Moments after Hua Xuening's departure, Tongtuo Wang and his two brothers returned to Lu Chengwen's side. The trio dropped to one knee, their faces beaming with pride.
"Young Master!" Tongtuo Wang declared. "We brothers have not failed you! Leng Tianhao has been rescued!"
"So soon?" Lu Chengwen was genuinely surprised. "Bring him in, let me see."
The burly man known as Fatty tossed a sack onto the ground and opened it, revealing an unconscious Leng Tianhao.
Lu Chengwen grinned. "Get him settled in a room to rest."
"Yes, Young Master!" the trio responded in unison.
Tongtuo Wang's excitement bubbled over. "Young Master, you were right on the money! Lu Chengwen was exactly where you said he'd be. Ha! He even tried to trick us, claiming he was you. But my intellect's too sharp for that! I gave him a proper thrashing—focused on his face! My brothers each broke one of his legs. Look, I even took pictures!"
Lu Chengwen glanced at the photos and let out a startled, "Holy—!"
Chen Mengyun, standing nearby, frowned deeply. "You can't even tell who this is anymore!"
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "Oh, I'd recognize this guy even if he were reduced to ashes."
Inside, Lu Chengwen was elated. This seals it. Tongtuo Wang and his brothers can never go back to Long Aotian now.
In the world of grand protagonists like Long Aotian, every slight is remembered, every debt repaid with vengeance. After the beating Tongtuo Wang delivered, Long Aotian would never forgive them.
"Tongtuo Wang," Lu Chengwen said, "transfer that money to me."
"Yes, Young Master!"
"Forty-nine billion will do," Lu Chengwen added casually.
"What about the remaining billion?" Tongtuo Wang asked, puzzled.
Lu Chengwen smiled. "You three did an excellent job. Each of you gets an extra ten million as a bonus."
The trio's eyes lit up with gratitude. Young Master is so generous! So magnanimous! So extravagant!
In their old organization, even dangerous missions with injuries or lost limbs earned them a measly hundred or two hundred thousand. Here, a simple task netted them ten million each! They dropped to their knees again, bowing deeply.
Lu Chengwen waved them up. "Get up already."
"Uh… Young Master," Tongtuo Wang hesitated, "that's thirty million total. What about the other ten million?"
Lu Chengwen grinned. "You're their leader. You deserve a bit extra."
Tongtuo Wang rubbed his hands together, practically vibrating with excitement. "Young Master, I've never lived this large in my life! You're like a second father, a creator reborn! From now on, we three brothers are yours, heart and soul, never wavering!"
"Good," Lu Chengwen said, his tone measured. "But don't get cocky. That extra ten million? Use some of it to spruce yourselves up. Look at those rags you're wearing."
He continued, "Go shopping, all three of you. Jiang Shihan will take you. When I'm not around, you listen to her. Got it?"
"Yes, Young Master!" they chorused.
"Don't skimp on clothes," Lu Chengwen added. "You're my men now, and my men represent me—Long Aotian. I can't stand stingy, penny-pinching types."
"Rest assured, Young Master!" Tongtuo Wang said. "I'll take care of my brothers."
Lu Chengwen's move was calculated brilliance. The promise of such a hefty reward ensured the trio wouldn't question the transaction's legitimacy—they just wanted the money in their pockets. The transfer went smoothly, landing Lu Chengwen forty-nine billion in cash while the brothers split the remaining billion.
He sent them off with Jiang Shihan, who'd been briefed to treat him as "Long Aotian, their Young Master," to avoid any slip-ups.
At the mall, Jiang Shihan strutted in her black stockings and high heels, her confident clicks echoing as the three burly men trailed behind. Tongtuo Wang silently gave a mental thumbs-up. Young Master's got it made! Surrounded by beauties!
"Fairy…" he began.
Jiang Shihan stopped and turned. "Don't call me that. Just Shihan."
"Uh…" Tongtuo Wang scratched his head.
"Young Master asked me to take you shopping for clothes and essentials," Jiang Shihan said. "I've also arranged a villa in the suburbs—not huge, but spacious enough for you three. Plus, a BMW X6 for your use."
The trio's faces lit up. "Thank you, Shihan!"
She giggled. "Each of you needs three suits, six pairs of dress shoes, three belts, and six dress shirts. As for casual clothes, sneakers, toiletries, socks, underwear—pick what you like."
"Shihan," one of them ventured, "Young Master's so generous. Where's all this money coming from?"
She smiled knowingly. "Young Master makes a single call to a branch, and someone delivers fifty billion for pocket change. Think he's ever short on cash?"
"No, no, Young Master's incredible!" they agreed.
"And the four great families of Xuecheng?" Jiang Shihan continued. "They'll be in Young Master's pocket soon enough. Stick with him, and you're set for a life of luxury. You've picked the right guy."
The trio was over the moon. Back in their old organization, as red-clad enforcers, they'd never dreamed of such treatment. This was like stepping from hell into paradise.
"Shihan," Tongtuo Wang said earnestly, "we're new here. Please look out for us and put in a good word with Young Master."
She smirked. "That depends on how you perform."
With a sly smile, she accepted their gifts of two watches and some clothes, a gesture of their goodwill.
"Shihan," Tongtuo Wang asked cautiously, "are there any taboos we should know about with Young Master?"
