"Gao Yuan, what the hell do you mean? Have you forgotten I'm your cousin— Ouch! Stop hitting me, it hurts!" Young Master Zhang, Zhang Xuanfeng, was utterly bewildered by Young Master Gao's inexplicable behavior and scrambled away with his head in his hands. He had never dreamed that his plan to show off by bringing Gao Yuan and giving Chen Fei a harsh slap in the face would end up like this—with him being beaten like a stray dog and utterly humiliated in public.

"What do I mean? You dare to set me up, and you're still asking me what I mean?" Gao Yuan glared, his face a mask of fury.

Are you kidding me? My status as the son of Gao Zhinan of Vast Sea Group, the city's wealthiest conglomerate, is a world apart from what it used to be. The problem is, this Chen Fei guy with his deceptively harmless, cold smile is far more terrifying than me in both status and personal power! And you, Zhang Xuanfeng, you bastard, you dared to set me up? You tried to stir up trouble between me and Mr. Chen, and you nearly made me try to steal his woman... The thought alone made Gao Yuan tremble. His face contorted with anger as he raised his hand and slapped him again!

SMACK!

Another crisp, 'pleasing' slap echoed through the hall.

Everyone present fell deathly silent, holding their breath.

"You... what... Young Master Gao, what are you talking about? I don't understand!" Seeing Gao Yuan lash out again and feeling the sting of another hard slap, Young Master Zhang was consumed with rage. Still, he didn't dare act rashly in front of Gao Yuan in his current position. He had no choice but to swallow his pride.

At the same time, Young Master Zhang was starting to feel a gnawing sense of worry and regret. I might not be the brightest, but I'm no fool! How could I not see that Young Master Gao is clearly terrified of that pretty boy, like a mouse that's seen a cat? Even Young Master Gao, the son of the richest man in the city, is acting this way. What does that imply? It means that pretty boy must have some unknown, terrifying background.

Even so, as the son of the city's Health Bureau director, he possessed a natural sense of superiority when dealing with families who held no official positions. After all, my dad is a director-level official, and he could be promoted even further in the future, maybe even become one of the city's provincial committee bigwigs or something higher. There's no way that pretty boy's background is more powerful than mine. A guy like that is still leagues below me!

But just then, Chen Fei's lips curled into a slight, mocking smile. He turned to Guan Shiyin beside him and said, "Shi Yin, let's go. There's nothing entertaining to see here anymore."

At these words, everyone's expression became extremely strange. To treat the beating of the Health Bureau director's son as a source of entertainment... besides Young Master Gao, only someone as 'arrogant' as this man would dare say such a thing. Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuanfeng's face turned blacker than the bottom of a pot, utterly grim.

"Mr. Chen, you're leaving so soon? Why don't you wait a little longer? My father and the others will be here any minute," Gao Yuan pleaded, his face turning as bitter as a gourd when he heard Chen Fei was about to leave.

Honestly, if Dad and Uncle Huang Tao found out that Mr. Chen was here but got driven away by my reckless offense, they'd probably skin me alive on the spot. Putting myself in his shoes, if someone made a move on my woman, it'd be a miracle if I didn't tear their face off and fight them to the death! And now, I'm the one who tried to make a move on the woman of Chen Fei, Mr. Chen... At the thought, Gao Yuan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, a chill running down his spine.

"Your dad is coming, what..." Chen Fei paused slightly upon hearing this.

But before he could finish, Gao Zhinan entered the banquet hall. Dressed in a suit with a ruddy face, he held a wine glass and was laughing and chatting with several of his group's top executives.

However, when he caught a glimpse of the chaotic scene out of the corner of his eye, his brows furrowed. He turned to his son, Gao Yuan, who happened to be facing him, and spoke with displeasure, "Yuann, what's going on here? Why is it so messy? You're making a spectacle in front of your uncles. Deal with this quickly."

Yet, upon hearing this, Gao Yuan didn't move. He looked at his father with a faltering, guilty demeanor and stuttered softly, "Dad, Chen... Mr. Chen..."

"What Chen? What are you doing? Never mind. Come here, let me introduce you. This is Zhang Kainian, Uncle Zhang. You should remember him..."

Gao Zhinan grew even more dissatisfied at his son's unusual behavior. He lacks composure and stability. However, he also knew today was not the day for sternness, nor was it appropriate to reprimand him in public. He simply waved his hand and motioned to introduce the plump, middle-aged man beside him.

The plump middle-aged man, appearing to be in his late forties, wore a kindly smile. However, when his eyes happened to drift to the familiar, dazed figure lying on the ground, his expression immediately changed. He strode forward and demanded, "Xuanfeng, what happened to you? Who hit you? What on earth happened!?"

