The Xu Family Mansion.
Xu Zhiyun sat stiffly on the sofa, absentmindedly fiddling with his collection of antique bracelets.
Lu Chengwen wore a faint smile. "Uncle Xu, this time, thanks to the Xu family's strong support, we were able to complete the fundraising for the shantytown project. Here's a contract for your review. Once you sign it, the project will have a guaranteed safety net. No matter how the project performs later, the Houde Group will be able to recover its costs."
Xu Zhiyun glanced at it, snorted, and tossed the contract onto the table.
"Lu Chengwen, your father and I have been friends for decades. I won't beat around the bush—marrying my daughter is out of the question!"
Lu Chengwen was stunned.
*Are you blind? This is a commercial safety-net contract, not a wedding invitation!*
"That's not what I meant. This shantytown project, as you know, is very likely to lose money. Although our stock price started rising yesterday, the momentum has cooled off today. The increase isn't as big as expected, and inquiries about internal housing sources have dropped. I estimate—"
Xu Zhiyun rapped his pipe against the coffee table. "I can afford to lose money, but I will never sell my daughter!"
Lu Chengwen's temper flared. *Damn it! Are you even listening? Who said anything about marrying your daughter?!*
"Uncle Xu, this is a commercial contract. Could you at least look at it before you say anything?"
"No need!"
Xu Zhiyun suddenly stood up, waving his pipe angrily. "Listen, Lu Chengwen, you've got a sharp eye for this project, but it's still uncertain. You manipulated the stock market with this money-losing venture, and that's your skill!
"But!" He slashed his hand through the air. "I, Xu Zhiyun, have weathered storms before. Even if I invested 200 billion—no, even if I threw in everything I own—I won't be blackmailed by you!"
Lu Chengwen glanced back at Zhao Gang and Jiang Shihan, who both looked exasperated.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Chengwen tried again. "Uncle Xu, just look at the contract. It has nothing to do with Xuejiao. In fact, she refused to sign it, which is why I came to you. My intention is—"
"If Xuejiao won't sign it, then neither will I!"
Xu Zhiyun declared, "I know what you're up to! You're trying to force us to let you two be together by offering this 'benefit,' making my daughter date you. Then you'll sweet-talk her into bed, knock her up, and force us into a wedding. After that, all the Xu family's assets—not just the Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory, but all our factories, research teams, labs, hospitals—will end up in your hands. Am I right?"
Lu Chengwen tilted his head, staring at the old man in disbelief.
*You've got quite the imagination! The guy who actually thinks like that is Long Aotian, not me! I'm doing everything I can to avoid your crazy daughter!*
Suppressing his frustration, Lu Chengwen said, "Uncle, just look at the contract. Just one glance—"
"Why should I? I refuse!"
Lu Chengwen finally snapped. "READ IT!"
Xu Zhiyun was taken aback. "You dare yell at me?!"
Lu Chengwen grabbed his collar and yanked him forward. Xu Zhiyun tried to resist, but Lu Chengwen, now a true martial artist, was far stronger than an ordinary man.
Pulling him was as easy as lifting a chick.
Clenching his teeth, Lu Chengwen pressed Xu Zhiyun's face to the contract and growled, "Commercial. Contract. Nothing about dating. No schemes to take your family's assets. READ IT! If you don't, I'll rip your head off!"
Xu Zhiyun was genuinely frightened.
Lu Chengwen had always been a troublemaker, but never this aggressive. In the past, he'd been all sly smiles and hidden schemes.
But today, he was outright furious.
Xu Zhiyun glanced around. Even the servants were too intimidated to speak.
Clearing his throat, Xu Zhiyun picked up the contract and read it carefully—once, twice, several times.
"That's it?"
"What else?"
Lu Chengwen sat back, legs apart, still fuming as he loosened his tie.
"Xu Zhiyun, I call you 'Uncle' out of respect. Can you actually listen to people? I said it's a commercial contract. Why do you keep bringing up your daughter? Those lousy factories and hospitals of yours—you think I care? Hell, I had to get special approval just to manage the Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory. What would I want with your stuff?"
He jabbed at the contract. "SIGN IT! If you're so worried, I'll transfer my shares in the Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory back to you later. I want NOTHING to do with your family!"
Xu Zhiyun looked puzzled. "But… your dad called me and said… you like my daughter. Oh. My apologies, Chengwen. I—I must've misunderstood."
Only then did Xu Zhiyun realize that this contract was pure gold. He didn't have to do anything, and his 20-billion investment was fully secured.
A contract like this? He'd sign as many as he could get.
His family's 20-billion investment was now guaranteed to be safe, with no risk of loss—only profit.
Xu Zhiyun happily signed the contract, feeling immensely relieved.
Just days ago, he'd been agonizing over the 20 billion Xu Xuejiao had recklessly thrown into the project. But now, the Lu family's eldest son had gone mad and handed him this foolproof deal.
Perfect! Locked in! Zero losses.