"You're asking the right question," she replied. "With Young Master, doing things right is important, but avoiding mistakes is critical."
She leaned in slightly. "Young Master doesn't like overly brash,江湖-style types. In Xuecheng, you follow the law and act civilized. If you run around bullying ordinary folks, tarnishing Young Master's reputation, he'll be furious. He might just squash you and toss you into the river."
"Got it, got it!" they nodded vigorously. "We'll be law-abiding, civilized."
"Young Master cherishes women and despises those who mistreat them. Don't get into fights over women here, or he'll think you're useless and shallow. The consequences will be severe."
"Understood!" they said, scribbling mental notes. "No bullying women. Anything else?"
"Young Master dislikes show-offs," Jiang Shihan added. "You can do whatever you want in Xuecheng, but keep it low-key. He needs you to stay under the radar, ready to handle things others can't. So, stay discreet."
"Low-key, low-key," they repeated.
"Young Master knows you've worked hard," she said. "I've arranged for you to unwind at a nightclub. I've spoken to the manager—you're all set. Have fun, flirt if you want, but don't cause trouble."
"Absolutely, we'll keep it steady!" they promised.
That evening, a colossal corporate battle made headlines in the financial news. The foreign Dongfang Group had launched an acquisition war in Xuecheng, clashing with the Lu family, who poured hundreds of billions into the fight. A significant portion of Qianfeng Group's shares ended up in the Lu family's hands.
Leng Tianhao later appeared at a press conference, stabilizing the situation. The war without bloodshed temporarily subsided.
The outcome: Dongfang Group's Northern Branch acquired 29% of Qianfeng Group's shares. The Lu family's Dasheng Group secured 20%. Leng Qingqiu held another 20%, and Leng Tianhao controlled 31%. The Leng family's position was precarious—one misstep could cost them everything.
Leng Qingqiu, now awake, sat across from Lu Chengwen at the dining table, her eyes fixed on him.
Lu Chengwen wiped his mouth. "Why aren't you eating?"
Leng Qingqiu gave a faint smile. "Thank you."
"No need for that," Lu Chengwen said. "The doctor said you're fine, like you just overslept a few hours. You were snoozing peacefully while I was dodging death's door a few times over."
"Why?" Leng Qingqiu asked.
"It's complicated," Lu Chengwen sighed. "Too many people, too many things happening at once. It's a mess."
"No, I mean why save Qianfeng?" she clarified. "You're short on cash. Those hundreds of billions—weren't they for your shantytown project? Was Qianfeng worth it?"
Lu Chengwen smiled. "It's not just about Qianfeng."
"Then what? For me?" she pressed.
He paused, then said, "For myself. Eat something."
Leng Qingqiu had no appetite. After reviewing the day's transaction reports, she saw the bigger picture and felt a heavy weight in her chest. "I was ready to leave Qianfeng Group, to transfer all my shares to my father at a low price and start over. But now, it's clear someone's scheming against us. Qianfeng's probably done for."
"Your father's seen Long Aotian's true colors," Lu Chengwen said. "He's likely plotting something. With his shares and ours combined, we can dominate the board. We're still in control."
Leng Qingqiu shook her head. "My father doesn't trust you. When he woke up after being knocked out, the first thing he saw was you and your team. He doesn't believe Long Aotian kidnapped him. He thinks you set it all up to deceive him."
"If he sides with Long Aotian, and with Huo Wendong's 29% shares, we can't compete," she added grimly.
Lu Chengwen sighed. "I screwed up. I thought he'd see through Long Aotian's scheme once he woke up. But Long Aotian's too clever—he didn't even show his face during the kidnapping. I rescued your father while he was completely out, so he missed the whole plot. And damn Huo Wendong played it like he's my ally, making your father even more suspicious of me. He thinks I'm colluding with my old Southern Kingdom classmates to swallow Qianfeng."
Leng Qingqiu looked at him intently. "Chengwen."
"Yeah?"
"Devour Qianfeng."
Lu Chengwen blinked, shocked. "What are you talking about? Why would I take Qianfeng?"
"Do it," Leng Qingqiu said firmly. "If it's going to be swallowed by Long Aotian and Huo Wendong, I'd rather you take it."
"I don't have that kind of money! And even if I did, I'm not interested in Qianfeng."
"Don't underestimate Qianfeng," she countered. "It's struggling now, but in the years I've run it, I've fixed a lot of internal issues. With a few big projects, Qianfeng's strengths will shine, and it'll be competitive again. Plus, some secret projects I've set up are about to turn profitable."
"No, no, you've got it wrong," Lu Chengwen interrupted. "It's not that I think Qianfeng has no future. It's your company, your dream, the fruit of years of your hard work and dedication. I can't just… take it from you. No way."
Leng Qingqiu pressed on. "I have 20% of Qianfeng's shares. You have 20%. Together, we have a chance to fight for it."
"I said no," Lu Chengwen insisted.
Leng Qingqiu stood, walked to his side, and slowly knelt on one knee. She took his hand, her eyes locked on his with unwavering resolve. "From this day forward, I, Leng Qingqiu, will stand fully behind Lu Chengwen. I give you everything—my body, my heart, my dreams, my all. It's yours, Lu Chengwen. I will never betray you."
Lu Chengwen was stunned, speechless.
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