After all, Long Mei had accompanied Chairman Hu for so many years. To say he had no feelings for Long Mei would be untrue, yet his feelings for her were never as deep as those for Hu Jinzhi. But now, Long Mei was not alone; she had the child in her womb. The combined weight of the two compared to Jinzhi troubled and hesitated Chairman Hu.
The family’s misfortunes, the career’s setbacks, and his own daughter’s being away for three months without returning—all these caused Chairman Hu to fall into a rage. Naturally, everything started at the auction house’s entrance, and naturally, Chairman Hu put all the blame on Xu Ke.
Long Mei wanted to ask Chairman Hu where he was going, but recalling what she just said, she swallowed the words back. "Where he goes is none of my business, as long as our mother and child can get everything we want," Long Mei murmured, holding her belly.
Chairman Hu drove directly to the manor to trouble Xu Ke but was stopped at the gate. When he reached out to touch the iron fence on the gate, he got a shock, resulting in an exploded hairstyle and a face of soot.
"Family Head, Chairman Hu is at the gate. Should we let him in?" the butler asked gently while Xu Ke was tying his tie.
"He doesn’t look for his daughter but comes to see me. Let him in. I want to see what he’s here for," Xu Ke said, smiling satisfactorily at his handsome reflection in the mirror.
"Alright," replied the butler.
Chairman Hu, who was cursing at the gate, watched the slowly opening door that could only allow one person through, and no one came out to welcome him. His face, already blackened by electricity, turned livid.
The message from Xu Ke was clear: If you want to come in, walk in yourself; expecting a welcome was out of the question.
"Xu Ke, this is too much!" Chairman Hu shouted fiercely at the gate.
"Do you want to come in or not? If not, I’ll close the door," the bodyguard, who had received orders, said loudly with his hands folded behind his back, looking at Chairman Hu with tiger-like eyes. The words nearly took Chairman Hu’s breath away.
"Who are you and what status do you have to talk to me like that?" Chairman Hu glared at the bodyguard.
"What can you do if I talk to you ? I’m the manor’s bodyguard hired by the Xu family, not yours. You can’t threaten me. If you don’t come in, I’ll shut the door," the bodyguard replied, rolling his eyes in irritation.
Despite the humiliation, Chairman Hu walked through the narrow gap amid the mocking gazes of the bodyguards. At this moment, Chairman Hu felt like a bomb ready to explode at a touch.
Once inside, he immediately challenged, "Xu Ke, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"
Facing Chairman Hu’s finger pointing at him, Xu Ke remained calm, "What explanation do I owe you? What needs me to explain?"
"Are you playing dumb with me? If you hadn’t told Jinzhi about my affairs, she wouldn’t have run away, would she? You’ve destroyed someone else’s family, yet you sit here so comfortably, don’t you? Let me tell you, if you don’t give me an explanation, I, Hu, will never let you go. Even if it ruins me, I’ll drag you into hell with me. If you make my life tough, I’ll make sure yours isn’t any better, even if it costs me my life," Chairman Hu shouted.
"Are you threatening me?" Xu Ke raised an eyebrow, his eyes sharp as swords piercing Chairman Hu.
"Do you think because you’ve spent a few years at Xu’s, you’re older than me, and have more experience, that you can threaten me? Don’t forget, Xu’s is ultimately the Xu’s, not the Hu’s. No matter how formidable you pretend to be, you’re just an employee of Xu’s. I’m the real boss. What do you have to threaten me with? What right do you have to threaten me?" Xu Ke’s lips curled into a provocative smile.
"You don’t seriously think that just because you’re experienced and have more shares, and I’m young, that Xu’s is your solo stage, do you? Stop dreaming. Xu’s has been around for nearly a century; do you think you can move our century-old foundation alone? Chairman Hu, I think your paranoia is severe; you should see a doctor and make sure to take your medicine before leaving the house," Xu Ke stood up, with his tall frame completely overshadowing Chairman Hu. "Someday I’ll bring gifts to visit you in the hospital. Take care and don’t delay your treatment," Xu Ke said, his lips curling up ambiguously.
"You! You’re truly excessive. Today I’m going to teach you on behalf of your parents how to speak to an elder properly," Chairman Hu reached out his hand to slap Xu Ke’s mouth, but his palm was caught in midair by Xu Ke.
"On behalf of my parents? What qualifies you? The two words from your mouth make me feel like you’re sullying them," Xu Ke’s smile vanished, his face cold, his brow and eyes fierce and sharp, attacking Chairman Hu mercilessly. "You, a murderer, what right do you have to stand in front of the victim? Are Xu family blood buns delicious?" Xu Ke yanked Chairman Hu close, speaking through gritted teeth only between the two.
Originally furious, Chairman Hu froze immediately after Xu Ke’s words, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief. "How could you know about this? It’s impossible for anyone to know, impossible," Chairman Hu denied vehemently.
"It doesn’t matter if you deny it. Do you think I’d say such things to you without evidence? Isn’t there an old saying that the Heaven’s net is wide and nothing escapes it? Chairman Hu, we’ve only just begun. As long as you’re alive, you’ll have to play with me until I’m satisfied and rid of the bitterness in my chest," Xu Ke looked into Chairman Hu’s eyes, slowly split open his lips, and revealed his white teeth.
"So you’re here for revenge, right? Everything you’ve done is to take revenge on me, correct? Since you know the truth, what about the Lian and Chu Families?" Chairman Hu looked at Xu Ke with a doubtful gaze.
Xu Ke didn’t refute but nodded, "Yes, all of this is my doing. Now, in Shangjing, there are no longer the Lian and Chu Families. Their companies are mine now."
"But Xu’s funds haven’t been moved at all. How did you do it?" Chairman Hu asked.
"How is none of your concern. For such a small matter to waste three months of my time, it was their honor," Xu Ke released his grip on Chairman Hu, looking at the man, who seemed unable to withstand the blow and collapsed onto the ground. Xu Ke sneered disdainfully.
"Three months? You managed it in just three months? Hahaha, truly a tiger father begets no dog sons. We all underestimated you. And me? For the Lian and Chu Families, you took three months—how long do you plan to take with me?" Chairman Hu, experienced with life’s tempests like Monument Valley, shifted from initial disbelief to acceptance in mere seconds.
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