Qing was not willing to let go and quickly said:


    "Ruoxue, this is the first row middle seat, why sit so far away?"


    In his opinion, the middle of the first row was obviously the best position. Lin Ruoxue looked at him, hesitated to speak, obviously not wanting to hurt his pride since he was the Liu Family heir.


    However, Su Chen didn''t have so many scruples, and he chuckled:


    "Young Master Liu, right? Do you understand concerts?"


    "Nonsense, do you think I don''t understand, and you, a driver, do?"


    Liu Qing nced at Su Chen and disdainfully said.


    "Although I don''t know much, I still know more than you, a young master," Su Chen said with a faint smile, "Only someone like you, an ignorant pretender, would say the first row is better than the sixth."


    "What did you say?"


    Immediate fire shot from Liu Qing''s eyes; this mere driver dared to openly insult him by calling him a pretender¡ªthis was seeking death!


    But because Lin Ruoxue was present, he didn''tsh out immediately, otherwise he would have already instructed the nearby bodyguards to take action.


    Lin Ruoxue was also taken aback when she heard Su Chen''s words; he was Liu Qing, the heir of the Liu Family¡ªwhen had he ever been cursed like this?


    "Young Master Liu, don''t be angry, Su Chen speaks without thinking, it wasn''t intentional. I apologize on his behalf."


    Lin Ruoxue said hurriedly; this guy was ultimately her husband and she didn''t understand why the usually non-confrontational Su Chen suddenly became so sharp.


    Liu Qing, truly the Liu Family heir, although furious enough to explode, still managed to control his temper and gritted his teeth as he spat out:


    "Then you tell me, why is the sixth row better than the first?"


    Su Chen, not caring about the other''s murderous tone, exined as if educating a child:


    "Because a typical concert doesn''t just have one sound, the beautiful melody isposed of these sounds, and they need space to blend before forming a perfect melody. The positions in the first two or three rows hear sounds that haven''t had enough time to blend fully, and many times the effect is actually the worst."


    "Moreover, even the sound from a single performance needs the reflection of the ceiling, stage canopy, walls, including side walls, the ground, ceiling, stage canopy, and other multiple reflections to fully merge together before the sound can reach the most perfect realm!"


    "Typical concert hall design positions the middle of the sixth to eighth rows as the area with the best sound effects, also known as the ''Emperor''s spot.''"


    "Young Master Liu, do you understand now?"


    Su Chen looked at Liu Qing, his face clearly mocking.


    Liu Qing felt a burning pain, he had not expected this broken driver to actually spout such a confusing spiel.


    Liu Qing wouldn''t know these things; he fundamentally disliked attending concerts and was even less likely to understand, he just pretended to love them to please Lin Ruoxue.


    At this moment, Liu Qing felt as if he had been pped in the face in public, his shame and anger reaching their peak, and his heart filled with hatred for Su Chen.


    Lin Ruoxue''s pretty face was also full of surprise as she gazed at Su Chen with a meaningful look. How could this guy, who seemedpletely out of ce at a sophisticated event like a concert, know so much?


    Although Lin Ruoxue knew that rows 6-8 were the best seats at a concert, she didn''t know the reasons behind it, which was not surprising since most people wouldn''t study such things.


    Although Liu Qing wished he could throw Su Chen into the river to feed the fish, he still behaved gracefully in front of Lin Ruoxue:


    "Listening to Mr. Su today is more enlightening than reading books for ten years. Well then, I won''t insist."


    At this moment, Liu Qing had no face to invite Lin Ruoxue to sit in the first row, especially since Su Chen had clearly only taken out two tickets, obviously not intending to include him.


    Seeing that it was about time, the trio headed inside, with Su Chen watching Liu Qing''s back, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    This Liu Qing was even more cunning than he had imagined, he would need to be more cautious.


    Su Chen hadn''t provoked Liu Qing today on a whim but had nned it all along; he wanted to see how much Liu Qing could endure.


    After entering the concert hall, the three of them split up, Liu Qing sitting in the front while Lin Ruoxue naturally took her seat beside Su Chen in the middle of the sixth row.


    People who came to the concert hall generally maintained high standards of behavior. Although the performance had not yet started, the audience was waiting quietly, with not a hint of uproar.


    Right at eight o''clock, the stage lights came on, and a woman dressed in a ssical qipao walked onto the stage; she was tonight''s host.


    With her signature smile and pleasant voice, she said:


    "Wee to the final stop of the Sara Global Concert, Jianghai, Huaxia. Let''s enjoy a wonderful evening together."


    The host repeated her greeting in both English and Chinese, and her introduction was concise as Sara had been extremely popr in the past two years, with countless fans worldwide; no lengthy introductions or emotional speeches were needed.


    As soon as the host finished speaking, the audience erupted into enthusiastic apuse.


    After finishing her opening speech, the host withdrew, and the lights dimmed slightly. A huge cage-like object began to rise slowly from beneath the stage.


    Suddenly, the cage lit up, and people then realized that it was made of crystal, shining brilliantly under the lights.


    Inside the cage, there stood an egg-shaped oval object which, at that moment, began to slowly crack open.


    A woman dressed in a snow-white long dress appeared inside. As soon as she appeared, the audience burst into an apuse many times warmer than before, nearly lifting the roof off!


    The audience, having expected Sara to start ying without a word as usual, was puzzled when she hesitated, which created a wave of surprise among them.


    Backstage, Julia also felt a bit strange; a sense of unease grew in her heart, stemming from the man she had encountered during the day.


    Sara stood on the stage, scanning the audience below and caught sight of the man who had haunted her dreams; uncontroble tears twinkled in her gaze.

 Chapter 36 Following in Your Footsteps

    "Ladies and gentlemen, good evening," she said, "I''m so d you coulde to my concert..."


    Just as Sara began to speak, the overwhelming apuse from the audience interrupted her, their faces flushed with excitement, their palms red from pping.


    This was no surprise, as Sara used to leave immediately after performing without saying a single word¡ªyet today, she spoke before she even started to y.


    Sara gestured with her hand, and the venue fell silent immediately, a feat perhaps even well-trained soldiers could not achieve.


    "Today is the happiest day of my life!" Sara''s voice choked up, "Because the person I''ve been waiting for has finallye to see my show!"


    Sara''s gaze remained fixed in one direction, her deep affection palpable to anyone.


    The audience was shocked, the implications of Sara''s words sending their minds racing.


    Who could Sara be referring to? What was their rtionship?


    "Su Chen, why do I feel like Sara has been looking at you this whole time?"


    It must be said, a woman''s intuition can be a fearsome thing.


    "How could that be?" Su Chenughed self-deprecatingly, "As if I could know someone like her."


    "Right, even heads of state who want to meet her get turned down. How could she know you? Guess my brain''s got water in it."


    Lin Ruoxue, too, was startled by her own thoughts and then shook her head, dismissing the possibility as impossible.


    Looking at Sara on stage, Su Chen also sighed inwardly. He was only too aware of Sara''s feelings, yet back then, she had been just a little girl, and he had merely seen her as a little sister.


    But the little girl from those days had blossomed into a stunning woman, so much so that even Su Chen had been taken aback by her at first sight.


    "Master, thank you foring today." Sara''s eyes werepletely red, "I know you''ve always seen me as a little sister, but I don''t want to be your sister. I want to be the love of your life."


    At these words, a clear teardrop fell, touching the hearts of countless people!


    "Master, I followed in your footsteps to your homnd! Just to breathe the air you once breathed!"


    "I had no expectations of seeing you again, but God took pity, allowing me to meet you once more."


    "In the country you lived in, on the stage I adore, I am dering my feelings to you. I have no regrets!"


    Facing such angelic words of deep affection from this woman, a chord was struck deep within everyone''s heart.


    They were filled with deep envy for the man so dearly loved by such a woman, women included!


    They could also foresee that tomorrow the newspapers and inte around the world would go wild reporting this sensational news!


    For the past two years, the media paparazzi all over the world had been trying to pry into Sara''s private life but hade up empty-handed.


    No one could have imagined that at a concert in Huaxia, Sara would openly confess to a man, quite the explosive news!


    "How could any man be so heartless? His brain must be squashed by a door!"


    Lin Ruoxue cursed under her breath, her beautiful eyes glistened with tears, and she even began to sob.


    Su Chen also let out a wry smile. If she knew that the man Sara was referring to was him, he wondered whether Lin Ruoxue would still feel the same way.


    "Alright, I have taken enough of everyone''s time today," Sara said, lifting her hand gently to wipe away tears, and revealing a stunningly beautiful smile, "The first piece I''m going to y today is Ssati''s ''Gypsy Airs''."


    "Master, this is also one of your favorite pieces, and I dedicate it to you."


    After she spoke, Sara looked affectionately at Su Chen, then bowed her head and began to y. The room instantly fell silent.


    Soon, the strong and powerful orchestral introduction began, followed by a mncholic melody that flowed from the strings, filling the hall and reaching into everyone''s hearts, evoking an inexplicable sadness.


    Every person familiar with the piece immediately envisioned the impoverished lives of the gypsies and their existence marred by discrimination, giving rise to a surge of pity andpassion deep within.


    Unconsciously, the light harmonics and the soft melodies yed by the intricate plucking of the left hand slightly eased the audience''s sadness while adding a bit of sprightliness.


    Even in sadness, there was beauty; despite the gypsies'' impoverished lives, they did not despair but lived with tenacity.


    Yet, despite their indomitable spirit, they could not escape their fate¡ªto wander, for wandering was their theme.


    Generation after generation, it had always been so. God had never favored them, and at this moment, the sorrow in the music reached its peak, a thick sense of grief enveloping everyone''s hearts, seeping into their souls.


    All the audience members were deeply immersed in this sadness, even feeling their hearts knot up with emotion.


    But gypsies would not surrender to fate or give up on themselves. Despite the hardships, despite discrimination, despite the constant wandering, they still longed for a good life.


    The music then abruptly changed to a very fast allegro, contrasting starkly with the previous mood and creating a sense of grandeur. It was as if one could see gypsies, even under those circumstances, still able to sing and dance, their voices spreading through the forests, echoing across the fields...


    It seemed like all the spectators could see the sunrise slowly climbing up from over the hill, illuminating thend!


    When the piece ended, everyone was still under the spell of the alternating sadness and joy. The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with everyone''s emotions still rippling...


    No one knew how long it had been before a round of apuse suddenly broke out.


    Then a second, a third, a fourth... until everyone in the audience was pping vigorously, growing louder and louder...


    Excitement lit up everyone''s faces. This was the best rendition of ''Gypsy Airs'' they had ever heard, surpassing ssic versions by Mutter, Haifiz, Friedman!


    After that, Sara went on to y ''Ave Maria'', ''The Lark'', ''Meditation'', ''Mendelssohn''s Violin Concerto in E Minor'', and other world-renowned masterpieces, each one receiving fervent adoration from the audience.


    However, the most astounding performance that evening was still ''Gypsy Airs''. The level of technical skill demonstrated had reached the pinnacle of perfection!


    After exiting the concert hall, Liu Qing intended to invite Lin Ruoxue to have supper together, but she kindly declined, so he left alone.


    Standing outside the door of the concert hall, Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help but sigh:


    "This trip was so worth it! Especially for ''Gypsy Airs'', it was wonderful!"


    "It was alright," Suzhen said casually, but this offhandment provoked great indignation from Lin Ruoxue.


    "What do you mean ''alright''? You didn''t y it, so why the false modesty!"

 Chapter 37 Meeting Each Other

    Su Chen sheepishly touched his nose, indeed realizing that women are a species not easily provoked. He quickly begged for mercy:


    "Not bad, not bad, really good!"


    Lin Ruoxue heard that he was just glossing over and suddenly thought of his previous exnation about the positions inside the concert hall, her eyes lighting up:


    "Then tell me, why is it ''not bad''? Exin seriously, no glossing over allowed!"


    "Do I really need to say it?"


    "You must say it!"


    "Alright then, I''ll just say a bit." Su Chen smiled lightly, "Sara''s performance just now was definitely wless in terms of technique, perhaps because she wanted to y it too well, it actually took on a bit of artisanship."


    At first, Lin Ruoxue was just listening casually, but after Su Chen finished his sentence, her expression immediately became serious and she perked up her ears.


    "However, the key issue is not there. In the ''Song of the Wanderer,'' Sara''s interpretation was sad, deste, and sorrowful, but the true essence of the song is about indignation, grandeur, and poignancy. Sara''s performance had too much of a woman''s grievances andcked the spirit of the Gypsies'' unyielding wandering."


    "Insightful!" Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help eximing, Su Chen''s exnation suddenly enlightened her, and she quickly asked, "Doesn''t Sara know this? What should she do then?" Chapter Explore:


    "There''s no way." Su Chen gave a wry smile; if there were a way, he would have already taught it to Sara. "At the end of the day, Sara''s hand is that of a woman, her inherent temperament is painted on by God, that is her nature as a woman, unchangeable."


    "So regarding this particr piece, her inherent temperament means she will never reach the highest Realm, it''s just impossible."


    Su Chen sighed, feeling a sense of regret.


    Lin Ruoxue was by now stunned, just staring at Su Chen, suddenly feeling that this man was so familiar, yet so strange.


    "Who are you really?"


    For some reason, Lin Ruoxue blurted out the question.


    "You''re taking a few casual remarks seriously?" Su Chen lightly patted her shoulder, "Let''s go."


    Lin Ruoxue followed behind Su Chen, looking at him withplex emotions. She knew for sure that what he had just said was not careless talk; without sufficient depth, one simply couldn''t make those remarks.


    Looking at the man who was her husband in name, she found, more and more, that he was like a mystery. She suddenly felt an urge to understand him, something that would have been unthinkable before.


    Just as the two were about to get into the car, Su Chen''s phone rang. He took it out, nced at it, and then fell silent for a moment.


    "Do you have something to do?" Lin Ruoxue asked.


    "Yeah, a little something. You go ahead, take the car. I''ll just take a cab."


    "Alright." Then, as if possessed, Lin Ruoxue said something unexpected, "Come home early."


    Afterward, they both froze...


    "Okay!"


    Su Chen answered with a smile, feeling a warm current slowly flowing through his heart...


    Lin Ruoxue felt her face instantly turn red and slightly hot; she hurriedly dashed into the car, pressed the elerator, and sped away...


    "The hardest thing to repay is a beauty''s favor!"


    After lighting a cigarette, Su Chen walked straight toward the backstage of the concert hall. Just as he was about to enter, a female staff member stopped him.


    "Who are you? Unauthorized personnel are not allowed here."


    The staff member''s expression was serious and stern as she looked at Su Chen with eyes full of caution; after all, the performer here today was Sara, not just anyone else.


    If there were anypses in her work, she reckoned she''d be out on her ears by tomorrow.


    "I''m here to see Sara."


    Su Chen said with a smile, understanding that the other person was just doing her job. Su Chen didn''t take offense.


    "Do you think Sara is someone you can see whenever you want?" the female staffer said with disdain in her eyes, "Look at yourself, what do you think you are?"


    In her mind, the staffer thought he must be one of those delusional toads wanting to eat swan meat!


    "What kind of attitude is that?" Su Chen frowned, understanding her preventing his entry as part of her job, but to be insulted was uncalled for.


    "I had thought that employees at the Jianghai Concert Hall would have some ss, but it seems I was mistaken to find someone like you here."


    "Hmph, attitude depends on who it is directed at. With someone like you, what kind of attitude do you expect me to have?"


    The female staffer felt no remorse, her face showing utter disgust as she looked at Su Chen dressed in his driver''s uniform.


    She thought: How dare someone like youe to Sara''s concert? Can you even understand it? Pretending to be a big deal!


    "She''s right, this isn''t a ce for just any Tom, Dick, or Harry."


    Just then, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed middle-aged woman emerged. Despite heavy makeup, the crow''s feet at the corners of her eyes were still visible.


    That was indeed Sara''s manager, Julia, who patted the female staffer on the shoulder, "Good job."


    The staffer instantly felt a tingling sensation of excitement: "Thank you for the praise, Miss Julia, I''m just doing my duty."


    Julia nodded and then approached Su Chen, speaking coldly:


    "Didn''t I tell you to keep your distance from Sara? What are you doing here?"


    "This is between Sara and me, it''s not really your ce to interfere," Su Chen replied indifferently, shrugging his shoulders without bothering to conceal his disdain.


    "If you''re going to be so obstinate, don''t me me for being rude," Julia''s demeanor chilled as she called out to several security guards standing nearby, "Come here, throw this man out!"


    The security guards, upon hearing the order, hurried over. Just as they were about toy hands on Su Chen, a sharp cry rang out from inside.


    "Stop!"


    Immediately, a graceful figure rushed out lifting her skirts and ran straight into Su Chen''s arms.


    The security and the female staffer were taken aback, confused by the situation unfolding before them!


    Sara, revered as the "Holy Goddess," was actually hurtling into the arms of a man who seemed to be just a driver. It was simply too unbelievable!


    However, mes of anger shot from Julia''s eyes, but she dared not be presumptuous in Sara''s presence.


    "Master, I''ve missed you so much!"


    After a moment, Sara looked up at Su Chen and spoke, her eyes brimming with tenderness so dense it was nearly tangible.


    "I''ve missed you too, little one," Su Chen said as he gently tousled Sara''s blonde hair, his eyes full of adoration, "Let me take a good look at you. Indeed, look how you''ve grown into a youngdy in just a few years."


    Seeing her reminded Su Chen of the time he had met her in Africa, back when he was still the Chief Instructor of Huaxia''s most secretive unit, the Eighth Brigade...

 Chapter 38 Unforgettable Eyes

    At that time, Sara''s mother was a member of the Doctors Without Borders group and had gone to Africa for support.


    Sara''s mother and her father had divorced long ago, so Sara also had to go to Africa with her mother. Unfortunately, the country they were in happened to erupt into war, with the government forces and the Revolutionary Army spreading war across the entire country, enveloping the nation in the smoke of gunfire.


    Sara''s mother tragically lost her life in this war, and the entire medical team got scattered while trying to escape from the war.


    At that time, Su Chen happened to be in that country on a top-secret mission. Just as they were about to finish their mission and return, Su Chen faintly heard the sound of a girl sobbing nearby.


    Following the sound, Su Chen walked to a corner of a factory that had been bombed, where he saw a dirty, skinny little girl with a ponytail.


    Her floral dress was so torn it was hardly recognizable, and her face was covered in dust, obscuring her original appearance.


    But her eyes were exceptionally bright¡ªSu Chen would never forget the watery eyes of the little girl as she looked up at him.


    Those eyes held numbness, hope, longing, fear, and defiance...


    The look in the little girl''s eyes struck a chord in the softest part of Su Chen''s heart.


    It was that look that made Su Chen determined to take her with him...


    "Of course! You''re not allowed to call me ''little girl'' anymore."


    Sara pouted her cherry lips and spoke coquettishly.


    "Alright, alright," Su Chen couldn''t help but smile.


    This scenepletely baffled everyone. What exactly was the rtionship between these two people?


    The female employee nearby had turned pale, realizing without a doubt that the man''s rtionship with Sara was not ordinary, and she had really done something foolish!


    She just couldn''tprehend how two people so different in age could be connected.


    These workers and security guards hadn''t watched the concert due to their duties, so they were also unaware of the incidents that had urred during the concert.


    If they had known, they would definitely have understood that this man dressed in a driver''s uniform was the man Sara had confessed her feelings for during the concert.


    "Alright, this gentleman is here at my request. You all go about your business," Saramanded, and the female employee and the guards, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly nodded in agreement.


    Su Chen didn''t take the opportunity to cause trouble for the female employee; to him, it really wasn''t worth fussing over too much with such people.


    Sara held Su Chen''s hand and walked backstage, frequently turning to look at him, her face blooming with happiness like a flower.


    "Master, wait for me a moment; I''m going to change clothes. Then, you can take me out for a stroll," Sara said sweetly, and Su Chen nodded.


    After Sara entered the changing room, Su Chen sat down on a chair alone and casually began flipping through a magazine.


    About five minutester, Sara came out dressed in a casual style, looking full of youthful vigour.


    Su Chen silently marveled that the little girl from those days had unexpectedly turned into such a beautiful woman and had be a global superstar.


    He couldn''t help butpare Sara with Lin Ruoxue; both women were gifts from God, both could be called genuine beauties!


    However, the two women made Su Chen feelpletely different, each belonging to a different type.


    "Let''s go,"


    Sara said with a sweet smile, hooking her arm through Su Chen''s as they walked out, coincidentally running into Julia who was walking in.


    "Miss, are you going out?" Julia asked.


    "Yes, I''m going out for a stroll with him," Sara nodded, her face beaming with happiness.


    "No way!" Julia''s expression turned serious as she nced at Su Chen, "Miss, what if you are recognized when you go out? What if something happens to you? How will I exin it to thepany?"


    "It won''t happen, Julia," Sara raised her sunsses and hat in one hand, "Look, I''m fully equipped." Chapter Continue:


    At that moment, a man wearing a ck tailcoat and looking very handsome with long bangs covering one side of his forehead walked through the door. He had an unmistakable noble air about him; he was Prince Ka.


    When he saw Sara clinging to Su Chen''s arm, a sh of anger crossed his face.


    It was this man who had stolen the woman he loved, and the look he gave Su Chen was both jealous and disdainful!


    Why should a mere driver be worthy of a woman as pure and noble as Sara!


    Although his fury had reached its peak, he still tried hard to control himself, not to burst out, because that would only make Sara despise him more.


    "Sara, I have prepared a celebration party for you, and I hope you can attend."


    Ka''s face carried a standard smile, appearing gentle and elegant, but within that smile flickered a subtle scent of conspiracy, barely discernible.


    "Alright, since you are so thoughtful, we will attend."


    Just when Sara was about to refuse, Su Chen spoke up.


    Su Chen nced at the man with aristocratic temperament and then at Julia, without a doubt, this man must have been notified by Julia.


    Su Chen wanted to see what tricks the other party wanted to y.


    "Then, alright."


    Sara also nodded her head, to her, it didn''t matter where they went as long as she was with Su Chen. Since he wanted to go, there was no harm in going.


    The celebration party was arranged in the grand hall on the first floor of the hotel where they were staying, not too far from the concert hall. About fifteen minutester, the group arrived.


    By the time Su Chen and his party arrived, many people had already gathered in the hall, including senior executives from the Shanghai Concert Hall, senior executives from the Tianyu Entertainment Company hosting the concert in Huaxia, and some top executives from Sara''spany, Grammy Company.


    Of course, there were also some significant figures, most of whom were there to get closer to Sara.


    As Sara and her party walked in, people crowded around to congratte her and also aptly expressed their admiration.


    Sara, already adept at handling such situations, responded very politely with thanks.


    When they saw Su Chen standing beside Sara, dressed in a driver''s uniform, a flicker of doubt passed through their eyes, wondering how such a person could be there, especially standing close to Sara.


    "Who is this?"


    A man in his thirties dressed in a light blue suit frowned, he was the vice president of Grammy Company and Sara''s superior.


    "Pete, he is my friend, I invited him here," Sara introduced.


    "Sara, how do you have friends from Huaxia?" Pete looked at Su Chen with scrutinizing eyes.


    Sara felt this, and immediately showed her displeasure, her expression chilling:


    "Pete, this is my personal affair, you don''t need to know about it."


    For a superstar like Sara, her say in thepany was actually more significant than this so-called vice president.


    In other words, Grammy could do without Pete, but absolutely could not do without Sara!


    "Sara, I''m just concerned about you, you''re too naive, I''m afraid you might get deceived by some people."


    Seeing Sara upset, Pete quickly exined.


    "Sara, Pete is just showing his concern for you, after all, there are too many viins nowadays, and even more who have their eyes on you," Julia echoed, constantly watching Su Chen, implying more than she said.


    "Julia, you have repeatedly shed with Su Chen, what exactly do you mean?" Sara''s face was covered with frost, "If you keep this up, you might as well not follow me anymore."


    Sara had wanted to burst out on several asions when Julia had troubled Su Chen backstage; she had held back only because Julia had always taken good care of her.


    To think she would start again at this time, did she think herself made of mud?


    "No, miss, I only¡­"


    Julia immediately panicked upon hearing this, knowing that if Sara no longer wanted her as her manager, she would lose everything.


    As far as Grammy Company and Prince Ka were concerned, she would then have no value to offer.

 Chapter 39 The Scent of Conspiracy

    Pete, seeing Sara defending this man and disregarding Julia, who was quite close to her, was terrified and dared not speak further.


    The surrounding crowd was also shocked by this scene.


    What exactly was the rtionship between this man and Sara? She seemed somitted.


    Some who had just attended the concert were even murmuring to themselves, wondering if this man could be the "master" Sara mentioned.


    Ka''s slender eyes sparkled with sharp light, cursing at this damned man and this shameless woman!


    Jealousy, like a me,pletely engulfed Ka, and he began to hate Sara as well.


    During the whole process, Su Chen just stood with his hands in his pockets, a faint smile on his lips, not saying a word. Many people had alreadybeled him as a kept man.


    After greeting Sara, these people all gathered around Prince Ka. They had previously learned of his identity, so they crowded closer to him.


    Everyone wore a ttering smile, utteringplimentary words. For them, establishing a connection with the prince from the A country''s royal family could bring huge benefits to their corporations orpanies.


    The influence of the A country''s royal family was enormous; manyrge organizations and financial groups had their backing.


    Facing these sycophantic people, which made him nauseous, Ka was visibly uninterested, and everyone knew it was because of Sara. They all understood that Ka''s visit to Huaxia was due to Sara.


    Some mentally astute people had even started to n on embarrassing Su Chen to win Ka''s favor.


    After having a champagne toast with the crowd, Sara and Su Chen found a corner, enjoying the buffet and chatting cheerfully.


    From a distance, two resentful gazes were shot their way, naturally from Ka and Julia. Su Chen acted as if he hadn''t seen them.


    "How much longer will you stay in Huaxia?" Su Chen asked casually as he ate.


    "Tomorrow," Sara said, somewhat sadly, reluctantly.


    "So soon, is there something urgent?"


    "Yes, the day after tomorrow is my mother''s death anniversary." Sara''s face turned somber, "I still remember that day. If it weren''t for you, I might not be here either."


    "Silly girl, don''t talk nonsense." Su Chen looked at Sara with some heartache, "You are an angel sent from heaven, how could anything happen to you?"


    "What time is your flight tomorrow? I''ll see you off." Su Chen suddenly asked.


    "No, no, don''t bother." Sara quickly shook her head, seeing Su Chen''s puzzled look, she sighed, "I''m afraid if I see you, I won''t want to leave."


    "Silly girl, you cane to see me anytime, it''s not like we won''t meet again."


    Su Chen deliberately appeared very optimistic, although he himself was not without reluctance.


    "Really?" Sara immediately cheered up upon hearing Su Chen''s words, her expression as sweet as if she had eaten candy.


    "Who was that woman sitting with you today?" Sara suddenly looked mischievously at Su Chen, "She''s so beautiful! I''ve never seen such a beautiful woman before!"


    Su Chen''s face turned slightly embarrassed, a bit sheepish, the kind of expression Sara had never seen on him before, which made her even more curious.


    "Tell me!" Sara tugged at his arm, swinging it back and forth.


    "She''s my wife."


    Su Chen answered softly, his expression as if he had done something wrong.


    "Really? You got married." Sara suddenly widened her eyes, looking at Su Chen with utter surprise.


    "Are you alright?"


    Su Chen noticed that there was no sad expression on Sara''s face, which also made him curious, knowing her feelings for him.


    "You think I''d be sad?" Sara blinked yfully, "Sister Du isn''t sad, why should I be?"


    "That''s also good, only such a woman deserves a master like you," Sara spoke without any hesitation, "from now on, that sister will be the eldest, Sister Du will be the middle, and I''ll be the youngest."


    "What are you talking about? I have nothing to do with your Sister Du!"


    Su Chen couldn''t help butugh and shake his head at the mention of that woman, Du Hanbing, even he shuddered at the thought of her.


    "At such a young age, what nonsense fills your head!"


    Su Chen unceremoniously tapped on Sara''s forehead.


    "I''ve already apologized, what more do you want?" Sara said, looking aggrieved, "Moreover, Sister Du likes you so much, do you think you can avoid her?"


    Su Chen looked at Sara, speechless...


    At that moment, Julia walked over with two sses of red wine.


    Chapter Explore:


    She handed one of the sses to Sara and said apologetically:


    "Sara, I''m sorry about today. I really was just concerned about you, this ss is to apologize."


    Sara, seeing Julia''s apologetic expression, felt her anger subside slightly, but still spoke earnestly:


    "I don''t want there to be any hard feelings between us, but you need to understand that Su Chen is the most important person in my life. You can offend me, but offending him, that''s not okay!"


    "Miss, I understand." Julia turned and gave a slight bow to Su Chen, "Mr. Su, I''m sorry."


    Su Chen looked at Julia with a half-smile, nomittal, and Julia felt his gaze was like a knife, making her unable to meet his eyes.


    "Miss, this ss is for you, I''m really sorry."


    "Okay, cheers."


    Sara clinked sses with her and was about to drink, but on the other side, Julia didn''t drink, but just stared intently at Sara''s movements.


    Watching Sara bring the ss to her lips, she couldn''t help but reveal a faint, triumphant smile.


    Just when she thought she had seeded, a voice sounded from nearby.


    "Hold on!"


    Sara immediately paused, confused, looking at Su Chen while Julia''s heart leapt into her throat.


    Nevertheless, she still pretended to be calm and said:


    "Mr. Su, I''ve already apologized, I''ve already said sorry. Don''t you n to forgive me?"


    Julia, true to her background in the entertainment industry, had a facial expression that perfectly mixed grievance with dissatisfaction.


    But Sara understood Su Chen very well and knew that he was not so petty.


    Su Chen took the ss from Sara''s hand and handed it to Julia:


    "It''s nothing, it''s just that Sara isn''t feeling very well today and shouldn''t drink much. Your ss has less, so why don''t you two switch?"


    "It''s no bother, if Sara isn''t feeling well, she should just drink less, there''s no problem if she doesn''t finish it."


    Julia, hearing Su Chen suggest they switch sses, became even more nervous. Had he seen through her?


    "That''s too wasteful, such good red wine." Su Chen smiled faintly, but his arm remained extended, "The capable should take on more, you go ahead and drink more."


    "Yes, Julia, I have more in my ss, I''ll give it to you."


    Although Sara didn''t understand why Su Chen was doing this, she trusted him unconditionally and supported him.


    "I''m sorry, miss, but I also happen to not feel well today, I can''t drink that much."


    By now, Julia was no longer as calm as before, appearing somewhat panicked.

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40 To Drink or Not to Drink

    ```


    Even the simple-minded Sara could tell something was off by now. Why was it that Julia absolutely refused to drink her own ss of wine?


    Sara''s gaze shifted to the wine ss in Su Chen''s hand, and it seemed she began to understand.


    "Julia, you should just drink it," Sara''s eyes were fixed on Julia, "Since you''re not feeling well, just drink half, then I''ll forgive you." Chapter Continue:


    Julia became immediately distressed. By now, she was certain that man must have noticed something wrong with the wine she had given to Sara; otherwise, he wouldn''t have acted like this.


    Damn it, the drug is colorless and tasteless; how did this bastard figure it out?


    Julia nced inadvertently at Su Chen, only to find him looking back at her with a mocking expression, as if watching a monkey perform.


    "Miss, I''ve expressed my apologies very sincerely. But your attitude is a bit too aggressive. I''m afraid I cannot oblige," she said, feigning great anger and turning to leave. Of course, she wasn''t going to drink that ss of wine.


    "I''m afraid you won''t be able to leave today without drinking this ss of wine," Su Chen said, shaking his wine ss with a slight smile.


    "What do you mean? You wouldn''t dare to force me here, would you?" Julia said disdainfully. After all, this ce was filled with prominent figures, and she really wasn''t afraid of what Su Chen might do.


    "p!"


    As if answering Julia, a loud p suddenly rang out, startling everyone. They all turned their gazes toward Su Chen.


    "I said you''re not leaving without finishing this drink," Su Chen stated calmly.


    "You dared to hit me?" Julia pointed at her now-swollen half-face and screeched, "I''m going to kill you!"


    So saying, Julia lunged at Su Chen with both hands. She had never been pped in her life, let alone by someone like Su Chen, which infuriated her to no end!


    "Boom!"


    However, before her hands could even touch Su Chen''s clothes, she was casually kicked in the abdomen by Su Chen; her body curled up as she flew back three or four meters, then heavily knelt on the ground.


    Everyone was instantly stunned by this scene; it was their first time witnessing such a physical confrontation in such a setting, which was entirely unbing of their status.


    "What are you doing? Why are you hitting someone for no reason?"


    Pete was the first to call out angrily, after all, Julia was with theirpany, and it would beughable if he didn''t speak up.


    "I''m telling you, you won''t be able to leave today unless you give our Grammy Company an exnation for this," he said.


    The others also started to condemn Su Chen''s crude behavior, demanding an apology.


    For them, choosing between backing Pete, affiliated with a multinationalpany, or supporting Su Chen, a mere driver, was an easy decision. Moreover, it was indeed this little driver who had struck someone.


    Unconcerned with these suddenly ''justice''-filled individuals, Su Chen walked straight over to Julia, carrying the wine ss, and squatted down in front of her.


    "Will you drink it yourself or shall I feed it to you?"


    On Su Chen''s face was a warm smile, though to Julia, it seemed more like that of a demon.


    "I won''t drink!"


    After saying so, Julia mped her lips shut, her eyes shooting daggers, seething with hate as her stomach churned like a tumultuous sea.


    "In which case, I''ll just have to feed it to you," Su Chen shook his head and sighed.


    "Sir, don''t you mess around, or I''ll not be polite with you!"


    Pete spoke up again, feeling very slighted by Su Chen''splete disregard earlier. He wanted to reim his presence.


    "You are being very annoying, do you know that?"


    ```


    Su Chen stood up and threw a resounding p across Pete''s face, fed up with his incessant prattling.


    "You dare hit me?" Pete, a top executive at Grammy, an entertainment industry behemoth, was ustomed to respect and ttery everywhere he went. Now he was publicly humiliated by some unknown youngster, which made him roar immediately:


    "I''m going to alert the Jianghai City government to have you, this bastard, arrested!"


    "Scum, this guy is totally a hooligan!"


    "Right, call the police and have him arrested. He''s a disgrace to all of us from Jianghai!"


    "It''s not just a disgrace to Jianghai. In the eyes of our international friends, it''s a disgrace to our Huaxia. He must be severely punished!"


    Everyone at the scene became righteously indignant in an instant, as if Su Chen was an unforgivable criminal!


    But Su Chen ignored these chattering people, moved swiftly as lightning, grabbed Pete''s hair, and dragged him forward.


    A chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd at the sight they couldn''t help but imagine as incredibly painful!


    Su Chen dragged Pete over to a wall and, holding his hair firmly, he mmed his head against it with clean precision.


    "Bang, bang, bang~~"


    After hitting his head against the wall seven or eight times, Su Chen finally let go, dropping Pete by the wall like a dead dog.


    By then, Pete''s face was drenched in blood, looking quite gruesome, but Su Chen had controlled it just right; he wasn''t unconscious and still had a clear mind.


    The area fell silent; everyone was stunned by Su Chen''s brutal actions.


    What a joke, facing such a ferocious thug. If one became a scapegoat and suffered the same fate, wasn''t that suicide? Their heads were not made of metal, after all.


    However, while these people remained silent, someone else spoke up. Ka, who had been quiet so far, now spoke indifferently:


    "Mr. Su, Mr. Pete was merely speaking up for his subordinates. Your actions might be a bit inappropriate."


    "Oh, and what about it?" Su Chen nced at Ka with a nt.


    "You must give an exnation to the two individuals you''ve injured."


    "And what kind of exnation would you like?"


    "Seeing as you''re a friend of Sara''s, we won''t call the police on you despite the severity of your assaults. However, you must kneel and apologize."