The terms were crystal clear: if the project lost money, the Dasheng Group would compensate double the standard bank interest on the 20 billion.
It was like buying a guaranteed high-yield financial product—a sure profit.
Handing the contract back to Lu Chengwen, Xu Zhiyun smiled. "Chengwen, don't be angry. I misunderstood. You know I only have Xuejiao. How could I bear to hand her over to a scoundrel? Put yourself in my shoes—"
Lu Chengwen cut him off. "Do you want me to tear up this contract right now?"
"No, no, no! As long as you stay away from my daughter, I promise our cooperation will continue as usual. How about… a drink?"
With his 20-billion investment now safely back in his pocket, guaranteed to grow, Xu Zhiyun was overjoyed.
"No time!" Lu Chengwen snapped. "This is a duplicate. One for each of us. The contract is now in effect. Keep yours safe. If you lose it, don't expect a single cent from me!"
"Now, now, no need to be so harsh. You don't seem like you're interested in my daughter at all!"
Lu Chengwen handed the contract to Jiang Shihan and glared at Xu Zhiyun. "You! Keep your daughter in check. At my house, she's been—"
He didn't even know how to describe it. "I have zero interest in your daughter! Or your crappy factories and hospitals! Got it? And you think I'm forcing you to marry her off? Tell your daughter to stay the hell away from me!"
"Hey, you—"
"Me what?!" Lu Chengwen shot back. "Your family invests 20 billion, and I secure it for you. What's wrong with me?!"
"Your daughter clings to me, putting on an act at my house, making my parents think I'm some kind of monster. What's wrong with me?!"
"I come here in good faith with a safety-net contract, and you act like you're the king of the world. What's wrong with me?!"
Xu Zhiyun stood frozen, speechless under Lu Chengwen's tirade.
By the time he recovered, Lu Chengwen and his team were already leaving.
Storming out of the Xu mansion, Lu Chengwen was still seething. "Next stop—the Chen family!"
---
Chen Qingbin was carefully polishing an antique vase, surrounded by attendants holding trays of tools.
A servant announced, "Master, Young Master Lu Chengwen of the Lu family requests an audience."
Chen Qingbin paused. "Who?"
"Lu Chengwen."
Chen Qingbin's expression darkened instantly. "That useless playboy."
The others chuckled.
Chen Qingbin placed the vase back in its box, and an assistant carried it away.
Frowning, he muttered, "That kid had some wit when he was younger, but the older he got, the more useless he became. If not for my father's fondness for him, I wouldn't even let him step foot in our house."
The butler smiled. "He is the Lu family's eldest son, after all. Even if he's all show and no substance, we should at least acknowledge the Lu family's standing."
Chen Qingbin scoffed. "A man can be bad, lustful, uncultured, even ugly."
"Then… what's unforgivable?"
Chen Qingbin declared, "The worst is spinelessness! A capable man can be ruthless, lustful, flawed—but a cowardly weakling who relies on petty schemes? That's a man with no future. Men like that disgust me to the core."
"Then… shall we refuse to see him?"
"See him. Why not?" Chen Qingbin smirked. "Want to bet? A few words from me, and he'll leave the Chen residence stammering and trembling."
"Of course. Your presence alone is enough to intimidate most men."
Soon, Lu Chengwen entered with Jiang Shihan and Zhao Gang.
Lu Chengwen had spent the entire ride trying to calm down. The frustration from the Xu family visit still burned.
Forcing a smile, he greeted, "Uncle Chen! It's been a while. You're as imposing and handsome as ever!"
"Hmph." Chen Qingbin replied dismissively. "Chengwen. Sit."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"What brings you here?"
Lu Chengwen's patience was already thinning.
*Damn it, why is this old man acting the same way? Did I desecrate your family shrine or something? Can't even offer tea to a guest?*
"Uncle Chen, as you know, the Chen family recently invested 12 billion in the shantytown project with me. I've prepared a safety-net contract—"
"Enough." Chen Qingbin waved him off. "A mere 12 billion? I can afford the loss."
Lu Chengwen thought, *I hope you lose every penny, you bastard! Can't you let me finish a sentence?*
"That's not the point. What I mean is—"
"Lu Chengwen."
"Yes?"
"I know your little game." Chen Qingbin said coldly. "You think you're clever, that your schemes can outwit the world. But to me, you're just a child playing in the mud."
*Here we go again.*
Chen Qingbin droned on, "Back then, I never approved of you and Xiaoyun being together. You know that. But what's past is past. Do you really think you two were a good match? My daughter—her looks, her figure, her talent, her intelligence, her capabilities—she's first-class in every way. Sure, you've got money, but we've been nobility for generations. Your family? New money. Today you're rich, but who knows about tomorrow? Who's to say you won't squander your family's fortune—"
Lu Chengwen closed his eyes, reciting inwardly: *Life is like a play, we meet by fate's decree. Why lose your temper over triviality? If anger kills me, who will happy be? No one will care for me—just wait and see…*
Jiang Shihan, hearing his thoughts, couldn't help but giggle.