Seeing the fresh, red handprint on his son's face, the plump middle-aged man—the city's Health Bureau Director, Zhang Kainian—instantly flew into a rage. His face darkened as he prepared to let loose.

"Dad! Dad, you're finally here! I've been bullied half to death! It was him! He hit me!" Zhang Xuanfeng cried out, finally coming to his senses. Seeing his savior, he pointed at Gao Yuan and shrieked as if accusing his mortal enemy.

"What did you say? It was Yuann who hit you?" Gao Zhinan's expression changed instantly, completely caught off guard.

"Director Gao, I demand to know what this is all about! Speaking of which, we are distant relatives, are we not? For your son to beat my son so savagely, isn't that going a bit too far!" Zhang Kainian's expression soured as well. He shot a fierce glare at Gao Yuan and, suppressing his temper, spoke in a cold, low voice.

He had never dreamed that today—a day he intended to form an alliance with the Gao Family, rekindle their not-so-important family ties, and, incidentally, hitch his wagon to the man who was very likely to become the next mayor—would turn into this! His own son had been beaten to such a state by Gao Zhinan's son. Never mind the wretched sight he made, but both of his cheeks were covered in slap marks!

Damn it! Are you kidding me? You, Gao Zhinan, may be the richest man in the city now, but I, Zhang Kainian, am not to be trifled with! If I don't get a proper explanation for this today, this matter isn't over! Absolutely not!

"What this is all about? Heh, why don't you ask your son why he was beaten in the first place?" Just then, a mocking voice rang out, causing the grim-faced Gao Zhinan to freeze in astonishment.

"Mr... Mr. Chen? You're here too?"

He was, of course, familiar enough with Chen Fei's voice to recognize it instantly. The moment he heard that mocking tone, a look of shocked delight spread across his face. He completely ignored Zhang Xuanfeng, Zhang Kainian, and the assembled executives and strode directly toward where Chen Fei was standing.

Clearly, this scene took everyone present by complete surprise. Even the enraged Zhang Kainian froze, a bad premonition flashing through his mind.

Seeing the esteemed Director of Vast Sea Group approaching them with a look of delight, Guan Shiyin certainly didn't think he was coming for her. Bewildered and flustered, she couldn't help but lean close to Chen Fei's ear and whisper, "Chen Fei, do you know Director Gao?"

"Why so nervous? Didn't I tell you I knew him? You're the one who didn't believe me, right?" Chen Fei said with a wronged expression.

"You... You really know Director Gao," Guan Shiyin stammered, her delicate body trembling with a shock that was beyond words.

That's Director Gao! The big boss of the city's leading enterprise, a man who has practically become the richest person in the city! How could such a high-level figure actually know a young man like Chen Fei... She couldn't help but pinch herself. Ouch, that hurt. It's real.

By now, Gao Zhinan had arrived in front of Chen Fei and Guan Shiyin.

Although Gao Zhinan's status was a world apart from what it used to be, he still didn't dare show the slightest disrespect or insolence in front of an 'inhuman' figure like Chen Fei. The moment he saw that Chen Fei was also present, he immediately forgot everyone else around him. He walked over to shake Chen Fei's hand, terrified that any lack of courtesy on his part would displease him—a truly awful prospect.

"Mr. Chen, hello. I honestly had no idea you would be here tonight, which is why I'm a bit late. My apologies, my apologies," Gao Zhinan said deferentially, holding Chen Fei's right hand with both of his.

At this sight, the entire banquet hall fell into an eerie silence. My heavens, that was Director Gao, the big boss of Vast Sea Group and the city's richest man, yet he was speaking to a young man with such a humble tone. It made everyone's eyeballs nearly fall out in astonishment, their faces frozen in disbelief. Their gazes, all fixed on Chen Fei as if they had seen a ghost, were filled with unanimous terror.

My god... what terrifying identity could this young man possibly have for the great Director Gao, the richest man in the city, to shake his hand and speak to him with such deference!?

Only Gao Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God I'm quick-witted. I immediately switched sides after learning Chen Fei's identity. Otherwise, judging by Dad's attitude right now, it would be a miracle if he didn't beat me to death on the spot! Now, even if he finds out I'm the one who hit Zhang Xuanfeng, he won't dare say a single word against me! Because now I have the name of Chen Fei, Mr. Chen, backing me up! What do I have to fear?

"Director Gao, I actually think you should have come earlier," Chen Fei said suddenly with a smile. "Otherwise, I was just about to get angry."

Hearing the words 'get angry,' even a magnate like Gao Zhinan couldn't help but shudder. He quickly bowed and said, "Mr. Chen, what on earth happened? Whatever it is, I, Gao Zhinan, am at your service."

As soon as these words came out, it was as if time and space in the entire hall had frozen. Everyone looked at the smiling young man as if they had seen a ghost, pure terror surging uncontrollably in their eyes.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.