    At first, Ka''s words were gentle, but her tone became fierce when she mentioned kneeling and apologizing.


    As a Prince from Country A, he naturally exuded an aura and dignity that made it easy for people to submit.


    The crowd that had quieted down before now became noisy again, the atmosphere even more intense than earlier since Ka had set the precedent.


    Surely this brazen fellow wouldn''t dare toy a hand on Prince Ka¡ªsuch an act could provoke a diplomatic incident.


    Yet Su Chen let out a sinister smile:


    "Rest assured, I will give you an exnation soon, one that will satisfy you. But for now, I need to finish what I''ve started."


    "If anyone else dares to ther on, think about the consequences first!"


    Su Chen swept his gaze over the crowd; his gaze suddenly turned incredibly cold, as if it were from the underworld, sending a shiver down the spine of anyone it touched.


    Seeing Pete still curled up by the wall, not a single person dared to step forward.


    As Su Chen approached again, Julia was shaking uncontrobly:


    "Don''te any closer, please, don''te any closer..."

 Chapter 41 You Think I Wouldnt Dare to Touch You

    However, Su Chen remained unmoved, hoisting her up directly, his hand mping down on her gills, causing her mouth to open.


    "Gulp gulp"


    Su Chen roughly poured half a cup of wine into her mouth, then casually threw her onto the ground.


    As soon as she hit the ground, Julia frantically wed at her own throat, trying to vomit out the wine that had been forced into her.


    But after all, it was liquid, not solid food. She wed desperately until tears came out, yet it did no good.


    The others, witnessing this scene, also understood¡ªthe wine was probably far from simple!


    "You''re going too far!" Ka pointed angrily at Su Chen and shouted, "To force-feed Miss Julia wine in public like this, I won''t let you off today."


    "p p p~~"


    The response to Ka was a burst of apuse, "Prince Ka, is it? I really admire your thick skin."


    Su Chen looked at Ka with a yful expression, "Didn''t you just ask me for an exnation? Alright, I''ll give you one."


    "Drink that remaining half cup of wine, and consider it the exnation I owe you."


    Su Chen pointed to the cup of wine he had ced on a table.


    "What do you mean?"


    Ka''s face instantly became grim, but inside he wondered, could this guy know that I had Julia drug Sara and instruct her to do it?


    But even if he knows, what of it? Surely he wouldn''t darey a hand on me, would he? I''m not Pete or Julia¡ªa conflict with me would be a diplomatic incident!


    Ka believed that even with all the courage in the world, Su Chen wouldn''t dare to touch him.


    "You should know what I mean. If you''re going to feign ignorance, that''s fine by me," Su Chen shrugged nonchntly. "However, let me give you a piece of advice¡ªif you drink that half cup of wine now of your own ord, I''ll consider the matter closed. Otherwise, be prepared to live as a cripple for the rest of your life."


    As soon as Su Chen''s words fell, everyone was taken aback. They were all clever people who had roughly guessed the truth of the matter¡ªit was nothing more than Ka coborating with Julia to drug Sara. As for the nature of the drug, it was apparent without saying.


    Nevertheless, brazenly threatening to leave Prince Ka crippled was too audacious, who was he? He wasn''t Pete or Julia.


    It was fine to hit Pete and Julia since Sara had his back¡ªafter all, they were from the samepany.


    But what about Ka? If he was attacked, resolving the situation wouldn''t be so easy.


    Anyone with a bit of sense probably wouldn''t actually take action, guessing that this young man was just spouting harsh threats.


    Naturally, Ka harbored the same thoughts; he didn''t take Su Chen seriously at all. Even if the drugging might be exposed, he didn''t feel the slightest fear.


    However, since the drugging was now seemingly discovered by the other party, Ka decided to drop all pretenses. He looked at Su Chen contemptuously and said:


    "Even if I gave you the courage, you wouldn''t dare to touch me. I''ll be upfront with you¡ªSara is mine, and no one else cany a finger on her. If you''re smart, stay away from her; otherwise, you might just encounter a tragic disaster one of these days."


    "In your dreams!"


    Sara, who had left the initiative to Su Chen and hadn''t spoken until now, flushed with anger upon hearing Ka''s words.


    "Sara, this man really isn''t worthy of you. Don''t you understand my feelings for you?"


    Ka continued to look at Sara with deep affection, his heart filled with resentment, wondering why she was so blind, preferring this useless man over casting a nce at him.


    "Prince Ka, are you really that confident I wouldn''t dare to touch you?"


    Su Chen pulled Sara behind him and tilted his head, genuinely curious. Why was this guy so confident? Was it simply because of his damn Prince title?


    Ka didn''t say anything, but the disdain in his gaze towards Su Chen said it all!


    "Bang!"


    Just as everyone thought Su Chen would eventually back down, suddenly, a huge noise erupted.


    Right next to Su Chen was a wine rack, filled with dozens of fine wine bottles. He casually grabbed one of the bottles and, with a backhand swing, smashed it over Ka''s head.


    With the "bang" of the impact, the bottle shattered instantly, ss splinters flying, wine spattering everywhere, and a swath of red liquid flowed down Ka''s forehead¡ªit was unclear whether it was blood or wine.


    Everyone was stunned by Su Chen''s sudden action, staring dumbfounded at the young man who still seemed nonchnt, as if in a dream.


    Ka held her forehead with one hand and pointed at Su Chen with the other, her face showing utter disbelief!


    "You, you..."


    "Bang!"


    Just as Ka had barely started her sentence with "You", another huge noise erupted.


    Again, ss shattered everywhere, and drinks flooded the area, while Ka swayed precariously, finding it hard to even stand!


    Everyone waspletely dumbfounded. This man''s actions had entirely exceeded their imaginations¡ªthis was a prince of a country! He was smashing things up just like that!


    "You''re seeking death!"


    Ka managed to stand upright, squeezing a few words through her clenched teeth, her eyes zing with fury, like lightning bolts shooting towards Su Chen.


    "Such a f*cking nag!"


    "Bang!"


    Su Chen casually grabbed another wine bottle and smashed it against Ka''s temple. This time Ka couldn''t stay on his feet and fell to the ground.


    "Do you think I''m joking with you?"


    Su Chen said with a faint smile, taking seven or eight bottles from the shelf, and cing them beside Ka.


    Every single person suddenly felt their hearts leap. What in the world was this guy nning to do?


    "Remember what I said just now?" Su Chen squatted down with a smile, "I did say I would make you disabled for life. Of course, I intend to keep my promise."


    "Do you even know what you''re doing?" Ka managed to say defiantly, though his voice was clearly trembling, "You''re ying with fire!"


    "Am I?"


    Su Chen replied with a faint smile, then picked up a bottle and smashed it with force against Ka''s left knee.


    When Su Chen had previously hit his head, he had deliberately held back his strength¡ªknocking him out or killing him immediately would have been no fun.


    But this time, Su Chen increased his force significantly, and along with the sound of the shattering bottle came Ka''s agonizing scream that was absolutely inhumane!


    Ka felt as if his kneecap had been shattered, an excruciating pain rapidly spreading through his body.


    The others watching this scene felt their hearts nearly stop!


    Some had even thought about calling the police, but seeing how brutal Su Chen was, they put down the phone they had just picked up.


    They all had amon understanding¡ªit was best not to meddle in such affairs!


    As for what torment Prince Ka would suffer and whether this young man would face retaliationter, that was none of their business.


    The Huaxia people have always been particrly adept at self-preservation: as long as I''m safe, all is well!


    Su Chen, however, was indifferent to Ka''s wails, methodically picking up another bottle and smashing it against his right leg, followed by both of his arms.


    Every time Ka fainted from the pain, he was woken up by another blow, the agony of which he wouldn''t forget in several lifetimes!


    He looked at Su Chen''s expressionless face as if he was looking at a devil. Just what kind of person was this guy? He was so ruthlessly brutal!


    "Job''s done!"


    After disabling Ka''s limbs, Su Chen dusted off his hands and stood up, his face still wearing a shallow smile, as if he was an innocent bystander.


    "Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?"


    Ka, enduring the severe pain in his body, red at Su Chen maliciously.


    Of course, this was also the thought of everyone present. Enjoying the beating was one thing, but the aftermath would probably be unbearable.


    Assaulting a prince of a nation was not a trifle, but a grave matter!


    "Really?"


    Su Chen responded indifferently, then pulled a phone out of his pocket, dialed a number, and turned on the speakerphone.

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Pluto

    Everyone, including Ka, was confused. What call was this boy making now?


    Could he be calling for reinforcements? But surely nobody could sort out this mess, could they?


    The phone was quickly connected, and from the other end came an old voice that carried an overbearing authority:


    "Who are you? How did you get this number?"


    "You old fart, have you be so senile that you don''t even recognize my voice anymore?"


    "You, you, how can you...?"


    As soon as Su Chen spoke, the voice on the phone immediately became frightened, mixed with an inexplicable agitation.


    "Did you all think I was dead? So even your son dares to be presumptuous in front of me?"


    Su Chen''s voice suddenly turned severe, and a tremendous pressure spread out, pressing down on everyone in the room so much that they found it hard to breathe.


    Since their conversation was in English, most of the people on the scene could understand it.


    However, they were puzzled about why he was making a call at this time and who on earth was the person speaking with him?


    At the same time, the crowd was surprised to see that Prince Ka had turned deathly pale, his body trembling non-stop! It seemed even more intense than the reaction he had when Su Chen beat him earlier.


    "It''s good that you''re well, sir. I knew it, your luck is as boundless as the heavens, and surely nothing would happen to you!"


    The voice on the phone was evidently filled with careful ttery, "Which damned son of mine has offended you, sir? For the sake of our many years of friendship, please be merciful."


    "Talk to your father yourself!" Su Chen tossed the phone to Ka.


    Everyone was immediately shocked. They never imagined that the person just speaking with Su Chen was actually Prince Ka''s father, that is, the King of Country A?


    How did this young man in a chauffeur''s uniforme to know the King of Country A? This was utterly inconceivable.


    But what shocked the crowd the most was that the King, during the phone call, clearly showed great respect and fear towards this man. The ttery and appeasement in his tone were undeniable!


    Now everyone looked at Su Chen with a serious gaze, wondering just who this young man was!


    Ka''s surprise at this moment was even more intense than anyone else''s. He never dreamed that this person would know his own father!


    For the first time, a deep unease took hold in his heart, but he still shakily picked up the phone.


    "Father."


    "Speak, what have you done?"


    The voice on the phone was extremely stern, and Ka was hearing his father question him in such a tone for the first time.


    He was the youngest of his father''s sons, always the favorite since childhood. Whatever he did, his father would indulge him unconditionally, which had nurtured his arrogant nature.


    "I didn''t do much, just said a few words that might have upset that guy just now, but this bastard actually broke all my limbs!"


    Although Ka now knew that the man in front of him was connected to his father, he still couldn''t control the hatred in his heart when he spoke of him.


    "You fool, do you want to die? If you dare to disrespect that gentleman again, I will immediately banish you from the royal family!"


    A furious shout immediately came from the phone, and the threat of being banished from the royal family really frightened Ka.


    "But Father, he did beat me into a cripple, I might never be able to stand again. Is it just going to be left at that?"


    Ka sobbed, saying that he was starting to understand; he dreaded that today''s beating had been in vain. How could he, who had always been spoiled and pampered, be content with this?


    "Tell me the truth, what exactly did you do?"


    The person on the other end of the phone ignored his sobs and asked directly.


    "I, I..."


    With his father pressing for an answer, Ka fumbled with his mouth but couldn''t speak.


    Su Chen took the phone from Ka''s hand:


    "Since your son is too embarrassed to say it, I''ll tell you. Your precious son drugged my sister''s drink. What do you think I should do with him?"


    "What?" A cry of shock immediately came from the other end of the phone, "Lord Nine Nether, please show mercy. For my sake, spare his life! I beg you! I beg of you!"


    The voice on the phone made everyone present sharply inhale; who exactly was this young man?


    As the King of a country, his most beloved youngest son was crippled by him, yet he was not thinking of revenge but was pleading, with such fervor, for the other party to spare his son''s life?


    "Father, why are you begging him? Does he dare to kill me, a Prince of the realm!"


    Ka''s anger overcame his panic, and he shouted into the phone.


    "Idiot! You don''t know how to seek death properly. What are you? In front of Lord Nine Nether, even if you died, it would be a meaningless death. Do you think your life is worth any more than that of a pig''s to Lord Nine Nether? Cough cough cough!"


    The aged voice on the phone also burst into an angry roar out of frustration and was apanied by a fit of coughing, clearly due to the excitement.


    Lord Nine Nether? What kind of being is that?


    Everyone was unclear about the meaning behind the so-called Lord Nine Nether, but they grasped anotheryer of meaning quite well.


    That is, if this young man killed Prince Ka, it wouldn''t even cause a ripple, let alone an international dispute.


    If anyone else had said this, the crowd would not have believed it, but since it was said by the King of Country A, they could not help but believe it.


    Now, everyone''s gaze towards Su Chen was no longer just awe, butplete veneration as if looking up to a deity.


    And Ka was utterly deted, his eyes somewhat vacant. He couldn''t understand why a Prince of a country had fallen to such a state, crippled and reduced to just letting it go and even having to beg for his own life.


    "Lord Nine Nether, please, for the sake of my few remaining years, spare Ka! I beg you!"


    The King of Country A''s pleading voice made everyone feel a touch of sorrow, even more so for Su Chen, who had known him for many years.


    "Alright, today I''ll spare him for your sake. Send someone to pick him up," said Su Chen with a sigh.


    After all, Ka had vited Su Chen''s taboo by drugging Sara, or else he wouldn''t have dealt such a harsh punishment.


    "Additionally, you should know to keep your own mouth shut."


    Su Chen turned off the speaker and said indifferently.


    "Don''t worry, Lord Nine Nether, I understand the gravity of the situation," the King of Country A hurriedly responded.


    After hanging up the phone, Su Chen gave Ka a cold nce, which made Ka feel as if he were being dragged into the Nine Nether Abyss.

 Chapter 43 Honeyed Words

    "Let''s go."


    Su Chen took Sara''s hand and walked towards the door. Anyone close to them automatically stepped back a few paces.


    Just as they reached the door, a series of exmations and noisy voices came from inside. Out of curiosity, Sara nced back only to find Julia ripping her own clothes while lunging at a man beside her¡­


    The man was taken aback and hastily dodged away. Julia then continued to throw herself at another man, and by this time, most of her clothes had been ripped off, revealing a sudden glimpse of spring!


    Initially, Sara felt that Su Chen had been a bit too harsh, but now, after witnessing this scene, she thought the earlier lesson wasn''t harsh enough!


    If it hadn''t been for Su Chen, she might have been in Julia''s current state by now, no, Ka would certainly have taken her to a hotel, and her fate would have been easy to imagine!


    If such a thing really happened, she would rather die!


    Su Chen took Sara to a barbecue stall, had somete-night snacks, drank a few bottles of beer, and then sent her back to the hotel.


    Sara was reluctant to go back, but Su Chen had Lin Ruoxue''s previous words, "Come back early," on his mind.


    It took Su Chen over ten minutes to coax the tiresome Sara upstairs, then he hailed a cab back to Lin Ruoxue''s vi.


    Upon entering the house, Su Chen found Lin Ruoxue lying on her side on the couch, leaning against one end, wearing an asymmetrical neckline nightgown.


    This position fully exposed her slender legs to the air. Because of her sleeping posture, coupled with the asymmetrical neckline nightie she wore, the spring view at her neckline also treated Su Chen to a delightful sight.


    The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Su Chen standing not far from her.


    And his gaze was fixed intently on a certain part of her, as if he were looking at a delicious dish¡­


    Lin Ruoxue felt a bit strange, looked down at herself, and then realized why he had that expression.


    "Pervert!"


    Lin Ruoxue shot Su Chen a reproachful nce, then sat up and straightened her clothes.


    "You can''t me me for this." Su Chen sat down on the couch, lit a cigarette, and said, "Confucius himself said that food and sex are nature''s dictates; this only proves that my wife is too beautiful. If you looked like no pig would snout and no dog would gnaw at you, I wouldn''t even look your way if you paid me!"


    "Smooth talker!"


    Lin Ruoxue''s face turned slightly red, thinking to herself how sweet this guy''s words had be.


    "Alright, go take a bath and sleep, I''m tired too," Lin Ruoxue said, and then she got up and walked upstairs.


    "Hey, you weren''t waiting for me all this time, were you?" Su Chen''s "annoying" voice came from behind.


    Lin Ruoxue paused for a moment, then hummed without turning her head:


    "In your dreams!"


    Su Chen watched Lin Ruoxue''s beautiful back, rubbed his chin, feeling that their rtionship had improved quite a bit from before.


    If this were before, such a conversation would have been impossible; both of them would simply have treated each other like air.


    "Seems like having such a wife isn''t too bad," Su Chen murmured, "If possible, living on like this wouldn''t be too bad either."


    After returning to his own room, Su Chen continued his cultivation practice, but today he had no breakthroughs; he only consolidated his previous Realm a bit more.


    Su Chen wasn''t in a hurry though; he knew that maintaining the pace of progress like before was impossible. Cultivation was like this; the further one got, the more difficult it became.


    For instance, he had previously been stuck at the half-step Meridian Expansion Realm for as long as two years without a true breakthrough to the Meridian Expansion Realm.


    When it was a little past five in the morning, Su Chen ended his night of cultivation, took a shower, and started making breakfast.


    After the past two days, Lin Ruoxue wasn''t surprised anymore and simply enjoyed the fruits of Su Chen''s busy efforts, even making a fewments here and there.


    Seeing the thaw in the rtionship between the two, Wang Ma was in a great mood, her face always adorned with an ambiguous smile.


    After breakfast, it was Lin Ruoxue who left first. Su Chen wasn''t the president and didn''t have the self-discipline to arrive early and stayte; as long as he arrived a bit before the bell and wasn''tte, that was enough.


    "Brothers who haven''t had breakfast yet,e and get it quickly."


    Su Chen made a lot of breakfast and didn''t want to waste it, so he packed it up and brought it for the security department''s staff.


    "I haven''t eaten yet!"


    "Me neither!"


    "And me, save one for me!"


    Upon hearing Su Chen''s invitation, the security department became immediately enthusiastic, and the big bag of food Su Chen brought was quickly divided up.


    "This tastes so good, where did you buy this stuff, Su Chen?"


    "Exactly, I''ve never had such tasty soup dumplings before. Tell me where to get them, I''ll buy some next time."


    ...


    "Sorry, you can''t buy these; I made them myself!"


    "You''re not kidding, are you?"


    "Su Chen, who knew you had this skill!"


    "Su Chen, if I were a woman, I''d marry you just for your cooking skills."


    "Keep dreaming! With your genes, even if you were a woman, you''d be no better than Zhu Bajie! I wouldn''t want you even if you paid me!"


    Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, a muffled grunt came through:


    "What are you doing? What''s going on? It''s work time, who allowed you to have breakfast!"


    "Vice Director Cao, there are still ten minutes before work!" Su Chen nced at the sneaky-faced Cao Kun, "Everyone, carry on eating."


    "No eating!" When Cao Kun saw that everyone continued to eat, he felt his face couldn''t hold the embarrassment, "Even if it''s not work time yet, this is thepany, an office ce, is this where you''re supposed to have breakfast?"


    "Whoever dares to continue eating, say goodbye to this month''s bonus."


    Cao Kun swept a gaze over everyone, and seeing that they all hesitated, he couldn''t help but smirk triumphantly, although that smirk looked rather lecherous!


    "Oh, is that so?" Su Chen said with a smile that was not quite a smile, looking at Cao Kun, "Just now, I passed by someone''s office and saw that very someone feasting away inside! I wonder if we''re applying the same rules to everyone?"


    "Who are you talking about?" Cao Kun jumped up like a caught fox, "Make yourself clear."


    "The guilty one knows." Su Chen snorted, "You haven''t even wiped the grease from the corner of your mouth clean yet!"


    "Right, I saw it too. If you''re going to deduct bonuses, it should be for all of us!"


    "Indeed, otherwise we won''t ept it!"


    "If you only deduct ours, we''ll go to the president and let him judge!"


    The staff had always looked down upon and couldn''t stand Cao Kun, the sycophant. Now with Su Chen taking the lead, everyone joined together in their defiance against Cao Kun.

 Chapter 44 The President is My Wife

    Cao Kun hadn''t expected that he would so easily incur public wrath, and suddenly he did not dare to confront everyone directly anymore. If this matter truly got to the president, he might not expect good consequences.


    He instantly shot two hateful nces toward Su Chen, considering this guy the root of everything!


    Cao Kun had noticed how popr Su Chen became upon his arrival and worried that he might threaten his position, which was why he attempted to sabotage him. However, he didn''t expect that it would backfire and hurt himself instead.


    "What''s all this noise! Don''t you have anything better to do!"


    At that moment, an authoritative voice came through and everyone quieted down upon hearing it.


    Then a square-faced, fairly dignified middle-aged man walked in. He was the head of the security department, Zhang Mingyu.


    Zhang Mingyu was different from Cao Kun; he had quite a bit of prestige in the security department. However, people feared rather than respected him.


    Su Chen sensitively noticed that Zhang Mingyu had aplex look in his eyes when he nced at him, which made him somewhat puzzled.


    But his puzzle was quickly solved as Zhang Mingyu said to him:


    "Su Chen, the president wants you to go to her office immediately."


    After speaking, Zhang Mingyu left, and Cao Kun naturally scurried out after him.


    Everyone was astonished. How could the president know about this new driver?


    Even if she did, why would she call him to the office early in the morning?


    "Su Chen, why would the president ask for you in her office?"


    Liu Yuan couldn''t help but ask curiously, and everyone else perked up their ears.


    "I don''t know," Su Chen shrugged and said.


    "Do you know the president?" Meng Shan also asked, his face full of curiosity.


    "Hmm," Su Chen nodded.


    "What''s your rtionship with her?"


    "Nothing special," said Su Chen nonchntly.


    "Impossible, if there were nothing between you, the president would not have called for you so early in the morning. Why keep secrets from us?"


    Although Meng Shan was a man, he was still young, and his curiosity was intense.


    "Fine, I''ll just tell you all," Su Chen nced at everyone and said, "Actually, President Lin is my wife."


    "Cut it out, if you don''t want to tell, just don''t, but there''s no need for such tall tales!"


    Meng Shan waved his hand,pletely disbelieving Su Chen''s statement, "If the president is your wife, then Sara is my lover!"


    "Yeah, Su Chen, we won''t force you if you don''t want to share, but you can''t just say anything. Be careful with making jokes about the president, lest you get fired," Liu Yuan warned Su Chen earnestly.


    "Alright, I was indeed joking just now. I''ll be more mindful in the future."


    Su Chen smiled bitterly. Why does no one believe the truth?


    In Zhang Mingyu''s office, Cao Kun was also quite nervous:


    "Chief, why would the president call for that guy with the surname Su? What is his rtionship with the president?"


    "I don''t know," Zhang Mingyu took a puff of his cigar, immediately obscuring his face in smoke. His expression was very serious, "But that guy is definitely not simple. Keep a close watch on him."


    "Yes, Chief. I''ve noticed that too, that guy is no good!"


    Cao Kun said angrily, his stress suddenly increased when he heard about the rtionship between Su Chen and Director Lin.


    Zhang Mingyu, however, did not pay attention to Cao Kun''s petty thoughts. He was quietly meditating: It seemed necessary to tell Vice President Ma about this matter.


    ....


    "Hello, Mr. Su. Director Lin instructed that you can go straight in when you arrive."


    As Su Chen approached Lin Ruoxue''s office, her secretary Chen Guo stood up and said.


    Su Chen nodded, pushed open therge door of the office, and inside, Lin Ruoxue was looking at a document.


    "What''s the matter that you''re looking for me so early in the morning?"


    After entering, Su Chen nonchntly picked up Lin Ruoxue''s teacup and poured himself a cup of coffee, then leisurely sat down on the sofa.


    By the time Lin Ruoxue realized it, Su Chen had already started drinking. This bastard, actually using her teacup!


    "Your coffee is really not bad!"


    Su Chen clicked his tongue in appreciation and even licked the residual coffee from the edge of the teacup with his tongue.


    Lin Ruoxue''s eyebrows furrowed as she watched this scene. Thinking about how she always used that teacup for her tea, she suddenly felt ufortable.


    She was a woman with a mania for cleanliness, normally not even allowing others to touch her personal belongings, and yet this bastard had the audacity to make such an obscene gesture with her teacup!


    If it were any other item, Lin Ruoxue would have thrown it away immediately, but this teacup was aing-of-age gift from her grandfather on her eighteenth birthday, meant to make her feel her grandfather''s presence every day.


    This caused Lin Ruoxue to feel, for a period of time afterward, as if Su Chen''s lips had just licked over her teacup every time she drank tea.


    Su Chen looked up and noticed that Lin Ruoxue was staring at the teacup in his hand with an icy expression, so he simply finished the coffee and then ced the cup back on Lin Ruoxue''s desk.


    "Is it really such a big deal that I used your teacup? Do you have to give me such a frosty reception?"


    Su Chen curled his lip and, not waiting for Lin Ruoxue to explode, continued, "Say it, what do you want to talk to me about?"


    It was only then that Lin Ruoxue remembered that she did have something to ask him, so she put aside the matter at hand.


    "Tell me, what have you done to Little Hao?" Lin Ruoxue''s beautiful eyes were fixed tightly on Su Chen.


    "Eh, what did Lin Hao, that stinky brat, say?"


    Su Chen''s heart skipped a beat. Did Lin Hao tell Lin Ruoxue about yesterday''s event?


    But after a moment''s thought, Su Chen deemed it unlikely, growing even more curious about what exactly Lin Hao had said that made Lin Ruoxue summon him first thing in the morning.


    "He, he said¡­"


    Lin Ruoxue hesitated for a long time but still couldn''t articte what Lin Hao had actually said.


    It was because she was too embarrassed to repeat Lin Hao''s words in front of Su Chen.


    The situation was actually very simple. This morning, as soon as Lin Ruoxue arrived at the office, she remembered that Lin Hao was still in the hospital and made a call to check on him.


    Unexpectedly, her brother didn''t speak much before telling her to treat her brother-inw well, to hold onto this man at all costs, and to move forward quickly with things like getting married and having a baby.


    Lin Ruoxue was naturally taken aback, knowing how much her brother had previously disapproved of her husband. To think that in the blink of an eye, his attitude had taken a 360-degree turn.


    She hurriedly asked for the reason, but Lin Hao was evasive, and when questioned further, he simply hung up the phone.


    Unable to fathom Lin Hao''s sudden change of heart, Lin Ruoxue had no choice but to call Su Chen to her.


    "What exactly did he say?"


    Seeing a blush suddenly appear on Lin Ruoxue''s pretty face, Su Chen also felt very strange...

 Chapter 45 Su Chens Unrequited Love

    "It''s nothing! All right, it''s over." Lin Ruoxue waved her hand in feigned impatience, "You better leave now."


    Yet, the slight panic in her eyes was still caught by Su Chen, who became even more curious.


    Just as Su Chen was about to ask further, the office door was suddenly flung open.


    "President Lin, something terrible has happened..."


    As Xia Qiuru pushed the door and entered, she froze upon seeing Su Chen there, wondering, How is he here?


    "Director Xia, what happened?"


    The moment Lin Ruoxue saw the panic on Xia Qiuru''s face, she knew something serious had urred.


    "Oh, President Lin, the marketing department just called to say that our representatives who went to negotiate with Bald Hui were beaten up."


    Upon hearing Lin Ruoxue''s question, Xia Qiuru quickly recovered from her surprise and responded.


    "What?" Lin Ruoxue gasped in shock, "How is the injured person? Has he been taken to the hospital?"


    "He''s already been taken there, it seems his leg was broken, and it might take about six months to heal."


    "Damn! These people are outright thugs!" Lin Ruoxue mmed the desk and cursed angrily.


    "President Lin, these people are indeed ruffians! The question is, what do we do now?"


    Xia Qiuru sighed deeply ¡ª this matter was really troublesome.


    "Let''s do this, Director Xia, you go in my ce to handle this. I can offer a higher price, but only up to 15% more than our nned budget. If they don''t agree, call the police." Lin Ruoxue gave it some thought and continued, "Then, visit the hospital and see the injured employee. Tell him that thepany will cover all his medical expenses and continue to pay his sry while he recovers."


    The reason Lin Ruoxue did not immediately call the police was that she knew Bald Hui and his men were inherently bullies. Sending him to jail now would not be the end ¡ª he''d be back in a few months, looking for trouble again.


    By that time, for arge corporation like Belle, Bald Hui might not pose much of a threat.


    But the type of retaliation the injured employee could face was another matter.


    Not even the police could do much about these kind of people, and for them, spending a few months in jail was nothing unusual.


    "Aren''t you going over?" Xia Qiuru asked, somewhat curiously.


    "I have a meeting set with Mr. Zhang from the Northeast soon, so I can''t go myself. I''m afraid I have to leave it to you."


    "Okay, I understand. I''ll go now."


    Xia Qiuru, always efficient in handling tasks, turned around and prepared to leave.


    "Wait." Lin Ruoxue suddenly stopped Xia Qiuru, "Let Su Chen apany you."


    "There''s no need, no need, I can go by myself."


    Xia Qiuru hurriedly waved her hands, clearly not fond of Su Chen.


    "Qiuru, please, let him go with you. I''m notfortable with you going alone; it''s more reassuring to have a man with you."


    Considering Bald Hui and his men, Xia Qiuru felt a bit uneasy and thus agreed.


    Su Chen watched the two women push and pull, thinking, Did anyone ask me?


    Of course, these thoughts were kept to himself. At times like this, he naturally would not stand idly by.


    "Director Xia, I''ll fetch the car. Just wait for me at the main entrance."


    ....


    Three minutester, Su Chen picked up Xia Qiuru in the car, and headed towards the north of the city.


    In the car, Xia Qiuru briefly exined the situation to Su Chen.


    Earlier this year, Belle Corporation had acquired a plot ofnd in the East of the city to build a new skyscraper, intended as the new office address for its pharmaceuticalpany.


    Originally, there had been over thirty households on that plot ofnd, most of whom had relocated after Belle Corporation paid them a substantial demolition resettlement fee.


    However, there were still two households that hadn''t been demolished. Belle Corporation found out that during the demolition period, a local gang leader named Bald Hui had deviously acquired the houses from the original residents and hadpleted all the legal procedures for the transfer.


    When Belle Corporation approached Bald Hui for negotiations, he made an outrageous demand of twenty million.


    Naturally, Belle Corporation couldn''t agree, and several attempts to negotiate had failed. This time was even more preposterous, as Bald Hui had even broken the leg of the person who went to negotiate.


    "So, this is a huge loss for the corporation, isn''t it?" Su Chen tilted his head and asked.


    "Isn''t it just? The dy has already caused a loss of at least two million,"


    Xia Qiuru sighed, her expression somewhat mncholic¡ªshe held little confidence in her current mission.


    "Don''t worry," Su Chen replied lightly with a smile, "the matter can be resolved today."


    "I''m not as optimistic as you are. You don''t know how troublesome that Bald Hui can be!"


    Xia Qiuru shook her head and then asked curiously, "Whose car is this? I don''t remember seeing a BMW in ourpany fleet."


    "This is my wife''s; I borrowed it for a while."


    "You''re married?" Xia Qiuru asked in surprise, "And your wife seems quite wealthy."


    "What, are you feeling down because I''m married?" Su Chen nced at Xia Qiuru''s delicate face. "If you don''t mind, I can make you my mistress."


    "In your dreams!" Xia Qiuru spat lightly, "I''m not blind like your wife, to fall for a scoundrel like you!"


    Xia Qiuru immediately recalled how Su Chen had flirted with her before. This scoundrel was still mischievous even after getting married, which really spoke volumes about his character!


    No matter how much Su Chen teased her after that, Xia Qiuru ignored himpletely, her face as cold as ice¡­


    Su Chen was frustrated. Everything was fine just moments ago, so why had she suddenly changed?


    Truly, the heart of a woman is as elusive as a needle at the bottom of the ocean!


    "Could she actually have fallen for me and now be jealous that I''m married?"


    Su Chen couldn''t help but think narcissistically¡­


    ...


    In the office of Zhang Mingyu, head of security at Belle Corporation, Cao Kun ingratiatingly reported:


    "Director, weren''t you always keeping a tab on Xia Qiuru? Just now, she left with that guy Su Chen, and he was driving."


    "Hmm? It seems like none of thepany cars were used today," Zhang Mingyu asked with a slight frown.


    "It''s not apany car. It''s a BMW 5 Series," Cao Kun suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Director, should we tell Vice President Ma about this? He''s always been interested in Xia Qiuru."


    "Let me think about this for a moment; you can go now."


    After Cao Kun left, Zhang Mingyu stood in front of the window deep in thought. What was the deal with this new guy who seemed to have connections with the president and Xia Qiuru!


    .....


    "It''s that arcade up ahead¡ªBald Hui is the boss here, and he usually hangs out here with his cronies,"


    As they neared their destination, Xia Qiuru finally spoke up.


    "I thought you would never speak to me again,"


    Su Chen gave a small smile and stopped the car in front of the arcade.


    "You better watch your mouthter on; those guys aren''t reasonable, and I wouldn''t want you to get hurt and me me for not warning you,"


    Xia Qiuru held back Su Chen, who was heading straight inside, and said.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Too Tasteless

    "Alright, I''ll do as you say," Su Chen said indifferently, nodding his head.


    Only then did Xia Qiuru let go of his arm and followed him into the arcade.


    "Hey, what are you doing here?"


    A young man wearing a ck, low-quality leather jacket and dyed yellow hair immediately blocked Su Chen''s way as he saw him.


    "I am here to see your boss, Liu Hui. Is he in?"


    Xia Qiuru stepped out from behind Su Chen and asked. Since Liu Hui was called that, Xia Qiuru addressed him as "boss Liu."


    The sight of Xia Qiuru immediately made the young man''s eyes gleam with excitement; such a beautiful girl was a rare sight indeed.


    "Is your boss around?"


    As the young man stared at her continuously, Xia Qiuru felt ufortable and asked again.


    "Oh, yes, yes," he hurriedly responded. "Hold on, I''ll go and inform him."


    The young man then rushed off and pushed open the door of an office farther inside.


    "Boss, a girl just came outside looking for you," the young man said with a sleazy smile on his face. "Boss, you really should check this girl out. She''s absolutely stunning¡ªthe face, the figure! Wow!"


    As he spoke, he almost drooled, and Liu Hui, seeing his desperate look, grew interested. He was just about to get up but sat back down again.


    "You go, invite her in, and be polite."


    "Got it!" The young man responded and then ran out, approaching Xia Qiuru. "Come with me, our boss has agreed to see you."


    After saying this, he led Xia Qiuru and Su Chen to Liu Hui''s office door and then pushed it open and walked in.


    As soon as Liu Hui saw Xia Qiuru, his eyes widened in shock. The young man was right¡ªthis girl was absolutely stunning!


    Her long hair, slightly pinned up, and her delicate facial features were incredibly captivating, and what was more, her figure was truly elegant and alluring.


    She was dressed in a ck business suit, with a white blouse underneath that was tightly filled, and a hip-hugging skirt that outlined her curves.


    This woman was truly exceptional!


    Liu Hui couldn''t help but swallow his saliva and then swallowed again. As for Su Chen, he waspletely ignored.


    "Boss Liu, I am the HR Director from Belle Corporation. I am here to discuss the relocation of those two households with you," Xia Qiuru said, enduring the disgusting gaze from him.


    "You are from Belle Corporation?"


    Liu Hui became alert after hearing Xia Qiuru''s voice, and a strange glint shed in his eyes.


    "Indeed, I hope we can have a good talk and settle the matter concerning those two households as quickly as possible," Xia Qiuru said seriously. Meanwhile, Su Chen couldn''t help but curl his lips. "Are you stupid, talking official business with a thug? It''s like ying the lute to a cow!"


    "I also want to resolve this quickly," Liu Hui spread his hands. "I''ve already made my offer; it''s you who haven''t epted, not my problem."


    "Boss Liu, it''s not that we''re unwilling to ept, but the price you''ve set is just outrageous! You''re basically extorting us!"


    As soon as Xia Qiuru saw their attitude, she knew that negotiations were likely going to fail again today.


    "You can eat whatever you like, but words must not be carelessly spoken," Liu Hui''s face turned cold suddenly, "Those two buildings are now mine; I will sell them if I wish, and if I don''t wish to sell, I won''t. As for the price, if you ept it we can talk, if not, forget it. I''m not forcing you."


    "Mr. Liu, we really came here with a sincere attitude. Could you possibly show some leniency? You know that we cannot agree to the price you are asking. Can''t you suggest a reasonable price? Moreover, if you have any other demands, we will try our best to meet them," Xia Qiuru pleaded, sighing as she thought about the many days the project had already been dyed and the many ways work had been impacted.


    "Why didn''t you say this earlier?" Liu Hui''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the towering figure in front of Xia Qiuru, "I, Liu Hui, am not unreasonable, especially when dealing with a beauty like Director Xia!"


    "Really? That''s great!" Although Xia Qiuru felt ufortable under Liu Hui''s gaze, she immediately got excited at his words, "Tell me, whatever your demands are, just mention them."


    "Well, I do need to think carefully about it."


    Liu Hui stroked his chin, walked out from behind the desk, and came up to Xia Qiuru.


    "What if I said I want Director Xia to spend a night with me? Director Xia is so beautiful, and I, Liu Hui, always listen to beautiful women."


    Liu Hui moved close to Xia Qiuru''s body, inhaling her light fragrance, his face intoxicated.


    "p!"


    Caught off guard, Liu Hui''s face received a fierce p from Xia Qiuru, sending him staggering back with five slim finger marks appearing on his face.


    "Despicable!"


    Xia Qiuru shouted furiously, her face bright red, eyes sparkling with humiliation!


    "You bitch, you''re looking for death!" Liu Hui, having been pped, flew into a rage, "Huang Mao, close the door!"


    "What are you going to do? Don''t mess with me, I''ll call the police if youe any closer!"


    As a woman, Xia Qiuru immediately panicked when she saw Liu Hui''s ferocious look as he steadily approached her.


    "You bitch, I actually wanted to be nice to you, but you had to be so disrespectful!" Liu Hui touched his burning cheek and said, "Since it''s like this, don''t me me for being a brute!"


    "Having my way with such a beautiful officedy in the office, it must feel extremely thrilling! Hahaha!"


    Liu Hui said as he burst into a mercilessugh while Xia Qiuru looked like amb ready for ughter.


    Xia Qiuru nearly burst into tears, she had not anticipated encountering such a situation during the negotiation.


    "Could it be that the purity I''ve maintained for over twenty years is going to be ruined by this scum today?"


    Xia Qiuru was terrified and deeply unwilling, but she was just a woman, what could she do against Liu Hui, a physically imposing man?


    Moreover, Liu Hui''s men were definitely outside, and she couldn''t escape no matter what.


    "Go ahead, cry! Let it all out!" Liu Huiughed maniacally, "I love watching women cry under me!"


    As Liu Hui reached out arge hand towards Xia Qiuru, just as he thought he was about to grab her, he suddenly found that he couldn''t move his outstretched hand, and another hand suddenly appeared, grabbing his wrist.


    "You''re a man too; this is really shameless,"


    a faint voice drifted over...

 Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Who is the pig?

    Baldy Hui couldn''t help but feel some surprise; he hadn''t expected this unfamiliar young man to dare obstruct his way.


    Actually, it wasn''t just Baldy Hui who felt this way, but Xia Qiuru as well.


    Clearly, just now, both of them had automatically ignored the presence of Su Chen standing aside.


    In their eyes, this kid was just a driver, surely he wouldn''t dare to interfere.


    Even if he were bold enough to intervene, he certainly wouldn''t be able to handle it. Not to mention anything else, just looking at his buildpared to Baldy Hui''s, the difference was more than slight.


    Seeing Su Chen take action, Xia Qiuru, who had already plunged into despair, suddenly saw a spark of hope light up in her eyes, though it quickly faded away again.


    How could Su Chen possibly be a match for Baldy Hui, not to mention the numerous henchmen thetter had?


    The hope that had just sprung in Qiuru''s heart shattered instantly, but she was still deeply touched by Su Chen''s gesture!


    After all, the two of them weren''t really rted, and she believed that most men would choose to remain silent at this moment, because one wrong move could result in a severe beating from the other party!


    "Don''t stick your nose into this, let go!"


    Baldy Hui violently tried to shake off the grip on his wrist, only to find that Su Chen''s grip was like it was fixed in ce, not moving in the slightest!


    "Kid, are you tired of living?"


    Baldy Hui frowned and red at Su Chen with a menacing look on his face.


    At this moment, Xia Qiuru also spoke up:


    "Su Chen, don''t get involved in this. These people are not ones you can afford to offend. I don''t want to drag you into this."


    Actually, what Qiuru hoped for more was that Su Chen could take the opportunity to run out and call the police. That way, she might have a slim chance of being saved.


    "She''s right. If you know what''s good for you, scram to the side. Otherwise, I''ll make sure you''re carried in upright and taken out horizontally today!"


    Baldy Hui nced at Su Chen and put even more strength into his attempt, but it was still to no avail.


    Baldy Hui couldn''t help but feel taken aback but didn''t take it too seriously. He thought Su Chen was naturally strong, and although notmon, such people did exist.


    "Blondie, hurry up and call the brothers in to tidy up this little punk."


    "You, showing off for what? If you had slipped out just now and called the cops, you might have been able to save me," Xia Qiuru said reproachfully as she nced sideways at Su Chen, "but now, both of us are done for."


    "Don''t worry, Director Xia. How could I bear to see such a great beauty end up under a pig like him?" Su Chen winked at Xia Qiuru, "I might as well take advantage of you myself. At least I''ve got some good looks, right?"


    "You jerk, it''s infuriating! Even at a time like this, you''re still trying to take advantage of me!"


    Xia Qiuruined annoyedly, really not understanding if this guy was missing a few screws.


    "Who are you calling a pig?"


    Held in ce by his wrist, Baldy Hui could only re at Su Chen with venom.


    "Are you sick in the head?" Su Chen tilted his head and smirked, "Anyone with eyes and a conscience should know that obviously, you''re the pig!"


    "Fine, I won''t waste time bantering with you. Soon, you''ll find out who the real pig is!"


    Baldy Hui was still somewhat wary of Su Chen''s strength and nned to wait for his subordinates toe before dealing with this guy properly!


    Soon after, a group of men dressed in various peculiar outfits with hair dyed in multiple colors walked in.


    "Boss!" The men called out as they came in.


    However, when they saw Baldy Hui, gripped by the wrist by Su Chen, they all became furious.


    "Let go of our boss, or I''ll chop you to pieces!"


    "Let go immediately, or I''ll make you kneel and beg for mercy."


    "Right, not only kill him, but his whole family as well!"


    "All right, since you all seem to want it so badly, I''ll give it back to you."


    Su Chen pushed Bald Hui forward, then lifted a foot and gave a kick to the other''s rear end. Bald Hui immediately staggered, almost falling headlong to the ground, but luckily his minions caught him.


    Bald Hui, regaining his freedom, was seething with anger. He had been a tyrant in this area for many years and had never suffered such humiliation. Today, he was actually caught by a mere driver and even got kicked.


    This blow to his pride made him lose face. Bald Hui''s eyes shot daggers at Su Chen, and with a sweep of his arm, hemanded:


    "Go, take this bastard down for me!"


    His minions also knew that their boss had lost face. They all scrambled to show off, vying to make a good impression.


    Although they knew Su Chen must be skilled¡ªotherwise, their boss wouldn''t have been subdued by him¡ªthey were not afraid.


    Even if this guy has some skills, there are a dozen of us. Just one kick each, and we could stomp him to death!


    Seeing the ruffians charging at him, Su Chen''s expression remained calm, and the corners of his mouth even curled into a slight smile.


    Meanwhile, Xia Qiuru was petrified with fear, a white-cor director who spent her days in an office and had never seen such a scene before; she was rooted to the spot.


    "Stand behind me."


    Su Chen pulled on Xia Qiuru''s hand and positioned her behind himself.


    It was only then that Xia Qiuru snapped out of it. Looking at Su Chen, who wasn''t particrly tall, she felt a sense of security.


    It was as if as long as this man was around, she wouldn''t have to fear even if the sky fell.


    At that moment, she suddenly felt that this man might not be as annoying as she had thought...


    Su Chen, of course, was unaware of Xia Qiuru''s thoughts at that moment; he was coolly watching the approaching crowd.


    Suddenly, he lifted one leg and kicked decisively and cleanly at the person who rushed to the forefront.


    Su Chen''s kick seemed unremarkable, but the man simply couldn''t dodge and was kicked away by Su Chen in an instant.


    The office space was already small, and the people behind were knocked down en masse, causing chaos.


    "What are you doing? Hurry up and get him!"


    Bald Hui was close to fuming when he saw this scene.


    The ones knocked down began to get scared and rushed again toward Su Chen.


    Su Chen saw a baseball bat on the wall beside him and grabbed it, swinging "bang bang" at the two closest to him.


    Those two didn''t even know what hit them before Su Chen knocked them out, copsing to the ground.


    By then, Su Chen had enough and didn''t want to waste time with these people any longer, so he charged straight at the crowd.


    His baseball bat fell repeatedly, and like it was enchanted, every strike ensured someone copsed to the ground.


    In less than two minutes, about a dozen peopley sprawled on the ground, with only Bald Hui left standing.


    Bald Hui looked at Su Chen as if he were a monster. Who was this guy? A dozen men were quickly taken down just like that?


    Bald Hui''s legs were already weakening, and he stared nkly at his subordinates groaning on the ground.


    "Come here."


    Su Chen crooked his finger at Bald Hui, a smile on his face that filled Bald Hui''s heart with dread!

 Chapter 48 The Reasonable Su Chen

    "What do you want?"


    Although scared, Bald Hui still forced himself to stay calm, unwilling to beughed at by the other party.


    Director Xia, which one of our group''s people did he break the leg of?" Su Chen turned to look at Xia Qiuru, "Was it the left leg?"


    "What?"


    Xia Qiuru blinked slightly upon hearing Su Chen''s question.


    "I see, it seems so."


    Su Chen nodded and swung the baseball bat towards Bald Hui''s left leg.


    "Ah!!!!"


    A crackling sound of bone breaking was heard, and Bald Hui fell to the ground, clutching his left leg and rolling in agony!


    Bald Hui wanted to dodge, but he realized he simply couldn''t!


    Xia Qiuru waspletely confused by Su Chen; I clearly didn''t say anything just now! It was you who mentioned the left leg!


    "Is it not?"


    Su Chen raised his eyebrows slightly as he saw Xia Qiuru''s puzzled look.


    "No, it seems to be the right leg."


    Xia Qiuru hasn''t seen the injured person either, so she wasn''t sure about the situation.


    "Sorry about that, I hit the wrong leg just now," Su Chen apologized to Bald Hui, who was still howling on the ground. "This time I won''t make a mistake. Please stretch out your right leg."


    Hearing this, Bald Hui felt like he was going to pass out, but the intense pain kept him conscious.


    This guy is a freak. You want to break my thigh, and you still want me to stretch it out for you? Are you dumb or am I dumb!


    "Come on, stretch it out!" Su Chen coaxingly said, like the neighbor''s big boy, "Be good, it''s just for a moment, it will be over quickly."


    Lying on the ground, Bald Hui wanted to cry without tears; he originally thought he was bad enough, without morals, without shame!


    But today he realized thatpared to the man in front of him, he was practically a model young man!


    Meanwhile, Xia Qiuru couldn''t help but smile wryly as she listened to Su Chen''s child-soothing words, which reminded her of how doctors coax children during vinations.


    However, she felt little sympathy for Bald Hui. If it weren''t for Su Chen, her own predicament today would have been beyond imagining!


    Thinking this, she looked at Su Chen, who was still interacting with Bald Hui, feeling a strange emotion quietly rising within her.


    This guy seems quite interesting!


    "No, please, don''t hit me anymore! I beg you!"


    Bald Hui never knew that having a leg broken could be so painful!


    "Uh, you''re making this difficult for me," Su Chen appeared somewhat troubled, "How about you give me a reason first?"


    "I promise you, we''ll go with your demolition price,"


    Bald Hui suddenly shouted with a glint in his eyes, isn''t this what these two came for?


    Xia Qiuru was immediately overjoyed, indeed the evil needs the "evil" to grind!


    Xia Qiuru was about to agree when Su Chen spoke before her.


    "That doesn''t sound good! One yuan per square meter isn''t so good," Su Chen said somewhat embarrassingly, "How about this, I''ll decide. Let''s do 1.5 yuan per square meter."


    As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Xia Qiuru waspletely stunned and gaped at Su Chen, unable to utter a single word.


    Bald Hui''s reaction was simr, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at Su Chen, seemingly even forgetting the pain in his leg for a moment.


    "Brother, I bought these two properties from the original residents for seven thousand per square meter; your price is practically like giving it away to you for free," Bald Huimented.


    Actually, Bald Hui wasn''t lying¡ªthe general cost of relocation in that area was ten thousand per square meter, and Lin Ruoxue had set the price at thirteen thousand to expedite the process.


    Bald Hui himself had used various means to acquire two properties from the original residents for seven thousand per square meter, with a total area of 268 square meters, meaning his cost was close to two million.


    "What brother? Do I look that old?" Su Chen''s face soured upon hearing the other''s words, "Besides, what kind of person am I? Am I unreasonable? Why would I let you give it to me for free? Payment is a must, not a cent less."


    "As for your im of seven thousand per square meter, that''s simply impossible¡ªyou must have been swindled," Su Chen said, his expression softening, "but you must see reason; you can''t expect me to bear the loss just because you were deceived."


    "I really can''t, big..." Bald Hui began to say ''brother'' again but quickly caught himself.


    "Is that so?" Su Chen sighed softly, raising the baseball bat in his hand slightly, "then there''s no choice."


    "No, no, I agree, isn''t that enough?"


    Bald Hui noticed Su Chen''s gaze shifting towards his right leg, trembled with fear, and hastily agreed, though his heart was bleeding.


    "Alright then, Director Xia, I''ll leave the rest to you."


    At this moment, Xia Qiuru waspletely dumbfounded, not expecting thest two properties'' relocation issues to be resolved so suddenly and at a price cheaper than cabbage.


    1.5 yuan per square meter, 268 square meters for about 400 yuan¡ªwhat can 400 yuan do nowadays? It could barely cover a meal at an average restaurant.


    Wasn''t this practically like giving it away for free? And yet Su Chen had the nerve to act as if he was being generously fair.


    In encountering a guy like Su Chen, Bald Hui could only me his bad luck!


    "What, Director Xia, do you think 1.5 yuan is still too high?" Su Chen asked when he noticed Xia Qiuru hadn''t reacted.


    "No, no, it''s fine."


    Xia Qiuru quickly pulled out the contract and a pen from her bag, and under Su Chen''s watchful eye, Bald Hui signed his name resentfully.


    "Alright, let''s go."


    Xia Qiuru put the signed contract back in her bag and said to Su Chen, while Bald Hui trembled with excitement upon hearing this.


    He didn''t care about anything else now and just wished this gue would leave quickly, fearful that the other party might change his mind and cause more trouble.


    However, the great Murphy''s Law tells us, the more people fear something, the more likely it is to happen.


    When Su Chen heard Xia Qiuru''s words, he gently shook his head:


    "Our business isn''t finished yet."


    "Sir, what else is there?"


    Bald Hui, a hulking brute, trembled violently upon hearing Su Chen''s words, his eyes filled with terror, looking absurdly like a frightened little animal.


    "It''s about thepensation, of course."


    Su Chen lit a cigarette, took a puff, and slowly blew the smoke into Bald Hui''s face.


    "Whatpensation? How much?"


    Bald Hui waspletely baffled, "I''ve already been beaten up like this by you, if there''s anypensation, you should be the onepensating me."


    "Ten million!"

 Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Extortion

    "What? Why don''t you go rob someone!"


    Bald Hui thought he was going to be extorted for a few hundred thousand, and he had already prepared to pay off the nuisance, but then the demand for ten million came out of nowhere, causing him to cry out in shock.


    Xia Qiuru was also taken aback by the price Su Chen proposed, just after he had already taken a harsh cut, he went for an even more ruthless demand.


    "Ten million is already a small amount," Su Chen curled his lips, looking disdainfully at Bald Hui, "If it weren''t for the fact that you''re a broke loser, do you really think ten million would be enough?"


    "This is extortion!"


    Bald Hui said with a mournful expression, ten million? What a joke, wouldn''t that cost him his life?


    "Make it clear! Who is extorting whom?" Su Chen threw his cigarette butt on the ground and stamped on it fiercely, his indignation palpable, "I''m aw-abiding citizen, and this ten million has a justified basis!"


    "Then tell me, what''s the basis?"


    When Bald Hui heard him im to be aw-abiding citizen, he almost spat in his face in disdain. Could you be any more shameless?


    He really wanted to hear this nonsense justification for the ten million.


    "Alright, since you want to know, I''ll break it down for you," Su Chen began counting on his fingers, "First of all, there''s the loss of work fee. You upied these two properties, causing dys in our group''s schedule. Just that loss alone, asking for five million from you isn''t too much, is it?"


    Upon hearing this, Xia Qiuru was immediately confused; she had just discussed a figure of over two million with him in the car, but he just doubled it as soon as he began talking.


    Even so, shouldn''t this money be paid by Bald Hui?


    There was no precedent of a nail house being charged for a developer''s dy!


    Bald Hui had the same thought and was about to rebut when Su Chen held up a second finger:


    "Also, you injured our group''s colleague, and he may never be able to work again. Asking you topensate three million isn''t too much, right?"


    When Bald Hui heard what Su Chen said, a frown immediately appeared on his forehead.


    Who is he trying to fool here? It was true that the injured person was hurt by him, but with a year and a half at most needed for recovery, how could it be that he wouldn''t be able to work for a lifetime?


    But again, before he could argue, Su Chen raised another finger:


    "Furthermore, you were nning to misbehave with my colleague here, causing great emotional and mental harm. Asking you for two million inpensation is reasonable, isn''t it?"


    "Add it all up, and ites exactly to ten million. Now, prepare to pay."


    Having finished speaking, Su Chen pulled up a chair to sit down, as if he was just waiting to collect the money.


    "All of this isplete nonsense. Why should I pay for the dys and lost earnings of your project? Moreover, that person''s injuries aren''t severe at all¡ªhow could he possibly be out of work for a lifetime? And I didn''t even touch thisdy, so why should I pay two million more?"


    "What I say goes. How much I say is how much it is. What, you have a problem with that?"


    Su Chen had no desire to argue with Bald Hui anymore. At the end of the day, he was just messing with him¡ªextorting him!


    "You''repletely unreasonable!"


    For Bald Hui, ten million was no trifling sum. How could he possibly afford topensate that amount?


    "Fine, since you say I''m unreasonable, I''ll show you what that looks like. The price has gone up, now it''s twelve million!"


    "Dream on, not a chance!" Bald Hui spit out a few words through clenched teeth.


    "Fourteen million!" A calm voice flowed from Su Chen''s mouth as if nothing was amiss.


    "I''d rather die thanply!"


    Bald Hui, enduring intense pain, threw back his head with a resigned-to-fate expression.


    "Sixteen million!" After half a minute, Su Chen spoke again.


    As Su Chen continued to raise the price, Bald Hui simply fell silent; the thought of forking over such an amount was truly more unbearable than death!


    "Eighteen million!"


    "Twenty million!" When he announced twenty million, Su Chen stood up from his chair and looked at Bald Hui with a faint smile, "Believe me, you''ll dly pay this sum."


    "Impossible!"


    Bald Hui was already prepared for the worst, for he was after all a local strongman with some backbone.


    But Su Chen just shook his head and took out an old cloth bag from his pocket, then spread it on Bald Hui''s desk.


    In the bag were various silver needles, differing in thickness and length. Su Chen took out five Silver Needles and, holding them between his fingers, walked towards Bald Hui.


    Seeing this, Bald Hui couldn''t help but shiver inwardly, not knowing what this bastard was up to, yet he had a very bad feeling about it.


    Qiuru, equally bewildered, wondered why Su Chen would carry silver needles with him¡ªcould he perform acupuncture?


    Even if that were the case, what was he doing right now?


    "Trust me, soon you''ll experience something you''ve never felt in your life, something you''ll never forget."


    With these words, Su Chen swiftly inserted a Silver Needle near Bald Hui''s fractured knee and flicked it with his finger.


    "What on earth are you doing?"


    Bald Hui said in terror, and although he hadn''t yet felt anything unusual in his body, an instinctive fear had taken hold of him!


    Su Chen paid no mind to Bald Hui and struck again like lightning, inserting another Silver Needle into the Baihui acupoint on the top of Bald Hui''s head.


    This insertion caused Bald Hui to feel an even more intense pain than before, but to avoid showing weakness in front of Su Chen, he continued to bear it silently, though cold sweat was already streaming down his forehead.


    Quickly, Su Chen inserted the remaining three Silver Needles into different parts of Bald Hui''s body.


    "Ahh~~~~!"


    As soon as thest Silver Needle went in, Bald Hui let out a sky-piercing scream!


    The sound alone was enough to make one''s skin crawl, and his roar seemed to vent all the pain in his body, mixed with immense fear!


    Bald Hui swore he had never imagined pain could be so excruciating!


    The pain was not localized but spread throughout his body, with each nerve ending being incessantly tugged and torn apart!


    Although Bald Hui had never gone through childbirth, he was certain thatpared to the pain he was feeling now, the pain of childbirth was child''s y!


    Before long, Bald Hui''s snot and tears were streaming down; his face and body flushed red, and the pain caused his entire body to spasm!


    Xia Qiuru could hardly bear to watch Bald Hui''s suffering; his pitiful screams seemed toe straight from the soul.


    Qiuru couldn''t help but look at Su Chen¡ªwhat kind of man was he? What had he done to Bald Hui to make a grown man look like this?

 Chapter 50 Pain Nerve

    "Alright, now let''s see just how tough our bald boss Hui really is," Su Chen pped his hands and stood up. "If you canst three minutes, we''ll call it a day."


    But things did not go as hoped, and in less than a minute, the bald Hui was trembling as he said:


    "Please, I beg you, I''ll give you whatever you want, just pull them out now!"


    "Oh, you can''t take it this soon? Hold on a bit longer, just bear it for two more minutes for twenty million!"


    Su Chen tilted his head and teased the bald Hui.


    "No, please, I''ll give you the twenty million, just take out these Silver Needles!"


    The bald Hui really wanted tost two more minutes, but he just couldn''t!


    The relentless stimtion of nerve endings was more than he could bear for even one second longer!


    Xia Qiuru was astounded by the extent of Bald Hui''s suffering, seeing him pass up the chance to make ten million per minute.


    "Alright," Su Chen''s hand swept over bald Hui''s body, and five Silver Needles appeared in Su Chen''s hand.


    "Ah, what a pity, I was just starting to enjoy this."


    Su Chen clicked his tongue with regret. Hearing this, the bald Hui on the ground almost passed out.


    It wasn''t from the pain; it was from the frustration caused by Su Chen.


    "Alright, time to pay up." Su Chen stretched out his hand towards Xia Qiuru, "Give me a bank card."


    "What for? Don''t you have your own?"


    "Do I look like I carry a bank card?" Su Chen rolled his eyes.


    "Who doesn''t have a bank card these days?"


    Though she said this, Xia Qiuru still took out a bank card and handed it to Su Chen.


    After receiving the card, Su Chen thoughtfully handed aptop to bald Hui. Although his face wore a smile, bald Hui felt like crying.


    "Boss, I don''t have that much money in my ount, only 18 million," bald Hui said cautiously to Su Chen, "Can I owe the other two million for now?"


    "I am a man endowed with kindness, let''s just forget about the two million," Su Chen waved his hand generously, nonchnt.


    The other two felt exceedingly awkward when they heard Su Chen say this. If he could be considered kind-hearted, then every thug on the street could be counted as a saint.


    Though that was what he thought, bald Hui still had to appear overflowing with gratitude.


    Because his recent ordeal was too momentous to forget, Su Chen appeared in his eyes to be nothing short of demonic!


    "Alright, let''s go," said Su Chen.


    After bald Huipleted the transfer, Su Chen casually patted his shoulder, "It was a pleasure to meet you, I had a great time this afternoon!"


    "I um also pleased to meet you, Mr. Su, I had a great time too!"


    Bald Hui managed a strained smile, thinking to himself, "Of course, you had fun, not only did you take my two houses, but you also extorted 18 million from me."


    ....


    "Su Chen, when should I transfer this money to you?"


    Sitting in the car, Xia Qiuru asked somewhat nervously; her ount had never held this much money before, which made her quite uneasy.


    "Just keep it with you for now, let''s split the money into three parts: one for you, one for me, and the third for the employee who got injured."


    As for money, Su Chen had no concept of it; at the Temple, financial resources were managed by the "God of Wealth," and he had hardly ever asked about them.


    "No, I can''t use this money."


    Xia Qiuru quickly waved her hand, a third of it, that was 6 million!


    Even for her, a senior executive at Belle Corporation, that was nearly ten years'' sry!


    "Don''t be polite, this money was extorted anyway, just take it."


    "I really can''t ept it, it''s too much money, you better just tell me your bank ount number quickly, and I''ll transfer it to you."


    Xia Qiuru was very principled. She believed this money had nothing to do with her, but she was still surprised that Su Chen voluntarily wanted to give a third to the employee who was injured.


    Xia Qiuru couldn''t help but take a few more nces at Su Chen. He didn''t look like someone who had money, so why was he so indifferent about such arge sum?


    "I don''t have a bank card, you just keep it for now, but remember, 6 million of that is mine, don''t you dare keep it," Su Chen joked intentionally.


    "Then go get a card made, it''s very simple," Xia Qiuru still wouldn''t give up.


    But no matter what, Su Chen refused to get a bank card, which left Xia Qiuru with no choice but to keep it for him for the time being.


    Actually, Su Chen had his reasons for not getting a bank card; he feared someone might track him down through it, as he didn''t want anyone disturbing his peaceful life, at least not until his Cultivation had recovered to a certain extent


    "Anyone who marries you really has bad luck, not caring about money, how would life go on?"


    Xia Qiuru couldn''t understand Su Chen''s behavior, and she felt helpless.


    "How about you be my girlfriend then?" Su Chen teased casually, "That way you could keep an eye on me."


    "As if! I would never!" Xia Qiuru spat out, her face slightly blushing.


    If it were before, Xia Qiuru would never have reacted like this, but hearing Su Chen''s words now, she couldn''t help but recall the scene where Su Chen had stood in front of her.


    At that time, Su Chen seemed to be enveloped in ayer of halo, causing slight ripples in her heart.


    "This guy actually looks quite appealing when you take a good look at him, maybe he wouldn''t be bad with a little cleanup!"


    Xia Qiuru sneaked a nce at Su Chen''s profile, thinking to herself, her heartbeat gradually speeding up.


    "What are you looking at?" Su Chen, feeling Xia Qiuru''s stares, grinned, "Don''t tell me, Director Xia has fallen for me?"


    "In your dreams!" Xia Qiuru quickly turned her head away, hiding her thoughts and asked nonchntly, "I was just wondering why those Silver Needles made Bald Hui suffer so much, unable to stand even for a moment."


    Although this was just an excuse to cover up her emotions, it was indeed a question that Xia Qiuru had.


    "It''s nothing, my Silver Needles just happened to stimte his pain nerves, making a normal pain instantly amplify ten or even a hundred times more."


    "Is it really that miraculous?"


    Xia Qiuru couldn''t help but cover her mouth, showing a surprised expression.


    .......


    Su Chen drove the car, and soon they were back at Belle Corporation, walking into Lin Ruoxue''s office together.


    "How did things go? All set?"


    As soon as they entered, Lin Ruoxue eagerly asked, and only rxed after seeing Xia Qiuru nod.


    "How much did it cost?"


    Lin Ruoxue asked casually, she wasn''t too worried, it would just be a maximum of 15% higher than budgeted.

 Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Am I an Idiot?

    Lin Ruoxue had waited for a while and had not heard Xia Qiuru''s response, which she found somewhat strange.


    She looked up and saw Xia Qiuru seemingly wanting to speak but stopping herself, and asionally ncing at Su Chen, which made her even more puzzled.


    "Go ahead and tell me, how much money was spent? Even if it is slightly higher than the 15% I mentioned before, I understand that this matter is difficult to handle."


    Lin Ruoxue thought that Xia Qiuru was hesitant to speak because she had taken it upon herself to raise the price.


    "The total cost was 402 yuan," Xia Qiuru mumbled softly, revealing a figure.


    "What?" Lin Ruoxue thought she had heard wrong and suddenly stood up, "How much did you say?"


    "402," Xia Qiuru repeated the number, well aware of why Lin Ruoxue reacted this way.


    She guessed that anyone who heard this number would react the same way. Even she, as the person involved, was still confused about what had happened, feeling it was so surreal.


    "What exactly happened?"


    Lin Ruoxue''s exquisitely beautiful face immediately turned serious, as this situation was obviously abnormal.


    "Su Chen, you exin!"


    After noticing that Xia Qiuru''s gaze towards Su Chen was tentative, Lin Ruoxue immediately understood that he must be involved in this matter.


    However, she could notprehend how her nominal husband had convinced Bald Hui to agree to this price, given that Bald Hui was certainly no saint.


    "What''s there to fuss about?" Su Chenughed heartily, "Don''t you know who I am? Under my influence, Bald Hui quickly recognized his errors and the impurities he had umted in his soul over the years."


    "The wisdom of Buddha talks about feeding one''s body to tigers. I, too, took on an attitude of curing the sick and saving people, helping him to atone for his sins. I reluctantly epted his conditions. Initially, he intended to give us two properties for free, but who am I? How could I do such a thing?"


    "Finally, under his persistent pleas, I could not bear to refuse a person who sincerely regretted, so I ended up purchasing the ownership of those two properties at the price of 1.5 yuan per square meter."


    As Su Chen eloquently narrated, Xia Qiuru on the side looked at him with her mouth agape, a myriad of thoughts racing through her mind!


    Is this even possible?


    And now, Lin Ruoxue''s face had frosted over, her eyes shooting sharp beams, her bosom heaving as if it were about to burst through her clothes at any moment.


    "Shut up!"


    Just as Su Chen was about to delve into more details, Lin Ruoxue couldn''t bear it any longer:


    "Su Chen, do you think I''m an idiot?"


    "Uh, how could that be? Who doesn''t know that President Lin is a goddess endowed with both beauty and brains!"


    Su Chen was quick to tter, but Lin Ruoxue was not buying it at all. Her beautiful eyes were fixed tightly on Su Chen:


    "Since I''m not an idiot, then why are you telling me such an idiotic reason?"


    "I''m telling the truth! God help me!" Su Chen made an aggrieved face and continued, "Not only that, but Bald Hui even voluntarily offered topensate the injured employee with six million yuan as atonement. The money has already been transferred to Director Xia''s bank ount."


    Hearing Su Chen''s words, Lin Ruoxue was also shocked. Could it be that Bald Hui, a thuggish ruffian, had truly had a change of heart?


    Lin Ruoxue certainly didn''t believe it, but apart from that reason, what else could exin why Bald Hui would forgo the demolitionpensation and even pay out six million yuan?


    "Is what he said true?"


    Lin Ruoxue turned to Xia Qiuru and asked, as she still trusted Xia Qiuru''s character.


    "Guangtou Hui reallypensated arge sum of money."


    Xia Qiuru gave a bitter smile, she did not want to lie to Lin Ruoxue, nor did she want to expose Su Chen''s lie.


    "Could it be the sun really rose from the west?"


    Lin Ruoxue, unable to figure it out, could only dejectedly wave her hand and send Su Chen away, then started discussing work with Xia Qiuru.


    Su Chen, naturally indifferent to Lin Ruoxue''s attitude, returned to the security room after leaving Lin Ruoxue''s office. Just as he sat down, his mobile phone rang.


    Su Chen took out his phone and saw it was an unfamiliar number, so he answered it. Immediately, a melodious voice tinged with allure came through.


    It turned out the call was from Ye Mei, who wanted to invite him to have dinner at Yuntian Clubhouse.


    Upon hearing her voice, Su Chen reminisced about the first time he saw her on stage, stunning everyone with her wild, sexy pole dance.


    Undoubtedly, she was a woman with fatal attraction to any man, exuding a seductive aura all over.


    Although Su Chen did not know the reason for her actions, it did not hinder his enthusiasm to meet the beauty, perhaps some memorable stories might even unfold!


    As Su Chen was indulging in fantasies about a provocative scene, a set of heavy footsteps approached him.


    "Su Chen,e to my office."


    The person was Zhang Mingyu, the head of security, his expression as stern as ever. His demeanor kept most of the security staff quite fearful of him, and it was rumored that he had once served in a special forces unit, adding to the reasons not to defy him.


    "Okay."


    Although Su Chen was somewhat displeased that his reverie was interrupted, he nodded in agreement.


    "Close the door."


    As soon as he entered the room, Zhang Mingyu instructed Su Chen who had followed.


    After closing the door, Zhang Mingyu sat down on the sofa and lit a cigar.


    Su Chen also casually found a chair and sat opposite him, but this act made Zhang Mingyu frown slightly.


    Zhang Mingyu was already displeased inside, as anyone else entering would do so with the utmost respect and obedience.


    Yet this person, with an indifferent demeanor, sat down without waiting for an instruction, clearly showing ack of respect towards him.


    However, Zhang Mingyu, capable of being head of security, was not a man of impulsive nature and said nothing about Su Chen''s behavior.


    Zhang Mingyu quietly smoked his cigar, then fixed his piercing, sharp eyes, like those of a hawk, straight onto Su Chen''s. Many people couldn''t maintain eye contact under his gaze for more than a few seconds before their hearts would race and they would look away.


    But today, he faced Su Chen, the former Hall Master of the Nether Temple, worshipped by countless as a deity!


    Under his hawk-like piercing gaze, Su Chen showed no reaction; his demeanor was natural, his heartbeat steady, and his lips curled slightly, hinting at a smile.


    Thus, as they stared at each other, the seconds ticked by until five minutes had passed, and neither had spoken a word.


    Zhang Mingyu secretly marveled, surprised that this man could withstand such a long stare.


    He felt once more that this man was definitely out of the ordinary!

 Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Watertight

    Atst, Zhang Mingyu couldn''t bear it anymore and spoke up.


    "Su Chen, have you gotten used to the group these two days?"


    Of course, he wouldn''t dive straight into the main topic. However, it was rare that Zhang Mingyu was smiling while asking, almost as if he had practiced it!


    "Not bad, the colleagues and environment are quite satisfactory in every aspect."


    Su Chen was also ying tai chi, waiting for the other party to reveal their true intentions.


    When it came to these superficial maneuvers, Zhang Mingyu was undoubtedly far behind!


    "That''s good. You will gradually discover more benefits of the group."


    Zhang Mingyu, with a beaming smile, stood up to pour a ss of water for Su Chen, then settled back into the sofa, pretending to ask nonchntly:


    "I heard you yed chauffeur for Director Xia today. You''re quite lucky,d¡ªmany people are envious!"


    "I just happened to be conscripted on the spot."


    Upon hearing this, Su Chen immediately understood¡ªit was about Xia Qiuru!


    He still didn''t know why Zhang Mingyu was interested in Xia Qiuru; could it be that he was attracted to her?


    Su Chen thought that might indeed be a possibility, given Xia Qiuru''s appearance, physique, education, and cultivation!


    If that were indeed the case, then Zhang Mingyu truly had an eye for quality.


    In his view, Xia Qiuru was indeed a rare gem of a woman!


    "Oh, is that so? What a coincidence!"


    Zhang Mingyu nced at Su Chen and said:


    "How do you find Director Xia as a person? What did you two talk about?"


    Su Chen noticed that Zhang Mingyu, though appearing calm, had his eyes slightly narrowed and his body slightly stiffened¡ªa natural manifestation of nervousness!


    But Zhang Mingyu covered it well. If it weren''t for Su Chen, it would have been impossible for someone else to notice, or at least very difficult to detect!


    "We didn''t talk much." Su Chen shook his head and chuckled bitterly, "She''s a major director in the group, high above and beyond. How could she have a chat with a mere chauffeur like me?"


    Afterward, Zhang Mingyu made several more probing remarks, but Su Chen''s replies were watertight and left no room for probing, so Zhang Mingyu eventually had to give up in the face of gaining no useful information.


    However, Zhang Mingyu''s behavior made Su Chen overturn his previous guess. If Zhang Mingyu were simply infatuated with Xia Qiuru, his behavior wouldn''t be like this.


    "Why is Zhang Mingyu so concerned about this young woman, Xia Qiuru?"


    With this question in mind, Su Chen left Zhang Mingyu''s office, and his entire afternoon subsequently passed in idleness.


    Even though there were instances requiring driving, the seasoned employees were naturally given priority since every trip was linked to their bonus.


    These were typical working-ss individuals, living paycheck to paycheck!


    In this way, it naturally wouldn''t be Su Chen''s turn, the neer, unless there was a real shortage of hands!


    Of course, Su Chen didn''t mind and rather enjoyed the leisure!


    As soon as six o''clock arrived, and it was time to leave work, he left and drove the BMW 5 Series towards the Yuntian Clubhouse.


    It was the peak of rush hour, and as Jianghai was a major city, the streets were bustling with traffic. Fortunately, Su Chen wasn''t in a hurry and drove slowly.


    About half an hourter, he finally arrived at the grand entrance of the Yuntian Clubhouse.


    The Yuntian Clubhouse was a very upscale club in Jianghai City, impressive and majestic from the outside!


    Inside, one could find everything from dining and drinking to entertainment, where you could enjoy top-level services as long as you had the money.


    After Su Chen parked his car at the entrance and got out, a beautifully dressed PRdy came over immediately.


    "Sir, do you have a reservation?"


    The lovely PRdy wore a professional smile, which was very pleasant!


    Su Chen nodded: "I''m a guest of Miss Ye Mei."


    "You must be Mr. Su, please follow me,"


    The attractive PRdy immediately understood and made a weing gesture:


    "Miss Ye has instructed to take you to her as soon as you arrive."


    "Okay."


    Upon hearing this, Su Chen followed the PRdy into the club. Surprisingly, instead of leading him to a private room, she took him straight through the club''s lobby to its rear.


    Su Chen couldn''t help but murmur to himself, Wasn''t I invited for a meal?


    What on earth is Ye Mei up to?


    At that moment, his curiosity about Ye Mei''s intentions only grew!


    Soon Su Chen and the PRdy arrived at a quiet little stone-paved path, with vines entwining on both sides and scarcely visited by people.


    It must be said, the environment here was truly lovely!


    After crossing the stone path, what appeared before Su Chen was an open-air hot spring, and he was momentarily stunned.


    Not for any other reason, but for the incredibly graceful figure in the hot spring not far away.


    The silhouette in the water seemed unaware of an outsider''s arrival, showing no extra movements.


    "Miss Ye, Mr. Su is here,"


    the PRdy announced by the hot spring, then immediately retreated courteously.


    Only then did Ye Mei turn her head around. Upon seeing Su Chen, she stood up and casually draped a bathrobe over herself.


    "Mr. Su has arrived."


    Ye Mei stepped out of the hot spring pool and said with a slight smile.


    "When beauty invites, how could I disappoint? It would be terribly rude, wouldn''t it?"


    Su Chen said with a light smile.


    "But I wonder, what exactly does Miss Ye need from me?"


    Su Chen continued.


    "To dine, of course!"


    Ye Mei chuckled and said:


    "It is my honor to have someone like Mr. Su here, it''s not easy!"


    "How could it be? If Miss Ye invites me daily, I would willingly ept every day!"


    Su Chen said, a hint of amusement in his smile.


    He certainly knew that Ye Mei''s invitation was not for something as simple as just dining!


    However, he was indeed still curious about what Ye Mei''s sudden invitation meant!


    Hearing Su Chen''s jest, Ye Mei alsoughed heartily, "Giggle," finding him quite an interesting man. Then she said:


    "No hurry, we can chat slowly over dinner!"


    "Mr. Su, please wait here for a moment. I''ll go change my clothes and be right back!"


    Ye Mei said with a lightugh once again.


    "Okay."


    Su Chen nodded. Although curious, he was not in a rush!


    Ye Mei then turned and walked toward a small cabin not far away, while Su Chen looked around leisurely.


    The beautiful and peaceful environment was indeed a rare gem!


    Shortly afterward, Su Chen alsoy down on a nearby lounge chair, and took a leisurely nap ...

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Need a Reason

    After waiting about ten minutes, a bustle of footsteps began to sound, and Su Chen opened his eyes, stood up, and turned to look back.


    He saw Ye Mei approaching in a set of ck leather jacket and pants, her raven hair casually draped over her shoulders, instantly lighting up his eyes.


    Su Chen couldn''t help but sigh, thinking how changeable this woman was. She appearedpletely different from before, earlier she had seemed more seductive, and now she exuded a wilder charm!


    However, one thing remained the same, and that was the seductive aura emanating from her, something that simply could not be concealed!


    "Let''s go!"


    Ye Mei walked over and naturally linked her arm with Su Chen''s. A yful smile spread across his face as he epted her gesture.


    He was curious to see what this woman''s intentions were.


    In a short while, the two arrived in the clubhouse''s foyer and then stepped onto a spiral staircase.


    This staircase was quite distinctive, reminiscent of a winding mountain road, extending all the way to the top floor.


    "The design of this restaurant is quite exquisite."


    After reaching the top floor, Su Chen nodded in admiration.


    From the quiet hot springs at the back to this staircase and many other details, Su Chen could tell that the designer had put in a lot of thought.


    "Of course, and not only that, the designer herself is a great beauty,"


    Ye Mei turned to look at Su Chen, blinked, and seemed somewhat mysterious.


    "Oh, is that so? Now I''m rather curious." Su Chen said with a lightugh, "Do you know the designer by any chance?"


    With a secretive smile, Ye Mei didn''t answer Su Chen''s question. Instead, she headed to a private room, pushed the door open, and walked in.


    Inside, a table set with food and drink was alreadyid out, and steam was rising, evidently prepared in advance by Ye Mei.


    Su Chen casually took a seat, and Ye Mei sat next to him, even scooting her chair closer to his side.


    Su Chen thought to himself: Why sit so close in this heat?


    Of course, Su Chen didn''t really voice such a mood-killing remark.


    "Try this, the snake soup is a signature dish of this clubhouse, very nourishing for the body."


    Ye Mei stood up, served Su Chen a bowl, and ced it in front of him.


    "Thank you."


    Su Chen said, then began to taste it.


    "Indeed, it''s delicious, fresh on the pte!"


    "I''m d Mr. Su likes it. Their dishes are quite good; try them all."


    A faint smile was always present on Ye Mei''s pretty face as she attended to Su Chen like he was the lord of the manor.


    "I should be sober enough now, let''s drink a bit."


    A momentter, Su Chen wiped the corner of his mouth and said with a smile.


    "Alright, then I''ll join Mr. Su for a drink."


    Ye Mei poured a ss of wine for each of them, clinked sses with Su Chen, and took a sip.


    After drinking, Ye Mei noticed that Su Chen was staring at her, his face disying a faint, indescribable smile.


    And he didn''t raise his ss to drink but continued to casually swirl it around.


    "Mr. Su, why aren''t you drinking? Is the wine not to your liking?"


    Upon seeing Su Chen''s smile, Ye Mei''s heart trembled slightly, but she quickly leaned in closer to him, her voice bing somewhat husky.


    "No, the wine is fine." Su Chen set his ss down, staring at Ye Mei''s face, "I just need a reason."


    "I don''t quite understand what Mr. Su means."


    Ye Mei''s heart skipped a beat at his words, yet she managed to keep herposure.


    "In that case, I''m leaving."


    Su Chen stood up directly and walked towards the door.


    "Mr. Su, please wait a moment,"


    Just as Su Chen reached the door and was about to touch the doorknob, an anxious and tense voice came from behind him.


    Ye Mei had not expected him to be so decisive, especially since she was quite confident in her own looks!


    Most people, upon seeing a beauty like herself, would cling to her!


    But this man, without a word being said, simply stood up and walked away without a hint of hesitation, catching her off guard and forcing her to involuntarily speak up to retain him!


    Hearing Ye Mei''s voice, Su Chen''s body paused slightly, his footsteps momentarily halted, and his hand on the doorknob stopped as well.


    "Mr. Su, could you please sit down and talk this over slowly?"


    When Ye Mei saw Su Chen stop, she immediately walked over, pulled him back to his seat, and only then did she feel somewhat relieved.


    "What exactly did Mr. Su mean just now, could you please rify?"


    Ye Mei asked cautiously.


    "Isn''t the meaning quite obvious? The actions Miss Ye took today probably aren''t without reason, are they?"


    Su Chen nced at the somewhat flustered Ye Mei:


    "I still have a sense of self-awareness. I''m not so narcissistic as to believe that I have the charm to make Miss Ye fall in love at first sight!"


    For Su Chen, from the encounter at the hot springs to now sitting beside him, none of it could be without reason!


    "Why would Mr. Su think so little of himself? Could it not be possible that I have fallen for Mr. Su?"


    Ye Mei looked at Su Chen as she said:


    "Mr. Su is quite a charming man, after all!"


    This remark Ye Mei made wasn''t just talk; although he wasn''t the kind of man who stunned people at first nce, he was certainly someone who grew on you the more you looked!


    "No," Su Chen shook his head, "One''s eyes do not deceive, and your eyes tell me that your actions today are not pure!"


    "Miss Ye, do you think I can still drink this wine?"


    Su Chen looked at the flustered Ye Mei and smiled faintly.


    "Is Mr. Su suspecting that I put something in this wine?" Ye Mei''s elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    "Of course not, for if that were the case, you wouldn''t be sitting here sofortably," Su Chen looked at Ye Mei and asked, "Now tell me, what exactly is the reason for Miss Ye''s actions today."


    Ye Mei was just about to speak when Su Chen waved his hand:


    "From now on, I do not wish to hear any insincere probes from Miss Ye''s mouth."


    The force of Su Chen''s words made Ye Mei, who was about to speak, close her mouth again.


    After a moment, Ye Mei took a deep breath before looking at Su Chen:


    "The cause for today''s events dates back to something that happened yesterday afternoon. I want to ask, was that person you?"


    "Are you referring to the incident at Dragon Ascend Building?"


    Su Chen tilted his head slightly, suddenly seeming to understand.


    "Yes, that''s the incident I''m talking about."


    Ye Mei nodded slightly, looking at Su Chen with a face showing signs of nervousness, and her heartbeat quickened a bit!


    After all, everything before was merely spection!


    "You''re right, that person was indeed me,"


    Su Chen replied indifferently, not denying it and openly admitting it.


    Hearing this, Ye Mei was greatly shocked!


    Although she had suspected it, getting confirmation still made her feel incredulous!

 Chapter 54: Chapter 54 What I Want is You

    ```


    For her, Lord Long and Dragon Tower were undoubtedly the objects of her focused attention.


    So when the incident happened yesterday, she soon received a report from below, saying that someone had smashed the ce at Dragon Tower, which greatly surprised Ye Mei.


    She immediately started to investigate who this audacious man was, the one who dared to touch the tiger''s buttocks?


    She quickly gathered quite a bit of information from the people who had been cleared out by the police, and from the descriptions of the onlookers, the image of the mysterious man who appeared at the bar the night before naturally sprung to Ye Mei''s mind.


    Connecting this to the phrase the man had uttered before departing that night¡ªabout wiping out the Dragon Prosperity Society¡ªYe Mei had a strong feeling that he was the very person she was looking for!


    What left Ye Mei even more incredulous was thatter, there were rumors saying the police had shown up, but the man came out unscathed.


    Ye Mei had also wanted to inquire about what had happened after the crowd was dispersed, but she was unable to learn anything else, as everyone who was present was tight-lipped!


    Having wed her way through the ranks for several years, Ye Mei also realized that the subsequent events likely involved ssified matters!


    This, on the contrary, sparked an even greater interest in this mysterious man within Ye Mei!


    If the truth was indeed as she suspected, perhaps this man could really help her fulfill a long-standing wish.


    Ye Mei was decisive. Once she had a n, she immediately put it into action, which led to the invitation of today.


    However, she hadn''t anticipated that this man would be able to hold his own under her own "seduction," stayingpletely unruffled!


    She was keenly aware of her own allure and, therefore, her interest in this man grew even more, not as simple as before, with a significant part of it stemming from an instinctual curiosity about him.


    Ye Mei graduallyposed herself and then said sincerely,


    "I assume Mr. Su has guessed the intention behind my request."


    "You probably have something that you need my help with, concerning Long Xiaoshan, right?" Su Chen thought that Ye Mei wanted to shake off Long Xiaoshan''s harassment, so he said, "If that''s the case, you can rest assured, he won''t dare to harass you again."


    To Su Chen''s surprise, Ye Mei shook her head, her face disying a hint of disappointing dimness that inspired pity.


    "What is it then?"


    "Have you heard of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan?"


    Instead of stating the specifics, Ye Mei asked Su Chen such a question.


    "I''ve heard of them, the Wu, Liu, L¨¹, and Yun families, but I don''t know the details."


    Su Chen indeed often heard of the reputation of the Four Great Families, who, without a doubt, were the rulers of their respective domains in Jiangnan!


    However, in Su Chen''s eyes, they were nothing more than slightlyrger ants, not deserving of much concern.


    "Mr. Su, the help I require is rted to one of the Four Great Families, as to what it is, I cannot tell you right now, but I hope that when the timees, Mr. Su can lend me a helping hand," Ye Mei''s beautiful eyes were filled with an expectant look, her tone brimming with sincerity.


    It was clear that the matter she had not mentioned was very, very important to her.


    After waiting for a moment and seeing Su Chen remain silent, the sparkle in Ye Mei''s eyes gradually faded, and she appeared visibly disheartened.


    Indeed, they were strangers without any ties; why would he be an enemy of the Four Great Families for her?


    After all, those Four Great Families were so powerful, like colossal entities!


    Thinking this, Ye Mei couldn''t help but let out a bitterugh, realizing that her request was indeed too excessive.


    ```


    Truth be told, even if Su Chen were willing to help, she didn''t think there was any chance or possibility, but no matter what, she had to try.


    "Mr. Su, if you find it difficult, then let''s forget about it, it was just my wishful thinking," Ye Mei said with a smile, though anyone could see it was forced.


    Just when Ye Mei thought all hope was lost, Su Chen spoke indifferently,


    "Give me a reason, or rather, why should I help you? What''s in it for me?"


    "You say, whatever you want, all my properties, savings, everything I own, I can give to you!"


    Ye Mei was like a drowning person clutching at a straw, her expression agitated, her voice trembling!


    "Do you think I need those?" Su Chen said indifferently.


    Ye Mei deted like a punctured ball, hanging her head and sighing.


    Yes, if he truly had the power to stand against the Four Great Families, why would he care about her possessions?


    "Mr. Su, apart from these mundane things, I really don''t have anything else, except for myself."


    Ye Mei looked up pleadingly at Su Chen, only to see a hint of a "sly" smile on his lips.


    "What I want is you."


    Although Su Chen''s tone was mild, it left no room for doubt, as if a king weremanding his subject!


    "But?"


    Ye Mei bit her cherry red lips, torn inside. Although she had seduced Su Chen before, that had only been a probe.


    And now, he openly wanted her. Ye Mei might exude a sultry charm, but in reality, she was just a woman in her twenties who had never even had her first time.


    Yet thinking of her heart''s deepest desire, Ye Mei''s gaze gradually became resolute.


    "I agree to you, from now on, I am yours, you can have my body whenever you want."


    Ye Mei was somewhat puzzled. If he really wanted her, why had he reacted that way to her seduction before?


    While Ye Mei inwardly agreed, she felt a hint of disgust towards Su Chen, believing him to be extremely hypocritical! And to think she had originally thought he was a real man!


    Su Chen hadn''t expected his words to make Ye Mei think so much. Hearing her response, he shook his head.


    "What I want is not your body, but your loyalty and submission!"


    Ye Mei was momentarily taken aback, and then her face flushed red, realizing she had misunderstood him.


    It wasn''t her fault though! His ambiguous words were too easily misconstrued.


    "Okay, I agree, and once you help me fulfill my wish, you will be my master, and I will do anything you say!"


    Seeing Su Chen looking towards her, Ye Mei said without hesitation, ready to bind herself to him.


    "When you truly fall in love with me, perhaps I will taste this red rose of yours."


    A crafty smile yed again on Su Chen''s lips as he gently blew into Ye Mei''s ear.


    That sly smile caused Ye Mei''s heart to leap wildly, and the breath made her shiver.


    She discovered that at this moment, Su Chen seemed to possess a special kind of magic and allure that she couldn''t resist.

 Chapter 55 Reencountering Xiao Yaning

    "Impossible!" Ye Mei nced at Su Chen and said coquettishly, then poured herself a ss of red wine and raised it, "Can Mr. Su have a drink with this littledy now?"


    "Of course."


    Su Chen picked up his ss and gently clinked it with Ye Mei''s. Just as he was about to drink, the door was suddenly pushed open.


    "Yo, Ye Mei, you really know how to choose a ce, secretly meeting with your little lover here, huh?"


    As this voice sounded, a woman dressed in a qipao walked in.


    As Su Chen turned his head and had yet to see the woman''s face, his eyes were drawn to a pair of long legs!


    "Top-notch leg model!"


    Su Chen couldn''t help but inwardlypliment. Those long legs, partially visible under the high-slit qipao, were even more suggestive!


    "Yaning, what are you doing here?"


    Although Ye Mei was a bit surprised to see the neer, she was happy and stood up.


    "You find it odd that I''m at my own club?" The neer leaned close to Ye Mei and whispered softly, "Just now Xiao Yue told me she saw you, and I didn''t believe it. I thought you''d definitely tell me if you came. I didn''t expect it really was you."


    "Who is this guy? Your boyfriend?"


    The neer nced at Su Chen and suddenly felt he looked familiar, but couldn''t remember where she had seen him.


    "Why are you gossiping too? No, he''s just an ordinary friend."


    Ye Mei lightly stamped her foot, a blush appearing on her delicate face.


    "Yeah right, who would believe that? I''ve never seen you alone with a man these past years."


    The neer took another look at Su Chen, finding him more familiar the more she looked.


    On the side, Su Chen found Ye Mei''s shy demeanor rather amusing. He hadn''t expected this underground queen of Jianghai to have such a side.


    As for the woman who had just walked in, Su Chen recognized her immediately; she was the woman who had borrowed a cigarette from him and then jumped into the river that night.


    It waste at night after all, and the lighting was very dim, so it was normal for her not to recognize him right away.


    At that time, Su Chen had already noticed her remarkable looks and excellent figure, but he hadn''t realized she possessed such irresistibly long legs.


    However, she seemed much more lively todaypared to that night. He wondered what had happened to her to drive her to such desperation.


    Finding the two women still whispering among themselves, Su Chen, out of sheer boredom, lit a cigarette.


    "It''s you!"


    The woman who had been "examining" Ye Mei saw Su Chen smoking and suddenly eximed as if struck by lightning, then covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.


    "What, you know him?" Ye Mei was greatly surprised by her friend''s reaction.


    "Are you the guy from that night?" Xiao Yaning stepped closer, probing cautiously.


    Su Chen looked at her and nodded slightly, acknowledging it.


    "It really is you! I''ve been wondering if I''d ever meet you again! I didn''t expect it to be such a coincidence." Xiao Yaning''s expression was one of great surprise, much like winning a lottery.


    That night, she had just had another fight with her father, feeling extremely downhearted, plus the pressure umted over more than a year led her to impulsively attempt to jump into the river.


    Looking back, she was terrified by her own actions. If it hadn''t been for that man, she might have been lost forever.


    Since then, she had this inexplicable hope of meeting the man who had saved her again, though she knew that, in this vast sea of people, the chances were slim.


    She never expected that today, in her own club, she would meet him again!


    No wonder she felt he looked familiar!


    "Has the matter been resolved?" Su Chen spoke softly upon seeing the other person somewhat excited.


    "Not yet." Xiao Yaning''s agitated expression faltered slightly, but she quickly smiled and said, "But it''s okay, just like you said, as long as we''re alive, there''s hope! I won''t give up."


    "It''s good that you''ve thought it through." Su Chen was also pleased with her change of attitude.


    "Hey, what are you two doing?" Ye Mei stared at them for a few seconds, "What are you two talking about? Why can''t I understand?"


    "It''s nothing."


    Xiao Yaning replied nonchntly. Although she and Ye Mei were close friends, there were some things she didn''t share, like her attempted jump into the river.


    "I was about to introduce you to each other, but it seems that''s not necessary."


    Ye Mei spoke with a hint of sourness, feeling somewhat disappointed.


    "We''ve only met once; I still don''t even know her name."


    "Yes, he and I aren''t what you imagine, and I still don''t know your boyfriend''s name either."


    Xiao Yaning looked at Ye Mei somewhat amused, her tone teasing.


    "I told you he''s not my boyfriend."


    Ye Mei was confused and even more unclear about their rtionship.


    "Then let me introduce you, this is Su Chen, and this is my close friend, Xiao Yaning."


    "I see you two arepletely different personalities; how did you be close friends?"


    Su Chen asked curiously. Although Ye Mei and Xiao Yaning were both very beautiful, they werepletely different types of women. How could they be good friends?


    "It''s all fate."


    Ye Mei and Xiao Yaning looked at each other andughed together.


    At that moment, in another private room at the Yun Tian Club, sat a young man. He was dressed in a top-notch, hand-tailored white suit, around twenty-something, looking haughty, as if he disdained everything around him.


    He also had an arm around a good-looking girl who appeared to be a college student, looking utterly dependent on him.


    The young man''s one hand was wandering over her body at will while the girl wore a pleasing smile, though her eyes flickered with a hint of contempt, hard to notice.


    Around him, several bodyguards stood, all in ck tight suits and well-built muscles. Though they wore sunsses, the fierce look on their faces was quite evident!


    At that moment, a man with delicate and tender skin pushed the door open and walked in, came up to the young man, and whispered a few words into his ear.


    Is that true? You didn''t see it wrong?"


    A sinister smile appeared on the young man''s face, and his eyes gradually narrowed.


    "I''m sure I''m not mistaken. I just went to the restroom, passed by the corridor, heard a voice that seemed familiar, took a peek, and it was her, Xiao Yaning was there too, and there was a man."


    The delicate-skinned man said with a ttering tone and a mischievous grin on his face.


    "A man?" The young man''s brow furrowed, "What man?"


    "I don''t know him, never seen him, probably in his twenties."


    "You should have seen everyone around Jiangnan with a bit of a name, if you don''t know him, he must be some nobody." The young man''s face showed a look of disdain, "But her being with Xiao Yaning and a man, that is interesting! Should have called the Young Master Li from the Li Family over to watch the drama!"


    "How about I call Li''s Young Master now?"


    The delicate-skinned man''s lips curled up with a wicked smile, as if he had stumbled upon something interesting.


    "No rush, let me go and see first, after all, she is from my Wu Family! I should at least say hello."


    "Young Master said right, I''ll take you there now."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 56: 56th Chapter: The Struggle Between Women

    After spending some time together, Su Chen, Ye Mei, and Xiao Yaning had grown quite familiar with each other. The trio chatted merrily, presenting an image of harmony.


    However, beneath the surface, "turbulent undercurrents" flowed. Ye Mei would asionally hint at his past with Xiao Yaning, while Xiao Yaning would also subtly probe the rtionship between Ye Mei and himself.


    The two women also seemed to bepetitively spirited, constantly taking turns to toast Su Chen. In no time, Su Chen had nearly two bottles of alcohol in his system.


    What made things even more unbearable was that both women were also sneakily throwing seductive nces his way, making him exim he couldn''t stand it!


    Women truly are a mysterious species. If it were any one of them alone with Su Chen, they would probably be afraid of him doing something, of course, Ye Mei''s previous intentional seduction not included.


    But now, when the two women were together andpeted, it seemed as if they were afraid Su Chen wouldn''t do anything.


    It wasn''t that the two women had really developed feelings for Su Chen, at most they just had a favorable impression of him.


    The main reason was the covert struggle between the two women. Although they were close friends, they were still women in this respect and were no exception. Su Chen was merely the tool they used in their fight.


    Suddenly, Su Chen felt a foot gently caressing his calf under the table. The delicate foot kept sliding up and down his leg.


    Shivering slightly, Su Chen turned to look at Ye Mei, who was sending him an irresistibly enchanting gaze.


    "This girl, she really thinks I''m a sick cat if I don''t show my ws."


    Su Chen clenched his teeth and abruptly reached out, capturing the mischievous foot under the table.


    She hadn''t expected the normally obedient Su Chen to suddenlyunch an attack.


    "Let go."


    Ye Mei immediately became anxious; if Xiao Yaning at her side saw this, it would be disastrous.


    Su Chen, smiling, gently shook his head, but his hands didn''t stop. Ye Mei''s foot was simply too exquisite for him to let go easily.


    Eventually, Su Chen did let her go, and she quickly adjusted her posture to sit up straight and proper.


    "Oh."


    Xiao Yaning''s eyes were full of suspicion, obviously sensing something fishy between the two.


    Just then, the private room''s door was abruptly pushed open, and five or six people walked in.


    Upon seeing these individuals, the expressions on both women''s faces changed dramatically, especially Ye Mei, who had a particrly strong reaction.


    "Wu Yuanpin, what are you doing here?"


    Xiao Yaning called out unweingly.


    "I heard Miss Ye was dining here, so I specially came to offer a toast. What, am I unwee?"


    Wu Yuanpin took a seat at the table with an air of nonchnce.


    "Yes, you are unwee! Please leave immediately!"


    Ye Mei''s tone softened slightly but her face still wore ayer of Ice Frost.


    "You are from our Wu Family, although a bastard, you''re still one of us. To speak to me like this!"


    Wu Yuanpin was not a man who knew how to hold back, and seeing that the two women did not give him any face, he felt disgraced.


    "I have no rtionship with the Wu Family!"


    Ye Mei''s voice was thick with contempt when she mentioned the Wu Family, as if it were something filthy.


    "Oh, what about your mother? She''s still living in our Wu Family''s mansion, isn''t she? When I go back today, I''ll ask her how she managed to raise such an ungrateful child! Hmph!"


    "If you have the guts,e at me, but don''t touch my mother, or I swear I will never let you off, even if it kills me!"


    Ye Mei, upon hearing Wu Yuanpin threaten her with her mother, suddenly shouted out in agitation.


    "Never let me off? Just you, or your so-called Red Rose?"


    Wu Yuanpin dismissed Ye Mei''s threat with contempt, curling his lips.


    "And who is this man? Don''t forget, you''re going to be part of the Situ Family soon."


    "Dream on! Over my dead body!" Ye Mei immediately pulled Su Chen closer, "I have a boyfriend now, and he''s the one!"


    "You''re her boyfriend?"


    Wu Yuanpin, upon hearing this, turned to look at Su Chen, his eyes shooting out two fierce glints.


    "So what if I am? What if I''m not?"


    Su Chen wasn''t particrly interested in dealing with someone like Wu Yuanpin, and spoke in an indolent tone.


    For a scion like Wu Yuanpin, nothing was more intolerable than being disregarded, and Su Chen''s casual demeanor was undoubtedly a hit to his sensitive pride.


    "Who the hell are you to speak to our Young Master like that! Do you even know who our Young Master is?"


    Before Wu Yuanpin could explode, theckey beside him¡ªa fellow with delicate features¡ªalready started screeching in rebuke.


    "Uh, where did this fancy-boye from?" Su Chen nced at the man with a somewhat strange look, "Out with it, then. What exactly is your Young Master?"


    "Our Young Master isn''t a thing!"


    The "fancy-boy," in his haste, blurted out his response and then realized his mistake.


    Ye Mei and Xiao Yaning both covered their mouths, snickering at the slip-up, and Wu Yuanpin''s face instantly darkened with a cloud of anger.


    "Get lost, idiot!"


    Wu Yuanpin barked, and the "fancy-boy" immediately retreated to the back, trembling with fear.


    Wu Yuanpin walked directly up to Su Chen and said:


    Continuing from before, if you''re not that bastard''s man, you''d better scram. But if you are, then think carefully if you can bear the consequences."


    "Let me tell you, this is the Wu Family''s business, and you''d best weigh your options carefully! Don''t get yourself killed over a woman without even knowing how it happened!"


    Wu Yuanpin''s haughty head tilted up slightly, his nostrils ring at Su Chen, who was in in employee attire and hardly worth a nce in his eyes.


    "p!"


    Before his words could settle, a resounding p rang out in the small private room, the echo reverberating off the walls.


    The few people present were immediately shocked, unable to believe that anyone in Jiangnan territory dared to p Wu Yuanpin! And on the face, no less!


    Who was Wu Yuanpin? He wasn''t just any Tom, Dick, or Harry. He was the Second Young Master of the number one prestigious Wu Family in Jiangnan, and he was the beloved grandson of Old Madam Wu!


    Ye Mei and Xiao Yaning realized instantly the gravity of the situation and their faces turned incredibly tense.


    Wu Yuanpin touched his cheek, utterly astonished. He had actually been pped across the face?!

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57 You can give it a try

    "Do you fucking know what you''re doing?"


    Wu Yuanpin''s eyes zed with raging fury. His bodyguards were rubbing their hands together eagerly, ready to show off their skills, but since Wu Yuanpin hadn''t given the order yet, they didn''t dare to move.


    "p!"


    The response he got was still a resounding p. After hitting him, Su Chen''s hands slipped back into his pockets, his face carrying a light smile as he looked at Wu Yuanpin.


    "Dare to curse my woman, this is just an appetizer."


    Upon hearing this, Ye Mei suddenly felt a special sensation in her heart; so this was how good it felt to be protected and cared for!


    Wu Yuanpin was nearly going insane. What the fuck was up with this guy? He was clearly a lunatic!


    "What the fuck are you waiting for? Get him!"


    Upon receiving the orders, the bodyguards immediately stamped the ground fiercely and charged over.


    Wu Yuanpin exerted his strength to flip the round table aside, and the dishes immediately shattered on impact, "ng ng" scattering across the floor, sshing soup and bits everywhere, even on Su Chen and the other two.


    When Su Chen saw the imposing group of five or six men approaching, he was calm andposed. He had already noticed that these were no ordinary men; in terms ofbat prowess, they were on par with ace special forces.


    Ye Mei also had some perception and could tell these men were extraordinary. Not to mention her own subordinates, even Dragon Prosperity Society''s elite forces couldn''tpete with these men.


    "The Four Great Families are indeed the Four Great Families. Besides having big shots in all fields, it''s the strength they hide within that is truly terrifying," she thought.


    Ye Mei sighed silently and then nced at Su Chen, feeling a bit apologetic for dragging him into this chaos.


    She wasn''t sure whether Su Chen could handle these men, as they were not just any foes like those from Dragon Prosperity Society.


    What she didn''t know was that to Su Chen''s eyes, there was no difference between these men and those from Dragon Prosperity Society; they were all matters that could be dealt with a wave of his hand.


    Faced with two men who had already charged in front of him, fists raised ready to strike, Su Chen directlyunched two punches, meeting them head-on.


    "Boom!"


    A loud bang echoed, followed by two clear "crack" sounds.


    The two bodyguards immediately felt an excruciating pain; the bones in their hands were crushed to a fracture.


    The two of them couldn''t believe that this seemingly ordinary young man possessed such strength!


    Su Chen smirked coldly; for him who had entered the First Layer of Qi Refinement, this was just a trifling disy of his prowess!


    The others, unaware of what happened, also charged in. Su Chen leaped into the air and swept out a leg in a whipping motion.


    The men behind him clearly saw the leging and tried to dodge, but his leg followed them like a shadow.


    "Bang, bang, bang~~~"


    By the time Su Chennded, the remaining bodyguards were also spinning to the ground, howling in pain!


    Everything happened too quickly for the onlookers to react before it was all over.


    Ye Mei looked at Su Chen as if he were a freak.


    He was way too strong! It was like watching an adult y a game with children.


    At this moment, Ye Mei''s confidence increased; maybe he really was the one fated to help her.


    Although Ye Mei didn''t want to get her hopes up too much, the possibility seemed a lot better than the previous despair.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Yaning had been scared speechless just a moment ago, and now she slowly recovered, looking at Su Chen with shining eyes.


    The scene she had just witnessed was too impressive; the man seemed like a towering hero, standing proud between heaven and earth!


    Xiao Yaning felt her little heart beating uncontrobly, her cheeks slightly flushed.


    Wu Yuanpin couldn''t believe what had just happened; he knew exactly who these people were, and he never expected them to be like trash in front of this young man.


    This could only mean one thing: the young man was extremely skilled!


    Although Wu Yuanpin was shocked, he was not scared; after all, he was a member of the Wu Family!


    However, he had clearly forgotten the incident with the two ps just now. His Wu Family identity had made himwless and arrogant over the years.


    But he wasn''t a fool; knowing that the man before him was a bit tricky, he coldly said,


    "Fine, today I misjudged, we''ll meet another day. Let''s go!"


    After speaking, he prepared to leave, and his bodyguards also helped each other up, trembling as they stood and followed behind him.


    Just as Wu Yuanpin had taken a few steps, anguid voice rang out from behind him again.


    "Did I say you could leave?"


    Upon hearing Su Chen''s words, Wu Yuanpin suddenly turned around, his eyes narrowing, sending a sharp re towards Su Chen:


    "What? Beating up my men is not enough for you? Kid, don''t push your luck!"


    Ye Mei and Xiao Yaning also anxiously tugged at his arm, the message clear: let it go.


    However, Su Chen had his own ns; he gently shook off their arms and then gave them a slight smile.


    That smile, as if magical, gave a sense of security, and the women''s anxious feelings eased a bit.


    "I really don''t know what crap you have in your head." Su Chen stepped closer to Wu Yuanpin, "You were the one who wanted to hit someone, and you''re the one who wants to leave after being unable to hit back. Do you think such a good deal exists in this world?"


    "Who the hell gave you such privilege? Who the hell spoiled you like this?"


    The normally mild-mannered Su Chen suddenly yelled, startling everyone.


    "So what do you want?"


    Wu Yuanpin maintained his haughty tone and posture, curious to see what tricks this wretched-looking man had up his sleeve.


    "Lick the food off the floor clean," Su Chen said calmly.


    "What did you say?" Wu Yuanpinughed incredulously, pointing at his own nose, "You want me to lick the food clean off the floor? Are you out of your mind?!"


    The bodyguards and that dandy also burst intoughter as if they''d heard the funniest joke.


    Even Ye Mei and Xiao Yaning felt as though they were hearing a bizarre dream. Wu Yuanpin licking the floor clean? What a daring thought!


    Doing so would create an insurmountable enmity with the Wu Family, especially with the actual power holder, Madam Wu.


    Yet Su Chen seemed not to hear theughter:


    "If you don''t lick it clean today, you won''t be able to leave this room."


    His voice was very faint, very calm.


    "And if I don''t? Do you really dare to stop me?" Wu Yuanpin scoffed.


    "You can try and see."


    "Hmph, let''s go!"


    Wu Yuanpin immediately lifted his leg and walked towards the door. If he didn''t dare to leave now, that would be the real loss of face!


    But just as his hand touched the doorknob and opened the door a crack, a silver light flickered in the air.


    Immediately after, a "hmph" was heard; Wu Yuanpin staggered and fell toward the door.


    The door that had just been cracked open was shut again by the impact of his body...

 Chapter 58 Stray Dog

    Other people, surprised by Wu Yuanpin''s sudden copse since no one had touched him, eventually realized what had happened when they saw a silver needle shaking on his ankle.


    Yet, they found it incredible that this man, from such a distance, had controlled Wu Yuanpin''s body with just a silver needle¡ªit was utterly unthinkable!


    After falling to the ground, Wu Yuanpin didn''t feel any pain, but he couldn''t muster any strength in his legs.


    "What are you doing?" Wu Yuanpin said as he saw Su Chen approaching with a smile, feeling scared for the first time in his life, "I warn you, I am a son of the Wu Family. If you dare disrespect me, the Wu family will not let you go!"


    "Is that so?"


    "Bang!"


    Su Chen kicked Wu Yuanpin in the body, and Wu Yuanpin immediately felt a pang of physical pain.


    "Since you''re not willing to eat, then I''ll just have to help you."


    Su Chen dragged Wu Yuanpin roughly to where the food was spilled, then forcefully pressed his face down into the dishes.


    "Open your mouth!" Su Chen ordered.


    But how could Wu Yuanpin possibly open his mouth? His lips were tightly closed, his gaze filled with hatred as he looked at Su Chen.


    Su Chen didn''t care about what he thought, pulled his head up, and tightly grasped both sides of his mouth.


    As soon as Wu Yuanpin''s mouth opened, Su Chen grabbed a handful of food and forcefully stuffed it into his mouth.


    "Mmmm~~~"


    Wu Yuanpin made a pitiful whimpering noise, tears almost streaming out, while his face got smeared with various leaves and broth.


    The other onlookers also felt a sense of unreality seeing Wu Yuanpin in this state.


    This was Wu Yuanpin, after all!


    "Next, are you going to eat by yourself, or shall I feed you?"


    Su Chen tilted his head slightly, a sadistic smile appeared on his face.


    "I, I''ll eat by myself!"


    Wu Yuanpin said haltingly, finally realizing his predicament.


    He had always believed that being a son of the Wu Family was the ultimate protection, but he had not anticipated that this nerve-wracked young man would shatter that protection into pieces!


    Under everyone''s gaze, Wu Yuanpin finally lowered his proud head and, lying on the ground, began licking up the food inch by inch, overwhelmed by a flood of humiliation.


    He swore in his heart to tear this young man to pieces and ensure a miserable end for him!


    Ye Mei, watching Wu Yuanpin, who had always looked down on her, now reduced to a wretched dog, felt a surge of pleasure!


    She had waited for this moment for over twenty years!


    Yet at the same time, she was deeply worried. Su Chen humiliating Wu Yuanpin like this would surely provoke the Wu Family''s wrath!


    Facing the Wu Family''s ferocious retaliation, could Su Chen remain unharmed?


    Ye Mei had no confidence in her heart, understanding the strength of the Four Great Families far better than the average person from Jiangnan, havinge from their ranks.


    But the more she knew, the more frightening she found the Four Great Families!


    However, worrying was of no use now; it was time to meet force with force and counter measures with measures.


    Next to her, Xiao Yaning''s gaze at Su Chen grew even more radiant.


    I never expected such a crude, savage side from this seemingly unremarkable young man!


    After more than half an hour, Wu Yuanpin had finally cleaned up all the food on the floor, then looked up at Su Chen with a face full of anticipation.


    "Scram."


    Su Chen waved his hand and removed the Silver Needles from Wu Yuanpin''s body.


    Wu Yuanpin and his subordinates immediately fled like they''d received a pardon, scrambling out the door.


    Not long after Wu Yuanpin and his group had left, Su Chen and Ye Mei also departed.


    Ye Mei left her car at the Cloud Sky Clubhouse and got into Su Chen''s BMW.


    The day''s events had a significant impact on Ye Mei; she remained quiet throughout the ride, her face marked by deep worry.


    "Are you worried the Wu Family will seek revenge?"


    Su Chen understood what she was thinking and asked casually.


    "Of course I''m worried, aren''t you?"


    Ye Mei was curious as she looked at him, observing that he seemed unaffected.


    "What is there to worry about? It''s just the Wu Family after all."


    "You don''t understand the power of the Four Great Families; if they decide to retaliate, you won''t even know how you died."


    Ye Mei gave Su Chen a scornful look, annoyed at his bravado, especially his casual dismissal of the Wu Family!


    "Are you worried about me?"


    Su Chen smiled faintly and reached out to hold Ye Mei''s hand, noting how cold it felt.


    "As if I''d worry about you!"


    Ye Mei nced sideways at Su Chen and tried to pull her hand away, but he was holding it too tightly, so she ended up letting him continue to hold it.


    "The things you told me today are rted to the Wu Family, aren''t they?"


    After a moment, Su Chen suddenly asked.


    "Yes, that''s right." Ye Mei nodded.


    "Can you tell me exactly what''s going on?"


    At that moment, Su Chen''s tone was very gentle, knowing that this was something deeply buried in Ye Mei''s heart.


    After hearing Su Chen''s words, Ye Mei didn''t answer immediately but opened the car window and looked outside for a while before she finally began to speak slowly:


    "I am the illegitimate daughter of Wu Jinjun, the Family Head of the Wu Family. My mother fell in love with the handsome Wu Jinjun while she was still in college. At that time, she didn''t know that he was already married. It was toote by the time she found out, as she was already pregnant with me."


    "What''s more, my mother had deeply fallen for him by then and couldn''t leave him. Afterward, the old madam of the Wu Family found out about the affair and took my mother to the Wu Family mansion, considering she was carrying the Wu Family''s offspring. At that time, the Wu Familycked male heirs, with only Wu Yuanli in the grandson generation; the old madam probably hoped my mother would give birth to a boy."


    "However, contrary to her wishes, it was a daughter. From then on, my mother''s miserable life started. The old madam grew increasingly displeased with us, never showing a good face, and if she disapproved of us, others certainly didn''t treat us with any respect either."


    "The most critical person was Leanne Jing, Wu Jinjun''s official wife. She saw my mother as a thorn in her side from day one but didn''t dare to make a move at first because the old madam protected my mother. But since my birth and the old madam''s growing coldness towards us, Liang Jing began to trouble my mother increasingly, especially after she gave birth to Wu Yuanpin, bing utterly unbridled!"


    "She not only made my mother do the work of a servant but also created all kinds of difficulties for us. Our dwelling was an abandoned storeroom; when it rained, half of the roof leaked, and the cold winds during winter were bone-chilling. One could say, my mother''s decades in the Wu Family mansion were even worse than those of the lowliest servant."


    "And your father? Does he not care? You are his daughter, after all!"


    Learning about Ye Mei''s harsh past, Su Chen couldn''t help but feel pity and held her hand even tighter...

 Chapter 59 Ye Meis Thoughts

    ```


    "Him?" Ye Mei sneered with contempt, "He''s nothing but a spineless wimp. Although nominally the head of the Wu Family, in reality, all the major decisions are made by the Wu family''s matriarch, and the minor ones by his wife, Liang Jing."


    When speaking of her father Wu Jinjun, a deep resentment surged within Ye Mei, which was hardly surprising. Anyone in her position would probably feel the same.


    However, Su Chen wasn''t surprised. The cutthroat rivalry, treachery, and coldness of human rtionships within arge family were beyond the imagination of outsiders.


    "Then why didn''t you and your mother leave?" Su Chen asked curiously.


    "At first, my mother couldn''t bear to leave Wu Jinjun, she still had feelings for him; after all, he was her first love. But by the time she started to give up on Wu Jinjun, the situation changed."


    "One day four years ago, several people arrived at the Wu Familypound. Among them, a young man with an exceptionally noble presence took the lead. Iter found out that they were from the Situ Family of Yanjing, and the leader was their third son. He took an interest in me and proposed to the Wu Family that very day."


    "For the Wu Family, the Situ Family of Yandu was an aspirational match, one they could only dream of. Of course, they jumped at the chance to be inws with them and immediately agreed. Later, when the Wu family matriarch personally discussed the matter with my mother and me, I vehemently opposed it and even threatened to take my own life."


    "The matriarch didn''t expect my stance to be so resolute, so she had no choice but to temporarily shelve the matter. I knew they wouldn''t give up easily, so I immediately left the Wu house."


    "They just let you go? Without trying to stop you?" Su Chen asked again, knowing thoserge families were never so benevolent.


    "I was also puzzled at the time, thinking they had let their guard down, but Iter learned they had already prepared a countermeasure. Just as I was about to board a ne to a ce the Wu Family couldn''t find me, they stopped me at the airport. They threatened me with my mother''s wellbeing, saying if I dared to leave Jianghai, she would suffer! So I had no choice but to stay in Jianghai and struggle on."


    Su Chen thought to himself that as a woman, Ye Mei''s choice of path was likely mostly motivated by the desire to gain power to protect herself and her mother.


    "Not only that, they also gave me a deadline. I must marry into the Situ Family before my twenty-fifth birthday. And now, half a year from now, I''ll be twenty-five. By then, the third son of the Situ Family will also have returned from studying abroad."


    Ye Mei continued,


    "The Wu Family pressured me on one side while they began to work on my mother on the other. Everyone in the Wu Family softened their attitude towards my mother, even the Wu family matriarch often sought heart-to-heart talks with her, telling her about the benefits of marrying into the Situ Family. Even Liang Jing, Wu Jinjun''s wife, started acting sisterly towards my mother. Wu Jinjun, shameless as he is, even brought up old affections with my mother again!"


    "But I know it''s all for their own benefit. The Wu family matriarch and Wu Jinjun are like that, and so is Liang Jing. She cares only because her son, Wu Yuanpin, is the favorite of the old matriarch and is most likely to be the Wu Family heir!"


    "What do you want me to help you with?" Su Chen looked at the somewhat agitated Ye Mei and sighed softly to himself.


    "If I try to take my mother out, the Wu Family will surely stop me. I hope that when the timees, you can lend me a helping hand to sessfully take my mother away."


    Ye Mei looked into Su Chen''s eyes with a pleading gaze.


    "Alright, if that''s the case, let''s go get her tomorrow." Su Chen naturally wouldn''t refuse; to him, this was a minor task.


    "No." Ye Mei was startled when Su Chen said they would get her mother the next day, "Do you think the Wu Family is a vegetable market that you cane and go as you please? It''s not that easy to break in. We must be fully prepared, only then is there a glimmer of hope."


    "Fine, just let me know when you''re ready," Su Chen replied nonchntly, shrugging it off. He knew Ye Mei wouldn''t trust him even if he said he was confident.


    But there was no rush; there was still half a year left, wasn''t there?


    "The most critical thing right now isn''t here, but my mother''s attitude. She can''t see through the Wu Family''s ill intentions. Last year, when I hinted at taking her away from the Wu house to escape somewhere else, she refused to leave no matter what. In the end, she even persuaded me to marry Situ Yuan, saying that marrying into the Situ Family would mean a worry-free life forever."


    ```


    Ye Mei rubbed her temples with a headache and said helplessly,


    "I know that on one hand, she''s been bewitched by the Wu Family and truly believes that what she''s doing is for my benefit. But the more important reason is that she still has lingering feelings for Wu Jinjun and is reluctant to leave him."


    "So what do you n to do?"


    Su Chen felt pity for that lovelorn woman, but he didn''t have any good solutions for such a situation either.


    "I can only keep persuading her. At the same time, I''m getting ready, so the moment the opportunity arises, we''ll take immediate action!"


    As she said this, a resolute light shone from Ye Mei''s eyes!


    "Great! No problem!" Su Chen smiled at her, "After you get her out, what''s the n? The Situ Family won''t give up so easily, right?"


    Mention of the Situ Family brought a profound sense of powerlessness to Ye Mei''s heart. She wasn''t confident dealing with the Wu Family, let alone taking on the Situ Family of Yandu, whose strength was many times greater.


    "By then, we''ll just have to take it one step at a time. If there''s really no other way, I''ll have to flee to some remote country."


    Ye Mei sighed deeply. Opposing the Situ Family was something she couldn''t even dare to think about!


    "Don''t worry, with me here, everything will be fine."


    Su Chen thought to himself: The Situ Family? The death of my parents probably couldn''t have happened without your involvement!


    If that''s the case, then let''s have you be the first to taste my de!


    "Okay, I believe you!"


    Ye Mei smiled, thinking that Su Chen was merely trying tofort her, after all, the Situ Family was one of the top few families in Huaxia!


    Su Chen could see Ye Mei''s disbelief, but he didn''t say much. He simply smiled and continued driving the BMW towards her residence.


    "I''m here."


    When they reached a high-end apartmentplex, Ye Mei spoke up.


    Su Chen parked the car, and Ye Mei got out. Then she walked over to Su Chen''s side and tapped on the window:


    "What''s the matter, noting up for a bit? Want to go for a cup of coffee?"


    "Better not, I''m afraid I won''t be able to leave once I go up."


    Alone with a woman at night in a room, Su Chen wasn''t sure he could endure it, especially since he had just recently admired her explosive figure.


    That burning passion was still lingering within Su Chen''s body!

 Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Ghost Doctor Su Chen

    Su Chen returned to Lin Ruoxue''s vi, and it was already after nine o''clock, Mrs. Wang had gone to bed, but the light in Lin Ruoxue''s upstairs study was still on.


    "Lin Ruoxue, this CEO''s job really isn''t easy!"


    Su Chen sighed and was about to go back to his own room when he suddenly heard a series of low groansing from the upstairs study, sounding very painful.


    Su Chen couldn''t help but stop in his tracks, just in time to hear a "thud," as if something had been knocked over onto the floor.


    "What''s happened?"


    Startled, Su Chen quickly sprinted up the stairs and pushed the door to the study wide open.


    He saw a chair toppled over to one side, while Lin Ruoxue was sitting on the ground, clutching her stomach, deeply furrowing her brow, and beads of cold sweat were forming on her forehead, looking very much in pain.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Chen quickly set the chair upright, then helped Lin Ruoxue to sit down.


    "Stomachache, my old problem." Lin Ruoxue asked with particr curiosity, "How did you get here?"


    "I heard some noise from downstairs." Su Chen''s face showed a look of concern, "Does it hurt a lot?"


    "It''s nothing, it will pass in a while."


    Lin Ruoxue said through gritted teeth, suddenly another wave of sharp pain struck, causing her to involuntarily grimace.


    "You''re in this state, and it''s ''nothing.''" Su Chen put on a stern face, "Give me your hand."


    "What for?"


    "Just extend it when I say so, why ask so many questions!" Su Chen retorted without any pleasantries.


    This was the first time Su Chen had spoken to Lin Ruoxue in this manner, and she was momentarily stunned.


    By the time she came to her senses, her delicate hand was already in Su Chen''s grasp, and she could clearly feel Su Chen stroking her hand.


    Really, Su Chen couldn''t be med; Lin Ruoxue''s skin was just too good, silky and tender.


    Lin Ruoxue had never been touched by a man like this, she quickly tried to retract her hand, only to have Su Chen catch it once again.


    "Don''t move, I''m going to take your pulse."


    Without any embarrassment about having just touched her hand, Su Chen rested a finger gently on Lin Ruoxue''s wrist.


    "Huh? You know how to do this, too?"


    Lin Ruoxue''s beautiful eyes were shing non-stop, surprised as she looked at Su Chen.


    "Nonsense, I am the Divine Doctor, nicknamed the Ghost Doctor, and my consultation fee starts at five million US dors."


    Su Chen curled his lips, stating indifferently.


    This part was no lie by Su Chen; he was indeed known as the Ghost Doctor, partly because his medical methods were unpredictable like spirits, and partly because he could snatch people back from death''s door.


    The one thing that few people knew was that the Netherworld Hall Master and the Ghost Doctor were the same person, something the outside world would never guess.


    "Psh, boasting, nobody believes that!" Lin Ruoxue sneered at Su Chen''s words, "Five million US dors? Who would spend that much money on medical treatment?"


    "When a person''s life is nearly gone, how much money do you think they wouldn''t spend?"


    Su Chen spoke offhandedly, but his expression was growing more serious.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Lin Ruoxue also noticed Su Chen''s solemn expression, and couldn''t help but feel a "thump" in her heart.


    "It''s nothing serious, just acute gastritis."


    Su Chen tried to downy the situation to keep Lin Ruoxue from worrying.


    Actually, his heart was heavy, because in addition to the sudden outbreak of acute gastritis, he discovered that there seemed to be an extremely cold energy lurking within Lin Ruoxue''s body.


    Since he was only at the First Layer of Qi Refinement, he couldn''t use True Qi to investigate what that thing truly was, but his instincts told him it was terrifying.


    If he wanted to help Lin Ruoxue clear that extremely cold energy from her body, he would need to be at least at the Sixth Layer to have a chance.


    The only constion was that, for the moment, this energy had not caused any substantive harm to Lin Ruoxue''s body.


    It was like a seed, lurking inside Lin Ruoxue, seemingly slumbering, yet also appearing to be slowly nurturing something.


    "I really can''t stand the pain anymore, just take me to the hospital."


    Lin Ruoxue had intended to endure, but the pain was too intense, making her feel almost unable to hold on.


    "With me here, the Divine Doctor, why go to a hospital?"


    Su Chen curled his lips, indifferent to the many big shots who queued up for his medical attention. Now he was actively offering to treat Lin Ruoxue, yet she didn''t believe in him.


    "Please stop joking, okay? I''m really in a lot of pain."


    Lin Ruoxue covered her stomach with one hand and propped herself up on the sofa with the other, her speech was already somewhat difficult.


    "How about we make a wager?"


    Su Chen became annoyed upon hearing Lin Ruoxue''s words, feeling as if his status as the Ghost Doctor was being equated to some street swindler in her eyes.


    "What kind of wager?"


    Lin Ruoxue lifted her head slightly, her slender pale neck raising as she looked at Su Chen, curiosity in her beautiful eyes.


    Su Chen''s lips curled into a slight, roguish smile, as he said lightly,


    "Let me try, and I guarantee to cure you within fifteen minutes. If I can''t, you can demand something of me, no take-backs; if I do, you''ll have to agree to a request of mine, no take-backs."


    "Fifteen minutes?" Lin Ruoxue''s beautiful eyes suddenly widened, "Are you kidding?"


    "Do I look like I''m joking?"


    Su Chen felt frankly annoyed, thinking how he, the Divine Doctor, had been reduced to using such tactics to get someone to agree to treatment.


    However, considering the patient was his wife, he felt slightly better.


    "Alright, I''ll let you try. But we need to agree on the requests first, in case you ask for something excessive..."


    Although Lin Ruoxue believed Su Chen couldn''t win, she still mentioned it just in case.


    What if he actually won and asked her to do that sort of embarrassing thing? Could she really agree to it?


    "Fine, then state your request first."


    Su Chen didn''t mind, because he knew he couldn''t possibly lose. If he couldn''t cure such a minor illness, he might as well drown himself in a bath.


    After thinking for a moment, a sharp glint shed in Lin Ruoxue''s eyes as she stared at Su Chen and said,


    "If I really win, you tell me your true identity and all your secrets!"


    Recently, Lin Ruoxue had noticed her husband bing more mysterious, and his identity seemed not to be as simple as it appeared.


    Lin Ruoxue had tried to probe into it, but Su Chen clearly wasn''t nning to tell her, and she couldn''t do anything about it.


    If she could take this opportunity to get the information she wanted, then it couldn''t be better.


    Su Chen was momentarily stunned. He hadn''t expected Lin Ruoxue to suddenly make such a request, and for a moment didn''t know how to reply.


    Lin Ruoxue didn''t miss Su Chen''s reaction, and her heart suddenly jolted!


    Her husband in name indeed had secrets!

 Chapter 61: Chapter 61 That Sort of Thing What Sort of Thing?

    "How about it? You''re not too scared to bet, are you?"


    Lin Ruoxue''s cherry-red, alluring lips puckered slightly, with a hint of "provocation".


    "Fine, I ept, but what if I win?"


    Su Chen shrugged nonchntly, fully aware of the youngdy''s attempt to goad him.


    "What then?"


    Lin Ruoxue regarded Su Chen warily, her stomachache seemingly lessened by the distraction of his attention.


    "Well," Su Chen stroked his chin, his lips revealing that rogueish grin once more, "I''ll have to think about that."


    "Spill it!"


    Lin Ruoxue, seeing Su Chen''s mischievous demeanor, felt like a little rabbit that had stumbled into a big, bad wolf''s trap.


    "If I win, I want you..." Su Chen paused deliberately at this point.


    "No way!"


    Lin Ruoxue immediately rejected outright, thinking to herself that this guy was absolutely up to no good!


    "I haven''t even said it yet, how can you say it''s not eptable?"


    Su Chen nced at Lin Ruoxue''s stunning face and teased her yfully.


    "Isn''t it just that kind of thing you''re talking about? Don''t think I don''t know! Humph!"


    Lin Ruoxue huffed, silently praising herself for making him reveal his demands ahead of time¡ªa wise move, indeed.


    "What kind of thing is that? I really don''t know," Su Chen leaned closer to Lin Ruoxue''s face, the distance between them not even ten centimeters. Su Chen could clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from Lin Ruoxue, which was very pleasant.


    Naturally, Lin Ruoxue also scented the distinctive masculine aroma from Su Chen, which made her face turn red.


    "Exactly what matter is it? President Lin."


    Su Chen feigned ignorance as he asked, a sly twinkle in his eyes.


    "It''s that matter, don''t y dumb!"


    The closeness of the two and Su Chen''s rather embarrassing question gave the atmosphere a somewhat flirtatious undercurrent.


    Lin Ruoxue''s heartbeat quickened, and her face grew warmer.


    "I''m genuinely confused, not pretending, so please enlighten me, President Lin."


    Su Chen leaned in even closer, the two now able to feel each other''s breath.


    "What you were talking about is surely that matter between men and women," Lin Ruoxue whispered in a flustered and panicked tone.


    "The matter between men and women? What is it? I don''t understand," Su Chen touched his head, looking utterly bewildered, appearing like a pure, inexperienced boy.


    Su Chen disyed an innocent, aggrieved expression, as if Lin Ruoxue was bullying him, which infuriated her to the point of wanting to smack him.


    "You just said, said, ''I want you''... isn''t that what you meant?"


    Lin Ruoxue''s face flushed as she gritted her teeth to speak, feeling even more embarrassed as she uttered the words "I want you".


    "As heaven is my witness," Su Chen raised two fingers towards the sky, "I really didn''t mean that."


    "Then what did you mean?"


    Lin Ruoxue retorted irritably. Could it be that what she heard with her own ears didn''t count?


    "I didn''t even finish my sentence, yet you jumped to conclusions," Su Chen said with some "disdain," "That only suggests that your own thoughts are unhealthy, always thinking about that sort of thing to make such an association."


    Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoxue felt like spitting out a mouthful of blood. What was this scoundrel talking about?


    Me, having an unhealthy mind? Me, always thinking about that kind of thing?


    A flush of shame appeared on Lin Ruoxue''s face, and her eyes shot towards Su Chen like sharp daggers.


    "President Lin, since we''ve gotten the certificate, if you really wanted to exploit me, you wouldn''t need to go through all this trouble¡ªjust saying the word would suffice. I could bear the hardship if necessary."


    Su Chen''s expression seemed somewhat valiant, like a warrior ready to face death.


    Lin Ruoxue''s face turned utterly dark. She wants to exploit me? And he''d bear the hardship?


    Lin Ruoxue wished she had a block of tofu to smash her head against!


    She never imagined her husband could be so shameless. Indeed, extreme shamelessness is invincible!


    "Alright, since you say I''m taking things out of context, why don''t you tell me what you were nning to say?"


    Lin Ruoxue scoffed coldly. She really wanted to see what kind of ivory Su Chen could spit out of his dog''s mouth!


    "I hadn''t thought it through yet, but since my wife has such needs, of course I should satisfy them."


    That familiar mischievous smile once again spread across Su Chen''s face.


    At this point, Lin Ruoxue was close to tears. How did it be about her having these needs?


    But facing Su Chen''s smear campaign again, she felt powerless to retort, because this guy could always say something even more shameless.


    Right now, all she wanted was to hear what kind of demands he would make.


    "Hmm~~~"


    Just then, the pain that had slightly subsided minutes ago struck fiercely again, and Lin Ruoxue couldn''t help but groan in pain.


    "What''s the matter?" Su Chen hurried to support Lin Ruoxue''s shoulder andid her down.


    "Just tell me your demand," urged Lin Ruoxue, holding her stomach.


    "Forget it, you''re in pain like this, we''d better hurry and treat it."


    Su Chen took out a long cloth bag from his pocket and spread it out on the coffee table¡ªit was the bag for his Silver Needles.


    "No, you must say it!"


    Unexpectedly, Lin Ruoxue became stubborn.


    She was a person of principles. She had made a request earlier, and Su Chen hadn''t yet, so naturally, she couldn''t agree¡ªit wouldn''t be fair!


    "Really want me to say it?"


    "Hurry up."


    "Alright, this is because you asked me to say it."


    Su Chen leaned down and whispered a few words into Lin Ruoxue''s ear.


    "You, you, you, shameless!"


    After hearing Su Chen''s words, Lin Ruoxue''s cheeks blushed intensely once again, her entire face blooming like a radiant peony!


    "You asked me to say it,"


    Su Chen spread his hands, nonchntly remarking.


    At that moment, Lin Ruoxue felt an even more violent spasm of pain, as if her abdomen was cramping.


    "Fine, I agree!"


    Lin Ruoxue gritted her teeth and stared intensely at Su Chen.


    The pain in her stomach was bing unbearable, so she quickly agreed to Su Chen''s demand. She just wanted him to hurry up and save her. Even if he couldn''t cure her, as long as it didn''t hurt so much, that would be enough.


    The main reason she agreed was actually that deep down, she didn''t believe Su Chen could cure her within fifteen minutes.


    Because that was simply a joke! Lin Ruoxue doubted he could cure her at all, let alone in fifteen minutes.


    Lin Ruoxue believed, not even those real masters of traditional Chinese medicine could achieve this feat!

 Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Treating Illness

    Lin Ruoxue was willing to let Su Chen give it a try, instead of going straight to the hospital, because the nearest top-tier hospital was nearly an hour''s drive from her home, and she clearly found it difficult to endure for such a long time.


    Lin Ruoxue had been seriously ill as a child, and the old Lin Master did not trust her to be treated in a small hospital, so he insisted that she must go to a top-tier hospital for medical treatment.


    "Aren''t you going to treat me quickly?"


    Lin Ruoxue, seeing Su Chen still hesitating and dallying, immediately spoke out.


    She could only hope now that Su Chen was really as impressive as he imed to be.


    As for the request he made, Lin Ruoxue was too preupied to consider it, because her pain was getting worse by the minute.


    "I need you to lift your shirt up a bit, so I can ce the needle,"


    Su Chen said to Lin Ruoxue somewhat awkwardly.


    Lin Ruoxue was slightly startled, her face reddening again, but because herplexion was somewhat pale at the moment, it was not very noticeable.


    Lin Ruoxue understood that since this was a medical treatment, some physical contact might be inevitable.


    She hesitated for a few seconds, then reached out and lifted her shirt up a little.


    Lin Ruoxue closed her eyes, once again lifted her shirt up a bit, exposing a patch of snowy white.


    Seeing Lin Ruoxue''s smooth, creamy waist, Su Chen couldn''t help but swallow. Her slender willowy waist was devoid of any excess fat and faintly revealed two sexy lines.


    How does this girl maintain such a great figure without even working out?


    Su Chen could onlyment the unfairness of the Creator, as a beauty like Lin Ruoxue, who seemed to have taken the essence of nature, was indeed rare!


    "What am I thinking about? Right now, I am a doctor!"


    Su Chen silently admonished himself, steadied his mind, then pulled out a Silver Needle from the cloth bag and wiped it between the tworgest ribs.


    Then, he took out two slightly shorter and thicker Silver Needles and inserted them above the acupoints of the waist, followed by cing another needle about an inch and a half above the belly button.


    After these few needles were in ce, Lin Ruoxue felt the intense pain she had been experiencing dissipate a lot, and herplexion returned to normal. She couldn''t help but be amazed!


    She looked at Su Chen with an even more inquisitive gaze.


    However, at this moment, Su Chen didn''t have the mind to care about these, because he was facing an even more awkward dilemma.


    "What''s the matter? Is it done?"


    Seeing Su Chen suddenly stop, Lin Ruoxue asked.


    "Not yet."


    Then hurry up."


    Now, Lin Ruoxue had gained a bit more confidence in Su Chen''s medical skills; even if it didn''t cure her, it probably wouldn''t make things worse, at least reducing some pain.


    "This, this, this," Su Chen stuttered for a while before he managed to say what he wanted to say, "for this, I now need you to unfasten the button on your pants, as I need to use a needle near your belly button."


    Lin Ruoxue was immediately stunned, with a flush of red climbing up her face and reaching her neck.


    The contact just now had already pushed beyond Lin Ruoxue''sfort zone, but she had endured it for the sake of treatment.


    But now? To actually have to unfasten her pants button, Lin Ruoxue couldn''t get past this hurdle in her heart.


    "Do I really have to do this?" Lin Ruoxue''s heart was filled with turmoil; she hadn''t expected such a situation to arise.


    "Yes. It''s necessary because I need to ce a needle two inches below and three inches below your belly button," Su Chen nodded, his expression very serious.


    "You aren''t taking advantage of me under the guise of treating me, are you?"


    Lin Ruoxue looked at Su Chen with skepticism; she did not have much trust in Su Chen''s character.


    "Am I really that bad in your eyes?" Su Chen asked with a bitter smile, shaking his head, "If you want topletely cure the issue in your stomach, it must be done this way."


    "Can you reallypletely cure my stomach ailment?"


    Hearing Su Chen''s words, Lin Ruoxue became very excited, grabbing onto Su Chen''s arm with one hand.


    This severe case of acute gastritis was the first for Lin Ruoxue, but her stomach ailments had been recurring frequently, happening two or three times a year.


    It was likely that this severe outbreak was due to the lingering issues from before.


    "I guarantee it!" Su Chen affirmed with a firm nod, "And I am just a doctor now. In the eyes of a doctor, there''s no distinction between sexes, only patients."


    "Alright, I trust you."


    After some thought, Lin Ruoxue made up her mind.


    She had been tormented by her stomach ailment for many years.


    Lin Ruoxue''s hands slowly moved to the button of her pants, and seeing Su Chen watching her every move, she suddenly felt extremely shy.


    "Turn around," Lin Ruoxue halted her actions.


    "What''s there to be afraid of, you''ll have to see it in a bit anyway."


    Su Chen simply couldn''t understand women''s thoughts.


    "No, turn around," she insisted.


    "Alright, alright."


    With certain requests from women, it''s best for a man not to argue but just toply.


    Seeing Su Chen turn away, the tension in Lin Ruoxue''s heart finally eased a bit, and then she slowly unbuttoned her pants.


    "I''m ready."


    Lin Ruoxue''s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, clearly very nervous.


    No wonder, Lin Ruoxue, although in her twenties, had never had a boyfriend, nor had she ever been so intimately close to a man before.


    Knowing her nervousness, Su Chen did not waste any more time, swiftly drawing out two Silver Needles, targeting the acupuncture points just below Lin Ruoxue''s navel.


    Lin Ruoxue''s heart thumped loudly; she could vividly feel the heat flushing her face, her body feeling as though it was burning.


    Su Chen''s movements were lightning-fast, inserting the two Silver Needles urately into the points, two cun and eight fen deep, without the slightest deviation.


    Following that, Su Chen''s right hand deftly twisted the ends of each Silver Needle, gently rotating them.


    With Su Chen''s maniption, involuntary soft gasps escaped from Lin Ruoxue''s lips, as if originating from deep within her throat,ced with both pain and seemingly a hint of pleasure.


    This truly reflected Lin Ruoxue''s current state; she felt a heaviness of pain, yet at the same time, an unprecedented sensation of lightness.


    It was an extraordinary sensation, yet indescribable in words.


    Momentster, Su Chen ceased his movement and began extracting the Silver Needles, one by one. As thest needle was removed, Lin Ruoxue suddenly sat up, emitting a long, muffled groan.


    "We''re done."


    Su Chen said with a smile, putting away the Silver Needles.


    Upon hearing that, Lin Ruoxue immediately felt for any pain and found itpletely gone; her body was filled with energy.


    Lin Ruoxue had never felt thisfortable before. Her body had always felt as if it was weighed down by lead, constantly burdened, but now, it was as if all the shackles had been removed, leaving her feeling utterly light and free!

 Chapter 63 Husband, I Love You

    "How about that? My medical skills aren''t bad, right?" Su Chen winked at Lin Ruoxue.


    "Not bad." Lin Ruoxue gave a perfunctory reply, the stubborn Lin Ruoxue wouldn''t give in so easily!


    But seeing the beads of sweat on Su Chen''s forehead, she still felt somewhat moved.


    However, her curiosity about the secrets her husband held deepened.


    Not only could he cook dishes that Michelin-starred chefs couldn''t match, but his knowledge of music was also profoundly deep!


    Today, he had demonstrated unmatched medical skills. Although she didn''t know the extent of Su Chen''s medical skills, she knew they must be extraordinary.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have cured her chronic condition so quickly!


    More likely, he might even casually give away something worth millions of US dors!


    Who exactly was her husband? How many things about him did she not know?


    Lin Ruoxue felt that Su Chen was filled with too many secrets worth exploring, like a treasure chest.


    "I must figure all this out!"


    Lin Ruoxue silently resolved in her heart.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Su Chen noticed Lin Ruoxue''s increasingly strange gaze and couldn''t help but ask.


    "Nothing."


    Lin Ruoxue shook her head, burying her thoughts deep inside.


    "Well then, what about our bet?" Su Chen revealed a slightly mischievous smile. "Aren''t you supposed to fulfill the wager now?"


    "Ah~~~"


    Lin Ruoxue was still happy about getting healthier, but she had clearly forgotten that once Su Chen truly cured her, she would have to fulfill the bet.


    Thinking of Su Chen''s previous excessive request, Lin Ruoxue''s face blushed again, and she didn''t dare meet Su Chen''s gaze.


    Su Chen hadn''t expected Lin Ruoxue to have such an adorable side, and immediately felt a mischievous urge to tease her a bit.


    But he also knew that Lin Ruoxue, the Ice Beauty, would never do that kind of thing.


    He had made the request on a whim and hadn''t taken it seriously, but obviously, Su Chen wasn''t going to let her off easily either.


    "What''s wrong? Hurry up, I''ve been waiting!" Su Chen urged.


    "Can we do itter? I''m not ready yet."


    Lin Ruoxue clenched her fists nervously and asked somewhat uneasily.


    "What do you need to get ready for? If you want to back out, just say it." Su Chen''s face showed an ''I knew it'' expression. "After all, you''re the CEO, and I''m just a driver. There''s nothing I can do if you want to back out."


    "Who''s backing out! Make yourself clear!"


    Lin Ruoxue, who had battled in the business world, valued integrity above all, and now being used of backing out was something she couldn''t tolerate.


    "You made a bet but aren''t fulfilling it. Isn''t that backing out? But you don''t have to worry, I figured you were that kind of person already."


    Su Chen lit a cigarette nonchntly and said,


    "After all, this is typical behavior for you businessmen."


    "Who said I''m backing out?! Bring it on, I''m not scared of anyone!"


    A surge of impulsive energy burst from Lin Ruoxue''s chest, and she blurted out those words, but she regretted them as soon as she spoke.


    "Uh, are you serious?" Su Chen suddenly widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief. "You''re not joking?"


    "I, I . . ."


    Lin Ruoxue started to stammer, wanting to take back her words, but that would mean backing down, and the usually assertive Lin Ruoxue was not ustomed to doing so.


    "Forget it, I knew you were just kidding." Su Chen purposely showed a look of "contempt," "Let''s treat this bet as a joke, not to be taken seriously."


    Su Chen''s contempt deeply wounded Lin Ruoxue''s strong sense of pride. When had she ever been looked down upon like this?


    Su Chen''s expression seemed to say, I knew you wouldn''t keep your word, I won''t bother with you.


    For Lin Ruoxue, this was unbearable!


    "Fine, bring it on, I''ll fulfill the bet right now!"


    A heroic aura emerged on Lin Ruoxue''s face, as if she was about to leap into a dragon''s den or a tiger''sir.


    "There''s no need to force yourself." Su Chen shook his head and sighed.


    "No, I must do it, I will fulfill the bet right now." Lin Ruoxue''s fighting spirit waspletely ignited by Su Chen''s disdainful attitude.


    "Really want to?" Su Chen still couldn''t believe that Lin Ruoxue was actually going to fulfill that bet.


    He had only intended to provoke her, but had underestimated Lin Ruoxue''s pride. At this moment, Lin Ruoxue seemed determined to go through with it no matter what.


    "I must!" Lin Ruoxue''s emotions were somewhat agitated, her eyes shooting out two intense beams of fire!


    "Alright then, since you insist, I''ll reluctantly agree."


    Su Chen expressed his helplessness. Watching his shameless demeanor, Lin Ruoxue felt like taking off her high heels and vehemently pping his face with the soles, since he seemed to have no shame at all.


    "Come on!"


    Su Chen spread his arms, looking like amb to the ughter.


    His face again betrayed a deep, mischievous smile as he watched Lin Ruoxue, who seemed somewhat uneasy on the couch.


    Lin Ruoxue slowly stood up, and under Su Chen''s intensely invasive gaze, she trembled like a frightened little rabbit, feeling a bit stiff all over.


    The words she had spoken before were powered by a surging sense of injustice in her chest; now that she really had to fulfill the bet, she became incredibly nervous and flustered.


    Especially under Su Chen''s presumptuous gaze, it felt as if her clothes were being stripped off by his eyes.


    Thinking about the embarrassing act she was about to perform, Lin Ruoxue felt like her body was on fire, getting hotter by the moment!


    "Close your eyes."


    Lin Ruoxue spoke softly, her head lowered.


    Upon hearing this, Su Chen obediently closed his eyes, and Lin Ruoxue felt slightly better, then slowly moved towards him.


    Hearing the sound of her approaching footsteps and the distinctive fragrance of Lin Ruoxue''s body wafting over, Su Chen''s heart also began to beat uncontrobly.


    "Closer, closer, even closer."


    Su Chen''s heartbeat quickened even more, making him curse himself silently for being so pathetic; he was not a novice, and besides, he was facing his legally wedded wife¡ªwhat was there to be nervous about?


    Just then, Lin Ruoxue had already walked up to him, the distance between them barely an inch.


    Looking at Su Chen''s somewhat immature face, Lin Ruoxue''s heart nearly leapt out of her throat!


    At that moment, Lin Ruoxue was still engaged in a fierce mental battle, her longstanding conservatism making it hard for her to take that step.


    "To hell with it, better to die early than live in torment!"


    Fortunately, this guy was still her husband in name, which lessened her sense of guilt somewhat.


    With a resigned-to-fate mindset, Lin Ruoxue slowly tiptoed and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, kissed Su Chen on the cheek while cooingly calling out:


    "Hubby, I love you!"

 Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Lin Ruoxues Thoughts

    Su Chen felt something extremely soft press against his face, which was incrediblyfortable.


    The whiny voice of Lin Ruoxue in his ears sounded like music from heaven, turning all his bones to mush.


    Slowly, Su Chen opened his eyes, only to see that Lin Ruoxue''s face was already flushed with embarrassment.


    Her gaze darted about, avoiding meeting Su Chen''s mischievous look.


    "You bad guy!"


    Lin Ruoxue scolded him silently in her heart.


    But what could she do since she had lost the bet? It was all the fault of that guy for making such a bizarre request, demanding she kiss him and also call out "Husband, I love you!"


    She really didn''t know how he came up with such a wicked idea.


    In sharp contrast to Lin Ruoxue''s intense emotions, Su Chen was feeling utterly delighted.


    He hadn''t expected that Lin Ruoxue, the icy beauty, would take the initiative to kiss him and even cry out "Husband, I love you!"


    Even now, Su Chen was still savoring that tender sensation!


    It was just too brief a moment.


    Lin Ruoxue sneakily nced at Su Chen and saw that one of his hands was still touching the spot she had kissed, which made her feel even more embarrassed!


    "What are you still doing here? Get going!"


    Lin Ruoxue didn''t know what else might happen if he continued to stay. In her eyes, Su Chen was definitely a dangerous creature!


    "Alright, I''m leaving."


    Su Chen walked out with a goofy smile, as if he had found a Gold Ingot.


    After Su Chen had left, Lin Ruoxue quickly closed the door, then flung herself onto the couch, covering her face with her hands, feeling a bit overheated.


    Today''s events were absolutely a first for Lin Ruoxue¡ªa groundbreaking day.


    First, Su Chen had seen her body while treating her illness, even the more private areas, which she could overlook since Su Chen was in the role of a doctor.


    But what happened afterwards was something Lin Ruoxue had never dreamt she would do of her own volition¡ªshe had actually taken the initiative to kiss that guy, and uttered those mushy words.


    "I''m going to die, I''m going to die!"


    After a while, Lin Ruoxue still buried her head in the couch, her face as red as a ripe apple that seemed to ooze juice when pinched. At that moment, she wished to be an ostrich.


    Just then, the door suddenly creaked open.


    Lin Ruoxue jumped in surprise, immediately sitting up, only to see Su Chen walking in with a small bowl in his hand.


    "What are you doing back here?"


    Lin Ruoxue looked at Su Chen with a guarded expression, asking coldly.


    "Wife, why is your face so red?" Su Chen asked with confusion.


    "It''s nothing!" Lin Ruoxue became somewhat flustered upon hearing Su Chen''s words, then cooled down again, "Don''t call me that in the future, although I just... Anyway, you''re not allowed to call me that."


    Lin Ruoxue was still not used to being addressed with the affectionate term "wife."


    "Alright, President Lin, I''ve just made some date and yam soup. Hurry up and drink it while it''s hot; it''s good for your stomach," Su Chen didn''t mind Lin Ruoxue''s attitude at all, "Even though you''re already cured, you still need to nourish yourself, can''t be too careless."


    "Alright, I know. You can go now."


    Lin Ruoxue was slightly stunned before she waved her hand, feeling an inexplicable irritation in her heart.


    "Okay, drink it while it''s hot." Su Chen ced the bowl on the desk, then walked out and closed the door behind him.


    Once again, Lin Ruoxue found herself alone in the room. She slowly approached the desk, looking at the bowl of soup still steaming, aplex emotion spreading in her heart.


    ....


    Days went by one after another, and in the following months, Su Chen led a rtively quiet life without encountering any major turbulence.


    However, after the incident that night, there was a subtle change in his rtionship with Lin Ruoxue. Although not obvious, it was indeed there.


    There was also a slight change in the situation within the security department, mainly because ever since Su Chen arrived, thepany''s two beauties, Lin Ruoxue and Xia Qiuru, would directly call for Su Chen when they needed a car for official matters.


    This filled Pang San, the head of the driver''s department, and Cao Kun, the deputy department head, with hostility towards Su Chen, fearing for the security of their positions, while others envied his frequent private time with the two beauties.


    As for these petty minds, Su Chen couldn''t be bothered to care, pretending not to see their resentful gazes.


    However, there was one thing that Su Chen found strange: Wu Yuanpin, the second young master of the Wu Family, had not taken any action against him, which was decidedly out of character for scions of such prominent families.


    To them, face was of utmost importance. Having been humiliated by Su Chen that day, Wu Yuanpin should have immediately sought frenzied revenge.


    Su Chen estimated that there must be some important matter preupying him, and it was surely not out of magnanimity that he had spared him.


    In the meantime, Su Chen frequently gathered with Ye Mei at the Cloud Sky Club, and naturally, he would often encounter Xiao Yaning. Every time Su Chen saw her, his gaze was drawn to her legs, which could be described as superb.


    What frustrated Su Chen, though, was that Ye Mei didn''t seem to have the slightest inclination to treat him as her master. Whenever Su Chen expressed dissatisfaction, Ye Mei always said that she would fulfill her promise after the matters with the Wu Family were settled.


    Su Chen just mentioned it casually, as he found this way of interacting with Ye Mei quitefortable. He was now more inclined to regard Ye Mei as a partner.


    Having no significant power in Huaxia, he did have ns to groom Ye Mei, which was the main reason he needed her loyalty back then.


    Nevertheless, the most exciting event for Su Chen in the past few months was his cultivation experiencing another breakthrough!


    During this period, his cultivation progressed from the Qi Refinement First Layer to the Qi Refinement Fifth Layer, achieving preliminary externalization of True Qi.


    This speed was, without a doubt, many times faster than his first attempt at cultivation!


    What he didn''t expect was finding that the True Yuan refined through the Nine Yang Divine Technique was much more potent than what he possessed before.


    This directly resulted in a consequence where his current strength could match that of an ordinary cultivator at the Qi Refinement Eighth Layer to Ninth Layer, which was very close to the Qi Refinement Peak.


    He believed that if he reached the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer or Eighth Layer, he could certainly im to be invincible in the Qi Refinement Realm!


    By then, he would nearly be unstoppable in this world, although he knew there was the Meridian Expansion Realm above the Qi Refinement Realm. But in his many years, Su Chen had never encountered a master of the Meridian Expansion Realm.


    As for masters at half-step Meridian Expansion, as far as he knew, there were only two or three in the whole world.


    Of course, he was once among them.


    Not to mention half-step Meridian Expansion, there are only a few who can reach the Qi Refinement Peak in this world!


    The miraculous effects of the Nine Yang Divine Technique caught Su Chen by surprise. Whether it was cultivation speed or the purity of True Yuan, both are crucial for a cultivator.


    This further strengthened Su Chen''s determination to continue training in this amazing Cultivation Technique. As for the three great cmities mentioned by his old master, Su Chen was prepared.


    Since ancient times, which path to the highest peak has ever been easy to walk?!

 Chapter 65: Chapter 65 The One Who Comes to Do Harm

    Su Chen was so desperate to gain power because of a thorn buried deep in his heart, the truth about his parents'' death.


    At that time, Su Chen was too young to remember anything, and he only had a vague impression of the Su Family''srge courtyard.


    After his parents died suddenly, he was cast out; had he not encountered Old Ghost Master during his wandering, he might not even be alive now!


    Over the years, he had tried hard to investigate the truth about what happened back then, but even with the Nether Temple''s powerful intelligence capabilities, he still hadn''t managed to rify the matter.


    On the surface, it seemed like an internal power struggle within the Su Family, but Su Chen had a feeling from some small clues that the truth might be far moreplicated.


    Hidden behind it all seemed to be an even darker conspiracy!


    Su Chen knew that to tear a hole in the conspiracy, he must possess a powerful force! Otherwise, everything would be in vain!


    The top-tier magnate families in Huaxia were not just for show; their profound heritage was beyond everyone''s imagination.


    .....


    "Su Chen, wait up!"


    Just off work, Su Chen was about to go to the garage to get his car when a voice came from behind.


    Su Chen stopped and turned around to see Lin Chao chasing after him, a bit out of breath, but with a warm smile on his face.


    "What''s up?" Su Chen asked, somewhat puzzled.


    Lin Chao hade to thepany three days after Su Chen joined, and Lin Ruoxue had arranged for him the position of marketing director; after all, he was the eldest legitimate grandson of the Lin Family, and Lin Ruoxue couldn''t possibly assign him a minor role.


    The reason he was made marketing director was that the deputy director was Lin Ruoxue''s confidant.


    Lin Ruoxue had been in the business world for so long, she naturally wouldn''t be so naive as to not be cautious of others.


    In these days, Su Chen had seen him a few times, and he always pretended not to recognize Su Chen, not even a nod of acquaintance.


    Su Chen naturally didn''t pay him any mind¡ªhe always treated others with the respect they gave him.


    But why was Lin Chao stopping him now? Instinctively, Su Chen felt this guy definitely wasn''t harboring any good intentions.


    "What, are you heading home?" Lin Chao jogged a few steps and came up to Su Chen.


    Su Chen nodded but didn''t speak, waiting for him to continue.


    "Are you free tonight?" Lin Chao patted Su Chen''s shoulder affectionately, as if they were close, "We haven''t had a one-on-one get-together since you started at thepany, have we?"


    "We''re rtives after all, we shouldmunicate more, we''re all family, right?"


    "Better not, I appreciate the thought," Su Chen replied.


    Su Chen didn''t really want to deal with someone like Lin Chao, but to not make things difficult for Lin Ruoxue, he maintained a cordial facade.


    "Su Chen, if you don''t agree, it means you look down on me." Lin Chao deliberately put on a serious face, but then winked, whispering in Su Chen''s ear, "I heard that Yun Tian Club has some pretty girls, we should go and have some fresh experiences together!"


    Without waiting for Su Chen to respond, Lin Chao grabbed Su Chen''s arm and headed toward his car:


    "Don''t worry, I won''t tell Ruoxue, this is our secret as men."


    With things having progressed to this point, Su Chen no longer declined and got into Lin Chao''s Mercedes, curious to see what Lin Chao was up to.


    It was the peak of rush hour, and what should have been about a twenty-minute car ride took almost an hour.


    The two first settled into a small room and had a quick bite, then made their way to a VIP suite.


    As they walked down the corridor to the suite, Xiao Yaning also came toward them.


    Lin Chao saw Xiao Yaning smiling and instinctively thought she was smiling at him.


    At that moment, there were only two people in the corridor: him and Su Chen. Lin Chao absolutely did not believe that a woman like Xiao Yaning would ever acknowledge someone dressed in a driver''s uniform, looking like a loser like Su Chen.


    "Miss Xiao."


    Lin Chao''s mouth curved up fifteen degrees in a standard smile, though his gaze asionally drifted to Xiao Yaning''s slender legs beneath her cheongsam.


    "Mr. Lin, wee," Xiao Yaning said as a matter of etiquette before turning to Su Chen with a smile, "Big Brother Su, you''ve arrived!"


    Her manner was very casual, as if they were old friends.


    Because of Ye Mei, the two of them had grown quite familiar with each other, and she knew that Su Chen was a carefree and rxed person.


    "Why isn''t she here?"


    Xiao Yaning looked behind her and didn''t see Ye Mei, which she found odd, because he usually came with Ye Mei.


    "I came with some friends today," Su Chen smiled.


    "Oh, I see! So today you''re here to do something naughty!"


    She suddenly whispered close to Su Chen''s ear. Xiao Yaning had been wondering why Su Chen woulde to the massage room area, and it turned out that Ye Mei hadn''te with him.


    It seems men can''t resist the temptation to stray!


    Although this ce did not provide erotic services, having those sprightly young girls press against you was indeed very enjoyable.


    And many customers couldn''t help but take advantage of the young girls¡ªit was very normal.


    "What are you talking about! I''m just here to rx with my friend."


    Seeing Xiao Yaning''s suggestive smile, Su Chen knew she got the wrong idea.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t tell Ye Mei," Xiao Yaning said with a knowing look.


    "I will call over a couple of our top girls to take good care of Big Brother Su."


    Before Su Chen could exin, Xiao Yaning already walked away with graceful steps and a twisting slender waist.


    "Su Chen, it seems you''re a regr here, I underestimated you." Lin Chao thought Su Chen knew Xiao Yaning because he frequented this ce for massages, so he asked in a low voice, "What did Miss Xiao say to you just now?"


    "Nothing much, just small talk," Su Chen replied offhandedly.


    "Su Chen, considering we are practically family, let me give you a heads up," Lin Chao suddenly said with a serious expression, "Although it''s normal for a man to have his indulgences outside, this Xiao Yaning is not just anyone, and you must never set your sights on her."


    "Oh? Why''s that?"


    Su Chen tilted his head and asked. Although he was quite familiar with Xiao Yaning, he didn''t know much about her background. After all, they hadn''t known each other for long, and it wasn''t polite to pry into personal matters without her offering that information.


    "This Xiao Yaning is the only daughter of the Xiao Family, just like our Lin Family, they are considered a second-tier family in Jiangnan. But that''s not the key point. The crucial thing is, Xiao Yaning is the woman Lv Shixin, the Young Master of the Lv Family, has taken a liking to. He''s already made it clear that he''d fight anyone who dares toy a finger on Xiao Yaning."


    Lin Chao lowered his voice intentionally as he spoke,


    "Do you know the status of the Lv Family? They are one of the Four Great Families. Once Lv Shixin has spoken, who else would dare to pursue Xiao Yaning? Only someone with a death wish."


    Lin Chao was intentionally trying to ingratiate himself with Su Chen today, so he shared everything he knew without reservation, showing apletely open-hearted attitude.

 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Instigation

    "And I heard that the Lv Family has already approached the Xiao Family for a marriage proposal, and Yaning''s father has agreed, but strangely no wedding news has emerged yet."


    "Oh, so that''s it."


    Only then did Su Chen understand why Xiao Yaning always seemed so mncholic, and why she suddenly jumped into the river that day; he guessed it all had something to do with this matter.


    "Don''t worry, Xiao Yaning and I are just ordinary friends," Su Chen said casually.


    "That''s good!" Lin Chao nodded, pointing to a private room in front of them, "This is the ce, let''s go in."


    Soon a waiter brought in two sets of clothes for them to change into, prepared flower tea, and set a fruit tter on the table.


    "Su Chen, how have you and Ruoxue been recently?"


    While changing, Lin Chao asked very "casually."


    "Not bad."


    Su Chen knew Lin Chao wouldn''t invite him out for no reason; there had to be a motive.


    Indeed, Lin Ruoxue was mentioned so quickly.


    "Su Chen, even if you don''t tell me, I know your days at home aren''t so easy," Lin Chao said with a smile, "My cousin, she''s just too strong-willed, too career-oriented."


    "Actually, it''s fine, she''s not having an easy time either."


    Su Chen changed clothes, then sat down and took a sip from his tea cup.


    "I''ve seen you smoke too," Lin Chao pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to Su Chen, "Try this one, it''s specially sent by my friend, military-supply, only avable to militarymanders, and chief of staff level."


    Su Chen took it and knew from the smell that it indeed was military-supply, but not reserved formanders or chief staffs; even apany or battalionmander could get these cigarettes.


    However, he wasn''t too particr about cigarettes; when conditions were harsh, he could roll up some leaves and have a smoke.


    Seeing Su Chen smoking already, he also lit one for himself, sat next to Su Chen, and sighed, "What you said is really true, Ruoxue really isn''t having it easy. She has to take care of so many things in such arge corporation, the pressure must be immense, it pains me to even watch."


    "Speaking of which, Ruoxue is just a twenty-five or twenty-six-year-old girl. Girls her age should be dating, watching movies, traveling around, enjoying life, but instead she has to spend every day in the office, dealing with those tedious documents."


    As Lin Chao spoke, he looked genuinely heartbroken.


    "That''s true, I''ve tried advising her, but she won''t listen."


    Su Chen shook his head and said, pretending not to understand Lin Chao''s intentions, while looking genuinely at Lin Chao,


    "Big brother, why don''t you talk to Ruoxue, she definitely still listens to you."


    Lin Chao thought silently, "This guy is really a blockhead," would he still need to bring this rascal if he could influence her himself?


    If he really were to say something, it would only make Lin Ruoxue more wary of him.


    Of course, he would never reveal these thoughts. He took a drag of his cigarette and said with some difficulty,


    "After all, this is a matter between you and Ruoxue as husband and wife, how could I, as a cousin, intrude?"


    "That''s true too."


    Su Chen acted like aplete fool, and Lin Chao''s disdain for him grew internally.


    If it weren''t for Su Chen''s utility value, he really wouldn''t want to be around this bumpkin!


    "Su Chen, have you and Ruoxue not done that kind of thing yet?"


    Suddenly, Lin Chao leaned in close to Su Chen and lowered his voice.


    "How could that be? Why would you think so?"


    Su Chen''s face reddened slightly, showing an appropriately awkward expression.


    "Buddy, stop hiding it when you''re in front of me." Lin Chao extended a hand to loop around the neck of Su Chen, bypassing the coffee table between them, and sighed, "Everyone in our family knows what''s going on with your marriage to Ruoxue, and given her cold nature, I''m afraid..."


    Su Chen frowned slightly as he felt himself being embraced and subtly dodged.


    Lin Chao didn''t seem to mind and withdrew his hand naturally.


    "But despite that, I''m still quite envious of you; after all, Ruoxue is so beautiful. If I weren''t her cousin, I definitely wouldn''t let her go either."


    Lin Chao''sment wasn''t insincere, considering the title of the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan isn''t just for anyone.


    "It''s like seeing a delicacy but not being able to eat it, what''s the use of looks!"


    Su Chen''s face fell as he sighed, yet he was thinking inside, "Why has this weasel suddenly be interested in my marital life with Lin Ruoxue?"


    Without showing any emotion, Su Chen continued to y dumb; he wanted to see what Lin Chao was really up to.


    "That''s true, it''s even more painful than not seeing, it''s downright torture!"


    Lin Chao pressed the finished cigarette into the ashtray on the coffee table, then took a sip of tea and sympathized deeply with Su Chen''s predicament.


    "Su Chen, haven''t you thought about doing something to change this situation?"


    Lin Chao blinked at Su Chen, a sly glint passing through his eyes.


    "I have thought about it too," Su Chen sighed deeply and took a harsh drag of his cigarette, "You have no idea how cold that woman Lin Ruoxue is!"


    "Women are like that, just pretending to be reserved!" Lin Chao said with a look of someone who understood women deepy, "Especially girls as outstanding as Ruoxue." Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    "So, what should I do then?"


    Su Chen perked up, looking at Lin Chao expectantly, like an elementary school student.


    Lin Chao was pleased with this effect. He took another sip of tea, then spoke mysteriously:


    "No matter how outstanding a woman is, she is still a woman, and as long as she is a woman, she has her weaknesses. Once you seize them, taking her down will not be a problem!"


    "What weaknesses?"


    Su Chen quickly asked, evidently very excited.


    "Actually, it''s nothing much. It''s just a woman''s sense of chastity. If you can find an opportunity to genuinely spend a romantic night with her, then everything will naturally fall into ce," Lin Chao coaxed Su Chen gently, "Especially for a proud and outstanding woman like Lin Ruoxue. If you be her first man, she will never forget you in her lifetime, and you''ll have a special ce in her heart!"


    "But I haven''t even held her hand, how can I possibly do that with her?"


    Su Chen showed a troubled expression, but inwardly he cursed, "Lin Chao really is despicable and cunning."


    However, he was rather urate in his understanding of women, especially proud and outstanding women like Lin Ruoxue; who knows how many respectable youngdies this scoundrel had ruined.


    "That''s not difficult." Lin Chao said confidently, "Just pick a special day, then prepare a candlelight dinner or watch a movie. In short, create some romantic atmosphere, and it will be much easier."


    "If that''s not enough, you could discreetly add something to her drink or food. After all, you are already husband and wife. Even if she finds out, she can''t do much to you. Once you turn the uncooked rice into cooked rice, she will have to ept it."


    After a pause, Lin Chao continued to educate Su Chen, whom he saw as utterly na?ve.


    Little did he know, these tricks seemed outdated in Su Chen''s view, or to use a popr phrase, simply too "low"!

 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Oh, Im so scared!

    Your journey continues on empire


    Although Su Chen held nothing but contempt for Lin Chao''s character and methods, he didn''t show any of it outwardly, still pretending to y along.


    "That would work?" Su Chen''s eyes suddenly widened, then he shook his head repeatedly, "I can''t do that."


    "How do you know you can''t do it if you haven''t tried?" Lin Chao, looking exasperated as if he couldn''t make steel from iron, hurriedly said, "Although she might be a bit resistant at first, men, well, need to be a bit more dominant! She''s your wife after all¡ªwhat does it matter if you sleep with her?"


    "Believe me, once you''ve had a skin-to-skin rtionship with her, your rtionship will definitely undergo a fundamental change." Lin Chao spoke earnestly, appearing as if he truly had Su Chen''s best interests at heart, "If the two of you could have a child, then that would be even better."


    Suddenly, Su Chen had an epiphany. Lin Chao had taken a long way around, but his real focus was this!


    It was easy to imagine that once Lin Ruoxue was really pregnant, she would be unable to attend to the group for a considerable period, which would be the perfect opportunity for him to seize power, wouldn''t it?


    Furthermore, once a woman has a child, she might not retain the same level of career ambition, as her child will undoubtedly take up the most important ce in her life.


    So, no matter what, this was all advantageous to his aim to take control of Belle Group and was fraught with benefits and no drawbacks.


    Even Su Chen couldn''t help but admire his painstaking effort!


    "You agree it''s true, don''t you?"


    Lin Chao looked at Su Chen and said sincerely.


    "Mm, what you''re saying makes sense."


    Su Chen responded indifferently. Having drawn out the other party''s true intentions, he was no longer interested in continuing the charade.


    Lin Chao also felt that suddenly, Su Chen seemed a bit different, but he couldn''t quite pinpoint what was different.


    Just then, the door to the private room opened, and in walked two masseuses who were both very pretty and delicate.


    Especially one of them, who exhibited the distinct gentle and supple quality of the women from Jiangnan, was quite appealing.


    After a brief chat, Su Chen found out that her hometown was in a town in a county beneath Jianghai, and her name was Xiao Wen.


    Herpanion was from the northeast, named Xiao Jing, also pretty, butcking somewhat in temperament. However, she made up for it with a good figure.


    Lin Chao had intended to cozy up to Su Chen today, and of course, he would let Su Chen have Xiao Wen, who was of better quality. Su Chen didn''t go through the motions of being too polite or refusing.


    The two meny down on the massage beds, keeping a meter''s distance, closed their eyes, and rested.


    The masseuses'' skilled hands gently kneaded and massaged their bodies, indeed a real pleasure!


    "Sir, is the pressure okay for you?"


    Xiao Wen pressed down firmly on Su Chen''s shoulders with her hands and asked softly.


    "Quite good," Su Chen replied, "How long have you been in this profession? You don''t look very old."


    "I''m 20 this year, and I''ve been doing this for three years."


    Xiao Wen''s voice was as soft as water and pleasing to the ear.


    "You started working so young; why didn''t you continue your studies?"


    Su Chen asked casually. After waiting a few seconds without hearing her respond, he turned his head and noticed a slightly embarrassed expression on her face.


    "Never mind, it was just a casual question."


    "It''s nothing," Xiao Wen said with a light smile, her expression returning to normal as she sighed softly, "Where Ie from is quite poor, and both my parents have beenid off. There''s also my younger brother at home, so I had to drop out of school and work."


    "So, do you want to continue your studies?"


    "I do wish to, but..."


    Xiao Wen hadn''t finished speaking when a woman in her thirties rushed in like the wind, looking very anxious.


    "Xiao Wen,e here for a moment." The person motioned Xiao Wen over with a wave of the hand.


    "What''s the matter, Manager Yu?" Xiao Wen apologized to Su Chen and then walked over.


    Manager Yu whispered a few words into Xiao Wen''s ear, and Xiao Wen''s face immediately turned pale.


    "I won''t go, why has hee again?!"


    Panic and tension swept across Xiao Wen''s face, and she shook her head repeatedly.


    "Xiao Wen, how can you be so thoughtless?" Manager Yu''s face slightly fell, "I know he''s troublesome, and has some issues, but he''s not someone we can afford to offend!"


    "But..."


    Xiao Wen''s expression was torn, even pained.


    "Just bear with it for a bit, think of your parents, think of your younger brother."


    Manager Yu continued tofort her, sighing softly to herself.


    "What''s happened?"


    Lin Chao, seeing the two whisper for some time, couldn''t help but speak up.


    "I''m sorry, dear guests." Manager Yu approached with a smile, apologetically saying, "Just now, a customer specifically asked for Xiao Wen to serve him, could we possibly assign you another technician?"


    "What? What do you take us for?"


    Upon hearing they were to be assigned another technician, Lin Chao''s face darkened immediately. It was a huge snub, especially in front of Su Chen.


    "Boss, please, calm down, I know this isn''t right, but that customer is really not someone to be trifled with. You seem like a cultured man, please be understanding towards us."


    Manager Yu had a way with words, and her speech made it slightly embarrassing for one to make an issue out of it.


    But that didn''t mean Lin Chao was about to give in; if he really allowed the technician assigned to him to be switched out, it would be a huge loss of face.


    "No change! If anyone should be switched, let that person be switched. There has to be some respect for who came first."


    Lin Chao t-out refused.


    "Boss, that customer is really trouble! Could you please be generous and let this go?"


    Manager Yu had sized up many people and could tell that Lin Chao was definitely not an ordinary man, but the person beside him who had been quiet seemed unremarkable.


    However, thinking about the Young Master''s temper, she felt somewhat helpless, today''s matter was really troublesome.


    "What''s so difficult about that? If he has anyints, let hime to me directly. I don''t believe he''d have the audacity to be presumptuous in front of me!"


    Lin Chao sat up from the massage bed, speaking with an air of arrogance.


    After all, the Lin Family was a prominent one in Jianghai, and as the Lin Family''s eldest legitimate grandson, Lin Chao had some standing.


    "Who is talking with such a big mouth?"


    Just then, the door to the room was abruptly pushed open, and three or four men dressed in ck outfits walked in.


    These men had a solemn demeanor, did not smile, and stood with their hands crossed in front, looking as unmoving as pines, clearly not to be messed with.


    A young man in his twenties emerged from among them, dressed in a punk style, wearing sunsses, and looking mockingly at Lin Chao.


    The only thing out of ce was his limping gait.


    "Yo, who is this big man, scaring me so much my little heart is trembling!"


    The young man exaggeratedly said as he took off his sunsses with one hand.


    Seeing the young man, Xiao Wen trembled with fear and herplexion turned several shades paler...

 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Failing to Show Off and Getting Beaten Instead

    Although the young man said he was scared, there was not a trace of fear on his face. Clearly, he was mocking Lin Chao.


    Lin Chao couldn''t stand being looked down upon like this and said sternly,


    "Who are you? This is my private room, please leave immediately."


    He also noticed that those dressed in ck tight clothes were not ordinary bodyguards, so he didn''t dare say anything excessive.


    "Leave? Did I hear that right?" The young manughed loudly as if he had just heard a hrious joke. He pointed a finger on Lin Chao''s temple and prodded, "Is your brain fried?"


    "Bastard!"


    Lin Chao, after all, was a young man and as the eldest grandson of the Lin Family, it was the first time someone had pointed at his head and insulted him like this. His anger red up immediately.


    "Bang!"


    Lin Chao swung a punch at the young man suddenly, hitting right on the young man''s nose bridge. Blood immediately began flowing from his nose.


    "You''re courting death!" The young man''s expression turned cold instantly, and rage shed in his eyes, "Go, mess this guy up for me!"


    Upon hearing this, those muscr bodyguards immediately stepped forward.


    "What are you trying to do? Don''te any closer." Lin Chao was scared when he saw this. He knew he had messed up right after throwing the punch, "Do you know who I am? I am¡­"


    Before he could finish his sentence, a flurry of punches rained down on him, pummeling Lin Chao relentlessly.


    "Stop hitting, I beg you, don''t hit my face!"


    Lin Chao could only hug his head with both hands, crouching on the ground, but even so, the men didn''t stop and continued to beat and kick him.


    "Alright, don''t kill him."


    A momentter, the young man finally spoke and stopped the bodyguards.


    By then, Lin Chao''s face was swollen and bruised, his clothes werepletely ripped, and not a trace of his noble demeanor remained. He looked worse than a beggar.


    "Bang!"


    The young man, not yet satisfied, kicked Lin Chao in the chest with his limp leg, knocking Lin Chao to the ground.


    "Don''t say who you are. Do you know who I am?"


    The young man pointed at his own nose and said.


    Lin Chao shook his head nkly. Honestly, he really didn''t know who this young man was.


    At that moment, his heart was filled with gloom. He must have not consulted the almanac before leaving the house today; how else would he have encountered this Demon!


    "You better look clearly, kid." The young man patted Lin Chao''s well-maintained and smooth face and said, "I am Long Xiaobin!"


    Upon hearing the young man''s words, Lin Chao''s body trembled violently. He was Long Xiaobin? The precious son of Lord Long?


    Lin Chao had certainly heard of Long Xiaobin, he just didn''t recognize the person in front of him.


    "Young Master Long, I am sorry, I didn''t recognize the great figure in front of me."


    When Lin Chao heard that the young man was Long Xiaobin, he immediately felt deted. The Dragon Prosperity Society had a status in Jiangnan only second to the Four Great Families, far beyond their Lin Family''s reach.


    Furthermore, Lord Long had only this one precious son. Opposing him was tantamount to throwing himself against a rock.


    "You know your ce! Humph."


    Long Xiaobin spat contemptuously in front of Lin Chao and then let him go. By now, Lin Chao was drenched in cold sweat out of fear.


    "You dirtbag, now it''s time for me to properly entertain you." Long Xiaobin turned and walked over to Xiao Wen, who was totally scared out of her wits, "Damn, a prostitute acting all high and mighty with me!"


    "I am not!"


    Xiao Wen retorted stubbornly, tears swirling in her eyes, but she held them back from falling.


    "Talking back? I like some spirit," a sinister smile spread across Dragon Xiaobin''s face, "I''ll take good care of you in a bit!"


    "Come with me now," Dragon Xiaobinmanded, then turned around to head out.


    But when he reached the doorway, he realized that Xiao Wen hadn''t followed, and his face suddenly turned icy:


    "What the hell are you staring at? Let''s go!"


    "I''m not going!"


    Xiao Wen frantically shook her head, stepping back two paces.


    At this moment, her heart was filled with fear. This Young Master from the Dragon family was not human, but a twisted soul who had previously groped her under the pretext of a massage. He seemed to gain particr pleasure from pinching people.


    Every time she finished massaging him, Xiao Wen''s arms and legs would be covered in bruises.


    Xiao Wen had developed a deep psychological shadow because of him, and she was relieved he hadn''te for several months, believing he wouldn''t return. But today, that demon had reappeared...


    "Stupid bitch, don''t turn your nose up at me."


    Dragon Xiaobin''s face darkened immediately, he stepped forward, and grabbed Xiao Wen''s slender arm.


    "Let go, you''re hurting me."


    Xiao Wen desperately tried to pull away, but how could she match Dragon Xiaobin''s strength? Though he limped a bit.


    "Manager Yu, help me!"


    Xiao Wen nced back at Manager Yu and cried out for help.


    Manager Yu''s eyes flickered withpassion, but ultimately, he didn''t say a word, merely sighing.


    After all, he was facing Dragon Xiaobin; what could she do?


    Seeing Manager Yu''s expression, Xiao Wen immediately despaired, her heart sinking slowly...


    "What kind of pig is this? So noisy, can''t even rest properly, really."


    Just then, azy voice rang out, sounding somewhat displeased.


    Su Chen, who had been lying down and sleeping, lifted his head, looking visibly annoyed!


    Upon hearing this voice, both Lin Chao and Manager Yu''s expressions changed drastically!


    The person in question was Dragon Xiaobin, the only son of Dragon Lord!


    Someone actually dared to openly call him a pig, wasn''t that courting death?


    Lin Chao was internally fuming, this idiot, always so quiet, but then he had to utter such a sentence.


    Wasn''t this practically killing him? After all, he was the one who had brought him here.


    Sure enough, that voice filled with rage came from Dragon Xiaobin:


    "Who just called me a pig? Step forward!"


    Simultaneously, Dragon Xiaobin turned around, his expression icy cold, his gaze sweeping over a few faces.


    However, when his gazended on Su Chen, seeing thetter also coldly staring at him, Dragon Xiaobin, upon recognizing his face, suddenly shuddered uncontrobly!


    "Young Master Dragon, I have nothing to do with this man. I don''t know him!"


    Upon hearing Dragon Xiaobin''s words, Lin Chao quickly disassociated himself.


    Joking aside, he did not want to get beaten up again! That was not a pleasant experience.


    But as he looked at Dragon Xiaobin, he saw thetter suddenly trembling like he had seen a ghost, his pupils shrinking rapidly...

 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 I am a Pig

    "Young Master Long, what''s wrong with you?"


    Seeing Long Xiaobin like this, Lin Chao was scared out of his wits and hurriedly asked with caution.


    He wondered if Long Xiaobin had be like this just because of what Su Chen said! He felt even more uneasy in his heart!


    The manager and the two technicians were also looking at Long Xiaobin, feeling baffled and wondering why he suddenly acted like this!


    Long Xiaobin didn''t answer Lin Chao''s question, but suddenly dashed forward like an arrow and reached in front of Su Chen. Everyone else thought he was going to severely deal with the man who had just called him a pig and they covered their eyes, unable to watch Su Chen''s tragic fate!


    However, what happened next was utterly shocking and unbelievable to them!


    The always arrogant Long Xiaobin dragged hisme legs and went straight to Su Chen.


    But he didn''t beat up Su Chen; instead, he "thud" knelt on the ground.


    "Mr. Su, I''m sorry, I was talking nonsense just now!" Long Xiaobin pped his own face left and right, delivering several loud ps, "Please, your elderly grace is great, just let me go as if I were one of your farts!"


    The others who saw this scene were already stunned, with shocked eyes almost popping out!


    What was going on?


    Not only did Long Xiaobin not beat up the young man who insulted him, but he knelt down to him and kept pping his own face!


    And he was really pping himself! Just after a few ps, his whole face turned red and swollen! Moreover, he was looking at Su Chen with such nervousness, showing extreme fear on his face!


    All the people present could no longer keep theirposure! What in the world happened to this world?


    He was Long Xiaobin, Young Master Long ah!


    Even the Family Heads of the Four Great Families in Jiangnan might not be able to make Long Xiaobin end up like this!


    The most shocked person in the room was Lin Chao. He stared at everything with a face full of astonishment, feeling that his brain suddenly couldn''t make sense of it all.


    He didn''t understand why the Crown Prince of Dragon Prosperity Society was so afraid of his cheap brother-inw!


    He didn''t understand why the once immensely arrogant Long Xiaobin now looked like a rat seeing a cat when he faced Su Chen!


    Lin Chao didn''t understand, and even Long Xiaobin himself didn''t understand why the first time he went out in these few months, he encountered this Demon again!


    Yes, a Demon, in Long Xiaobin''s eyes, Su Chen was an absolute Demon!


    Seeing this man, he remembered the incident that happened a few months ago at Dragon Prosperity Society.


    That day, after the man left, his father Long Xiaoshan picked up a wooden stick, tears in his eyes, and said to him:


    "Son, for your life, you must endure this suffering!"


    Then, Long Xiaoshan swung the stick hard and personally broke his son''s two legs.


    Long Xiaobin didn''t resist much, knowing that this was already the best oue for him.


    The man was not only physically strong to a ridiculous extent, but his backing was something they didn''t even dare to contemte.


    But without even using their brains, they understood that a man who could make Jiang Lixing of the city police department disregard discipline and publicly draw a gun to kill someone, was definitely not someone they could afford to provoke!


    Although Long Xiaoshan broke his own son''s legs, that was, after all, his only biological son, which was in some ways more important than his own life.


    So he wouldn''t really cripple him for life. If he did, he would end his own lineage.


    Of course, he also didn''t dare to hit too lightly; in case the man was not satisfied, the consequences would be severe!


    Normally, Long Xiaobin''s injuries should have kept him in bed for a year to possibly recover, but how could he endure that?


    So, as soon as he was slightly able to move, he went out to get some fresh air...


    But little did he expect that the first time he went out to eat in months, he would encounter that gue again!


    At this moment, Long Xiaobin was extremely scared; his back waspletely drenched...


    "It''s you, Young Master Long." Su Chen slowly sat up and leisurely said, "I was wondering who dared to disturb my sleep; it turns out it was you, Long the eldest young master."


    "Mr. Su, I was in the wrong just now, disturbing your elder''s rest. I''m truly sorry, I deserve to die!"


    As he said this, Long Xiaobin pped both sides of his already swollen face, perhaps hoping to make them more symmetrical.


    "Sorry, Young Master Long, I identally called you a pig just now. Shall I apologize to you?"


    Su Chen looked at Long Xiaobin with a narrow frown and a trace of apology on his face.


    "No need, no need, Mr. Su, you were right, I am a pig!"


    Long Xiaobin was scared witless, hastily shaking his head.


    Even if Su Chen were willing to apologize, Long Xiaobin would have to dare to ept it!


    Meanwhile, everyone else waspletely at a loss. What in the hell was going on?


    The grand Young Master Long, in front of this man, had stooped so low as to call himself a pig!


    If this got out, people would hardly dare believe it. Some might even think he was crazy!


    Everyone could see that Long Xiaobin was truly terrified of this man to his very bones.


    But why?


    Could this man be some kind of significant figure?


    However, he didn''t look the part; he rather seemed more like a migrant worker.


    Lin Chao waspletely baffled as he observed Su Chen. How could he connect this son-inw, whom he had never held in esteem, with what was happening right now?


    Could it be that I''ve been blind? Is this guy simply ying the fool to catch the wise?


    A sense of dread began to settle in Lin Chao''s heart. If that was the case, his desire to control the Lin Family''s business would be even more challenging!


    "Xiao Wen,e here."


    Su Chen suddenly called out in a gentle voice.


    "Ah, oh."


    Xiao Wen walked toward Su Chen with a bewildered face.


    "Xiao Wen, tell me, what did this guy do to you? You seem so afraid of him."


    Su Chen nced indifferently at Long Xiaobin and asked Xiao Wen.


    Upon hearing this, Long Xiaobin was suddenly frightened, his body quivering as he continuously kowtowed to Xiao Wen:


    "Graciousdy, I was wrong to you in the past, I''m here to apologize. Graciousdy, it was all my fault, my fault."


    He truly looked like a penitent believer, with tears and snot running down his face.


    Xiao Wen was a gentle and tenderhearted girl by nature. Seeing Long Xiaobin in such a state, she also began to feel somewhat sorry for him.


    "Mr. Su, it''s nothing serious, it''s all in the past."


    Xiao Wen spoke softly, not understanding why Young Master Long was so afraid of Mr. Su, who seemed very ordinary and not that frightening, and who treated her with courtesy.


    "Thank you, graciousdy, thank you, graciousdy. No words can express my gratitude!"


    Long Xiaobin sped his hands together, continuously bowing to Xiao Wen, which made her somewhat embarrassed, her cheeks turning slightly red.


    "As for the past, since Xiao Wen is unwilling to pursue it, I''ll let it go," Su Chen said coldly, "but what you did to Xiao Wen, you know in your heart. Now, I''m giving you a chance to redeem yourself by your actions."


    "You say it, I''ll definitely do it!"


    Long Xiaobin immediately assured, finally breathing a sigh of relief.


    He knew that today''s crisis was eventually behind him!

 Chapter 70 Beautiful Things

    "Xiao Wen has a wish to continue her studies. You know what to do, right?"


    Su Chen stepped down from the massage bed, looking down at Long Bin with a faint expression.


    "I understand, rest assured, I will find the best school for her. She won''t have to worry about food, clothing, housing, or transportation¡ªI will arrange everything perfectly, guaranteeing that Sister Wen is satisfied."


    Long Bin patted his chest "thump thump" with confidence. He had initially thought it was some major issue. Who knew it would be such a trivial matter?


    At that moment, Xiao Wen looked at Su Chen timidly and said,


    "Mr. Su, this... "


    "Xiao Wen, don''t overthink it. Just consider itpensation from this guy."


    Su Chen knew she felt somewhat embarrassed to ept these sudden benefits, so he tried tofort her from another perspective.


    "Yes, yes, Mr. Su is right, this is my littlepensation."


    Long Bin was afraid Xiao Wen would refuse¡ªit was his chance for redemption. If he missed it, he didn''t know how Su Chen would treat him!


    Moreover, he might be able to use this opportunity to build a rtionship with Mr. Su!


    He had realized that there was no need to offend someone as high and mighty as Mr. Su.


    If he could establish a connection, it might be a tremendous boon for both Dragon Prosperity Society and himself!


    Therefore, Long Bin was actually more anxious about this matter than either Xiao Wen or Su Chen.


    "Sister Wen, please give me a chance to make it up to you. I won''t have peace of mind otherwise, unless you still can''t forgive me!"


    Long Bin''s acting was quite convincing; his appearance of sincerity was so effective that Xiao Wen was caught off guard.


    "p p!"


    Long Bin fiercely pped his own face:


    "Sister Wen, if you''re still not satisfied, I''ll keep pping myself until you are!"


    With that, he raised his hand again, ready to p himself...


    "Okay, stop it. I agree, isn''t that enough?"


    Xiao Wen was out of options. She couldn''t bear to see Long Bin like this, especially since it was her own doing. After all, she was simply too kind-hearted.


    Of course, there was another reason¡ªshe really wanted to return to school, particrly to experience university life, which she had always longed for.


    Xiao Wen also understood that all of this was thanks to Mr. Su Chen standing before her.


    When she looked at Su Chen, her eyes were filled with gratitude, not only for pulling her from darkness but also for leading her towards the light!


    "Alright, you''d better take your people and get out of here," Su Chen waved his hand dismissively. "Remember, don''t bully people using your power anymore. Otherwise, it won''t be this easy next time!"


    "Understood, understood!" Long Bin nodded eagerly. "I will definitely change, I promise to change!"


    After saying this, he made a quick exit with a group of bodyguards...


    "Su Chen, you..."


    Lin Chao approached Su Chen shakily, attempting to ask something, but Su Chen spoke first:


    "You go ahead, I still have some things to take care of here."


    Lin Chao hesitated before nodding, "Alright then, I''ll be leaving."


    He understood that he had misjudged the situation. This brother-inw was definitely not an ordinary man!


    "Mr. Su, thank you so much for today. Do you need to continue the massage?"


    After the others left, only Su Chen and Xiao Wen remained. This somehow made Xiao Wen unexpectedly shy.


    "No need, and from now on, there''s no need to call me Mr. Su either, just call me Su Chen." Su Chen moved back to his chair, took a sip of his tea, and found it a bit cold, "Xiao Wen, could you pour me a cup of hot tea?" Stay updated with empire


    "Ah, sure." Xiao Wen hurried to the corner, picked up the kettle, and refilled Su Chen''s cup with hot water, saying, "That won''t do, I''ll still call you Big Brother Su."


    "That''s fine, as you wish, Xiao Wen, you can go back to your work, I''ll leave after I finish this cup of tea."


    "Okay, then I''ll go first." Xiao Wen slowly backed out.


    "Alright, enough with the show,e out."


    Su Chen blew on his tea, took a sip, and spokenguidly.


    "I was worried about interrupting your fun."


    Xiao Yaning walked in from outside with a smile, secretly wondering, how did this guy know I was out here?


    "Why didn''t you keep the youngdy? She has you in her heart, you know!"


    Xiao Yaning spun around gracefully and sat down across the tea table from Su Chen.


    Just as she turned to sit down, Su Chen caught a glimpse through the slits of her qipao...


    Xiao Yaning turned her head to see Su Chen''s somewhat dull gaze, and with a little thought, she understood what was going on, feeling slightly ashamed and angry.


    This guy, always looking at the next best thing even while eating from his own bowl!


    "Whether that youngdy has me in her heart, I don''t know and I don''t care. What I''m curious about is whether Miss Xiao has me in her heart?"


    Su Chen''s teasing gaze shot toward Xiao Yaning, stirring something inside her.


    "Ye Mei isn''t here, and you''re already being naughty? Are all men so fickle?"


    Xiao Yaning gave him a nting nce and lightly retorted.


    "I''m not fickle, I just don''t refuse beautiful things."


    Su Chen shamelessly returned.


    "What was that all about just now?"


    After exchanging a few idle words, Xiao Yaning finally got to the main topic.


    "What do you mean ''what was that all about''?" Su Chen pretended to be dumb and confused.


    "You know what I''m asking about," Xiao Yaning responded irritably, "Why was Long Xiaobin so afraid of you?"


    Xiao Yaning had actually arrived earlier, and when she heard from people downstairs that Long Xiaobin was causing trouble in the private room where Su Chen was, she was instantly rmed.


    She knew all too well who Long Xiaobin was and was afraid that Su Chen would be at a disadvantage, so she hurried over.


    However, as she rushed to the door and was about to enter, she happened to catch the scene of Long Xiaobin "thudding" to his knees in front of Su Chen.


    This sight took herpletely by surprise, and for some reason, she didn''t go in, but crouched to the side, quietly watching the situation develop.


    What happened next was beyond her belief; the normally unruly Young Master Long was even tamer than a cat in front of Su Chen.


    The incident during theirst meal, where Wu Yuanpin was humiliated, only made her think of Su Chen as a hot-blooded, righteous, and heroic figure. But this time, what happened made her start contemting much more.


    Although Wu Yuanpin''s status was higher than Long Xiaobin''s, what happened today undoubtedly implied much more.


    No wonder Ye Mei, such a proud and lofty person, would be with this man. Indeed, he wasn''t ordinary!


    This reminded her of the first time they met, on thatte night, on that rarely traveled bridge.


    A young man stood there quietly, smoking, his expression one of mncholy, his whole being radiating an intense air of decadence...


    Back then, he seemed like apletely different person from the one in front of her now!

 Chapter 71 Assaulted

    Xiao Yaning suddenly had a strong feeling that the man before her must have a story.


    In his heart, he couldn''t be as nd or even as giggly as he appeared on the outside. Perhaps it was all just a disguise.


    Xiao Yaning''s eyes were fixed on Su Chen, as if trying to discern something.


    Feeling a bit creeped out by her bright, watery gaze, Su Chen lit a cigarette and said earnestly,


    "He was certainly subdued by my great personality. A profligate like him, under the radiance of my great personality, would have all his inner dark and hidden corners turned inside out. He had no choice but to bow his head in reverence, which shows that the guy was not beyond redemption."


    "Did you see how he pped his own face and wept bitterly afterward? It was truly moving. It shows that he truly repented," Su Chen said without noticing Xiao Yaning''s disdainful look. Shaking his head, he added, "I guess I can be considered as ''saving souls'' as the Buddha said."


    "Su Chen, can I ask you something?"


    Xiao Yaning asked out of the blue, and Su Chen nodded.


    "Can you be even more shameless?"


    Xiao Yaning sighed. Did this guy think everyone else was foolish? Did Long Xiaobin repent and show penitence? He was clearly frightened by you, wasn''t he?


    Of course, she understood that Su Chen didn''t want to tell her the reason, so she didn''t press further.


    Xiao Yaning was a person who knew her boundaries and propriety. She wasn''t that familiar with Su Chen yet.


    However, what she didn''t expect was for Su Chen to reply to her somewhat sarcastic question without any hesitation with one word¡ª "Yes"!


    .....


    Since Su Chen came with Lin Chao, he could only take a taxi when leaving.


    After getting into the car, he dozed off in the back seat. The driver was a local from Jianghai and quite talkative. Addressing Su Chen as "young brother" and chatting, Su Chen responded intermittently.


    Just as the car entered a somewhat secluded alley, Su Chen''s eyes suddenly snapped open, as if shooting out sharp light.


    "Driver, please stop the car," Su Chen called out, tapping the driver on the shoulder from behind.


    "What''s up, young brother?" the taxi driver asked, hitting the brakes and turning around.


    "It''s nothing, I just remembered that I have a friend nearby. Since I''m passing by, I might as well drop in for a visit."


    "Where is it? Shall I give you a lift?"


    "No need, it''s just a few steps away. I''ll walk over." Find more chapters on empire


    "Alright then, that''ll be 19 yuan."


    Su Chen handed over a 20: "Keep the change, thanks," he said.


    "What are you talking about; okay, I''m off then. It''s gettingte. Take care by yourself."


    "Sure."


    Stepping out of the cab, Su Chen waved at the driver, who elerated away.


    Turning his head, Su Chen''s eyes suddenly grew cold, devoid of any warmth, as if originating from the Netherworld.


    At that moment, Su Chen no longer bore any trace of the friendliness he had shown while speaking with the taxi driver.


    "Now that you''re here, show yourselves."


    No sooner had he spoken than four people stood up from the bushes on either side, walking out confidently to stand in front of Su Chen.


    All these people were dressed in specially made robes, some resembling practice attire and others like Taoist robes. Among them, three were wearing white robes, and one, who appeared to be the leader, was d in a ck robe, nearly impossible to see in the darkness.


    "Kid, not bad with your ears, actually being able to detect our concealment."


    The leader in the ck robe addressed Su Chen, feeling somewhat surprised inside. With their level of cultivation, it was ordinarily very hard for someone concealed amongst the trees to be discovered, let alone by average people; even ace scouts would hardly stand a chance.


    Because they were all practitioners of Martial Arts, able to hide their presence and blend in with the world around them.


    "Just with your Primary Stage Qi Refinement cultivation, discovering you poses no challenge," Su Chen remarked.


    Of course, Su Chen had recognized they were Martial Arts practitioners as well; the three in white robes were at the First Layer of Qi Refinement, while the leader in ck was at the secondyer of the Qi Refinement Realm.


    Upon hearing Su Chen''s words, the group shuddered violently, unable to believe that the young man had discerned their cultivation levels at a nce.


    This could only point to one fact, that the person before them was also a practitioner of Martial Arts!


    This turn of events had indeed surprised them; it seemed the situation was slightly more troublesome than they had anticipated.


    Despite this, they weren''t afraid. In their view, someone as young as their adversary could at most possess Primary Stage Qi Refinement, not much different from them.


    But they were four to one, so although the situation proved a bit tricky, they were confident in capturing this young man.


    "Who sent you here?"


    With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, Su Chen asked indifferently.


    "You don''t need to know. All that matters is that today is the day you die," the man in the ck robe said coldly, feeling slighted by Su Chen''s cavalier attitude.


    "Then let me have a guess," Su Chen tilted his head slightly, "Is it that trash Wu Yuanpin who sent you?"


    After arriving in Jianghai, Su Chen figured that among those he had provoked, probably only the Wu Family, as the head of the Four Great Families, had the clout to send four Martial Arts practitioners in one go.


    It was somewhat surprising to Su Chen that the Wu Family had such deep resources; it seemed there was good reason for the Four Great Families to have stood firm in Jiangnan for a hundred years.


    Of course, in Su Chen''s eyes, this was still nothing significant; leaving other factors aside, just any high-level action team from the Nether Temple couldpletely crush them.


    "Dare to call our Young Master trash, you must be tired of living," one of the younger men in white robes said, ring at Su Chen fiercely as he spoke.


    "But what I said is the truth. Isn''t he trash?" Su Chen looked disdainful as he curled his lip, "Not just him, in my eyes, all of you are nothing but trash."


    "You''re courting death!"


    The young man who had just spoken suddenly stomped the ground, lunging at Su Chen like an arrow released from its bow.


    The others didn''t stop him, curious to see just how capable this arrogant youth was, speaking with such audacity.


    The white-robed young man, when about two meters away from Su Chen, suddenly leapt into the air,shing out with a precise snap kick towards Su Chen.


    His leg was straight as a rod, ripping through the air, aiming directly at Su Chen!


    His expertise in leg techniques was profound, the power of his kick fierce like thunder, stirring up a gust of wind wherever it passed.


    In an instant, the formidable snap kick was less than half a meter in front of Su Chen''s face.


    Yet, at this moment, Su Chen''s hands remained in his pockets, his expression serene.


    The white-robed young man''spanions all sneered inwardly at the young man''s ignorance, not even attempting to dodge at this point, thinking he no longer had a chance.

 Chapter 72 Abyss-like Eyes

    ```


    However, at that very moment, thepanions in white robes saw Su Chen finally free one hand, and then he casually reached up and pressed against the overwhelmingly powerful kicking from above.


    The white-robed youth''spanions all shook their heads in secrecy, thinking this young man was far too overconfident. He was so ignorant of the strength in hispanion''s leg; it was almost certain this young man''s arm would be broken.


    "Bang!"


    A short and muffled sound erupted, and the figure looming above was suddenly sent spinning backward through the air, crashing heavily to the ground before the three men.


    "Qing Lin, how are you?"


    The one in the ck robe was shocked and immediately crouched down to check hispanion''s injuries, with the other two also gathering around.


    "I..."


    Just as the white-robed youth thrown through the air uttered a word, he felt a sweetness in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Young Master, how is he?" The other twopanions looked to the middle-aged man in ck robes.


    "His leg bone is fractured, and his internal organs are ruptured. It will be difficult to heal in less than two or three years," he said.


    The man in the ck robe shook his head and sighed with relief, gentlyying hispanion on the ground. He then looked coldly towards Su Chen.


    "You went a bit too far with that blow, didn''t you?" he said.


    Rage filled the eyes of the man in ck as he looked at Su Chen, but his heart was also filled with shock. Just what was this young man''s cultivation? A random palm of his had inflicted such severe injuries on hispanion!


    "Your words are quite ridiculous," Su Chen retorted with a cold huff. "Could it be that only he''s allowed to hit me and I''m not allowed to fight back? If Icked the strength and his kick hadnded, you should well know the consequences. Thus, I''ve actually let him off easy, or else he''d already be dead by now."


    His words rendered the group before him speechless, but it was not possible for them to just let Su Chen go; otherwise, they wouldn''t be able to exin themselves upon returning.


    "In that case, let''s see the truth through our actions!" The man in ck robes vibrated with a sudden release of powerful energy. "Brothers, together!"


    After speaking, he charged towards Su Chen, followed by the other two men who knew well of Su Chen''s impressive strength.


    The three men were all stronger than the youth before them. As they charged forward, their momentum was overwhelming, resembling uncaged beasts with the wind howling around them.


    Before the man in ck could reach him, his fist was already closing in on Su Chen. His punch, thrown straight and parallel to the ground, appeared mundane, but Su Chen knew this fist contained much greater power than the formidable kick from earlier.


    At the same time, Su Chen also threw a punch, seemingly prepared to sh head-on with the man in ck!


    Seeing this, a coldugh arose in the heart of the man in ck.


    He was confident in his level punch, his most practiced move. He could instantly gather all the energy in his body into his arm, and then, upon contact with his target, concentrate all that power into his fist.


    So far, the ck-robed man had not met anyone who could match his fist, because most people could at best focus only twenty to thirty percent of their body''s strength into their fist.


    The other twopanions, seeing that this young man actually wanted to trade blows with their leader, also felt a surge of joy internally.


    In their eyes, since the opponent chose this method, it meant the fight was about to end, and their pace slowed slightly.


    "Boom!"


    The instant the two fists connected, a vast sound erupted, and the air around the point of collision seemed distorted in that moment.


    Then came a clear and piercing "crack" sound, and at the same time, a figure was sent flying back like a cannonball until it struck a pine tree and came to a halt before falling to the ground.


    "Young Master!"


    "Young Master!"


    ```


    The two of them, upon witnessing this scene, immediately cried out in surprise. They had never imagined it would be the man in ck who flew out, and they wanted to rush over to check on him.


    But how could Su Chen let them have their way!


    With a quick shift of his footsteps, his body shot out instantaneously, his speed so fast it was hard to believe.


    The remaining two men in white robes also felt Su Chen''s approach, but they couldn''t see his figure clearly. All they saw was an afterimage.


    In their panic, they hastily threw two punches at the afterimage, only to hit empty air. Find adventures at empire


    As they were still searching for Su Chen''s whereabouts, they suddenly realized the afterimage had already reached them.


    "Bang Bang!"


    Su Chen''s fists struck out together, hitting the two men in their chests, sending them flying in opposite directions into the bushes...


    Su Chen''s speed was too fast just now, whether it was his movement technique or his punches, they were too quick for them to react.


    The several men lying injured on the ground looked up at Su Chen''s young face with a surge of immense fear in their hearts; this young man was just too terrifying!


    They feltpletely powerless in front of him, wondering how their Young Master ever got involved with someone like this?


    Su Chen walked up to the man in ck, looked down at him and said,


    "Go back and tell Wu Yuanpin, this is just a warning. If there''s a next time, I might not be so nice!"


    His eyes were like the abyss, and the man in ck felt a chill in his heart just looking at them!


    Such eyes, it was his first time seeing them, as if they belonged to someone who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses in the Netherworld!


    The man in ck couldn''t imagine seeing such a gaze in a young person.


    ....


    By the time Su Chen returned to Lin Ruoxue''s vi, he had already resumed his casual, slightly cynical, unruly expression.


    When Su Chen walked in, Lin Ruoxue was sitting on the couch in a silk purple pajama, quietly absorbed in "Anna Karenina," with such concentration that she didn''t even look away when reaching for a slice of watermelon.


    Mrs. Wang was tidying up when she saw Su Chen walk in. She was about to call out to him, but Su Chen quickly "shushed" her, then tiptoed over to the side of the coffee table.


    Just as Lin Ruoxue was about to reach for another slice of watermelon, Su Chen timely ced a finger where Lin Ruoxue''s delicate hand was reaching.


    The engrossed Lin Ruoxue didn''t notice, and she picked it up and brought it directly to her lips.


    It wasn''t until Lin Ruoxue licked Su Chen''s finger that she realized something was amiss. She looked down abruptly, only to find that what she had put in her mouth was a finger.


    ncing up, she saw Su Chen standing to one side, watching her with a mischievous grin and a look of satisfaction on his face.


    "Ah~~~~" Lin Ruoxue suddenly screamed, "Jerk, pervert, what are you doing?"


    Lin Ruoxue quickly spat into the nearby trash can several times, feeling a rush of frustration.


    She had actually licked his finger!


    "What are you doing is the question!" Su Chen feigned a frustrated expression, "I just wanted to eat that piece of watermelon, but you just picked it up and licked it."


    Su Chen vigorously wiped his finger on his T-shirt, his face showing a bit of "disgust":


    "Ah, it''s all your saliva, who knows if it''s poisoned!"

 Chapter 73 73

    "Asshole! I''m going to kill you!"


    Upon hearing Su Chen''s words, Lin Ruoxue snapped! She stormed toward him barefoot.


    This guy clearly took advantage, and yet he acted innocent, even saying that her saliva was poison when she hadn''t evenined about his fingers being germy!


    Su Chen hadn''t expected Lin Ruoxue''s reaction to be so intense, and, scared, he turned and ran.


    "You were the one who wanted to eat, not me!" Su Chen called out as he ran, "Besides, it was you eating me, not the other way around, why are you overreacting!"


    The more Lin Ruoxue listened, the angrier and more embarrassed she became. This guy was shameless, mes of anger shooting from her beautiful eyes!


    "Su Chen, stop right there!" Lin Ruoxue suddenly stood still, hands on her hips, and yelled.


    Seeing that she had stopped, Su Chen stopped too. Standing about three or four meters apart, Su Chen pursed his lips and said:


    "Don''t be mad, I''ll just lick your fingers too and then we''ll be equal, okay? I promise I won''t mind."


    "Su Chen, you big asshole, I''m not giving up until I kill you today!"


    By this time, Lin Ruoxue''s heart was aze with towering rage, her eyes nearly crimson!


    Once again, she started chasing Su Chen around the living room but every time she nearly caught up to him, he would twist away and escape.


    Because of this, Lin Ruoxue''s mounting rage was impossible to vent, growingrger by the moment as if it would ignite at any second.


    "Young master, miss, please stop your antics. You''re not tired from running, but my eyes are tired from watching you."


    Wang Ma, caught betweenughter and tears, found the two chasing each other in the living room both hrious and heartwarming!


    Unknowingly, her eyes filled with tears. Wang Ma stealthily wiped her eyes with her sleeve.


    Just then, Lin Ruoxue caught up to Wang Ma and, turning her head, saw her wiping away tears. She immediately stopped in her tracks.


    "Wang Ma, why are you crying?"


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    Forgoing the chase, Lin Ruoxue hurried over to ask Wang Ma.


    Since Su Chen was farther away, hearing that Wang Ma was crying, he too approached:


    "What''s happened, Wang Ma?"


    "Nothing, nothing, miss, young master, I''m just happy," Wang Ma replied, stopping her crying and smiling.


    "Then tell me, Wang Ma, what''s got you so happy? I want to hear too," Lin Ruoxue said, smiling curiously as she held Wang Ma''s hand.


    Wang Ma patted the back of Lin Ruoxue''s hand and sighed:


    "I''m happy seeing how close the miss and the young master are now."


    "Wang Ma, are you blind? How can you say we''re close?" Lin Ruoxue suddenly widened her eyes. They had just been fighting ferociously, and yet Wang Ma said their rtionship was good?


    "Of course, miss, haven''t you heard? Fighting is an expression of endearment, scolding is a form of love," Wang Ma said humorously, ncing at Lin Ruoxue, "It really worried me back when you and the young master wouldn''t even speak to each other."


    Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoxue''s cheeks flushed a deeper red, and her voice became slightly coyer:


    "Wang Ma, what are you talking about? Fighting is love, scolding is endearment? That sounds terrible."


    But in her heart, she contemted how her rtionship with Su Chen had indeed changed recently, his image frequently appearing in her mind.


    Sometimes when he wasn''t at home, it felt as though something was missing, leaving her feeling somewhat empty.


    No, what am I thinking? Since when did this guy be so important?


    Lin Ruoxue kept trying to justify the changes in her heart, when suddenly she saw Su Chen sneakily winking at her, looking as annoying as ever.


    Lin Ruoxue immediately found her reason, believing that the reason she kept thinking about him was entirely because this guy had be more and more annoying.


    Yes, it must be that!


    At that moment, Mrs. Wang also took Su Chen''s big hand and ced it on the back of Lin Ruoxue''s hand, then held it tightly:


    "Miss, young master, you must take good care of each other. That way, even if I die, I''ll rest easy."


    "Mrs. Wang, don''t talk about dying, it''s so unlucky!"


    Lin Ruoxue pouted, speaking unhappily.


    "Miss, at my age, there''s nothing left to avoid," Mrs. Wang said with a slight smile. "Over these past days, I''ve seen that the young master is a rare good man; you should cherish him! Not to criticize you, miss, but your temper could use some adjusting as well."


    "What! Mrs. Wang, what''s gotten into you today? Talking all this nonsense. Where is he good? He is clearly a big bad guy!"


    Lin Ruoxue slightly pouted her moist cherry lips and huffed, looking every bit the young woman she was!


    Mrs. Wang affectionately stroked Lin Ruoxue''s hair and turned to instruct Su Chen:


    "Young master, if I''m gone one day, you must be good to the miss and protect her in every way."


    "Mrs. Wang, what are you saying? I see you living many more decades easily. Besides, we''ll need your help to look after our children in the future!"


    Su Chen noticed Mrs. Wang''s mncholic mood, so he teased her deliberately.


    "Alright, alright," Mrs. Wang immediately gleamed with excitement, "if that day reallyes, I''ll be waking up smiling even in my dreams."


    Mrs. Wang had taken care of Lin Ruoxue since she was a child and, having no children of her own, had long considered her as her own daughter. So, hearing Su Chen say this, she couldn''t stop smiling.


    "Don''t worry, Mrs. Wang, that day will definitelye, and not just one, we n to have a whole ss for you to look after, so you better take good care of yourself."


    "Alright, alright, don''t worry, I can handle even more children," Mrs. Wang looked at Su Chen, liking him more and more.


    "What, do you think I''m a sow? An entire ss!"


    Listening to Mrs. Wang and Su Chen''s back-and-forth, Lin Ruoxue had already turned thoroughly red with embarrassment and finally couldn''t hold back a coquettish shout.


    "So, how many do you want to have?"


    Su Chen tilted his head, asking curiously.


    "Yeah, how many do you want to have?"


    Mrs. Wang pressed Lin Ruoxue further.


    "Have... have..." Lin Ruoxue was led astray by the two, seriously considering the question of how many to have, until she saw Su Chen''s mischievous expression and finally snapped back, "Have your big-headed ghost! Who wants to have kids with you!"


    After saying that, she turned and ran upstairs, heading straight into her room, followed by the sound of a door mming shut.


    Su Chen and Mrs. Wang caught each other''s nce and burst intoughter simultaneously...


    .....


    Meanwhile, in a vi''s study in the Eastern District of Jianghai, a dim deskmp was on.


    Sitting behind the desk was a man in his forties, his temples slightly graying, his face appearing quite schrly, yet the shine in his eyes added a sharpness to his demeanor.


    And seated across the desk was a young man, with a noble air, perfectly tailored clothes entuating his fine physique.


    "You''ve been pursuing the Lin Family girl for over a year now. Any progress?"


    The middle-aged man looked at the young man and asked indifferently.

 Chapter 74 The Foundation of Establishing Roots

    "No, Lin Ruoxue is just impervious to persuasion." The young man shook his head in dejection, "I''ve been strategizing every step of the way, and at one point Lin Ruoxue had actually be less cold towards me, but these past few months it seems like we''ve gone back to how things were before, no, actually, it''s as if she''s even more distant than before. She appears to be deliberately maintaining a distance."


    "Oh, is that so." The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment before speaking, "Everything has its cause and effect, have you found out what caused this?"


    "I''ve thought about this issue, but no matter how much I ponder, there seems to be only one possibility, but that possibility also seems quite unlikely, so I am very confused."


    The young man''s eyes revealed a look of great perplexity.


    "Tell me what you''re thinking."


    The middle-aged man picked up his teacup and took a shallow sip.


    "It''s about someone. I feel that since this person appeared, Lin Ruoxue''s attitude towards me has changed."


    "Who is he?"


    The middle-aged man put down his teacup, his eyes suddenly darting two sharp beams.


    "That''s where the problem lies, he seems quite close to Lin Ruoxue, but in reality, he''s just a driver for the Belle Corporation." The young man replied respectfully, "I don''t think Lin Ruoxue would be interested in a driver, not even if she were blind."


    "You make a good point, even if Lin Ruoxue agreed, the Lin Family wouldn''t." The middle-aged man shook his head with a look of puzzlement in his eyes, "Did you investigate his background?"


    "Of course I did, but what''s eerie is that I couldn''t find out anything."


    "What do you mean you couldn''t find out anything?"


    The middle-aged man suddenly sat up straight from the back of his chair, leaning forward, staring at the young man.


    "I had a friend at the city bureau check, but his records were aplete nk!"


    "Aplete nk?"


    The middle-aged man stood from his chair, his brow furrowed. He slowly took out a Cuban cigar from a box on his desk and lit it.


    "Do you know what marrying Lin Ruoxue would mean for our Liu Family?"


    After a moment, the middle-aged man said leisurely.


    "I understand, several areas of Belle Corporation''s business have already caused a huge impact on our Liu Corporation." The young man nodded, "Especially therge amount of capital she has invested in pharmaceutical research and development."


    "Indeed! Currently, most of our domestic pharmaceuticalpanies are producing generic drugs, but three years ago when this youngdy first took over the Belle Corporation, she invested a huge sum in the research of innovative drugs, quite audacious indeed!"


    The middle-aged man remarked wistfully, "Now, she has finally seen the returns, with the country providing strong support for innovative drugs, the rapid development of Belle Corporation''s pharmaceutical division is foreseeable for the future."


    "Furthermore, this youngdy has also invested considerable funds in inte finance, artificial intelligence, and other areas, achieving some sess. These are all industries with huge potential for the future!"


    "Father, you''re right, isn''t this also the reason why we initially wanted Lin Ruoxue as a daughter-inw for the Liu Family?"


    This young man is none other than the heir to the Liu Family, Liu Qing, and the middle-aged man is his father, the current Family Head, Liu Yongyuan. Explore stories at empire


    "If we could really marry Lin Ruoxue, we would definitely make a fortune!" Liu Qing continued, "But if Lin Ruoxue is truly unwilling, shouldn''t we start preparing a second n?"


    "Qing''er, do you think I want you to marry Lin Ruoxue just to make some extra money?"


    Hearing Liu Qing''s words, the middle-aged man shook his head, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.


    "Why is that?"


    Liu Qing was puzzled. His father wanted him to marry Lin Ruoxue, wasn''t it because he valued the huge market potential and profits of Belle''s various sectors in the future?


    "Compared to Belle, what I value more is the person Lin Ruoxue. As long as she is there, no matter where she is, she will achieve something. Therefore, even without Belle, you must marry her."


    Liu Yongyuan returned to his desk and sat down:


    "Of course, we cannot give up on Belle either, just like you said, its future development is incalcble, especially under Lin Ruoxue''s leadership. It might even rival our Liu Corporation in theing ten or twenty years."


    "I understand now, Father, I was too short-sighted."


    "No, you still don''t understand," Liu Yongyuan sighed slightly, "Do you know why I ce so much importance on Lin Ruoxue and Belle?"


    "Isn''t it for the reasons you just mentioned?"


    Liu Qing was puzzled again. Hadn''t his father just exined it?


    Wasn''t it because of Lin Ruoxue''s exceptional business talent and Belle''s promising future prospects? What else could there be?


    "If you still look at things this way, then you have deeply disappointed me!" Liu Yongyuan''s eyes suddenly became severe, staring at Liu Qing like a tiger. "I really don''t know what you have learned during your years abroad, how immature! How can I entrust the great Liu Family to you with this kind of thinking?"


    Seeing his father so stern all of a sudden, Liu Qing broke into a cold sweat. In his memory, this was the first time his father had reprimanded him with such an attitude.


    But he did not understand. How was he being immature?


    "Please enlighten me, Father! I truly can''t think of any other reasons."


    Liu Qing looked at his father nervously, listening carefully. He knew there was a huge gap between him and his father and there was much more for him to learn.


    "People say that Jiangnan has the Four Great Families, but do you really understand the true meaning behind these families?"


    Liu Yongyuan leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes slightly, and then leisurely asked after a moment.


    "Is it not because our four families are the most powerful?"


    Liu Qing spoke cautiously. He had known since he was a child that their Liu Family was one of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan, an exalted existence, but he had never truly considered the profound meaning of these families.


    "That is certainly due to strength. Although we, the Wu Family, the Lv Family, and the Yun Family are collectively known as the Four Great Families, each family has a notable position and strength in various industries. However, the situation for each family is different."


    At this point, Liu Yongyuan''s eyes opened again:


    "But every family that has stood for a century has its roots, its foundation. Let''s not talk about the others for now, do you know what the foundation of the Liu Family is?"


    "The foundation?" Liu Qing chewed over the words, his mind seemingly understanding, yet not fully grasping the concept. He raised his head and looked earnestly at his father, "Please make it clear, Father."


    "The foundation of our Liu Family lies inmerce!" Liu Yongyuan exhaled, continuing, "This is the real reason why I value Lin Ruoxue and Belle so much."


    "In Jiangnan, our Liu Family''smercial strength is the most formidable. This is also the fundamental reason why we are among the Four Great Families! And by marrying Lin Ruoxue and taking control of Belle, it is equivalent to making our roots spread deeper and be more secure!"


    "I understand now! Only by setting our roots deeply and ensuring a solid foundation can our Liu Family prosper and thrive!"


    Liu Qing finally grasped the true meaning behind his father''s intention for him to pursue Lin Ruoxue, and he couldn''t help but admire his father''s strategic thinking and earnest intentions!

 Chapter 75 Car Accident

    "If things go well, one day in the future, we might just be able to be a top-tier family like the Zheng Family, who also started inmerce, just like us,"


    Liu Yongyuan turned to look at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, feeling a storm of ambitions stirring in his heart.


    "The Zheng Family in Yanjing?"


    Liu Qing eximed in shock, looking at his father with disbelief.


    He had never imagined that his father harbored such grand ambitions: the Zheng Family in Yanjing, what a presence that was!


    They were one of Huaxia''s top families, with immeasurable strength and heritage. Although their Liu Family also counted as a significant force in Jiangnan, inparison with the Zheng Family of Yanjing, they were hardly worth mentioning. They weren''t even in the same league!


    Seeing the shocked expression on Liu Qing''s face, Liu Yongyuan smiled slightly:


    "What? You think it''s impossible?"


    "To be honest, I''ve never dared to dream that big¡ªit''s the Zheng Family in Yanjing!"


    Liu Qing shook his head with a wry smile, his admiration for his father growing inside him.


    Explore more at empire


    "If you can secure Lin Ruoxue and the Belle Corporation, it could very well be a reality one day!"


    Liu Yongyuan encouraged him with a hopeful look.


    "Even if we can''t reach the heights of the Zheng Family, at least our Liu Family''s strength will surge dramatically. Recing the Wu Family as the foremost among the Four Great Families of Jiangnan will be within easy reach."


    "Okay, Father, don''t worry. I will figure out a way to marry Lin Ruoxue and take control of the Belle Corporation,"


    Liu Qing was inspired by his father''s ambitious vision, speaking with unwavering resolve.


    "Good, I believe in you," Liu Yongyuan chuckled as he walked over to Liu Qing and patted him on the shoulder, "As for that young man you think might be an obstacle, if we can''t find out enough about him, we''ll just have to eliminate him."


    .....


    Su Chen was, of course,pletely unaware of what was transpiring in the Liu family''s mansion.


    The next morning, just like every day in recent months, he rose early to make breakfast.


    Wang Ma and Lin Ruoxue had grown used to this routine, now only finding it surprising if he didn''t cook.


    However, it seemed that Lin Ruoxue hadn''t quite recovered from her state the previous day and deliberately avoided Su Chen''s gaze during breakfast.


    She wolfed down a few bites before hurrying off to work in her car.


    Su Chen found, rather amusingly, that his wife seemed to be growing cuter by the day!


    Shortly afterward, Su Chen leisurely drove his BMW 5 Series to work, humming an unknown tune and lightly tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.


    Just as he was about to reach the Belle Building, he suddenly found the road ahead was blocked. The long queue of cars couldn''t move at all, and many people were gathered around, seemingly discussing something.


    With no option to proceed, Su Chen had no choice but to get out and see what was happening.


    Upon reaching the crowd, he realized it was an ident¡ªa giant truck had collided with a Cadic. The Cadic was so mangled it was nearly unrecognizable; the hood waspletely crushed, one side''s window had shattered, and the other door was wide open, resembling a heap of scrap metal.


    "Mom, hang in there, please hang on, the physician will be here soon."


    Just then, a tense, trembling voice rang out.


    Su Chen looked closer and saw a very beautiful woman in her twenties desperately shouting at another middle-aged woman, her face full of panic.


    The middle-aged woman was covered in blood, her head drooping to one side, her long hair drenched in blood and sticking to her face, obscuring her features.


    Her abdomen had been impaled by a steel pipe from the broken car window, and blood kept flowing out!


    "Where''s the physician? Why isn''t the physician here yet!"


    The young woman shouted madly outwards, her forehead also injured with fresh blood seeping out, but at that moment, she didn''t care about her wounds at all.


    "The doctor is here, the doctor is here!"


    Just then, the siren of the ambnce resounded, and the crowd voluntarily cleared a path.


    As soon as the paramedics disembarked, they immediately rushed over with a stretcher. Leading the way was a physician in his fifties and a younger doctor, probably in his twenties, who looked like his assistant or student.


    Meanwhile, another group of five or six people hurried over from a different direction, led by a middle-aged man who looked very authoritative, clearly a high-ranking official, his expression extremely grave at the moment.


    Upon seeing this group, a burst of exmations erupted from the crowd.


    "Look, who is thating?"


    "Ah, it''s Mayor Tang, why has hee?"


    "Indeed, it is Mayor Tang. What is he doing here this early in the morning? Could he just be passing by?"


    The paramedics and Mayor Tang Mingji''s group almost arrived simultaneously at the scene of the ident.


    The attending physician and the paramedics were also surprised by the appearance of Tang Mingji and promptly greeted him:


    "Good day, Mayor Tang."


    Tang Mingji immediately waved his hand:


    "Never mind me, you guys hurry up and rescue the patient."


    Then he said to the woman in the car:


    "Xiaoyun,e out quickly, don''t obstruct the doctors'' work."


    The young woman inside the car hurriedly stepped out and approached Tang Mingji, crying:


    "Dad, mom won''t be in trouble, will she?"


    "No, we must trust the doctors."


    Tang Mingji embraced the young woman, gently patting her shoulder tofort her.


    The attending physician trembled, not expecting that the victim of the car crash was Mayor Tang''s wife. Suddenly, he felt the pressure immensely increase.


    Normally, a car ident wouldn''t require his presence, but he hade personally after hearing the rtives'' descriptions at the scene because he felt the situation was quite serious.


    Now, he was unsure whethering today was right or wrong.


    The onlooking crowd hadn''t expected that the woman was Mayor Tang''s wife either.


    The attending physician checked the situation and his expression immediately turned very serious; it was much more severe than he had imagined.


    "Mayor Tang, hurry up and notify the fire department to start extrication, make sure they hurry!"


    As soon as the physician had finished his examination, he shouted loudly to Tang Mingji.


    No sooner had he spoken than Tang Mingji''s assistant immediately contacted the fire brigade. Then, the physician stepped back and reported to Tang Mingji:


    "Mayor Tang, the situation is much more serious than we anticipated; you need to be prepared mentally!"


    "Doctor, please, you must save my mother! I beg you!"


    The young woman suddenly grasped the physician''s clothes, her face showing a pleading look.


    "Rest assured, we will do our utmost!"


    The physician patted the young woman''s hand,forting her as he spoke.


    "Tell me, what exactly is the situation now?"


    Tang Mingji was also extremely nervous inside, but he still tried to calm himself down, knowing that being nervous or scared would not help solve the problem at this moment.

 Chapter 76 100%

    "The situation now is that the car door ispletely jammed. We must break it open to remove the steel pipe stuck in the patient''s body, but once we pry open the door and pull out the steel pipe to relieve the pressure, there will definitely be major blood loss,"


    "Moreover, from my observation, the position where the steel pipe has entered is also very poor¡ªit''s directly in the vena cava. Once there''s major blood loss, she''ll likely experience severe hypovolemic shock within six to ten minutes. Even if I''m fast enough and lucky, it will still take at least three minutes to find the bleeding point and temporarily stop the bleeding. However, the blood loss in those three minutes could reach up to two thousand milliliters."


    "Furthermore, we''re outside, and even in the best scenario, it would take nearly twenty minutes to get to the hospital''s operating room. This could likely cause ischemic damage to the heart and brain, and such damage is irreversible."


    "Plus, it would take at least ten to twenty minutes for the fire department to arrive. The patient is continuously losing blood, so the situation is indeed very critical."


    The lead physician sighed and said, hisplexion turning grim as he hadn''t expected the situation to be this severe.


    Hearing the lead physician''s words, Tang Mingji and Tang Yun felt their hearts sink to the lowest depths.


    Though they didn''t quite understand all the medical jargon, they realized that the situation was indeed dire.


    "Let me do it!"


    Just then, a faint voice came through.


    Tang Mingji and his daughter along with the lead physician all turned their heads to see a young man approaching.


    "I can break it open immediately and remove the steel pipe."


    Su Chen walked up to Tang Mingji, his daughter, and the lead physician and spoke again.


    "Don''t mess around. Do you know the force required for this? How could you manage?" the lead physician said, visibly agitated, waving his hand dismissively. "Young man, you better hurry off, don''t make trouble."


    Su Chen wasn''t offended by the lead physician''s attitude, instead, he simply smiled:


    "Doctor, you should be aware, from now until the fire department''s arrival, it will take at least ten or so minutes. Then removing the steel pipe and your immediate hemostatic emergency treatment until reaching the hospital''s emergency room¡ªhow long all that would take. What do you think are the chances of the patient''s survival then? I say two in ten, and that''s being generous. Given that, why not let me try?"


    "You understand medicine?"


    The lead physician asked, his surprise evident upon hearing Su Chen''s words. In his heart, even two in ten was a stretch; he reckoned even one in ten was difficult.


    "I know a bit, just the basics."


    "Are you really sure?" the lead physician asked sternly, looking at Su Chen. "Since you know some medicine, you should understand that if carelessly done, causing discement, then the situation could be extremely grave."


    "I understand," Su Chen nodded.


    "Mayor Tang, this is currently the most effective solution avable. What do you think..."


    The lead physician turned to Tang Mingji, although already agreeing internally, he still needed to seek the opinion of Tang Mingji as the family member and as the mayor.


    "Young man, are you really confident?" Tang Mingji asked seriously.


    "I assure you!" Su Chen replied firmly, nodding his head.


    "Alright, I trust you."


    Tang Mingji saw an unppable demeanor in the other''s eyes, and was somewhat surprised internally; few people confronted him, the mayor, with such a calm demeanor.


    "Alright, prepare to break it open," the lead physician said, seeing Tang Mingji''s approval, then turned to Tang Mingji and his daughter, "What''s the patient''s blood type? I''ll have the hospital prepare."


    "I''m not quite sure. Tang Yun, do you know your mother''s blood type?"


    As the mayor, Tang Mingji, who was busy all the time, couldn''t remember his wife''s blood type.


    "I''m not quite sure either, butst time I apanied mom to the hospital for a checkup, her blood was tested; I think it was something like RH negative O-type or something," Tang Yun replied, scratching her head as she thought.


    "What did you say?"


    The lead physician''s voice suddenly grew much louder as he shouted in disbelief, staring wide-eyed at Tang Yun.


    Su Chen also stopped in his tracks; this was extremely unlucky!


    "What''s wrong?"


    Tang Mingji and his daughter, upon seeing the doctor''s reaction, suddenly felt bewildered.


    "What did you say?" The chief physician,pletely overwhelmed by the situation, lost control of his tone, and said to Tang Mingji and his daughter, "RH-negative blood is ''panda blood.''"


    Then he suddenly realized something, and hurriedly shouted at his young assistant:


    "Quickly notify the hospital to immediately request eight units of RH-negative O-type red blood cells from the blood bank."


    "Okay, I''ll call right away!"


    The young assistant was clearly terrified by the situation.


    A minuteter, the young assistant, looking dejected, said to the chief physician:


    "The blood bank has five units of RH-negative blood in reserve, which can be delivered to the hospital in 50 minutes. The remaining three units will take about an hour and twenty minutes to gather."


    "It''s over, it''s over!"


    The chief physician, as if defeated, leaned powerlessly against the battered car body.


    "How can it be over! Doctor! You absolutely must not give up!" Tang Yun was so frightened that she fell to her knees in front of the chief physician, crying, "Doctor, please, save my mother?"


    "I wish I could, but it takes more than an hour to procure the blood, and no one can endure such a long period of cerebral ischemia." The chief physician helped Tang Yun to her feet, "You should prepare for the worst."


    "Are you just going to watch my mother die and do nothing?"


    Tang Yun, unable to ept the grim news about her mother, copsed to the ground as soon as she stood up.


    "It''s not that I don''t want to, it''s simply impossible!"


    "I have a way."


    Watching Tang Yun cry with the sorrow of losing her loved one, Su Chen was reminded of his own mother and spoke up.


    "Ah, you really have a way?"


    Tang Yun shot up to her feet and grabbed Su Chen''s arm, asking anxiously as if she had grasped a lifeline when nearly drowning.


    Though it was just a straw, it at least gave her hope!


    "Young man, don''t speak without understanding, in this situation, even a Divine Doctor couldn''t save her."


    The chief physician sternly scolded him, thinking that this young man was merely being recklessly boastful.


    "So, what solution do you have right now?"


    Su Chen didn''t retort but simply asked calmly.


    The chief physician hung his head and sighed, shaking it.


    "Given that, what are youining about here?" Su Chen nced at him, "No matter how bad the situation is, what else can be done?"


    "Indeed, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, we must try." Tang Mingji walked over and asked Su Chen, "Young man, how confident are you?"


    Su Chen held up a single finger.


    "Only 10 percent?" Tang Mingji''s heart sank, then he took a deep breath, "Alright, let''s try it, it''s still better than having no hope at all."


    Su Chen gently shook his head.


    "Not even 10 percent?"


    Tang Mingji cried out, immediately feeling as though a huge stone was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.


    Tang Yun, who had just regained a glimmer of spirit, lingered in despair once more. No chance, not even 10 percent ¡ª wasn''t her mother''s situation still likely dire?


    "No, you misunderstood." Su Chen began calmly: Continue your journey on empire


    "I meant 100 percent!"

 Chapter 77 Is This Still Human?

    In an instant, everyone was shocked by Su Chen''s words!


    The chief physician had just dered there was absolutely no hope, yet this young man imed he could cure the patient, a im that was outrageously optimistic!


    "Young man, you are boasting too much! You are simply disregarding the most basic medical knowledge!"


    The chief physician sternly rebuked, seeing it as nothing more than a pipe dream.


    Even now, in the operating room, surrounded by blood, with such severe injuries, he only had a 30% chance of saving the patient.


    Not to mention the present situation outside, facing severe blood loss.


    Under such circumstances, even the world''s best doctors would be powerless after such a long period of cerebral ischemia, not even a deity could save her!


    "The situation now is that he has no way to save your loved one, while I guarantee I can save her, it''s up to you to decide what to do,"


    Su Chen ignored the chief physician''s scolding and directly handed the choice over to Tang Mingji and his daughter.


    In Su Chen''s view, one''s understanding determines their limit, and no amount of exnation would make the other party believe if it involved an unfamiliar domain.


    "Father, it''s your decision to make."


    Tang Yun herself was very conflicted, the young man''s words did not provide any reassurance, and if he had imed a 20 to 30% or 30 to 40% chance, she might have believed him a little.


    But for him to im a 100% certainty was too much, making her increasingly suspect that he was just a chatan selling some miraculous cure.


    "Alright, I''ve made my decision, young man, give it a try."


    Tang Mingji, with the decisiveness of a leader, quickly made a decision.


    Actually, he had no other choice, faced with only two options: either watch his wife die or let this young man try, despite thetter seeming unreliable. Your journey continues with empire


    "Fine, but let me be clear, if you want me to save your wife, everyone from the hospital must follow my orders,"


    Su Chen suddenly spoke with a stern face, a stark contrast to his previously casual demeanour.


    "Good, Dr. Du, you and everyone from your hospital must obey this young man from now on,"


    Tang Mingji, seeing his name on the chief physician''s badge, gave him a piercing look, carrying with him the authority of a mayor.


    Though Dr. Du was reluctant, he dared not talk back in front of Tang Mingji.


    "I''d like to see how you n to save this doomed person." Dr. Du sneered to himself.


    "Dr. Du, contact your hospital now, have them prepare 1500 milliliters of zero-degree saline," Su Chen''s expression was solemn, his eyes sparkling with a dazzling light, "Also, tell the chief of staff to rush the blood supply."


    "Zero-degree saline? Are you sure?"


    Dr. Du stared at Su Chen in astonishment, knowing that saline is usually warmed before being administered to patients.


    Even in special circumstances, they only used sub-cooled saline at most.


    "Stop wasting time, get the hospital ready, or you''ll be directly responsible for the patient''s death!"


    Su Chen shouted at Dr. Du, as he really had no time to argue; time was of the essence!


    "Fine, I''ll make the call."


    Dr. Du, startled by Su Chen''s shout, hurriedly pulled out his phone.


    At this moment, Su Chen began the extraction, and what stunned everyone was that he used no tools but his bare hands instead.


    The car door had beenpressed and waspletely jammed, making it impossible to pull out the square steel tube that had pierced into the middle-aged woman''s body.


    Su Chen grabbed the car window and pulled forcefully; the window immediately began to visibly deform, slowly shrinking outward.


    Onlookers gazed at Su Chen as if he were a monster, marveling at the immense strength it took to deform the crushed car window with his bare hands!


    "Ah~~"


    Su Chen suddenly let out a long howl, and with a strong push of his hands, all one could hear was a "bang" as the car window was pulled down.


    After removing thergest car window, the others were easier to handle, and Su Chen cleaned up the steel scattered all around.


    "Scissors, scalpel, hemostat, gauze, hurry up."


    Su Chen reached his hand backward, and immediately one of the paramedics handed him the items.


    "Physician Du, you''ll pull out the steel tube, while I''ll expand the chest wound and stop the bleeding," Su Chen quickly instructed Du Sheng, "When you pull it, be sure to maintain steadiness to prevent internal discement."


    "How about I pull out the steel tube and you handle the bleeding? I can find the bleeding point and stop the bleeding within three minutes."


    Du Sheng believed that few could match his speed in this regard, and now, the faster the action, the less the bleeding, the more assured they were in saving the patient.


    "Stop the nonsense and do as I say!"


    Su Chen coldly shouted, without any courtesy.


    Du Sheng''s face turned red with embarrassment. This guy was really disrespectful; he thought who he was. If Tang Mingji were not here, he would have walked away long ago.


    "Fine, let me see what you are capable of!"


    Du Sheng also snorted with an unhappy face.


    "Are you ready?" Su Chen, not bothering with Du Sheng''s thoughts, shouted to the other medical staff, "Get ready to establish an intravenous pathway, administer bnce solution, maintain blood pressure."


    "Okay!"


    The medical staff responded at once and immediately turned around to prepare.


    "I''m ready too."


    Although Du Sheng was displeased with Su Chen, it was a critical moment for saving a life, so he could not afford to hold a grudge against Su Chen.


    In this regard, Su Chen felt a slight respect for him.


    "Okay, when I count to three, you pull out the steel tube immediately!" Su Chen took a deep breath and then yelled, "One, two, three, pull."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Du Sheng used his hands to forcefully pull out the steel tube embedded in the middle-aged woman''s body, causing a copious amount of blood to spurt out like a fountain, drenching Su Chen.


    At the same time, Su Chen was already using gauze to block the area where the blood was gushing, while his other hand searched for the bleeding point, but the blood continued to flow profusely.


    "I''ve found the bleeding point, now remove the gauze."


    Su Chen said, and instantly picked up the scissors and scalpel.


    "That fast?"


    Du Sheng was stunned; it was very rapid. In less than 20 seconds, he had already found the bleeding point.


    "What are you waiting for, hurry up!"


    "Oh, right!"


    Du Sheng quickly responded and then removed the gauze, while at the same time, Su Chen had begun the hemostasis work.


    "It''s done, now you all prepare to open up the intravenous pathway and administer the bnce solution."


    Su Chen put down the hemostat and exhaled.


    At that instant, Du Sheng and the paramedics were all stunned, staring dumbfoundedly at Su Chen.


    Is he even human?

 Chapter 78 Artificial Hibernation

    "Get moving, what are you staring at!"


    Su Chen saw that these people were still not moving, so he shouted again.


    Only then did those people snap to their senses and hurriedly began to act.


    "Hurry up, get on the ambnce, to the hospital!" Du Sheng seemed to have glimpsed a sliver of hope, and after setting up an IV bnce solution for the middle-aged woman, he shouted at Tang Mingji, "Mayor Tang, you all hurry onto the ambnce, we''re going to the hospital!"


    "Okay!"


    Tang Mingji and Tang Yun also scrambled onto the ambnce in a flurry, and the medical staff quickly lifted the middle-aged woman onto the ambnce.


    "Get moving, what are you staring at!"


    Su Chen saw that these people were still not moving, so he shouted again.


    Only then did those people snap to their senses and hurriedly began to act.


    "Hurry up, get on the ambnce, to the hospital!" Du Sheng seemed to have glimpsed a sliver of hope, and after setting up an IV bnce solution for the middle-aged woman, he shouted at Tang Mingji, "Mayor Tang, you all hurry onto the ambnce, we''re going to the hospital!"


    "Okay!"


    Tang Mingji and Tang Yun also scrambled onto the ambnce in a flurry, and just as the driver was about to start the vehicle, Su Chen walked over:


    "You get down, I''ll drive!"


    "How can this be? This..."


    The driver hadn''t finished speaking when Su Chen pulled open the door and yanked him out:


    "Go to the back."


    After saying that, Su Chen shut the door, and the driver had no choice but to run to the back.


    "You''re the driver, what are you doing here?"


    Du Sheng saw the drivere up and asked in surprise.


    "That young man wanted to drive, my words were not even out when he dragged me out," said the driver indignantly. "He''s just savage!"


    The others exchanged nces, looking at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what this young man was up to.


    "Dr. Du, what do you think of this young man? Can he save my wife?"


    Tang Mingji asked anxiously, as he waspletely ignorant about medicine and could only turn to Du Sheng for help.


    "I don''t know," Du Sheng shook his head, equally puzzled, "If you had asked me earlier, then I would definitely have said it was impossible, but now..."


    "What about now?"


    Tang Yun leaned forward, her heart inexplicably skipping a beat.


    "Now it''s hard to say, I''m a bit at a loss about this young man. Did you see the way he stopped the bleeding for the patient just now? It was simply astonishing!"


    There was a look of wonder on Du Sheng''s face; he still couldn''t believe what had just happened.


    "What was so astonishing?"


    Although Tang Yun had been watching at the time, she hadn''t noticed anything special, as she waspletely unfamiliar with medicine.


    "Just now, this young man took less than a minute to find the bleeding point and stop the bleeding," Du Sheng said, looking towards Tang Mingji and his daughter. "Do you know what that means?"


    Tang Mingji and his daughter shook their heads nkly.


    "Let me put it this way," Du Sheng continued, "Under those circumstances, even the best surgeons in the world would need at least about two minutes, and if I did it, with good luck, maybe three minutes. And when ites to this, I am the fastest in Jiangnan, without any bragging."


    Du Sheng simply couldn''t figure out how the young man had managed it!


    "Indeed, that''s terrifying. I waspletely stupefied just now; his speed was so fast, it was almost like a miracle!"


    Du Sheng''s assistant was also full of sighs, eximing in amazement!


    Tang Mingji and his daughter exchanged a nce and finally understood why Du Sheng and those medical personnel were so shocked!


    "So you''re saying his medical skills are very exquisite, and he might be able to save my mother?"


    Tang Yun suddenly saw hope again. Since his medical skills were so exquisite, it wasn''t impossible to save her own mother!


    "It''s hard to say, although theoretically it seems unlikely, but medicine is different from other sciences. There''s a saying in medicine that there''s no absolute in medicine, which means anything is possible."


    Du Sheng furrowed his eyebrows, he had also been thinking about what methods this young man could possibly have.


    Just then, he suddenly thought of the zero-degree saline that the young man had asked him to prepare, and his mind exploded.


    "I understand now, I finally understand," Du Sheng suddenly jumped up, rubbing his hands nonstop, "His guts are too big, to actually think of using that method, it''s inconceivable, really inconceivable!"


    "What method?" Tang Mingji and Tang Yun hurriedly grabbed Du Sheng, who suddenly seemed crazed.


    "He must be thinking of using hypothermic treatment, also known as artificial hibernation, to snatch a period of time while waiting for blood to arrive."


    Du Sheng, excited and gesturing wildly, exined to Tang Mingji and his daughter, and with great emotion he sighed,


    "That''s insanely bold!"


    "What exactly is going on? Give me a clear exnation," Tang Yun said, feelingpletely baffled by Du Sheng''s words.


    "That means injecting zero-degree saline into the bloodstream, causing a rapid cooling of all vital organs, reducing cellr activity, and reducing the oxygen requirements of the blood, thus alleviating permanent damage caused by ischemia and low blood pressure to the vital organs. At this point, the patient will be in a temporary vegetative state, which buys precious time for the rescue."


    Du Sheng calmed his excited emotions and said to Tang Mingji and his daughter.


    "So, there''s hope for my mother?"


    Tang Yun looked at Du Sheng with a hopeful face; she seemed to see a glimmer of light in the vast darkness.


    "I''ve only seen this method by chance in the American Trauma Society''s journals. I''ve never heard of anyone actually doing it in practice!"


    "Because the biggest issue with this approach is that there is a limit to the human body''s tolerance for cold. If it exceeds this limit, even for a minute, the patient can go from a temporary vegetative state to a permanent vegetative state."


    "So this young man is really something, and crazy enough! Of course, this is also currently the only method that could save the patient."


    Du Sheng took a deep breath and sighed,


    "Being able toe up with and dare to use such a method, he''s definitely a leading figure in the medical field! It''s just that he''s so young, it''s unbelievable!"


    "You guys are really lucky, if it weren''t for this young man today, I can confidently say that your loved one would definitely not have been saved, but now there''s at least some hope!"


    "Yun''er, no matter whether this young man can save your mother today, we must thank him properly!"


    Tang Mingji was also moved by the mercy of the heavens, and at the same time, he became curious about Su Chen.


    Being so young and yet possessing such profound medical skills was extremely rare!


    "Yes, I will definitely thank him properly."


    Tang Yun nodded, praying silently in her heart for her mother''s safety.


    "Here we are, let''s hurry and get out of the car."


    Feeling the care to a stop, Du Sheng''s young assistant pointed out.


    "Already?"


    Du Sheng was stunned for a moment. How many minutes had it been?


    Tang Mingji and his daughter were also surprised. Looking at the time, it had only been six minutes since thest part of their journey, and the speed had reached nearly 200 kilometers per hour.


    In a developed metropolis like Jianghai, reaching a speed of 200 kilometers per hour is a staggering concept!


    What kind of driving skill would that require? Probably not even the most badass driver could achieve that!

 Chapter 79 The Limit Time

    However, given the urgency of the situation, no one was dwelling on Su Chen''s driving skills; they hurriedly pushed the patient into the operating room.


    A 1500-milliliter bag of zero-degree saline solution was already prepared. Just as Su Chen was about to inject the patient, Du Sheng asked tentatively,


    "Are you nning on using hypothermia therapy?"


    "You''re not entirely foolish¡ªyou even know about this," Su Chen nced at him with surprise and nodded, "Correct, I''m using an artificial hibernation approach."


    "I''ve also seen this method in the journals of the American Trauma Society," said Du Sheng, who was now thoroughly impressed by Su Chen, so much so that he didn''t mind thetter''s attitude. He asked earnestly, "But there is a limit to how much cold the human body can take, and exceeding this limit can have serious consequences."


    "I know. Rest assured, I can control the limit."


    Su Chen casually replied as he injected the cold saline solution into the central vein of the middle-aged woman.


    Then, he took out an old, worn cloth bag from his pocket, unfolded it, and the silver needles inside sparkled with a cold silver sheen under the operating room lights.


    "What are you doing now? Is that for acupuncture?"


    Seeing Su Chen pull out the silver needles, Du Sheng was immediately astonished¡ªwas he thinking ofbining Western and Chinese medicine?


    "Weren''t you just concerned about exceeding the patient''s limit? You are indeed right to worry; with this saline injected, the human body can endure a maximum of 35-40 minutes, which is far from sufficient," Su Chen said while pulling out the silver needles, "That''s why I need to extend this limit."


    "So, you''re nning to do it with acupuncture?"


    Confused, Du Sheng asked. He had never heard of such an effect from acupuncture.


    "Yes, with this. The principle is tooplex to exin to you," Su Chen replied.


    He held three silver needles between his fingers and then swiftly inserted them around the injured area of the middle-aged woman,


    "All you need to know is that, after this acupuncture, the total limit she can withstand is an hour and forty minutes. To be absolutely safe, the blood must arrive within an hour and a half."


    "You can calcte the patient''s limit for endurance?"


    Du Sheng was utterly shocked¡ªhe clearly remembered the journal saying that no one in the world could urately calcte the limit of endurance under hypothermia.


    After the three silver needles were inserted, Du Sheng immediately witnessed a scene he had never seen before. The tails of the needles were trembling incessantly, and at the points where the needles touched the skin, a faint milky halo flickered.


    What he didn''t know was that those halos were actually Su Chen''s True Yuan. He was using it to stimte the patient''s vital acupuncture points, sending True Yuan into her body through these points, to nourish the cells and rece some of the functions performed by blood oxygen to a certain extent.


    Subsequently, Su Chen applied needles to other critical acupoints. By the time he finished this work, he was drenched in sweat and nearly exhausted.


    "Physician Du, I leave the uing surgery to you. As long as you do the surgery well and make sure eight units of blood arrive within an hour and a half, she will certainly be fine," Su Chen said.


    "Okay, you can rest assured. If I still can''t save her after what you''ve done, then I might as well not call myself a doctor," answered Du Sheng.


    From the moment he had removed the steel pipe, the young man had handled everything perfectly, and now he had even managed to buy more than an hour of time.


    Du Sheng firmly believed that if he still could not save the patient in such circumstances, it would be a great disservice both to the patient and to the young man''s efforts.


    "You should rest a bit on the side."


    Seeing Su Chen exhausted and soaked with sweat, Du Sheng suggested.


    Du Sheng''s assistant immediately brought a chair for Su Chen and then began assisting in the operation.


    Su Chen indeed felt extremely tired; this series of treatments had nearly depleted all the True Yuan in his body.


    He reflected inwardly that his own strength was still insufficient¡ªif he had been able to cultivate to the seventh or eighth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, none of this would have been so troublesome.


    Should he truly reach that Realm, he would be able to use the Gxy Divine Needle, and such a minor injury would be nothing at all to him, solvable within mere minutes.


    After more than thirty minutes had passed, the first batch of five units of blood had arrived; the medical staff sprinted to the operating room with it.


    Su Chen''s heart eased by half. Another half-hourter, the remaining three units of blood were also delivered.


    Du Sheng, as the chief physician, performed the surgery perfectly.


    When the surgery waspleted, and a few minutes had passed, the middle-aged woman finally opened her eyes, but because she was still very weak, she couldn''t speak just yet.


    The medical staff pushed the patient out of the operating room together, and Tang Mingji and his daughter had been waiting anxiously.


    Upon seeing the patiente out, they hurried over.


    "Mom!"


    "Wan Zhen!"


    The middle-aged woman smiled at her husband and daughter.


    "Mayor Tang, the patient is still very weak and cannot speak," Du Sheng instructed the medical staff, "Hurry and take the patient to the intensive care unit."


    "Doctor Du, what''s the situation now?"


    Although Tang Mingji saw that his wife had woken up, he was still very worried.


    "Please rest assured, Mayor Tang, the surgery was very sessful, and your wife is in good condition. All she needs is some rest, and she''ll be fine."


    "I can''t thank you enough! Thank you for saving her life!"


    Tang Mingji gripped Du Sheng''s hand tightly, his expression full of excitement.


    Tang Yun''s eyes brimmed with gratitude towards Du Sheng. This brief hour had rollercoastered her emotions from deep sorrow to great joy!


    "What I did is something any qualified physician could have done," Du Sheng said with a slight smile, "The person you really should be thanking is Mr. Su."


    "Mr. Su? Which Mr. Su?" Tang Yun''s face showed confusion; she did not recognize any Mr. Su.


    "You mean that young man! Yes, where is he?"


    Tang Mingji suddenly realized.


    "Yes, that''s him. He''s just too tired, and he rested for a while," Du Sheng remarked with a feeling of respect, "If it weren''t for him buying us more than an hour today, the patient would have been beyond help, beyond the reach of gods or King Yan."


    It was then that Tang Yun came to understand that the young man''s surname was Su, and just at that moment, she happened to see Su Chen slowly walking out. His face was ashen, and his clothes damp.


    "Mr. Su, what happened to you?"


    Tang Yun hurried over and supported Su Chen, who looked as if he might copse at any moment, concern evident on her face.


    "It''s nothing, I''ll be fine after some rest," Su Chen said with a forced smile. Only then did he take a clear look at the young woman''s features and was momentarily astonished by her beauty.


    A delicate and exquisite nose, a pair of bright eyes, as beautiful as Liu Yue Mei, with cherry-red lips slightly turned up¡ªthis was a face of breathtaking beauty!


    She wore a khaki-colored, simple yet stylish trench coat, and light blue skinny jeans that outlined her long legs and perfectly rounded curves.


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